Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 399
OTHELLO – More than $1 million has been earmarked to help four area businesses develop and maintain solar arrays to generate power for agricultural use. The USDA has announced Othello-based Basin Farmworks, Weyns Farm and Sage Hill Electric will receive Rural Energy for America Program grants. Big Bird Farms of Harrington is also receiving a grant. Weyns Farm, 8289 Kulm Road S.E., was awarded $1 million to purchase and install a 1080 kilowatt solar array. The project is expected to generate 1.49 kilowatt-hours and save the f...
OTHELLO – The USDA is moving ahead with a plan to draw water out of the Columbia River for irrigation in an effort to curtail aquifer groundwater depletion. In an announcement Wednesday, Nov. 1, the agency said it will accept the recommendation of the federal Bureau of Reclamation to use “new Columbia River diversions” for irrigation water for 70,000 acres of the Odessa subarea in the East Columbia River Irrigation District. Under the plan, water siphoned from the Columbia River will replace groundwater currently being withd...
OTHELLO – The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service is providing $40 million in grants to three projects designed to divert Columbia River water into irrigation canals while curtailing the drawdown of Odessa aquifer groundwater. The grants were announced Wednesday, Nov. 1, the same day the agency announced it plans to move ahead with an effort to supplant groundwater use with more water withdrawn from the Columbia River. The grants include $19.7 million to complete a...
HATTON — For the second time in the last three general elections, the new mayor and town council members may all be write-in candidates. At the end of the first day of counting Tuesday night, Nov. 7, "write-in" was leading in all of the races. The names of the write-ins were not available late election night. All of the named candidates had received 7 votes at the end of the first tally; write-ins received 9 votes in all of the races. Rhea Isaac appeared to be losing the mayoral race, with her 43.8% of the vote versus the w...
LIND – Southbound U.S. Highway 395 reopened Monday afternoon, Oct. 30, after a body was discovered near Milepost 81. Authorities have identified the body as that of Nicholas A. Cooper, 31, of Lakewood. Cooper was pronounced deceased at the scene two miles east of the city at about 3:41 a.m., the Washington State Patrol reported. An Adams County deputy notified the next of kin. The patrol said Cooper was killed in a hit-and-run incident. According to the patrol, an unknown vehicle was southbound and struck Cooper in the p...
WINONA — Trains are running over Rebel Flat Creek only two months after the Winona Fire destroyed the train trestle here. On Friday, Oct. 20, state officials announced that the trestle has been replaced and the trains are running. The trestle is a vital link connecting wheat farmers and suppliers in Adams and Whitman Counties. The 197-foot wooden trestle over the creek was destroyed Aug. 19 in the Winona Fire, which burned 2,525 acres as well as several buildings. "The b...
WASHTUCNA – A longtime, iconic eatery will officially reopen Thursday afternoon here, three years to the day after it closed. Sonny’s Tavern, 250 S.W. Main St., will host a soft opening from 4-11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, for farmers, friends and first responders. “We are dedicating this special place to the local first responders, many of whom are volunteers, and farmers and ranchers who work together to make this community a great place to live,” co-owner Bridget Coon said. “Our first night of service will be for our frien...
PASCO — Local health officials have confirmed a rare St. Louis encephalitis case in Franklin County. According to the Benton County Health District, a county resident is believed to have contracted the mosquito-borne disease over the summer when the insects are prevalent. Officials did not identify the resident, nor their hometown, only that they are from Franklin County. St. Louis encephalitis is rare in Washington state and typically transmitted by mosquitos, officials said, noting the last confirmed case here was in 2...
PASCO – The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague boys football team remains undefeated this season after rolling over Tri-Cities Prep, 36-12, during a non-league matchup at Chiawana High School on Friday, Sept. 15. It was the closest matchup so far this season for the Broncos (3-0), which racked up 402 total yards on offense, compared to the (1-2) Jaguars’ 268 yards. Bronco running backs Brody Boness and Brock Kinch combined for 342 yards rushing in the road victory. Kinch had 16 carries for 129 yards and 3 touchdowns; Boness had 19 carrie...
CONNELL - The race for City Council Position No. sure has a lot of "pH." That's because today's certification of Aug. 1 primary election results determined Preston Hart and Patrice Hebel will advance to the general election. Hart topped a three-candidate field that also included Stephanie Hallman. Preston received 140 votes, or 50.91%. Hebel finished second with 68 votes, only 6 ahead of Hallman (with 62). Only the Top 2 candidates advance from the primary to the Nov. 7...
The National Weather Service predicts we will see the hottest temperatures of the summer this week. It’s even gone so far as to declare an “excessive heat warning” until 11 p.m. today. Granted, 100 degrees is hot. But in our neck of the high-plains desert, that’s not excessive. Even if we hit 105 degrees, it’s not excessive here. Eastern Washington has a track record of hot daytime highs in June, July and August. The hottest day on record for most of our readership area was...
OTHELLO – Kiwanis Park will benefit from two grants approved by the state Recreation and Conservation Office. The agency has awarded $500,000 to add a water park and renovate trails. A second grant of $350,000 was awarded to build a futsal court. The funds will be administered through the city. The first grant will allow the city to build the water park, renovate walking trails and add lights to the park in an effort to make it more family-oriented. The water park, being called a spray park, will include amenities spraying c...
MESA – An Othello man was killed and six others injured in a five-vehicle pileup Aug. 7 about three miles north of town. Jesus Camacho-Augustine, 21, of Othello, was pronounced dead at the scene near Milepost 10 of state Highway 17. Nicholas L. Abbott, 28, Valentin Galvez-Gonzalez, 24, and Estella DeJesus Gonzalez, 31, all of Othello, were injured in the crash, as were Anthony J. Mawer, 25, and Camden J. Love, 23, both of Vancouver, the Washington State Patrol reported. A juvenile was also injured; the state patrol failed t...
