Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for Washington State, allowing federal emergency aid to be made available for the state to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump's action makes federal funding available for Crisis Counseling for affected individuals in all areas of the state of Washington. The declaration also provides federal funding to tribal and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for e...
RITZVILLE — East Adams Library District closed library branches in Benge, Lind, Ritzville and Washtucna to the public last week, but but will be providing curbside service at the Ritzville branch. Patrons can request items by calling the library at 509 659 1222, emailing library staff at [email protected] or placing a hold through the online catalog at www.eastadamslibrary.org/catalog. Library staff will schedule pick-up times with patrons once their items are ready. "Other options may be available for patrons in t...
RITZVILLE - Mayor Gary Cook has rescinded his resignation and will continue to lead the city in the wake of the coronavirus emergency declaration. Cook said following his decision Friday, March 13, to close City Hall and declare a city-wide emergency due to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, he did not believe it was a good time to leave his position. "In light of signing the emergency proclamation and the anticipated term of suspending some city operations, I am rescindi...
RITZVILLE -- While there are 19 confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus cases confirmed in neighboring Grant County, there are not any in Adams County. "Medical facilities in Adams County have tested over 30 county residents for COVID-19," Community Health Director Karen Potts, R.N., said today, March 18. "Ten negative results have been received from testing facilities. As yet, there have been no lab-confirmed cases in Adams County." There is also one confirmed COVID-19 (also colloquially called Wuhan flu or 'WuFlu') case in nearby...
Editor's note: Due to government regulations regarding crowd gatherings in light of the coronavirus, the public is invited to attend the event by viewing a Facebook live feed only. LIND - Three students from Lind-Ritzville High School and one student from Sprague will be participating in this year's Distinguished Young Women program. Distinguished Young Women is a national program with local participants in their junior year of high school competing for nearly $3,500 in scholarships. The annual local program takes place this...
OLYMPIA — Residents who become unemployed due to government actions to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronovirus won’t have to worry about being evicted, at least for the next month. During a press conference this afternoon, March 18, Gov. Jay Inslee said he signed an order preventing landlords from evicting people who fall behind on rent after being sent home from work due the “WuFlu” pandemic. “I’m issue a statewide moratorium on evictions for failure to pay rent for the next 30 days,” the governor said. Inslee also p... Full story
The Fonk's building in Colfax burned Tuesday night, its roof collapsing in a fire still being investigated Wednesday morning with no cause yet determined. Three people were sent to the hospital in the incident, including two from neighboring apartments and a firefighter. All have since been released. Because of the roof collapse and total loss of the building, a concern remains for collapse of the building into Main Street. Fire crews will be on scene throughout Wednesday. A... Full story
AIRWAY HEIGHTS, WASH. -- Fairchild Air Force Base officials have announced that one of their airmen has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. In a March 16 news release, officials said they are monitoring the situation after samples sent to a Department of Defense lab produced positive results. The individual is in self-isolation at their off-base residence and base officials have notified Spokane Regional Health District authorities. Additionally, Col. Derek Salmi, the Installation Commander, has declared an on-base... Full story
PLYMOUTH — The white sturgeon fishing season in the John Day Pool is closed. The pool, downstream from McNary Dam, closed to sturgeon fishing last Wednesday, state Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said. The agency is now looking ahead to planning meetings for the spring Chinook salmon run. A joint meeting with Oregon Fish and Wildlife is planned for April 15. A location has yet to be announced....
RITZVILLE — Local school officials have suspended athletics programs and activities until at least the end of next month. The postponement followed an executive order issued Friday by Gov. Jay Inslee to slow the potential spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, also known as Wuhan flu or “WuFlu.” The order called for closing all schools effective Tuesday, March 17. Schools are not allowed to reopen until at least Monday, April 27. Lind-Ritzville school officials decided to cancel classes beginning Monday after hearing a broad...
RITZVILLE — For the second time in less than six months, Big Bend Bowling Alley is in danger of closing. Owner Todd Young says he will have to close the downtown entertainment center April 31 if a new owner isn’t found. “Leagues run through April,” Young said. “We won’t close before that.” In October, Young said he would have to either sell or close by Dec. 31 so he could head back home to North Carolina. He thought he found a buyer. Young was contacted by a party interested in purchasing the alley, he said. They agreed t...
At this point in time, I would have been really excited about the NCAA first round match-up for Gonzaga in Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Gonzaga, with a No. 1 seed, would be playing against some team from across the country as a No. 16. The team would have no idea how much energy a hometown crowd from Spokane would bring the home town team and it would be fun to watch. They would, of course follow that up with a second-round victory sending them into the round of 16....
RITZVILLE - Amy Hille grew up here. After a health and fitness career in California, she moved back home and became the library assistant at East Adams Library District. After a few months, the library director asked her what type of programming she'd like to bring to the library. "Since I'd returned to our small town, I was seeing that there has been a consistent loss and continual loss of services, both health and social, in the time I had been gone and I thought that was...
In 2019, 14,000 people died from influenza. In 2018, 61,000 people died from the flu. And in 2017, 80,000 people died from the flu That year, hospitals were so overrun that hospitals set up tents to treat patients. Yet, there was none of the hysteria that is going on now with this coronavirus. You did not see the stock market plunging, you did not see stores selling out of hand sanitizers or masks. And you certainly did not see people in a panic wearing a mask or a company like Boeing sending their workers home, parades...
Engrossed Senate Bill 5395, the sex education bill mandating “inclusive” curriculum beginning in kindergarten has been hotly contested this legislative session in Olympia. But with the House and Senate both backing the bill, it’s likely to become an issue locally. Under the bill sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson, an openly lesbian Democrat from Federal Way, all public schools statewide would be required to start teaching a curriculum that includes gay, lesbian, transgender and o...
If you think the run on toilet paper is just an American thing, think again. On March 10, Business Insider reported: “The spread of the coronavirus has brought with it panic-buying of food and household essentials, despite the attempts of governments to discourage stockpiling. But no item has made more headlines than the humble toilet roll. “From buying enough toilet rolls to make a throne, to printing out blank newspaper pages to serve as extra toilet paper, people have had...
OLYMPIA - Despite the governor's warning to avoid crowds in the wake of the coronavirus, hundreds of concerned parents and residents converged on the Capitol last Wednesday to protest the passage of a law requiring comprehensive sex education from kindergarten through 12th-grade. Among the provisions of the so-called "inclusive" law, were mandates to include age-appropriate and medically accurate information on heterosexual intercourse, gay, lesbian and transgender sexual...
SIDESWIPED: A Washington State Patrol vehicle was damaged Friday night along Interstate 90 when it was sideswiped by a tractor-trailer. Trooper Jason P. Aebischer was inside the vehicle at the time of the incident, but not injured. The truck driver continued eastbound and fled the area. Anyone with information on the truck or driver should contact the State Patrol....
RITZVILLE - Sen. Bernie Sanders is leading former Vice President Joe Biden in the March 10 presidential primary election to be the top Democrat. But that lead is slim - only four votes as of press time. Sanders had 288 votes here, compared to 284 for Biden. That's tightened up since the initial election tally when Sanders led Biden by 40 votes, 166-126. While Sanders leads that contest, President Donald J. Trump posted outstanding numbers in the Republican vote. As of last...
As a member of the “Fourth Estate,” our newspaper staff regularly comes in close contact with people from all walks of life. Knowing that, we are doing our part to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, colloquially dubbed “Wuhan flu” and “WuFlu.” Like you, we are washing our hands, covering coughs and sanitizing everything in sight. We’re also taking the unusual step of closing our offices to public access, in an effort to protect the staff that is keeping yo...