Articles from the December 23, 2021 edition


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  • EWU Welcomes New Players During National Signing Day

    Jonathan Olsen-Koziol, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    CHENEY – Wednesday Dec. 15 was a big day for EWU nation as the coaching staff, team confidants, fans, and media piled into a small room at the Northern Quest Casino in Airway Heights to welcome a new flock of Eagles to the nest. National Signing Day starts a period during the college football off-season in which teams start announcing their next slate of prospects that will be joining the team. Coach Aaron Best met with Larry Weir and Paul Sorenson, hosts of the EWU Coaches Show on 700-AM, 105.3 FM ESPN Radio. Best started t...

  • Air Force looks past Fairchild for new fleet

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    FAIRCHILD A.F.B. – The U.S. Air Force announced Tuesday, Dec. 21, that it will not be using Fairchild Air Force Base as the “sixth main operating base for the KC-46A aerial refueling tanker.” Congresswoman Rep. McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, and Sen. Patty Murray, R-Shoreline, both pushed for Fairchild to be taken into consideration. “I am disappointed to hear that Fairchild Air Force Base was not selected to be the next home of the KC-46 tanker fleet,” McMorris Rodgers said. “While this is not the news we were hoping for,...

  • Spokane County relaxes chicken-raising rules

    Dean Henrich, Valley News Herald|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    SPOKANE – Spokane County commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday, Dec. 7, to relax county zoning restrictions on raising chickens. Chairman Josh Kerns said a constituent approached him with the idea earlier this year. “This is a perfect example of a citizen led process to change local laws,” he said. “For people in unincorporated Spokane County, this means that they’ll now be able to raise their chickens legally.” The change will allow county residents the ability to increase the availability of a sustainable food supply, off...

  • Arrest made in connection to Hays killing

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    SPOKANE – Through continued investigative efforts, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detectives were able to find probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant for first degree murder for 23-year-old Ezekiel R. Mentell. Mentell was located in the 300 block of West Euclid on December 17, and his arrest was made through a collaborative effort between “Major Crimes Detectives, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, and the Spokane Police Department,” as defined by a press...

  • Rescuers pull man from icy lake

    Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    CHENEY – An area man is recovering after falling through the ice at Fish Lake Regional Park on Dec. 18. The 19-year-old man was rescued from the lake along Cheney-Spokane Road by Fire District No. 3 personnel. Fire district officials said a backboard and a rope were used to fish the man, whose name has yet to be released, from the frigid water. Rescuers were called to the lake after the man attempted to walk on the ice-covered lake and fell through. Officials said the ice is still too thin to walk on....

  • Airports to receive FAA improvement funds

    Updated Dec 23, 2021

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Several Eastern Washington airports will receive federal grant funds thanks to the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program. The funds can be used to improve airport safety, capacity and security, as well as addressing related environmental issues. This year, $71 million is being disbursed to airports in Washington state. East of the Cascades, airports receiving funding include: Spokane International Airport, Spokane, $6.43 million Tri-Cities Airport, Pasco, $3.34 million Moscow/Pullman Regional Airport in Pul...

  • Cheney man arrested for alleged Sprague burglary

    DREW LAWSON, The Times|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    SPRAGUE—A Cheney man was arrested and booked into Lincoln County Jail Saturday morning in connection to a burglary at a Sprague address. Bruce Paul Havens, 48, who resides on the 25400 block of South Columbia Basin Highway just south of Tyler, was arrested by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies and two Washington State Patrol troopers in connection with stolen scrap metal from a property on 9243 Wollweber Road here. Corey Stolp of Edwall called LCSO to report a suspicious Ford SportTrak pulling a flatbed trailer nea...

  • Viral post spurs local police attention

    Jonathan Olsen-Koziol, Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    CHENEY – A social media post that allegedly originated from TikTok has caused concern form school districts across the country, including Cheney. The Cheney School District got word of a post referring to a threat to school safety “for every school in the USA, even elementary,” on Friday, Dec. 17. One school mentioned in the post had the initials of GHS which might have been confused with CHS, which is why this threat was made aware to local school officials. While district officials never believed the threat to be credi...

  • Medical Lake council amends administrator's contract

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE – During Tuesday’s meeting, Dec. 21, the City Council amended the city administrator’s contract to use a new formula for severance pay. The existing contract stated the administrator would receive six months of severance pay upon termination. The added amendment states the severance pay will accrue at one month for every two years of service. Mayor Shirley Maike said the amendment needed to be made because the contract hadn’t been reviewed for quite some time and had existed since the previous mayor was in office...

