Articles from the August 13, 2020 edition


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  • EWU moves all instruction online after Thanksgiving

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Aug 16, 2020

    CHENEY – Eastern Washington University has announced that will offer online only instruction after the Thanksgiving/Native American Heritage holiday break. In a news release today, Aug. 12, university officials said the move is designed to keep students safe by minimizing health-related disruptions while maintaining attentiveness to public health concerns. The move should help limit travel to and from Cheney after the Thanksgiving break, Nov. 25 – 27, although students who live in the residence halls may return to campus aft...

  • Reardan schools start Sept. 1

    The Times|Updated Aug 14, 2020

    REARDAN — The Reardan-Edwall School District’s first day of school will be Sept. 1 pending approval from the board. Previous plans indicated that school would start Aug. 26, but that week is now reserved for staff in-service days (Aug. 24-25) and waiver days (Aug. 26-27). The district will continue to offer three learning options: onsite, remote and online....

  • EWU, union agree to faculty salary concessions

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Aug 14, 2020

    CHENEY – Eastern Washington University’s Board of Trustee’s approved a memorandum of understanding with the United Faculty of Eastern (UFE) that would stave off declaration of a severe financial crisis. All of the trustee’s voted for the memorandum with the exception of Trustee Uriel Iniguez, who voted no. The agreement includes financial concessions from the union, including a one-year, 6-percent reduction in salary, a tenure buyout and relinquishment plan and a voluntary retirement and separation incentive. The university a...

  • Almira fire contained to 50 acres

    Odessa Record|Updated Aug 14, 2020

    ALMIRA - An Aug. 10 wheat fire burned 50 acres near the intersection of Williams and Old Coulee roads, resulting in the total loss of a combine. Three fire districts - Lincoln County No. 8 from Almira, Lincoln County No. 7 from Wilbur and Grant County No. 6 from Hartline, as well as a plane from Greg's Crop Care, responded to the incident. Almira Fire Chief Dennis Pilar said actions taken by the farmer helped get the fire quickly under control. "There was a concern that the...

  • Hot weather coming this weekend

    From Staff and News Service Reports, Cheney Free Press|Updated Aug 14, 2020

    EASTERN WASHINGTON -- The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for the region, with residents warned to expect "dangerously hot" hot temperatures from Sunday -- Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to climb into the 90s and even low 100s before dropping back into the 80s and 90s by Wednesday. The extreme heat can lead to significant increases in heat-related illnesses, and residents are advised to stay hydrated and seek air conditioning inside or shade...

  • Updated Aug 13, 2020

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  • Big Sky pushes conference season to spring

    DREW LAWSON, Staff Reporter|Updated Aug 13, 2020

    OGDEN - A conference football season in which Big Sky powers Montana, Montana State and Weber State were slated to visit Eastern Washington University's newly-turfed Roos Field will have to wait until 2021. On Aug. 6 Big Sky athletics directors unanimously elected to move an eight-game conference schedule to next spring, according to a release from EWU. The Big Sky President's Council then approved the decision Aug. 7. EWU athletic director Lynn Hickey said "the handwriting...

  • 16 cents, 3 shoes, 5 socks and 1 new location in Airway Heights

    DREW LAWSON, Staff Reporter|Updated Aug 13, 2020

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS — It took a couple tries, but the fourth and newest location of discount furniture store 16 Cents, 3 Shoes & 5 Socks has been open for business this summer at its Sunset Highway digs. The store held a grand opening March 21, but had to shut down within a week after its sewer company cut its line off and the COVID-19 business shutdowns began. When Spokane County entered Phase 2 of the state’s re-opening plan the second week of May, the store re-opened while fol...

  • Preserve your garden produce for delicious winter meals

    MELINDA MYERS, Contributor|Updated Aug 13, 2020

    All your hard work is paying off with a bountiful harvest. Fresh produce is filling your garden, countertops, and refrigerator while the garden keeps producing more. Preserve some of your harvest to enjoy throughout the winter with some tried-and-true or updated variation of food preservation techniques. Hanging bundles of herbs to dry is a long-time practice that works. Harvest herbs in the morning just after the dew has dried off the leaves. Rinse, allow them to dry, and...

