FROM THE FILES

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

March 8, 1899

The city council in regular session last night instructed the marshal to enforce the ordinance prohibiting the riding of bicycles upon sidewalks and to notify property owners and tenants to build new sidewalks in conformity with our municipal law and clean up their premises where they were found in a filthy condition.

Small Pox

Information comes to the NEWS that small pox is getting near to us, and that a few days ago a porter on the Great Northern Railway was stricken with it and is now in a Spokane hospital. Jacob Thiel and family, who went on a visit to Germany some time ago, are quarantined somewhere on the route. We will venture to say that few children in Adams County under the age of 15 years have been vaccinated. Small pox or variola is one of the most formidable febrile diseases. The cause of small pox is universally allowed to be a specific contagion of whose nature we are in the most profound ignorance. There is probably no disease so contagious as this.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

February 28, 1924

Freshman class notes

The English I classes have taken up the study of "The Merchant of Venice." One good result of having to take spelling is that we have fewer themes to write.

Local Brevities

Frank B. Heglar of Lamont was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Oestreich last week on a charge of failing to support his family. He was fined $15 by Justice Womack, which he paid.

Rev. G. Gradel of Odessa preached at the Zion church last Sunday morning. The organ there has recently been completely overhauled and it was put into service again on Sunday.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

March 10, 1949

Two local men among

eleven in justice court

Two residents of Ritzville were among the 11 cases disposed of in Justice of the Peace J.P. Koch's court during the past three weeks. One was Dr. W.H. Sweet, physician, arrested February 27 by Sheriff Frank Lucas on a charge of drunk and disorderly conduct in Ward's café. Dr. Sweet plead guilty in justice court February 28 and was sentenced to 10 days in the county jail.

The second was Phineas C. Smith, employee of a Spokane motor freight line who had been living temporarily at the Star hotel in Ritzville. Smith was arrested February 27 by Sgt. Henry O. Sanford of the state patrol on a charge of violating load restrictions. The truck driver forfeited a $50 bond.

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

February 28, 1974

City lacks gravel

The city has no gravel to speak of, water superintendent Gordon Rehn said this week. City workers will grade streets this year, but there will be little gravel available for street repair work, according to city officials. "All we can do is maintain. We'll probably have to go out and haul some," councilman Roy Langenheder said this week. "We can't gravel the streets until we get more gravel." As far as the city's trucks hauling in gravel, superintendent Rehn said, "The trucks are too small. It would take forever to get anything in here. We'd just wear our trucks out."

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

March 7, 1999

Lind rodeo arena

getting new seats

Visitors to the 1999 Lind Rodeo and Combine Derby June 11, 12, and 13 will have new and improved seating as the Lind Lions Club undertakes a project to replace their old bleachers. The Lions purchased the steel-framed aluminum-seated bleachers in Redmond, OR, after an auctioneer wandered into Lind looking for fuel. During his stop, the auctioneer spoke to Bill Loomis and left an auction brochure which contained a listing for the bleachers.

- The Journal