OLYMPIA – It took only a minute Friday, Aug. 11, for the state Fish and Wildlife Commission to reject a petition to resume spring bear hunting in 2024. The commission’s almost-immediate, unanimous rejection of spring bear hunting followed a very short presentation by state Department of Fish and Wildlife Game Division Manager Anis Aoude. “From our position as a department … we’re recommending you deny this petition,” he said. “There really isn’t a reason to revisit.” The state’s presentation and commissioner’s fast...
OTHELLO – A Connell resident is among the five men arrested July 29 in a reverse prostitution sting. Cesar Chavez-Alcala, 28, of Connell, is facing charges in Othello District Court, along with Victorina Garcia, 45, of Mattawa; Isaias Zarata-Pineda, 41, and Juan Salas-Camacho, 61, both of Moses Lake; and Javier Gonzalez-Arroyo, 31, of Othello. All were all arrested for misdemeanor patronizing a prostitute, according to police. During the sting, investigators arrested the five “sex buyers” and interviewed at least one sex w...
LIND - Preliminary primary election returns show Jamie Schmunk and Jim Weidemann leading Town Council races. At the end of counting Tuesday night, Aug. 1, Schmuck had 62 votes (37.8%) to lead the race for Town Council Position No. 4. Myra J. Horton was second with 47 votes (28.66%). In the race for Town Council Position No. 2, Weidemann led with 53 votes (32.32%), followed by James N. Dworshak in second with 44 votes (26.83%). Only the Top 2 advance to the Nov. 7 general...
CONNELL — Candidate Preston Hart has a commanding lead in the Aug. 1 primary election race for City Council Position No. 5. but it's a dead heat to see who will be the runner-up. After the end of the first day of counting Tuesday, Hart had 108 votes, or 51.92%. His count exceeded the tally for the remaining two candidates, Patrice Hebel and Stephanie Hallman. The women were tied for second with 48 votes each, or 23.08%. Election officials said late-arriving ballots should break the tie before the election is certified Aug. 1...
OTHELLO – A local man is facing a child rape charge after being caught in bed with a child. Manuel Trinidad-Ortiz, 32, of Othello, was booked into the Franklin County Jail following his July 19 arrest for first-degree child rape and residential burglary. According to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Trinidad-Ortiz was arrested near a home in the 600 block of Wagon Road at about 12:30 a.m., July 19. He was booked into the jail in nearby Franklin County about six hours later. Deputies responded to the home after a mother all...
RITZVILLE – Smoke from multiple wildfires is creating near-whiteout conditions along portions of Interstate 90, prompting the state Department to of Transportation to close the highway. Fires erupted earlier this afternoon at multiple locations along the highway. "Brush fire smoke over road, on I-90 eastbound at Milepost 218," an alert issued by the agency said, announcing the interstate closure. The fire started about 2:26 p.m., the state reported. "It's like white-out c...
BASIN CITY – One of the top bull riders to come out of Eastern Washington won All-Around Cowboy honors at the Freedom Rodeo on July 3-5 . Shane Proctor of Grand Coulee took home $5,777 for his performance in the saddle bronc and bull riding events. He won the bull riding event, scoring 83 points on Dirty Dan for an additional $7,702 purse. He didn’t place in saddle bronc. Here are the results from Freedom Rodeo: Bareback riding — 1. (tie) Jacob Lees, on Ted, and Jayco Roper on Buckaroo, 83.5 points, $4,422 each; 3. Trent...
Like most Americans, I enjoy watching – and lighting – fireworks on Independence Day. America’s “birthday” should stand out among all national holidays. And the colorful, aerial explosions showcase the freedom and independence for which the U.S. stands. But why then do only tribes have the ability to sell and use the “good” fireworks – you know: firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, mortars and more. There’s nothing magical about the imaginary line on a map suggesting...
HATTON – Three Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies have been placed on administrative leave in connection with shooting death of a suspect Sunday, June 25. According to Sheriff Dale Wagner, two road deputies and a sergeant were placed on leave following the death of Ramon O. Morfin, 29, of Warden. The names of the officers involved in the shooting have yet to be released publicly, Grant County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman said. An Othello police officer was also involved. Morfin was shot and killed by the law e...
HATTON – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that a Warden man was killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers Sunday, June 25. Ramon O. Morfin, 29, of Warden, was pronounced dead at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of state Highway 26 and Kulm Road, just outside Hatton, a small community west of U.S. Highway 395. Morfin’s identity was confirmed Tuesday morning, June 27, by Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman. The names of the officers involved in the shooting have yet to be release...
HATTON – An independent investigation is reviewing an officer-involved shooting Sunday, June 25, near Kulm Road in this tiny community just west of U.S. Highway 395. According to Grant County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman, the shooting is being reviewed by the Central Basin Investigative Team. Few details had been released publicly, Foreman said at press time. But at least one person was injured, declining to say who. Foreman said he could not yet release the names of the officers involved or the suspect, not...
TOUCHET — The state is providing support to local fire crews fighting the Hat Rock Fire. Walla Walla County Fire District No. 6 Chief Rusty Watt requested state help at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday night, June 13. The fire started northeast of Hermiston and had burned more than 8,500 acres by 8 p.m. Tuesday night when it raced through dry grass and brush into Walla Walla Couty east of Wallula Junction. Fire officials set the evacuation level at 1, meaning there is a fire in the area. Under Washington state law, evacuations are v...