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Articles from the December 29, 2011 edition


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  • First meeting set for Relay for Life

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    The Relay For Life of Ritzville will host the first meeting on Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. at the Best Western. Current team captains and committee members should attend, as should anybody interested in becoming a team captain or committee member. There are still seven committee positions open for the Relay For Life of Ritzville. These positions are the Event Chair, Logistics Chair, Luminaria Chair, Sponsorship Chair, Team Development Chair, Advocacy and Mission Delivery. For any questions regarding these positions of the upcoming...

  • Library to offer help with eReader devices

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    The Ritzville Public Library will be offering free one-on-one drop-in sessions Jan. 9 through 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for anyone that needs help with their eReader device. Help will also be available for those who wish to learn more about the thousands of eBooks available through the Washington Anytime Library. The library will have an Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook, Sony Reader and Apple iPad on hand for anyone who is considering the purchase of such a device and wants to test one out first....

  • Lind Lions honor veteran members

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    Two charter members of the Lind Lions Club, who maintained perfect attendance with the club for 43 years, were honored Wednesday, Dec. 21, with Honorary Lifetime Memberships by the club. Ruben Fode and Dick Nagamitsu attended the club’s Christmas dinner and were surprised to learn they were being honored as part of the program. Current Lions Club President Josh Knodel delivered a prepared speech during the dinner, highlighting the long time accomplishments of the two men. T...

  • Utility pole, light to return in Lind

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    The Lind Town Council agreed to bring back the utility pole and light on the intersection of Sprague Avenue and First Street. The pole will have an extended arm light attached in order to provide light into the alley. The new light, according to an Avista quote from Jim McBride, will cost about $18.50 a month and around $225 a year....

  • Looking back: 2011 in the news

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    The following is a review of the news and happenings that shaped our communities in 2011. The second half of this review will appear in next week’s newspaper. January 2011 On Jan. 10, Leslie Smith (Lzicar) was hired as the new full-time human resources director for the Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2. The HR position had been vacant for a number of years preceding Smith’s hiring into the position. Smith used the current human resources assessment that was cre...

  • Petition started to save critical care access at rural hospitals

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    An online petition has begun with the purpose being to stop funding cuts for rural hospitals and that will later be delivered to the Washington State House, the Washington State Senate and Governor Christine Gregoire. The petition is aimed at stopping proposed cuts in funding for 38 rural Critical Access Hospitals in the state. The cuts would eliminate cost-based reimbursement for the care of Medicaid patients while saving only 1.5 percent of its total spending on Medicaid. It is a small savings for the state but would cause...

  • An unknown helper

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    I had a visit from a Christmas angel a few days ago. He/she came to my aid when there was no way I could do anything to help myself. I am so very grateful to you. Thank you so much. Dede Brown...

  • All-weather track, a dreams that deserves to be fulfilled

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    I am writing this letter to express my thanks to Project 56 and to offer my support for their projects. As many of you know my father Harold Undeberg dreamed of upgrading our track to an all weather track. He wanted this for the athletes, but he also knew that having an all weather track would be beneficial to our community. I agree with him 100%. As a lifelong resident of Ritzville I have experienced firsthand the support and generosity of our community. This community looks out for its young people – they are a priority. I...

  • Top Sports Moments in 2011

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    January 2011 Micah Brown wrestled at 130 pounds during the Freeman Invitational on Dec. 30 and won the championship title after pinning all three of his competitors. Miguel Hayes finished second and Keanu Niezwaag took third place, both in the 140-pound category. On Jan. 8, Broncos wrestling traveled to the Almira/Coule-Hartline tournament where Micah Brown again took the tournament title. Keanu Niezwaag and Cory Goble both had to drop out of their matches after suffering knee injuries at the competition. At the Coyote...

  • Hunter Education course planned

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    Pheasants Forever will be hosting hunter education and firearm safety classes in Ritzville during the month of February. There is no fee to participate in the class and everyone is welcome. Any children under the age of 12 years old must have a parent or guardian with them. Classes will be held at the Ritzville Gun Club beginning on Monday, Feb. 6, at 6-9 p.m. The next classes will be Feb. 7, Feb. 9, Feb. 13 and Feb. 15 from 6-9 p.m. at the Ritzville Gun Club. The final class will be on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 10 a.m. until...

  • Mat men earning wins on the road

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    The wrestlers of Lind-Ritzville/Sprague endured a hectic schedule just prior to Christmas, hitting the mats all over Eastern Washington. On Tuesday, Dec. 13, the Broncos traveled to Tri-Cities Prep. The team had been hit with the flu bug so only two wrestlers competed. Keanu Niezwaag wrestled Mason Brown of Chiawana at 145 pounds. Niezwaag won by a score of 11-2. He then went against Joel Murillo of Chiawana and won by pin in the second period. Ethan Melville wrestled at 160 pounds. He wrestled Jacob Schuh of Pomeroy and got...

  • Responses enormous for Hams from the Heart

    Katelin Davidson|Updated Dec 29, 2011

    ms from the Heart” fundraiser for his senior project in November and when it concluded on Friday, Dec. 16, he could not believe the success. Knodel had a goal to donate a ham to at least 40 families in the Lind community for the holiday season. Knodel surpassed his goal and with the $2,200 he received in donations, he was able to purchase over 100 hams. “It was a huge success, more than I could have ever hoped for,” said Knodel. “I’m so thankful. I couldn’t have done it wit...

