Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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Challenger David McCormick was raised in Ritzville, and in more than one manner, has made a life of giving back to the city. He seeks to add one more commitment to his list, vying for election to Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2’s commissioner District No. 3, which carries a six-year term. The 1976 graduate of Ritzville High School is the chief of police for the City of Ritzville. He serves as the chairman of the commissioners for Adams County Fire Protection D...
Stacey Plummer is a veteran member of the Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2’s Board of Commissioners. She often finds herself to be alone in her way of thinking as a commissioner. Most notably, Plummer was the one who took an opposing stand during a contentious public meeting in January. While the commissioners appeared poised to end their relationship with two doctors who had worked in the district for 20 and 16 years respectively, Plummer made a motion s...
A special meeting of the Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2 Board of Commissioners has been called for Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 11 a.m. The purpose of the special meeting is to discuss/approve the district’s strategic plan. The regular hospital board meeting is two days later at 7 p.m on Sept. 22. A special committee met three times to discuss the district’s draft strategic plan and consider public comment regarding that plan. District commissioners Kirk Danekas and Stacey Plummer and citizens Eric Walker and Har...
When Cari Galbreath was in sixth grade, coaching a volleyball team wasn’t her first priority. Instead she was a club volleyball athlete who advanced to play at the collegiate level. Today, she has parlayed her player experience into a head coach’s job at Ritzville High School. For two seasons Galbreath has served as the assistant coach for RHS, leading the junior varsity team. Her high school coaching experience is bolstered by two years of work as the assistant volleyball coach for Big Bend Community College. Married to Joh... Full story
Almira-Coulee/Hartline roughed up the Lady Broncos a bit in four games Tuesday night, taking the win, 21-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-13. “We started off pretty strong early in the first game,” coach Cari Galbreath said. “Actually we were dominating. But then we couldn’t keep playing at our level and we lost our focus. We missed too many serves at crucial moments. We were not smart offensively with lots of hitting errors, and we let ACH control our game.” Jenna Bennett had seven assists, two service aces and one dig. Kaytlin P...
After a decent start in the first half, outscoring Kootenai 16-8, the LaCrose-Washtucna Tigercats blew the game wide open and rolled to a 42-14 win. The eight-man grid team was led by the scoring prowess of Sawyer Hostetler, who racked up five touchdowns. Hostetler scored all but one of the Tigercats touchdowns, rambling across the goal line with a variety of efforts. He scored in the first quarter on a nine-yard run. In the second quarter it was a four-yard effort. He followe... Full story
Speedy and sly at times, Warden battled back from a 21-7 deficit at half time to force overtime play against the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos last Friday. Ultimately the Broncos overcame the late game charge by Warden to pick up an exciting win 27-21 in double overtime. Chris Steinmetz proved to be the workhorse everyone expected him to be, carrying the football 35 times for 156 yards and four touchdowns. Steinmetz scored the opener in the first quarter on a one-yard run....
Jeff Reynolds has a unique perspective when it comes to healthcare – a view from inside the industry he hopes will benefit him if elected to serve Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2. Reynolds, 56, is seeking election to the Commissioner at Large District 2 position, as the challenger. Additionally, he comes to the ballot as a former employee of the hospital district, having served as the Director of Patient Accounts and most recently Clinic Manager. He and his w...
Joyce Preston is the incumbent candidate for Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2 Commissioner at Large District 2 position. She was first elected to serve the board almost four years ago, winning election as a write-in candidate after being a vocal audience member opposed to district decisions and actions at the time. Preston, 64, graduated from Ritzville High School and attended Spokane Community College. As a result of her education, she became a dental assistant. Wh...
Two homes were destroyed Saturday when a fire, that appears to have started away from the structures, went on a rampage. The afternoon blaze left one family homeless. Fire Chief Andy Lefevre says Ritzville Fire Department was first called to the 700 block of West Main Avenue at 1:49 p.m. When they arrived the hill behind the homes was on fire and two structures were involved. One building was a vacant home next to the New Hope Center Church. The other was owned by Josie...
An unknown caller from Kingston, Jamaica, turned Ritzville’s busy freeway business district on its ear Monday when the caller threatened to blow up the Ritzville Starbucks store. Police Chief David McCormick said Starbucks Manager Eva Ross took a phone call about 10:48 a.m. on Labor Day. The caller first asked if this was Ritzville. They then wanted to know if it was Ritzville, Wash. When Ross answered in the affirmative, they told her, “There’s a bomb in the building and e...
(12:34 p.m.) UPDATE: The buildings and roadways have been cleared. No bomb was found. Employees are returning to all stores. Roadways have been opened. Residents may return to their homes. Watch for additional information and photos within the hour. (11:56 a.m.) UPDATE: Two Ritzville Firemen and the manager of Starbucks have entered Starbucks building and are examining the facility. Additional firefighters are exploring the perimeter of the Starbucks and Taco Del Mar parking l...
