Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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LIND — Living in the town of Lind is about to get more expensive. The Town Council approved ordinances earlier this month that raise monthly base rates for water, sewer and garbage. Ordinance 24-06 raised the rate on trash collection, setting new minimum charges of $22 for 95 gallons of trash, $100 for 2 yards, $170 for 3 yards and $220 for 4 yards. And beginning Jan. 1, Ordinance 24-07 raises the cost for water by 1.73% Under the new rate, those with a meter size smaller than 1.5 inches will have a monthly base rate of $...
LIND - The Town Council unanimously approved a resolution to allocate more city funds for street maintenance during its meeting last week. After almost an hour of discussion, Councilwoman Jamie Schmunk moved to split property taxes between current expense and streets in the 2025 budget. Out of a total of $95,412, current expenses are allocated $71,559 and streets would get $23,853. The council approved the change unanimously, 4-0. Councilman Robert Dew was absent. "That...
RITZVILLE — Evergreen Rural Water of Washington is now on the short list of data counters for a repeat assignment. The City Council agree to hire the survey company Dec. 3 to do some sampling and recording. “In our area, it’s pretty unique in terms of census data,” City Clerk/Treasuer Julie Flyckt said. “It doesn’t show our area as low-income as those of us that live here. So, we have an option to an income survey.” The city last conducted an income survey in 2018 using the same company. “They did help to do a direct income...
SPOKANE - Laurel Holland has been named Homeland Security Investigations Prosecutor of the Year for the Eastern District of Washington. Throughout her career, which has included service as a deputy prosecuting attorney in Benton County and as an assistant U.S. attorney in Yakima, Holland has been recognized for her work prosecuting cases involving the exploitation of young children. In the past year alone, Holland prosecuted several child exploitation offenders. "Assistant...
Jail Log RITZVILLE — The Adams County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reported the following individual in custody from Dec. 10-16: Dec. 12 Aldoyoni Silva-Pineda, fourth degree assault, domestic violence. Released. Dec. 16 Andres Rodriguez-Camacho, 24, driving under the influence, operating a vehicle without ignition interlock and third-degree driving while license suspended. Booked into the Benton County Jail. Deanna DeBoise, 65, driving under the influence and reckless endangerment. Booked into the Benton County Jail. Isr...
RITZVILLE - Adams County recently received a Washington State Association of County Engineers first-place award for asphalt pavement construction. County Engineer Scott Yaeger presented the plaque during last week's Adams County Commission meeting. The award is "in recognition of the high quality asphalt pavement construction, reconstruction of Deal Road, MP 0.00 to 2.80, Contract CRP-197, which is rated the best county asphalt paving project in the State of Washington during...
RITZVILLE - In a little bit of a role reversal, Adams County commissioners were able to make a pitch to office visitors, instead of the other way around. John Culton, president of Culton Consulting and Licett Garbe, a spokeswoman for Sen. Patty Murray, visited with commissioners Dec. 10, mostly to listen to their needs. Commissioner Dan Blankenship was not present, but Commissioners Mike Garza and Jay Weise were, along with Adams County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Flyckt....
RITZVILLE — A Wapato woman was killed and several others injured Saturday, Dec. 7, when their vehicle overturned a mile south of town. Cassandra D. Westey Hall, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 3:41 p.m. crash at Milepost 96 of northbound U.S. Highway 395. Highway 395 was remained closed until 9:01 p.m. while authorities investigated the fatal crash. According to the Washington State Patrol, Westley Hall was northbound in a 2001 GMC Yukon on the highway at the time of the crash. She was driving too fast for road c...
SPOKANE - A man convicted of threatening to kill an Othello police officer has been sentenced to six years in prison. Nicolas Romero-Rivera, 36, of Othello was sentenced to six years in prison and three years probation Dec. 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. He was previously convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court records, Romero-Rivera was arrested on a felony warrant March 7, 2023, after threatening to...
RITZVILLE - The same thing that killed off numerous businesses actually created conditions to thrive for one Eastern Washington ranch family. "We've been ranchers for 50-plus years," said Peyton Curtis, 24, whose family raises, packages and sells beef under The Herd brand name. "This is all my family has done. I remember the idea of selling beef direct to the consumer was always thrown around at our dinner table, but we felt we're too busy. "'We don't have time to do this. We...
POMEROY — Rep. Mary Dye has been recognized for her efforts to curtail the spread of invasive mussels in Washington state waters. She was one of three leaders the Washington Invasive Species Council recognized for their efforts in managing and preventing the spread of invasive plants and animals. Dye, R-Pomeroy, was named the Distinguished Leader, receiving the inaugural award last week. Dye represents the 9th Legislative District, which includes Whitman, eastern Adams and Franklin, southern Spokane, Lincoln and other c...
TOKIO — Crews responded to a fire at the grain terminal at the intersection of East Danekas and Sage Roads on Dec. 3. According to dispatch records, crews responded to a fire call at the grain terminal at 7:30 a.m. Adams County Fire District No. 1 Chief Scott Kembel reported three tankers, three brush trucks, a ladder truck and a crew of 12 responded. They remained on-scene until about 4 p.m. Details of the fire were not reported before press time; The Journal has requested to review the incident report....
Hello, my name is Tiffanie Longsdorff, and I am the new Library Assistant #1. I grew up in sunny California but made the move to Washington in the fall of 2010 to be closer to my family. We settled in Ritzville in 2012 and have lived here ever since. When I arrived in Ritzville 12 years ago, I visited the Carnegie Library for the first time. As an avid reader, I wanted my toddler to have the same opportunity to discover the joy of reading. I was immediately enchanted by the...
