Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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Taxable retail sales increased 1.5 percent to $23 billion during the first quarter of 2011 over year-earlier results, the Department of Revenue reported on July 8. Retail trade increased 4.2 percent to $10.7 billion compared to the first quarter of 2010. Retail trade is a subset of all taxable retail sales that includes retailers but excludes other industries such as services and construction. Among major industries, the construction sector was down 9.8 percent to $3.2 billion, but sales by new and used car dealers jumped...
The Washtucna Classic Auto Show is taking on a project to help beautify the town. Using funds from the car show, organizer Cliff Plumb is seeking suggestions and/or photographs of possible mural topics to paint on the side of a building. Some work is already completed on the south side of the old drug store across from the town’s farm display at the intersection of Main Street and Spring Avenue. The surface has already been pressure washed. The next step is to apply primer prior to starting the mural. Monies garnered from t...
An EMT with Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2 will ascend to the position of emergency medical systems (EMS) coordinator at the beginning of August. Jim Bostic recently resigned as the EMS coordinator after accepting a position in the ranger division of the National Park Service. He will be away for about two months while in the back country of Glacier National Park. Filling his position as EMS coordinator with the hospital district is Roni Kinney, a 1993 graduate of Ritzville High School. Bostic will continue as a...
The traditional community gathering at Bassett Park for the Fourth of July featured homemade treats in the potluck, a medieval/early renaissance re-creation, horseshoe tournament and more. Several members of the Duchy of Brunico chose to remain in Washtucna after a local ‘war’ the weekend prior and present a medieval/early renaissance re-creation. According to the organization’s website, “The Adrian Empire is dedicated to the study and re-creation of Western European culture...
A La Grande, Ore., resident succumbed to injuries sustained in a serious two-vehicle accident Monday 23 miles south of Ritzville on southbound U.S. 395 at milepost 73. Hailey M. Pearce, 25, was transported by Northwest MedStar to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland after driving into a vehicle driven by Robert O. Pence, 67, of Lind, who was following a combine at 20 mph. Pearce, who died at 7:22 p.m. on Monday, was the head volleyball coach for Eastern Oregon University. Emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle accident...
The Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its July general membership luncheon this Thursday, July 21, at 12 p.m. at Casuela’s Grill on West Main Avenue. The program will feature two components. Ritzville’s Distinguished Young Woman Dezarae West and her peers will share their spring and summer experiences while riding on Ritzville’s award-winning community float constructed by the Ritzville Festivals Association. This award-winning float has been invited to the Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade in Seatt...
The Lind School District Board of Directors has moved its July meeting to Thursday, July 28, in the high school library. A work session is slated to begin at 6 p.m. for the purpose of reviewing and discussing the 2011-2012 budget. The school board meeting is at 7 p.m. Work sessions and board meetings are open to the public. For more information, contact the district office at 677-3481.... Full story
Between July 15 and Aug. 7, law enforcement officers throughout Grant, Adams and Lincoln Counties will be part of a statewide effort in search of speeding drivers. During the summer, there are a lot more people out and about, both as pedestrians and drivers. Unfortunately, some driving habits such as speeding don’t change. It’s an alarming fact that even driving at 30 miles per hour on dry pavement requires a stopping distance of 41 yards. That’s eight car lengths or almost half of a football field! (Source: Lawrence D. Wo...
The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair is in need of volunteers to serve as superintendents in four departments. Superintendents are needed for handiwork, photography, antique machinery and the dog show. Anyone who is interested in filling one of those positions is asked to contact Morgane Roth, superintendent coordinator, via e-mail at [email protected] or call Jodie Esser at 659-1588.... Full story
The fall sports season is just around the corner for students in the Lamont, Lind, Ritzville and Sprague School Districts. The first day of high school football practice is Aug. 17 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Ritzville. High school volleyball athletes will hit the courts in Ritzville on Aug. 22 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Middle school football practice begins on Aug. 25 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Ritzville. Middle school volleyball starts on Aug. 29, which is the first day of school, from 4 to 5:30 p.m....
The Ritzville golf league wrapped up the 2011 season recently as 11 teams vied for first place. In first place with 1,187 net strokes is Team 3 of Bruce Benzel, Ronna Galbreath, Gayle Gering, Randy Moore and Travis Simonson. Team 1 placed second with 1202 net strokes. Team members were Warren Kragt, JoRene Zumdahl, Gerry Schoesler, Greg Schmunk and Mike Lynch. Team 2, third place, 1205 net strokes, Ozzie Morley, Arnie Moeller, Terry Olson, Markham Nichols and Dean Whitman. Team 6, fourth place, 1208 net strokes, Rod Kinch... Full story
The Ritzville Municipal Golf Course will host a member/guest tournament this Sunday, July 24, beginning at 1 p.m. Cost is $40 per person plus green fees. One and all are encouraged to find someone from out of town to play or recruit someone who doesn’t play often. If all else fails, partner with someone from the membership and play. The event includes a meal following the tournament. A sign-up sheet is in the clubhouse....
Members of the Bronc Boosters have been busy sprucing up the grandstands at Jimmie Snider Field in anticipation of fall and the start of football season. New “Bronco Country” lettering has been painted on the base of the seating. Volunteers have been scraping off old paint, pounding in nails and sanding wood in preparation for a painting party. The group is also looking for a couple of items for the concessions stand, including a three-tub sink and a refrig...
