From the Files

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

August 10, 1898

Local and Personal

The doctors report quite an amount of sickness, caused no doubt by the unusually hot weather.

Contractor Harris is just finishing a new restaurant building opposite the post office for J.P. Lindsey.

Uncle Henry Zimmerman received the sad news yesterday of his mother. The old lady was 98 years old, but retained all the faculties of her mind clearly to the last and gave minute directions about how her funeral should be conducted.

J.M. Kaufman, the drayman, while freighting in the N.P. yards Saturday evening had his truck caught by a backing train and broke it considerably to pieces. He and his horses barely escaped.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 9, 1923

Ten thousand horses and mules

The automobile may have displaced the horse as a means of transportation. But on the farms of Adams County the horse and mule are still reigning. The tables of the county assessor show that there are over 10,000 horses and mules in this county. As most of them are used for farm work, the figures show that the horse and mule are still largely depended on to provide power in farming operations.

Pres. Harding dies

Word of his death at 7:30 last Thursday evening reached here but a few minutes afterward by the long-distance telephone and the news spread quickly. People could scarcely believe the report. ...Ever since the announcement of the President's death, flags at Ritzville have been flying at half-mast...While President Coolidge and Governor Hart have appointed Friday as a time for national mourning, it has been thought best here to have a memorial service for President Harding next Sunday at the Methodist church.

Notice

There are some motor car owners who have not been observing the laws regarding having proper lights on their cars. Some drive after night without headlights or with only one headlight. The law requires the car to have two headlights. Some drive without any taillight. The law requires the car to have a red taillight. Some cars have glaring headlights, which is against the law.

I wish to advise motor car owners to see that their cars are properly equipped with lights and to warn offenders that the sheriff's force intends to enforce laws concerning auto lights. Also, all drivers should procure their new driver's license. Joe Schafer, Sheriff of Adams County.

Local Brevities

Spring chickens wanted. Bill Thom.

Mr. and Mrs. S. Everett Edwards left Saturday night on a week's camping trip by auto. They did not know just where they were going but started west.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 5, 1948

Winds batter wheat

over entire county

Strong winds caused losses estimated at three to five bushels per acre over most of Adams County during the past week as harvesting farmers worked full blast when the weather was right and dropped a few unkind words hither and yon during intermittent showers.

City accepts country

club addition plat

Forty-six new choice building lots became available in Ritzville Tuesday evening when the city council accepted the plat of the Ritzville Golf and Country Club addition to the city. Attorney Richard B. Ott, president of the golf and country club, was present to present the plat. Lots will be offered to the general public for purchase with a short time, he declared.

Contract is won by Bair

Company from Spokane

Construction is scheduled to start Monday on Ritzville's new $420,000 elementary school. Dirt-moving equipment and crews from Roy L. Bair and Company of Spokane, which was awarded the general construction contract last week, will begin leveling ground at the school site where the old Wellsandt Road leaves the city.

At the Ritz

Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, and John Garfield in "Gentlemen's Agreement."

Also showing: June Haver, Lon McCallister, Walter Brennan, Anne Revere and Natalie Wood in "Scudda-Hoo! Scudda-Hay!"

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 9, 1973

Station heist $484

Three hitchhikers obtained $484.32 in an armed robbery at Spike's Texaco about 1:10 a.m. Saturday. The wrists of Curtis Greenwalt, attendant on duty, were bound behind his back with bailing wire. He was thrust into the ladies' rest room and ordered not to try to get out.

A woman passenger in the first car to visit the station entered the rest room. Her husband unbound Greenwalt, and he notified the sheriff's office. Greenwalt said he thought he was in the rest room about 15-20 minutes. He told officers three young men about his age, with long hair, sat outside the station on a curb drinking Coke. When Greenwalt had finished with a customer he went over and sat down beside them. One of the trio pulled a gun and ordered Greenwalt into the station's back room.

Several law officers were at the scene within a few minutes after Greenwalt placed the call. They fanned out to endeavor to find the trio. It may have been that the men, instead of being hitchhikers, actually had a car hidden nearby the station. Among officers reporting were Sheriff Clint Rowe, deputy Marvin Collier, night officer Jim Robinson, Troopers Jerry Brantley and Roger Kreis. No track of the armed robbers was found.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 6, 1998

Fire devastates the land, claims life of wheat farmer

Fire during the hot summer months is always potentially dangerous in Adams County but last Wednesday's blaze turned deadly as it took the life of area farmer Bob Heider and put several others in immediate jeopardy. Adams County Sheriff Mike Kline said the fire started along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks near Tokio and was first reported by Maureen Harder from her residence several miles away at about 4:20 p.m.

"There are indications that the fire had been going for a while before Maureen spotted the smoke and made the call," said Sheriff Kline. Fire and police units responded to the scene and began work on suppression. Winds estimated at 30-plus miles per hour began blowing before the fire could be contained and pushed the fire towards the west. Robert W. Heider, 64, along with his family were harvesting wheat in a nearby field. The fire, fanned by the high winds, was moving rapidly and the people did not see the fire approaching in time to get people and equipment to safety, according to Sheriff Kline. Mr. Heider was caught in his combine by the fire and died at the scene.