Wash at home in Ritzville

RITZVILLE – In 2016 when Earl Wash contemplated leaving his home in the Tri-Cities to be closer to Spokane siblings, he investigated several towns including Davenport, Sprague, Harrington and Lind.

Ritzville wasn't in the running.

"I was trying to avoid Ritzville," the 91-year-old man said. "The pictures I saw of the homes in Ritzville... You had to climb 100 steps to get up to the front porch. I didn't want any part of that."

But when his real estate agent showed him a residence on Fourth Avenue, Wash reconsidered. He found the house in prime condition, having been remodeled in the 1970s.

"It...