Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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The Ritzville Community Parade on Saturday, Sept. 5, is a longstanding tradition of recognizing community spirit and dedication to the town. This year, two individuals who have been actively involved in Ritzville as volunteers, parents, supporters and dedicated workers will lead the parade as the grand marshals. Diane and Larry Swift have been selected as the 2015 grand marshals for their commitment to the Ritzville community and unwavering loyalty to help whenever needed....
Families, community members and exhibitors alike are all preparing for the annual Wheat Land Communities’ Fair, running from Thursday, Sept. 3, until Sunday, Sept. 6. The event provides visitors with four fun-filled days of family friendly activities, youth exhibitor competitions and exciting rodeo action. The fair is welcoming back and adding a variety of activities and food booths for guests to enjoy. The highlight of the weekend events includes the community parades and barbecue in Ritzville City Park. Friday and S...
The 2015 Sprague Days is set for Sept. 12-13 in downtown Sprague. Sprague Chamber volunteers are working to bring ‘Good Old-Fashioned Family Fun’ back to Sprague again. Festivities begin Saturday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m. with a Chalk Art Contest on downtown sidewalks. Vendors will be set up in the park about the same time, including bake sales, crafts, merchants, used books, Spokane Cheesecake, and other fun and foods continuing all day. The Inland Northwest Blood Center mobile unit has been invited back, Sprague’s Cruis...
Residents of the Washtucna community and the surrounding area are invited to attend a going away party for longtime community member Rex and Sharon Dainty. The event begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13, in Bassett Park in Washtucna. Attendees are asked to bring a main dish, salad or dessert. Dishes, utensils, napkins, cups and drinks will be provided. Those attending are encouraged to also bring a lawn chair or blanket. Residents are welcome to share stories, memories and pictures at the event. The Progressive Club is...
Ritzville Rodeo Queen Haley Oestreich and 2016 Ritzville Rodeo Queen Contestant Peyton Curtis are continuing the donation drive to collect items for individuals affected by the wildfires burning throughout the state. A local group of ladies have also made ribbons and set out bins for monetary donations at several locations where donation bins are located. The donation locations are Bob’s Chevron, The Hair Center, Ritzville Drug Company, Umpqua Bank, Cow Creek Mercantile and The Ritzville Journal. All of the donation bins w...
On Wednesday, Sept. 9, beginning at 6 p.m., the Ritzville Nazarene Church will begin an all new children’s program entitled “Connect”. Children four years old through sixth grade are invited to be a part of this weekly adventure where they will explore Bible truths in a whole new way. Through teaching, games, snacks, and activities, they will be challenged to learn and grow. For more information about the group, contact Dawn Olson at 659-4659....
During an Adams County Commissioners meeting on Monday, Aug. 31, a new interim sheriff was appointed. Undersheriff Dale Wagner has been appointed to serve and assume all acting duties of the sheriff position. Wagner was present during this meeting and accepted the responsibility of the interim position. Adams County Sheriff John Hunt submitted his resignation early this summer, which went into effect midnight on Aug. 31. The commissioners were not to be in session again until Sept. 2, which would cause the position to be unoc...
The Lind Fire Department responded to a house engulfed in flames at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Lind Fire Chief Kevin Starring reported the vacant house had flames coming out of the second story by the time fire crews arrived on scene. The department emptied the fire station, bringing brush trucks and city trucks to the scene to monitor the blaze. Due to the progress of the fire by the time of arrival, and because of the knowledge the house was vacant, the crews allowed the flames to consume the roof of the house. The...
The Lind Town Council received positive news regarding the ongoing well project during the meeting on Aug. 25. Stantec Engineer Alan Gay presented Well No. 6 is completed, minus a few punch list items needing to be completed by the contractor. Gay said some of the items could already have been completed, but he planned to meet with the contractor during the next week to check each of the items. Gay told the council after a pump test has been successfully completed at the well, the closeout paperwork can begin and the well...
A $200,000 loan for another month of operations at the East Adams Care Center (EACC) facility proved to be the largest discussion for the second consecutive month at the East Adams Rural Healthcare Board of Commissioners meeting Aug. 27. EACC Administrator Josh Hannum presented to the board regarding the progress of collecting billing payments and the needs of the facility. Hannum said the facility has grown by six patients, with two of those patients being Medicare. Since the license transfer in May, EACC staff have been...
RITZVILLE. The crew that left early Tuesday morning to assist with maintaining the Carpenter Road Fire are (from left) Luke McRae, Mark Cameron and Nina Klewin. -Journal photo by Katelin Davidson...
