Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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RITZVILLE - The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Bronco football players had their annual pool party Friday night, Aug. 18, with parents barbecuing burgers and serving home-made desserts at Ritzville Water Park. The football team is coached by Brendan Berme and assisted by Jack Welker, Joseph Roach, Jason Hilzer and Alan Field. "We are excited for a great season this year," said Hilzer, who ran the athletes through several competitive games and relays after an hour of swimming, diving a...
RITZVILLE - Rudy Thaut is remembered as a man who served his community after service in the U.S. Army that included 42 months as a prisoner of war in a Japanese prison camp. "Rudy gave so much to this town and his country, and he never wore it on his sleeve or expected much," Senator Mark Schoesler said. "The thought of Rudy Thaut saying you owe me, or the U.S. owes me, was unconscionable. He was a great American." Schoesler got to know Thaut through his lifetime service to th...
RITZVILLE – Day camps of horse back riding lessons are in full swing at Iron Legacy Ranch near Ralston this summer. The Ranch, located at 651 N. Benzel Road, is owned by Heidi Tracy and her husband, Ryan. Heidi Tracy is a Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) instructor. "Here at Iron Legacy Ranch, we use horses to connect with people where they are at," Tracy said. "We have found in our own lives that horses are an incredible tool to connect with ourselves and others, t...
This is my last issue as editor of the Ritzville Adams County Journal, as I have accepted another job here in town. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for letting me share your stories over the past year and a half. Moving here from Okanogan County just two weeks before the state shut down due to COVID, it was a bit of a challenge to get to know the community; but I soon became quite fond of my new home in Ritzville. I even enjoy the sound of the trains. Returning from occasional trips out of town visiting my...
KITTITAS COUNTY – Charges are pending against a Moses Lake man after he attempted to merge into a lane of traffic on Interstate 90, allegedly causing another vehicle to roll over. According to a Washington State Patrol spokesperson, Peter C. Hammer, 78, of Moses Lake was traveling westbound on I-90 near milepost 68 in the second of three lanes; as well as a vehicle driven in the third lane by Aaron R. Bernier. Bernier, 48, of Issaquah, was passing when Hammer attempted to merge into the third lane. According to WSP, the a...
RITZVILLE – The mayor and city council heard two requests regarding funding and one request concerning public safety at their regular meeting July 20. During public comment at the beginning of the meeting, city resident Marylu Hudson brought up concerns similar to those expressed at the previous council meeting. She said she lived in the 200 block of North Jefferson, and was asking the council to "keep an eye on the residential home" located near her, at 315 W. Broadway. "This...
RITZVILLE – A vehicle caught fire three miles west of Ritzville on Interstate 90 as it was being towed by a motor home Wednesday afternoon, July 21. Driving the motor home was Arnold Mott. "We were driving down the highway when all of a sudden a lady pulled up beside me and said, 'Your car's on fire,'" a shaken Mott said as firefighters continued to soak the vehicle. "She said it was smoking, but it was hazy all over, so I couldn't tell. I pulled over behind her, and by the t...
RITZVILLE – Area farmers are busy harvesting fields, with the drought affecting yields and protein counts of some crops. Mark Schoesler spoke from his combine while harvesting soft white wheat Monday morning, July 19. "We're probably about one-third or more through harvest, so we've got a feel for it," Schoesler said. "Right now I would say the majority of the soft white wheat, to date, is at a protein discount. Everything in the region will be below average." Schoesler s...
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology issued a drought emergency for nearly all of the state July 14. A drought emergency declaration means water supply is projected to be below 75% of average, and there is a risk of undue hardship to water users and uses. "While the governor's drought declaration is welcome and expected news, it is long overdue for our part of the state," Senator Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville) said, a wheat farmer whose 9th Legislative District include...
LIND – Town council discussed drafting an ordinance or resolution to restrict fireworks in the case of extremely dry conditions at their July 13 meeting. Mayor Paula Bell said Lind Fire Chief Kevin Starring was unable to attend the meeting due to working late. “Kevin asked to be part of the council meeting before the July 4 celebration, which was right after the fire that happened at Paha and Lind,” Bell said. “At that time, he was concerned with the fire aspect.” Bell said the fire chief did not think the council needed to...
RITZVILLE - Ballots have been mailed for the August 3 Primary Election. If you did not receive an Adams County Voters' Pamphlet in the mail, you can pick one up in the Adams County elections office at 106 W Main or the Adams County Courthouse at 210 W Broadway. To vote in the Primary Election, voter registrations must be received by Monday, July 26; either online or via U.S. mail. After July 26, people can register or update their registration in person at the county election office during business hours and until 8 p.m. on...
FISHTRAP – Lincoln County Fire Protection District No. 1, led by Fire Chief Mitch Lowry, responded to a fire near Fishtrap Lake Sunday, July 11, around 7 p.m. Fishtrap Lake is a reservoir located about 15 miles from Cheney in Lincoln County. "I haven't gotten a morning update yet, but we had it knocked down pretty well under control," Lowry said early Monday morning, July 12, adding DNR and BLM crews mopped up overnight. Lowry said he had seven trucks at the fire with at l...
RITZVILLE - The Lind-Ritzville-Sprague softball team honored players with awards at their annual banquet last month. Named Captains for the team are Kelsey Billigmeier and Sadie Miller. Grace Fedie was awarded Most Improved. Nyleana Bailey was named Defensive Player of the Year, and Miller took the award for Offensive Player of the Year. The Bronco Award went to Billigmeier. Both Miller and Bailey were selected as All League - South Division this year. The team is coached by...
