Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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The Washtucna Lions Club will be hosting a bingo night on Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Washtucna Lions Club Den. The game begins at 7 p.m. but participants are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy a meal of soup and sandwiches before the event. Community members of all ages are welcome to attend the event and join in on the fun....
The Board of Trustees of Big Bend Electric Cooperative, Inc. recently approved the refund of over $2.05 million to the Cooperative’s electric bill payers. Refunds are being mailed to consumers who purchased power from the Cooperative during the years of 1998, 1999, and 2015. According to Big Bend’s CEO Yvette Armstrong, the Cooperative is a nonprofit consumer-owned electric utility. “When more revenue is collected than what is needed to cover operating expenses, the Cooperative allocates the difference to consumers as ‘capi...
The Ritzville City Council continued their discussion regarding the establishment of a marijuana moratorium ordinance for the city during the regular meeting on Feb. 7. In order to adopt the ordinance, the Council held a public forum to hear from residents regarding their input and thoughts on the moratorium. Without any comments from members of the public, the council members discussed potential changes or corrections to make to the ordinance before adoption. Clerk-Treasurer Kris Robbins explained the initial moratorium for...
The Board of Trustees for Big Bend Electric Cooperative announced Jan. 26 that for the third consecutive year, there will not be a rate increase for their members. During a time when many electric utility providers are raising rates, Big Bend Electric is proud that they are able to maintain some of the lowest rates in the nation. However, with rising costs from their wholesale power supplier Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) it may be difficult to avoid a rate increase in future years. BBEC reviews rates on an annual...
Washington State University (WSU) released the WSU President’s Honor Roll for the 2016 fall semester. In order to be eligible, undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of nine graded hours in a single term at the university and earn a grade point average of 3.75 or earn a 3.50 cumulative GPA based on 15 cumulative hours of graded work. The students from Ritzville who are on the list are Matthew Leffel, Cort Ruzicka, Kate Schell, Caitlin Schoessler and Elizabeth Schofstoll. Jason Wigen of LaCrosse also made the l...
The Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce is relocating the office in anticipation of a more conducive office space and also for an opportunity to strengthen a partnership with the City of Ritzville. After a staffing change in late 2016, the Chamber board began reevaluating the best long term options for the facility. The board members worked with the City of Ritzville representatives and unanimously agreed to partner in order to better serve the needs of visitors to the community. The change will allow tourists to have access...
The initial results for the Feb 14 Special Election were counted on Feb. 14. The ballot included two Ritzville propositions. The Ritzville School District Bond is passing with 467 voters in favor of the bond and 254 rejecting to total an approval rate of a 64.77 percent for the bond. The bond needs a super majority of 60 percent to pass. The bond included making modern advances, improvements and the construction of school facilities. A survey taken in 2015 ranked the condition of the Ritzville Grade School as fair and the Lin...
The March through June 2017 meetings for the Columbia River Council of Governments, governing body of Aging and Adult Care of Central Washington, has changed from the first Thursday of the month to the second Thursday of the month. Beginning in July 2017, the meeting will resume the normal first Thursday of the month schedule. All meetings begin at 1:30 p.m. Grant County Commissioner Cindy Carter is chair of the council, composed of one county commissioner from Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, and Okanogan Counties....
Modern advancements are taking place at the Adams County Courthouse as the Adams County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of the DS450 Central Scanner and Tabulator and Express Vote Universal Voting System created by Election Systems and Software (ES&S). Adams County Auditor Heidi Hunt said they are looking forward to having the new machines and improving resident’s voting experiences to be as pleasant and simple as possible. Despite the fact there are no issues w...
Jan. 5, 11:59 a.m. – A Lind complainant requested contact at West Main Street regarding the delivery of a city bill. Deputy Ned Bernath responded and spoke with the complainant. Jan. 6, 10:43 p.m. – A complainant advised they were stuck in the snow at East Schrag and North Paha-Packard roads. Deputy Mathew Roberson attempted to assist with removing the vehicle but was unable to move the vehicle from the snow. A tow truck was called to assist. Jan. 7, 2:41 p.m. – Deputy Hunter Klewin provided agency assistance for Washi...
Yvonne M. Rushmeier died on Feb. 11, at Sacred Heart Hospital while receiving treatment for a recently diagnosed illness. Yvonne was born in Washtucna, on June 24, 1933, to Vernon and Ruth (Howton) Reeve and was the youngest of eight children. Her family moved to Lind, where Yvonne graduated from Lind High School in 1951. Yvonne was preceded in death by her parents; Brothers Bruce, Lynn and Gene; and sisters Nita and Betty. Yvonne is survived by her brother Neil and sister Fran; her husband Loren (of 63 years); son Russell...
Victor Rupert Franz, 96, of Moses Lake, surrounded by his family, died on Jan. 17, at the Columbia Basin Hospital Long Term Care Unit in Ephrata. He was born June 29, 1920 in Adams County near Schrag, at the family home to Peter L. and Agnetha (Ewert) Franz. Vic attended grade school at the Schrag School and graduated from Lind High School in 1938. Vic married Phyllis Anne Tucker Feb. 16, 1951. They were married 58 years before his beloved Phyllis died in 2009. Vic started farming right out of high school. Vic always had an...
