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Articles from the December 14, 2017 edition


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  • Fundraiser for Zoey Fannin

    Updated Dec 14, 2017

    The Ritzville Foursquare Church is coordinating a Chili Feed fundraiser for Zoey Fannin on Dec. 15 in hopes of raising money to purchase a wheelchair accessible van for the Fannin family. The fundraiser begins at 4 p.m. in the Ritzville Grade School cafeteria, and is provided by donation only. The meal will include chili, cornbread, water and coffee. It is being held in coordination with the home basketball game against Liberty, and fans are encouraged to stop in for a warm meal and contribute to the worthy cause. For those...

  • Holiday activities continue

    Updated Dec 14, 2017

    On Dec. 16, local gingerbread house artisans can bring their completed works to the H.E. Gritman Senior Center for the chance to win a Gingerbread House Competition. The completed gingerbread houses must be brought to the Senior Center between 4-4:30 p.m. for the chance to win a prize. During the event, locals can participate in caroling and a fire pit on the plaza, as well as a hayride. The activities run from 4-5:30 p.m. and will be coordinated with Mayor Gary Cook....

  • Holiday Extravaganza

    Updated Dec 14, 2017

    The Washtucna FBLA Chapter is hosting a Holiday Extravaganza on Dec. 20 at the Washtucna School. The event begins with a potato bake dinner with assorted toppings and beverages from 5-7 p.m. The meal costs $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and children between the ages of 13-17, $4 for children between the ages of 5-12, and $3 for children 3-4 years of age. The cost of dinner includes entrance to the Christmas Party. The Christmas Party entrance price is $1 for anyone over the age of three. Activities at the Christmas party...

  • Commissioners approve county transportation improvement plan

    Al Stover|Updated Dec 14, 2017

    The Adams County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution for the 2018-2023 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Plan during their Dec. 11 meeting. Adams County Public Works Director Todd O’Brien and Adams County Engineer Scott Yaeger presented the plan to the commissioners during a public hearing. The plan includes 12 projects in priority ranking order and funding has been secured for seven of them. Priority No. 1 ­­­­– The reconstruction of McManamon Bridge on McManamon Road. The cost of the project is $2,112,...

  • Ritzville Council approves small works roster agreement with MRSC

    Al Stover|Updated Dec 14, 2017

    During the Dec. 5 meeting, the Ritzville City Council approved a resolution authorizing a service agreement between the City and Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC) regarding the city’s small works vendor roster. Clerk-Treasurer Kris Robbins said the city is obligated to complete and post a general small works roster for contracts, consultants and vendors. The resolution allows the city to use MRSC’s services to complete its small works roster. The resolution states MRSC will post a notice of the sma...

  • LIND EXHAUST SHOP

    Updated Dec 14, 2017

    LIND EXHAUST SHOP’S was one of the returning participants in the annual Lind Christmas Parade. The float showcased three white Christmas trees and a myriad of lights. -Journal photo by Al Stover...

  • PRACTICE BEFORE PARADE

    Updated Dec 14, 2017

    PRACTICE BEFORE PARADE. Tessa O’Brien (left) and Rachel Schell practice their routine on the Ritzville Festival Association’s float, “Dutch Delite,” and danced to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas.” The Dutch Delite took second place in the Lind Christmas Parade on Dec. 10. -Journal photo by Al Stover...

  • FIRST PLACE

    Updated Dec 14, 2017

    FIRST PLACE. The Lind Boys’ “Santa’s Workshop,” float took home first place in the annual Lind Christmas Parade on Dec. 10. The float included reindeer made of lights, a snowman and Santa Claus himself. -Journal photo by Al Stover...

  • Shop With a Cop promotes service to community

    Updated Dec 14, 2017

    Service to community is one of the top priorities for law enforcement officers everywhere. On Saturday, Dec. 9, local law enforcement officers still got to put on the uniform and serve their community, but this time as participants in the annual Shop With a Cop program. The program allows officers to shop with a child to ensure everyone has a present under the tree this season. The purpose of the program is to have children interact with law enforcement and other emergency...

  • WINTER CONCERT

    Updated Dec 14, 2017

    WINTER CONCERT. Students in kindergarten through fourth grade at Ritzville Grade School sang holiday songs, and melodies about peace, during the annual Winter Concert on Thursday, Dec. 7. The theme for this year’s concert was Peace on Earth. In the kindergarten group, student singers included (back row, from left) Amiya Hall, Gabby Reinholt, Lucas McHenry, Samantha Perez and Owen Teal. Front row: Timothy Mathis, Johnathen Breazeale, Finley Curtis, Gavin Bouvette, Russell D...

  • LRS wrestlers Morris and Phelps place in Liberty Invite

    Al Stover|Updated Dec 14, 2017

    Six athletes from the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague wrestling team competed in the Liberty Invite on Dec. 8-9, including two competitors who placed in their respective brackets. Aarron Phelps, who was competing in the 220-pound division for the first time this season, finished fourth in his bracket. Head Coach Jason Hilzer said Phelps faced a Medical Lake athlete, who he pinned in the first period of the match. Phelps experienced his first loss in the next round after his Riverside opponent pinned him in the first period of their...

  • What’s best for…?

