FROM THE FILES

100 years ago

The Ritzville

Journal-Times

Dec. 16, 1920

SAYS STORY WAS A FAKE

John J. Burfiend and bride arrived home from New York December 3. John says the big story sent out by a New York reporter and copied in western papers was a fake. The story told that after going east to claim a bride, he and the lady fell out, only to have him strike a match with the girl’s sister. John says that he married the girl he went back to marry, and that he is at a loss to understand where the story started. At any rate, he has brought back a charming bride and his many friends here tender congratulations to the couple.

75 years ago

The Ritzville

Journal-Times

Dec. 13, 1945

Frank LeFriec Struck By Train

LIND – Frank LeFriek, loyal automobile dealer and recently discharged veteran, miraculously escaped serious injury when a speeding Northern Pacific passenger train struck and demolished a truck he was driving one mile east of Lind at the Sand Hills road crossing about 2:20 p.m. Tuesday. LeFriec and Carl Dirstine, who was riding with him, attempted to get out of the truck when they saw the passenger train bearing down upon them. Dirstine was clear but LeFriec caught his foot in the door at the moment of impact and painfully injured his foot and ankle. His shoe and stocking were torn off. He was thrown free of the truck, which was rolled over three times before it came to rest on the right-of-way.

50 years ago

The Ritzville

Journal-Times

Dec. 10, 1970

Fire Burns Heinemann Barn

Flames leveled a large old barn at the Don Heinemann place Tuesday, destroying seven pigs and miscellaneous small equipment. Firemen, arriving about 1 p.m. when the fire was going strong, were able to keep a nearby power pole carrying 14,700 volts from burning, and a large evergreen tree closer to the house from bursting into flames. Don Heinemann was attending the convention of Washington Association of Wheat Growers in Spokane. He reached home about 3:30 p.m. Mrs. Heinemann said the barn was erected when the Emil Wellsandts lived there.

25 years ago

Ritzville Adams

County Journal

Dec. 14, 1995

Sledding notice

Ritzville Chief of Police Dave McCormick said children were sledding on Jackson Street following the snowfall last Saturday. McCormick said barricades had been placed at the site, but were not authorized by the Ritzville City Council. A sledding site will be addressed by the council at its next meeting Dec. 19, according to McCormick. He also reminds parents and children that sledding is not permitted in undesignated areas for safety reasons.