RITZVILLE – Seven local non-profits recently received financial awards from Caring Neighbors. The Ritzville Fire Department was given $3,000 to go towards the purchase of air packs and truck lights. Franklin County Fire District No. 5 was given $2,000 to help refurbish their wildland fire truck. The Ritzville Public Library District No. 2 was given $1,600 to help with their summer reading program. Adams County Park and Recreation, which runs the Ritzville Water Park, r...
RITZVILLE - Krystal Hernandez, right, smiles after the rush of cooking 41 plates of Carne Asada for the Ritzville Eagles' membership drive dinner and comedy show Friday, July 9. Hernandez said she fixes tacos at the Eagles about once a year. "I've never been around for one of Krystal's taco dinners, but this was outstanding," Eagles Truestee Bill Sager said after Friday night's dinner. Hernandez was assisted by prep cook Brittney Giulieri, Janae Lawson and a host of volunteer...
RITZVILLE – A request from the Ritzville Downtown Development Authority (RDDA) for the city council to write a letter in support of the RDDA applying for a grant was turned down at the July 6 council meeting. The grant would partially fund a part-time executive director for two years. John Rankin presented both the benefits and risks he saw in the grant opportunity, which would fund a 20 hour per week position for two years at 75%. The other 25% would have to be funded by t...
RITZVILLE – Law enforcement officers will be doing business differently, with new legislation signed by Governor Inslee May 18 going into effect July 25. Ritzville Police Chief Dave McCormick gave city council members a heads-up about the changes at their July 6 meeting. "The new legislative updates are extremely restrictive, based on the current policies and state laws. So a lot of crimes are going to go uninvestigated," McCormick said. "A lot of the potential detentions for juveniles and adults both, they way they are h...
RITZVILLE – Local resident Brian Massy is in jail again. Ritzville Police Chief Dave McCormick said Massy was arrested without incident by officers of the Ritzville Police Department assisted by Adams County Sheriff's deputies and WSP troopers Sunday, July 11. Massy, 33, was booked into Adams County Jail on charges of possessing stolen property in the 3rd degree, after a theft of patio furniture from a residence on East 4th Avenue, in the late evening hours of July 11. He was also booked on a no bail warrant issued by the D...
LIND – Volunteer firefighters quickly responded to a vehicle that caught fire in the southbound lanes of Highway 395, about four miles north of Lind Thursday afternoon, July 1. The vehicle fire had begun to spread to sagebrush and cheatgrass on the side of the highway, just days after a fire torched 2200 acres in the same area. "It was burning in sage brush about two and a half feet tall, and the flames were about 10 feet tall," Fire Protection District No. 1 Chief Scott Kembe...
RITZVILLE – Lind-Ritzville School District's Athletic Director, Greg Whitmore, was named the Washington State Athletic Director of the Year by the Washington State Secondary Athletic Administrator's Association (WSSAAA). The honor was bestowed upon Whitmore at the State Athletic Director Conference in Kennewick Friday, June 25. "This is a pretty big deal, to get this award," Lind-Ritzville High School Principal Kevin Terris, who accompanied Whitmore to the state conference, s...
RITZVILLE – Katie Sloan is the new Adams County Clerk, sworn in to her position Wednesday, June 30. She was to begin taking over responsibilities in her new role the following day. Formerly employed as the Superior Court Administrator, Sloan said she would be performing duties in both offices until the vacancy is filled. The Superior Court Administrator is responsible for maintaining the Judge's calendar, scheduling bench and jury trials, and responding to incoming c...
OTHELLO – The city was awarded $1,350,000 in grants from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, which will be used to improve Lions Park. The city plans to use the funding to replace 1950's playground equipment and playground surfacing with a new Pride Rock Playground. Both the equipment and surface will make the area accessible to people with disabilities. Landscaping and furnishings will also be added to offer shade and comfort during Othello's hot summers. The city will also be using part of the f...
RITZVILLE – Adams County Fire Protection District No. 1 Board of County Commissioners enacted Fire Danger Burn Restrictions during a special meeting Thursday, June 29. Resolution 2021-1 restricts unauthorized open burning, unauthorized recreational fires and the burning of all combustible materials which may include, but are not limited to, outdoor burning of yard vegetation or waste, non-emergent agriculture burning, exploding gun targets, bullet tracer rounds, fire pits, any open flame; and fireworks. The restrictions a...
RITZVILLE – Governor Jay Inslee is refusing requests to declare a drought emergency in Washington state. "As the extremely hot temperatures have reminded us, much of eastern Washington, including our wheat-growing regions, is in the middle of a drought. This is a huge concern for me and other wheat growers in the area," Senator Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville) said July 1, adding two wheat industry officials sent a letter to Inslee June 15 asking him to declare a drought emergency which would provide affected farmers with a...
RITZVILLE – Law enforcement officers arrested a man for theft and criminal trespassing after a residential video showing a man taking a bicycle from a home was forwarded to the police department. Brian Massy of Ritzville, age 33, was arrested and booked into Adams County Jail on charges of Criminal Trespassing in the 2nd degree and Theft in the 3rd degree early Friday morning, July 2. Chief Dave McCormick said video from a residence in the 200 block of East 10th Avenue showing the subject taking a black and silver Schwinn bic...