From the Files

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

May 11, 1898

Old Settler's Society

There is a call for a meeting and an organization of the "old settlers" now living in Adams County. This is as it should be; there should be a pioneer society formed, to consist of all old settlers who settled in this state in the '60s, and possibly in the early '70s, and now reside in this county.

In those days, everyone in the territory was acquainted with every other one. We could meet and compare data; renew those old acquaintances; rehearse our old time stories; tell of the days when our "old people" held the ranch down and we young kids were compelled to go, and did go, down into the Willamette Valley to rustle for work and money to keep the folks at home alive. We could tell of the days prior to the railroads, when two pounds of black Siwash sugar was one of the luxuries of life; when we had no flour, and our daily diet was potatoes and salmon-principally salmon.

Local and Personal

W.L. Kellum of California is in the county this week. He is figuring with Benj. Martin for seven or eight sections of land either at Odessa or west of Lind.

Lind is on the boom. There is talk of three new dwelling houses to be erected in a short time; also a new store, with J.M. Moulton as proprietor. He intends going to Spokane next week to lay in a stock of dry goods. He also intends dealing in livestock. Our congratulations, Joe.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

May 10, 1923

Prohibition speaker will be here May 22 at M.E. Church

An address on the subject "Shall Beer and Wine Come Back?" will be delivered at the Methodist church Tuesday evening, May 22, by Hon. H.T. Laughbaum of Oklahoma City. The meeting is held under the auspices of the Anti-Saloon League. The menace of the "light wines" agitation will be exposed.

Local Brevities

Several downtown buildings are having their woodwork touched up with fresh paint, among them Fred's Café, Rex Theatre, and First National Bank.

On Saturday, May 5, Harriett Lee, Hazel Gleich and Lillian Lehman walked from Paha to Ritzville. Harriett and Hazel walked to the Lehman ranch where Lillian joined them. From there they walked to Ritzville. The girls enjoyed the hike very much.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

May 6, 1948

Power off all over

county last Monday

Adams County was completely blacked out for an hour and 28 minutes Monday evening when the heavy rains that day finally brought down a Washington Water Power company line near Long Lake north of Reardan. Weatherman Jack Kittel said .51 inches fell in the Ritzville area during Monday. The power went off at 7:38 p.m.

Ritzville schools facing

increases in enrollment

SPOKANE – Schoolmen and laymen from a large area, including four from Ritzville, attended a regional conference on school finance and taxation here on April 22 to consider how the educational needs of Washington's swelling number of children may be met. Attending from Ritzville were School Superintendent H.A. Trimble and three members of the board of directors, Chairman W.G. Danekas, George Freese, and Fred Langenheder.

The educational leaders were told that the Strayer survey of this state's public school system, presented to the governor and legislature in September 1946, has proven too conservative. This survey estimated that by 1960 the school population in Washington would be increased by 50 per cent over 1946, but more recent surveys have indicated the increase will be even greater.

This situation is reflected in Ritzville schools, according to Superintendent Trimble. The combined enrollment of high school, junior high, and elementary school here during 1944-45 was 427. In 1945-46 it was 455 and in 1946-47, 487. On February 12, 1948, the total had reached 507.

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

May 10, 1973

Vandalism costs

said near $1400

Over $1,400 in damages was done by vandals April 28 or 29 at the Reimers and Jantz wheat warehouses on a spur of the Milwaukee Road. Sheriff Clint Rowe said a large dial mounted on a truck scale was smashed at Reimers. The instrument may be read from either side and its replacement will cost about $1,000. Rocks as big as two doubled-up fists were used to break the equipment. Also broken were windows. A lock on the door was shot and electric meters, too high to reach by throwing rocks, were shot with a rifle.

Pastime golfers

in lead

Pastime Sports Center golfers won the first round in the men's golf league May 2. Harold Pfann, playing for Fred Schwisow, Gordon Swyter and Ed Woodbury each won their matches. Pfann was paired with Rudy Roth and Woodbury with Alva Lightbody.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

May 7, 1998

Local WSP troopers called to Pullman riot

"I've never seen anything like it," said Sgt. Kris Boness of the Ritzville detachment of the Washington State Patrol, in speaking of the early Sunday morning riot on the Washington State University campus at Pullman.

Boness was put on alert at 2 a.m. Sunday morning with the actual call for him to respond coming at 3. When he reached the scene, the first and second wave of law enforcement personnel were coming out of the "hot zone" on Colorado Street.

"I couldn't believe it," he said. "My lieutenant's car was parked there. It was demolished. Bricks were lying about and the windows were all broken. As I stood by there, officers were coming out, bleeding and injured. You could see fires burning in the middle of the street, metal fence posts and bricks strewn about. People were out of control.

"It was about that time that the sun was coming up and the crowd began to disperse. Estimates range from 1,000 to 2,000 people in the area," he said.

Boness said seven WSP troopers went to the hospital. He remained at the scene until about 9 a.m. Troopers Dean Burt, Dan Dale, and Mark Shepherd were called to that area Sunday night for preventative patrol.

Police Log

Police were advised of a possible DUI subject near Weber Avenue and Galbreath Way on April 21 at 7:30 p.m. after the subject's car had gone into a ditch. An older gentleman was contacted and asked to provide a breath sample. Chief Dave McCormick said the test resulted in a reading of .467 which would mean the subject was "legally dead." The subject had no problems with the field sobriety test but due to the high reading was taken into custody.

On the way to the jail, the subject passed out in the car and was transported to the hospital. The subject said he had consumed a small quantity of alcohol in Spokane and had stopped in Ritzville for coffee and had rinsed his mouth out with mouthwash which police say resulted in the high test reading. It also was determined that the car had gone into the ditch as the subject was attempting to retrieve a cassette tape from the floor. Following the investigation, the subject was not cited and was released.

- The Journal