FROM THE FILES

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

May 17, 1899

John Campbell is languishing in the city bastille with a sore head and a fine of $20 and costs, the result of being drunk and disorderly and resisting Marshal Rettig, who as conservator of the peace of the city, protested against his using the sidewalk for a horse path and the voluble display of adjectives said bad man from Bitter Creek was hurling vindictively and promiscuously at our inoffensive citizens. As the hilarious individual has threatened to kill several people as soon as he gets out, it is very probable that the silver-starred hirelings of this unfeeling corporation, assisted by the police judge, will see that the gentleman stays in durance vile until he experiences a change of heart. Sure enough.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

May 15, 1924

Klan holds meeting here

A group of organizers for the Ku Klux Klan held a meeting at the Christian church here last Friday night. A Rev. Huntington gave an address. About thirty or forty persons were present to hear the speaking. The address dwelt chiefly with the top of law enforcement, also giving a sketch of the history of the Ku Klux Klan in recent years.

Get escape at Seattle

Tom Moran, who escaped from the county jail two years ago by sawing the bars of the door, was apprehended in Seattle and identified by his fingerprints. Sheriff Schafer was notified and left Monday night for Seattle by car to bring him home. Moran was being held at the county jail here pending trial on a felony charge. He escaped when Sheriff Rider was jailer, the latter's young son discovering the escape soon after it happened. Posses were quickly formed but Moran made good his escape.

Score hit with play

One of the very best high school dramatic productions ever given in Ritzville was the senior class play, "Nothing But the Truth" which was presented Tuesday evening. The members of the cast knew their lines and they talked loud enough to be heard. These two common essentials have been too frequently ignored, and when the performers threw into the play life, action, movement, as they did this time, why the production is really creditable.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

May 17, 1951

Two fireplaces are

constructed at Ritzville Park

Volunteer members of the Ritzville Lions club-with the help of a couple of non-Lions-erected two brick fireplaces at the city park Sunday as part of the Lions club's civic improvement project for 1951.

Pvt. Louis Becker

wounded in Korea

Pfc. Louis R. Becker with the first Marine division in Korea has been wounded, relatives in Ritzville learned recently. Becker is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. George F. Becker and Mrs. Jacob Ils of Ritzville and the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Becker of Spokane.

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

May 16, 1974

Students elect cheerleaders

Lynn Leonard was elected 1974-75 yell queen at a student body election Monday. Other cheerleaders, elected last week at RHS, are Tammy Schafer, Mary Sackmann, Denise Manke and Krisann Oestreich, Colleen Geschke and Gail Schoessler for wrestling. All girls will spur the Bronco football players at their games. Miss Leonard will head the basketball rooting section and Miss Geschke is the wrestling yell queen.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

May 20, 1999

Change coming to intersection

Drivers soon will notice at least one change at an intersection which has become hazardous in recent months. A meeting last Tuesday between WSDOT Project Planner Ted Trepanier, county officials, Ritzville Public Works Supt. Larry Swift, and two Washington State Patrol troopers has laid the foundation for perhaps other safety improvements at the SR 261 and Weber Road intersection. With the development on Galbreath Way, motorists exiting from westbound Interstate 90 have routinely failed to stop at SR 261, causing at least two accidents in the last year. It appears that drivers are looking ahead of the intersection towards businesses in that area and fail to see the stop sign.

-The Journal