The Ritzville Adams County Journal

06/30/2024

Adams County deputies learning the ropes
https://www.ritzvillejournal.com/story/2024/06/26/news/deputies-learn-how-to-rope/26787.html

06/29/2024

Stemilt fined for trench cave-in that buried Othello man
https://www.ritzvillejournal.com/story/2024/06/26/news/stemilt-cited-for-man-being-buried/26784.html

06/28/2024

State ending fishing camp at Vernita Bridge
https://www.ritzvillejournal.com/story/2024/06/26/sports/state-to-end-fishing-camp-at-vernita/26773.html

06/28/2024

Ashleigh Swartz wins scholarship
https://www.ritzvillejournal.com/story/2024/06/26/neighbors/scholarship-winner/26779.html

06/28/2024

It's HoopFest weekend in Spokane! Be sure to send us your 3-on-3 team photos and awards. Email them to [email protected] for inclusion in an upcoming newspaper!

06/20/2024

SkyFest is coming to Fairchild Air Force Base this weekend. Free parking, free admission and a whole lot of aerial action. Check out our Cheney Free Press affiliate special section here:https://www.cheneyfreepress.com/home/customer_files/specialpubs/skyfest_2024_8_page_tab.pdf

06/15/2024

Sprint boat racing about to start in St. John.

04/07/2024

Almost race time for the Stumpjumpers Desert 100. Course marshals are ready to go.

04/01/2024

Keeney recognized after 40 years of service to LaCrosse

LACROSSE - Public Works Supervisor Don Keeney has been on the job for 40 years. On Thursday, March 14, the Town Council recognized him for his years of service and commitment to LaCrosse. "It's something you have to like to do, or you wouldn't stick with it," Keeney said, of being supervisor. "You h...

04/01/2024

Eagle Scouts recognized in Ritzville

RITZVILLE – Two local boys received scouting's highest honor at a well-attended Court of Honor at the headquarters of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers on March 10. Chairman Harry Schafer led Eagle Scouts Shawn Steinberger and Michael Nichols in the "Eagle Charge and Pledge," and guest s...

03/31/2024

Juvenile court cases move to Othello

RITZVILLE — For the past decade, the courthouse has been the site of all Adams County Superior Court cases, including adult and juvenile dockets. Newly appointed Superior Court Judge Peter Palubicki is changing that. “We will be holding once-a-month dockets in Othello,” he said. “Juvenile ca...

03/31/2024

Othello hospital out of compliance

OTHELLO — Adams County Public Hospital District No. 3 is among 26 that received a letter from the state Attorney General’s Office on failure to comply with the Reproductive Privacy Act. The law requires patient privacy for all women seeking birthing and or abortion services. It also requires pub...

03/30/2024

Easter egg hunt draws hundreds

RITZVILLE - And they're off! At 9 a.m. Saturday, March 23, children raced through City Park to gather eggs at the annual Easter Egg Hunt. A large contingent of parents, grandparents and children participated in the hunt hosted by the local Eagles Aerie. Sections of the park were cordoned off with ye...

03/30/2024

Property owners fix nuisance issues

RITZVILLE – Following a Tuesday, March 19, show-cause hearing, the City Council determined property at 105 W. Sixth Ave. is no longer a “nuisance” as defined by Article III of the city code. The decision comes about a month after city employees photographed the property, documenting scrap pile...

03/29/2024

Bronco girls top Newport, Kettle Falls

RITZVILLE — The Bronco girls are off to a perfect start of the 2024 fastpitch sofball season. Last week, they topped Newport in a doubleheader and then defeated Kettle Falls. In the home-opening game of the season against Newport on Tuesday, March 19, senior Harlee Hennings had a triple to lead th...

03/29/2024

Small farms declining across region

Farm numbers across the U.S. are dwindling and the mountain states are no exception. Our country lost 7% of farms from 2017-2022, and all of the mountain states were above the national average. As a farmer in the region, I understand the stress of this profession, and if our country continues on its...

