From the Files

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

April 27, 1898

Local and Personal

E.D. Gilson made a flying trip to the flat last Saturday. He went in the capacity of deputy treasurer to collect tax due on sheep. He met with his usual success and brought in the "dough."

Frank Kingsley of Fletcher had the bad luck to fall from a roller harrow last Monday while working on rough ground on his ranch. He received a severe cut across the palm of his right hand, severing an artery and half cutting off the hand. A.F. Linn, his neighbor, brought him to town and had the wound dressed by Dr. Burroughs. The patient is reported as doing well.

War may ravage the country and "raise Ned" with commerce but it will not raise prices at Ritzville Hardware.

Go to W.S. Eastman's for a bath. New tub. Bath 25 cents. Hot water every day.

Keep them moving

On Sunday morning last, it was discovered at an early hour in the day, that an unusual complement of hobos had been added to the population of the town, and that they were unusually impertinent and persistent in their methods of inviting themselves to share the breakfasts of the citizens. It was also very apparent that about all the earthly possessions of the new arrivals was contained in bottles. The city marshal concluded that it would be a good day for them to travel to the next town, so he accordingly escorted them to the city limits in the direction they seemed to want to go, and started them out on a go-as-you-please, but don't-come-back walk, which, it is hoped, will last them the rest of their natural lives.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

April 26, 1923

Local Brevities

Ritzville is "Gateway to the Columbia Basin," Connell is "Basin Center," Pasco is "Basin City," Lind is "Basin or Bust." Come on 'Tucna, what's yours?

The Mutual Oil Company has a force at work this week setting up their tanks for their new gas and oil station. It is located on land leased from the railroad, just above the Ritzville Warehouse Co. elevator.

The Ritzville Ice and Creamery Co. will start regular delivery of ice Saturday, April 28.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

April 22, 1948

Anglers find fishing

poor opening day

The fishing was terrible. Scores of Ritzville anglers tried their luck on opening day Sunday, but most of them returned with little loot and plenty of disgust. All day Monday the pool halls and barber shops echoed with depressing sagas and anguished sobs which bore little relation to what the first day of fishing season should be like. Clark Martin of Ritzville, state game protector, declared that the generally poor fishing opening day probably was due to the late spring and the low water temperature. Conditions should improve considerably in the next two or three weeks, he said.

Spokane resident

here temporarily

Lyle H. Turner, 35, of Spokane, is in county jail today after his arrest last Friday on charges of operating a vehicle while his driver's license was suspended. Turner was picked up by State Patrolman Drake on Highway 18 five miles west of Ritzville. He was driving a Dodge truck. He pled guilty and was fined $100 and costs by Judge J.P. Koch and sentenced to 10 days in jail.

Recovers from mumps to

capture marbles crown

Richard Wilhelm, who missed the first round of competition because he had been out with mumps, returned to Central school this week to mop up all opposition and capture the first grade marbles championship at Central school. Richard defeated Keith Schroll in the finals.

At the Ritz

Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake in "Saigon, The Paris of the Orient!"

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

April 26, 1973

Vandals break restroom door

The ladies restroom building at the city park was vandalized over the weekend. Chief of Police Donald Koehler said the outbreak was only the latest of a series of vandal acts to the building and at the park over the past two years. A plywood panel in the restroom door, covering the lower half of the door, was kicked out. The act was without purpose, said Chief Koehler, inasmuch as the restroom door was unlocked. Nearby at brick fireplaces provided for the public's use, a pile of bricks was strewn around and broken up. Within the restroom all the paper towels in a dispenser were removed and strung about the room.

Former city teacher tells views on

school clothing

To the Editor:

I had thought that after my subscription for the year ran out, I'd not renew it. But now I'm fairly sure I want to continue. Every once in a while, the Journal-Times has an article that provides no end of entertainment in our faculty room here. I have particular reference to your lead article in the April 12 issue.

Apparently, the last school board meeting devoted a considerable amount of time to debating whether or not girls should be allowed to wear masculine-looking blue jeans rather than the more feminine red jeans, white jeans, green jeans or puce jeans. Really, now. What a ridiculous thing for a school and its board of directors to waste time on. Evidently everyone has forgotten what happened the last time the ASB and board of directors passed the buck back and forth over the boys-with-long-hair issue. Ron Widener, Seaside, Ore.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

April 23, 1998

Chamber seeks funding for relocation of VIC

The Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce has once again approached the city council seeking funds to relocate the Visitors Information Center and to hire a full-time director. Celia Benzel outlined a proposal to move the VIC to city property adjacent to the golf course at the intersection of Galbreath Way and Fairway Avenue. A one-time expense of approximately $9,185 is needed to purchase and install an 8'x 20' modular unit to house the VIC. Additional costs for staffing and monthly expenses were proposed in the amount of $18,840 for a total request of $28,025 to come from the city's 110 Tourism Fund.

Dedication ceremony for wagon train sculpture

A dedication ceremony for the Wagon Train sculpture is planned for Saturday, May 23, beginning at 1 p.m. near The Depot on West Railroad Avenue in downtown Ritzville. The sculpture was researched, designed and created by Lamar Thiel in memory of the 1882 wagon train which brought 16 Volga German families to Ritzville from Nebraska. The 16 families include the family names of Amen, Bastron, Bauer, Dewald, Kanzler, Kembel, Kiehn, Michel, Miller, Oestreich, Rosenoff, Schafer, Schoessler, Thiel, Wagner, and Wolsborn.

- The Journal