Looking Back

10 Years Ago

Feb. 5, 2009

A Cheney restaurant fundraising for the family of a Cheney High School student killed in a traffic accident saw its previous sales record shattered thanks to overwhelming support from local students.

Medical Lake High School closed its doors for a week due to safety concerns after a structural issue was found in the cafeteria roof.

Medical Lake High School’s girls basketball coach Val Von Lehe suddenly resigned from her position citing personal reasons. Justin Blayne, the school’s tennis and freshman boys basketball coach, stepped in for the rest of the season in an interim role.

20 Years Ago

Feb. 4, 1999

Cheney began condemnation procedures on a small parcel of land on the corner of State Route 904 and Betz Road for use in intersection improvements, sparking conflict with the owner who claimed he had never received a formal offer of purchase from the city.

A new computer reporting program contributed to lowered crime numbers in Medical Lake.

Spokane County’s “no burn” area was expanded, with its boundary lines pushing farther into the West Plains.

30 Years Ago

Feb. 2, 1989

The Cheney Free Press ran a supplemental “Bridal Issue” discussing all things weddings and included run-downs of attendant duties and details on current fashion trends.

Gov. Booth Gardener proposed a $12 million operating budget for the 1989-1991 biennium, ignoring many of Eastern Washington University’s legislative requests. The budget did not include provisions for child care at the college and only partially funded the university’s request for instructional support and increased faculty salaries.

The Medical Lake School District agreed to sell a 2,100 square foot parcel of property along the Medical Lake High School field to the state for $675. The state intended to use the land for traffic and intersection improvements.

40 Years Ago

Feb. 1, 1979

An early morning fire at the Garden Manor Apartments in Cheney claimed the life of an Eastern Washington University student and damaged 14 units. Firefighters at the scene said they suspected arson.

A Burlington Northern train derailed near the railroad crossing on Badger Lake Road near State Route 904. Ten of 100 cars derailed, blocking State Route 904, and crews had to work through the night to clear the wreckage.

A Medical Lake man’s hospitality led to his arrest when a police officer came to his home to discuss complaints the department had received about his dog. The man invited the officer in, at which point the officer immediately spotted marijuana plants in the house and arrested the homeowner for possession of a controlled substance.

50 Years Ago

Jan. 30, 1969

Thirty-three inches of snow in January broke the all-time snow fall record set by 28 inches in February 1949. All over the West Plains, activities were cancelled and schools were closed.

The Cheney City Council passed a 3 percent utility tax due to dire budgeting straits, much to citizens’ dismay.

A member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity asked the Rotary Club and local residents for donations of vegetable seeds and cash to be sent to South Vietnam for farmers losing up to 40 percent of their crops due to military conflict.