CREW THREE. The third set of firefighters from the Ritzville Fire Department that went to Stevens County to assist with the Carpenter Road Fire are (from left) David Niles, Dave Breazeale and Chad Hoeft. -Journal photo by Katelin Davidson...
Rachel Plager has joined The Ritzville Journal staff in the full-time reporter position, beginning Aug. 31. Plager, born and raised in Spokane, has always had an interest in living in a small town, and when the job opportunity presented itself, she knew it could be a good fit for her. Her parents Boyd and Jill Plager are both originally from the area and they graduated from Lind High School. Plager has multiple family members still residing in the Ritzville community and...
For centuries, United States veterans have fought for freedoms on American soil and overseas. But for many, after their military service has concluded, they find themselves without jobs or specific skills to enter directly into the workforce. The desire to assist veterans transition into new careers is the motivation behind the Vets on the Farm program. The vision for the program is to help veterans transition back into civilian life and into a career where their hardworking...
WELCOME BACK. Upon returning to Lind Elementary School on Monday, Aug. 31, Aydon Morgan was all smiles. -Photo courtesy of Lori Olson...
STYLISH. Many students, like Ireana Goodman, picked out their favorite outfits for the first day of school at Ritzville Grade School. -Journal photo by Katelin Davidson...
Instrumental to the education of today’s youth, teachers are responsible for informing, inspiring and shaping the future. In the last few years, however, the nation has seen a widespread decrease in mathematics teachers—positions that are critical to the academic development of students interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Many of the factors that could have caused the decreasing numbers of math teachers persist today. Annually, the U.S. Department of Education releases their Teacher Shortage Are...
Steven Kenneth Devore, 73, was born on June 17, 1942, in Ritzville, to Kenneth and Shirley DeVore. Steve passed away after a three year battle with cancer on August 10. He graduated from Lind High School in 1961. Steve served in the Navy and attended Washington State College for one year. Steve returned to the family farm in Lind and farmed with his father until 1988. He then worked for the Adams County Road Department until retiring in 2009. Throughout his life Steve enjoyed being outdoors whether it be fishing, hunting, or...
I have a friend who is very special to me. This friend holds me in high esteem and has high expectations of me. I’m pretty sure he prays for me as well. He is constantly encouraging me to do more or better because he believes I can. He’s a life coach in the way that friends should be. He is tolerant and pretty patient, but doesn’t suffer foolish behaviors for long. He has welcomed me onto committees and urged me to activities that he knew were challenging and would grow me. He looks ahead, not back, and I never have to toler...
The next billionaires may be the entrepreneur who figures out how to turn contaminated mine water into drinking water. In the process, they would make part of their fortune recovering chemicals and metals we use in our everyday lives. No one was talking about old mining waste until August 5 when an EPA cleanup crew accidentally breached the wall of a containment pond at the Gold King Mine near Durango, Colorado, sending three million gallons of mustard-tinged muck down the Animas River. Suddenly, the world’s attention f...
The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos kicked off the season with the annual Jamboree in Ritzville Aug. 26. The Jamboree allowed the Broncos to get a look into areas of improvement, as well as rotate athletes into new positions. The Jamboree serves as a scrimmage of sorts against other teams, Head Coach Greg Whitmore said, and the coaches do not judge the performance as much as they would a true game situation. Whitmore said the coaching staff focuses on finding the positives and...
The Ritzville Fire Department will be taking second grade students on the fire truck during the parade on Saturday, Sept. 5. Parents can drop their children off at the fire station on First Avenue at 10:30 a.m. before the parade begins. At the conclusion of the parade children can be picked up back at the fire station....
Roberta Ruth (Shimek) Maier, 92, died on August 23 in Roseburg, daughter Cathy was at her side. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Floyd, her parents, John and Eunice Shimek, sister, Marialice Schrader and partner Vernon Wellsandt. Roberta is survived by Terri Ste.Marie (Terry), Cathy Striegel, Chris Maier and Sally Brooks (Keith), eleven grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. She is “Megi” to her grandchildren and “Auntie Berta...
Frances L. (Fran) Lenhart, 97, died on August 28. Frances was born May 4, 1918, on a farm outside of Odessa, the fifth of six children born to Anna Mary and George Heimbigner. Frances grew up on farms in the Spangle, Odessa and Harrington areas and graduated from Harrington High School in 1935. She attended Cheney Normal School (EWU), graduating in 1938. Frances began her teaching career, first at Lakeland Village and then teaching junior high in Hay, during the war years....