Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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Ritzville Downtown Development Association is sponsoring Kristyn Harris in concert on Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Ritz Theatre. Doors will open at 2 p.m., with Harris taking the stage at 3 p.m. Presale tickets are available for $10 and can be purchased for $12 at the door. Tickets are available at the Ritz Theatre, Flying Arts Ranch, Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce office, Remember When…? and online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/. Harris, of McKinney, Texas, is the 2014 Academy of Western Artists Western Female P...
After the initial ballot count on Aug. 5, the Adams County Parks and Recreation District No. 2 found the maintenance and operation (M&O) levy in the Washtucna district just short of passing. The second ballot count on Aug. 6 pushed the M&O levy into a super majority vote, moving the district one step closer to passing the levy. The M&O levy requires at least 60 percent approval rate for the levy to pass. Currently, 77 voters approved the levy with a 64.17 percent approval rate. The final tabulation count occurred on Aug. 13...
Even though Washington legalized marijuana for adults 21 and older, it is still illegal and dangerous to drive under the influence of marijuana or alcohol. “Specifically, we want people to know that marijuana doubles the risk of a fatal crash,” said Darrin Grondel, Traffic Safety Commission Director. “With new retail marijuana stores in the mix, we want to remind the public that prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as illegal and recreational drugs, can impair driving abili...
With area schools beginning soon Umpqua Bank is beginning its Backpack for Kids drive. They are collecting Backpacks, paper, pencils, rulers and other school supplies as well as monetary donations for local schools to give to children in need. The donations can be dropped off at Umpqua bank in Ritzville until Aug. 29. The donations will be delivered to schools Sept. 5. If schools identify an item that is needed that has not been donated the monetary donations will be used to purchase it....
The Ice Cream Dollars program, sponsored by the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce, is back and just in time for the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair. It’s something people may utilize for their children, neighbors, friends, co-workers or employees. Ice Cream Dollars are gift certificates valid for one scoop of ice cream while supplies last and redeemable at the chamber’s ice cream booth during this year’s Wheat Land Communities’ Fair. The gift certificates can only be used at the chamber’s ice cream booth during regular bus... Full story
The Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association held their annual, national convention July 18-19 at the Yakima Valley Hotel and Convention Center. NPRHA member Dennis Thompson attended the convention, representing Ritzville’s depot museum. He spoke on the preservation efforts currently underway at the depot such as the new semaphore, brass bell, train order signal and acquisition of the NP drumhead. LR Keith and Del Klakken gave a telegraph demonstration as part of the convention’s field trip to the Toppenish Depot. Ann...
At the Public Works Session of the Adams County Commissioner’s meeting Engineer Scott Yaeger gave a report of projects in the county. He reported crews were continuing to work on pre-leveling in the Othello area but should be finishing that day. Yaeger said crews were also continuing gravel road maintenance and that when temperatures cool down crews would move to finishing seal coat projects provided that there was no rain accompanied with the lower temperatures. Yaeger also said some patching would be applied to the D...
Council members had a busy meeting at the regular meeting of the Ritzville City Council on Aug. 5. After approving the East Adams Rural Hospital’s request to use the downtown plaza area and portions of Railroad Avenue and Washington Street for the annual Health Fair on Sept. 13 the council listened to several concerns from the public. Kris Lennon brought her concerns about the dog shelter referred to the Public Safety Committee. Bruce Benzel brought forth his concerns regarding the golf course and Mark Fowler voiced c...
Portions of the new Patient Portal are becoming active as the East Adams Rural Hospital implements its new software. The software, from NextGen, allows patrons of the hospital to take an active role in their health care and allows for a more streamlined flow of information throughout the clinic and hospital. The program even handles automated appointment reminders and patrons can choose to receive reminders via phone, email and text messaging. Another feature that makes NextGen convenient for patients is the crossover of...
