Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Sorted by date Results 126 - 150 of 220
LIND – A local man has been sentenced after pleading guilty Monday, Jan. 3, in a domestic violence case. Charles William Rushing, 46, appeared in Adams County Superior Court in Ritzville and pleaded guilty to charges of protection order violation-domestic violence and third-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, records show. The charges stem from an arrest by Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Washington State Patrol troopers on Dec. 14 in Lind, records show. Adams County Superior Court Judge Steve Dixon acc...
RITZVILLE – A Wenatchee man has pleaded not guilty to second-degree attempted rape of a child. Royal Eaton Dana, 32, of Wenatchee, pleaded not guilty Jan. 3 in Adams County Superior Court, records show. The charge stems from a Dec. 16 arrest by Othello police. According to the probable cause statement, the arrest was made after detectives responded to an online ad, and carried on a text message conversation with the defendant, while impersonating a 13-year-old girl, records show. Dana allegedly drove from Wenatchee to meet th...
RALSTON – An Washtucna teenager has died from injuries he sustained in a crash Wednesday, Dec. 22, on state Highway 261. Jeffery S. Zupan, 18, of Washtucna, died at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, the Washington State Patrol reported Thursday, Dec. 23. The crash occurred around 1:50 p.m., about 9 miles south of Ritzville, the patrol reported, noting the two vehicle collision was near Milepost 53 of Highway 261, south of Ralston. According to the patrol, Zupan was n...
RITZVILLE – The East Adams Rural Hospital will close out 2021 with a net proft. During a virtual hospital board meeting Dec. 16, Chief Financial Officer Kimberly Polanco said the hospital district showed a net profit in November, and assured the board the district would finish the 2021 fiscal year in the black. Historically the district has struggled to turn an annual profit. “It’s been a good year, and we are making money,” board Chairman John Kragt said. “So, that’s a good thing.” The board also heard from a physician who...
OTHELLO – The Adams County Local Emergency Planning Committee met in a virtual conference Thursday, Dec. 16. Emergency Management Director Sandi Duffey reported there were no fines from the state Department of Ecology related to handling of hazardous materials during the third quarter of 2021. She noted handling of stormwater is becoming a concern for Ecology. Emergency management in Adams County is responsible for maintaining the county emergency management plan. The plan provides preparedness and coordination among fire d...
RITZVILLE – Three City Council members took the oath of office, Tuesday, Dec. 21. Adams County Auditor Heidi Hunt administered the oath to new Councilwoman Marsha Reimers Smith, and to re-elected Councilmen Scott Yaeger and Mike Schrag. Councilwoman Michelle Plumb was also re-elected, but was not present for the ceremony. During the meeting, the council bid farewell to outgoing Councilman Mark Weigand. Mayor Linda Kadlec thanked Weigand for his service, and recognized his s...
RITZVILLE – Lind and Ritzville School Boards met Dec. 16 in Ritzville and performed a number of year-end organizational tasks. The Ritzville board elected Reid Phillips chairman and Greg Galbreath vice-chairman. The Lind board re-elected Jani Melcher chairwoman and Adam Labes vice-chairman. The boards set 2022 meeting dates to be the fourth Monday of each month, with the exception of December 2022, when that day falls on Dec. 26, the observed day for Christmas. In even numbered months, meetings will be in the Lind-Ritzville H...
RITZVILLE – Young and old turned out, Saturday, Dec. 18, for Winter Fest activities. An inch of fresh snow fell overnight contributing to the festive winter setting. The first activity of the afternoon was the Fly-In Santa. Due to inclement weather at the departure location, Santa Claus was not able to take off in the Life Flight helicopter. But, the Ritzville Fire Department saved the day, delivering Santa Claus to the grade school on time. Dozens of cars lined up on "...
