Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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PULLMAN — Police Chief Gary Jenkins has authorized officers to ticket individuals who refuse to wear a mask while coronavirus orders from Gov. Jay Inslee remain in effect. In a press release Wednesday, Aug. 19, on the decision to allow enforcement of mask mandates, Jenkins said his officers “stand between those who are law-abiding and those whose actions risk the health and safety of others.” “Violators of the governor’s proclamations not only put the violator’s health at risk, but the health of our entire community,...
CHENEY -- A series of small wildfires has grown into a 200-acre-plus blaze near Badger Lake about 15 miles south of Cheney. The fires began around 5:04 p.m. Sunday evening under hot, dry conditions, and are burning in grassy areas dotted with stands of ponderosa pine. According to a news release from the Washington State Patrol, about 50-70 homes are threatened. Initially, Level 2 "be prepared to leave" evacuation orders were enacted but state Department of Natural Resources...
CLARKSTON-A 25-acre fire that had been contained has now spread across about 1,000 acres after overnight winds picked up. As of this morning, Monday August 17, the fire was zero percent contained. The original fire started off a motor home that caught fire on Wawawai Road, across the Snake River from Chief Timothy Park, about 4 p.m. Aug. 16. Whitman County Fire District 14 responded as did Asotin County and Clarkston. The Chief Timothy Fire had been contained and then a thunder cell entered the area and winds picked up,...
Pressman Mark Cordes helped run the press for the last time today, assisting in printing the Davenport Times, Odessa Record and Wilbur Register. Cordes is leaving Free Press Publishing after 14 years with the company and will begin working at a cabinet shop just outside Cheney....
RITZVILLE – A Zoom meeting community forum for Lind Ritzville School District Superintendent Don Vanderholm to present back to school details had 131 in attendance August 11. School will begin August 31, with Distance Learning only for all students. Vanderholm said the school district has purchased software containing pre-recorded lessons. Edgenuity Courseware, for students in grades six through 12, and Accelerated Learning for grades K-5 were purchased for $30,000 each. Vanderholm said the first two weeks of school will b...
RITZVILLE – City Hall is completely closed to the public due to a positive COVID-19 test. The closure will last until Friday, Aug. 21.City Hall office employees will not be available during this time. For emergencies, residents are asked to contact the Ritzville Police Department at 509-659-1313. For non-emergency city issues that need immediate assistance, City Clerk-Treasurer Julie Flyckt is available at [email protected] or by calling 509-660-0966. Bill p...
RITZVILLE – Prosser residents admire the lifelike characteristics of this statue created by Ritzville resident Lamar Thiel while visiting Ritzville Thursday, August 13. From left are Yakira Pryor, 8; Daniel Bradshaw, 12; Crystal Jarrett; Jason Bottoms, 9; and Amiliannah Jarrett, 10. The statue, located next to the Railroad Depot Museum on W. Railroad Avenue, commemorates 16 Volga German pioneer families who journeyed west by wagon train in 1882. Asked what their favorite t...
August 8 Suspicious - 700 block South Thacker Road Othello A vehicle with subjects inside were contacted at the location. The subjects were advised to leave the area. Suspicious - 800 block South Taylor Road Othello Deputies heard yelling near the location. A subject advised of a family gathering. No criminal activity observed. Malicious Mischief - West Mitchell Lane and South Nimey Lane Othello Complainant advised of gang related graffiti at the location. Investigation is ongoing. Malicious Mischief - 2200 block West...
Alan John Stromberger passed away peacefully in his home on August 5, 2020 in Sprague, WA at the age of 68. Alan was born on November 23, 1951 in Spokane, WA and was raised on a farm outside of Sprague, WA, where he and his wife, Sharlene, raised four children. In addition to operating the family farm, Alan was highly involved in various local and state organizations. He dedicated 23 years to conservation efforts at the state and county level, serving on the Lincoln County...
Larry Keith Honn, lifelong Benge, WA farmer and rancher, passed on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at the age of 81 in Whitman Hospital of Colfax, WA after a long battle at home. Larry Honn was born December 20, 1938 in Ritzville, WA to Lloyd Keith and Emma Kent Honn. Growing up on the family ranch near Benge, learning the trade early, attending Benge School, teaching a Photography class while graduating from Washtucna High School in 1956. Larry entered the Army in 1957 stationed...
Perhaps the members of the Ritzville City Council have allowed City Hall to be opened to the citizenry. If so, this would be good news. Our “public” buildings should not have been closed. The revolution of 1776 was NOT fought to protect government employees from the citizens of the land. Nor was the revolution meant to establish authoritarian government which appears to be the route we are now traveling. Our Washington state governor is exercising authority that would make our pre-revolution English overlords proud. Den...
