From the Files

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

February 8, 1899

At the council meeting last evening it was decided that the water supply be cut off today and no more furnished to the citizens until the city tank was filled. The well on the corner opposite Adams County Bank is being cleaned out and the committee is of the opinion that henceforth we will have ample supply. Two petitions for sidewalks, one from Wm. McKay and others and one from miller Ott and others were presented, and both referred to the committee on streets and public improvements.

Local and Personal

County attorney W. W. Zent and his associate in the law business, Hon. O. R. Holcomb, moved their office into the courthouse on Monday.

The storm which struck us last week was perhaps the tail end, or more correctly, the head end, of the great blizzard which swept S. Dakota, Nebraska and others of those states which are the home of such little pleasantries of the storm king. It came suddenly and caught people unprepared, but with very few exceptions no casualties resulted that could not have been averted without exerting good judgment to any great extent. Down at Tekoa a little boy froze to death. He was injudiciously allowed to leave school dressed only as he was for mild weather and as a matter of course chilled to death. One little boy of tender age froze his fingers on his way home from Ritzville school.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

February 7, 1924

To improve Division Street

The city council Tuesday evening discussed plans for improving Division Street. The only solution for the improving of this thoroughfare, which bisects the city and is one of the main arteries of travel, is to pave the street. This may be done by making it an arterial highway with contributions from adjacent properties, the city at large, and the county, inasmuch as it connects two permanent highways. As this is not possible this year, the council decided to have it improved as much as possible at small cost. The street will be scarified, the loose rock picked up and hauled away, and the chuck holes filled up. The county has agreed to furnish the equipment for the work and it is reported that many farmers who use this road are willing to help get it in shape.

Local Brevities

The price of gasoline took a two-cent jump this week and is now retailing at 25 cents a gallon at service stations.

Flags on public buildings and business houses about town are displayed at half-mast on account of the death of former president, Woodrow Wilson.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

February 10, 1949

Boxing returns to school:

Rap set with Daven

Boxing is being revived at Ritzville high school, Coach Rex Thomason announced this week. An intramural "smoker" will be staged as an elimination tournament, Thomason said, with the all-school team facing at least one match with Davenport. Plans also have been launched for a bi-county boxing tournament at Davenport on March 11-12.

Expected to turn out for boxing are Gilbert White, Don Stohr, Norman Knight, Edward Elliott, Darrell Evans, Jerry Weber, Jack Koch, Dick Tesch, Richard Sperber, Buzzy Luiten, Jim Hall, Stan Schrader, Sterling Elliott, Loren Woodside, Leroy Leisle, Arlo Ottmar, Don Burghart, John Schrader, Gene Arlt, Larry Steinmetz, Lorraine Becker, and others.

At the Ritz:

"The Strawberry Roan," starring Gene Autry and Champion.

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

February 7, 1974

Preston is given

Coast Guard medal

Coast guard Aviation Electronics Technician Second Class James W. Preston, husband of the former Miss Joyce Klein, Ritzville, has been awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal at the Coast Guard Air Station in Puerto Rico. He was cited for meritorious achievement as a search and rescue air crewman in the rescue of the crew of a sinking fishing boat off the coast of California in February 1972. A 1966 graduate of Odessa High School, he joined the Coast Guard in January 1968.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

February 11, 1999

Local firm gets nod

for window blinds

Designer Carpets and Interiors of Ritzville was given the go ahead by the Adams County Commissioners on Monday to supply and install 62 vertical window blinds and valances in the Adams County Courthouse. The firm submitted an estimate proposal of $13,547.80, including tax, to supply the window furnishings which met with the commissioners' approval.

- The Journal