Articles written by Roger Harnack
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Franklin County commissioner chastises rural residents for moving ahead with rodeo
PASCO — Franklin County Commissioner Brad Peck admonished rural residents Wednesday for moving forward with plans for a rodeo, parade, dance and fireworks July 3 and 4 despite the coronavirus scare. “I think it’s the wrong... — Updated 7/2/2020
Kahotus woman injured in crash
PASCO — A Kahlotus woman was injured in a two-vehicle crash in a construction zone along U.S. Highway 395 on Tuesday afternoon. Molly A. Robitaille, 42, was transported to a... — Updated 7/2/2020
Order: Face masks required statewide beginning Friday
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that residents statewide will be required to wear a face mask effective Friday in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. “This is something we can get use to,” Inslee... — Updated 6/30/2020
Basin City bucks state's reopening denial
BASIN CITY -- Local cowboys are buckin' the state's rejection of reopening Franklin County as the Fourth of July approaches. Despite the state's rejection of Phase 2 reopening in the wake of the coronavirus, residents are planning... — Updated 6/23/2020
Two injured in crash
OTHELLO — A local man was airlifted to a medical center and a local woman taken to an area hospital following a crash Saturday afternoon. Felix Rodriguez Martinez, 74, was... — Updated 6/23/2020
Woman hospitalized after ATV crash
By Roger Harnack Ritzville Journal KAHLOTUS — A Dixie woman was injured Saturday in an all-terrain vehicle crash at night on state Highway 261. Jacqueline A. Duvall, 48, was... — Updated 6/23/2020
Ritzville truck driver killed in crash
PATERSON — A Ritzville truck driver was killed in a crash on state Highway 221 one mile north of town on Tuesday, June 2. Thomas J. Pattock, 64, of Ritzville, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at Milepost 1.... — Updated 6/10/2020
Preliminary decisions in quarantine lawsuits may be on horizon
WENATCHEE — Supporters and opponents of Gov. Jay Inslee’s quarantine measures will have to wait a little longer to see if the shutdowns will remain intact. Of the at least seven lawsuits seeking to end Inslee’s orders, two... — Updated 5/28/2020
Get involved in schools, now
Due to the coronavirus, there are a lot of questions on what school will look like next fall. On social media, a number of memes suggest public schools will be very different. They... — Updated 5/28/2020
Still more lawsuits filed against Gov. Inslee
WENATCHEE — Two more lawsuits have been filed against Gov. Jay Inslee in an effort to upend his stay-home quarantine orders. Several business and community leaders on Friday filed simultaneous lawsuits in Chelan and Douglas... — Updated 5/27/2020
Testing and tracing isn't voluntary
Voluntary must have a different meaning inside state government offices. Last Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee and other participants in his coronavirus press conference said participation... — Updated 5/21/2020
Tattletales reporting 'non-essentials'
I took a look at the state Department of Health non-essential business complaint list over the weekend. I didn’t really expect to see much. And I would’ve been correct if I had... — Updated 5/18/2020
State will be tracing infected residents' movements, personal interactions
OLYMPIA — If you test positive for conoravirus, be prepared to be quarantined at home. That’s the message Gov. Jay Inslee shared during a Tuesday afternoon press conference on his plan for “contact tracing” of the virus.... — Updated 5/12/2020
Despite shutdown order, Airway Heights tavern to reopen Wednesday
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The owners of a local tavern plan to be open from 2 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday despite the coronavirus quarantine. Village Tavern co-owner Jean Moore hopes other bars and restaurants will join her in opening in def... — Updated 5/12/2020
Two more lawsuits filed against Gov. Inslee
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee is now facing four lawsuits over his “unconstitutional” overreach in using the coronavirus pandemic as a reason to quarantine healthy... — Updated 5/6/2020
Truck overturns on off-ramp
HATTON -- A tractor trailer overturned Wednesday, April 29, on the northbound off-ramp of U.S. Highway 395. The Washington State Patrol said the driver was injured and transported... — Updated 5/4/2020
'Non-essential' residents sue Gov. Inslee
PASCO – Franklin County cherry orchardist and pilot Dave MacHugh was landing his private airplane at Tri-Cities Airport after a four-hour trip to Tacoma and back Friday... — Updated 5/4/2020
Palouse Falls, Potholes among places to reopen
KAHLOTUS - Washington State Parks has released a list of the parks that will be opening May 5 for outdoor recreation, provided visitors keep their distance. In Eastern Washington,... — Updated 5/2/2020
Outdoor recreation to reopen May 5
OLYMPIA — Following two weeks of growing protests over the state's ban on fishing, Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday, April 27, announced that outdoor recreation is allowed to resume May... — Updated 5/2/2020
Dusty named appropriately
DUSTY — A duststorm caused near-zero visibility and led to at least three crashes in the area Monday, April 27. According to the Washington State Patrol, three people were cited... — Updated 4/29/2020
Under increasing pressure, Gov. Inslee allows low-risk construction to resume
OLYMPIA – Under increasing pressure from counties, Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday said he would allow low-risk construction to resume immediately. The caveats — each contractor must have personal protective gear for employees,... — Updated 4/25/2020
After receiving letter, two commissioners back down on quarantine rejection
PASCO - After receiving a letter from Governor's Office General Counsel Kathryn Leathers, two Franklin County commissioners have backed down from their previous declaration that... — Updated 4/25/2020
Schoesler says he won't extend some quarantine orders
RITZVILLE - The state Senate majority leader said Wednesday, April 23, that he will refuse to extend quarantine rules on "low-hanging fruit." Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said... — Updated 4/24/2020
Business leaders, others protest quarantine
SPOKANE -- More than 300 people turned out shortly after lunch Wednesday, April 22, to tell Gov. Inslee to reopen the state now. As the crowd grew at the corner of North Lincoln... — Updated 4/23/2020
Church, business quarantine won't be enforced in Franklin County
KAHLOTUS - Businesses and churches could start returning to more-normal operations this week following an announcement April 20 that the Franklin County Sheriff's Office will not be enforcing Gov. Jay Inslee's "stay home"... — Updated 4/23/2020
