The Ritzville Adams County Journal - Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee this afternoon extended his coronavirus-related eviction moratorium through Oct. 31. Calling the moratorium a “bridge,” Inslee said his action will allow municipalities to put in place financial... — Updated 9/23/2021

CONNELL – A local man has initiated a lawsuit against Gov. Jay Inslee and state Department of Corrections Secretary Cheryl Strange over the Wuhan coronavirus vaccination mandate. Jeffrey Johnson, a corrections officer at Coyote... — Updated 9/21/2021

CONNELL – Connell Auto Licensing is closing its door permanently today, Sept. 9. “I took another job,” owner Tearsa Cope said of closing the 133 N. Columbia Ave. office. Cope has owned the business since 2013, providing... — Updated 9/16/2021

Maisie Witt of Ritzville competes in peewee barrel racing during Franklin County Fair and Open Rodeo opening activities Thursday night, Aug. 26, as her mother runs alongside. Witt also competed in mutton bustin’ during the... — Updated 9/2/2021

LIND — A local woman is demanding the town return more than $5,350 she paid to connect to municipal water and sewer services after town officials failed to provide an ordinance and fee schedule. Resident Briana Osborn said the to... — Updated 9/2/2021

LIND – A Renton businessman is in the final stages of purchasing the dilapidated DeVore Motel for development as a residential halfway house for inmates who have served their time. “I prefer calling it a discipleship training... — Updated 8/24/2021

SPANGLE — Two Northeast 2B league football teams are among the Top 10 being ranked in the state as the season prepares to kickoff. According to ScorebookLive.com’s rankings, The Northeast 2B-North powerhouse Jenkins Cougars... — Updated 8/17/2021

OTHELLO — Three people were hospitalized late Tuesday evening, Aug. 10, following a two-vehicle crash on state Highway 26. Jonathan Garcia Gamino, 21, of Othello, Heidi L. Kesler, 37, of Elma, and a 17-year-old Elma girl whose... — Updated 8/17/2021

RITZVILLE — One person was killed in a one-vehicle crash that blocked westbound lanes of Interstate 90 on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 15. Stacy K. Pickering, 34, of Moses Lake, was pronounced dead at the scene, the Washington State... — Updated 8/17/2021

Parents of public school students in the 9th Legislative district have had enough of coronavirus-related mandates from Olympia. Shutter schools, curtail sports, wear masks, limit field trips and restrict access to graduation. Those... — Updated 8/12/2021

SPRAGUE – A Montana traveler was killed in a Friday afternoon crash about two miles east of the city along Interstate 90. Kenneth H. Tooley, 69, of Libby, Mont., died after his 2001 Ford F150 pickup went over an embankment about... — Updated 8/12/2021

SEATTLE – State workers who fail to get inoculated against the Wuhan coronavirus virus may be fired under an order from Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday, Aug. 9. During a press conference, Inslee said he is now requiring most state... — Updated 8/12/2021

RITZVILLE – City residents and business leaders should be receiving a survey this week seeking input on a variety of services, amenities and ordinances. One question new to the annual survey this year is about fireworks. City... — Updated 8/12/2021

OTHELLO – Three local residents were killed in crashes in Grant County late last week. Deena Romero Ramos, 19, was killed in a crash early Saturday morning on Road 9-Northeast near Moses Lake, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office... — Updated 8/12/2021

Let me start by saying The Ritzville Adams County Journal is here to stay. I say that after several people asked me last week if we were closing. Some of those questions were prompted by our editor’s decision to take another job... — Updated 8/5/2021

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday, July 28, ordered all public school districts in the state to require students and employees to wear masks on school grounds when classes resume in the fall. During a press conference,... — Updated 8/5/2021

RITZVILLE – The previous hiring of contact-tracers due to the coronavirus may cost Adams County taxpayers more than just wages. During the Adams County Commission meeting Monday morning, Aug. 2, county government leaders voiced c... — Updated 8/5/2021