From the Files

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

August 9, 1899

Thieves getting obnoxious

The sneak thief, chicken and several other kind of thieves are abroad in this fair land of ours around Ritzville. The chicken coops and cellars of Messrs. French and Cunningham have been raided and pretty fair hauls made from both. Get your rifles, pistols and sawed off shot guns in order and turn the bull dogs loose at night. It would also be well to scatter bear traps around the places where these gentry are most apt to put their paws. Their pause then will be welcomed to an interesting degree.

'Round Ritzville

R.P. Smith returned from Medical Lake Sunday morning where he went two weeks ago on account of rheumatism and comes home fully recovered by using the baths.

Rev. J.H. Everett, pastor, informs us that the seats in the M.E. Church have been repaired and revarnished and made safe and comfortable for the audiences.

About $85 Fourth of July money remains unexpended in the hands of the finance and executive committee and Oliver M. Lee is in Spokane today and will endeavor to arrange with Prof. Frank Miller, the great aeronaut, to make a balloon ascension and parachute jump at Ritzville about Aug. 24th.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 7, 1924

Brevities

The fire department was called out Tuesday evening by a small blaze which started in the grass north of the First National Bank. The flames ran down into the old shack back of the billboard, but were soon extinguished.

Leon Bodinger went up to Spokane this morning to have his eyes tested. On the opening day of the hunting season last year he was accidentally shot in the eye while hunting at Finnell Lake. Lately the eye has been giving him some trouble so he went up to consult a specialist.

Art Heinemann has been laid up the past week with a water sack on his knee. While not serious it is quite painful.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 9, 1951

Circus coming to town

Monday for two shows

The "big show" will be in Ritzville next Monday when Stevens Brothers' 3-ring circus sets up here for two performances-at 2 and 8 p.m. The circus will play at the west end of Highway 10 opposite Schwisows' Texaco service station. Population of the circus, according to advance agents, includes 400 persons and 125 animals-horses, elephants, lions, bears, pumas, llamas, camels, tigers, monkeys, etc.

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 8, 1974

City parade float

takes Peach honors

With Ritzville's circus elephant firmly secured in the pickup of Duane Hopkins and the trailer carrying the float base hitched behind, thirteen representatives were off for the third year to Penticton, British Columbia, to participate in the Peach Festival there. Miss Ritzville Sue Hopkins and Princess Chris Bauer and their circus theme float were winners again with a first place cup for communities under 5,000.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 12, 1999

Two young men join

in business venture

Cousins first, then best friends and now business partners. Cody Schoesler and Jeremy Gering have taken a big step into the world of business at the age of 13. The pair purchased a 1975 John Deere 6602 hillside combine and are custom cutting wheat for Schoesler Farms. The idea to begin the joint business venture came from Cody's dad, Mark Schoesler.

"We were having a milkshake at Sharon's Drive-In and dad was reading a Nickel Saver and saw an ad for a combine. He suggested we buy one and start in business," said Cody. Several calls to Jeremy and a couple of trips to look at various combines found the pair making the purchase from an Ephrata farmer.

-The Journal