  • OPENTogether CARES grant funding reopened until Aug. 14

    Updated Aug 13, 2020

    WEST PLAINS – Officials at the Chamber of Commerce have announced that applications for the OPENTogether Small Business and Non-profit Grant program have been reopened for a very short time. Applications for assistance for COVID-19 only expenses are being considered from now through 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. The West Plains Chamber of Commerce has teamed with Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI), the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and other organizations to provide small businesses and non-profits access to funding f...

  • Fairchild Survival School moves winter training to Chewelah area

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Aug 13, 2020

    FAIRCHILD AFB – If you’re planning on partaking in outdoor activities northeast of Chewelah any time soon, don’t be surprised if you come across a wandering airman. Fairchild Air Force Base officials have announced that the U.S. Air Force’s Survival School is moving its winter training scenarios beginning this month to U.S. Forest Service land in the vicinity of North Fork Chewelah Creek and Drummond Creek around Sand Canyon Road. According to a news release, the change is part of a typical rotation of training areas designe...

  • COVID-19 causing spike in domestic violence

    DREW LAWSON, Staff Reporter|Updated Aug 13, 2020

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS—Crime fell from 2018 to 2019 within the jurisdiction of the police department according to the 2019 Washington National Incident-based Reporting System (NIBRS) report, but domestic violence rates have been on the rise in 2020, according to Police Chief Brad Richmond. Cases of domestic violence have been especially increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic, he added. “Domestic violence is up quite a bit since COVID,” Richmond said, attributing the trend to people being cooped up with each other more often since the...

  • Churches

    Updated Aug 13, 2020

    Cheney Congregational Church Greetings! Cheney Congregational is currently hosting outdoor Sunday worship services in our parking lot at 8:30 a.m. We have developed a Covid-19 safety plan that is in compliance with guidelines set up by the state. Masks are required and we are using social distancing among other safety precautions. We will be meeting outside in our parking lot for the foreseeable future. We encourage you to bring your own lawn chair, and we will have chairs provided. You are also welcome to pull up in your...

  • Professor to speak on Columbia Basin megafloods

    Updated Aug 13, 2020

    The Adams County-Ritzville Journal CHENEY — Columbia Basin Geologic Society and Eastern Washington University Department of Geology are hosting a Zoom presentation featuring Dr. Scott Burns Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. Burns, Emeritus Professor at Portland State University’s Department of Geology, will present “Cataclysms on the Columbia: The Mighty Floods.” “Dr. Scott Burns is a world-renowned soils and engineering geologist, as well as co-author of “Cataclysms on the Columbia (2nd Edition),” Chad Pritchard, Palouse Falls...

  • Back to school supplies sought, distributed

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Aug 13, 2020

    CHENEY – Students may be returning to school in name only this fall, but they still need supplies. Cheney schools are slated to resume online instruction Sept. 8, and several organizations are attempting to provide backpacks filled with much needed supplies such as paper, pens, binders, calculators and USB flash drives. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department is holding a “Back 2 School Community Event” this Sunday, Aug. 16, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Sutton Park. Backpacks with school supplies will be distributed along wit...

  • McMorris Rodgers needs our blessing to do right

    Updated Aug 13, 2020

    Each morning my husband and I read “365 Blessings to Heal Myself and the World” by Pierre Pradervand, which among others encourages blessings for people engaged in different occupations, including politicians. Today I want to send a blessing to our representative for the 5th Congressional District, Cathy McMorris Rodgers — to bless her for her ability to demonstrate integrity in listening to her constituents and promoting peace; to bless her for caring and advocating for people in need who are suffering and anxious because of...

  • Washington has too many statewide elected officials

    JASON MERCIER, Contributor|Updated Aug 13, 2020

    With the August primary in the books let’s work to reduce the number of statewide elected offices. At present the people of Washington elect officials to nine statewide offices (not counting justices to the state supreme court). These offices are Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of Public Lands and Insurance Commissioner. Yet for many years there has been a debate about whether this is the most effective way to s...

