Looking Back

January 19, 2012

10 years ago

Gains and losses for everyone in redistricting

Depending on which legislator you talk to, there are good points and bad points about the coming redistricting moves shifting Cheney, Medical lake and most of the West Plains’ state legislative representation from the current 9th and 7th districts to an expanded 6th. But despite any discussion about new dynamics, impacts, and representative makeup, all who voiced their opinions agreed on one thing; to coin an often used term; “it is what it is.” “Everybody gets some new constituents and loses some old friends,” 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville) said.

Schoesler has been through redistricting before in his legislative career that began in the state House of Representatives in 1992. In fact, it was that year that he became Cheney’s representative not only via the ballot box but also through the census of 1990. The census records population counts and demographics every 10 years and the information is used by states to draw new state and Congressional district boundaries to reflect growth or declines, as well as redrawing existing districts’ lines. Most states allow the political parties to control redistricting, known as gerrymandering, but in 1982 Washington voters established the Washington State Redistricting Committee to draw new maps in a fair, bipartisan process.

Bill that would bring high-speed internet to rural communities draws opposition

Legislation that would allow public utility districts (PUD) and rural port districts in counties currently not served and under served to provide telecommunications services directly to consumers is being met with strong opposition from lawmakers intent on leaving that service to private enterprise. Rep. John McCoy (D-Tulalip) argues that the legislation, H.B. 1711, would provide an increasingly necessary service to those lacking it. “Everybody agrees we have underserved areas,” said McCoy following a stakeholder’s meeting Thursday in Olympia. But we do not have internet service providers willing to go out to those extreme rural areas to deliver service. So the question is, how do we get them served?” McCoy, the bill’s lead sponsor and chairman of the House Technology, Energy, and Communications committee in which the bill is being heard, said the answer is within his bill, which allows PUDs and rural port districts in counties with populations under 100,000 the ability to offer services to individual households. Rep. Cathy Dahlquist (R-Enumclaw) who also serves on the TEC committee, subscribes to The Field of Dreams “If you build it, they will come” outlook when it comes to PUDs saying that districts investing in infrastructure would bring private companies.

January 17, 2012

20 years ago

More houses for Fox Hollow area

If the business of Medical Lake is homes, then it looks like business will continue to boom. Spokane developer Jeff Amistoso’s A&K Development firm submitted an application in December 2001, for construction of a proposed subdivision in north Medical Lake called Fox Hollow West. The development would be A&K’s third residential subdivision project in the community. If approved, Fox Hollow West would provide 181 new homes on a 33 acre parcel of land stretching west from Stanley Street in the current Fox Hollow subdivision to just short of the railroad tracks, and north from the wastewater treatment plant to the city limits. The project would be built in six phases of 30 homes per phase as market conditions allow. The new subdivision would provide over 6,300 linear feet of new public streets, and extend the city’s water and sewer system into the area. Both conditions have good and bad aspects to them, Medical Lake public works director Doug Ross said. A&K Development will be responsible for building the new streets and the utilities expansion. Once done, taking care of the new infrastructure falls to the city.

Van Kuren wins national track association award

It’s funny the lengths people will go to in order to fulfill a passion for something. Take Cheney resident Ruth Van Kuren. Van Kuren developed a passion for competing in track and field when she was in her 40s. She wanted spring and summer months off to compete, but her work as a registered nurse kept getting in the way. Solution – go to work in the Cheney school system, where she worked for 17 years at Betz Elementary school before retiring recently. “It’s a very compatible profession for track,” she said. Van Kuren’s passion and work for the Cheney Track Club and the Inland Northwest USA Track and Field Association was recognized nationally in November 2001 when she was awarded the Horace Crowe Award for special qualities of contributions to USATF at the organization’s annual meeting in Mobile, Ala. Van Kuren’s husband, Lawson won the award in 2000. Besides the back-to-back awards for the Van Kurens, the Inland Association was the only winner of a gold medal for standards of excellence among the 57 USATF member associations across the country. The Inland Association’s gold medal win is due in large measure because of Ruth Van Kuren’s work as the association’s secretary and membership chair, Inland association president Mike Hinz said.

January 20 1972

30 years ago

Cheney Receives Funding for State Arterial Projects

The City of Cheney received word Monday that it has been awarded state matching funds for the upgrading of two arterial streets in Cheney — Fifth Street from “A” to “F” streets and around the corner on “F” to Sixth and the two block section of West Second Street from Washington to the state highway. City Clerk Roy Foss said the Urban Arterial Board of the State of Washington announced that both arterials have been authorized as “accelerated development” projects and that work may begin immediately. The controversial Fifth Street upgrading received $108,000 which represents 90 percent of the improvement costs. West Second Street improvements will be allowed using $19,800 from the Urban Arterial Board. Next step is in the hands of the City Council, said Foss, to either accept or reject the state’s “10 cent dollars.” The Council, which meets Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., in City Hall, will review the letters received from the Urban Arterial Board, authorize the City Engineer to make cost estimates on both projects should it accept the funds and determine how the remaining 10 percent to complete the projects will be funded. Applications to the Urban Arterial Board are made by number and matching funds allocated to those numbers.

Mrs. Judy Abbott Named Free Press Correspondent

Mrs. Robert (Judy) Abbot has been named the new correspondent to the Cheney Free Press for the town of Medical Lake, Jerry Jantz, publisher, has announced. The more than two-year resident of the community started writing community and business news in Medical Lake last week. Her husband is a master sergeant stationed at the Survival School with the Air Force and his military career has taken the Abbots all over the United States. The couple has been in Reno, Fairbanks, alaska; Hampton, Va, and Homestead, Fla. They are both originally from Sumner and call Tacoma their legal residence. Mrs. Abbot is active in the community having been an Avon lady for about two years. She is first vice president of the grade school elementary PTA, has a Girl Scout troop and is on the Rainbow advisory board at Fairchild. Her hobbies include sewing and writing. The Abbots have three children —Raymond, a freshman at Medical Lake high school; Tammie, in the sixth grade; and Lynn, in the fourth grade. The Abbots live at South 304 Walker in Medical Lake.