Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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PASCO - "We won!" That was the reaction from Franklin County Commissioner Clint Didier earlier today, March 12, after a King County judge vacated most of a previous injunction on Initiative 976. That injunction has prevented the $30 car tab initiative from going into effect statewide. But today, King County Superior Court Judge Marshall Ferguson vacated most of the injunction. I-976 generally limits all car license tab taxes and fees to $30 for non-commercial vehicle. On Nov....
Last week, you received your Journal a day early. That was not a mistake. Due to the growth of our company, the Ritzville Adams County Journal is transitioning to a Wednesday publication. Under the leadership of Editor Katie Teachout, that means your newspaper will arrive a day early each and every week going forward. Why the change? In the last month, our family of newspapers has grown. On Feb. 15, we acquired the Odessa Record. On March 1, we took over ownership of the...
OLYMPIA — Rep. Mark Schoesler is asking for advice on how government can help minimize the disruption the COVID-19 situation is causing. "If you have a suggestion let me know, because starting today we're making the communication with Olympia a two-way street, by gathering suggestions and sharing them with the governor's office," Schoesler said Tuesday, March 17. "The ultimate goal here is to minimize the number of people needing hospitalization, because as good as our hospitals and health-care professionals are, the c...
Erna Atkerson, 98, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, peacefully passed away Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, Born Aug. 30, 1921, in Lind, Wash., she was the daughter of Alex and Melsina Floether. After her husband Loyd’s death in 2000, Erna remained on the farm. She was an active member of Lind Congregation Church and Senior Center. In 2012, she relocated to Issaquah, Wash., where her daughter Brenda Michaels and son-in-law Robert Spears resided. She remained in the Issaquah area until her death. She is survived by her three c...
The celebration for Fannie Ott that had been planned for 1 p.m., Saturday, March 28 at Zion Philadelphia UCC in Ritzville has been postponed at this time. With the state restrictions in place because of the coronavirus, organizers are making this change out of concern for the health of those who would like to attend. "The family is looking to reschedule the life celebration of Fannie Ott, and it will be posted and updated on www.danekasfh.com. On behalf of the entire Ott...
SEATTLE - If Washington is to stop the spread of coronavirus and the disease it carries, COVID-19, the most important step is to essentially keep our distance from each other. That was the most important aspect of personal protection outlined by Gov. Jay Inslee and others at a Monday, March 16, press conference in Seattle. That includes not only health directives to maintain a "social distance" of a minimum of 6 feet between each other, but also evaluate our routines and if...
OLYMPIAS -- Gov. Jay Inslee released a statement tonight that further expands protections against COVID-19. “Given the explosion of COVID-19 in our state and globally, I will sign a statewide emergency proclamation tomorrow to temporarily shut down restaurants, bars and entertainment and recreational facilities. “Restaurants will be allowed to provide take-out and delivery services but no in-person dining will be permitted. “The ban will not apply to grocery stores and pharmacies. Other retail outlets will have reduced occup...
RITZVILLE—Due to safety concerns over COVID-19, Gov. Jay Inslee has ordered all K-12 schools closed statewide from Tuesday, March 17, until at least April 24. Gatherings of 250 or more are now prohibited statewide, as well. The order comes after Inslee had perviously ordered schools in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties to close. While there are currently no lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Adams County according to the Washington State Department of Health, the Adams County Health District released a statement Thursday s...
RITZVILLE — Due to the coronavirus, Mayor Gary Cook declared an emergency earlier today, March 13, leading to the closure of public access to City Hall. The March 17 City Council meeting has also been canceled. In his proclamation, the mayor said city staff will continue to work by telephone and email. "The city will continue to operate business via phone," the proclamation said. "Utility payments can be mailed, placed in the drive up drop box located adjacent to City Hall or city staff can take your credit card payment o...
RITZVILLE - With Mayor Gary Cook's last day drawing near, city council motioned to put out a call for letters of interest from those who might want to step into the position. Cook's letter of resignation was accepted at the March 3 council meeting, with his last day being March 31. The appointment will be from April 1 through November of 2021. Eligibility requirements are being a U.S. Citizen, a registered voter and a resident of the city for one or more years prior to the app...
RITZVILLE - City Councilwoman Michelle Plumb recently earned the Certificate of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities. Plumb said the training was free of charge. "You just have to work for it," said Plumb. The Certificate of Municipal Leadership Program recognizes city and town elected officials for accomplishing training in four core areas: • Roles, responsibilities and legal requirements • Public sector resource management • Community plann...
At the end of last night's Washington state presidential primary election, the initial ballot count shows President Donald Trump with 523,409 votes in the Republican non-contest. There are 7,862 write-ins. In the Democrat contest, Sen. Bernie Sanders has a slight lead over former Vice President Joe Biden. Sanders has 335,498 votes and Biden has 333,414. Others tallies in the Democratic primary include Elizbeth Warren, 126,093; Michael Bloomberg, 113,422; Pete Buttigieg, 59,868; Amy Klobuchar, 31,425; Tulsi Gabbard, 8,550;...
RITZVILLE - As COVID-19 - popularly known as the coronavirus - continues to spread across the country, including Washington state, officials here are continuing to prepare for a local outbreak. Should an outbreak occur, East Adams Rural Healthcare CEO Corey Fedie says the critical access hospital stands ready. "[The hospital] has the ability to take care of these patients in special isolation rooms with Negative Pressure Ventilation," Fedie said. "This type of room is...
