From the Files

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

August 16, 1899

Let well enough alone

The Sunday closing proposition evidently works a hardship on many people, judging from the loud protest that goes up against it by a large majority of our citizens. To us it seems that if the merchant and businessmen generally wish to accommodate customers on Sunday where circumstances almost demand it, there should be no serious objection to it, more especially during this busy season of the year.

The ridiculous Sunday closing law has been on our statute books for the last ten years and little or no attention has been paid to it. All who wish to rest on the Sabbath day are privileged to do so, and the same right should be accorded to any conscientious businessman feeling it necessary to sell a pair of overalls or a monkey wrench on the same day. We will all have greater sins to answer for than such acts as this.

Adjudged insane

George Graham of Hatton, a prominent and much respected farmer of the Sandhills, on Monday last was adjudged insane and committed to the Medical Lake asylum, Sheriff Hill and Deputy Lee conveying him there yesterday.

'Round Ritzville

Rev. F. J. James will deliver his farewell sermon at Griffith, Sunday, Aug. 20 at 11:30 a.m. and at Willis Sunday, Aug. 27 at 11 a.m. Owing to the lameness of his horse he was unable to deliver his farewell sermon at Lind last Sunday.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 14, 1924

Notions vender buried in Ritzville

R. M. Cooper of Walla Walla, died at the residence of Mrs. Allen in this city, Sunday, after a brief illness of tubercular pneumonia. But little is known of Mr. Cooper here. He came here a few months ago and under the name of Bradley bought junk about town. Later he opened a small stand near Dr. Burroughs' office, where he sold cheap novelties, etc.

City authorities closed up his place of business and he went to work in harvest but was in no physical condition to stand the work and was soon taken ill and removed to this city. According to Walla Walla authorities, he has a wife and family at Walla Walla, but he was buried here, Walla Walla County bearing the expense. He was 43 years of age.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 16, 1951

Elephant, camel rule '5-continent menagerie' as circus flops here

Stevens Brothers circus, "the mightiest mobilization of super spectacles, dynamic displays and startling sensations ever brought before the eyes of man," presented two dismal performances before small and bored audiences in Ritzville Monday. The great 5-continent menagerie, "cage after cage of wild animals from every land," proved to consist of one tired elephant, one tired camel, and a couple of trained ponies.

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 15, 1974

Karters, fans enjoy first Ritzville rally

Not as many karts turned out as hoped, but the crowd was large and the response favorable in the first Ritzville Monte Carlo go-kart race Sunday. Not everybody enjoyed the races, but those who didn't were in a small minority as folks enjoyed a gently warm day and the darting, daring driving of the karters on the course through the streets of downtown.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 19, 1999

One-car rollover accident injures Ritzville woman

The Ritzville detachment of the Washington State Patrol was called to a one-car injury accident Aug. 11 on Wellsandt Road two miles west of the Carico Hills Road. Cynthia Sanchez-Ham, 35, of Ritzville, was westbound on Wellsandt Road at about 5:30 p.m. driving a 1988 Chevy Celebrity when for an unknown reason the vehicle left the right side of the roadway. Sanchez-Ham lost control of the vehicle as it traveled 300 feet crossing back across the roadway and through a fence where it rolled onto its top facing south in the field. Sanchez-Ham suffered injuries to her foot to an unknown extent. Handling the WSP investigation was Trooper Mark Shepherd.

-The Journal