November 6, 2024
November 6, 2024
RITZVILLE - The city's recently retired police chief has reflected on his 32 years of service to the city, and it might have been something like having your hands tied. He seems of the opinion recent changes in law have not done anyone a favor. "Crimes are fueled by drugs," McCormick said, "whether it's theft, the assaults, any type of crime is, in my opinion, multiplied several times by the need for drugs and the money that the drugs chase." He said fentanyl seems to be the...
RITZVILLE - Former Police Chief Dave McCormick gave the city his notice of retirement in February this year, but there was no public announcement of a vacancy until three months later. Perhaps the city was hoping he would change his mind, but the pause in advertising the job delayed hiring a replacement or even a fill-in until a permanent candidate could be selected. Finally the city selected Bill Benner to be an "interim" chief of police. Benner had an honorary cross-over... Full story
OTHELLO - An Adams County Sheriff's Office deputy lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a guardrail Nov. 2 while responding to a burglary call. The Sheriff's Office has yet to identify the deputy; the Washington State Patrol is investigating the incident. According to Sheriff Dale Wagner, deputies were dispatched to a call of a burglary in progress in the 2100 block of West Cunningham Road at about 6:43 a.m. Records show the resident had woke up and found a man inside...
RITZVILLE — A local boy accused of threatening to shoot classmates and bombing the school has pleaded not guilty to related charges. During a Monday, Nov. 4 hearing, Donald G. DesJardins, 14, of Ritzville, entered a not guilty plea to a felony charge of Revised Code of Washington 9.61.160, threats to bomb, before Adams County Superior Court Judge Andrea K. Russell. Desjardins was arrested Oct. 22, 2024, following a one-day investigation by area police agencies regarding alleged communications sent by DesJardins to various...
The most eye-catching area for commercial development in Ritzville is nestled around Exit 221 of Interstate 90. Plenty of businesses with brand-name recognition have already sprouted, from a Love’s Travel Stop to McDonald’s, and a Maverik station is near completion. “The Maverik is part of a large annexation that occurred, I think it’s been three years ago now,” said Julie Flyck, who is the Ritzville planner as well as the city clerk and treasurer. Looking very enticing beyond the Maverik station is the planned...
Jail Log RITZVILLE — The Adams County Prosecutimg Attortmey’s Office reported the following individuals in custody from Oct. 29-Nov. 4: Nov. 4: Alyssa Hesselroth, 38, fourth-degree assault-domestic violence. Booked into the Franklin County Jail. Munoz Aguilera, 28, driving without a license and driving while under the influence. Booked into the Franklin County Jail. Noel DeLeon, 40, fourth-degree assault-domestic violence-prior domestic violence. Booked into the Franklin County Jail. Oct. 29: Josiah Matthew Barrera, 21,...
You can find a photo inside the Pastime in 1949, which might have been the grand opening. "From what I've heard from a lot of the locals that have been around since then, this was the Pastime Sports Center, but it included a magazine stand and a soda fountain," said Ryan Reilly, who has reopened the business with his sister and brother-in-law after it has been shuttered for two years. "Also, kids could get their cleats and mitts and stuff for sports here," Reilly said. "At...
Millions of people make considerable sacrifices to protect the freedoms of their fellow citizens. According to the Pew Research Center and data from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Census Bureau, there are currently more than 18 million living veterans in the United States. The 2021 Census counted 461,240 veterans in Canada, according to Veterans Affairs Canada. The term ‘veteran’ refers to a person who served in the active military, naval, air service, or space service and was discharged or released...
Senior cheerleaders were recognized Friday night at Jimmy Snider...
RITZVILLE - The Bronco boys football team kept pace with the No. 4-ranked Freeman Scotties on Friday night, Nov. 1, but they just couldn't get points on the board. The Scotties won, 20-0, on a wet, muddy Jimmy Snider Field. "If wish we could find a way to break through," Broncos Coach Brandan Bermea said. "But I'm really proud of our guys." Freeman Coach Mike McKeown also praised the Broncos for a great game. It was a fun way to end our season, coming into a different...
RITZVILLE — In a battle of state runners-up, the Freeman girls volleyball team topped the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos, 3-0, on Thursday, Oct. 31, on Senior Night in Gilson Gymnasium. Set scores were 17-25, 16-25, 11-25. The Freeman girls were the state Class 1A runners-up last year; the Broncos were runners up in state 2B. Before the game started, the teams seniors were recognized with family members. This year’s seniors include: • Madisyn Cameron, recognized with parents Mark and Christinia Cameron • Addy...
