October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Our pink paper supply is almost gone, so we’re back to our standard newsprint. Here is another breast cancer fact. Can drinking alcohol increase the risk of breast cancer? Moderation is key. One drink per day has been shown to slightly increase the risk of breast cancer. Having more than one drink per day has shown to be a more signifi cant risk factor, and the alcohol content Also inside... doesn’t matter: wine, beer or a mixed drink. "USINESS3ERVICE0AGE Although we know that more than one drink per day increases risks, to 7EST0LAINS"RIEFS0AGE date there are no studies that demonstrate directly that the more a person Keenan Williams (92) helped lead Cheney to its first 7EST0LAINS0OLICE3EC0AGE drinks, the greater their risk for cancer. For more information on breast Great Northern League win, 28-14 over Deer Park at last ,EGAL3EC0AGE cancer and how you can help, go to www.nationalbreastcancer.org. Friday’s Homecoming. #LASSIlED3EC0AGE Cheney FREE PRESS October 24, 2013 Your West Plains Newspaper Since 1896 75 cents Cheney council gets first look at budget proposed $1,206,497, refl ecting a rate of $2.37 per Flattened assessed property valuation and reduction in sales tax from $1,000 of assessed property value. construction projects should tighten general fund expenses in 2014 The Emergency Medical Service levy, in its second year of six, is calculated at $254,379, refl ecting a rate By JOHN McCALLUM The city’s property tax assessed valuation is ex- of 50 cents per $1,000. But while the EMS funds are Editor pected to reach $510,239,897 next year, refl ecting a dedicated, Finance Director Cindy Niemeier said not Cheney’s City Council began its 2014 budget relatively fl at trend the past fi ve years after a huge all of the taxes paid to the city stay in Cheney. deliberations Tuesday night with a look at general jump between 2009-2010 that increased valuations The school district receives 42 percent of the prop- fund revenues and expenses and the departments from the mid-$400 million mark to just over $500 funded through property taxes and other fees. million. The general property tax levy in 2014 is a See Council page 12 AH begins budget preparation By JAMES EIK Staff Reporter The annual budget season started up in Airway Heights at the Monday, Oct. 21 City Council meeting with a public hearing that outlined the budget pre- sentation schedule over the next couple of months. Airway Heights has a reported as- sessed valuation of $460.6 million, aided by its annexation to the east. The popula- tion increased by over 25 percent in the annexation. Final numbers are expected toward the end of the year in order to aid with the budget’s formation, which will roll out to the public in November and December. The City Council heard a presenta- tion from the Cheney School District regarding its clinic at Sunset Elementary, which has been successfully operating for the past year. Joanna Heller, a representative from the Community Health Association of Spokane, said the clinic is open from Photo by John McCallum 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Monday through The end is nigh Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. A licensed A Cheney firefighter watches while the city’s ladder engine lowers the effigy of Eastern Washington University’s Home- health social worker is on-site Tuesday coming opponent — the Southern Utah Thunderbirds — at last Thursday’s bonfire. The Thunderbirds “dummy” soon met its fate in the waiting bonfire. See Budget page 12 Cheney’s crime rate still continuing under 2012 levels department has undertaken you want to accomplish and us- Several Police Department measures are serving in the last year and a half as ing your resources to do it.” in maintaining an overall 20-plus percent reduction reasons why overall levels are Several of those measures down – signifi cantly. revolve around keeping police By JOHN McCALLUM summer, crime in Cheney con- able to more people back in “This is common sense po- offi cers visible in the commu- Editor tinues to be lower than this the city as vacations end and licing,” he said. “There’s not a nity. All patrol cars are now While showing a slight up same time last year. And while schools start, Police Chief John lot of science that goes into this. tick over the last months of the increase might be attribut- Hensley points to measures the It’s about thinking about what See Crime reduction page 11 New SCRAPS codes means slight changes in Medical Lake By JAMES EIK Under the interlocal the city. Additionally, located than right now. F