Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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The East Adams Library District (EALD) hosted an author reading featuring author Betsy Dickinson at the Ritzville Public Library on Aug. 18 as part of the library’s Summer Author Series. During the event, Dickinson read from portions of her first novel “The Water Master,” which was published in 2016. “The Water Master” focuses on the married couple, Susan and Jay, and their move to the northwest. Shortly after they arrive at their new home, the couple meets the Water Mas...
The Victorian Bed and Breakfast, located at 105 South Division Street, provides guests with an opportunity to stay in a Victorian-era home close to downtown Ritzville. Housed in a two-story Victorian built in 1899, retired pastor Jerry Mahn, and his wife Kathy, own the home and operate the B&B. Jerry explained opening a bed and breakfast was a long-time goal for the couple. The Mahns were living in Florida where Jerry was performing missionary work when they learned the local...
The Adams County Commissioners received an update on operations at the Bruce Transfer Station, located outside of Othello, on Aug. 13. Public Works Director Todd O’Brien said the transfer station resumed accepting residential solid waste on Aug. 9 following a fire on Aug. 5. He added the department is working with insurance agents and a fire investigator to determine the source and cause of the fire. O’Brien explained some of the recycled refrigerators caught on fire at the transfer station on Aug. 11 around 3 p.m. He is unsu...
Adams County fire protection districts had another busy week as departments responded to multiple fires last week. On Aug. 9, the Lind Fire Department responded to a field fire on Providence Road, outside of Lind town limits, at around 3 p.m. Lind Fire Chief Kevin Starring said the department deployed five trucks. He noted the fire started from an electrical pole and spread to a nearby field. He added the blaze moved onto both sides of Providence Road between Johnson and Howard roads, and moved into stubble and CRP ground....
The Ritzville Planning Commission voted to remove section 11.115.030, from the city’s Fence code at the Aug. 8 meeting. Commission Chairman Stephen McFadden explained the commission decided to remove the section, referred to as the “clear view triangle,” from the fence chapter at the July 11 meeting. The chapter stated no fencing or obstruction constituting a hazard to the public within an area designated as the clear view triangle. He added the commission would need to add language to the Access, Alleys, Off-Street Parki...
During the Aug. 7 meeting, the Ritzville City Council approved the updated 2018 wage scale, and wage increases for part-time employees at the Ritzville Police Department. In June, Ritzville Police Chief Dave McCormick proposed a wage increase for department records clerk Marsha Bradshaw, from $12.90 an hour to $15.40. McCormick also requested a pay increase for part-time officer Jeff Lane, from $16.54 an hour to $19.15. The Council also approved a proposed permanent wage increase for deputy clerks Michelle Asmussen and Julie...
Some people travel from different areas in the United States to watch wheat harvest in Adams County. Harvey and Alison Monssen, they came all the way from the Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, to experience this year’s wheat harvest. On Aug. 6, the Monssens toured Schoesler Farms outside of Ritzville city limits. During the visit, they watched combines harvest the wheat from the field and Harvey also had the opportunity to ride in a combine. Alison explained she helped plan t...
Residents flocked to 214 West Main Avenue on Aug. 8 for the opening of Mi Jalisco, a new Mexican food restaurant in downtown Ritzville. Mi Jalisco is the newest restaurant to open in the address, which previously housed eateries like Memories’ Diner, Casuela’s Mexican Grill and Circle T Inn. Co-owners and cooks Fermin Castellon and Mike Angel will run Mi Jalisco’s day-to-day operations. Castellon’s and Angel’s relatives are also working at the restaurant, though they hire...
Businesses owners and elected officials from Lind and Ritzville attended an independent retail workshop on July 31 at the Washington State University Extension Office. The workshop, sponsored by Adams County, the City Ritzville and the Adams County Development Council (ACDC), provided attendees with an opportunity to hear about retail and consumer data trends for the City of Ritzville. It was also a chance for store owners and officials to learn ways to improve business and increase retail sales in the community. The...
At the Aug. 6 meeting, the Adams County Commissioners received updates on the two fires involving Public Works property. One of the incidents related to a semi-trailer transporting municipal solid waste that had caught fire in Boardman, Oregon, on July 31. The other was an Aug. 5 fire at the Bruce Transfer Station that destroyed the recycling center. Public Works Director Todd O’Brien said on July 31, crews were driving a semi-trailer to transport municipal solid waste to the Columbia Ridge Commercial Landfill, in A...
Local youth had the opportunity to learn about space travel during a presentation from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ambassador Joe Bruce on Aug. 2 at the Ritzville Public Library. Bruce also visited the Lind Elementary School in the afternoon. As a NASA ambassador, Bruce provides outreach and education on behalf of the agency to communities and schools in Washington and Idaho. Bruce showed a video about how astronauts live on the International Space...
The Adams County Commissioners approved several items at the July 30 meeting, including a resolution adopting the equipment rental rates for 2018. County Engineer Scott Yaeger explained the proposed rates for 2018 were calculated using the average costs from the previous three years, average hours and added an overhead rate of 22 percent. For the 2018 rates, Yaeger said he added Skid Steer Attachments as a new category. He explained there were not many mower or roller attachments being used, and he added them into their own...
