Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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The Ritzville Journal is preparing for the upcoming holidays, and would like to notify subscribers on closure dates. The Journal office will be closed on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. The deadline for content and advertising in the Dec. 29 publication remains Tuesday, Dec. 27, at noon. For more information, contact The Journal office at 659-1020. The staff members at The Journal wish everyone happy holidays and safe travels for those traveling to see loved ones during the holidays....
To celebrate the upcoming holidays, area churches are hosting special Christmas and Christmas Eve services and encourage community members to attend the events. The New Hope Center will have a special Christmas service on Sunday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Richard Lee encourages residents to attend the program. The Lind Community Church will be having a candlelight service on Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. In addition to the candlelight service, the church will have service at 10 a.m. on Christmas day. The Trinity United Methodist...
Five Lind-Ritzville High School students will be traveling to Washington, D.C., in March thanks to the help of support money from student organizations and the Lind and Ritzville School Boards. Current World Problems Teacher Angalina Vallone addressed the two school boards during their meeting on Dec. 19 in Ritzville. She announced the students have a unique opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., and see the capitol from an exclusive perspective with the help of local farmer and U.S. Wheat Associates representative Mike... Full story
The Lind Town Council reviewed the 2017 proposed budget changes during their meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Mayor Jamie Schmunk advised the budget includes additional funds for the maintenance of the town’s buildings, shops and trees as discussed in their meeting on Nov. 22. Schmunk also said there are proposed additional funds for testing water in the waste water plant for the State Waste District permit because they will need to conduct twice as many tests. Stantec Engineer Alan Gay said the increase surprised him and he w...
The Ritzville City Council passed a resolution during an executive session on Monday, Dec. 12, pertaining to securing an option for the completion of the Well 9 Pump Station before summer 2017. The resolution states in 2014 the City entered a contract for the construction of the Well 9 Pump Station in order to ensure the health and safety of citizens and to be used as a dependable water source. After the contracting party partially completed the project, Well 9 Pump Station performed well in operation but failed to work... Full story
The Lind and Ritzville School Boards approved a contract with the Ritzville Public Library for the use of the Lind-Ritzville High School library over the course of the next six months. The Ritzville Public Library staff has to relocate and offer their services at the school, due to the installation of an elevator and completion of an ADA compliant bathroom at the library. Ritzville Library Director Kylie Fullmer, members of the Library Board and Friends of the Library members attended the November school board meeting to...
The East Adams Rural Healthcare facility is expected to be fully opened this week, following an extensive remodel over the past year. The Adams County Public Hospital District 2 Board of Commissioners discussed the progress of construction at the hospital, as well as weighed the options regarding the future of the East Adams Care Center during their meeting on Dec. 15. CEO/CFO Gary Bostrom said the CT machine has been installed, and the x-ray machine is expected to be installed and operational by the current week. The first...
4-H PRESENTERS. (From left) Gus Tracy, Colby Tracy, Wes Tracy, and Brock Tracy, along with Adams County 4-H Volunteer State Fair Coordinator Carl Jerue, each received a special pin donated by Janette and Buck Hollenback of Washtucna for traveling to the Washington State 4-H Fair in Puyallup last September to give 4-H Public Presentations. Not present were Melanie Spivey and Lienhoa Hollenback who will also receive pins for giving their presentations at State Fair. -Photo...
4-H VOLUNTEERS. At the Adams County 4-H Achievement Program in November 4-H Volunteers were recognized for their service. Volunteers present at the program were (back row, from left): Carla Jerue (14 years as a volunteer), Amie Olson (five years), Heidi Tracy (two years), and Erika Hennings (35 years). Front row: Janette Hollenback (55 years as a volunteer), Alice Weber (35 years), Buck Hollenback (23 years) and Camille Nelson (12 years). -Photo submitted by Karen...
WINTER CONCERT. Students from the Ritzville Grade School performed a variety of holiday songs in front of family and friends during their Winter Music Concert on Thursday, Dec. 15, at the school. The fourth grade students (pictured) sang, “Rock Around the Christmas Tree” and “Christmas Shopping Blues”. -Journal photo by Katelin Davidson...
SANTA CLAUS. The students of Lind Elementary School snuggled up on Santa’s lap on Dec. 16 to voice their Christmas wishes on their last day of school before holiday break. Mikayla Phelps laughs after Santa complimented her princess stocking cap. -Journal photo by Haley Roybal...
On Saturday afternoon as the temperature at kickoff hovered around zero at Roos Field in Cheney, someone asked a question that took a while to answer. The person said, “Would you rather watch a game when the temperature is zero or if it was 100?” One would think the question would be easy since it was zero and warmer weather would have been nice. I said, “That’s easy. I would rather it was zero because I can always add a few layers to keep warm but when it is 100 it is very...
