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Articles from the March 19, 2015 edition


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  • Rendezvous Car Show returns

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    The Ritzville Rendezvous Car Show is returning to The Ritz Roadhouse on March 28 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event has already raised nearly $400, which will be donated to a safer schools program for the Ritzville School District. The event is open to the public and all are welcome to attend. Ritz Roadhouse Manager Shelley Martin is also asking local vendors and musicians who are interested in being at the event to contact her. For more information, contact Martin at 659-4300....

  • Upcoming events at the H.E. Gritman Senior Center

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    The H.E. Gritman Senior Center will be offering lunch on Monday, March 23, and Wednesday, March 25. The menu for the lunch is still being organized. On Tuesday, March 24, the Second Harvest Truck will be at the center and open to the public at 11 a.m. Friday, March 27, will be monthly potluck at noon. Community members are encouraged to bring a dish, a plate and join in the fellowship....

  • Dryland film showing in LaCrosse

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    Dryland is an intimate portrait of rural America in transition, through the eyes of a young man pursuing his dream and a town fighting to survive. The 62-minute film will screen in LaCrosse on Thursday, March 26, at 7 p.m. at the Gathering Place, 107 South Main Street. The free screening is hosted by the Whitman County Library and made possible with funding from Humanities Washington. The directors, Sue Arbuthnot and Richard Wilhelm, will be part of a post-screening panel discussion. The discussion is about “Cultivating R...

  • Easter egg hunts begin next weekend

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    The Easter holiday festivities are kicked off with Easter egg hunts in the Ritzville, Lind, Ralston and Washtucna communities, beginning this week. The annual Ralston Grange Easter Egg Hunt will be held at the Ralston Park on Saturday, March 28, at 9 a.m. Kids of all ages, from toddler on up, are welcome to participate. Every child taking part will go home with eggs and a candy treat. Each family participating is asked to donate one dozen hardboiled, decorated eggs. The eggs can be left at 410 West Tenth Avenue in Ritzville...

  • Fagan’s bill passes to toughen predator treatment policies

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    The state House passed a bill March 6 that would modify evaluation and treatment policies for sexually violent predators. Rep. Susan Fagan, is the prime sponsor of the bill. “This bill is crucial to personal safety and keeping our communities safe throughout the Ninth District and all of Washington,” said Fagan. “By providing judges additional information during the review process of sexually violent predators, I’m hopeful we can prevent dangerous offenders who have not received the appropriate treatment for their deviance fr... Full story

  • ELECTRICAL UPDATES

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    THE ELECTRICAL updates to move into compliance at East Adams Rural Hospital are expected to be completed March 26. -Journal photo by Katelin Davidson... Full story

  • Courtney Geschke joins The Journal staff as reporter

    Katelin Davidson|Updated Mar 19, 2015

    Ritzville High School graduate Courtney Geschke has stepped in to fill the vacancy of reporter for The Ritzville Journal. Geschke graduated from RHS in 2007 and moved on to attend Spokane Community College (SCC). During both her time in Ritzville and in Spokane, Geschke stayed busy working full time jobs while pursuing her goal of becoming a writer. She attended SCC off and on for three years while determining exactly what career path to follow. Geschke found she enjoyed her...

  • HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT. The East Adams Rural Hospital construction projects continue with the installation of new equipment, such as a 690 gallon diesel generator. When operational, the generator can provide emergency power to the hospital for 54 hours. -Journal photo by Katelin Davidson...

  • DISTINGUISHED

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    DISTINGUISHED. The three junior girls vying for the position of the Distinguished Young Woman of Ritzville are (from left) Holly Nygren, Hallie Jo Galbreath and Samantha Asmussen. The DYW program begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 20, at the Ritz Theatre. The outgoing representatives for Ritzville, Cassie Ewing, Kymberlee Webb and Katie Manke, will be honored during the program as well. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $6. -Photo courtesy of Dalyn Ki...

