News Briefs

COVID-19 vaccines now available statewide for those age 16 and older

ADAMS COUNTY – As of last Thursday, April 15, everyone age 16 and older who wants a COVID-19 vaccine can now receive one in Washington state, Adams County Health Department spokesperson Karen Potts announced.

Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use by the FDA for people 16-17 years old.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available to people 18 and older.

Appointments must be prescheduled to receive a vaccine in the following locations.

In Ritzville, the vaccine can be obtained at East Adams Rural Healthcare or Hometown Family Medicine.

In Othello, the vaccine is available at Columbia Basin Health Association and Walmart in Othello.

Washtucna school’s second public forum scheduled to discuss four-day school week

Washtucna – A second public forum to discuss Washtucna Schools moving to a four-day school week will be held Tuesday, April 27 from 6 - 6:45 p.m. in the school gymnasium.

The public forum will be followed by the regular school board meeting starting at 7 p.m.

School employee and spokesperson Lora Hille said the meeting will be informational with opportunities for input. Frequently asked questions will be answered in the forum.

"This will be just like the first one, so if you attended the first time, we will try to update the Frequently Asked Questions after the meeting," Hille said.

Email Hille at [email protected] if you prefer a Zoom link to the meeting.

Service provided free by the state to help people struggling with mental health

Washington Listens is a free, anonymous service for anyone in Washington state. The program was created to support people feeling sad, anxious or stressed due to the events of this year including COVID-19, and has since expanded to include stress caused by wildfires.

The Washington State Health Care Authority secured more than $4 million in federal funding to respond to increased behavioral health service needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grants will help ensure Washington residents have access to both mental health counseling and substance use disorder treatment.

The grant funds the Washington Listens support line and 120 counselors and team leaders with a dozen regional partners, including Community Integrated Health Services and Frontier Behavioral Health in Spokane.

Washington Listens is staffed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. TSR 771 and language access services are available.

Call or text 1-833-681-0211 to access support services.

Resources and self-help tips are available on walistens.org.

Ritzville EMTs selling flowers starting in May

Ritzville – The Ritzville Volunteer Ambulance Association announces it's EMT Flower Sale. The event is scheduled for May 5 - 7 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The sale is located in the ambulance building at 315 East 1st Avenue. This annual event helps raise needed funds for the local volunteer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Association.