It is that time of the season when people debate the issue of which team deserves to be rated number one in the state or the nation. Some personal choices are easier for us to make than others. We all have that favorite local team, alma mater or the get on the bandwagon teams that some people love to grab a hold of as long as they are winning. A lot of local fans have gotten on the Gonzaga bandwagon after they started their winning ways and of course are on television on a...
Article IX, Section 1 of the Washington State Constitution states, “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders.” In 2007, a lawsuit on behalf of the McCleary and Venema families was filed against Washington. Their allegation: the state’s failure to fulfill its Constitutional promise. The case, known as McCleary v. State of Washington, led the Supreme Court to rule in 2012 that Washington is not providing adequate funds for the basic education of...
Commercial League Jan. 5 Herb’s Farm 19-2, Spare No One 18-3, Ritzville Hardware 13-8, Team Hauge 12-9, Herb’s Body Shop 9-12, Kragts 8-13, Riff Raff 0-21, Joe’s Body Shop 0-21. Team High Scratch Series: Team Hauge 2569. Individual High Scratch Series: Randy Benzel 566. Individual High Scratch Games: Joe Schlomer 211, William Green 201, Tony Vostral 198, Mike Geschke 194, Randy Benzel 193, Steve Telecky 189, Garrett Templin 189, Stephanie Geschke 188. Alley Cats Jan. 11 Rehn Grain 23-5, Ritzville Hardware 22-6, Gutter Queen...
Recently, some of America’s most respected statesmen announced a different strategy to reducing carbon pollution, one that is based on incentives as opposed to penalties. Believing that carrots work better than sticks, the Climate Leadership Council (CLC) announced a new plan to enact a federal tax on carbon emissions with an accompanying payment program to U.S. citizens. The centerpiece is a “carbon dividend” which, as they put it, would increase the disposable income for the majority of Americans while dispr...
Our 2017 session will pass the one-third mark on Sunday – President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Not only was Lincoln among our greatest presidents, and the author of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the founder of the Republican Party, but as you might guess, our state’s Lincoln County is named for him. According to my legislative history book, Lincoln County was part of the Ninth District from 1965 to 1972, with Adams and Whitman counties. Feb. 12 used to be a legal holiday in our state; the Legislature ended that with...
I have fielded a lot of questions lately about the City’s role in enforcement of current ordinances. As in all government, there are laws on the books that for one reason or another are not being followed. First, how did those ordinances become ‘law’? If a city ordinance forbids spitting on the sidewalk there was undoubtedly a reason some past council thought it necessary to address. Second, does it apply today? If not, it should be modified, removed or replaced. Third, if an ordinance is applicable and needed, how shoul...
In December, at the very end of the Obama administration, federal officials finalized a rule that could limit the ability of some seniors who receive Social Security benefits to exercise their Second Amendment rights. The federal rule, submitted by the Social Security Administration (SSA), deals with the implementation of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Improvement Amendments Act of 2007. The rule would require the SSA to submit to NICS the information of anyone who receives Social Security and...
The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos remain determined to stay in the District Tournament, and managed to continue into the second week of competition by splitting the first two games. The Broncos suffered a tough loss to Springdale at the start of the tournament, before battling against Wilbur-Creston to earn a necessary win. In the double-elimination tournament, only the top three teams will advance into the Regional Tournament. This is a new system for the 2B division, and...
The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Lady Broncos competed in three District Tournament matches, which resulted in two wins and a loss for the team as they move closer to their goal of advancing to the State Tournament. The team started their week by traveling to West Valley to face Northwest Christian (NWC) on Feb. 7. Head Coach Gary Kelly said he knew the team would have to start the game with confidence in order to maintain an early lead against the Lady Crusaders. Kelly said...
As the Broncos wrestling team’s post season comes to an end, the two athletes who competed in the Regional Tournament will travel to the Tacoma Dome to wrestle against elite athletes for a chance to place at the WIAA 2B Mat Classic. On Saturday, Feb 11, Guiles and Regan traveled to Northwest Christian with Head Coach Jason Hilzer to wrestle in the Regional Tournament in an attempt to qualify for state. Going into the tournament, Hilzer said Regan and Guiles would have to w...
The Ritzville Public Library is presenting a workshop for residents who are interested in learning more about creating a successful habitat in their yards. The workshop, “Late Winter Gardening for a Thriving Landscape: Making a Plan”, is being held at the WSU Extension Office on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 1 p.m. WSU Grant-Adams Master Gardener Mona Kaiser will be leading the workshop. All library programs are free and open to the public. Friends of the Library sponsor the Master Gardner class. For more information, contact the...
The Ritzville Zion Philadelphia United Church of Christ participated in the nationwide Souper Bowl of Caring for the 2017 Super Bowl game. Souper Bowl of Caring began in 1996 by a youth group from Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia with a mission to combine America’s largest football weekend with a celebration of giving and serving to those in need. As participants of the events for several years, Zion Philadelphia UCC Board of Missions member Patty Schoesler c...