Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 32
MEDICAL LAKE – For several years, Jessica Pedersen has worked with her partner Blaine Miller to bring her restaurant dreams to life Their dreams came true Oct. 8, when their new business, The Pizza Oven, opened at 611 state Highway 902. Pedersen, who lives near Colfax, said she had accumulated more than 20 years of experience in the pizza industry. Many of the roles she maintained have been management positions. She said ashe followed her entrepreneur spirit and decided it w...
Former Whitman County Gazette reporter and editor Jana Mathia of Endicott won first-place for color feature photography in the Washington Newspaper Publisher’s Assocaition Better Newspaper contest with her “Giraffe Migration” photo. The awards were announced Friday, Oct. 8. A related story in the Oct. 14 edition of the Cheney Free Press credited the wrong photographer....
RITZVILLE — Drought conditions affected most Eastern Washington wheat farmers during this past growing season. While statewide yields are down by 40%, the North-Central region is down by 50%. Wheat production remains the same at 2.3 million acres, officials said. Moreover, 2021 yields plummeted to 39.1 bushels per acre, down from 72.4 bushels in 2020. Official statewide data is being released in December. The lack of rainfall is causing high protein content in soft white wheat, according to Michelle Hennings, Washington Wheat...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – During an Oct. 18 City Council meeting, Police Chief Brad Richmond told members that a cooperative agreement between the Cheney School District and is department had been reached about the implementation of a Youth Engagement Specialist, commonly referred to as a YES officer. Richmond said the Cheney School District has agreed to fund $70,000 of the annual cost to cover part of the salary, vehicle and technology costs. The department will use other available funds to cover the remaining balance because the t...
Man Killed in Recent Collision Identified AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The Spokane County Medical Examiner has identified the man hit and killed Sept. 29 near the intersection of West Westbow and South Spotted roads as Christopher Goles, 47. Records show Goles was involved in an earlier crash with his Honda sport utility vehicle, called a tow truck and was attempting to cross the road about 10 p.m. when he was hit. The driver of the eastbound Subaru noticed the tow truck on the north side of Westbow Road, officials said. Goles then stepp...
OLYMPIA — The state Fish and Wildlife Commission may implement new firearms restrictions and hunting closures when it meets virtually Oct. 21-22. In addition, commissioners will discuss a new rule on importing and retaining dead non-resident wildife, and a non-native game fish policy, in addition to accepting public comment on the 2022 spring black bear hunting season. Public comment will be taken Friday morning. And on Friday, Oct. 22, the board will consider transfering a 0.37-acre parcel on the west back of the S...
With Gov. Jay Inslee telling us his ongoing mandates — developed behind closed doors and imposed without public involvement — are a “raging success,” do we still need the public legislative process for governing? Should one individual decide all policy for Washington, governing by press conference, with no opportunity for the public to comment o lawmakers to offer alternative proposals? These are the questions I find myself asking recently. I’ve spent most of my professional career working to protect and enhance citizen i...
I attended last week’s Cheney School Board meeting via Zoom as was listed as a way to attend the meeting. The entire meeting was so garbled as to not be understood. I emailed during the meeting to let them know what was happening. I did receive an email after the meeting telling me if I wanted to hear the meeting it was suggested that I should attend in person. It is disappointing that taxpayers have spent millions of dollars on new construction, remodeling and even specifically a technology levy. If this meeting is an e...
The hair on my neck stood up when I heard Speaker of our House, Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., tell a member of the media that their job was to support her political agenda. Recalling the civics lessons that I had as a youth, I learned it is not the job or role of the press, in our society, to advocate a political position, but to provide factual information and to challenge those in power to defend their positions. Since I’ve not been in school for some time, I wondered if things have changed. I found the following passage on t...
It is not too late to submit your views to the Legislative Redistricting Commission. Citizens should get involved in the 10-year redistricting of the state based on the 2020 Census. Proposals for state districts are due by Friday, Oct.22, and your very important opinion can easily be sent by email and video, as well as by mail to comment@redistricting.wa.gov. Some of the four maps being considered put Cheney in the 9th District, not as it is presently in the 6th District, thus joining Cheney with the rural areas south as far...
Commentary earlier this month by Don Brunell frustrated me by his reasoning. He talked about Gov. Inslee’s ban on fossil fuels for new construction being “expensive for home and building owners, many of whom installed energy efficient natural gas heat pumps and tank-less water heaters.” Excuse me? The ban is for new construction, so it would not have any effect on the existing homes and other buildings. Then he talks about the cost of mitigating the carbon-dioxide and how reducing natural gas consumption will cause loss...
I endorse Shirley Maike for Medical Lake mayor. Shirley has the best experience and knowledge to keep the city going forward and operating in the black. I have watched Shirley work as a planning commissioner, as a council member and as a mayor. Terri Cooper doesn’t go to any city meeting unless she has a complaint. In July 2018, she complained to City Council about dogs, alcohol and disrespect in the park. She asked for the park and walking trail to be residents only. Now, she wants them to be for tourist. She also said s...
