Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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Police Chief David McCormick said local law enforcement had few problems during the 18th Ritzville Blues Festival. Ritzville Police and Adams County Sheriff’s deputies handled a domestic dispute at the Ritzville Pastime in the 100 block of West Main Avenue at 12:24 a.m. on Saturday, July 9. Deputy Dan Verhey arrested a man and booked him into the Adams County Jail on a charge of fourth degree assault, domestic violence. McCormick and officers responded to a second domestic dispute at the Wheat Land Communities Fairgrounds S... Full story
Annette Edwards will serve as the new Chief Financial Officer for Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2. She will work 20 hours per week in the district. She is also the CFO for Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center....
One and all are invited to enjoy an afternoon at the Ritzville City Park as the Ritzville Ministerial Association hosts its annual ice cream social this Sunday, July 31, beginning at 4 p.m. The afternoon includes special music by Q Factor, a recently formed barbershop quartet that practices in Ritzville. Rounding out the day is free ice cream and toppings provided by the RMA....
Ballots for the 2011 Primary Election were mailed to voters in participating precincts this Wednesday, July 27. This year’s primary election does not include all voting precincts in Adams County. Due to the fact that not more than two persons filed for any office, no candidates will appear on the primary election ballot. Only three districts are holding elections: Adams County Park and Recreation District 2 (Washtucna), ACPRD 3 (Lind), ACPRD 4 (Ritzville) and Adams County Cemetery District 1 (Washtucna). No ballots will be m... Full story
Re-design and then construction of a new intersection for Smitty’s Boulevard at Division and Bauman Streets will be dependent upon additional funding from the state. City council member Scott Yaeger reported last week the city believes it will need more funds than it has to complete the design and construction of the project. The state’s Transportation Improvement Board has provided funding for the expense of consulting and engineering for the design of the project. In March the city completed a consultant selection pro... Full story
Special Mobility Services notified the Ritzville Journal on Wednesday, July 27, that it is discontinuing services on Tuesdays. The last scheduled trip on a Tuesday is Aug. 2. Special Mobility Services is a free bus service funded through a Washington State Department of Transportation grant. Anyone and everyone may use the free bus service between Ritzville, Sprague and Spokane. After Aug. 2, trips will only be scheduled weekly on Thursday. Call 1-877-264-RIDE (7433) 24 hours ahead to schedule pick up service at a rider’s d...
A decision to lease three Peterbilt tractors with the option of purchase for solid waste transportation will save Adams County nearly $8 per ton per year, according to Adams County Public Works Director Todd O’Brien. “Generally speaking that equates to a considerable amount of money,” O’Brien said during the morning session on July 18. “It is my recommendation to enter into a 60 month lease with PacLease. I think it’s best to lease right now so we don’t have to make the capital purchase right now.” The Adams County Board of...
The draft five-year plan for Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2 cost $18,619 to develop according to invoices submitted to the district by The Champion Group, LLC of Vashon, Wash. The district commenced its strategic planning process in May with a day-long retreat on Wednesday, May 18. A draft of the plan was presented during the June 24 meeting of the district’s commissioners. Following a public comment period, the district opted to delay approval and implementation of the plan until a newly-formed committee can rev...
Each year the City of Ritzville establishes a Six-Year Transportation Improvement Plan in compliance with Washington Department of Transportation requirements. A public hearing on the plan is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 7:10 p.m. during the next Ritzville City Council meeting. A public hearing regarding the plan is an annual requirement of the process. Following the hearing, the council will be asked to approve the plan, which is then forwarded to the state. The state’s Transportation Improvement Board then reviews t...
A Ritzville couple were startled to discover an unwanted man in the apartment attached to their home on the morning of Thursday, July 7. The 38-year-old man was sitting on the couch in the apartment wearing nothing but a towel. When Police Chief David McCormick responded to the home of Dan and Cheri Haarstad, he found the man still in the apartment. Cheri Haarstad discovered the man about 7 a.m. when she went into the apartment to retrieve some clothing for a trip she was leaving on. The suspect, Art Ray, was sitting on the...
The Hooper post office and a handful of area post offices are on a new list for review by the United States Postal Service. According to the Associated Press, the USPS announced on July 26 that it will study 3,653 local offices, branches and stations for a possible closing. The USPS announced in January it was reviewing 1,400 offices for closure, including the Washtucna post office. The latest list of post offices slated for review now includes Hooper (99333), Marlin (98832), Malden (99149) and Starbuck (99359). From the...
The entrance to Washtucna at the juncture of Highways 26 and 261 is getting a facelift. After about two years of efforts, a major component was hauled into place on July 19. A John Deere 36B combine thresher was transported by J & A Chimienti Trucking, LLC, of Spokane after Bob and Linda Gillis, former Washtucna residents, donated the historic piece of farm equipment for the display. A small group of volunteers maneuvered the combine into place and lined up the header, which...