  • Five Cheney students make UW Dean's List

    Updated Aug 13, 2020

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES SEATTLE – Five Cheney-area students have been named to the University of Washington’s Dean’s List for the 2020 winter quarter. Making the list are: • Alexandria F. Sowers Senior • Shayla Irene Payne Senior • David Michael Driscoll III Junior • Dale A. Simpson Junior • Kaden Charles Lee Sophomore To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must have completed at least 12 graded credits and have a grade point average of at least 3.50 (out of 4.0). Students are notified that they have achieved this dis...

  • Important Columbia, Snake river dams must stay

    ROGER HARNACK, Publisher|Updated Aug 13, 2020

    Dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers provide an appropriate balance between the economic needs of Eastern Washington and fish protections. While we already knew that here in Eastern Washington, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers came to that conclusion, too, after completing yet another environmental study this spring. The results of that new study were released last Friday, and they support keeping things essentially the way they are on our rivers. The dams will stay, for...

  • Fall sports now spring time competitions

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Aug 13, 2020

    WEST PLAINS – Cheney High School will have to wait a few more months to make its second appearance in the Greater Spokane League. At a July 30 meeting, the consensus among District 8 athletic directors — which includes the Greater Spokane League and Mid-Columbia Conference — was to move all fall sports to a newly created spring season, a move approved by school principals at a meeting last week in Spokane. The decision is the latest outcome from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s (WIAA) creation of a fo...

  • Cheney sets out to help small businesses

    John McCallum, Managing Editor|Updated Aug 13, 2020

    CHENEY – What the City Council did for people delinquent with their utility bills they now plan to do for small businesses. The city has set up the CARES Small Business Assistance Grant Program which, like the utility bill program established at the council’s July 14 meeting, will provide money received from the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress in April. Washington received $2.95 billion in CARES funding, sending $300 million of that to cities and counties with ind...

  • Republicans narrow gap slightly in bid to unseat Inslee

    ROGER HARNACK, Publisher|Updated Aug 13, 2020

    REPUBLIC — It’s too little, too late. Regardless, a Monday, Aug. 10, update from the Secretary of State’s Office shows Republican gubernatorial frontrunner Loren Culp picking up another Western Washington county — Grays Harbor — in last week’s primary election. Meanwhile, he ceded a smaller county to another conservative candidate, Raul Garcia, who now claims two counties. Those candidates, and more than 30 others, trail incumbent Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee in the Aug. 4 cont...

  • Fire control from above

    Updated Aug 13, 2020

    A Fire Boss aerial firefighting plane delivers approximately 800 gallons of water on a 17-acre brush fire that broke out two miles southwest of Cheney and east of State Route 904 early in the afternoon Aug. 5. The fire scorched an area between South Dayton and West Cameron roads, burning dry grass, sagebrush and a few trees. Department of Natural Resources investigators said a “power line issue” was the cause of the blaze that led to Level 3 evacuation orders given to sev...

  • Medical Lake school district going mostly online to start fall

    DREW LAWSON, Staff Reporter|Updated Aug 13, 2020

    MEDICAL LAKE — The school district decided that students would be starting the year mostly in an online learning model, Superintendent Tim Ames announced today. The decision comes in light of state and regional health recommendations for “high-risk” counties with larger numbers of COVID-19 cases to return to school in some form of a distanced model. “Our school board and administrative team have the obligation to follow the strong recommendations from the health experts,” Ames said in a video posted to the district...

  • Airway Heights council hears initial presentation of public feedback concerning budget gap

    DREW LAWSON, Staff Reporter|Updated Aug 13, 2020

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS - Members of administration and council have been considering declaring a financial emergency as the city faces a $1.9 million budget shortfall. That may have changed, however, as City Manager Albert Tripp recommended council table such a declaration at their Aug. 10 study session. "My recommendation would be to table (the resolution) indefinitely," Tripp told council. "Table it in the sense that essentially it would not move forward; it would die in its...

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