Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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You might say I’ve scanned the Ritzville Adams County Journal (editions dated March 18 and 25, 2020) including the Coronavirus supplement that is part of every newspaper in the Free Press enterprise. It is of no surprise that the term “coronavirus or COVID-19” appears at least 39 times. I noted that Journal Editor Katie Teachout and Davenport Times interim editor Burnham in columns for which a byline was given, used the term a combined five times while not using its colloquial name. My objection is to Mr. Harnack’s colloqu...
RITZVILLE - Senate Minority Leader Mark Schoesler doesn't agree with extending the statewide quarantine until May 4 due to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Responding to Bainbridge Island Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee's order last night to extend his "stay home" order until May 4, Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said there has to be some flexibility for the state's rural and other areas. "We're not out of the woods, yet," Gov. Inslee said. "This order is not only necessary, it's morally...
RITZVILLE - Despite the state shutting down recreation venues, golf courses remain open here and in Harrington. The Ritzville Municipal Golf Course, 104 E. 10th Ave., is open, weather permitting. "The clubhouse is closed and we're just relying on the honor system for payment, as there won't be any face-to-face interactions," manager Dan Duff said. "If people aren't complying with the 6-foot social distancing, we will have to shut it down." Some area residents are taking...
RITZVILLE – Harvest Foods received a shipment of products Friday morning, March 27, including toilet paper. "We've sold lots of it this morning," checker Angel Slader saud. "Last Tuesday, we got a shipment in and it was gone by Wednesday. But it lasted longer than the previous week." With the coronavirus pandemic, toilet paper has been a hot commodity statewide, with most stores still sporting empty shelves. Local Harvest Foods owner Kim Cousins said Tuesday's shipment lasted...
RITZVILLE - Area seamstresses have been sewing fast and furiously to get cloth masks donated to area hospitals, medical facilities, senior centers and other organizations. Their work has also been provided to the Adams County Sheriff's Office, gas stations, U.S. Postal Service and grocery stores for use during the coronavirus pandemic. Dorcey Hunt, an East Adams Rural Healthcare physical therapist, said she saw a Facebook post by Odessa's Kelsey Scrupps asking for help...
RITZVILLE — City parks around town have been closed, with police tape encircling them, to help stop the spread of the COVID -19 virus. Normally, the Parks and Recreation department would not be able to close city parks without a vote from city council members. These are not normal times. "Right now we're operating under emergency procedures. The resolution we passed gave the mayor the authorization to shut down parks," said City Clerk-Treasurer Julie Flyckt. Resolution # 2020-05, Ratifying Proclamation of Emergency and P...
RITZVILLE — Health officials here are reporting a total of 20 coronavirus countywide, an increase of 15 in less than a week. An April 1 report shows 16 cases in the Othello area, and two each in Lind and Ritzville. Community Health Director Karen Potts, RN said Wednesday that seven of the Othello cases can be traced to a single family. Three of the remaining four cases are connected to a family with members in both Lind and Ritzville, she said. The county has tested 121 potential cases, with 80 already returned as n...
RITZVILLE — Pete Collard and his family came home to a much-needed gift March 10. Collard was returning from a stay in rehabilitative nursing home in Moses Lake after a stroke landed him in Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane at the end of December. The homecoming would have been difficult, were it not for the newly-constructed wheelchair ramp leading up to his front door. "I went in and saw Ryo (Olson) working at the post office, and he said he heard about the difficulties we w...
RITZVILLE — City parks around town have been closed, with police tape encircling them, to help stop the spread of the COVID -19 virus. Normally, the Parks and Recreation department would not be able to close city parks without a vote from city council members. These are not normal times. "Right now we're operating under emergency procedures. The resolution we passed gave the mayor the authorization to shut down parks," said City Clerk-Treasurer Julie Flyckt. Resolution # 2020-05, Ratifying Proclamation of Emergency and P...
Gov. Jay Inslee will hold a news conference Thursday, April 2, at 5 p.m. via streaming video and telephone to provide an update on the state's COVID-19 response. The news conference will be televised live on TVW, and many commercial stations around the state. The governor will be joined by Dr. John Wiesman, secretary of health, Dr. Kathy Lofy, state health officer and Vice Admiral Dr. Raquel Bono, director for COVID-19 Health System Response Management. The governor's two-week order for people to stay in their home except...
OTHELLO – Two new Adams County cases of coronavirus were confirmed Friday, March 27, bringing the total to five. All five cases are in Othello, and all patients are between the ages of 50-70, Adams County Health Department Community Health Director Karen Potts said. The two new cases are not linked to the previous three cases. “This is a sign of an ongoing community spread in the Othello area,” Potts said. “The first patient is no longer requiring isolation and is recovering at home. Of the remaining four individ...