Aug. 5, 1934 – Oct. 9, 2021 The Spirit of Ray Eldon Osterberg left his body in Cheney, Wash. and went to Paradise on Oct. 9, 2021. He was born on his grandparent's farm between Troy and Deary, Idaho, on Aug. 5, 1934, to Alex Ruben and Minnie Elizabeth Fredman Osterberg. He married Dolores Marie Colomb on Feb. 24, 1957 at Colfax. Ray graduated from Moscow High School in 1952 and joined the Air Force in 1953. He served 22 years and 2 months (in Korea, Germany (twice) and O... Full story
Sept. 1, 1945 - Oct. 10, 2021 Carol Louise Petersen was born in Wallace, Idaho and after living for a short time in Davenport and Sprague Wash., returned to Wallace to graduate in 1963. After graduation she worked at the Idaho First National Bank where she met her future husband Larry Petersen, a teacher at Wallace High School. She had her first son, Sam, while living in Wallace and in 1967 she and Larry moved to Medical Lake where they had their next two sons Ben and Joe.... Full story
The perfectly round enormous moon rose higher and higher in the September night sky. Above the leafy maples and lofty pines it evaded the wispy nocturnal clouds. The earth below was transformed by the moonlight and the landscape morphed into unfamiliar visions. On its journey across the sky it painted the branches and tree trunks with silver. Towering shadows of wide dark stripes fell across the ground. The grasses and foliage it washed with soft grayness. Waterfalls and rock pathways sparkled in the wake of its light....
Rosalia High School classes took turns putting on various era-theme chapters of an overall Time Machine-themed skit during Homecoming festivities Wednesday night, Oct. 13. Freshman went back to the stone ages, with sophomores stuck in the 1970s and juniors in the middle ages. The senior class found itself in ancient Greece....
Eagles crush Idaho, 71-21, on Roos Field CHENEY – The Eastern Eagles routed Big Sky rival Idaho, 71-21, on the red gridiron at Roos Field on Saturday, Oct. 16. It was the 20th straight win at home for the No. 2-ranked football team. Eastern (7-0) is off to its best-ever start in the Football Championship Subdivision. And the the Eagles tied a school-record 29 points in the first quarter in the game. Eastern also logged a program-record 837 yards of total offense with 624 passing yards and 213 rushing yards. Quarterback E...
CHENEY – The Central Valley Bears left Cheney with a 30-7 win Friday, Oct. 14. The Bears opened strong. On their first possession, they drove the ball downfield and finished with a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Luke Abshire. Aiden Labrosse added the point-after to give the Bears a 7-0 lead. Abshire would end up completing 24-of-36 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown pass on the evening. He added two rushing touchdown, as well. Cheney struggled on the following drive a...
MEDICAL LAKE – The Cardinals boys football team returns home Friday night, Oct. 22, for a Homecoming gridiron grudge match against the Newport Grizzlies (2-4). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Cardinals will crown a Homecoming king and queen at halftime. Both the Class 1A Cardinals (1-4) and Grizzlies (2-4) are coming off losses to the NE1A league opponent the Freeman Scotties. The No. 7 ranked Scotties topped Newport, 40-8, on Friday, Oct. 8; then routed the Cardinals, 63-0, on Friday night, Oct. 15, on their home field in R...
NEWPORT – Medical Lake boys and girls runners outran rival Newport during a league matchup Wednesday, Oct. 13. “In my opinion,n they have the most interesting course in the league, with two laps around a cemetery,” Cardinals Coach Gene Blankenship said,“This course is also the most difficult league course we have run, so far.” The varsity girls team, led by Kayla Ramsey finishing with a time of 21:14, took the Top 8 positions for a perfect 15-50 score. Jenna Castro finished in...
The Journal OTHELLO – The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public input on a draft management plan for the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area in Adams and Grant counties. Comments will be accepted through Nov. 17. The plan will guide management of the wildlife area, including fishing, hunting, boating and water sports, horseback riding, rock and ice climbing, biking and wildlife viewing opportunities. The last plan update for the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area occurred in 2017. The proposal is available online at h...
OTHELLO – The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public input on a draft management plan for the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area in Adams and Grant counties. Comments will be accepted through Nov. 17. The plan will guide management of the wildlife area, including fishing, hunting, boating and water sports, horseback riding, rock and ice climbing, biking and wildlife viewing opportunities. The last plan update for the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area occurred in 2017. The proposal is available online at h...
A win gets Blackhawks in CHENEY – The Blackhawks girls slowpitch softball team only needs one more win to make the state tournament. The Cheney girls will play Mount Spokane at 3 p.m. at home for that state berth opporrunity. “A win here will guarantee a spot in the state tournament,” Athletic Director Tim Kennedy said. “Please be sending good vibes towards our softball athletes as they have been doing amazing this year.” Cardinals look for a home win MEDICAL LAKE – The Cardinal girls (0-8) girls have one more chance to g...
CHENEY Oct. 11 Justin J. Fisher, 31, arrested for vehicle theft/possession of stolen vehicle in the 2800 block of Bethany Street. Police recovered a GMC Sierra previously reported stolen to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. Verbal dispute in the 1500 block of First Street. Fourth-degree assault in the 600 block of West Sixth Street. 17-year-old boy arrested in the 400 block of North Sixth Street for fourth-degree assault. Oct. 12 Trespassing in the 2200 block of First Street. Verbal dispute in the 800 block of West F...
RICHLAND – Cheney swimmers brought home a few first-place finishes Oct. 16 from their first trip to the Class 3A Mid-Columbia Conference Championship Meet. Freshman Lauren Howe and junior May Peterson paced the Blackhawks (5-1) in the event at George Prout Pool. Howe had a pair of first-place finishes in the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 25.92 and 100-meter freestyle with a time of 56.88 Peterson won gold in the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:05.91 and in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 55.63. S...