To the Editor: If anyone wants their “skunk” money back from Sterling Bank, please pick it up this week. Any money not picked up will be donated to Kevin Hartman. Dede Brown, Ritzville... Full story
To the Editor: I have a couple comments on the hospital. I do not have a computer and websites so I cannot refer to hospital or Journal sites. I also do not drive to get to the hospital to see information. Also, why are the sites considered for the new hospital kept a “secret?” Bessie Allen, Washtucna... Full story
To the Editor: Thanks to Eric Walker’s letter to the editor (June 30, 2011) and publisher McFadden’s article of July 21, 2011, most citizens of Ritzville are familiar with the plan of the East Adams Rural Hospital Board to build at another location, a “Ritzville Medical Facility.” On the sly, EARH accumulated some $8 million toward this end. However, because of other recent decisions the board has made, these millions are likely to disappear in a relatively short time. With or without the $8 million, how could the hospita...
Let's Chat (Publisher’s note: Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2’s recent strategic planning process identified local media coverage by The Journal as a “threat” to the district. The Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) anaylsis included the following statement: “media negative, unbalanced coverage of healthcare beat, not supportive.” The following is a written response prepared by Publisher Stephen McFadden and presented during public comment at Tuesday’s hospital district commissioners...
To the Editor, I recently received a letter, which referenced Steven Wyble’s report in the Columbia Basin Herald on the “Termination of Three Physicians” from Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. As the letter was anonymous, I can only suppose that I received the letter because of my vocal support of our physicians in Ritzville, formerly with East Adams Rural Hospital. The letter quoted CEO Blair of Samaritan Hospital as stating “In most contracts there are clauses for separation without cause and that’s what this is.” In t...
An Avista crew member sprays water at the top of a power pole at the Colwell Motor Inn (America’s Best Value Inn) on Monday following a brief storm that produced lightning in the area. Avista and the Ritzville Fire Department were called in to handle the pole fire....
The 2011-2012 school year will start with a few changes in the Ritzville School District through reductions in force, retirements and new hires. The Ritzville School Board reduced educators by 1.84 through a reduction in force (RIF), eliminating the positions filled by Heidi Nygren and Kim Weishaar as well as reducing Susan Schafer to half time. During the board meeting on July 18, board members approved the resignation of Jim Way as a bus garage mechanic. In addition, the board approved hiring Lindsey Ross as the P-12...
The Ritzville School Board unanimously approved the 2011-2012 district budget on July 18 following a brief budget hearing where no public comment was received. The final appropriation level of expenditures for the general fund is $4,256,640; capital projects fund $15,000; debt service fund $375,119; Associated Student Body fund $158,107; and transportation vehicle fund $49,862. This year’s budget is based on 280 full-time equivalent (FTE) students, a reduction of 15 FTEs from the previous budget, and a beginning fund b...
Sharing superintendents is the current trend for a handful of area schools, and joining the list are the Ritzville and Lind School Districts. Leading the two districts into this new arrangement is Rob Roettger (pronounced red-ker). Lind and Ritzville School District directors approved a contract with Roettger in March. Roettger jumped in with both feet as soon as he started acquainting himself with the two school districts. He’s met with most of the employees in both d...
A 15-week youth bowling league will begin on Saturday, Sept. 17. Big Bend Bowl is now accepting sign ups for the fall league. The league is open to youths of all ages. The cost is $7.50 per week and includes three games of bowling, shoe rental, record keeping, awards, adult coaches and a free pizza and bowling party at the end of the season. League bowlers will receive a Big Bend Bowl sweatshirt in their choice of color and personal number on the back after the conclusion of the first six weeks of league play. For more... Full story
Big Bend Bowl’s annual Summer Bowling Bucks is ongoing for area school children during the summer months. The program offers free bowling for students who go to the bowling center with their year-end report card. All students in kindergarten through sixth grade will receive $100 worth of free summer Bowling Bucks just for bringing in their report card. Students in grades seven through 12 receive Bowling Bucks based on the grade point average. Students with a GPA of 1.0 to 2.49 receive $50 in Bowling Bucks. Students with a G... Full story
The Member/Guest Tournament held at the Ritzville Municipal Golf Course on July 24 featured 22 individuals. Taking first place for the event were Jerry Crossler and Frank Durham with a net 54. Two teams tied for second place with a net 55: Paul Schwisow/Matt Schwisow and Ozzie Morley/Bob Wiitala. Taking fifth place was the partnering of Ronna Galbreath and Greg Galbreath with a net 57. Rounding out the top scorers were the duo of Brian Gordon and Karl Kupers, who tied with Tony Vostral and Neil Gallion for fifth place with a...
The following Washington State University students have earned undergraduate degrees for the Spring 2011 semester. Commencement was on May 7, 2011. Honors earned by students are listed as follows: summa cum laude for a cumulative grade point average of 3.90 or better, magna cum laude for a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.70 but less than 3.90 and cum laude for a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 but less than 3.70. LaCrosse – Aubree Scheideman, Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration; Maria Webster, Bachelor of Arts in S...