Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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The bowling alley at 119 East Main Avenue in Ritzville has undergone several changes in the last six months. Todd Young reopened the business in January as Big Bend Bowl Family Center. Young said running the business has gone well for him so far. Originally from North Carolina, Young traveled to Ritzville to visit his fiance’s family. During the visit, he said he fell in love with the city. When Young learned the bowling alley was for sale, he quickly bought the business. Y...
During the June 26 meeting, the Lind Town Council voted 4-0 to proceed with an income survey with Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) and the Washington State Department of Health Drinking Water Eastern Regional Office. Prior to the Council vote, RCAC Consultant Dan Bannier provided a presentation on the income survey process. Bannier explained an income survey is used to evaluate funding assistance opportunities for municipalities. Lind is conducting an income survey to be eligible for grants to help fund a... Full story
The City of Ritzville recently presented a draft of the Six Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2019 through 2024 at the June 19 Ritzville City Council meeting. The 2019-2024 TIP includes seven priority road improvement projects. The first priority is the third phase of the First Avenue project. The work includes a deep patch and overlay of a portion of First Avenue, from Division Street to Palouse Street. The estimated cost for the project is $253,000. The second priority project is a reconstruction of road and...
Peter Davenport has investigated UFO cases for over 50 years. He shared his knowledge and research with residents during a presentation at the Ritzville Public Library on June 30. Davenport is the Director of the National UFO Reporting Center, located in Harrington. Established in 1974 by former firefighter Robert Gribble, the organization operates a hotline where people can report UFO sightings and alien activity in their area. Gribble appointed Davenport as the organization...
At the June 13 meeting, the Ritzville Planning Commission voted to forward a recommendation to City Council regarding storage containers on residential properties. Commission Chairman Stephen McFadden provided three options to the Commission to implement in the city’s municipal code, “Chapter 11.95 Accessory Structures.” The Commission approved an amendment allowing the use of cargo containers as temporary storage for equipment and materials. The container must be on a construction site and authorized by a city build...
During the June 19 meeting, the Ritzville City Council authorized Mayor Gary Cook to sign a contract between the City and Evergreen Rural Water of Washington (ERWoW) for income survey services for $6,927.89. Clerk-Treasurer Julie Flyckt explained the City could be eligible for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding depending on the results from the income survey. She added CDBG grant funding would go toward funding utility system improvements, such as Well No. 8. Flyckt said the City cannot apply for a CDBG grant...
People who are seeking items like new quilt patterns and fabric, and scrapbooking materials can visit to Ritzville Yellow House Fabrics and Crafts on East 201 Main Avenue. Ritzville Yellow House Fabrics and Crafts opened its doors during a soft opening on June 21. Owner Karen Cady said the business will be a place where people can purchase materials for sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet. Customers will also be able to buy items for scrapbooking, beading and other craft...
During the June 12 meeting, the Lind Town Council authorized staff to submit an application to join Avista Utilities’ Solar Select Program. Through the Solar Select program, Avista will provide renewable solar energy to large commercial and industrial electronic customers in Washington state. The energy will be generated from the Adams-Neilson Solar Farm, which is scheduled to be completed in December. Mayor Paula Bell presented the application to Council at the May 29 meeting. She said Avista invited Lind to participate in t... Full story
Washington State University Spokane County Master Gardener Kathleen Callum came to the Ritzville Public Library on June 11 for a “Food Not Lawns?” presentation. During the presentation, Callum provided tips to attendees on ways to convert their lawns into food gardens. Callum said she is an archaeologist who specializes in agriculture. In addition to being a WSU Spokane County Master Gardner, she is the Spokane County Master Composter-Recycler and the Inland Northwest Com...
During the June 5 meeting, the Ritzville City Council voted 5-1 to approve a Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) consultant agreement with Varela and Associates for a upcoming road improvement project. Council Member Mark Weigand, who was the dissenting vote, said he felt the $54,060 cost was too high for design work. Council Member Michelle Plumb clarified the TIB funding will cover 95 percent of the agreement cost, and the City will only have to pay the 5 percent match. In the agreement, Varela will...
Travelers on Interstate 90 past Tokio Road will notice markers “under new management,” near Templin’s Country Corner. Businessman Avtar Brar recently purchased Templin’s Country Corner from previous owners Gary and Venette Templin. Brar said he has been in the convenience store business since 2014, and spent 10 years in the restaurant industry. He noted this is an opportunity to operate a business with elements of both a store and a restaurant, as well as a gas station... Full story
Lind residents and visitors who line the Town’s streets to watch the Grand Parade on June 9 may notice familiar faces leading the floats. Jamie and Greg Schmunk were selected as the Grand Marshals for the 2018 Grand Parade. Both Jamie and Greg said they felt honored at having the opportunity to serve as grand marshals for the parade. Greg grew up in Warden on his family farm, then moved his family to Lind in 1993. He worked for the Warden School District for 26 years, s...
