From the Files

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

March 22, 1923

Pass ordinance for water rental

The city council passed a new water ordinance Tuesday evening for the control of the collection of water rentals. The ordinance provides that the water rent shall be paid monthly by the tenth of the month, and if not so paid a penalty will be imposed. If the water rent and penalty are not paid by the 20th of the month, the water superintendent shall shut off the water and a charge of $1.00 will be made before it is turned on again.

Junior class notes

Two oral book reports were given in the morning class of English III Friday. Harold McAvoy reported on Oliver Twist and Harry Schwisow on Treasure Island. Some of the Juniors have been released from the grammar class.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

March 18, 1948

Womack's new building done; start gas house

A new business-apartment building was close to completion in Ritzville this week, work is underway on a filling station, and a Main Avenue structure has been torn down to make room for another building project.

The Womack building, constructed by Charlie Womack near the intersection of First and Division, is completed except for finishing touches. The two-story concrete block structure contains two four-room (leased) apartments upstairs and two offices downstairs. Dale Wise and Phil Dorner, Pro-Gas distributors, are moving into one of the offices this week. The other is not occupied.

Next to the Womack building, at the intersection, Charlie is building a service station which already has been leased to General Petroleum. The building will include lubrication facilities, washroom, restroom, and office. Three pumps will be installed. Work on the service station will be completed in about four months Womack said.

Broncs wind up season with 21 of 28 games won

Ritzville's basketball Broncs reached the end of the trail on Saturday night by dropping a 55-35 third-place decision to Fairfield in the district class B tournament at the Whitworth college gym. Sixteen games won and four lost is the season's record for the talented Broncs, and if you throw in the long series of playoffs and tournament games the total is 21 won and 7 forgotten.

Six seniors who have carried the brunt of the attack all season turned in their last session of basketball for Ritzville High in the game Saturday. Destined for sheepskins come this May are Jim Schoessler, Dick Stimpson, Rich Heimbigner, Merrill Schutz, Ronnie Hanson and Roy Klein.

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

March 22, 1973

City dads give land use for motorbike course

City councilmen turned over use of a sagebrush patch of land north of town to the Jaycees for a motorbike course during their semi-monthly meeting Tuesday. Pres. Al McBroom of the Ritzville Jaycees described a project which Sgt. Marvin Koch of the Washington State Patrol urged Jaycees to undertake. Juveniles may not ride motorbikes on public streets and roads. Winding trails will be cleared on the city land near the city's new well.

The motorbike course could help young riders to learn safety, McBroom told the city council. About 7-8 acres are in the tract which the city owns, extending from the new well toward the rodeo grounds. It includes both hillside and level areas.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

March 19, 1998

Beverages stolen off delivery truck

A delivery man reported four cases of Coors light beer cubes were stolen from a delivery truck in the downtown Ritzville area on Feb. 25 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Access was gained to the truck through an unlocked door with the delivery man stating this is the third time this type of incident has happened in this area. Value of the beer was set at $50.

Police were notified of a 911 call on Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. stating that two male juveniles were on the north end of the runway at the Ritzville airport shooting BB guns.

Restroom vandalism at Lind

Frequent drive-by checks of the restrooms at the Lind High School football field has been requested of Adams County Sheriff deputies following vandalism damage to the door on the women's restroom. Deputy Keith Thompson was advised that it appeared kids had used the building for drinking and other things including damaging the restrooms.

- The Journal