    Dale Anderson|Updated Dec 14, 2017

    I think most parents have hopes that their kids will become productive citizens and have success. If they have any athleticism then they also hope they can be on a state team of some sort maybe even winning a championship. Many have high expectations for their son or daughter. I think a fair amount of these parents would love to see their kid play a college sport if possible. What would be more of a kick than to see their child play at mom and dad’s alma mater? First off, t...

  • Jerusalem, Capital of Israel

    Rep. Dan Newhouse, Fourth District|Updated Dec 14, 2017

    “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion….If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill!” The words of the psalmist in Psalm 137 evoke the longing that the Jewish people felt during their captivity in Babylon for the ancient city of Jerusalem, the site of the original Temple of Solomon. The historic and spiritual link between Jerusalem and Israel harkens back thousands of years to biblical times. It is the location of the Western Wall, the last remnant of the Second Temple and the h...

  • Celebrating Ritzville

    Mayor Gary Cook, City of Ritzville|Updated Dec 14, 2017

    Of course the holiday season is on all our minds. We should’ve seen it coming but always seem to ask where the summer went. Several key people are promoting and celebrating the season for Ritzville. These include Kylie and staff at the Library, Karen, Debbie, Marsha, Donna and Mary with the Chamber of Commerce, Dave, Wayne, Mike, Nate and Justin of Larry’s city crew and Kris, Julie and Michelle in City hall. This coming Saturday the festivities continue downtown with a gingerbread house contest, bonfire on the plaza and hay...

  • Keep the holiday spirit all year long

    Don C. Brunell, Business Commentator|Updated Dec 14, 2017

    During the holidays, our thoughts naturally turn to giving, not just giving gifts, but donating our time and money to charities, disasters and community programs. We’re reminded that, with all our frailties, we, Americans, are a pretty generous lot. According to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, 88 percent of our households donate to charity. In 2015, our total was more than $375 billion in cash to non-profit organizations. Cash contributions are only part of the story. Many businesses and those they e...

  • LaCrosse robotics team named as Regional Champions

    Updated Dec 14, 2017

    A team of five LaCrosse elementary and junior high students were named Regional Champions at a robotics competition in Spokane on Saturday, Dec. 9. Coached by school science teacher, Matt Wysock, the team has been working since September in preparation for the contest. Team members include Lillian McGregor, Chloe Waddell, Emily Thompson, Wyatt Schwartz and Cooper Schwartz. Competing against 35 other school and club teams in the First LEGO League contest at Salk Middle School in Spokane, the LaCrosse Tigercats finished in...

  • Embracing advice from a Navy SEAL

    Emma Aldrich, LRHS Student Correspondent|Updated Dec 14, 2017

    Many people find sugar cookies to be a hallmark of the holiday season. Fewer people know that “sugar cookies” are also a punishment in Navy Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, in which trainees are commanded to jump into the ocean, roll around in the sand, and remain as an uncomfortably sandy “sugar cookie” for the remainder of the day. “There were a lot of things more painful and more exhausting, but being a sugar cookie tested your patience and your determination,” explained Admiral William H. McRaven (U.S. N...

  • Lady Broncos earn wins against Tri-Cities Prep, Tekoa Rosalia

    Al Stover|Updated Dec 14, 2017

    Days after suffering their first season loss against Asotin on Dec. 2, the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Lady Broncos basketball team earned their first victory with a 67-50 nonleague win against Tri-Cities Prep on Dec. 5. They followed it up with a 62-34 Northeast 2B South League victory against Tekoa-Rosalia on Dec. 8. Against Tri-Cities Prep, Head Coach Steve Wellsandt said the Lady Broncos played evenly with the Lady Jaguars for the first three quarters of the game. With a 49-45...

  • Broncos split home games, prep for tough league match ups

    Katelin Davidson|Updated Dec 14, 2017

    The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos hosted two games last week, and continued undefeated in league competition with a win against Tekoa-Rosalia on Dec. 8. Earlier in the week, the Broncos suffered a narrow loss in a nonleague contest against Tri-Cities Prep. Head Coach Dustan Arlt said TCP was better than expected, primarily on offense, and the Broncos struggled to keep tempo consistently during the 71-74 loss. The Broncos edged out to seven-point lead at halftime, but Arlt...

  • LEXI CLODIUS

    Updated Dec 14, 2017

    LEXI CLODIUS smiles as she receives a gift from Santa Claus. Clodius was one of many students who met Saint Nick after the Benge Elementary School’s Christmas Concert on Dec. 11. Santa presented each child with a gift, and all of those in attendance were able to enjoy a night of holiday spirit. -Journal photo by Al Stover...

  • Lenora Elsie (Laib) Sackmann

    Updated Dec 14, 2017

    On Dec. 6, with family at her side, Lenora Elsie (Laib) Sackmann died and was reunited with her loving husband Godfrey, of 54 years, and her beautiful daughter Alice (Sackmann) Munn. Lenora, one of 11 children, was born to Edward and Emma (Stoller) Laib, a farmer and homemaker respectively, in Warden, on Jan. 19, 1922. Raised on the family farm, Lenora graduated from Warden High School in 1940. On Nov. 14, 1943, she married the love of her life, Godfrey Sackmann of Lind....