2016 Year in Review News: July - December

July

A massive fire put up quite the fight on Saturday, July 9, as Ritzville and surrounding communities united to fight the battle enormous flames. The fire believed to have started at a power pole and proceeded to sweep through Adams and Lincoln County, destroying nearly 2,000 acres of scabland and CRP grounds. While Adams County responds to multiple wild land fires each summer, Saturday’s blaze recorded as one of the largest in the county’s recent history.

After losing one of the Ritzville community’s favorite pastimes when the doors of the local bowling alley closed, the facility has now reopened as Bob’s Big Bend Bowl. The alley is now open Monday through Saturday and is managed by owner Bob Seipp and his family. Seipp has an important bond with the Ritzville alley, as he helped install the lanes.

Terry Janzen received recognition for her dedication to the Adams County community on Tuesday, July 12, in the Adams County Courthouse. Janzen received a certificate from Secretary of State Kim Wyman for Janzen’s volunteerism with elections. The certificate acknowledged Janzen’s service in the election process and states, “In recognition of 30 years of dedicated service and enduring commitment to Adams County”.

August

A confirmed discovery of genetically engineered (GE) wheat plants growing in a fallow field in Eastern Washington has led to a federal inspection. The discovery led to temporary deferment of wheat imports with overseas customers, but national and local agencies are working diligently to remedy the situation. In late June, a farmer located 22 wheat plants that were resistant to herbicide glyphosate, commonly known as Roundup.

A massive fire threatened homes and crops near Kahlotus and required fire crews from neighboring cities to assist in fighting the flames. The fire started on Sunday, Aug. 21, on Highway 260 near Connell and quickly spread east toward the Town of Kahlotus, where it threatened homes and required those living close to where the flames spread, to evacuate the premises.

The process of regulating the Initiative 502 codes regarding the use of recreational and medicinal marijuana retail and processing continues as the Adams County Commissioners made their first step in trying to have set boundary restrictions at their meeting Monday, Aug. 22. The board adopted a resolution, placing a temporary moratorium on retailing, producing and processing of marijuana in Adams County. The moratorium prohibits the establishment of licensed recreational and medicinal marijuana retail outlets, production, and processing within one mile of residential zone areas and two miles of community boundaries within Adams County for six months.

September

Two friendly faces will make their way down Main Avenue for Ritzville’s Community Parade on Saturday, Sept. 3. The people of Ritzville have chosen Beverly (Bev) and Jim Cobb, to be this year’s parade Grand Marshals. Born in Minnesota, Bev moved and grew up in a small town in North Dakota where she said she experienced her most cherished childhood memories. Her high school sweetheart, Jim, grew up in Indiana before he moved to Vancouver in 1951.

Among the long list of exhibitors at the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair (WLCF) over Labor Day weekend, one name stood out: Cole Melcher. While Alexis Melcher sold her goat during the WCLF Junior Livestock Auction, auctioneer Butch Booker announced at the request of the family, a fund had been established to honor Cole. By the time the auction had concluded, more than $12,000 had been raised for the memorial fund. The preliminary plan was to provide a shelter for all the goats and sheep on the WLCF grounds, along with construct a Lego themed tribute to Cole.

Ritzville hosted a large group of individuals who shared a common goal and interest: working to help their communities thrive and grow. In its second year, the Reviving Rural Downtowns Workshop attracted 130 people to Ritzville to participate in two days of workshop courses to strengthen their skills as leaders and volunteers in their communities.

October

Students have the opportunity to advance their agricultural knowledge and skills in Amanda Klinesworth’s Farm-to-School Program at the Lind-Ritzville Middle School. The focus of the class is not only to educate students on agricultural activities, but also to teach them how to grow their own crops and encourage a nutritious diet. The students plant a variety of crops throughout the year in the school garden and the greenhouse.

The Lady Broncos showcased their support for the victims, survivors and family members of people diagnosed with cancer during their home non-league game against ACH on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Senior Tessa Jantz said her and a few members of the team first thought of the idea when their summer dance instructor, Mary Katherine Sackmann-Nicholsson was rediagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Tom Strohmaier and Jake Jacobsen, residents of Lind were selected as featured artists for the month of October through the Old Hotel Art Gallery in Othello. They are the first artists from Lind to be selected. Pieces of their work have been showcased at the gallery since the beginning of the month.

November

Tuesday evening brought a stream of preliminary election results for voters across the nation with the announcement of Donald Trump as the next United States President. The voters of Adams County heavily favored the Republican candidate with 67.15 percent of voters casting a ballot for Trump.

Two Ritzville Firefighters rescued a male victim from a burning residence on Thursday, Nov. 10. The Ritzville Fire Department responded to the call at 5:14 a.m. on Weber Avenue. The first ladder crew to respond located the victim and rescued him from the blaze within 10 minutes of the initial call along with his German Shepherd dog. Due to the fact the fire started in the bedroom, the crew’s immediate response allowed the victim to escape the flames before his injuries were fatal.

Dennis Schilling of CF Industries Inc. awarded 10 teachers with min-grants totaling $3,400 on Nov. 21 to help fund agricultural and environmental projects for the Lind and Ritzville School Districts. The teachers apply for the CF Industries Classroom Mini-grant Program where the requests are reviewed and approved. The applications include statistics about how many students will be participating and the expected cost of the projects.

December

As the year draws to a close and residents turn their focus to making New Year’s resolutions, a new business in downtown Ritzville is aimed at helping locals reach their health goals through healthy living and exercise. Ritzville Fitness is locally owned and operated by Pete and Diane Spain, and general manager Danny Cabrillo de Bacca. The gym equipment spans through multiple office spaces in the building at the corner of Washington Street and Main Avenue.

The historical attributes and buildings in Ritzville drew the interest of the Spokane Paranormal Investigation Group as they traveled to educate the community on their services and findings during recent investigations. Lead Investigator Kiko Morelan, investigator Scott Mercer and psychics Jane Stewart and Stacy Moore attracted residents to the Ritzville Public Library to learn about the team’s ghostly adventures and the equipment used to gather evidence.

Local law enforcement put on their uniforms every day to protect and serve, but one day out of the year; they perform a different service for the community by participating in the Shop With a Cop program.