COLFAX — Lind-Ritzville/Sprague seniors led Bronco cross country runners during the regional state-qualifier Thursday, Oct. 31, at the Colfax Golf Course. Cameron Christianson was 58th overall in the boys 5,000-meter, finishing with a time of 21:33.30. For the girls, Savannah Carruth was the fastest Bronco on the course, finishing 45th in 24:01.23. She was the only local girl to qualify for the meet. In the boys race, Bronco freshmen Cade Galbreath and Wyatt Walker finished 63rd and 64th overall, with times of 22:06.50...
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the new Major League baseball World Series Champions after rallying from a five run deficit to defeat the New York Yankees 7-6 and win the best of seven series four games to one. I did watch more of this series than I had in a while. This series was really important for the Dodgers because they have had some of the best talent in baseball but they had trouble in the playoffs. They did win the COVID shortened 2020 season but had to play games...
The Broncos girls volleyball team heads to district this week with seven seniors on the roster. Pictured from left, are Claire Wellsandt, Liberty McClanathan, Addy Colbert, Madisyn Cameron, Temple Gefre, Brooklyn Norton and Danika Cox. The girls and their parents were recognized Thursday night, Oct. 31, during a volleyball Senior Night in Gilson... Full story
Were the Seattle legislators who said that farmers could afford to pay the state’s new CO2 tax right after all? A recent report from the Washington State Department of Licensing shows just 6.5 percent of funds set aside for farmers to collect a rebate on fuel taxes assessed by the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) have been accessed. State Senator Joe Nguyen (D-Seattle) mentioned the low number of farmers applying for the rebates recently, highlighting it as evidence that the...
Washington’s agriculture is a $12.8 billion business with 33,000 farms — and it runs on gasoline, diesel, and natural gas. The hundreds of big rigs hauling crops and food products are not electric. Even though new trucks have reduced CO2 and other pollutants, some politicians are hastily charging ahead to replace fossil-fueled trucks with unproven technology. According to 2021 Environmental Protection Agency data, transportation was responsible for 30 percent of...
Six-month old Eva Phillips and her brother Timothy, 2, take a break from exploring Candyland, on Oct. 31, which once upon a time used to be the Adams County District Court in Ritzville. With them are grandmother Rachel Knebel, 56, of Seattle, left, and mom Lauren Phillips, 30, of...
RITZVILLE — With Halloween retreating back into the shadows on a dark and stormy night, Thanksgiving offers a bright and warm welcome. The H.E. Gritman Senior Citizens Center in Ritzville will offer a Thanksgiving dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, with the main event plus all the trimmings, Cost is $15 per person. Space is limited and seating requires an RSVP by phone at (509) 659-1921. The center will offer regular meals Monday and Wednesday, Nov. 25 and 27, and will be closed Thanksgiving day, Nov. 28. The senior center...
LIND — The following area residents are celebrating birthdays and anniversaries from Oct. 30 to Nov. 6: Anniversaries Nov. 4 — Dennis and Sue Hill. Birthdays Oct. 30 — Shane Hopkins. Oct. 31 —Cade Prado and Levi Cooper. Nov. 1 — Kurt Grabo. Nov. 2 — Carol Ellingson-Foster. Nov. 4 — Emma Cody. Nov. 6 — Becky Branson and Debbie...
Ah … politics! If you’re a responsible American, as I often pretend to be, you’ll have watched and read and listened to as much hogwash on every side of every question ad nauseum, and we’ll all troop to the polls, read the names and say “Is this the best you guys can do for candidates?” And then we’ll vote, anyway. And that’s why I’d like to suggest March 4 as a new national holiday, it being the entire term of the only non-toxic President of the United States. His name was David Rice Atchison, who later...
RALSTON - Service organizations of every stripe seem challenged to keep or grow membership, and when the population of the area is small, finding the necessary bottle of vitamins might be elusive. Ralston Grange hosted a community night Oct. 15 with an open forum to let rural community organizations brainstorm about getting enough people to commit in sustaining their projects. "We had a group very much involved with scouts and another representing church organizations." said...