RITZVILLE – Fifteen local youngsters got in some Christmas shopping, Saturday, Dec. 11, with the help of more than a dozen members of local law enforcement agencies, first responders and members of their families. The annual event organized by Police Chief Dave McCormick provided shopping opportunities for the children to shop at Ritzville Drug Store and Love's Travel Stop. Participating families were also given gift certificates for local grocery stores. In all $1,600 worth o...
OTHELLO – A Wenatchee man is being held on $20,000 bail after allegedly attempting to meet a minor for sex in the park lot of the city swimming pool. Royal Eaton Dana, 32, of Wenatchee, was arraigned Friday, Dec. 17, in Adams County Superior Court for second-degree attempted rape of a child and prostitution. Dana was formally charged Monday, Dec. 20, in Adams County Superior Court on second-degree attempted rape of a child. The prostitution charge was dropped. He was arraigned Friday, Dec. 17, before Judge Andrea Russell, who...
OTHELLO – A bicyclist was injured Dec. 15 in a collision with a pickup on state Highway 26. The crash occurred at 5:30 p.m. near Milepost 39, about a mile west of the city. According to the Washington State Patrol, Wayne S. Allen, 48, of Seattle, was westbound in a 2019 Ford F350 pickup truck, at the time of the crash. The bicyclist, Marco A Martinez, 29, of Othello, was riding westbound on the shoulder of the highway, but crossed into the westbound lane of travel as the pickup approached, the patrol reported. He was s...
RITZVILLE – Adams County commissioners held public hearings on the proposed 2022 county budget. During the Monday, Dec. 13, hearing, Commissioner Jay Weise outlined the budget process, saying it was “a little different from previous years.” He explained a series of workshops took place with all elected officials and department heads attending in an effort to share and learn about what other department budget requests include, and why. The 2022 proposed budget is a status quo budget which provides for continued opera...
RITZVILLE – Winter weather hit Monday morning, Dec. 20, resulting in significant snowfall and multiple collisions on Interstate 90 near Schoessler Road. According to the state Department of Transportation, the trouble began around 8:30 a.m., when a collision involving a semi closed the left lane of westbound I-90 at Milepost 225. By 9:15 a.m., there were multiple collisions and slide-offs in the area due to compact snow and ice on the road, delaying travel in both d...
RITZVILLE – Three Lind-Ritzville/Sprague wrestlers have been picked in the Top 15 pre-season rankings in their respective weight classes. Junior Johnny Ryan is ranked No. 2 in the 113 pound weight class. Ryan competed in the state Mat Classic tournament last February at 106 pounds. During the state tournament, he received a first round bye, won his first match and then lost to eventual state champion Waylon Thomas of Tonasket. In the consolation round he lost to Cody White o...
RITZVILLE – The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague boys (0-1) and girls (0-2) basketball teams both fell to Tri-Cities Prep on Tuesday, Nov. 30. The Bronco boys lost to the Jaguars, 57-54. Chase Galbreath had 18 points and J.T. Kelly had 14 in the losing effort. The boys team was also scheduled to play Medical Lake (0-1) at home Tuesday night, Dec. 7; The Journal went to press before the game started. The local girls also fell , 43-38. Hannah Chang led all girls on the court with 20 points for the Jaguars. Grace Fedie paced the B...
RITZVILLE – There's a new business downtown. The Main Event opened at 116 W. Main Ave. on Nov. 27. Owned by Amy Guiles and her parents Sherrie and Ron Guiles of Spokane, Main Event is a gift and coffee shop with a holiday theme. Borrowing from the classic 1942 film "Holiday Inn," starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, the store will only be open on holidays, or more specifically months with significant decorating and gifting holidays included. The store will remain open 10 a...
RITZVILLE – The East Adams Rural Hospital board is considering an $11.4 million operating budget next year. The proposed 2022 budget includes an 8% increase in fees for outpatient ancillary services. It also includes a 3% increase for salaries, and a 3% non-salary inflation factor. East Adams Rural Hospital Chief Financial Officer Kimberly Polanco submitted her proposed operating and capital budgets for the 2022 fiscal year during the board’s November meeting. The executive summary balance sheet shows total assets for 202...
