Articles from the December 14, 2023 edition


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  • Man sentenced in Spokane Valley robbery

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Dec 28, 2023

    SPOKANE VALLEY – A Spokane man has pleaded guilty in connection with a 2022 robbery in Spokane Valley. Christopher Bruce Gooch, 46, of Spokane, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to robbery affecting commerce, court records show. U.S. Senior District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson sentenced Gooch to four years in prison to be followed by three years of probation, records show. When imposing the sentence, Peterson noted Gooch’s lifelong criminal history beginning at age 11. According to court documents, on the night of Aug...

  • Man arrested after high-speed chase

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Dec 28, 2023

    SPOKANE VALLEY – A local man is facing multiple charges after attempting to flee from police Dec. 11. Chandler K. Barton, 24, was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of attempting to elude law enforcement, two counts of unlawful imprisonment, driving while under the influence, two counts of reckless endangerment and second-degree driving while license suspended. Barton was arrested after a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted an unlicensed Audie run a red light at the intersection of Sprague Avenue and...

  • Cheney: Plan for snow when parking

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 28, 2023

    CHENEY – The city is reminding residents to plan ahead for snow removal and holiday parking to ensure the smooth operation of plows. Each winter, some city residents venturing away for the holidays return home to find their parked cars towed. City officials emphasize the importance of proactive planning to prevent vehicles from impeding the snow removal process. The city has established guidelines to manage snow accumulation, officials said. When 2 or more inches of snow cover city streets, a parking restriction is i...

  • Airway Heights council talks tax hikes

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 28, 2023

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The city is looking for ways to diversify its revenue stream, including tax increases. During a Dec. 11 City Council meeting, a finance committee presented a plan to address a $900,000 funding shortfall. The finance committee recommended adopting a solid waste utility tax, refinancing the interfund loan and increasing water and sewer utility taxes. City Manager Kevin Richey articulated the financial challenge. “Expenses have surpassed revenue, prompting us to explore six different options to close the gap...

  • City, union still in talks

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 28, 2023

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The City Council discussed ongoing union negotiations during its Dec. 11 meeting. City Finance Director Stanley Schubert also provided insight into a proposed change in staffing. “The only two items are one extra FTE (full-time equivalent employee) for the Fire Department that’s paid through the Library District, and one FTE which is part of the building and planning department,” he said. Schubert further touched upon the collective bargaining processes underway. “If we can get an agreement in place at...

  • AH Council pushes for new water main

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 28, 2023

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – A proposal to construct a water main under the proposed Lyons Road roundabout was presented during the Dec. 11 City Council meeting. Public Works Director Kevin Anderson outlined the significance and potential benefits for the community. “As the council is aware, the Kalispel Tribe is under obligation to construct a roundabout at the U.S. 2/Lyons Road intersection,” he said. “We have proposed to them that now is an opportune time to integrate a water main underneath the roundabout. “This is a project e...

  • Airway Heights' planning budget unveiled

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 28, 2023

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The Planning Department unveiled a comprehensive 2024 budget during the Dec. 11 City Council meeting. Principal planner Heather Trautman began the presentation with a candid acknowledgment. “We’re just a simple department, funded through application fees, grants and funds,” she said. The proposed budget outlined a decrease in application-fee revenue due to factors such as water concurrency, limited available residential lands and fluctuating interest rates. Trautman said the revenue projection had dropped...

  • Superintendent explains $72 million bond

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 28, 2023

    CHENEY – In a recent interview with Cheney School District Superintendent Ben Ferney and Financial Director Jamie Reed, the duo shed light on the district’s comprehensive plans outlined in the upcoming bond proposal. The proposal, totaling $72 million, aims to address pressing issues, such as overcapacity, safety concerns, and the need for additional facilities. The cost of the bond to taxpayers is estimated to be $0.53 for every 1000 dollars of assessed property value, which will total $72 million. Addressing concerns abo...

  • City to remove septic tanks

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 28, 2023

    AIRWAY HEIGHTS – City officials are moving ahead with plans to eliminate septic tanks along Garfield Avenue. During the Dec. 11 City Council meeting, Public Works Director Kevin Anderson addressed the council, seeking approval for an amendment related to the Garfield Avenue Septic Tank Elimination Design Phase 2 project. The aim of this project is to address and eliminate septic tank systems along Garfield Avenue, he said. The council had previously approved four consultant work orders for projects partially funded through th...

  • U-Hi tips Cheney

    PAUL DELANEY, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 14, 2023

    SPOKANE VALLEY – The University boys and girls basketball teams dunked Cheney on Dec. 8. The local girls won, 64-36. And the Titan boys won, 62-53. In the girls game, Cheney had a slow start at U-Hi that would dog them the remainder of the game. "We couldn't get shots to drop and we didn't take care of the ball," Blackhawks Coach Meredith Richards said. Evan Stinson's game-high 27 points paced Cheney in the loss to U-Hi. In other area basketball scores over the last week: F...

  • Updated Dec 14, 2023

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  • Spokane Valley News Herald Legal Notices

    Updated Dec 14, 2023

  • Girls Wrestle-In

    Roger Harnack, Valley News Herald|Updated Dec 14, 2023

    East Valley High School hosted the opening girls league wrestling meet Thursday, Dec. 7. The East Valley Girls Wrestle-In attracted more than 150 wrestlers from throughout Northeast Washington. Pictured, East Valley's Emily Totino stands up for an escape attempt against Brooklyn Cooper of Deer Park in a girls 140-pound match. Cooper won the bout, 8-4....

  • Medical Lake Winterfest

    Clare McGraw, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 14, 2023

    Firefighters have decorated their firetruck with Christmas lights at the 2023 Winter Festival. Santa and the Grinch pose at the Christmas Tree after the lighting and fireworks....