  • First annual Columbia Basin Eco-Gardening Symposium

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    The Grant County Conservation District and the WSU Grant-Adams Master Gardeners are hosting the First Annual Columbia Basin Eco-Gardening Symposium on Saturday, April 25, in the ATEC Building 1800 at Big Bend Community College from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn about research-based principles and recommended practices that can help lawns, shrubs, and trees thrive in the Columbia Basin. Keynote speaker, Paula Dinius with WSU Chelan-Douglas County Extension, will speak on “Trees and Shrubs for Low-Water Use Landscaping in the C... Full story

  • Lind-Ritzville High School selected as top American Field Service school

    Emma Aldrich, LRHS Student Correspondent|Updated Mar 19, 2015

    Lind-Ritzville High School has maintained a strong foreign exchange student program for several years. Students from countries across the globe have come to experience American culture at its finest. Due to the positive reports that students and collaborators have given the school, LRHS has been recognized as one of the American Field Service’s top schools in the nation. American Field Service (AFS) is a foreign exchange student program that connects high school students to i... Full story

  • Local students shine at Bi-County Academic contest

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    Dozens of students from three local schools traveled to Wilbur on March 13 to compete in the Bi-County Academics competition this month. The students from Lind Elementary School, Ritzville Grade School and Lind-Ritzville Middle School returned home with an impressive amount of awards from placing in the academic contest. The Bi-County Academic contest is an annual event that brings students in third through eighth grades to compete in various academic events. Students...

  • LIND-RITZVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL BI-COUNTY CONTESTANTS

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    THE LIND-RITZVILLE Middle School Bi-County contestants are front row; Julia Klein, Linnea Schafer, Drew Kelly, Thomas Rosen: second row; Elsa Akins, Hayley Rushing, Jay Harder: third row; Katheran Gingrich, Ellie Gering, Spencer Gering, Cole Cameron: fourth row; Hayley Kulm, Grace Greenwalt, Diamond Spain: fifth row; Sharon Anderson, Brianna KinKade, Bryce Hansen: sixth row; Cinthia Guizar, Lacey Miller, Angel Perez and Caden Liberty. -Photo courtesy of Rita... Full story

  • LIND STUDENTS

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    LIND STUDENTS. The Lind Elementary School students who participated in the Bi-County Academic Contest are (back row, left to right) Faith Draper, Alexis Melcher, Daniella Oliva, Rebaann Dean, Amy Anderson, Samantha Perez-Gonzalez. Front row: Lance Williamson, Canyen Whitaker, Wyatt Kulm and Andrew Miller. Not pictured: Nevaeh Hutson. -Photo submitted by Karissa Labes...

  • Erma H. Ferderer-Spencer

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    Erma H. Ferderer-Spencer, 90, died March 12, in Spokane at Avalon Care Center. She was born March 10, 1925 to Ludwig and Catharina Wellsandt on a farm near Ritzville. She attended Ralston grade schools and graduated from Ritzville High School in 1943. In 1944 Erma married Henry Ferderer. Together they had two children, Ken and Kathy. Henry passed away in 1986 and in 1991, Erma married Raymond Spencer, a longtime friend. They lived in Ritzville until 2009, when Erma moved to...

  • Jacqueline Dorothy Gerritsen

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    Jackie Gerritsen, 82, of Bend, OR., died Monday, March 9, after fighting cancer. She was born May 9, 1933 in Ritzville, the daughter of Clarence and Dorothy Thiel. She grew up and graduated in Washtucna, and started her family there. Later moving to Astoria, the Oregon City area, and settled in Bend. She is survived by her son Terry Gerritsen of Oregon City, OR and daughters; Sherry Gleave of Vancouver, Debra Kirchhofer of Aliso Viejo, CA, Sue Lehnertz Duemling of Aurora, OR,...

  • Ronald Dean Schoesler

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    Ronald Dean Schoesler, 83, died on Feb. 16 in Portland, OR. He was born on June 10, 1932 to Harold and Ruby Schoesler. Ronald was always a dapper dresser, pie and coffee lover, teacher and dreamer. He was the youngest son of Ruby (Thiel) and Harold Schoesler having two older sisters, Thelma (Plager-deceased) of Seattle and Joan (Robinson) of Union OR. Ron (Ronnie) was born and grew up in the small farming community of Ritzville where he played high school football, basketball...