Lind-Ritzville High School student Maiah Hilton was selected as the Washington state winner for the Collaborative Summer Library Program’s (CSLP) 2018 Teen Video Challenge. The CSLP selected Hilton’s video “Libraries Rock,” during the national conference in April. Her video was posted on the CSLP’s website, along with the other state winners. According to the contest’s website, other community libraries may use Hilton’s video to promote summer reading programs in their area... Full story
During the May 22 meeting, the Lind Town Council authorized staff to begin the advertising process for hiring an engineering consultant. The selected engineering firm would help the Town in drafting an application for a stormwater improvement project. Mayor Paula Bell said before crews can begin the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) street improvement project for Sixth Street, the stormwater improvements need to be installed. She added the Town still has the FEMA grant funding. At the May 8 meeting, the Council...
The Ritzville City Park once again played host to an assortment of artists for the annual Art in the Park from May 25-27. During the three-day event, sponsored by Boots N’ Brushes Western Artists Association, residents and visitors had the opportunity to view and purchase a variety of artwork. Western Artists Association Chairman Jim Lisk said this year’s event featured artwork in a variety of mediums, ranging from metal sculptures and paintings to handmade jewelry and tie...
Officials from Avista Utilities, Strata Solar and elected officials came to the Town of Lind for the groundbreaking ceremony on May 24 for the Adams-Neilson Solar Farm. The groundbreaking officially began the construction phase for the project, which is located on the north side of Lind. The solar farm is the largest construction project for Adams County in the last 20 years. Completion of the project is scheduled for November, with the facility coming online in December to... Full story
The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos concluded their season at the 2B State Softball Tournament on May 25 in Yakima. After a day of practice, the Lady Broncos opened up the State Tournament on Friday morning with a 12-2 loss to No. 1 seed Kittitas. Head Coach Todd O’Brien acknowledged Kittitas as a good ball club and knew LRS would be facing a tough challenge against the Lady Coyotes. After a scoreless first inning, Kittitias scored eight runs on seven hits in the second. The Lady Broncos scored one run in both the fourth a... Full story
During the May 15 Ritzville City Council meeting, the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce President Karen Cady and Cory Bartlett of Gigamedics provided an update on the Chamber’s new website. Bartlett explained viewers can access the website at both visitritzville.com and ritzvillechamber. Upon entering the website, viewers can watch the three-minute Ritzville Harvest the Legacy video. After the user closes the video, they will land on the homepage, which includes a carousel of photos and a link to the poster for the C...
The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Lady Broncos fastpitch softball team accomplished their goal of qualifying for the 2B State Tournament, scheduled for May 25-26 in Yakima. The Lady Broncos earned the program’s first State Tournament berth since 2007 on May 15, after they went 2-1 in the second round of the Northeast 2B League District Tournament. LRS began the day with an 8-7 win against Davenport in a loser-out game. The Lady Gorillas began the contest with a strong lead, s...
People who walked past the Adams County Superior Courtroom on May 16 and noticed the trial happening might have thought it was a civil case. At a second glance they would realized the courtroom personnel and jury were all children. The case was actually a mock trial staged by elementary school students. Students residing in eastern Adams County were invited to the courthouse for Law Day. The trial was one of the activities the children participated in during the event....
A recent study from the Boyd Company once again ranked Ritzville as one of the top cities in the nation for distribution warehousing. The analysis also ranked Othello as the top city for food processing plants. This is not the first time Ritzville was ranked near the top in a study for distribution warehousing. In 2015, Adams County Development Council (ACDC), in partnership with the county and municipalities, hired the Boyd Company to conduct a similar survey. The survey showed Ritzville as the second-most cost effective...
During the May 1 meeting, the Ritzville City Council unanimously approved a proposal from Arnett Muldrow and Associates to develop a wayfinding master plan for the City. Arnett Muldrow came in as the low bidder for the project at $13,500 with travel expenses, not exceeding $3,800. The cost of the project will be paid through 110 funds, which were already budgeted and allocated to the City. The City had previously collaborated with Arnett Muldrow for the Ritzville branding. The company has also completed wayfinding plans in...
The Town of Lind’s Storm Water Project is done for the time being. During the meeting, Stantec Engineer Alan Gay notified the Council the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) would not grant the Town’s request for a deadline extension for the Storm Water project. At the March 13 meeting, the Council authorized Gay to draft a letter to Ecology requesting the deadline extension for the project from the June 30 deadline for next year. Gay said Stantec would have to draft a report, send it to Ecology and respond to...
After a hard fought battle in the District Tournament, the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Lady Broncos softball team has qualified for the 2B State Tournament in Yakima on May 25-26. The Lady Broncos opened the Northeast 2B League District Tournament on May 8 with a 7-2 loss to Northwest Christian. After the Lady Broncos opened the game with a one-run lead, NWC responded with three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the lead. The Lady Crusaders added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings, while LRS would score...
During the May 1 meeting, the Ritzville City Council adopted the Adams County Solid Waste and Moderate Risk Management Plan. Mayor Gary Cook explained the Adams County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) prepared and updated the plan for 2018. He noted the document is available for the Council to review. Prior to approval, Council Member Scott Yaeger said if the City did not adopt the plan, they would have to draft one specifically for Ritzville. He noted the county’s plan includes a recycling element as the county c...