From the Files

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

March 15, 1923

Two injured in car upset

Sunday morning the Ford coupe occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Carl Heineman and the former's sister, Esther, overturned near the Dan Scott place when the steering gear broke. Mrs. Heinemann and Esther were badly injured, but Carl escaped with only minor bruises and lacerations. The two were brought to Mrs. Allen's and cared for. Examination and X-rays revealed no serious injuries. The car was very badly wrecked.

Council debates building question

The council is perplexed to know just what to do in completing the improvements at the city park. Some are in favor of building a new residence for the water superintendent there; others in favor only of building a pumphouse over the new well and repairing the present residence. Otto Weile, Spokane engineer, met with the council last Thursday. He made recommendations for connecting the well with the tank and was instructed to draw a plan for a fireproof pumphouse.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

March 11, 1948

Schoonover elevator to be rebuilt after spectacular fire; some wheat salvaged

Plans for rebuilding the eight-bin Schoonover elevator immediately were launched this week following the second major elevator fire in Adams County during the past two years.

The elevator and one jackhouse owned by the Odessa Union Elevator company were completely destroyed Friday night by raging flames which attracted nearly 300 persons from the Ritzville-Odessa area. Loss was estimated at $75,000 to the elevator and jackhouse in addition to thousands of dollars more in burned or scorched wheat.

Ross L. Reiman of Odessa, elevator manager, said between 50-60,000 bushels were stored in the elevator. Much of it was being salvaged this week for poultry and livestock feed and other uses. The Schoonover elevator, 17 miles northwest of Ritzville, is less than eight miles from the Packard elevator which burned in July 1946, with losses estimated at $100,000 for building and equipment.

Funeral services held for first Ritzville mayor

Funeral services for Richard J. Neergaard, first mayor of the city of Ritzville, took place this week at Colfax. Neergaard was one of the early settlers of the community and during his eleven years residence here was prominent in public affairs.

He came here in 1883 from Tennessee and settled in Ritzville. About the middle of February 1885, he succeeded J.A. Hewitt as teacher in the Ritzville school at an advance of salary. He was a member of the first examining board to issue teachers' certificates.

He was Adams County auditor from 1887 to 1891. In 1885 he married Miss Marietta Johnson of Ritzville and he was a member of the second state legislature being elected from Adams County. He moved to Oakesdale in 1894 where he practiced law.

At the Ritz

Ronald Reagan and Shirley Temple in "That Hagen Girl"

Mickey Rooney, Brian Donlevy, and Ann Blyth in "Killer McCoy"

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

March 15, 1973

Foreign vegetable raising is topic for Garden Club

Mrs. Phil Langford presented a program on foreign vegetables including types, methods of growing and preparation for use when Ho-N-Gro Garden Club met last Thursday. Mrs. Art Teske and Anna Schwisow were the hostesses at the Circle T Inn.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

March 12, 1998

Sheriff Kline to seek second term of office

Sheriff Mike Kline has announced his intention to seek a second term as Adams County Sheriff. Sheriff Kline is a career law enforcement veteran with 28 years of continuous service, the last 23 years with the Adams County Sheriff's Office. Previous service has been with the Spokane and Kootenai County Sheriff's Departments.

He is a 1996 graduate of the National Sheriff's Institute and an alumnus of the Northwest Command College. Since taking office in 1995, Sheriff Kline has been working on rebuilding and improving working facilities and equipment for the department throughout the county. This includes construction of an efficient and affordable substation at Othello and a major remodel and addition to the offices in Ritzville facilitated by funding obtained through state grants.

Tillotson ruling handed down

Administrative Law Judge David G. Hansen of Spokane ruled Friday that Adams County Prosecutor David M. Sandhaus acted properly when he terminated Norma Tillotson as secretary with the prosecutor's office.

Tillotson was fired from her duties on Aug. 25, 1997, by Sandhaus and later brought a claim against her former boss stating she was fired when she complained of sexual harassment by another employee. That employee has since left the prosecutor's office. Sandhaus claimed he fired her because she walked off the job. Tillotson was ordered to pay Sandhaus' legal fees in the matter.