From the Files

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

July 26, 1899

Rumor has it that an order will soon be issued requiring all postmasters to wear uniforms. The uniform will be light blue trousers, with stripes down the legs, white blouse and a scull cap with a white star in front. The average postmaster may not object to be thus uniformed, but what about the hundreds of ladies throughout the country who write P.M. after their name? Can't chuck them into a uniform with a blue trouser attached.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

July 24, 1924

Goes to pen for bootlegging

Henry Steinmetz was given a sentence of from one to five years in the penitentiary at Walla Walla by Judge Truax, when he pled guilty to a charge of bootlegging Tuesday in Superior Court. It was his second conviction on a liquor charge.

He was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Oestreich Saturday afternoon. Mr. Oestreich had taken a run out into the country southwest of town. He parked his car in the highway and went up to examine some wheat he is interested in when Steinmetz came along in a car. He spotted the officer and stopped his car and started pouring out and breaking up the liquor he was hauling. Oestreich ran over to him, put him under arrest, and secured enough liquor to suffice as evidence and then brought Steinmetz to town.

Monday Steinmetz disclosed the location of his still. He has been farming southeast of Paha and has a wife and five children.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

July 26, 1951

Water shortage hits College Hill vicinity

Ritzville's annual summer water shortage is here again. Five wells producing about 135,000 gallons an hour have been unable to supply the needs of the city, particularly the College Hill area between Third Avenue and the golf course. There, on occasion, water pressure has been zero. A number of residents reported there are times when they can't even get a drop of water from any faucet in the house.

103 registered here on Monday for second high

Ritzville's second real "scorcher" of the summer smothered activity here last Monday when a maximum of 103 was recorded mid-afternoon by Weather Observer Jack Kittel. It was the second highest temperature in the past five years, just one degree less than the 104 recorded on Tuesday of the previous week.

Blood is rushed

to Korea front

Half the blood donated by Adams County residents to the Red Cross mobile unit in Ritzville last Wednesday two days later was in Korea available for use by the armed forces. Karl Rosenoff, blood donor chairman, said this week the blood-stored in ice-was rushed from Ritzville to Pasco by car Wednesday afternoon. It was moved by train to Portland, where it was re-iced and flown to San Francisco. In Frisco the blood was re-iced again and loaded immediately on an airplane bound for the Far East.

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

July 25, 1974

Cheerleaders finish camp

CHENEY – Four Ritzville High School students have completed the week-long Dynamic Cheerleading Camp held at Eastern Washington State College recently. They are Mary Sackmann, Denise Manke, Darci Oestreich and Colleen Geschke.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

July 29, 1999

New X-ray machine approved for EARH

It's been three years of budgeting, but East Adams Rural Hospital will soon have a new $215,053 X-ray machine. The purchase was approved by EARH's Board of Directors at their monthly meeting Tuesday night. The unit will be purchased from the General Electric Corporation and replaces the 35-year-old machine now in use at the hospital. The new machine allows for more comfort and faster, safer X-ray time for patients.

-The Journal