RITZVILLE – Friday, Dec. 3, marks the start of three weeks of holiday activities here. The Christmas season will be ushered in with the annual Festival of Lights outdoor market in Pioneer Plaza, on Washington Street between Main and Railroad, on Friday. The market is slated for 4-7 p.m., officials said. There will be a number of vendors and food trucks on hand, and Santa is expected to make an appearance to hear Christmas wishes and pose for pictures. At 5:30 p.m., a...
RITZVILLE – Nine Lind-Ritzville/Sprague football players received NE 2B All-Opponent honors for the 2021 season. Six of the players were recognized for play on both offense and defense. Freshmen Brody Boness hit the trifecta, receiving honors for offense, defense and special teams. On the offensive line senior Kolby Tracy and junior Hayden Stone received first team honors. Junior Blake Esser was named to the second team. At quarterback, junior Chase Galbreath was named to the first team. At running back, sophomore Brock K...
RITZVILLE – They’re official. The Adams County Canvassing Board on Tuesday, Nov. 23, certified the results of the general election. In Ritzville, Linda Kadlec won the two-year unexpired term as mayor and Marsha Reimers Smith won the two-year term for the At-Large City Council seat. Kadlec topped Dennis R. Chamberlain, 385-177, to win the mayoral position and Smith topped Mark Weigand, 274-248, for the council seat. In Lind, incumbent Paula Bell won her second term as mayor. London Dew, Mike Wold and Laura Dew all won Tow...
LIND – The Lind and Ritzville School Boards agreed Nov. 22 to ask voters to approve replacement tax levies in February. The Lind board approved Resolution No. 21/22-3 and the Ritzville board approved Resolution No. 2021-012 for replacement educational programs and operations tax levies. If approved by voters, the funds will be used to support the modernization and remolding of school facilities. The levies call for collection of $914,000 in 2023 and 2024 at an estimated property tax rate of $2.25 per $1,000 of assessed v...
RITZVILLE - Adams County is one of nine counties statewide where at-home rapid results test kits for COVID- 19 are being made available for free. The tests are part of the county’s new "SAY YES! COVID TEST" program. “This program provides free, rapid, self-administered testing and gives our community members one more option to help reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Adams and Grant Counties Health Officer Dr. Alex Brzezny said. Using the kit, test results are available in 10 minutes. The tests are safe to use on anyone over...
HATTON – Three write-in candidates have swept the local election in what appears to be an organized effort to unseat incumbents. The official results were certified Tuesday, Nov. 23, by the Adams County Canvassing Board. Justine Pherigo won election to the mayoral race. Meanwhile, Rhea Isaac won Town Council Position No. 1 and Ignacio Mendoza won Position No. 3. The only hold over from the previous council appears to be Terri Case, who won election to Council Position No. 2 in 2019. Council Position Nos. 4 and 5 are c...
City employees will be getting a raise next year if the proposed 2022 budget is approved. Using a 2021 Association of Washington Cities salary survey for comparison, officials said employees lag behind their peers in similar-sized cities. To start closing the gap, a 3% cost-of-living adjustment is being budgeted for city staff, with a 4% COLA for the police chief, public works supervisor and clerk-treasurer. In a Nov. 16 memo, the mayor and City Council’s Finance Committee said the increases are “a step toward bridging the...
RITZVILLE – A Snohomish man was killed early Sunday morning, Nov. 21, when his car overturned near Milepost 222 of Interstate 90, about two miles east of the city. According to Washington State Patrol, Tony T Phelps, 37, of Snohomish, was pronounced dead at the scene at about 3:32 a.m. The next of kin was notified of the death by a patrol chaplain. Phelps was westbound in a 2002 Ford F250 pickup, pulling a trailer, at the time of the crash, the patrol reported. The trailer jackknifed causing the pickup to skid from the right...