The gridiron crews from Colfax, Reardan and Bridgeport are rolling into Ritzville for a jamboree on Friday. The annual preseason exercise opens at 6 p.m. and football fans who are eager for the start of prep sports can enjoy a little sample for just $3. Head coach Greg Whitmore said Liberty and Newport, who normally participate in the jamboree opted out this year, but he still expects the action to be fast and furious. Whitmore views the jamboree as the first legitimate live action his players see each season. While...
The president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 2739 was assaulted outside the club on Aug. 5. Ritzville Police arrested two men at the scene after interviewing witnesses and talking to the victim, Robert Tracy. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. Tracy was outside the Eagles when two men across the street caught his attention. The men were reportedly near the back door of the Ritzville Pastime Tavern. According to the probable cause statement written by the arresting officer, Sergeant Mark Cameron, Tracy said the...
Last week a second city well began experiencing problems, putting the city’s water system in a precarious position. This time the Koch well faltered and appeared to be blowing air, an indication the aquifer had dropped and the well’s pumping system was struggling to extract water. Public Works Director Larry Swift said this week that the city is currently using just one well to meet demand — Well No. 8, the city’s primary well. In June Well No. 8 was taken offline when it stopped delivering its average of 1,200 gallons... Full story
A Spokane Valley man was airlifted by Northwest MedStar to Sacred Heart Medical Center Saturday after a motorcycle wreck on State Route 261. A female passenger was taken by ambulance to East Adams Rural Hospital and later transferred to SHMC. The accident occurred at 3:38 p.m. at milepost 40.8 when Charles T. Herner, 72, of Spokane Valley lost control of a 1986 Harley Davidson and ran off the road. According to a Washington State Patrol report, the motorcycle was northbound...
Ritzville’s fire station was emptied Monday when crews took all of the fire district’s equipment out of the barn to battle a wheat and stubblefield fire. Crews were dispatched to the fire about 5:30 p.m. on Monday. The fire was burning in a field along the north edge of Neergard Road, just west of Paha-Packard Road. Adams County Fire Protection District No. 1 Chief Scott Kembel said the fire charred 40 acres of standing wheat and 90 acres of stubble. With dry conditions and...
To the editor, One of the most critical issues for the city citizens is the future of our district hospital. The current policies of those in charge of East Adams Rural Hospital seem determined to follow a path, which will destroy the hospital, either by spending the hospital into bankruptcy and/or failing to properly maintain the existing hospital building. Out of these ashes, the new medical facility is expected to spring. A question for those wishing to be elected or re-elected to a position on the East Adams Hospital...
There is a tremendous amount of time and effort involved in gathering news, feature stories and pictures for a weekly newspaper. Producing a community newspaper is a labor of love, one that has been accomplished in Ritzville for 125 years. The Journal is the prime source of community news for Benge, Lind, Ritzville and Washtucna. Delivering local news, sports, features and local advertising is our specialty. It’s what a community newspaper is meant to do. A National Newspaper Association survey recently determined that 73 p...
A wheat fire northwest of Paha-Packard Road along Snowden Road keeps Ritzville fire crews as well as Lincoln County crews and several farm tankers for an intense blaze that was reported at 5:40 p.m. Some crews were being released to return to the station about 7 p.m.... Full story
Intense flames rip through wheat land northwest of Paha-Packard along Snowden Road Monday evening. Ritzville fire crews responded to the 5:40 p.m. tone. Lincoln County crews and several farm tankers joined the battle. Some crews were being released to return to the station about 7 p.m....
Washtucna firefighters and Ritzville's Ambulance crew raced to a motorcycle wreck on State Route 261 at milepost 41 this afternoon. The accident was reported at about 3:30 p.m. There were two victims. The female was taken to East Adams Rural Hospital. The male was airlifted by MedStar to Spokane....
Firefighters establish a perimeter on State Route 261 as a MedStar helicopter takes off Saturday afternoon from the scene of a motorcycle wreck at milepost 41. Two people were injured in the incident and one was flown directly to a Spokane trauma center....
Our country’s foundation is based on the Constitution of the United States. We all too often take the document for granted as we exercise our rights as citizens in this free country. During the campaign season, we tend to raise our voices more than ever, and sometimes the importance of our message becomes lost in the manner in which we deliver it. Our democracy is sacred. Its preservation should be paramount to all of us regardless of age, race, political views or any other stereotypical measuring stick that can be applied i...
The city has a list of major street improvements council members hope the state’s Transportation Improvement Board can help pay for. Tuesday the Ritzville City Council unanimously approved a Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program. Ritzville’s six-year plan is renewed annually and a necessity of the city intends to seek state funds for road improvements. Tuesday the council conducted a public hearing and then adopted the updated plan, which will be forwarded to the state for funding consideration. The state’s Trans...