News Briefs

Irrigation season ends Oct. 21

OTHELLO — The agricultural irrigation season is coming to an end.

The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District will close its water delivery system Oct. 21.

Farmers and ranchers will be able to make water-delivery changes until Oct. 17; the last changes will be implemented Oct. 18, Secretary-Manager Craig N. Simpson announced.

Ditchriders will begin closing all farm irrigation contract turnouts Oct. 21 as the irrigation canal is drained for the winter, he said.

Ditchrider services have also been reduced to five days each week., with the Othello Watermaster Office now closed on weekends, he said..

Crackdown on drunken driving planned

Ritzville — The Washington State Patrol is planning a statewide drunken driving emphasis for overnight Friday, Sept. 27.

The emphasis, dubbed “one more stop,” will run from 4 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday.

The expanded patrol day is being dedicated to Trooper Christopher Gadd, who was killed on Interstate 5 on March 2 when he was hit by a drunken driver at the end of his shift.

Gadd messaged other troopers in his detachment that he would join them on break after “one more stop.”

— The Journal