Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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Rural counties experience more traffic deaths per capita compared to their urban counterparts, due in part to slower emergency response times, higher speed limits, and risky driving behavior like not wearing seatbelts. Six lane interstates and city streets in densely developed urban areas aren't more dangerous than open stretches of highway, no matter how nasty rush hour traffic may get. An analysis by The Daily Yonder shows that traffic deaths are higher in rural counties,...
If you have decided to try listing your property for recreational activities, LandTrust shares the most important things to consider. First, what activities are possible for you to offer, such as hunting and fishing. You may also consider other activities that are becoming more popular and more marketable, such as bird watching, star gazing, agricultural experiences (farm/ranch vacations, tours, etc.) as well as hiking and camping. Secondly, think about what you want to offer...
Concerns over youth mental health and academic performance are driving lawmakers to revive a decades-long debate in public schools: how to keep kids off their phones in the classroom. Florida moved first in the summer of 2023 by passing a law requiring all schools to prohibit cellphone use during school days, prohibiting social media use on schools' internet, and requiring that grades 6-12 learn about the "social, emotional, and physical effects of social media." Now, dozens...
Construction on the Maverik Adventure's First Stop gas station and convenience store is continuing along State Highway 261 near the Interstate 90 interchange. The pumps are installed, pavement complete and awning is up....
PASCO — With less than 30 days to go in the Nov. 5 general election, a county auditor and state representative want to intervene in an effort to sweep away the constitutional residency requirement to vote. Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton of Pasco and 19th Legislative District Rep. Jim Walsh of Aberdeen, both Republicans, are seeking to require to state elections officials to follow the state Constitution or go about a legal change to residency requirements. At issue is the unilateral decision by Secretary of State S...
WASHTUCNA — Three farms in Adams County have received Rural Energy for America Program grants to be used to upgrade business operations through energy projects. The farms are located in the Washtucna, Warden and Othello areas. Baumann, Baumann and Baumann, a wheat farm at 510 S. Bauer Road near Washtucna, will receive $68,868 to purchase and install spray foam insulation, grant officials said. In addition, the grant will cover installation of an automated shop door and heat pumps. “The project will result in about $600 per...
RITZVILLE - A couple who relocated here from the Seattle area has opened a new welding and machine shop in town. Todd and Natalie Lewis opened Lewis Welding and Fabrication at 206 E. Broadway Ave. on Sept. 3. Todd Lewis, 57, is the fourth of five generations of iron workers in his family. His son, The shop itself isn't new to Ritzville; it opened in 1939. "Then, it was more of a machine shop than welding," Lewis said. And welding and fabrication are nothing new to Lewis, who...
1 years ago The Ritzville Journal-Times Oct. 9, 1924 NEW DOCTOR LOCATES IN RITZVILLE As a number of people have inquired concerning Dr. H.R. Bankerd, who recently located permanently to Ritzville, the following personal facts will be of interest. Dr. Howard R. Bankerd was born in Ohio in 1875. He graduated from high school and the Ada, Ohio business college. Taught in the pbulci schools in Ohio, he graduated from Ohio Northern University Liberal Arts Course in 1899... in...
SPRAGUE — A Spokane Valley man was killed in an early morning crash Saturday, Sept. 28, on Interstate 90. Craig E. Richardt, 61, of Spokane Valley, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at 4:42 a.m. near Milepost 236. According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred about 11 miles west of Sprague, near the south end of Sprague Lake in Adams County. Lloyd O. Arbaugh, 89, of Moses Lake, was westbound in a 1999 Dodge Ram pickup when he struck Richardt’s westbound 2009 Toyota Corolla, the patrol reported, not...
RITZVILLE - One man is on the lam and two were arrested Friday, Sept. 27, after allegedly attempting to steal wire from potato sheds. Jordan Michael Blaak, 26, and Justin Michael Favaro, 33, both of Othello, were both arrested for first-degree theft and first-degree malicious mischief. Bud Ashton Davis, 37, is wanted on the same charges, the Adams County Sheriff's Office reported. The arrests and search for Davis began after deputies received a report of a wire theft from...
RITZVILLE - Law enforcement agencies, ranchers and rural counties are forming a coalition to push back against the state Fish and Wildlife Commission's failure to manage large predators effectively. The coalition was announced Sept. 17 following a meeting here on large predators issues. The meeting attracted about 16-20 law enforcement officers, as well as two ranchers speaking about the effects of wolf, cougar and bear depredation on farms, ranches and rural communities....
WARDEN - A local man wanted in connection with the theft of a tractor-trailer turned himself in Sept. 19. Rafael Pruneda, 43, was arrested on theft of a motor vehicle and third-degree theft. According to the Adams County Sheriff's Office, Pruneda is also a suspect in other crimes in Grant and Franklin Counties. Pruneda turned himself in after authorities executed a search warrant at his property in the 9500 block of S.E. Road U, in Grant County, records show, noting deputies...
Sheriff’s Log RITZVILLE – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office responded to the following calls for service from Sept. 14-:21 Sept. 14 12:8 a.m. – Assist another agency in the 2100 block of West Panama Road, Othello. 8:17 a.m. – Landslide on old Highway 26. 10:02 a.m. – Single-vehicle crash in the area of West McManamon and West Sutton Roads, Othello. 3:35 p.m. – Gunshots in the 600 block of South Taylor Road, Othello. 4:24 p.m. – Assist person at the Othello Fair. 6:11 p.m. – Request of deputies to tell subjects of the a...
