Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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RITZVILLE – Little League baseball players haven't been able to enjoy baseball games or practices in a while, but they were treated to a free baseball camp last week. Owen Telecky, a junior at Lind-Ritzville High School and a varsity starter for the Broncos, organized and ran the camp. "These kids haven't had baseball in over two years, so I just wanted to give back to them," Telecky said. "I asked a few of my friends to help out, and they were glad to pitch in." Classmate T...
RITZVILLE – The Lind-Ritzville-Sprague ladies lost a home game to Colton by just three points Tuesday, May 25. Grace Fedie hit a three-point shot in the last seconds to close the gap 49-52. The Wildcats, despite their smaller size, sunk 11 three-point shots. For the Broncos, Dakota Killian, who led in scoring with 15 points, hit one three-pointer; Fedie, with eight points total, put in two; and Julia Klein, with 10 points, put in one. Also scoring 10 points for the Broncos w...
REARDAN – The Lind-Ritzville-Sprague Broncos traveled to Reardan Thursday, May 27, for a tournament with Garfield-Palouse, Colfax, Liberty (Spangle), Reardan, Davenport and Pomeroy. Head Coach Jason Hilzer said Brandon Davis wrestled and beat Jacob Sisk of Colfax by pin the third round, then wrestled Hamilton of Reardan and won by pin in the first round. "Brandon's third match was against Rinehart of Reardan, and Brandon won by pin in the second round," Hilzer said. "Sam M...
RITZVILLE – Kids from four states participated in this year's Wheatland Jackpot event, with Ritzville's own Alyssa Williams taking third in Champion Prospect Steers, and being named the Champion Intermediate Showman. Garrett Kane of LaCrosse was named Reserve Junior Showman. "The turnout was excellent, with 84 total entries from participants from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana," Lori McRae said. "This is nearly double a normal year. Prizes and cash payouts were made p...
RITZVILLE – A free delivery service through the PREPARES program is available locally free of charge. PREPARES is an outreach program through the Catholic Church available to pregnant women and families with children under age five of all faiths and backgrounds. Linda Key can deliver up to 50 diapers per month per household, along with baby wipes and children's books. "We used to have it here at the St. Agnes church, but people wouldn't come," Key said. "Then I had it at t...
RITZVILLE – Trinity Methodist Church welcomed Pastor Ella DeDeaux of Odessa as their new pastor May 1. DeDeaux and her husband James DeDeaux moved from Mississippi to Odessa at the end of 2019, when James was hired as a mental health therapist at the Odessa Clinic. Before the move, Pastor DeDeaux was pastor of two United Methodist churches in Pass Christian, Mississippi. She said she and her husband attended Trinity Methodist before Pastor Michelle Mitchell asked her to t...
RITZVILLE – Adams County Commissioners performed their quarterly inspection of the county jail Wednesday, May 26. Jail Commander Nick Williams led them through every area of the jail, from the top floor to the basement, including dispatch, inmate holding areas, supplies and booking. The three cells on the top floor are for inmates to be held in a temporary, two-week quarantine to watch for any COVID-19 symptoms before being introduced to the general population. Williams s...
RITZVILLE – Adams County Health Officials put out a public health alert warning of possible reactions to the COVID-19 vaccination, including myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), or pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane enclosing heart) May 26. Tim Taff, Environmental Health Director for Adams County Health Department sent out the alert, approved by Adams County Health Officer Alexander Brzezny after receiving a press release stating the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), the Centers for Disease Control and...
Fiber artist Linda Kubik displays hand-made fiber flowers while her hand-woven silk scarves wave behind her in the breeze. Kubik was one of a dozen artists, many local and some from as far away as Alaska, at the Ritzville Chamber of Commerce's two-day Art in the Park event. For more photos, see page 6....
RITZVILLE – City council approved a contract with Corridor Contractors of Airway Heights for the Main Avenue Seal Coat and ADA Ramps project at their May 18 meeting. The contract was hand-delivered to City Hall May 18, in time for the evening meeting, reported Tammy Turner, Project Administrative Assistant with Varela Engineering and Management. Clerk-Treasurer Julie Flyckt said City Attorney John Kragt "squeezed in time" to review it before the meeting. Councilman Scott Y...
RITZVILLE – The Bronco girls basketball team is 3-1 after winning three games and losing a close match in Kettle Falls by two points Friday, May 21. The girls had the lead in the first half with the score 14-10 at first quarter's end, and 21-19 at halftime. They kept the lead at the end of the third quarter, 28-24. In the final quarter, Kettle Falls scored 14 points to the Broncos' 8, for a final score of 36-38. Head Coach Steve Wellsandt said highlights of the Kettle Falls b...
RITZVILLE – The boys' basketball is 4-0 so far with wins against Chewlah, Kettle Falls, Reardan and Northwest Christian. The Broncos beat Kettle Falls 63-45 Friday, May 21, and beat Chewelah the next night 70-44. The boys had an early solid lead in their away game against Kettle Falls, up 23-6 at the end of the first quarter. The Bulldogs scored six again and the Broncos scored 12 the second quarter. The Broncos came out strong again in the second half, scoring 20 in the t...
RITZVILLE – Contestants in four states converged upon the Wheat Land Communities Fairground for the Wheatland Jackpot Sunday, May 23. Contestants were judged on heifers, steer and three age divisions for showmanship. For full results and more photos, see next week's issue of the Ritzville Journal....
