From the Files

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

June 8, 1898

Ten years ago last Monday Ritzville was practically burned to the ground. Since that time it has more than recovered, although it was a severe blow to the town at that time. We hope it will be many a year before such a calamity befalls the town again.

Local and Personal

Wheat is 58 cents in Ritzville today.

Mrs. Dillon is said to be very low with brain fever.

Postmaster W.K. Kennedy set the good example on Monday of filling up the pool in front of the post office with cinders. Agent Paskill says there are plenty more cinders and they certainly look better than frogs.

A.S. Newland informs us that the farmers south of town are much interested in the question of a road to Ritzville. Mr. Newland says that unless the road is fixed there will be thousands of bushels of wheat go to Paha that otherwise would come here.

On last Wednesday evening the west-bound passenger brought to Ritzville some fifty emigrants. They represent twelve families and are direct from Russia. They all have money enough to go to work for themselves and will doubtless find homes on the unclaimed lands in the county, and become at once a factor in our population.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

June 7, 1923

No action taken on

pump-house bids

Bids for erecting the new pump-house at the city park were opened Tuesday night, and were found to range from around $4,500 to $5,000. Action was deferred for one week, owing to the delay the drillers have had in reaming out the old hole at the park. They have had their tools stuck in the hole for several weeks. The council called up Mr. Janssen, the contractor, Tuesday night and hopes to have him come over here and hurry things with the drilling.

Local Brevities

Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Clodius arrived home last Friday from their automobile trip through Oregon and California down as far as San Diego. They had a very pleasant trip. Had to be pulled out of a mudhole once and had one puncture, otherwise they had no car trouble.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

June 3, 1948

City council accepts

new water well

The council voted to accept the city's newest water well located in the southwest part of town. The well, drilled to 510 feet at a cost of about $6,000, tested 640 gallons per minute to start with and was pumping 450 gallons per minute 14 hours later.

Airport is leased for eight years

Aviation in Ritzville took a long step forward Tuesday evening when the city council voted to give Opal Hicks, Lind airport operator, an eight-year lease on the partially-developed Ritzville airport. Miss Hicks said she planned to start operations in the next few weeks. She said she was certain the landing strip could be improved to meet Civil Aeronautics Administration requirements. At least one building will be constructed, she said, as soon as business warrants it.

The council's approval of the lease marked the end of a long struggle to bring an operator to Ritzville and to make the airport here an active center of small-plane flying.

At the Ritz

Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, and Zachary Scott in "Cass Timberlane," with Tom Drake, Mary Astor, and Albert Dekker.

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

June 7, 1973

Rites mark graduation here

Ritzville High School seniors became graduates in a short program Friday evening at the school gymnasium. Forty-four young men and young women accepted the diplomas from board chairman Don Heinemann, descended three steps off the stage, shook hands with Supt. Ken White, and took a white rose from a bouquet on a stand at the corner of the stage.

Kurt McCrady, class speaker, said the members of the Class of 1973 will have the rights and privileges of adults, but that they must have the responsibilities to go with those, and be ready to answer for their own actions. Removing his mortarboard as he began speaking in humility, Kurt said knowledge isn't the only thing young people should learn in school. "We should get wisdom, and this will take more than 18 or 19 years."

At the Ritz

John Wayne in "The Train Robbers."

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

June 4, 1998

Sewer fund grant is down the drain

Ritzville did not receive appropriations from Washington State's Centennial Clean Water Fund for 1998, Mayor Kirk Danekas told the Ritzville City Council Tuesday night. The city is under the Department of Ecology's mandate to update its sewer plant and has been working for several months on obtaining this grant to help fund the plant.

DOE has set October of this year as a required starting date for the Ritzville plant. Mayor Danekas said he just learned that the funding was not there and will continue to do additional follow up on where Ritzville stands for future funding before issuing too many statements.

The lack of funding appeared to have left a sour taste with some council members who said the city has done everything DOE has asked.

- The Journal