LIND — Nearly $42 million worth of construction costs in building permits were issued for Adams County between Feb. 1 and March 25. The bulk of the permits were issued March 24-25 for work contracted by Blattner Energy Inc. for the Rattlesnake Flat Wind Project. Permits include construction of 23 wind turbines valued at $1,645,467each, for a total of $37,845,730. Fourteen of the wind turbines will be located at 350 S. Marcellus Road, another one at 47 N. Seivers Road, two along East Providence Road, three at 76 S. Dewald R...
As I wrote the title to this column, I realized that I am actually sitting in the best seat in my house. Yes, a very comfortable Lazy Boy for me, with a laptop at hand. Always remember the good times. I know things have changed drastically for us in the past month. We all know that, but some of big-city people should understand how we handle things out here. It could be important to incorporate a new motto for our area. Something like, "Adams County, social distancing since...
What a roller coaster week it’s already been and it’s only Wednesday. We know that many in our community rely on the library for entertainment, printing for their small businesses, and more. And while we had hoped to start offering at least limited services this week, we will be following Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order to help do our part to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. As a result, our library system halted remaining operations Wednesday, March 25. Unfortunately, that means we haved stopped provi...
1 years ago The Ritzville Journal-Times March 25, 1920 Session of Legislature ratifying 19th Amendment ends The state legislature convened Monday noon in special session in response to the call of Governor Hart. The first measure to be passed was the resolution introduced by Mrs. Haskell, of Pierce County, ratifying the 19th amendment to the federal constitution, which extends the right of suffrage to women. Only one more state is required to complete the ratification and...
Larry Swift 66, of Ritzville, passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his family on Friday, March 20, 2020, after a new and aggressive battle with cancer. A celebration of life will be at a later date once it is safe for family and friends to travel and gather. Larry was born Jan. 17, 1954, in Ritzville, Wash., where he lived and worked nearly all of his 66 years. His contributions to the lives of many include the years he worked as Ritzville public works, his...
RITZVILLE — Lind-Ritzville School Board members recognized high school Principal Kevin Terris, middle school Principal Darrell Lembcke and elementary school Principal Cindy Deska as recipients of the Above and Beyond award at the March 23 board meeting. “We wanted to acknowledge our three principals for all their outstanding work they’ve been doing in this closure,” Superintendent Don Vanderholm said. “They’ve really done some amazing things.” Vanderholm said most of the discussion in the meeting, conducted as a telephone c...
OTHELLO — Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a local man in connection with a shooting. Cesar Garza, 49, was arrested for allegedly shooting a pedestrian in the foot Friday, March 27. Garza was booked into Adams County jail for second-degree assault. Also booked were Jaspe Janna Rodriguez, 34, and Alejandro H. Ramos, 24, for suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies executed a search warrant in the 2200 block of Seiloff Road, in the Edson Tracks area, after an adu...
Given the ongoing shutdown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, like nearly all local businesses, we had to make some difficult decisions last week. Among those was the decision to reduce the number print pages. At the same time, we decided to continue to provide the same amount of content. So in balancing our lack of print “real estate” with increasing news and feature coverage, we’ve opted to put more on our webpage, www.ritzvillejournal.com. For our subscribers, acces...
Some years back, in the biggest town in a small county outside our 9th District, there was a clothing store. Upstairs was the office of the area’s weekly newspaper. Week after week, year after year, the clothing store published the same advertisement in the newspaper, displaying its name, address and a drawing of a coat rack, to signal what people could buy there. No brand names, no sale prices, nothing else. The message this ad sent was clear and reassuring: “We’re still...
RITZVILLE – A local man was sentenced Monday, March 23, to a $500 fine following his conviction for third-degree possession of stolen property. Stuart Lee McKenney, 30, appeared before Adams County Superior Court Judge Steven B. Dixon for a change of plea and sentencing related to a Nov. 6 charge of possession of a stolen motor vehicle. According to court documents, McKenney knew the car, valued at less than $750, was stolen. He was initially charged with third-degree possession of a stolen vehicle, a gross misdemeanor p...
Adams County Sheriff Week of March 13-March 19, 2020 March 13 • Abandoned vehicle, 100 block West Fifth Street, Lind. Attempts to contact the registered owner were made with negative results. • Interfere with police, 200 block East Fourth Street, Lind.Joy Yogini was arrested and booked into jail for first-degree rendering criminal assistance. March 14 • Traffic hazard on East Rosenoff Road, Ritzville. Multiple vehicles were stuck in snow drifts. • Agency assist, North U.S. Highway 395 near Milepost 86, Ritzville. Overtur...
BOISE — The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting a magnitude 6.5 earthquake and five aftershocks shaking Central Idaho starting about 5:53 p.m. today, Tuesday, March 31. The main quake struck about 43 miles west of Challis, in the Shake Creek area, the USGS reported. The agency received calls that the earthquake was felt as far away as Spokane, Wash. It’s epicenter was at a depth of 6 miles, the USGS reported. Aftershocks followed of magnitudes: 3.6 in the Bench Creek area, 42 miles east-southeast of Cascade 4.6 in the Swa...