Jail Log RITZVILLE — The Adams County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reported the following individuals in custody from Dec. 2-9: Dec. 2 Jorge Ambrocio-Lopez, 29, second-degree malicious mischief and third-degree malicious mischief. Booked into the Benton County Jail. Joshua Gutierrez, 29, second-degree burglary. Booked into the Benton County Jail. Dec. 9 Ashanti Calderon-Ozuna, 19, third-degree driving while license suspended and driving while under the influence. Booked into the Benton County Jail. Awet Gile, 22, dri...
RITZVILLE —A local boy is scheduled to face trial in March for his alleged threats to blow up Lind-Ritzville schools and shoot classmates and a teacher. Donald G. DesJardins, 14, of Ritzville, has been charged as a juvenile for threats to bomb, a Class B felony. As a juvenile, without any prior criminal offense history or referrals, DesJardins faces up to 30 days in Martin Hall juvenile detention center, 150 hours of community service and up to 12 months of probation. On Monday, Dec. 2, Adams County Superior Judge Andrea R...
RITZVILLE — The police chief has a story about how crime scene evidence can come back unexpectedly at different times and places. “Back in July this year, a call came in for an attempted burglary (at a marijuana shop near the freeway,) Police Chief Bill Benner said. “The officers and the owner of the shop saw three individuals running from his place of business back toward the freeway and crawl under the fence and get into a car parked along the freeway and speed away.” There was also security video footage of the inciden...
RITZVILLE — Train aficionados can keep tabs on railway traffic through town now, thanks to a new live-feed available online. On Sunday, Dec. 1, Reed Skyllingstad paused on a stepladder outside Ritzville Depot while installing a live-feed video camera for anyone with internet to watch the train traffic. Skyllingstad modestly said more of the credit for installing the system belongs to his brother, Dale. The video feed seemed immediately popular; 80 people were watching the feed just 20 minute after being powered up. The f...
Sheriff’s Log RITZVILLE — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reported the following calls for service from Nov. 17-23: Nov. 17 Suspicious vehicle detected 2400 block of West Bench Rd., moved along when contacted. Harassing phone calls 800 Block of South Buena Vista Dr. Protection order info for citizen 2600 block of West Bench Rd. Vehicle exhaust system sounded like gunshots South 7th Ave. Nov. 18 Male partner mouthy in bathroom 1900 block of North Rehn Rd. Possible school bus stop violation Moon Rd. Locate property owner...
LIND - All five Town Council members were present for their meeting Nov. 26, and while some of the deadline issues were decided, not one member wanted to move the proposed budget go to a vote. There were some periods of silence in which approving a budget was light years away from what any council member wanted to do. "We cannot approve this the way it's been presented," Councilwoman Jamie Schmunk said. "Too many questions... "We need to be in the office. She (town...
1 years ago The Ritzville Journal-Times Dec. 4, 1924 FOGGY WEATHER CAUSES ACCIDENTS The foggy weather and slippery roads were responsible for a number of auto accidents during the past week. Al Pohl and William Kembel returning from Spokane in the former's Ford coupe, had their car turn turtle when they turned out to pass another car near the Fullquartz place on the highway. Mr. Pohl was skinned up about the knees and Mr. Kembel had a blow on the head which left him dazed...
RITZVILLE — Adams County has not had an operating jail in a couple years and the only thing standing in the way of rebooting it is money. An assortment of county officials met with the DOH Associates architectural firm of Wenatchee on Nov. 26 to discuss how to start renovations. While there was a wide range of safety and infrastructure ideas to advance, there was also an adult in the room. County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Flyckt estimated the process to come up with anything better than what now exists might take two y...
RITZVILLE - He makes over-sized connectors that look like something you would use to hook up your space shuttle, if you had such a thing. At first blush, you would think these plugs and sockets were for electrical power or data lines. But not so. One of the common uses is for pneumatics - think of tubing rather than wires. Chris Burrows, 64, the Ritzville anchor, is half of the ownership of Twintec. The other half is Steve Burrows of Kent, and he is indeed a twin. "He runs...
1 years ago The Ritzville Journal-Times Nov. 27, 1924 SHOOTING CAUSES LOSS OF BOY'S LEG Eddie Bauer, fourteen year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Bauer, was shot in the leg last Sunday in the Bauer coulee, eighteen miles southwest of Ritzville. With some of the Kramer boys he had gone down the coulee and took his gun along. One of the smaller boys asked for it in shooting at rabbits. A rabbit jumped up and the lad excitedly shot the gun, or the gun went off, and the load...
Sheriff’s Log RITZVILLE — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reported the following calls for service from Oct. 31 - Nov. 15 : Oct. 31 Assist Othello police in the 600 block of East Lilac Street, Othello. Medical call in the 100 block of North Neilson Road, Lind. Welfare check in the 900 block of South Reynolds Road, Othello. 911 hang-up in the 400 block of East Fresnel Road, Ritzville. Possible DUI the area of West Bench Road and South State Highway 17, Othello. Assist resident in the 1600 block of West Lee Road, Othel...
RITZVILLE — The agenda for the Nov. 19 meeting of Ritzville City Council began with public hearing for the 2025 ad valorem Property Tax, Ordinance 2182. The discussion was short and the council voted to accept the measure after only 11 minutes, “Fixing the amount of taxes upon property,” as councilwoman Michelle Plumb expressed in her motion to pass. The council, next moved into a public hearing for the 2025 preliminary budget which contains numerous points listed by Councilman Dennis Chamberlain, who was tapped as a fill-...