  • Dorothy Breen

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    Dorothy Mae Koehler, 83, died March 6. She was born in Ritzville, to Anna Rutz Braun and Carl Fredrick Koehler. Dorothy was the second of seven children. She was only four pounds at birth and her mother’s sister, Hattie, was a nurse and was able to care for Dorothy. Clifford, Helen, Emma, Julia, Donald and Eleanor comprised her brothers and sisters. The Koehler Farm was founded by her grandparents Charles and Emma Koehler in 1914, a 1,600-acre wheat ranch and 400 acres of r...

  • Renata Rosemarie Marga Bielitzer Lautenschlager

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    Renata Rosemarie Marga Bielitzer Lautenschlager died on Monday, March 2, after a courageous battle with multiple health issues. Funeral services were held March 7 at Endicott Bible Church and burial followed at the Endicott Cemetery. Renata was born August 15, 1936, in Kiel, Germany to William H. Bielitzer, a German Naval Officer, and Elfrieda S. Meyer Bielitzer, an Oregon farm girl. She spent the first 10 years of her life in Germany, during the WWII era. Being in Germany in...

  • Higher Minimum Wage Misses the Target

    Don C. Brunell, Business Commentator|Updated Mar 19, 2015

    Washington has the nation’s highest minimum wage at $9.47 an hour and now the state legislature wants to hike it to $12. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray (D) wants to boost it to $15 to go in step with the SeaTac initiative, which voters barely approved last year. The state’s minimum wage has been adjusted annually since 2001, based on a Seattle-area cost of living index. From 2008 through 2013, Washington’s minimum wage increased more than 14 percent. Washington voters thought passing an initiative 14 years ago would make life bette...

  • Fundraiser for Valdovinos at The Ritz Roadhouse

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    Sixteen-year-old Roberto Valdovinos is in the early stages of his long road to recovery after a devastating car accident last month. To help aid his recovery, The Ritz Roadhouse is hosting a Bronco fundraiser to help the local student. The community has banded together to help support Valdovinos, but more financial support is needed to cover the costs of his physical therapy. The fundraiser runs all day on March 20 and community members are asked to show Bronco pride by supporting a local in need. With the purchase of a...

  • Not a second-class right: We must be vigilant to uphold the Second Amendment

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    After strong, bipartisan opposition from Congress and an outcry from the American public, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) backed down last week over proposed regulations that would restrict the use of popular ammunition for legal firearms. While ATF’s sudden reversal is a welcome victory for Second Amendment rights, the backdoor tactics used to limit available ammunition show why Congress and the American public must remain vigilant. Like many Central Washingtonians, I grew up responsibly exerci...

  • Flying High to Portland

    Dale Anderson|Updated Mar 19, 2015

    The excitement for the NCAA tournament elevates this time each year. For Gonzaga fans it can be a bit ho-hum knowing that win or lose in the WCC final the Bulldogs will still go to the big dance. But the thing I respect is that winning the WCC is still the most important thing for them to accomplish. Fans in Seattle are disappointed that a highly successful UW preseason went down the tube and struggles ensued throughout the rest of the season. The Huskies finished in 11th...

  • Gun Club Scores

    Updated Mar 19, 2015

    Lind Gun Club Trophy Shoot Results Class A: Terry Utecht Class B: Blake Bennett Class C: Carson Schlimmer Class D: Kelvin Sager Junior: Carson Schlimmer Sub-Junior: Kelvin Sager Ladies: Anna Franz Miss and Out: Garrett Schlimmer Annie Oakley: Curt Franz Bushwacker: Carson Schlimmer Buddy Shoot: Terry Utecht and Garrett Schlimmer Continental: Alan Schlimmer Doubles: Garrett Schlimmer High Overall: Terry Utecht High Handicap: Richard Kulm Dean McDowell: Garrett Schlimmer...

  • Fairway Café reopens under new management

    Katelin Davidson|Updated Mar 19, 2015

    With the official opening of the Ritzville Golf Course on Monday, March 16, golfers and residents also had the opportunity to eat at the reopened Fairway Café. The restaurant is currently under the management of Jessika Wolf and her sister Jaime Decaney-Gorman. Wolf explained the opportunity presented itself when Mayor Linda Kadlec inquired if the duo would have any interest in running the business for the city. After discussing the potential new venture with their family,...