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Articles from the August 20, 2015 edition


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  • Deadline approaching for flag football registration

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    Students who are going into the grades between kindergarten and sixth grade can now apply to participate on local flag football teams. The deadline for applications is Monday, Aug. 24. Registration forms are available at the Ritzville Grade School during business hours, or can be obtained by contacting Cami Galbreath at [email protected]....

  • Photo prize awarded at WLCF

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    To encourage more entries in the photography department at the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair, a $20 gift certificate to Uniquely Washington will be awarded to the winner of the Best of Show in that department. Nearly 100 entries were received last year and it is hoped to surpass that amount this year. There are divisions for both amateur and professional photographers. Photos must have been taken by the exhibitor and have not been entered in the fair before. A complete list of rules and entry information can be found in the W...

  • Air quality alert issued for Central, Eastern Washington: Wildfire smoke causing unhealthy air quality

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    Elevated concentrations of wildfire smoke is causing unhealthy air quality in Central and Eastern Washington. The Washington Department of Ecology and National Weather Service have issued an air quality alert, warning people of unhealthy air quality. The air quality values will range from being unhealthy for sensitive groups to hazardous for everyone over the next few days. Weather patterns are preventing the smoke from clearing out at least through Thursday. How to protect yourself The Washington Department of Health...

  • Ralston Grange help needed for WLCF concessions

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    The Ralston Grange food and bingo concession at the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair is in need of volunteers to work shifts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the fair. Volunteers do not need to be members of the Grange to help out or have any prior experience. The Grange has sponsored a bingo concession at the fair since the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair began and prior to that, for many years at the East Adams County Fair. Funds raised are used by the Grange to help support community projects and offer activities and eve...

  • Ice Cream Dollars program returns in time for WLCF

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    The Ice Cream Dollars program, sponsored by the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce, is back and just in time for the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair. It’s something people may utilize for their children, neighbors, friends, coworkers or employees. Ice Cream Dollars are gift certificates valid for one scoop of ice cream while supplies last and redeemable at the chamber’s ice cream booth during this year’s Wheat Land Communities’ Fair. The gift certificates can only be used at the chamber’s ice cream booth during regular bus...

  • Phyllis Ziemer celebrates 100th birthday

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    The community helped celebrate the 100th birthday of Ritzville native Phyllis Ziemer, who turned 100 on Aug. 11. Born Phyllis Schwisow in Ritzville, she has been a lifelong resident of Eastern Washington. Phyllis and her husband Richard married in 1935 and farmed locally until 1947 when they moved to Davenport. Phyllis is believed to be the oldest living alumni of Ritzville High School....

  • State agriculture commends Senators’ trade promotion authority support

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    Washington Agriculture groups are rallying the effort to show appreciation for Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell’s recent vote of support for the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). Michelle Hennings, WAWG Executive Director commented, “All of agriculture is heavily dependent upon trade and their ability to compete in a global market. “This is why so many Washington State agricultural groups have stepped up to say ‘thank you’ to Senators Murray and Cantwell for their courage and decision to support the Trade Pro...

  • Emergency preparedness meeting focuses on seniors

    Katelin Davidson|Updated Aug 20, 2015

    Darrell Dickerson from Aging and Adult Care of Central Washington presented to a large group of seniors about emergency preparedness on Aug. 12. Dickerson visited the H.E. Gritman Senior Center during the lunch hour to give attendees an idea of ways they could prepare for a potential emergency. Aging and Adult Care has sent representatives to discuss emergency preparedness in six counties. Dickerson said most people have the mentality that those situations will never happen to them and tend not to prepare for the worst....

  • Hospital construction project moves forward

    Katelin Davidson|Updated Aug 20, 2015

    The construction project at East Adams Rural Hospital is progressing, as the contractors work to finish the foundation work surrounding the basement addition. The project remains nearly two weeks behind schedule, due to unforeseen issues with groundwork. Contracting company Leone and Keeble needs to make progress before Apollo Solutions Group can install air handlers on the roof, Apollo’s Business Unit Manager Mike Fuentes said. The asbestos abatement work for the portion of the roof with the new air handlers was completed o...

  • Level 2 Sex Offender notification

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    The Adams County Sheriff’s Office issued a notice of a transient sex offender in the area of Ritzville. Dylan Douglas Bauman of Ritzville is described as a white male, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes. Bauman has convictions for Third Degree Rape, Second Degree Incest and most recently for Second Degree Theft. At the present time Bauman is not wanted by the police and this notice is to inform the public of his where he has been seen lately....

  • Ritzville School District prepares to place bond on February ballot

    Katelin Davidson|Updated Aug 20, 2015

    The Ritzville School District is in the process of preparing to place a replacement capital improvement bond on the Feb. 9, 2016, election ballot. The current bond expires in December 2016, after passing in 2002 to help with the remodeling project in Gilson Gymnasium. In preparation for the bond, Superintendent Rob Roettger assembled a Facilities Committee to help determine the most important aspects to focus on in the project. The committee consists of community leaders, school board members, school administrators and...

  • CRUNCHED

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    CRUNCHED. The driver of this Ford F350 did not have reportable injuries after the vehicle rear ended a truck transporting equipment. -Journal photo by Katelin Davidson...