03/29/2024

LaCrosse to improve sidewalks

LACROSSE — The town has received a $691,742 state grant to improve the sidewalks along Second and Main Streets. Public Works Supervisor Don Keeney said sidewalk work will begin in about a month, after Avista finishes moving a gas main. “It’s primarily updating some sidewalks, putting in some d...

03/28/2024

Molina, Flemming pace St. John-Endicott Eagles

COLLEGE PLACE — Junior Emery Molina and freshman Brody Fleming paced the St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse track team Saturday, March 23, at the Hawk Invite at College Place High School. Molina placed second, fourth and fifth in individual events, and was a member of the 4X200 relay team that finished si...

03/26/2024

Fatal hit-and-run remains unsolved
Detectives seek help finding vehicle, driver

LIND — The Washington State Patrol is still looking for a driver in a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian last October. On Nov. 1, the body of Nicholas A. Cooper, 31, of Lakewood, was discovered near Milepost 81 of U.S. Highway 395. Cooper was pronounced deceased at the scene two miles east...

03/25/2024

Funds allow pipeline project to advance

ODESSA — The state capital budget approved earlier this month includes $5.5 million in funding for the EL 22.1 pipeline project within the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program. The pipeline project will use surface water from the Upper Columbia River, pumped into the East Low Canal, to offset gr...

03/24/2024

Adams County voters prefer Trump in primary election
https://www.ritzvillejournal.com/story/2024/03/20/news/adams-county-supports-trump/26408.html

03/23/2024

Wind turbine meeting set for Harrington
Rep. Mary Dye among those to speak
https://www.ritzvillejournal.com/story/2024/03/20/news/community-turbine-meeting-set-for-harrington/26416.html

03/23/2024

Water right bill signed into law

OLYMPIA - Gov. Jay Inslee has signed a bill into law to allow for water right modifications in the Columbia Basin Project area. Authored by Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, House Bill 1752 authorizes the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to apply and obtain approval for water-right modifications and provides farm...

03/23/2024

Track team opens season in Lewiston

LEWISTON - The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague track team struggled to gain traction against large schools, Friday, March 15, in its season-opening competition at the Sweeney Invitational. The boys tied with Deary, Idaho, for 14th as at team with 7 team points. The Bronco girls finished last with only 3 team...

03/22/2024

Motocross season opens this weekend in Odessa

ODESSA—Motocross fans who can’t wait for the Desert 100 race the first weekend of April have local two races to look forward to this weekend. The Stumpjumpers Motorcycle Club, which puts on the Desert 100 each year, is hosting the Frostbite Grand Prix and White Knuckle Grand Prix here Saturday, ...

03/22/2024

Man arrested after stabbing grandma

OTHELLO — An Adams County Sheriff’s Office K-9 took down a suspect in a March 14 stabbing. Dario Ochoa, 23, of Othello, was booked into the Franklin County Jail at 3:06 a.m. Thursday, March 15. He was being held without bail for first-degree assault at press time. According to the Sheriff’s Of...

03/16/2024

State unveils northern pike plan
https://www.ritzvillejournal.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/00990.33.7352450263113702795

03/16/2024

Worst Seat in the House: Musical Chairs
https://www.ritzvillejournal.com/story/2024/03/13/sports/musical-chairs/26356.html

03/15/2024

New law will give police more leeway in pursuing suspects

OLYMPIA — Just three years after the Legislature implemented restrictions on police pursuits, lawmakers backtracked after an initiative received overwhelming voter support. The new rules on engaging in high-speed pursuits become law June 5. “As you know, the people of the state are suffering, in...

03/15/2024

Deputies arrest man for resetting odometers

RITZVILLE — After several months of investigation, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man for resetting or reversing vehicle odometers. Reynaldo “Rey” Valdez Garza Jr., 52, faces charges of second-degree deception and disconnecting, resetting or reversing odometers. Garza was appre...