Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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Lind-Ritzville’s Kierstin Witt is one of eleven Washington high school seniors will participate in the Saturday, Aug. 4, Distinguished Young Women Washington scholarship program at Pullman High School’s theater. Those participating in the 2018-19 program include Mikayla Rushton, Almira-Coulee/Hartline (ACH); Ursula Bakken, Chewelah; Keely Burnes, Clarkston; Tayma Vanek, Colfax; Emily Schultheis, Colton/Uniontown; Annabel Parker, Ellensburg; Witt, Lind-Ritzville; Rachel Law, Moses Lake; Daphne Felsted, Pullman; Madelyne Col...
Adams County residents are reminded to return their ballots for the Aug. 7 Primary Election. Adams County is a vote by mail county. Ballot were mailed to each active registered voter in Adams County on July 18-20. Ballots must be received or mailed by Aug. 7 to be counted in the election. Voters who require a replacement ballot or need additional voting assistance are asked to contact the Adams County Auditor’s Office at 659-3249. The Aug. 7 Primary Election ballot includes two federal office positions. The U.S. Senator s...
Large, hand-painted signs lean against a tent, the buzz of friendly conversation cuts through the humid air, and the smell of fresh produce drifts in the breeze, you’ve found yourself at a farmers market. Farmers markets are common in urban and rural communities around the nation. In urban areas, they provide an authentic, natural alternative for consumers to connect with those who produce their food. In rural areas, farmers markets provide these same opportunities among many others, they serve as a stimulant for local busine...
On July 31, Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee signed an emergency proclamation for the 39 counties in the state, ensuring immediate response of firefighting resources to protect businesses and property from wildfire threats. In a news release, Inslee said the proclamation ensures resources are available to help protect communities during the fire season. The proclamation allows the Washington National Guard to assist in firefighting efforts. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requested the aid of the...
Downtown Lind will once again host the Adams County Harvest Festival on Aug. 25. The first harvest festival was held last year and sponsored by the Lind Chamber of Commerce. Diane Kennedy, who generated the idea of the festival, is once again organizing the event. She explained the festival is a way to recognize and celebrate Adams County farmers. She added the festival is also an opportunity to bring Adams County residents together in Lind. She hopes the festival will grow into an event involving all of the municipalities...
During the July 24 meeting, the Lind Town Council selected Century West Engineering for consultation services. Based out of Spokane, Century West was one of three finalists, along with Keller Associates and TD&H Engineering. Mayor Paula Bell and Council Members Jim Dworshak and Richard Baldwin conducted interviews with the three firms. Town Engineer Joe Pessutti and Rubben Labes were also involved in the interview process. Century West’s Steve Nelson said he was honored the Town selected the company. After the vote, Nelson i...
Jacob Carl Harder IV, 29, died in a multi-vehicle collision 19 miles west of Spokane at 9 p.m. on July 30. A Ritzville resident, Harder was driving westbound on I-90 when his vehicle struck a second vehicle from behind, according to a Washington State Patrol report. The impact caused Harder’s 2010 Ford Ranger to travel left into center median, where the pickup rotated and rolled. Harder’s vehicle came to rest in the eastbound lanes of travel were it was struck by a 2007 Peterblit 379 tractor with two trailers. Harder was pro...
The East Adams Rural Healthcare Board of Commissioners returned their focus to staffing during the July 26 meeting. The primary focus for the Commissioners was retaining staff in the nursing department so as to decrease the amount of contractual nurses who work at the facility. Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Jennifer Pepperd presented data regarding current nurses and contractual staff members working at the facility. EARH currently has contracts with OMNI and TruStaff to help fill the nursing positions at the hospital. Pepperd...
The Adams County Commissioners approved several items at the July 30 meeting, including a resolution adopting the equipment rental rates for 2018. County Engineer Scott Yaeger explained the proposed rates for 2018 were calculated using the average costs from the previous three years, average hours and added an overhead rate of 22 percent. For the 2018 rates, Yaeger said he added Skid Steer Attachments as a new category. He explained there were not many mower or roller attachments being used, and he added them into their own...
Adams County first responders had a busy week responding to fires and an auto collision in the area. On July 25, multiple Adams County Fire Protection Districts responded to a standing wheat fire south of Providence Road, near Foley and Marcellus roads. Washtucna Acting Fire Chief Byron Allen said the department received the call at around noon. The department deployed five vehicles and 11 firefighters to the scene. Allen noted Ritzville, Lind, and Benge fire departments assisted at the scene, as did the Adams County...
