Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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The students at LaCrosse and Lind-Ritzville high schools are preparing to don the cap and gown in processions occurring Saturday, June 7, in the respective cities. In LaCrosse, the school district is recognizing nine students, with Graham BeDell leading the class as valedictorian. The LaCrosse High School graduation ceremony begins at 11 a.m. in the school gymnasium. The Lind-Ritzville High School graduation ceremony begins promptly at 2 p.m. in Gilson Gymnasium on June 7. Thirty-two students are receiving diplomas at the...
During the worship service on Sunday, June 8, at 10 p.m. at the Washtucna Community Church, Ritzville resident Terry Rueb will give a PowerPoint presentation on his recent mission trip to Africa. The trip took place in early January when Rueb and a team of 16 others flew to Malawi, Africa, to complete short-term missionary work. Rueb said the two weeks changed the team and also the people they met and served during the trip. A meal is provided following the service for the celebration of Lloyd and Donna Stoess’ 40th w... Full story
The Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly general membership meeting on Wednesday, June 11, beginning at noon at Memories Diner on Main Avenue. Gary Bostrom, CEO of Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2, will provide an update on the district’s efforts to meet the Department of Health’s requirements, as well as information on other upgrades and repairs at East Adams Rural Hospital. The event is a no-host luncheon where business owners, employees, elected officials and the general public meet for an... Full story
The 98th annual Washington State University Lind Field Day is set for Thursday, June 12, at the WSU Dryland Research Station north of Lind. Registration for the free, public event begins at 8:30 a.m. with the field tour starting at 9 a.m. A complimentary lunch is provided for all in attendance. For more information, contact Bill Schillinger, WSU research agronomist, at (509) 235-1933 or [email protected]....
With the 2014 wheat-growing season well underway, Washington state moviegoers are getting their first theatrical-look at the Great American Wheat Harvest documentary film. The film will make its Washington state debut at the Ritz Theatre June 12-14 at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m., for a special event with independent filmmaker Conrad Weaver of ConjoStudios, LLC. The Washington Grain Commission is one of the documentary film’s new executive sponsors. Weaver says WGC’s support for the film will help bring awareness to... Full story
The Ninth Annual Ritzville Community Yard Sale is slated for Saturday, June 21, throughout the City of Ritzville. The annual sale provides residents with an opportunity to clean out their homes and garages, or to search the town for some hidden treasures at neighbors’ sales. There are also many sales that serve as fundraisers for a variety of organizations. There is not a charge to participate in the sale. Individuals may visit the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce to receive a form in order to be listed on the map. To be in... Full story
A mid-afternoon, single vehicle accident resulted in 22-year-old Libby, Mont., driver Lacey Anderson being airlifted to Harborview Hospital in Seattle. The vehicle had been traveling westbound, six miles west of Ritzville, when the left rear tire blew out. The blow out caused Anderson to lose control of the 1990 Toyota pickup. The vehicle left the roadway to the right before rolling over and coming to rest upright on the onramp at Milepost 215. The driver had not been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Anderson...
The Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce is changing how the grand marshal for the Ritzville Community Parade is selected. Starting this year, the chamber will accept nominations from educational institutions, civic, social, business or religious groups or by any interested individual using a specific form available at the chamber office. Deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, June 27. According to the nomination form, “The nominee must have made a significant contribution outside of his/her employment or service r... Full story
Adams County Sheriff John Hunt issued a press release this afternoon after this week’s newspaper deadline regarding a shooting in Washtucna last night. On June 3, around 9:30 p.m. the Adams County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call of a shooting on Austin Road, about two miles north of Washtucna. The report stated deputies responded and located Ronnie Dick, 70, deceased at the scene from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Hunt reported the suspect, Larry Turner, 60, was taken into custody at the scene after a short s... Full story
After receiving a call around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3, regarding a potential homicide shooting in the Washtucna area, Adams County Sheriff’s Office dispatched personnel to the scene. Adams County Sheriff John Hunt was unavailable for comment on the investigation, prior to the Wednesday press deadline. In the initial call to dispatch, the complainant claimed to have shot a neighbor. Dispatch advised those responding the complainant was believed to be intoxicated. The call originated from South Austin Road, just off of S... Full story
Open burning within Adams County and the city limits of Ritzville and Lind will close at dusk on Sunday, June 15, according to Adams County Fire Protection District No. 1 Chief Scott Kembel, Ritzville Fire Chief Jim Bostic, Adams County Fire Protection District No. 2 Chief Kevin Starring and Adams County Fire Protection District No. 7 Chief Nick Johnston. No open fires for the burning of vegetation or other matter are permitted in town or in rural areas. Burning season remains closed until some time in the fall. The chiefs...
