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 boys and girls basketball teams said goodbye to their seniors on Tuesday. The girls team honored varsity players Brinley Moore and Eliza Galbreath. "Both of them are four-year players here," girls head coach Steve Wellsandt said. "Brinley worked her way up through the JV and has done a good job ... She understands what we need to do defensively. And all season long she has been a good outside shooter ... Eliza is a four-year starter. She...
- NOTE: Due to a trial this week, officers from the Ritzville Police Department had to postpone interviews for our Police Profile Series. In its place this week, we offer a profile on Dr. Warren Kragt, a community leader, chiropractor and businessman. RITZVILLE - Dr. Warren Kragt has been a part of the Ritzville community for a long time. Kragt, originally from Colfax, came to Ritzville in 1986 to fill a void in the community. "We had had chiropractors come and go," Kragt...
RITZVILLE - The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague wrestling team hosted an afternoon of matches Saturday to help coaches finalize seeding for Thursday's district tournament at Liberty High School in Spangle. The event didn't have brackets or champions. "It was a mix-and-match," Coach Jason Hilzer said. "Trying to see kids who are going to be in the same weight in the postseason so that we don't have an argument when it comes to seeding in this year's tournament. "So, we tried to match...
RITZVILLE - The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague girls basketball team had already wrapped up the No. 2 seed in the district before playing its final game at home against Colfax on Tuesday on senior night. The Broncos fell behind early and ultimately lost 50-48. The Broncos were slow out of the chute Tuesday falling behind 10-3. LRS head coach Steve Wellsandt took a timeout with 2:15 remaining and the Broncos responded. They scored on a fast break out of the timeout to make it 10-5....
RITZVILLE - Seniors led the way as the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague boys basketball team defeated Colfax 57-52 on Tuesday. Austin Thompson scored 21 points and had the game winning basket for the Broncos as he and three other seniors played their final game at Gilson Gym. The Broncos had a shaky first quarter. They stuck with Colfax early, trailing at one point 10-8, before giving up a run to fall behind 20-8. Thompson then scored back-to-back baskets, including a three pointer, to...
RITZVILLE - A jury in Adams County Superior Court has found Ritzville man Michael Anthony Kuest, 27, guilty of first-degree rape with a deliberately cruel aggravator, two counts of second-degree assault and one count of witness tampering. Kuest will be sentenced March 2; he's facing a maximum sentence of life in prison. In his opening argument, Adams County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney K. Peter Palubicki said the case would be about choices the defendant made. "Life is...
OLYMPIA — People unable to care for themselves due to mental illnesses could be subject to receiving treatment, even without their consent, if Washington state legislators pass a law to establish executorships for people who are incapacitated. “Our mental health and addiction system of care is failing, in my view, the most vulnerable,” said the proposed bill’s primary sponsor, Sen. Steve O’Ban, R-Pierce County. If passed, Senate Bill 6109 will initiate a four-year pilot program in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, effecti...
RITZVILLE - The Wheat Land Communities' Fair received $1,000 through a Rural Community Grant from Northwest Farm Credit Services this week. The check was officially presented Monday. Lori Williams, a Wheat Land Communities' Fair board member, said funds will be used for maintenance of trees on the fairgrounds. "We truly appreciate Northwest FCS' commitment to reinvest in our communities," Williams said. "The grant funds received will allow for much needed tree maintenance of...
CHENEY — Nine local residents have been selected for the fall quarter honor roll at Eastern Washington University. The students from Ritzville made the cut by ending the quarter with a 3.5 grade-point average or higher. The students include Samantha Asmussen, Alexandria Barnett, Brian Campbell, Demetri Court, Janell Grams, Mickayla Hall, Brandon McClure, Caleb Stanley and Randi York. Students must take a minimum of 12 college-level credits for the quarter to be eligible....