The Adams County Hospital District No. 2 received the December 2017 and 2016 financial audit report, prepared by Dingus Zarecor and Associates, during the July 26 Board of Commissioners meeting. The report included internal control improvements for accounts receivable and material misstatements in patient refunds and accounts receivable. DZA CPA Shaun Johnson presented the report to the Board, clarifying there were not any significant findings during the audit. Johnson began the presentation with reports of the Districts’ a...
Umpqua Bank in Ritzville is collecting new or gently school supplies and backpacks from now until Aug. 20. Donations can be dropped off at the bank branch, 108 East First Avenue, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Danielle Bolin at 659-4900....
The Wednesday night women’s bowling league is hosting a meeting on Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Big Bend Bowl Family Fun Center in Ritzville. Any local women who are interested in joining the bowling league are encouraged to attend the meeting for more information....
The Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce board members are seeking nominations for a family, couple or individual to serve as grand marshal for the annual Ritzville Community Parade on Sept. 1. The deadline for nominations is Aug. 17. The criteria is the individuals must have made a significant impact or contribution to the Ritzville community. Nominations may be submitted by youth 16 years old or older, individuals, businesses, agencies or civic organizations from Ritzville....
CHICKEN FUNDRAISER. Ritzville Lions Club members Chad Hoeft (left) and Aaron Esser check to make sure the chicken is ready to be served. The Lions Club held a chicken fundraiser on July 27 at the Wheat Land Communities’ Fairgrounds. -Journal photo by Al Stover...
The East Adams Library District is hosting an Indiana Jones Party on Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. at the Ritzville City Park. There will be an obstacle course with a theme based on the “Indiana Jones” franchise. There will also be crafts to make, as well as snacks and prizes. The event is free and open to all ages. For more information on the event or other library activities, contact the Ritzville Public Library at 659-1222....
There are certain people that we meet in our lives that are unforgettable. They tend to make you laugh at their stories and make you think. You look at them and think their lives are something very unique. And it makes you feel good just knowing them. Dave Powers was that unique individual. I met him in 1968, about a year after he came to Ritzville with his wife Sally to farm her family’s homestead. He contacted my brother Larry and I to pull rye out of one of the fields a few...
Last week, I sat down with President Donald Trump and members of Congress at the White House to discuss the impact of trade on agriculture in Central Washington. China’s and other nations’ retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products are having a major impact on growers and producers in our state. In our meeting, I brought up the challenges of Central Washington cherry-growers as one example of export-reliant agriculture that have been paying the price for rising tension. China is the No. 1 customer for Washington state’s cherr...
Wheat harvest got under way on the Schoesler farm this week, after we finished up with the canola. It presented the familiar mix of rewards and challenges, as we tried to work at maximum efficiency and keep all of our machines going. Things look encouraging so far, but either way I can’t complain, not after seeing how fire destroyed thousands of acres of wheat in north central Oregon in a matter of days. Let’s hope no more crops are lost to fire this year. As I’m wearing my farmer hat, I’ll focus this commentary on two of...
We want to acknowledge this wonderful community. Your help during our recent accident was outstanding. Rose Jones, PA-C, at East Adams Rural Healthcare did an absolutely flawless job in the emergency room, despite other interruptions. We are so fortunate to have our hospital, and we don’t always acknowledge it until we are facing a dire emergency. The nurses and aides, as well as the EMTs, were so helpful and very professional. Special thanks to Shannon and Reid Phillips, as well as Brian Doyle. And to the car full of t...
Since 2002, the U.S. Department of Energy has funded construction of a $17 billion project to encase radioactive wastes in solid glass logs. It is scheduled to start operations in 2022 and treat more than 56 million gallons of hazardous liquids, which are stored in tanks on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. It is called vitrification, a process by which the State of Washington and federal government agreed in 1989. It is complicated, time consuming and very costly. To speed up treatment and reduce costs, the federal government...
The East Adams Library District is hosting two events featuring National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ambassador Joe Bruce on Aug. 2. Bruce will hold a space presentation at the Ritzville Public Library on 10 a.m. He will later appear at Lind Elementary School at 2 p.m. Bruce received a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Science Education from Central Washington University in 1981. He is an educator, lecturer and artist who offers programs in Washington and Idaho. He has been an ambassador for NASA since 2008. B...