2018 Year in Review: The year that was

April

The Town of Lind took another step in the beginning stages of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) road improvement work. During the March 27 meeting, Century West Engineering Project Manager Steve Nelson informed the Lind Town Council the company received bids from six contractors for the first phase of the FEMA road improvement project. Out of the six proposals submitted for the project, WM Winkler Company, out of Spokane, had the lowest bid at $332,459.

Trade issues, water and tax reform were the primary topics during a community leaders meeting with Congressman Dan Newhouse on April 3 in Ritzville. The meeting was followed by a tour of downtown Ritzville, where Newhouse met one-on-one with business owners to discuss the challenges they currently face. At the meeting, Ritzville Public Authority (RPA) Member Erika Hennings addressed Newhouse about the current trade issues. As an agricultural community, Ritzville would be greatly affected by any trade war where exports are restricted.

The Adams-Neilson Solar Farm, which will be installed in north of Lind, will be serving customers throughout Washington state. Avista Utilities announced the Adams- Neilson Solar Farm will be the main component in the Solar Select program, providing renewable solar energy to the company's large commercial and industrial electronic users in Washington. With the completion of the project, Lind will be home to largest solar farm in the State of Washington.

May

The Knuth Building played host to a large turnout of supporters for the Wheat Land Communities' Fair annual Wampum dinner and auction event. The building was packed to the brim with local attendees on Saturday evening, who joined together to support a cause that is important to the youth in the communities of Lind, Ritzville and Washtucna. The April 28 event helped to raise more than $7,000 for the local fair from the live and silent auction bids.

During a special meeting of the Adams County Board of Commissioners Hospital District No. 2 on May 4, the three commissioners present made the decision for East Adams Rural Healthcare to join an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). The ACO the District is joining is provided through Caravan Health, and the ACO will begin in January 2019. The initial projection is for the District's net income to increase by $156,000 over the next three years. The ACO agreement is a three-year contract through Caravan Health.

Officials from Avista Utilities, Strata Solar and elected officials came to the Town of Lind for the groundbreaking ceremony on May 24 for the Adams- Neilson Solar Farm. The groundbreaking officially began the construction phase for the project, which is located on the north side of Lind.

The solar farm is the largest construction project for Adams County in the last 20 years. Completion of the project is scheduled for November, with the facility coming online in December to begin its 35-year life cycle.

June

Amongst the large crowd packed into Gilson Gymnasium on June 2, 40 individuals proudly stood out as they took a step towards their future after receiving their diploma from Lind-Ritzville High School. Family and friends gathered in the gym, with nearly standing room only, to celebrate the achievements of the local scholars and recognize them for their individual and collective success. The 40 LRHS graduates received a collective $396,393 in scholarships to pursue their future careers.

After 13 years of competing in the Lind Lions Club Arena, Prison Break driver Jim Oswald added another, and final notch, to his record of Lind Combine Demolition Derby winner. Oswald began competing in the Derby in 2005, and prior to Saturday's victory, had earned one solo title and shared two additional titles with fellow drivers. The 2018 event marked Oswald's retirement from competition, and he left the arena filled with excitement, surrounded by his family and friends.

The annual Lind Field Day at the Lind Experiment Station allowed farmers with an opportunity to visit the research field plots and learn about alternatives to current practices on June 14. While farmers continued to receive updates on winter and spring wheat breeding, those in attendance benefitted from the additional research conducted for winter peas and triticale as alternatives in crop rotation for the dryland areas.