Charges are pending on a two-vehicle collision that left a motorcyclist injured on Aug. 8, just after 2 p.m. Seattle driver Robert Patrick, 68, had merged onto eastbound I-90 at milepost 221 when he failed to yield to a Ford Expedition towing a travel trailer. According to the Washington State Patrol report, Patrick struck the travel trailer as it was merging and the motorcycle left the roadway to the right, ejecting Patrick into the roadway. He was wearing an USDOT compliant...
A massive dust storm rolled aggressively through the area around 5 p.m. on Aug. 12 and left chaos in its wake. The rolling dust cloud left Adams County in complete darkness as it blanketed the area, and brought with it a severe thunderstorm. Prior to the dust storm, Ritzville Fire Department had been dispatched to a haystack fire at Danekas Road and Sprague Lake. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and crews remained on the scene for nearly seven hours. Sprague...
Bruce Benzel brought several concerns before the council regarding the Golf Course and the construction that has been going on there in recent months. First on his list was the area around the entrance to Ritzville sign. Benzel said that now the sign doesn’t light up and there is no grass around it anymore. “It looks pretty terrible right now,” Benzel said. He also brought up issues with the cart path that was ripped out, the construction on the pump house and told the council that there is now issues with vandalism and p...
With dangerously hot and dry weather driving fire danger to a new high, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is expanding the current statewide burn ban to cover all outdoor burning on all DNR-protected lands, with no exceptions. “All indicators are that we’ll continue to have high heat, low humidity, and storm systems with winds and lightning. That means huge potential for wildfires,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “We need to do everything we can to minimize danger to people,... Full story
The Ritzville lady golfers hosted their annual “Puttin on the Ritz” golf invitational on Monday, Aug. 11, at the Ritzville Municipal Golf Course. Thirty-two golfers were divided into two flights based on handicap for the morning tournament. Golfers came from Walla Walla, Seattle, Kennewick, Burbank, Moses Lake, Quincy, Warden, Wilbur, Rathdrum, Idaho; Cle Elem, Lincoln and Ritzville. Eleven of the 16 teams won skins, which was the lowest score in their flight for any one hole. Winners in the second flight were Mary Cox and...
Rodney R. Dehnel, 68, died Wednesday, Aug. 6, after battling heart disease for over two years. He was born on June 18, 1946, to Robert and Velma Dehnel formerly of Ritzville. He attended Ritzville schools and graduated in 1966. In his youth Rod enjoyed many sports and activities including scouting, basketball, baseball, bowling, gymnastics and swimming. He attended the Lutheran Church. During his senior year he attended an aircraft-manufacturing program at Big Bend Community C... Full story
Baseball is a quirky game because of all the nuances of the game. And with those nuances there are a lot of stories to be told. Since the game itself probably doesn’t have the intensity of games like basketball, football and hockey and there is a lot of time to think in the dugout there are a lot of great stories that come out of baseball than the other sports. Oh, those sports have great stories they are just different. On Saturday I had the opportunity to see Bob Costas i...
August 7, the federal delegation representing impacted areas in Washington state sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to grant the major disaster declaration that was requested by Governor Jay Inslee. The letter was sent by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Representatives Doc Hastings (WA-4) and Dave Reichert (WA-8). “While local communities and state agencies have responded admirably, a disaster of this magnitude requires long-term federal assistance to help these c... Full story
Today, there is a tendency to look with distain at manufacturing facilities, especially those located on working waterfronts. Historically, those factories were sited there because the raw materials and finished products could be transported only by water. But as our state and nation progressed, railroads, highways and even airports were added and industrial areas formed. In fact, our legislature, cities, counties and ports funded the necessary improvements to those areas to specifically attract industries and the...
All friends and members of Trinity United Methodist Church are invited to the Ritzville City Park on Sunday, Aug. 17, at noon for the annual church picnic. The Trinity United Methodist Church is providing burgers and drinks. Attendees are asked to bring a salad or a dessert to share, as well as a lawn chair and table service. For more information, call the church at 659-1783....