RITZVILLE – Lind-Ritzville Middle School fifth-graders were treated to a tradition called "Law Day" last week, where they got to hold a mock trial in Superior Court, visit the judge in District Court, and meet law officers from the Adams County Sheriff's office, two State Patrol Troopers, and Ritzville Police Officer Tom Gracie. In Superior Court, students in Mrs. Gingrich's class tried classmate Karsen Stokoe for allegedly stealing a hat. His jury came back unable to reach a...
"Freedom is not free. It comes at a cost of the lives of brave men such as these, always being there to guard the gates. May it be forever thus. The God of Heaven and Earth has a special place for those who have been lost in freedom's cause. Were it not for them, our United States of America would not exist." Hector A. Holbrook, President, U.S.S. San Francisco Association, USN Veteran as quoted on Reinhardt J. Keppler's memorial plaque at the Ralston Memorial...
RALSTON – A half dozen men with ties to Ralston, Benge and Washtucna gave their lives in World War II, fighting for freedom for America. Their stories are memorialized at the Ralston Memorial Park, a project sponsored by Ralston Grange #943. Robert Kenneth Kent grew up in Benge and enlisted in the Army at the same time his brother Herbert was drafted, so the two could be together. The two were assigned to the 60th Coast Artillery and stationed in the Philippine Islands in 1941. The brothers were able to remain together until...
LIND – Students at Lind-Ritzville Middle School are busy planting vegetables and composting waste to enrich the soil in a Farm to School program. "The Farm to School class students have planted potatoes, Swiss chard and radishes," Amanda Mattingly, Vocational Ag teacher, said last week. "They will also plant more right at the end of the year, to be managed by a student over the summer and harvested when we return to school in the fall." The school farm is located behind the f...
RITZVILLE – As VFW members prepare to place individual flags at the gravesides of 364 veterans buried in the Ritzville Cemetery, an account to donate to their efforts has been set up at Wheatland Bank. "A handful of VFW members will be working to make the Ritzville cemetery look spectacular by placing flags around the perimeter and on each grave of the people who gave all in support of our nation," Dolly Blankenship, Wheatland Bank Ritzville Branch Manager said. "There is a...
RITZVILLE - Benge native Don Saunders served with the Navy during the Vietnam War. He was 21 when he enlisted in1966. "I got a notice from the Army, and I didn't want to jump from foxhole to foxhole, so I joined the Navy," Saunders recalled. "When I signed up, the Navy recruiter put me ahead of some other guys. My dad asked him why, and he said, 'Because he is a farm boy. He knows how to work and follow instructions.'" After a 120-day delay, Saunders went to boot camp in San...
RITZVILLE – Candidate filing week for offices began Monday, May 17, and ran through Friday, May 21. At the end of filing week, Adams County Auditor Heidi Hunt randomly drew four numbers to determine the base rotation of candidate listings on the primary ballot. The lot draw will also determine the order of the candidates on the general election if the office will not appear on the primary. Offices with three or more candidates are listed on the Aug. 3 primary, with only the t...
RITZVILLE – John Freeman said he was standing in the kitchen of Cow Creek Mercantile and Cafe when he heard what sounded like a semi truck slamming into the building. "We were standing here, and it sounded like a truck with compression brakes going off. The whole area shook, and we were like, "What was that?'" Freeman said Tuesday afternoon, May 18. Outside the building, and directly behind the building, was a utility trailer that had been turned nearly 180 degrees in a g...
RITZVILLE – The Lind-Ritzville High School Class of 2021 graduates Saturday, June 5, with ceremonies planned for the athletic field. The gate will open at 1:30 p.m. for attendees. Principal Kevin Terris said with the number of graduates estimated between 32-38, each graduate will be able to have six tickets for family and friends to attend the event behind the gymnasium at 209 E. Wellsandt Road. Four of the tickets will be for grandstand seating, and the other two for bleachers to the side of the grandstands. “All seats pro...
LIND – Council approved a resolution allowing the application of a loan/grant for the Lift Station Improvement Project, following a public hearing in which one member of the public was present. Steve Nelson of Century West Engineering led the public hearing, explaining the town is in need of funds to replace two lift station pumps, electrical components, collection basket and the cost of installation. Mayor Bell said one of the requirements for the grant/loan is to reach out to three lenders for financing. She said she h...
ADAMS COUNTY – Candidate filing week for offices began Monday, May 17, and runs through Friday, May 21. Candidates who have filed as of May 17 are as follows: Port District 1, Commissioner District 3, Deena Vietzke, Othello. Hospital District 2, Commissioner Position 1, Daniel Duff, Ritzville. Hospital District 2, Commissioner Position 4, Eric Walker, Ritzville. Hospital District 3, Commissioner Position 1, Lynda Bowers, Othello. School District 122, Director Position 5, Bruce Honn, Benge. School District 147, Director Distri...
COEUR d' ALENE – A man from Lind has been sentenced to over 26 years (322 months) in federal prison after being convicted by a federal jury on six federal drug and firearms charges. Christopher Bounds, 38, was sentenced in U.S. District Court April 28, after a federal jury found him guilty of the following, last August: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin; Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Possession with intent to deliver heroin; Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon; Unlawful p...