Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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After resounding success last year, the Reviving Rural Downtowns Workshop will be returning to downtown Ritzville on Sept. 21-22. Hosted by the Adams County Development Council (ACDC). Community members and business owners will be provided the opportunity to learn about economic growth and preservation of the historic downtown area. The event proved to be a success last year with the number of attendees totaling 110 people from across Washington. Adams County Economic Development Director Stephen McFadden announced news of...
Ritzville Fire Chief Bill Banner and Assistant Fire Chief Joel Bell requested the Ritzville City Council’s permission to purchase head sets for use on city fire calls during the meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The headsets have multiple uses and benefits, Banner said. The two presented an informational video to the Council explaining the variety of uses the headsets would have such as: improving communication, preventing long-term damaged hearing abilities, reduce backing incidents, push to talk radio and listen through t...
The Lady Broncos swept the floor with their competition during their three matches in the Bronco Invite volleyball tournament on Saturday, Sept. 10. The tournament began with a match against Odessa-Harrington. In the past, Odessa-Harrington has proved to be a strong competitor for the varsity team and Head Coach Cari Galbreath said she expected it to be a tough match. The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague team proved their coach wrong by displaying great defense and powerful offensive at...
A new friendly face is offering her hairdressing services in the downtown area. Andrea Jones has received the opportunity to have her own station at Kick’n It Up Beauty Salon located at 216 West Main Avenue. Currently residing in Washtucna, Jones said she adores small town communities. She is currently employed at Java Bloom part-time when she is not working in Ritzville. Jones grew up in Tonasket where she enjoyed the small town atmosphere and support. Jones explained g...
Economic expansion can prove to be fairly difficult without strategic planning and immense organization. The business potential of small communities can sometimes be overlooked if not actively marketed. The Adams County Development Council (ACDC) works tirelessly to conduct strategic plans to help expand and promote the county. ACDC is a nonprofit organization whose mission includes improving the county’s economic health while preserving its natural and historic attributes. T...
Two friendly faces will make their way down Main Avenue for Ritzville’s Community Parade on Saturday, Sept. 3. The people of Ritzville have chosen Beverly (Bev) and Jim Cobb, to be this year’s parade Grand Marshal’s. Born in Minnesota, Bev moved and grew up in a small town in North Dakota where she said she experienced her most cherished childhood memories. Her high school sweetheart, Jim, grew up in Indiana before he moved to Vancouver in 1951. A couple years later, Bev m...
Lind Town Council approved a contingent of $1,300 at their meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 23, in order to dig test pits necessary for the Storm Water Project. The meeting began with Stantec Engineer Alan Gay requesting Council’s approval of two Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) applications to cover funding the replacement and paving of Sixth Street and south Third Street. Councilmember Paula Bell addressed the wording of the application, which states the deadline to submit the application to be Aug. 19. Gay expressed his f...
A massive fire threatened homes and crops near Kahlotus and required fire crews from neighboring counties to assist in fighting the flames. The fire started on Sunday, Aug. 21, on Highway 260 near Connell and quickly spread east toward the Town of Kahlotus, where it threatened homes and required those residing close to where the flames spread to evacuate the premises. Franklin County Fire Department responded to the scene in attempt to prevent the blaze from destroying homes and buildings nearby. Despite their efforts, the...
The Ritzville City Council approved two street closures at their Tuesday meeting on Aug. 16. The meeting began with a proposal from CenturyLink to put fiber lines throughout the city, which requires an easement area on the northwest corner of the park on South Division Street behind the Ag Shop. The Council expressed their concerns about the placement of the piece of equipment being in the vicinity to the water tower, which would prove difficult to relocate the tower if ever needed. Councilmember Scott Yaeger added concerns...
The process of regulating the Initiative 502 codes regarding the use of recreational and medicinal marijuana retail and processing continues as the Adams County Commissioners made their first step in trying to have set boundary restrictions at their meeting on Monday, Aug. 22. The board adopted a resolution, placing a temporary moratorium on retailing, producing and processing of marijuana in Adams County. The moratorium prohibits the establishment of licensed recreational and medical marijuana retail outlets, production,...
Fire season continues to hit hard in Adams County as Lind and Ritzville Fire Departments responded to a structure fire on Thursday, Aug. 18. Lind Assistant Fire Chief Rubben Labes said they received the call of the small stubble fire on East Weber road near Highway 21 around 11:30 a.m. to which Lind responded with four brush trucks, a water tanker and a rescue vehicle, and quickly requested mutual aide from Ritzville. The fire quickly spread and took out two buildings, which b...
