Looking Back

10 Years Ago

May 8, 2003

Spokane County Commissioners decided against taking over operation of the Cheney city swimming pool, saying residents could use the facility at Eastern Washington University instead.

The city of Medical Lake decided to begin testing its water system to make sure there was no cross contamination from fertilizing lawns.

The battle for the Great Northern League boys’ soccer championship came down to the last shot of the season as Medical Lake lost 6-5 in a shootout to Deer Park. The Cards got into the shooutout after Jason Obert scored a goal in the final seconds of regulation play to tie the contest at 2-2.

20 Years Ago

May 6,1993

Industry in Cheney was about to get a boost as Haakon Industries, a Canadian-based manufacturer of heating and air conditioning equipment announced it would open a plant on the west side of the city along SR 904.

And while the news of Haakon’s opening was welcome, a number of local businesses, among them the Circle K, Sears Catalog store and The Book and Brush, announced they would close.

The Medical Lake City Council used a quiet night’s agenda to quickly pass an ordinance prohibiting the use of horses on the bike path around Medical Lake.

The Cheney boys’ tennis team passed its toughest test of the season with a 4-3 win over Pullman and kept alive their hope to finish the season undefeated. The deciding match was at No. 3 doubles where, under the lights, Cheney’s Charlie Pierce and Craig Yarwood won a 9-7 tiebreaker in a 2 sets to 1 win.

30 Years Ago

May 5, 1983

May 7 was the date that Cheney was to celebrate its official centennial and would commemorate the event with activities such as a 5,000 meter fun run, parade and Centennial Ball, among other things.

Children at Garden Springs Elementary School were learing how to use a new $1,600 Apple II E computer purchased with proceeds from a quilt raffle at the school.

The Medical Lake School Board has been asked to consider implementing a new $60,000 comprehensive computer science program for grades kindergarten through grade 12.

Winning two of three games improved Cheney’s record to 8-2 and moved the Blackhawks into third place in Frontier League baseball play. One of the key wins was a 5-2 victory over Medical Lake in which Lee Henry went 3-for-3 at the plate.

40 Years Ago

May 3, 1973

Although still not accepted as fully complete, Cheney’s new fire station at Fourth and D was in the process of being occuppied. The building was to have been completed around the first of the year.

Cheney School District teachers were to receive a 5-percent raise in pay according to a joint announcement by the district and Cheney Education Association. New teachers would earn $7,200 per year while those with at least 90 credits over a BA would be paid $13,900.

Prospects were good that the previously announced 50 percent reduction in Federal Impact Aid to the Medical Lake School District, an estimated $300,000 loss in funding, would not happen. Cuts were still proposed but the district would still be eligible for approximately $250,000 in federal money.

Cheney’s 83-62 track loss to East Valley produced two notable finishes from the Blackhawk boys’ as Marc Andrews collected ribbons in both the pole vault at 12 feet, 3 inches and a 21.8 second clocking in the low hurdles.

50 Years Ago

May 3, 1963

Subscribers of the Medical Lake News, which ceased publication May 1 after 14 months due to family illness, were to receive a new Medical Lake Press, publisher of the Cheney Free Press C.T. Frost said.

Cheney’s annual Youth Stock Preview Show was to begin its run at the high school farm shop grounds with 30 steers and 12 horses along with displays of machinery from Ratcliffe Implement Co.

The Cheney High School band was selected the tops in Class B competition, receiving a superior rating in the Eastern Washington Music Festival in Spokane. It was the fourth time Cheney had received the honor.

With Dave Nicol pitching and Denny Levigne hitting, Cheney scored a 3-2 baseball win over Mead, knocking the Panthers from the ranks of the undfeated. Levigne hit a triple to send home the tying run and then scored the winner.