RITZVILLE — Lind-Ritzville schools have released the names of students making the honor roll for the first semester. They are: 4.0 grade-point average Brock Kinch, Brody Boness, Addy Colbert, Zoe Galbreath, Harlee Hennings, Jayce Kelly, Zachary Klein, Emilia Klewin, Megan Melcher, Alyssa Williams and James McAnally. 3.5-3.99 GPA Ryan Anderson, Guadalupe Figueroa Gutierrez, Taytum Labes, Aidan Miller, Camden Shaver, Claire Wellsandt, Lance Williamson, Madisyn Cameron, Madelyn Carpenter, Brix Curtis, Blake Earle, Beau Fode, T...
RITZVILLE — Two local students have been named to the All-State Band. Amy Anderson and Alexis Melcher were selected to participate in one of the Washington Music Educators Association’s All-State performing groups this year, school officials said. Both Anderson and Melcher will be participating in the wind symphony group when the all-state bands, orchestras, choirs and Percussion Ensemble meet Feb. 12-16 in Yakima. Anderson plays the clarinet; Melcher is a percussionist. All-State musicians were selected through aud...
OLYMPIA — The death penalty would no longer be a sentencing option in Washington state if lawmakers enact a bill passed by the Senate on Friday, Jan. 31. Senate Bill 5339 has bipartisan support to eliminate the death penalty — a punishment the Supreme Court ruled as unconstitutional in 2018. Gov. Jay Inslee also put a moratorium on it in 2014. Instead of a death sentence, “all persons convicted of aggravated first degree murder must be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release or parole,” according to the...
OLYMPIA — People will be asked to use a lot less gasoline and to convert to alternative clean fuels in the next 15 years if a proposal before the Legislature becomes law. After lengthy debate, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1110 passed 54-44 in the House despite bipartisan opposition. Five Democratic lawmakers voted no. If it becomes law, the measure would direct the Department of Ecology to adopt a clean fuels program with the goal of limiting greenhouse gas emissions per unit of fuel to 20 percent of 2017 levels b...
LIND — Citing several ordinances that are not being followed, the Town Council is considering hiring a code enforcement officer. A code enforcement officer would knock on doors of persons in violation of ordinances and inform them of what further action may be taken. The topic has been talked about at several town hall meetings going back to late last year. Most recently, the issue was brought up at the Jan. 14 meeting. The council agreed that before hiring an enforcement officer, members would have to agree on the details o...
I’ve never received so much mail in my entire life. While I’m not quite at the same level as Santa Claus, almost every day when I arrive at work I have a new magazine waiting for me or, more commonly, multiple envelopes screaming in bold red ink, “Don’t miss an issue. Renew today!” As a library assistant II at East Adams County Library District, one of my main duties is purchasing and managing 40-plus subscriptions. The library subscribes to magazines covering a wide range of subjects from automobiles, “Car & Driver;” to...
KAHLOTUS - A local farm was airlifted to a Tri-Cities-area hospital Saturday following an ATV crash near Gill Road and state Highway 260. According to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the scene where a 60-year-old farmer was fixing a fence on a pasture. The name of the farmer was not immediately released. Deputies called in LifeFlight to airlift the farm to a hospital to be treated for leg injuries, officials said....
OLYMPIA — Roughly 100 gun rights activists marched on the State Capitol on Friday and rallied in opposition to proposed gun-control bills. Matt Marshall, leader of the Washington Three Percent gun rights advocacy group, spoke to an excited crowd after announcing earlier this month he would run for the seat of House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, after criticizing Wilcox’s leadership regarding issues surrounding Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley. Ralliers wore tactical gear and carried assault rifles in front of the Cap...
KAHLOTUS — A local man was booked into the Adams County Jail after a high-speed chase Saturday. Jeffrey Grant Moore, 58, of Kahlotus, led law enforcement officers on a 38-mile chase at speeds greater than 100 mph early Saturday morning, shows a probable cause affidavit filed in Adams County Superior Court. He is facing possible charges of eluding a police vehicle, endangerment by eluding a police vehicle and third-degree driving while license suspended. The chase started in Othello, said a sworn statement by Othello police o...