WHITMAN COUNTY – Reports from harvest fields and grain elevators in Whitman County are bringing good news in winter wheat. The USDA forecasts a Washington state average of 74 bushels per acre. Whitman County represents the higher side of the median, particularly this year, it appears. “From what I understand, and what we’re experiencing, it’s probably a good 20-25% increase in the winter wheat crop,” said Gary Bailey on Tuesday, from a tractor pulling a bankout wagon sou...
Our environmental quality strategy must be encompassing and not just focus on climate change. Since Democrats announced their Green New Deal, the emphasis is reducing greenhouse gases, particularly CO2, which contribute to global warming. Their goal is to replace gasoline and diesel burning vehicles with those operated by batteries and to eliminate coal and natural gas burning power plants. It is understandable since the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human...
RITZVILLE – Adams County Sheriff’s Department announced a correctional staff member, a staff member outside of the facility and three inmates of the Adams County Jail have tested positive for COVID-19. According to Undersheriff Adolfo Coronado, the correctional staff member tested positive Aug. 6, and after alerting command personnel immediately, went home to isolate. The following day, Aug. 7, the Adams County Health Department conducted further testing of individuals at the Adams County Jail. Test results Monday, Aug. 10,...
More than one person has told me that they wish 2020 would just go away, and some wish it would have never happened at all. I know it has been rough, especially for those people who have locked themselves away in fear that the dreaded C-19 will penetrate their closed windows and doors. My biggest fear is that I will let the dreaded virus consume my life and scare me senseless. I have listened to a fair amount of doctors on TV, and their findings vary so much that it is hard...
GRANT-ADAMS COUNTY – With the current emphasis on staying at or close to home with the conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, gardening has become a more popular activity for individuals and families. The Washington State University Master Gardeners are eager to help. There are lots of publications and services available. Master Gardeners have been providing public outreach in Washington state for almost 50 years. Washington State University Cooperative Extension s...
RITZVILLE – Former teacher Marsha Smith is offering tutoring services to local students. Smith, who retired after 30 years as an English/Spanish teacher said she decided to begin tutoring because she was concerned about students not being able to get back in school. "Tutoring is an opportunity for me to use my skills as a teacher to help those who would benefit," Smith said. Her tutoring, which takes place in her home in Ritzville, will focus on language skills including w...
1 years ago The Ritzville Journal-Times August, 19,1920 Gets in Deep Water There was a big crowd at Sprague Lake trying to keep cool Sunday afternoon. A number of the young people were out rolling the log which floats at the bathing beach. Among them was Shontz Schuler, Jr., who is only a beginner at swimming. The log got out too far for him and he started to go back but found the water beyond his depth. Mildred Chargois saw his plight, went to him and tried to support him,...
RITZVILLE – East Adams Care Center has been sold to Gibralter Senior Living Center in Bellingham for $520,000. The sale, which closed August 10, included a year-long lease back for East Adams Rural Healthcare to continue to use the kitchen and laundry facilities, according to hospital board members....
RITZVILLE – Carpenter, McGuire & DeWulf, PS. attorneys at law with full time offices in Davenport, Odessa, Ritzville and Colfax, recently changed its name to McGuire, DeWulf, Kragt & Johnson, P.S. "John Kragt and Matthew Johnson have both grown up in our firm, and we felt they earned putting their names on the door," senior partner Rusty McGuire said. "Ken Carpenter retired a little over a year ago, and we felt now was as good a time as any to make the change." Johnson, a Colf...
WASHTUCNA – School board members adopted a return to school plan August 10, a Hybrid model that includes in-person and virtual learning, starting Monday, August 31. Washtucna has a new high school principal, Mike Amend; and new Superintendent Todd Spear, who also works with Lamont/Sprague School District. See next week’s issue of The Journal for feature stories on the new administrators. The current plan offers a choice of three different learning options, and parents/guardians are asked to contact the school district as soo...
Kahlotus School District will return to school on-campus August 31 with new superintendent Jose-de-Jesus Melendez (see feature in next week’s Back to School issue). Lamont/Sprague School District will also be returning August 31, with a mix of on-campus and virtual learning. See the school website for details and updates....
BENGE – Elementary school students will be returning to school on campus in Benge August 31. The school, located at 2978 Benge-Winona Road in Benge, serves students in kindergarten through sixth grade with two teachers. Robert "Bob" Moore serves as both a full-time teacher and part-time superintendent; and Savannah Kerr, new this year, will also be teaching full-time. Moore said as of now, the decision stands for students to attend campus five days a week. He said returning t...
CHENEY – A series of small wildfires has grown into a 200-acre-plus blaze near Badger Lake about 15 miles south of Cheney. The four fires began around 5:04 p.m. Sunday evening under hot, dry conditions, and are burning in grassy areas dotted with stands of ponderosa pine. According to the state Department of Natural Resources, one was six acres and threatening structures, another was eight acres, the third was between 1-2 acres while the progress of the fourth had been s...