Briefly

Thanksgiving Day run a success

Turkey Trot 2020, as shown by the official sign-in sheet at the start of the run, had 61 participants. Each member of each group was asked to sign in with all children and pets included. The final tally included three dogs, Otis Saetre, Willy Kragt and Khloe.

Harriet Lynch, one of the two organizers of this year’s event, said, “We are so pleased at the turn out for this year’s self-directed event. Year number 33 is in the books.”

The day’s early fog and overcast skies broke through to a beautifully sunny day. The sign in sheet was placed at the front of the Ritz Theatre on Thanksgiving at 7:30 a m and was picked up at 3:00 p.m.

The Giving Tree is back again this year at Umpqua Bank (soon to be STCU).

The tradition of the Giving Tree has returned to Umpqua Bank at 108 East 1st Avenue.

The community can begin taking tags off the tree on Monday, December 7. All gifts need to be returned to Umpqua Bank no later than Friday, December 18, to provide time to sort presents and have families pick them up before the holiday.

Please be aware, due to the new COVID-19 restrictions, the Umpqua Bank lobby will be locked, and you will need to wait for someone to let you in. Masks are required.

Please direct any questions to Danielle Bolin at 509-659-4900.

The Ritzville Eagles No. 2739 continue their motto of “People Helping People.”

“Again this year, we are able to present three families with $300 each for the Christmas season, and we also continue to help with the Ritzville Food Pantry,” Vonnie Messerschmidt, Auxiliary member said Wednesday, Nov. 25. Messerschmidt said part of the $300 included a $100 gift certificate to Ritzville Harvest Foods.

“The Ritzville Eagles would like to wish the community a very Merry Christmas,” Messerschmidt said.

Town of Ritzville gets decorated for the holiday season

Christmas lights and wreaths decorating downtown Ritzville were hung by John Rankin and David Chapman of the Ritzville Downtown Development Association, along with Chapman’s grandson, Kaleb Frink. Rankin said the responsibility for the downtown decorations has passed around between the RDDA, the city and the chamber of commerce the last few years, but Rankin and the RDDA would be taking over responsibility for the yearly project. Rankin said he decorated as many of the 26 downtown poles as he had supplies for.