Sterling Savings Bank in Ritzville will once again sponsor its Backpacks For Kids drive for Ritzville students on Monday, July 25. The drive will continue until Aug. 19. Sterling Savings Bank provides a backpack for each grade level in the Ritzville Grade School. Through community donations and support, bank employees prepare a backpack for each grade level with all the needed supplies based on the supply list. Extra donations are boxed up and taken to the school. Supply lists are available at the bank, located at 108 East...
Eastern Washington University announced its Dean’s List for Spring 2011 quarter last week. The Dean’s List is released after every fall, winter and spring quarter. An undergraduate student who earns 12 quality hours (QHRS) and receives a grade point average of 3.5 better is placed on the Dean’s List for the quarter. If the student has placed a directory restriction on their records, the name will not be released for publication. Students from the Ritzville area included on the list are Shay Aurand, Geoffrey Eastman, Ann-M... Full story
Organizers of the 2011 Relay For Life of Ritzville need items for a fundraising silent auction, which is set for Friday, Aug. 12, beginning at 5 p.m. and closing at 9 p.m. Previous silent auctions have featured a list of more than 50 items and raised more than $4,000. Anyone may contribute or take part in this fund-raising activity. For more information, contact Tia Kubik at 659-0782. Wheatland Bank is accepting donations for the silent auction. Items can be delivered to the bank at 101 East First Avenue before Wednesday,... Full story
In August, Academic Year in America (AYA) is looking for Ritzville families to host high school exchange students from all over the world. This year, AYA is bringing hundreds of high school students to the U.S. to learn about American culture while living with volunteer host families and studying at high schools across the nation. American families have the unique opportunity to learn about the student’s culture during this mutually rewarding exchange. AYA can help families find the ideal student for their home. The result i...
Renowned Christian author Elizabeth Lonseth will make a stop in Ritzville this Wednesday, July 27, for a book signing beginning at 5 p.m. The two-hour event will be held at Cow Creek Mercantile on Smitty’s Boulevard. The tour includes stops in Spokane, Ritzville, Wenatchee, Olympia, Seattle and Boise, Idaho. Lonseth’s book signing started about a year ago when she stopped at the Ritzville business, owned by Scott and Theresa Fitch. Theresa bought a few copies, and later purchased more when Lonseth was traveling through. Wit...
The Department of Social and Health Services has scheduled public hearings in Adams and Spokane Counties to receive comments on plans for a new chemical dependency treatment program. The program would serve people who are dependent on opiates, such as heroin and the pain medication OxyContin. The proposed treatment program, WCHS, Inc – Spokane Treatment Solutions (STS), is requesting to operate at 15812 E. Indiana Avenue, Suite 100, Spokane Valley. The treatment program includes medication (such as methadone or Suboxone), c...
Project 56 has launched a grain drive through accounts established at Ritzville Warehouse Company and Union Elevator and Warehouse Company in Lind. Producers interested in supporting the organization with donations of wheat or other commodities need to inform the elevator how much to donate. The commodity will be transferred to Project 56, which will sell the commodity and send an acknowledgement to the donor. In addition, individuals may purchase a meter or several meters thr...
Spokane County Superior Court Judge Tari Eitzen continued her role as the presiding judge in a case against Sharon Provost, who was found guilty by a jury of six counts relating to a June 2008 seizure of 111 dogs at her residence in Lind, last Friday in Adams County. After listening to Adams County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Carolyn Jones and public defender Dennis Lewellen as well as a statement by Provost, Judge Eitzen used the first-offender option to sentence Provost. “I am using the first-offender option. I know in the f... Full story
To the Editor: Has it been so long ago that the people of this community have forgotten the well attended meeting at the Lions hall in regards to the hospital administration letting the local doctors start their own business that the people have forgotten the flow of words and ire of that night? Now with every article that is printed in the Journal it seems the administration of the hospital is well on its way to building this new addition to Ritzville, which this town does not need at this time. With economy as it is and...
To the Editor: Some of the articles in the Journal of June 30 implied the city is ready to install new sewer lines and also dig several new wells that may someday be needed for the NOT YET built hospital. Is this the planning going on at the city hall? Isn’t this just a bit premature when no bond issues have been published or presented to the people of this city? The people of Ritzville have the right and obligation to vote on and approve or to reject any bond issue that will raise our property taxes and must know what t...
To the Editor: The town of Ritzville has been experiencing steady population declines for the past several decades and, to many observers, it is a mystery. If you make a list of the town’s assets versus its liabilities, the list of assets is overwhelming in number. However, among the liabilities are two significant problems that will continue to push the town into a steady population slide and eventual extinction… water and sewer. These two issues have a stranglehold around the neck of local business, present and future, and...
Now wasn’t the best time to approve a new five-year strategic plan for Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2. The commissioners, under the guidance of Kirk Danekas, appear to have recognized there’s good reason to slow down and consider the community’s point of view. The district’s exisiting five-year plan is expiring, and the new document is intended to serve as an outline of goals and objectives for the future. Such planning is standard procedure for large businesses and organizations. The newly-drafted plan, the byp...