2013: Our conclusion of the top headlines of the year

Continued from last week’s edition of The Journal

July

Sheriff Doug Barger announced his decision to retire from his tenured post as leader for the county police department, effective Sept. 1. Barger’s elected term as sheriff concluded in 2014, and Barger made the decision to retire in order to spend more time with his family.

Lind, Ritzville and Washtucna Parks and Recreation districts all submitted Maintenance and Operation (M&O) levies for the primary election in order to maintain operational pools and facilities in the community. The Washtucna M&O levy had failed in the previous election, resulting in the closure of the community’s pool.

August

Ten combines and crews from several farms turned out Aug. 14 to harvest 538 acres of wheat for Harold Hennings and his family. The crews accomplished in one day what normally takes Scott and Harold Hennings 15 days to do under normal circumstances.

After the City of Ritzville took ownership of the old high school building on the corner of Seventh and Division, city officials moved forward with the demolition of the building. The historic building began to crumble on Aug. 17 when the first portion of the wall, which had been bulging out, was pulled down.

September

Sale records were broken at the annual Wheat Land Communities’ Fair livestock auction when the sale netted an impressive $116,299 for over 50 local exhibitors. The amount shattered the record set the previous year by $17,000 and a total of 91 animals were auctioned during the sale.

A severe storm shook Ritzville Sept. 15 and left a pile of destruction behind it. The storm hit Ritzville around 8 p.m. and brought sustained wind gusts of an estimated 60 miles per hours, which downed trees and knocked out power throughout the city.

October

A summer-long construction project reached completion in October and led to the official opening of Love’s Travel Stop and Country Store at the end of the month. The new business opening led to the creation of an estimated 60 jobs for the community.

The local hospital district scrambled throughout the month of October to respond and address a broad list of deficiencies identified by the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington State Patrol Fire Protection Bureau. The deficiencies were cited by the agencies during a state hospital licensing survey and gave the district 90 days to address the issues.

November

One week in Kentucky proved to be all the time Lind-Ritzville FFA chapter members needed in order to return home as Gold Emblem Teams at the 86th Annual National FFA Convention and Expo in Louisville. With two teams traveling to compete, Agronomy and Marketing Plan, the group of students excelled in their contests to earn a third and fifth national finish.

The monumental loss of trees throughout the City of Ritzville during the September windstorm led in the city submitting a 2013 Tree City USA Tree Planting Grant Proposal through the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and the application resulted in the city receiving $10,000 for 57 trees to plant within the city, specifically in the areas that lost the most trees.

December

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos earned the Gold Ball for the second consecutive year when they marched to a 7-0 win over Morton-White Pass in the 2B Football State Championship game. The defensive battle win secured a 26-0 record for the LRS football team.

A snowstorm on Dec. 20 led to a multiple vehicle collision and resulted in one fatality on Interstate 90, seven miles east of Ritzville. The collision involved nine vehicles, including two semis, and resulted in one death and four injuries.