Adams County first responders had a busy week responding to fires and an auto collision in the area. On July 25, multiple Adams County Fire Protection Districts responded to a standing wheat fire south of Providence Road, near Foley and Marcellus roads. Washtucna Acting Fire Chief Byron Allen said the department received the call at around noon. The department deployed five vehicles and 11 firefighters to the scene. Allen noted Ritzville, Lind, and Benge fire departments assisted at the scene, as did the Adams County...
During the July 23 meeting, the Adams County Commissioners provided a consensus for project recommendations from Public Works staff members for the 2019-2021 Rural Arterial Program (RAP) funding application. According to the RAP website, the program helps finance the reconstruction of rural arterial roads, through the Rural Arterial Trust Account. Public Works staff recommended submitting three projects on the application, the first being the Lind-Hatton Road Project No. 3. The project consists of reconstructing a segment of...
At the July 17 meeting, the Ritzville City Council approved a resolution to adopt the Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2019-2024. During the public hearing, Council Member Scott Yaeger noted six of the seven priority projects in the proposed plan were listed in the 2018-2023 document the Council adopted in 2017. Yaeger said the only new project in the plan was Priority No. 2, which is a reconstruction of a portion of Weber Road and Galbreath Way, from Jackson Street to Fairway Avenue. In other action...
The City of Ritzville is preparing to submit seven projects to the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) for grant funding. The Ritzville City Council voted to authorize Mayor Gary Cook to sign the TIB Preliminary Project Funding application at the July 17 meeting. Council Member Scott Yaeger presented the projects proposed for the application. He noted TIB will provide a 95 percent funding for the projects and the City will pay 5 percent match. Yaeger explained the first two projects on the application are...
The Adams County Fair scheduled for Sept. 12-15 will be officially going under a new name, the Othello Fair with the theme of “Cowboy Boots and Family Roots.” The Othello Fair Association, formerly the Adams County Fair Association, officially changed the name to the Othello Fair on May 30. The event’s name change was a result of a finding from the Washington State Auditor’s Office. The Auditor’s Office informed Adams County and the fair association that an agreement between the two parties was not in accordance with Wash...
Robb Freed spent the day and evening at the Best Western Bronco Inn in Ritzville on July 19. The next day, he left on his bike, Rowan, and began the ride to Spokane. The City of Ritzville served as one of Freed’s stops for his cross country bike ride, which he refers to as, “The Big Ride for EB.” Freed, who is from Glens Falls, New York, is riding across the United States to raise awareness for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). The disease is a rare disorder that causes the skin to...
The Adams County Public Works Department is currently creating a maintenance worker apprenticeship program. Public Works Director Todd O’Brien said the department has been working on creating the program since the beginning of the year. He noted the Adams County Commissioners approved the proposal in January. He later drafted a memorandum of understanding with the employee’s union for the program. He stated the program will help with recruiting and retaining employees within Public Works. O’Brien explained there are depar...
The Lind Town Council is a step closer to selecting an engineering firm for consultation services. During the July 10 Town Council meeting, Mayor Paula Bell said the applicants for the engineering consultants were narrowed down to three businesses: Century West Engineering, TD&H Engineering and Keller Associates. Both Century West and TD&H are located in Spokane, while Keller Associates has offices throughout the Inland Northwest. At the May 22 meeting, the Council authorized staff to begin the advertising process of hiring a...
The East Adams Library District hosted an author reading with Tri-Cities author Al Haggerty on July 16 at the Ritzville Public Library. During the event, Haggerty read the prologue and first chapter of his novel “The Failover File.” Haggerty explained he had never read his writing outloud to an audience before he came to Ritzville. “The Failover File” is Haggerty’s first novel. He described the book as a mystery starring the character Mike O’ Hara, an ex-Navy officer, ex...
People traveling through the Town of Washtucna and want a place to rest for the night or spend the weekend can reserve a room at the Palouse Falls Inn Bed and Breakfast. Palouse Falls Inn, located off Main Street on 210 SW Cooper Street, has been in operation for the last year and has seen its fair share of guests. The bed-and-breakfast is a craftsman, two-story home built in 1905 and located 17 miles from Palouse Falls. Guests who stay at the B&B will have the opportunity to...
The Adams County Board of Commissioners approved a proposal from Garland/Design-Build Solutions Inc. and Paint Crafters Plus Inc. for roofing material purposes and services for the Adams County Sheriff’s substation at the July 9 meeting. The price of the contract is $14,876, including sales tax. Public Works Director Todd O’Brien said he looked into Paint Crafters Plus, and was satisfied with the company’s references. He noted the business has completed projects for government agencies and businesses, including Fairc...
During the July 3 meeting, the Ritzville City Council voted 4-0 to authorize Mayor Gary Cook to sign an agreement with the Washington State Department of Commerce (Commerce) for grant assistance regarding the City’s Comprehensive Plan update. Under the agreement, Commerce will provide the City with a $2,500 grant to cover the cost for reviewing and updating the Comprehensive Plan, with regulations to protect critical areas and meet mandated requirements of the Growth Management Act. Clerk-Treasurer Julie Flyckt explained t...
Grand Marshals Kim and Judy Schafer smiled and waved to fellow Washtucna residents as they rode in a convertible down Main Street during the Washtucna Fourth of July Parade. After the parade, the Schafers went to Bassett Park where several of their friends complimented them on their debuts as grand marshals. Both Judy and Kim said they were honored to be selected as grand marshals for this year’s parade. Kim was born and raised in Washtucna. He farmed on his father’s land and...