BASIN CITY - A man wanted in the shooting of his mother and step-father is in the Franklin County Jail following his Sept. 16 arrest. Daniel Arceo-Martinez, 28, of Basin City, is being held on $1 million bail, charged with first-degree assault. He was arrested in Moses Lake following a tip on his whereabouts. Arceo-Martinez was wanted in the Sept. 15 shooting of his mother and step-father in rural Franklin County, court records show. The couple was treated for gunshot wounds...
RITZVILLE — A new Indian restaurant and convenience store will be opening near the Interstate 90 interchange on the east side of the city. Serving Indian food, Punjabi Dhaba is planned to open in January in the former Cow Creek Country Mercantile building, 1611 S. Smittys Blvd. It will be adjacent to Mi Jalisco Mexican restaurant, both just off Interstate 90. The owners are Deepika Dhawan and Manoj Kumar of Liberty Lake. The couple also owns Indian restaurants in Spokane, Wenatchee and two in Idaho....
OTHELLO — Seven people were arrested Sept. 22 after an incident between the occupants of two vehicles turned into pursuits that led law enforcement officers to Grant and Franklin Counties. Two juveniles were arrested in Warden after fleeing Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Meanwhile, two adults and three juveniles were arrested in the second vehicle near Connell, in Franklin County. Authorities have yet to release the names of any of the seven arrestees, even though they are public record. The two teenagers app...
OTHELLO — A gang-related shooting spilled over into the classroom Thursday, Sept. 26, when Adams County deputies responded to threats made against McFarland Middle School students. According to Sheriff Dale Wagner, deputies receive information about a “potential threat to McFarland Middle School and selected students, believed to stem from unresolved gang-related activity that occurred over the past weekend in the county between two rival gangs.” The threat at the school was determined to be “not credible” following...
OTHELLO — An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who planned to meet a young local girl here for sex has been sentenced to federal prison. Koby Don Williams, 49, of Ellensburg, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice to 135 months in federal prison, to be followed by 15 years probation. He was convicted of attempted online enticement. According to court records, Williams replied to a decoy online post as part of an undercover sting to catch pedophiles willing to meet minors for sex. The post s...
SPRAGUE — Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Adam Walser said Tuesday he opposes an effort to vacate a kidnapping conviction is a 2015 case. He may have the opportunity to repeat his concerns during a 10:30 a.m. hearing Tuesday, Sept. 24, in Lincoln County Superior Court in Davenport. At that time, James R. Stocker, 25, of Spokane, will be asking a superior court judge to seal the kidnapping case file and vacate the conviction. As a teenager nine years ago, Stocker was convicted of second-degree kidnapping in 2015 and s...
RITZVILLE — The state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction recently released its 2023-34 report card for public school students for grades K12. The report card analyzed different data trends from the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. And the report card doesn’t look good for area schools when it comes to attendance and consistent grade-level knowledge. The report card also shows the amount of money school districts are spending per pupil. Interestingly, the amount does not necessarily correlate with student ach...
Sheriff’s Log RITZVILLE – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office responded to the following calls for service from Aug. 25 - Sept. 13: Aug. 25 3:27 a.m. – Report of an intoxicated individual in a parked car on the 800 block of Highway 2. 7:47 a.m. – Burglary alarm activated but no signs of forced entry or evidence of a burglary on the 800 block of South Hummingbird Drive, Othello. 9:40 a.m. – Report of fires, when investigated deputies only found anglers on the 2200 block of North Sprague lake Road, Ritzville. 10:26 a.m. – A bo...
HARRINGTON — A Palouse woman has been charged with vehicular homicide in the Friday, June 7, deaths of three Davenport men. A Lincoln County Superior Court summons shows Jade A. Ellsworth of Palouse is being formally charged with one count of vehicular homicide. Ellsworth is not currently in jail. Court records show Ellsworth did not have a valid drivers license at the time of the fatal crash.. She is ordered to appear in court before Judge Jeffrey S. Barkdull at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. Court records show she is a...
1 years ago The Ritzville Journal-Times Sept. 25, 1924 STIFF SENTENCE ON LIQUOR CHARGE Jacob Kagele was sentenced to six months in jail and fined $1,500 and costs on a plea of guilty to a charge of manufacturing liquor. The sentence was imposed by Judge Truax on Monday. Kagele paid the fine and is serving the jail sentence. 75 years ago The Ritzville Journal-Times Sept. 29, 1949 NEW RITZVILLE GRADE SCHOOL IS DEDICATED Ritzville's new elementary school was formally dedicated...
1 years ago The Ritzville Journal-Times Sept. 11, 1924 REDUCTION IN TAX LEVY FOR ADAMS COUNTY The grand total of taxes to be raised by Adams County next year promises to be less than for several years. The amount to be raised for the state is $253,000, as compared with the 1923 levy of $285,165. This reduction is made because no levy at all is required by the state general fund. Gov. Hart's administration claims that this is made possible by the new administrative code....
Jail Log RITZVILLE — The Adams County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reported the following individuals in custody from Sept. 10-16: Sept. 10 Silvia Rafael, 26, arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Booked into the Benton County Jail. Vladislav Soudakov, 77, arrested for second-degree assault. Booked into the Franklin County Jail. Sept. 11 David Franklin, 42, arrested on an outstanding a warrant, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, five counts of second-degree theft, sec...