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office welcomes a new deputy in town, Deputy Juan Garcia. Garcia grew up in Connell and currently resides there with his wife and two daughters. Since he is an employee of the Adams County Sheriff’s office, Garcia will eventually move inside county lines. Along with Ritzville, he will also be paroling in the Othello district. Growing up in Connell, Garcia said he is used to the small town atmosphere. Garcia said he finds comfort being able to be apa...
With society’s recent obsession with taking pictures, it is sometimes hard to find a photographer who has the passion along with the schooling for the profession. Area residents can find those traits and professionalism with Kayli Maier and her new photography business, Kayli Maier Photography. Maier recently moved to Ritzville in August to marry her local high school sweetheart Zach Maier. The small town lifestyle is nothing new to Maier due to the fact she grew up in O...
The Youths of Adams County will have an opportunity to learn about the harmful effects of marijuana and e-cigarettes and provided with fun activities to attend thanks to two members of the Adams County Health Department. Karen Potts, Nursing Director for Adams County Health Department and Karen Palmer, Adams County Assessment Coordinator, are taking steps to inform youths about the dangers of substance abuse and providing them with alternative activities in Ritzville. The duo has established a Youth Marijuana Program in...
The Ritzville City Council approved three applications through the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) for construction projects at their meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 2. The meeting began with Clerk/Treasurer Kris Robbins presenting the council with Show Cause hearings homes in the area whose yard conditions are a concern to the council and the public. Council stated their concern about the safety and security of the homeowners and public when presented pictures of the conditions of the homes. Ritzville Fire Chief Bill Banner...
Fire season struck Washtucna leaving the local fire department battling blazes throughout their district. Within a four-day period, they responded to three separate calls of fires located on CRP grounds. Thursday’s fire began with a hay truck fire on State Route 26 outside of Hooper. As the truck became consumed by flames, the fire spread into the CRP and farm ground in the surrounding area. Crews battled the blaze from the early afternoon hours on Thursday well into the night, spending an estimated six hours attempting to c...
The Ritzville Fire Department hardly received a break over the weekend due to high temperatures and high winds causing major fire hazards. The crew’s weekend began by responding to a structure fire late Saturday morning. The call came in around 11 a.m. with a report of a possible electrical fire at 109 West Fifth Avenue. Ritzville Fire Chief Bill Banner said the fire started from a wiring issue in the home. The homeowner stated he turned on his breaker and shortly after s...
Lind Town Council received an outstanding pay request during their meeting on Tuesday, July 26. Stantec Engineer Alan Gay informed the Council about the requested payment due for the retainage release for the well installation project from the summer of 2015. The pay request totaled $20,078.91. Gay explained the Town still had $15,000 in the contract from the block grant received from the Department of Commerce. However, he said the Council needed to make a decision on which fund to use to pay the $5,000 due to urgency of...
The Ritzville City Council had a meeting Tuesday, July 19 to discuss any new business since their last meeting, along with department updates. The meeting began with a presentation of a new ordinance regarding a temporary moratorium on any new Cannabis Based Business in the City of Ritzville. The temporary moratorium prohibits the production, processing and retail sales of recreational and medicinal marijuana for a six-month period. Clerk Treasurer Kris Robbins explained how I-502 laws regarding the requirements of...
The Lind Town Council held a meeting Tuesday, July 12, to discuss important issues regarding the progress on the Town’s maintenance. The main purpose of the meeting included the discussion of progress on the Storm Water Project and the introduction of a new ordinance establishing a Complete Streets Program. At the beginning of the meeting, Stantec Engineer Alan Gay presented a contract for a vector truck to clean the streets and culverts. After presented, the contract received unanimous approval, which allowed for Gay to forw...
A new yet familiar face will be walking the Lind-Ritzville High School hallways this upcoming school year. Ronanda Liberty has received the position of the new high school principal. Liberty has a son and a daughter both in high school. Her husband has been a Language Arts teacher in Pasco for the past eight years. Together, they share a love for teaching and inspiring students to be their best. Before her involvement in education, she worked in retail and managed a keys and engraving shop in Spokane. Liberty said she always...
A massive fire put up quite the fight on Saturday, July 9, as Ritzville and surrounding communities united to battle the enormous flames. The fire believed to have started at a power pole and proceeded to sweep through Adams and Lincoln County, destroying nearly 2,000 acres of scabland and CRP grounds. While Adams County responds to multiple wild land fires each summer, Saturday’s blaze recorded as one of the largest in the county’s recent history. Adams County Fire Pro...
The quiet town of Washtucna took Independence Day by storm with their annual Fourth of July parade. On Monday, Main Street filled with children’s laughter and glowing faces as cars and floats made their way through the town. The people of Washtucna used this parade to honor two friendly faces that have spent years dedicating their lives to helping the community. Jim and Linda Whitman were granted the positions of Grand Marshals for the parade, and led it proudly. The c...