  • Report: Changes needed at Eastern

    PAUL DELANEY, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 14, 2023

    CHENEY – In their Dec. 8 meeting, the Eastern Washington University Board of Trustees were presented with the results of a report on potential across-the-board cuts following drastic declines in enrollment. Since reaching a high of over 13,000 students in 2015, enrollment has spiraled down to 8,200 in fall of 2022 which are the latest numbers available. One of the most notable results of the study was the Eastern’s football team’s status on campus as compared to other progr...

  • One killed in crash east of Sprague

    Drew Lawson, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 14, 2023

    SPRAGUE—One man was killed and two women were injured in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 90 about four miles east of the city Thursday, Dec. 7. Angel A. Cuevas, 22, of George, was pronounced deceased after being transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, the Washington State Patrol reported. Litzy J. Arvivo, 22, of Merced, Calif., and Maira A. Guillen Baeza, 26, of Moses Lake, were injured in the crash and also transported to Sacred Heart, the patrol said. According to the patrol, a gold 2002 Saturn Vue driven by A...

  • West Plains Police News

    Updated Dec 14, 2023

    Airway Heights December 5 Nathaniel K Perkins was arrested West of Highway 2 and South of Hayford Road for Driving While License Suspended in the Third Degree. Marc D Anderson was arrested on the 12500 block West of Highway 2 for Possession of a Controlled Substance. December 11 Delane R McLeod was arrested on the 14700 block West of Highway 2 for Attempting to Elude Police Vehicle and Hit and Run with property damage. Cara D Kernodle was arrested on the 14300 block West of Highway 2 for first degree trespassing. Heather E...

  • Shirley Gay (Myrick )Miller

    Updated Dec 14, 2023

    Shirley Gay (Myrick) Miller was born to Don and Billie Myrick in Stanford, Mont., on Aug. 2, 1939. She passed away suddenly Dec. 4, 2023, with complications from recent heart issues. Shirley was the third of five children born to the Myrick family. She was predeceased by her brother, William (he died before she was born); her mom and dad; and sisters, Margaret Schlimmer and Carol Greenwalt. She is survived by her sister, Midge Warrington of Great Falls; daughters, Tamara... Full story

  • Writers Workshop

    Updated Dec 14, 2023

    Once upon a time, not so long ago (last month to be exact) there was a little girl who wished to see the Christmas fairy. Now, no one else believed in the Christmas fairy; after all, Christmas was a time for Santa Clause, not fairies. But the little girl, oh she believed with all her heart. She knew that anything was possible. You see, Cora had experienced miracles in the past. Why just last summer she met a family of mer-people and helped them save their home from being discovered by other humans. So is a Christmas fairy rea...

  • Homeless camp ban allowed to proceed

    Randy Bracht, The Center Square|Updated Dec 14, 2023

    SPOKANE – A Washington state appellate court on Thursday upheld Proposition 1, a local ballot initiative to ban homeless encampments within 1,000 feet of schools, public parks, playgrounds and licensed childcare facilities within city limits. The measure passed with nearly 75% voter support during the Nov. 7 election, but its future was clouded pending the outcome of a dispute over the legality of the initiative. Following oral arguments heard Oct. 25, three judges on the Division III Court of Appeals said in Thursday’s pub...

  • Lawsuit filed against All Star

    Valley News Herald|Updated Dec 14, 2023

    SPOKANE – A lawsuit has been filed in federal district court against All Star Property Management alleging the company fraudulently claimed hundreds of thousands of dollars in assistance intended to benefit struggling renters during the COVID-19 shutdowns. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress established an Emergency Rent Assistance program to provide funds through local and tribal governments to benefit struggling renters who had fallen behind on rent due to unemployment or other hardship. In Washington, the program was k...

  • Woman arrested on multiple charges

    Valley News Herald|Updated Dec 14, 2023

    SPOKANE VALLEY – A local woman was arrested Dec. 11 on multiple charges following a report of disorderly conduct at a restaurant. Kathleen M. Rice, 34, Rice was booked into the Spokane County Jail for third-degree assault, second-degree malicious mischief and a misdemeanor warrant. Rice was arrested by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office after deputies were called to Denny’s restaurant at about 6:55 a.m. for a disorderly woman who had passed out on the sidewalk, gotten up and was attempting to enter, records show. The staff...

  • Cheney girls win first for new coach

    PAUL DELANEY, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 14, 2023

    CHENEY – The Blackhawks girls basketball team notched win number one for new head Coach Meredith Richards to start the week but ended things with a pair of losses. The Blackhawks topped North Central 43-21 on Dec. 5 before losing at University, 64-36 on Dec. 8 and at Wenatchee, 37-30 on Dec. 9 – all non-league games. "Tuesday (at North Central) came with highs and lows," Richards said. "We were able to pull out a win, with a strong showing from several players. We unf...

  • The Score Board

    Updated Dec 14, 2023

    Central Valley Boys’ basketball Lost to Mead 71-56 on Dec. 5 Lost to Lewis and Clark 55-33 on Dec, 8 Lost to Gonzaga Prep 85-46 on Dec. 12 Girls’ basketball Lost to Mead 63-59 on Dec. 5 Beat Lewis and Clark 43-33 on Dec, 8 Lost to Gonzaga Prep 77-75 on Dec. 12 Wrestling Lost to Mt. Spokane 55-25 on Dec. 6 East Valley Boys’ basketball Lost to Bonners Ferry 82-34 on Dec. 9 Lost to Timberlake 74-43 on Dec. 12 Girls’ basketball Lost to Bonners Ferry 58-20 on Dec. 9 Lost to Wallace 56-32 on Dec. 11 Lost to Timberlake 73-25 o...