  • DAMAGE

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    DAMAGE. This Honda CRV came to rest on the side of the freeway after colliding with the back end of a motorhome. After the collision, emergency crews continued to battle through the thick dust storm. -Journal photo by Katelin Davidson...

  • SQUISHED

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    SQUISHED. The passenger of this Toyota Echo was transported with neck pain after the vehicle became wedged between a truck and a motorhome during a dust storm on Aug. 14. -Journal photo by Katelin Davidson...

  • TEAMWORK

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    TEAMWORK. Phil Bowman directs the loading of the first patient to EMS Coordinator Roni Kinney and Dennis Sackmann, while Andy Lefevre assists. Emergency crews (right) tend to another collision victim on US 395 Friday afternoon. -Journal photo by Katelin Davidson...

  • DEMOLISHED

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    DEMOLISHED. A family of five sustained minor injuries in this Acura TSX after a dust storm created zero visibility on US 395, causing a multiple-vehicle collision. -Journal photo by Katelin Davidson...

  • STYLE

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    STYLE. Emmi Von Olnhausen displays Beatta Schwisow’s black and floral flock from the 1930s during the Style Show at the event. -Journal photo by Katelin Davidson...

  • History celebrated at Burroughs Home

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    A large crowd gathered on Aug. 15 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Ritzville’s historic Burroughs Home. Community members gathered together for an afternoon of celebrating history and participating in a day of fun activities with friends. Mayor Linda Kadlec welcomed the crowd, sharing the history of the home and thanking the Ritzville Museum Volunteers for their tireless efforts in returning the home to its full glory. While ice cream and root beer floats were served, a...

  • Dust causes multiple-vehicle collision and wild land fire, closes US 395

    Katelin Davidson|Updated Aug 20, 2015

    Strong winds on Friday afternoon carried thick dust over Adams County, producing zero visibility in some areas and causing two major emergencies on US 395. Emergency crews first toned out to a multiple-vehicle collision on Northbound 395, 10 miles south of Ritzville, at 1:15 p.m on Aug. 14. Within an hour, another collision occurred 14 miles south of the scene, resulting in a fire. Ritzville Fire Department, Lind Fire Department and Ritzville EMTs responded immediately to the...

  • Advanced Placement Biology to implement online curriculum this Fall

    Emma Aldrich, LRHS Student Correspondent|Updated Aug 20, 2015

    In order to keep up to date with the new questions being posed to upcoming generations of scientists, LRHS Advanced Placement (AP) Biology class will be using an online curriculum starting this fall. The goal of online curriculum, designed by McGraw-Hill, is to make learning as efficient as possible to better prepare students for the AP exam (worth college credit) that faces them at the end of the year. The school district’s subscription to the curriculum can be renewed annually as the material within it is updated to accommo...

  • Getting there first

    Dale Anderson|Updated Aug 20, 2015

    It’s funny when you talk about great athletes when they have a bad game there always seems to be a reason. We can blame it on the game itself at times. When Felix throws a clunker like he did Friday night we use the suggestion, “Hey, that’s baseball.” Or if Russell Wilson throws a couple of picks we might say, “The line didn’t give him enough time to throw or the receivers didn’t get open.” It’s easy to find excuses for those athletes we admire. But there are a group of pe...

  • Local heroes deserve thanks

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    What a great country we have, when volunteer Firemen and others, put in time together to control a strong wind driven fire. This is what happened last Friday as an accident on 395 started a fire that had the potential of moving to my farmstead. Firefighters came from Lind, Ritzville, Othello, Connell, Warden and Washtucna. Ryan Kuch worked for hours with a tractor and disc. Thanks to all of you Heroes! Earl M. Franz, Lind...

  • Ritzville is excellent for family activities

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    On the weekend of August 7-8, the Jaeger Family had a reunion. Since some of the family had grown up in Ritzville, we thought it would be the perfect place to meet. What a wonderful town to have such an event. We utilized many of the town’s amenities. We all stayed at the Bronco Inn. We were given a great family room rate, complimentary breakfast, great accommodations and outstanding service. We rented the swimming pool for a private family time on Saturday morning. What an amazing facility and it was all ours for two hours....

  • Who’s watching the regulators? Self-government requires more accountability

    Updated Aug 20, 2015

    Our Founding Fathers possessed the wisdom and foresight to create a constitutional republic that limited the power of the federal government through the principle of the separation of powers and by holding lawmakers accountable to the consent of the governed. They would likely be shocked and alarmed by the massive burden of regulations imposed by today’s unelected federal bureaucracies. Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution clearly gives Congress the responsibility for all legislation: “All legislative Powers herein gra...

  • Morton represented his people unconditionally

    Don C. Brunell, Business Commentator|Updated Aug 20, 2015

    Imagine rolling into Olympia in your travel trailer each year for the start of the legislative session knowing your district has the highest unemployment in the state and the lowest average annual wage. Folks in your sprawling rural 7th District earn between $15,000 and $20,000 less than the state average wage. Stevens, Pend Orielle, Ferry and Okanogan counties are rich in minerals and have abundant forests and natural public grazing lands, but over the years mining, logging and lumber mill jobs dried up, in large part due...

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