FROM THE FILES

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

June 28, 1899

From Russia to Ritzville

Twenty-five families from Russia passed through Spokane last week on the way from their native country to settle on farms near Ritzville. This is the largest of a number of colonies which have gone through this city this spring and which have been located on farms in Adams County.

It was many years ago that the first Russians were placed on land in Adams County, and since that time there has been a gradual increase in the settlers of this nationality until they form a large part of the population of that district. They have proved to be frugal, industrious farmers, and as a rule have succeeded quite well in this new country.

Most of them come to Washington with some money. They can live at but a little expense, and in years accumulate quite a reasonable wealth. In most cases this money has been used in bringing their relatives and friends from the old country to the farms of eastern Washington.

These simple, honest and energetic people can teach their Yankee brothers an object lesson in economy. They always live within their means, pay their debts and make the best of citizens. They have done much for Adams County and had it not been for these very people this section of the country would not be so prosperous as it is today. Let them come on.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

June 26, 1924

Young farmer dies

suddenly Sunday morning

Alex Miller, Jr., expired suddenly at his home in the Packard district last Sunday morning. While he had not been feeling well for a few days, he had been up that morning, done his chores, killed a chicken for dinner and gone to the house.

Death came with swiftness, and the exact cause was not known. A coroner's inquest was held Monday afternoon, being presided over by Dr. C. Henderson of Lind, but as the testimony was inconclusive the jury brought in a verdict of death from causes unknown.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

June 28, 1951

New district hospital

to be finished by fall

Concrete roofing will be poured on the "super-Roman" brick walls of Adams County's new $330,000 hospital in Ritzville next week as construction proceeds "about on schedule." Harold H. Powell, project superintendent for contractor E. Chuck Mardis of Walla Walla, said this week the modern 20-bed hospital should be completed by October unless "unexpected things happen."

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

June 27, 1974

Bikers invade park for lunch

Some 600-plus bicyclists ranging in age from 12 to 57 stopped for lunch in Ritzville last Thursday, providing a sea of color in the city park. The participants in a radio station KJR/Department of Ecology World's Fair Bike Expedition to Expo'74 had been on the road-Interstate 90-since Monday when they departed from Lake Sammamish State Park near Issaquah.

Spike Arlt is new

CWSC track coach

ELLENSBURG _ The newly appointed track and field coach of Central Washington State College is Walter (Spike) Arlt, a seven year assistant here, who was the 1960 athlete-of-the-year at Washington State University. Graduated with a bachelor of science degree from WSU in 1961, Arlt was both a national track star and split end for the Cougars. Running the hurdles all four years of his undergraduate career, Arlt placed fifth in the high hurdles at the Olympic trials in 1960-the year he was captain of the Cougar track team.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

June 24, 1999

Accidents reported on area highways

A driver luckily escaped injury in a June 20 accident south of Ritzville on US 395. Kasey C. Krebs, 19, of Portland, OR, was southbound while Charlie E. Hoctor, 47, of Granger also was southbound passing the Krebs vehicle. Both vehicles were approaching another vehicle at a high rate of speed when Krebs passed the vehicle on the shoulder. He lost control of his vehicle which crossed both lanes of traffic and went into the median. Krebs told Washington State Patrol Trooper Tyler Fryberger that the cruise control stuck on his vehicle.

-The Journal