December is the time of year in which people have the tendency to wish for things to happen. While many common wish lists feature gifts, toys, or simply good fortune, Lind-Ritzville High School students have unique lists of their own. In a brainstorming session, LRHS students were asked to compile a list of things, either material or intangible, that would make their school better. Each student brought forth different ideas, all of which supported the transition of LRHS into more of a 21st century school. To outline the conce... Full story
Seven members of the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos mat squad traveled to Reardan on Thursday, Dec. 15, to showcase their skills against multiple schools in league matches. Head Coach Jason Hilzer said the athletes displayed immense improvement in their overall technique, but proved they were still in need of additional mat time. The athletes competing on Thursday were Aarron Phelps, Michael Phelps, Garrett Correll, Dylan Lane, Tristan Regan, Alex Whitman and Tucker Guiles. Hilzer said the opposing schools consisted only of...
As the 114th Congress comes to an end, it is worth looking back on my first term in Congress and highlight the important accomplishments and the change that Americans should expect before the 115th Congress convenes next year. While there has been much disagreement between Republicans and Democrats in the nation’s capital, progress on issues that earned bipartisan support should not be overlooked. During the 114th Congress, Medicare was put on stronger footing by the “Doc Fix.” This improvement was signed into law to perma...
The holiday season makes us all aware of the blessings in our life and creates a time for individuals to reflect upon the gifts that we have been granted. As the Superintendent of the Lind-Ritzville Cooperative Schools, I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to spend time with the students within the district. Each child is a blessing and truly reminds me that serving our students is an investment in a brighter future. I have gotten to observe students excelling in the classroom and growing in a number of areas. I... Full story
This year’s good news is Washington apple production is the second best ever. The better news is shipments to Asian markets are returning to normal. Let me explain. In 2014, our state had its best apple crop in history, but prospects to deliver cases of apples across the ocean were dampened by a labor dispute at West Coast seaports. That dispute led to a prolonged slowdown (and eventual shutdown) in loading ships carrying thousands of agriculture and manufactured products. According to a report issued jointly by the National...
LADY BRONCOS. The Lady Broncos award winners for the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague team are (from left) Emma Aldrich, Bronco Pride and Best Teammate; Tessa Jantz, MVP and Bronco Pride, and Ellie Gering, Most Improved. -Photo courtesy of Donna Koch...
BRONCO FOOTBALL award winners during the annual banquet were (back row, from left): Ray Melville, Scout Team Player of the Year Award; Alex Whitman, Spirit of a Bronco Award; Pake Taylor, Captain Award and Most Inspirational Award; Pius Prosinecki, Special Teams Player of the Year Award; (front row) Damien Rouleau, Captain Award; and Bryce Kelly, Most Improved Award. -Photo courtesy of Michelle Fode-Smith...
Rebecca (Beckey) Joan Kembel, 73, of Waikoloa, Hawaii, died on Dec. 16. Beckey was born in Ritzville, on June 26, 1943, to Ronald and Maxine Watkins. She had a wonderful childhood growing up on the Watkins family wheat farm and cattle ranch in Benge. She attended Benge School, and then graduated from Washtucna High School in 1961. Just after graduating from high school, she married Richard Austin and together they had two children: Rory Dean and Cregg Lansing. In 1971 Beckey...
Carol Ann (Powell) Schwisow was born on Dec. 7, 1939, in Omaha, to Edward and Marion (Holst) Powell. She had one sister, Judy (Powell) Free. Carol died on Dec. 15 at Rockwood South Hill Skilled Nursing in Spokane, having struggled with Parkinson’s Disease and related issues for over three years. Carol was raised in Richland. Her family was active in Masonic work where during her teen years she was elected as a Honored Queen of Job’s Daughters. Always creative, she was a tal... Full story
The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos added two more victories to their win column last week, after facing league competitors on the road and at home. The Broncos faced Reardan and Tekoa-Rosalia and earned league wins, before returning to Ritzville and suffering a loss to Asotin. The Broncos hosted Reardan on Dec. 13 and after a strong first quarter, continued their success to earn a 55-44 win. Head Coach Dustan Arlt said the Broncos posted a 15-point lead during the first half,...
The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Lady Broncos celebrated three victories against Reardan, Tekoa-Rosalia and Asotin. Their victories are due to the team’s strong defense, said Head Coach Gary Kelly. On Tuesday, Dec. 13, the Lady Broncos hosted Reardan for their first game of the week. Kelly said the game went as expected as the team’s skill level proved to be more advanced than their opponent’s. The Lady Broncos shut down Reardan’s offensive attacks, not allowing them to score t...
Mary Ryan received the Washington Health Care Authority (WHCA) Chapter 10 Dietary Employee of the Year award Monday, Nov. 28, during a dinner at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane. After 17 years of hard work as a cook and caregiver, the staff of Rose Garden Estates Assisted Living decided to express their appreciation by entering Ryan for the award through WHCA. Ryan is currently the lead cook and dietary manager of the assisted living facility. WHCA Chapter Governor Sandy...
The Ritzville Public Library has partnered with the Kiel Family/Wheatland Computer Services to provide community members with the opportunity to Skype family members for the holidays. Residents who do not have access to Internet, a computer or a Skype account, are welcome to come to the library from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Christmas Day to wish family members a merry Christmas through Skype. The Kiel family will be in the library to assist participants in getting connected. Those attending must bring the Skype name and phone...