  • BBCC still has class openings for winter quarter

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    There are still class openings for winter quarter at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. College officials report students can still enroll in math, science, history, social science and English classes. Winter quarter instruction begins Jan. 4, 2012. Last fall, nearly all Big Bend classes were filled to capacity and there were long waiting lists. Contact BBCC Counseling at 793-2061 or 793-2035....

  • Hernandez on fall quarter vice president’s list

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    Big Bend Community College announced the fall quarter vice president’s list and Jessica Hernandez, of Lind, was one of numerous college students on the honored list. In order to earn a place on the list, a student must complete 12 or more graded credits with a GPA of 3.33 to 3.74. Hernandez is a 2011 graduate from Lind High School....

  • Odessa resident releases children’s book

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    Kathy Taylor, a resident of Odessa, received a life changing gift in January 2010, a dog named Rocky, who was delivered across two states from Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter in Trinidad, Colo. Rocky, a Schipperke mix was found on petfinder.com and was listed as available for adoption. Since Taylor’s boyfriend had a female of the same breed she had been looking for a male playmate and knew that this dog was a perfect fit for her home. Considering it was the middle of winter and over a twenty-hour drive to the shelter, Taylor put...

  • Norma Pauline (Schafer) Schoessler

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    Norma Pauline (Schafer) Schoessler, age 82, a lifelong resident of Ritzville, died Dec. 19, 2011, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. The daughter of Nick and Pauline (Benzel) Schafer, she was born March 13, 1929, and graduated from Ritzville High School in 1947. She entered the work force as a legal secretary for Ed Cross and Judge Richard B. Ott. Her sister and brother-in-law, Don and Orlou Kiehn, introduced her to Henry Marvin Schoessler at a family card party. They...

  • Martha Magdalena Meilke Colley

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    Martha Colley, age 95, died Dec. 23, 2011, at Kym’s Cottage in Graham, Wash., with loving family around her. She was a longtime resident of Connell. She was born Aug. 5, 1916, at the family home near Roxborough, Wash., the eighth of nine children of Emmanuel and Mary (Sackmann) Meilke. She attended Lind schools, graduating from Lind High School. She married Marion Colley on Dec. 26, 1937, in her family’s home in Lind. They farmed in the Connell area until 1959, when hea...

  • Troy D. Oestreich, Sr.

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    Troy D. Oestreich, Sr., age 89, died Dec. 20, 2011. He was born Sept. 9, 1922, at Ritzville, to Melven Oestreich and Martha Thiel Oestreich, where he grew up with his family. He married Mary Ruth Polk in April 1944 at San Jose, Calif. During their life together, they served for 28 years in the US Air Force beginning in World War II. He was a pilot initially flying the Boeing B-17 and later heavy lift/cargo aircraft. He was a survivor of subsequent conflicts in Korea, the...

  • Hannah Lynn Stewart

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    Nick and Amber (Sackmann) Stewart of Spokane announce the birth of their daughter, Hannah Lynn, born Nov. 2, 2011, at Sacred Heart Medical Center. At birth, Hannah weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces and measured 20 inches in length. Maternal grandparents are Dennis and Connie Sackmann, of Ritzville. Paternal grandparents are Randy and Debbie Stewart, of Boise, Idaho. Maternal great-grandparents are Lenora Sackmann, of Spokane, and Harvey and MaryAnn Holloway, of Ritzville. Paternal...

  • Ritzville Police Report

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    Dec. 17, 12:10 a.m. — Officer Tom Gracie observed all of the railroad’s crossing arms were in the down position with no train in the area. Burlington Northern Santa Fe was contacted. Gracie noted the crossing arms had been reset by 1:30 a.m. Dec. 17, 7:55 p.m. —Officer Gracie completed a citizen assist by contacting a subject in the 400 block of West First Avenue and asking them to contact someone from out of town who was attempting to reach them. Dec. 17, 9:29 p.m. — Officer Gracie responded to East Adams Rural Hospita...

  • Stop the Madness...

    Dale Anderson|Updated Dec 29, 2011

    The first Saturday in December was a big one for some teams who were battling for conference championships or for another victory that would boost their chances for a BCS bowl. Most games went in favor of the favored team but a few went to the club with upset on their minds. There was no bigger upset than the one that took place in Houston, Texas, where the favored University of Houston Cougars battled the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in the Conference USA championship...

  • Washington should provide choices for low-income students

    Don C. Brunell, president|Updated Dec 29, 2011

    Washington is one of only 10 states that effectively prohibit low-income parents from choosing where their children go to school. The battle lines over alternatives such as charter public schools or school vouchers have been sharply drawn in our state. Supporters say the issue is choice; that education is the key to a child’s future and parents — particularly low-income parents — should be able to send their children to the best possible schools. Opponents argue that alternatives to traditional public schools drain cruci...

  • Ritzville woman struck, killed by train

    Updated Dec 29, 2011

    An adult female was killed Wednesday night at 10:25 p.m. when she was struck by an Amtrak train as she walked across the tracks about 100 feet east of the Adams Street crossing. According to a Ritzville Police Department press release, the woman was identified as Angela Ann Leon, 38, of Ritzville. Police Chief David McCormick said the train was traveling at 50 miles per hour at the time of incident. McCormick said the train was blowing its whistle as it crossed Adams Street and the victim did not acknowledge the...