From the Files

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

July 13, 1898

Local and Personal

It was estimated there were 140 unemployed men in Ritzville last Monday. Every man who can drive a nail or saw a board has all the work he can handle.

The 6-year-old son of Wm. Arlt had a thumb and finger blown off at the first joint by a dynamite cap he was trying to explode by pounding it on a rock last Thursday. Dr. Burroughs dressed the wound which is healing up nicely.

On Monday morning Fred Weiand came into town and notified the sheriff that he had captured a crazy man and had him locked up in the cellar. The sheriff immediately went out to the Wieand ranch and interviewed the alleged crazy man, who gave the name of Thomas McManus. He seemed to have the hallucination that several men were after him with intent to do him harm. The sheriff told him that the parties were all taken care of, at which McManus seemed greatly relieved and came to town without any trouble.

It being the opinion of Mr. Weiand and the officers that it was simply a case of "snakes," McManus was given his liberty with the injunction not to drink any more at present. During the day he went out into the country and the next place he struck was Wm. Leonard's. He ran into the house and dodged into a closet yelling, "They are after me."

Mr. Leonard and his brother and hired man brought McManus in and he was locked up. Yesterday afternoon Drs. Adams and Burroughs examined him and decided to treat him a couple of days and if he did not get better, to have him committed.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

July 5, 1923

Local Brevities

Pete Peterson, who has been the accommodating clerk at the Ritzville Hotel, left this morning for the Albert Ott ranch to help with the harvest.

Motor arrives for new pump

The new motor has arrived for driving the pump at the new well. It was shipped from Indianapolis, Indiana. An electrician from Spokane is here completing the installation of the motor. He expects to be done by Tuesday. As soon as the motor is installed the new pump will be started and will be used to supply water for the system.

The jam of tools in the old park well has been cleared out and the work of drilling resumed. Barring accidents this job should be finished soon. Then a pumphouse can be erected over both wells and the long-drawn-out task of improving the water system completed.

Harding goes through Adams County on tour

President and Mrs. W.G. Harding visited Adams County on their tour of the country. Unfortunately, all they did was pass through the county at night and it is doubtful they saw any of the wide stretches of wheat fields. The presidential special on leaving Spokane went out over the Milwaukee-O.W.R. & N. tracks to Wallula and on to Pendleton, crossing Snake River at the high bridge near Lyons Ferry.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

July 8, 1948

Henry Rosenoff, 85, dies; covered wagon pioneer

Death came the Fourth of July to Henry Rosenoff, 85, one of the oldest and most widely-known pioneers in the Adams County area. Born in Kolb, Russia, in 1862, Henry Rosenoff came west with that now-famous party of Rosenoffs, Thiels and Kiehns who reached the Ritzville area from Walla Walla in 14 covered wagons. That was in 1878 when Henry was 16 years old.

The pioneers filed their homestead claims at Colfax. The Rosenoffs settled on a place about four miles northwest of Ritzville. Interviewed by the Journal Times earlier this year, Rosenoff recalled the gigantic harvests in this area when his family employed 50 horses and 26 men to bring the wheat in. At that time they were lucky to finish before the early snows fell.

Three file for commissioner's post in county

A heated race for county commissioner from District 2 loomed this week as three candidates filed for the post now held by R.H. Phillips, Lind Democrat. Phillips himself made no announcement as to whether he will run for reelection or not. The three who filed are Alex Schneider, Paha Republican; Edward F. Wahl, Lind Democrat and a former county commissioner; and Paul Gering, Menno Republican.

Faces charges here

Grant A. Richards was returned to Ritzville Saturday by Sheriff Frank Lucas to face a charge of family desertion. His wife and two children live in Ritzville. Richards was apprehended by the Spokane sheriff's office. Arraignment has been set for Wednesday, July 14.

New addition to city proposed

A larger Ritzville looms today after Attorney Richard B. Ott filed the plat on a proposed Ritzville Golf and Country Club city addition with the council Tuesday night. The proposed addition contains 47 building lots and is located adjacent to the three new golf course holes which lay across Division Street from the present fairways. Appropriately, Ott had named one street in the addition "Fairway Avenue" and another "Par Avenue."

At the Ritz

Roy Rogers and Trigger in "Heldorado" featuring George "Gabby" Hayes and Dale Evans with Bob Nolan and The Sons of the Pioneers.

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

July 12, 1973

Local ropers win Sunday

Three Ritzville roping teams got placings in Sunday's steer roping event sponsored by the Ritzville Rodeo Association at the arena just north of town. Bill Curtis and Bill Harder won third-place money in the open class. In novice-novice competition Bob Schoessler and Harly Bauer were first place winners. Schoessler, teamed with Russ Wagner, also Ritzville, won second place in the novice-novice class.

At the Ritz

Robert Redford in "The Candidate."

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

July 9, 1998

Firemen, EMTs pleased with new pager system

Being a volunteer has become easier in Adams County with the addition of the E911 paging system. It's been a long time in coming, but most emergency personnel will be trained and using the new tone-alert system within a matter of weeks. EMT Sherri Starring sees the new paging system as very beneficial. "EMTs and firemen all can be paged at the same time," she said. "The written message allows for more personal information such as the patient's name or residence."

Ritzville volunteer fireman and assistant rural chief Scott Kemble echoed those benefits. "It's a much greater convenience for volunteers and with five repeater stations the range for contact is greatly improved," said Kembel. "We're lucky to have these pagers in our small communities. It's a plus for us to keep up with the changing times."

Skunks, dogs creating problems for residents

Residents on East Fourth, West Fourth and South Division have all reported skunk problems in the past two weeks with several of the animals trapped and disposed of in a humane way. The Ritzville Police Department also has responded to several calls concerning barking dogs or dogs at large.

A juvenile was reported to be smoking a cigarette on city streets on July 6. The juvenile was contacted and an unopened pack of cigarettes was confiscated. The subject was warned if caught again smoking cigarettes a report would be sent to juvenile authorities.

City of Ritzville now has e-mail

The internet has come to Ritzville's city government and e-mail transmissions are invited. City Clerk Sue Barrett said anyone wishing to contact the mayor, a council member, city worker, etc. may do so. The city's e-mail address is cityritz.ritzcom.net.

Four requirements are needed with each transmission. The person receiving the e-mail must be identified; the sender must sign their name; no foul language will be accepted; and all e-mail will be monitored to ensure the first three requirements have been met. Barrett said e-mail not meeting the requirements will be disposed of.

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