The AAUW, Page Turners and Ritzville Public Library book clubs have all announced the upcoming meeting dates for the month of June. The AAUW Book Club is reading “The Slave Across the Street” by Theresa Flores. The club is meeting on Wednesday, June 11, at 10 a.m. at The Ritz Roadhouse. The Page Turners Book Club is meeting on June 11 at 4 p.m. in the library basement. The Page Turners Book Club is for kids between the ages of eight and 12. The group is reading “Savvy” by Ingrid Law. The Ritzville Public Library Book Club is... Full story
Chris Eugene Oestreich, 55, died suddenly from a heart attack on May 26. He was born March 16, 1959, in Spokane, and was a lifelong resident of Ritzville. He was the eldest of five children born to Pete and Erma Oestreich of Ritzville. He knew at a very early age that his career would be driving a truck. He was employed as a commercial truck driver for more than 33 years by Snider Trucking in Ritzville. It has been said he was a man of hard work and integrity and was very dedicated to his career. He was versatile and talented... Full story
Thomas (Tom) Edward Hays, long-time resident of Washtucna, died May 7, 2014, in Colfax. He was born on Aug. 1, 1927, at a home near Castle Rock, Mont., the youngest of Robert E. (Pudge) and Susie E. Hays’ six children. He grew up in Colstrip, Mont. In 1944 on his 17th birthday he joined the U.S. Navy. On Dec. 7, 1947, he married Jonnee Hays and with the war being over and as a new married couple, they set out on a new life’s venture to Washtucna, where he found work as an auto mechanic. In 1964 Tom’s Auto Repair was estab...
Raymond Charles Schmitt died May 31. He was born July 8, 1941, to Otto and Agnes (Pierre) Schmitt of Cheney. He and his brother and sister were the first set of triplets to survive at Sacred Heart Hospital. A 1959 graduate of Cheney High School, he was raised on the farm in the Lance Hills where he continued to work until he met Joan Stromberger of Sprague in a hay field and later married in 1969. He was the Union Oil Distributor in Cheney from 1970 until 1977 and then had the distributorship in Hoquiam from 1977 until 1979.... Full story
Celebrations have been conducted since the beginning of time. Over many years, decades and centuries, the style and extent of celebrations have altered almost beyond recognition. There is one aspect of celebrations, however, that has (and will continue) to remain constant, regardless of all other variables: the purpose. Celebrations, such as eighth grade promotion, commence under the object of rewarding those who have accomplished their goals as well as encouraging others to share their mutual feelings of achievement. Eighth...
May 20, 3:44 p.m. – Dispatch advised of a white SUV in the Harvest Foods parking lot in the 600 block of West First Avenue with two children inside and the windows up. Chief David McCormick responded and was unable to locate a vehicle matching the description. McCormick checked other vehicles in the parking lot and no children were observed. May 20, 10:54 a.m. – Ritzville complainant requested contact at the residence on East Alder Avenue. Chief McCormick responded and the complainant discussed problems she was having wit...
With the arrival of June we have the much anticipated graduation season. Each year we see groups of our young adults that we’ve watched grow up, for the past 12 years for some and the last four for others. Many of us only get a chance to really notice these kids during athletic events, a FFA presentation or band concerts. We get to know some of these students better than others but we greatly appreciate all of their successes. I think most of us have had the chance to get t...
The LRS Broncos had three athletes earn a state berth this year for an opportunity to return home with hardware. Tracy Melville, Kyle Canaday and Alex Wheeler competed at the two-day state tournament in Yakima last week. “I was pleased with how our kids did. This years tournament was very tough,” head coach Liz Melville said. Melville explained in the past years, there has typically been one girl’s singles player who is a top United States Tennis Association in the Pacific Northwest. This year, the state tournament hoste...
Contrary to popular belief representative government does work. The hospital is a good example of this. Over the last few years the citizens of East Adams County have broken tradition and engaged in the messy business of forming public policy. As a result, the unrealistic dream of a new state-of-the-art hospital appears to have been set aside and long overdue repairs and maintenance are being planned. Admittedly, dreams are good things, if there is sufficient business and finances to support them. However, there is a... Full story
We have lived in Ritzville for 18 years and are continually amazed at how giving this community is - ok now I NEED YOUR HELP - I volunteered to put on a garage sale, during the Ritzville Community Yard Sale on 6-21-14, for The Ritz Theatre. They still need about $30,000 to go digital. You must have STUFF that you would like to get rid of and at the same time help The Ritz Theatre. John Monroe has donated the use of his building at 114 East Main - right across from The Ritz. Items can be dropped off there on Wednesday,... Full story
The month of June brings a stream of graduation ceremonies and festivities. It is truly a rewarding and exciting time for graduates and their families as personal struggles are overcome and goals are reached. As your representative in Congress, I want to take this opportunity to recognize the Class of 2014 and congratulate them on their achievements. From long-term high unemployment and a record national debt to the threat of those who hate our very way of life, there is no question you face challenges. However, as I look...
The annual Summer Reading Program at the Ritzville Public Library is made possible this year from a Community Strategies grant from the Inland Northwest Community Foundation. The Ritzville Public Library, combined with six Lincoln County libraries, is supported by the $12,546 grant to fund summer reading programs this year. The theme for the local Summer Reading Program is science-themed and is titled, “Fizz, Boom, Read!” The grant provides each library with the opportunity to purchase $1,000 worth of new books in the sci...
The trio of Ashley Cappel, Stephen Ulrich and Haley Osmonovich, received their diplomas from Sprague High School in a ceremony on the evening of Saturday, May 31. Cappel is attending Carrington College in Spokane to become a dental assistant. She then plans on receiving her Associates Degree online with Carrington College of California while also working. Osmonovich plans to attend Spokane Falls Community College or Central Washington University to receive a bachelor’s d...
LaCrosse senior Darcy Stamper had the opportunity to defend his state 2B title in the high jump during the State Track and Field Meet in Cheney last weekend. Stamper became a two-peat high jump champion, winning the event with a jump of 6-04 and ending his high school athletic career with a state title. Stamper also qualified for state in the long jump, and earned a third place medal for his 20-11.25 jump at the Eastern Washington University track complex. Originally, Stamper... Full story