RITZVILLE -Only four golfers turned out for the Lind-Ritzville/Spague golf team last year. This year, new head coach Bryce Court has seen that number grow to 10. When the season starts, eight Broncos will be competing in golf for the very first time. Dirk Dahlman and Molly Hane are the team's only returners. Both golfers advanced past the sub-district round last year and were eliminated at the district tournament. Dahlman was one stroke away from making state. "Dirk shot a...
RITZVILLE - Lind-Ritzville/Sprague baseball head coach Jason Hilzer didn't hesitate for a heartbeat when asked what his goals are for his team's 2020 season. "We're going to compete in every game," Hilzer said before the team's second practice of the year. Hilzer says 15 players turned out for the team this season, down one from last year. He's pleased with that number and says that it includes three fifth-year seniors who started playing varsity baseball in eighth grade. "We...
RITZVILLE -The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague softball team opened practice last week with 22 players aiming to get the Broncos back to the postseason this year. The Broncos graduated four players last season, including league MVP Lacey Miller, who is playing NCAA softball for Knox College this season. While 10 girls are playing high school softball for the first time, and over half the squad are freshmen and sophomores, coach Todd O'Brien is feeling pretty good about his team's...
As usual I made it to another State ‘B’ Basketball tournament last week. There was some great basketball played over four days and I saw most of the games. Had a chance to visit with some old friends and made some new ones along the way. A good friend of mine reminded me that the most important thing he received from playing sports are the friends he made and by friends he meant opponents of rival teams, me included. I had to agree. The many people that you used to bang hea...
RITZVILLE – Sixty-seven people attended “1917,” shown at the Ritz Theater last weekend. “It was a good movie. And with 67 (in attendance), it was a money-maker for us,” said John G. Rankin, running the recently remodeled 1937 theater for non-profit owners, the Ritzville Downtown Development Association. Rankin said he needed at least 50 people to view it in order for a movie to break even. “Last week it was just 17 (attending “Bombshell”), and that’s not good.” Rankin said studios take a $250-$350 deposit, plus a $40...
Lind Senior Center Lind Senior Center serves meals Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Call 677-3620 between 9-9:45 a.m. for reservations. Milk, coffee, ice tea and water are available with all meals. Wednesday Clam chowder, egg salad sandwich, and dessert. Thursday Fish and chips, coleslaw, garlic bread, and strawberry dessert. Friday Fried chicken, potatoes and gravy, green beans, bread and fruit Monday Irish stew, salad, corn bread and dessert. Wednesday Pork roast with applesauce, potatoes and gravy, carrots, rolls,...
Fannie (Athos) Ott went to be with her Lord and Savior on Jan. 14, 2020, surrounded by her family in Kennewick, Wash. She was born Feb. 20, 1933, in Walla Walla, Wash., to Flossie Athos and Julius Loux, the youngest of five children. Fannie grew up in Attalia near Wallula, Wash., and graduated from Columbia High School in Burbank as the class Valedictorian in 1950. She attended Central Washington College, earning a degree in education in 1953. She obtained her first teaching...
Scholarship program set for March 21 LIND — The 2019-20 Lind-Ritzville Distinguished Young Woman program will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 21, in the Lind-Ritzville Middle School gymnasium. This year’s participants are Grace St. John, Tymber Wolf, Serena Block and Naya Bonita. Distinguished Young Women is a national program where local participants will compete for nearly $3,500 in scholarships. Blood drive coming to Sprague SPRAGUE — A blood drive is scheduled for Sprague Joint School, 512 S. First St;.,from noon to 6 p.m...
RITZVILLE — The city’s water and sewer system will be getting an overhaul after receiving U.S. Department of Agriculture funds. A USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program awarded the city just over $7 million. The funding includes $3.4 million in loan funds and almost $3.9 million in grants, designated for potable water, Mayor Gary Cook said. The funds will provide for construction of a new municipal well and funds house, he said. The money will also pay for rehabilitation of two existing wel...
COLFAX — The Ritzville Adams County Journal has two new sister newspapers. Free Press Publishing recently purchased the Whitman County Gazette and Colfax Daily Bulletin. The newspapers were owned by Gordon Forgey since 2001, which he published since 1985. Free Press Publishing, owned by Roger Harnack and Bill Ifft, took over operations March 1. Free Press is the parent company of The Journal. “We’re excited that the Whitman County Gazette and Daily Bulletin have joined our family of eastern Washington newspapers,” Harnack...
RITZVILLE - The City Council authorized Mayor Gary Cook to write a letter to the Adams County commissioners voicing support for a second to Commissioner John Marshall's motion to attend a future joint meeting of Eastern Washington County Commissioners and Northwest Seaport Alliance. The motion was made following an appeal by Glenn R. Stockwell, Chairman of the Washington State Economic Development Non-Profit Corporation, for the city to support Marshall's motion. Marshall...
RITZVILLE — City Council members approved several motions for infrastructure work at their March 3 regular meeting. The city’s consulting engineer, Ben Varela of Varela and Associates of Spokane, attended the meeting to answer any questions. Several questions surrounded the Pete’s Lift Station and Overload Sewer Replacement Engineering Services Agreement with Varela and Associates, which went from an estimated cost of $875,000 in 2014-15, to $1.2 million dollars in 2020. Chairman of the Public Works (Water, Sewer, Stree...