Gainer joins Free Press newsroom

CHENEY – A longtime local resident and former mayor has joined the newsroom staff at the Cheney Free Press.

Allan Gainer, 62, brings eight years as a newspaper editor and television reporter for Navy Broadcasting to the local newspaper. He gained his experience while serving in the U.S. Navy.

"I like being part of this community," Gainer said. "It's a great town.

"I want to tell the stories of the people of Cheney and Medical Lake."

"Allen's knowledge of the area and the inner workings of city government are a tremendous asset," Free Press owner and publisher Roger Harnack said. "And with his previous journalism experience, he's an excellent fit.

"Allan will provide the news coverage Free Press readers want, and deserve."

Early in his career, as a former newspaper editor of Hawaii Navy News in Pearl Harbor, Gainer wrote a story on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which was also his first story published in the Cheney Free Press in December of 1993.

As a Navy journalist, Gainer received two Chief of Information Awards - one as news director of Island Insight, weekly news show in Diego Garcia, in 1990, and as editor of Hawaii Navy News in 1991 for the 50th anniversary of the tragedy of Dec. 7, 1941.

Gainer also brings a wealth of knowledge about the culture, community and governments of Cheney and Medical Lake.

A Class of 1980 Cheney High School Graduate, he majored in radio-television management at Eastern Washington University, graduating in 1985.

He also brings business acument to the newsroom.

After leaving the U.S. Navy, he owned Tree of Knowledge Bookstore with his wife in the early 2000s and later opened Lenny's Restaurant in 2021.

He also served as Cheney Mayor from 2005 to 2009.

As a Desert Storm veteran, he is currently the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post quartermaster in Cheney. He is also the voice of the Cheney Rodeo Parade every year.

Gainer now lives just outside of Cheney on a 22-acre horse ranch.

He has two grown children, Jessica and Nicholas, both Cheney High and Eastern Washington University graduates.