  • Weather causes problems on I-90

    Rod Larse, The Journal|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    RITZVILLE – Winter weather hit Monday morning, Dec. 20, resulting in significant snowfall and multiple collisions on Interstate 90 near Schoessler Road. According to the state Department of Transportation, the trouble began around 8:30 a.m., when a collision involving a semi closed the left lane of westbound I-90 at Milepost 225. By 9:15 a.m., there were multiple collisions and slide-offs in the area due to compact snow and ice on the road, delaying travel in both d...

  • Grinch has slipped into schools

    Roger Harnack, Publisher|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    Merry Christmas! There. I said it. Not happy holidays, but Merry Christmas. It’s Christmas time here and around the world. Throughout our region, families are shopping for festive meals and gifts, decorating, and anxiously awaiting the moment they see “long-lost” family and friends. It’s a time where children and adults express wishes, not just for gifts from Santa Claus, but also for happiness and prosperity for friends, family, and sometimes even mankind. And while Christm...

  • End teacher union power to improve education

    Liv Finne, Contributor|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    Earlier this year, state legislative leaders said they wanted to reduce institutional racism in the public schools by enacting Senate Bill 5044 and similar bills to require that school and university employees attend mandatory Critical Race Theory sessions. This flawed political ideology teaches that white people in all situations are oppressors and other groups are automatically oppressed. These leading lawmakers, who ironically control the very power structure they condemn, say the forced sessions will “dismantle s...

  • Gov. Inslee should offer tax relief

    Sen. Mark Schoesler, Contributor|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    With Christmas coming up, I’ve been out shopping for gifts for family members. During these busy times, I’m sure all of you have noticed (like I have) that many items in stores – especially groceries – have increased quite a bit in recent months due to inflation. Now, you’d think Gov. Jay Inslee would be well aware of the financial hardship that this historic inflation — we’re talking the worst inflation since the early 1970s — is causing families and individuals statewide. Judging by the rollout of his state supplemental op...

  • Thomas Dean Powers

    Updated Dec 23, 2021

    Thomas Dean Powers March 24, 1954 - Nov. 29, 2021 Thomas Dean Powers passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family in his home in Deer Park, Wash. on Nov. 29, 2021. Tom was reunited in heaven with his beloved mother and two brothers after a long battle with cancer. Tom is survived by his wife of 23 years, Jeanne Powers; his father, Walter Powers (age 96); five children: Tab, Dulcy, Melony, Anna and stepson, Zach; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and... Full story

  • Holiday Spirit

    Venus Bratsveen|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    Whatever you celebrate, be it a Christian Christmas, Jewish Hanukkah or the secular holidays of African-American Kwanzaa or Festivus (highlighted by the popular sitcom Seinfeld,) it’s undeniably a special time of year. A time when petty politics, disagreements and neighborly squabbles are set aside and replaced by a desire to do better and be better for each other. It is truly my favorite time of year. Recently, my company Holiday party was a wonderful example of just how giving people can be. It was a great party, catered b...

  • Christmas services on tap

    Sarah Stephens, Features Reporter|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    CHENEY -- Several area churches are hosting special Christmas Eve and Christmas services this weekend. Here is the list of churches and the services offered: Airway Heights  Airway Heights Baptist church, 12322 W. Sunset Highway, candlelight service, 6 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 24.  The Heights Church, 12703 W. 14th Ave., Suite A, Christmas services at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, and 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve. Cheney  Saint Rose of Lima, 460 N. Fifth St. 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Children’s Mass on Frid...

  • Veteran's Cemetery recognizes Volunteer of the Year

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE – Sometimes heartache can open doors to opportunity as experienced by 81-year-old Vern Lightbody. Recently, Lightbody’s efforts were recognized when he was presented with the Volunteer of the Year Award by the Washington State Veteran’s Cemetery. Lightbody said he has always led with his heart and tried to help people in any capacity he could. When his wife passed away five years ago, he focused his efforts on helping around the cemetery. “Her resting place i...