o l l o w i n g t h e its annual work contract Staff Reporter agreement, Medical Lake cities would give up their The organization hopes to SCRAPS discussion, the In addition to hearing and other cities across licensing renewal fees. implement the interlocal City Council approved See SCRAPS page 11 from Spokane County and Spokane County would “From the city's per- agreements once moved its pursuit of approving be united in their animal spective, it's totally worth into the facility, in order Proposition 1 in the No- control laws. For some it to do this,” City Admin- to create a cohesive set Turkey Trot fee incorrect vember election, at its Oct. jurisdictions, like Medi- istrator Doug Ross said. of regulations across the 17 meeting the Medical cal Lake, it would mean SCRAPS is moving county. Currently, each In last week’s West Plains Brief on the Cheney Lake City Council heard being charged just once into its new building (the jurisdiction can create High School cross country team’s annual Turkey from the Spokane County for a three-year contract former home to Harley their own set of animal Trot fundraiser it was incorrectly stated that the Regional Animal Protec- instead of facing a charge Davidson) on Trent Av- control laws, which leads $5 entry fee included a T-shirt. The $5 entry fee tion Service (SCRAPS) on each time an animal con- enue in April next year, to different standards does not come with a T-shirt, but a $20 entry fee its plans for 2014. trol instance arises within making it more centrally across the county. includes the T-shirt. Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Halloween Vol. 117 -- No. 27 Sunny Sunny Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Sunny Mostly sunny Partly cloudy High/Low 64/33 62/35 58/30 47/27 47/28 51/30 5/1/32 Page 2 Free Press EDUCATION Thursday, October 24, 2013 ELECTION 2013 Shadix challenges Dolle for Cheney School Board Position 2 By JOHN McCALLUM “If we don’t stick up for our kids, new high school, north Editor of Interstate 90. The only In the only contested provide for our children, we’re going district building north of West Plains school board to see more of the vulnerable popula- I-90 is Sunset Elementary, race, Cheney School constructed in 1952, and Board president Suzanne tion growing.” Shadix sees a new school Dolle faces a challenge Suzanne Dolle closer to, if not in, Air- from political newcomer way Heights as a means Kippie Shadix for the “I think the community needs to of reducing transporta- District 2 seat. tion costs while support- Dolle was elected to be more educated, better informed ing growing community the seat in 2009. She stud- on what’s going on in the schools and spirit. ied elementary educa- Dolle is not opposed Kippie Shadix given better opportunities to partici- Suzanne Dolle tion at the University of to a new facility north Kentucky, has worked “I think the communi- pate.” “If we don’t stick up of I-90, but the district as a substitute teacher, ty needs to be more edu- Kippie Shadix for our kids, provide needs to build “where elementary school para- cated, better informed on for our children, we’re the students are” while professional along with what’s going on in the impact local education believes it could increase going to see more of the being efficient with fund- several private sector posi- schools and given better and families. She said costs to install. She points vulnerable population ing and programs. There tions. She has volunteered opportunities to partici- the board must look at to continued uncertainty growing,” she said. are many costs people for various positions on pate,” Shadix said. the district’s dynamics, over the economy as an- Shadix said she has don’t see when discuss- PTA and PTO boards Dolle has always had where kids are coming other challenge. more to learn on this as ing a new school, Dolle along with a community a passion for children from, their living condi- Dolle’s challenge is well, but feels it’s im- said, such as wetlands board for drug and alco- as an educator and par- tions and incorporate “Getting space for the portant to make sure and soil remediation hol awareness and Air ent. She began serving more into budgeting. kiddos.” Another is re- the increased state fund- and staffing, noting the Force support positions. on school boards and Shadix said a bond to storing funding cut dur- ing goes to students three schools built with Shadix has a bache- committees as a way to improve the high school ing previous state budget and not the system. She the 2010 bond money lor’s of science degree in keep up on issues and worries her.