  • Looking Back

    Updated Dec 23, 2021

    December 22, 2011 Issues and Mistakes Five years after a portion of Minnie Creek was rerouted to make way for the Cheney Bi-Mart, the area is struggling to support the plants and wildlife that would make it a functioning wetland. The Cheney Planning Commission heard an update on recent efforts to improve the area at its Dec. 12 meeting. The Cheney Bi-Mart, at 2221 First St., was built in 2006 and 2007. The building's footprint overlapped with a section of Minnie Creek, so...

  • Fairchild honors Veterans with wreaths

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    SPOKANE – A blanket of snow quieted the atmosphere on December 18, which marks the day in which over 2500 locations across America honor fallen Veterans by placing donated wreaths at their graves. Fairchild Air Force Base invited people in the area to come participate at Fort George Wright Military Cemetery in Spokane, and a couple hundred residents braved the snowfall to show their respects. Nationwide over 2.4 million wreaths were placed on the graves of veteran's statistics...

  • Cheney boys edge Wenatchee

    Jonathan Olsen-Koziol, Cheney Reporter|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    WENATCHEE – The Blackhawks boys basketball team (2-5) topped Wenatchee on the Panthers home court, 60-57. Pm Saturday, Dec. 18. The victory was a much-needed win that haulted a three-game losing streak. The Blackhawks let several competitive games get away from them and games like the one against Lewis and Clark came down to the final two possessions which resulted in turnovers for the offense. "That didn't help us at all," Coach Tierre Warren said, pointing to a lack of f...

  • Blackhawks host Lewis and Clark

    Cheney Free Press|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    CHENEY — Here are the Cheney Blackhawks results for the Tri-State wrestling tournament on Dec. 11: 120 – Fabian Torres (Ferris) pin Kendal Harman (Cheney), 5:03; Kendal Harman (Cheney) dec. Danny Gertsch (Deer Park), 3-0; Aaron Polito (Tonasket) dec., Kendal Harman (Cheney), 6-3. 120 – Colton Jackson (Lake Roosevelt) pin Camron Bogle (Cheney), 1:45; Jayden Trevino (Chiawana), dec., Camron Bogle (Cheney), 8-4. 132 – Joe Showalter (Cheney) maj. dec. Nathan Booth (Lake City),...

  • West Plains Police News

    Updated Dec 23, 2021

    Cheney Police Reports CHENEY – Here are all of the police calls from Dec. 14 through Dec. 19. Dec. 14 Possession of a controlled substance (cannabis) on the 400 block of North Sixth Street. Financial fraud was committed through an online scam on the zero block of Second Street. Catalytic converters and batteries stolen from vehicles on the 100 block of Anderson Road. Edward J. Steetle, 32-year-old male, violated a court order on the 1600 block of First Street. Dec. 15 Verbal dispute on the zero block of North Eighth Street. 1...

  • Cardinals soar in win over Grizzlies

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE – The varsity boys Cardinal basketball team hosted the Newport Grizzlies on December 17, and dominated the game to win 71-29. The Cardinals started the game strong putting up 20 points in the first quarter, and it was due in large part to the team finding and making open high percentage shots. Medical Lake's assist numbers were high, and they moved the ball well throughout the game. As a team, the Cardinals made 13 three-point shots. Five of those shots were drain...

  • Medical Lake wrestlers fall to Riverside

    Matthew O. Stephens, Reporter|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    MEDICAL LAKE – On December 16 the Cardinal wrestlers traveled to Riverside to compete against the Rams and fell by a score of 66 to 15 in favor of Riverside. In the 106-pound weight class, Mason James from Riverside won by forfeit.  Hudson Raulston from Medical Lake won by fall over Cade Spencer in the 113-pound class. Connor Harrington won the 120 class by forfeit for Medical Lake.  In the 126-weight class, Isaac Cane from Medical Lake won 8-3 over Caleb Mullinex. Conner Dean from Riverside won by fall over Tanner Selle...

  • Sturgeon fishing to open Jan. 1

    The Journal|Updated Dec 23, 2021

    OLYMPIA – The white sturgeon fishery opens Jan. 1 for some the lower Columbia River. Fishing for legal-size white sturgeon opens New Year’s Day in Bonneville Pool between Bonneville and The Dalles dams, The Dalles Pool between The Dalles and John Day dams, and the John Day Pool between John Day and McNary dams. While Bonneville Pool and John Day Pool will be open daily, The Dalles Pool only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, officials said. The Dalles Pool closed to sturgeon retention just a few days after opening...

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