Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 399
WASHTUCNA -A regional landfill in the works for more than three decades is about to break ground. Waste Management announced last Friday, March 3, that it hopes to break ground on a 550-acre landfill later this month; a time and day have yet to be announced. Company Senior Manager of Business Development Ken Gimpel said the project has been on the drawing board since the late-1980s. "It has been sitting dormant until about the last year-and-a-half or so, until we decided it's...
LIND – The city roars to life Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10, as the 34th annual Combine Demolition Derby Days brings thousands of residents and visitors out for weekend of smashing fun. The highlight of the event is the Lions Club Combine Demolition Derby, in which area farmers, fans and others put their fortified combines to the test in a demolition contest, with the last combine running crowned the victor. But the weekend also includes a car show, barbecue, car and pickup truck racing, grain truck racing, camping, m...
OTHELLO – Two people were transported to area hospitals Thursday afternoon, June 8, following a crash on state Highway 26. Perejitei E. Bekewe, 26, hometown unknown, was transported to Richland Hospital. Anthony J. Williamson, 52, hometown not reported, was taken to an Othello hospital. According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred at about 12:20 p.m. Bekewe was northbound on Johnson Road approaching Highway 26; Wiliamson was westbound on the highway, the patrol reported. Beweke’s 2022 Ram 1500 struck Wil...
From cars to bigfoot to high-speed sprint boats, you don’t have to look very far to find something to do this weekend. But dad won’t care if you take him somewhere or just spend time with him. For dad, Father’s Day isn’t about spending money, it’s about time – time to connect, reflect and enjoy each other’s company. Dads spend a lifetime taking care of the needs of their children. Through their children’s formative years into college, fathers bring structure, discipline, log...
PASCO – Two former and three current Franklin County commissioners may have to return nearly $89,000 in wages following an audit of payroll practices for the board. Commissioner Lowell "Brad" Peck may have to repay $47,000 that he was not legally entitled to receive, Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton said. And former Commissioners Robert "Bob" Koch and Rick Miller are facing possible repayments of $20,000 and $21,000 each, respectively. At issue is a 2016 post-election d...
OLYMPIA – Wolves may be downgraded from an endangered species to “sensitive” under a proposed reclassification by state Department of Fish and Wildlife staff. The gray wolf was already removed by the federal endangered species list, but the state has maintained the status despite the rapid population growth over the last decade. The reclassification comes with the required five-year review of endangered, threatened and sensitive species in the state. "This draft recommended reclassification to sensitive reflects that progr...
WALLULA – The spring Chinook salmon fishing season is open for only a week between The Dalles Dam and Wallula Junction. From about 1,300 feet upstream of The Dalles Dam to the Orgon-Washington border, salmon may be retained from today, May 19, through May 26. There’s a daily limit of six Chinook, but only two may be kept, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Salmon must be at least 12 inches long. The limited season is due to a smaller than expected spring Chinook run, fisheries staff said. Agency sta...
OTHELLO – The local high school was locked down Wednesday, May 10, after a reported threat. According to a report, city police and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office responded to the high school, 340 S. Seventh St., at 11:18 a.m. after a threat of a school shooting. The threat call, which was made to the Sheriff’s Office in Ritzville, indicated there was an armed person in front of the school, records show. Responding authorities were joined by school staff; their search failed to locate any suspect or threat, records show....
The state Legislature is headed back to Olympia this week for a special session specifically to deal with the prospect of all drugs becoming legal July 1. Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, says he hopes lawmakers will pass a new drug-possession law to fix last year’s so-called “Blake fix.” At issue is a temporary law that expires at the end of next month relating to possession of drugs in Washington. The temporary law was implemented during the 2022 legislative session after...
Hundreds of motorcyle racers from across North America the braved Rattlesnake Ridge near Vernita during three days of action during the Washington Nitro Nationals from May 6-8. Racers pitted their skill against a clock and a 1,000-foot course that gained 900 feet in elevation....
RITZVILLE – Sen. Mark Schoesler and other state lawmakers will return to the Capitol for a special session beginning May 16. “After returning home to Ritzville early last week following the end of this year’s legislative session, I was not planning to return to Olympia for at least a few months,” the 9th Legislative District senator said. “Turns out, my fellow legislators and I may be back at the Capitol little more than a week from now.” Gov. Jay Inslee called the special session in an effort to prompt the Legislature...
OTHELLO – All but two charges have been dropped against a local man accused of attacking a co-worker with a tree branch in an orchard near Basin City on May 2. Omar Eusebio Zuniga, 40, of Othello, remained in the Franklin County Jail on $100,000 bail on a charge of second-degree assault as of Monday, May 8. He was initially arrested on charges of second-degree murder, five counts of displaying a weapon with intent to intimidate, failure to appear/surrender, fourth-degree assault and second-degree assault. Most of the c...
OTHELLO – A local man was arrested and booked into jail Friday, April 28, after allegedly being caught after burglarizing a house in the 600 block of South Fourth Avenue. Angel M. Lara, 25, was apprehended after a short chase and booked into the Franklin County Jail on first-degree burglary. As of press time, Lara was being held without bail in the Franklin County Jail. According to a police report, police responded to a call of a residential burglary where the resident and L...
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee won’t be seeking a fourth term. Inslee, a Democrat from Bainbridge Island, announced Monday, May 1, that he’s ready to move on. “Today I announced I will not seek a fourth term,” he said. “We’ve made Washington a beacon for progress for the nation, and now it’s time to pass the torch.” Born and raised in Seattle, he was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1989, then elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1993. The 72-year-old Inslee was elected to lead the state in 2013...
WASHTUCNA – The access road to the new Waste Management landfill is being named in honor of a former longtime mayor who staunchly supported the development. The access road is being named Syd Sullivan Lane, Waste Management officials said. His daughters, Eleanor Brodahl of Othello and Karen Kinch of Washtucna were on hand for the Thursday dedication, April 20. "He was such a visionary," Brodahl said of her late father. "What an honor this is." According to Brodahl, her f...
WASHTUCNA – Near 50 people turned out Thursday, April 20, for a ground-breaking ceremony for a new landfill more than 30 years in the making. Waste Management managers and employees joined local dignitaries and residents at the 550-acre site off Mullan Road. Company Senior Manager of Business Development Ken Gimpel said the project has been on the drawing board since the late-1980s. "This has been a long-time coming," he said at the beginning of the event that included a l...
RITZVILLE – Westbound Interstate 90 traffic was slowed for more than four hours Sunday, April 9, following a two-vehicle crash. According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred about 1:26 p.m. in the passing lane of the interstate when a vehicle and a U-Haul truck towing a boat and trailer collided. The impact sent the boat into the median. The vehicles collided near Milepost 223, between the Ritzville and Schoessler Road exits. Neither the cause of the crash nor the names of those involved were released. The p...
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign multiple new firearms restrictions into law in the coming two weeks. House Bill 1143 passed the Senate 28-18 on Saturday, April 7. That bill is now before the governor. On the same day, House Bill 1240 passed the Senate, 27-21, and is now back before the House to reconcile changes between the newest version and one passed by the House earlier this year. A reconciliation vote is expected to come quickly, as the only difference between the bills House Bill 1143, when signed into l...
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign multiple new firearms restrictions into law in the coming two weeks. House Bill 1143 passed the Senate 28-18 on Saturday, April 7. That bill is now before the governor. On the same day, House Bill 1240 passed the Senate, 27-21, and is now back before the House to reconcile changes between the newest version and one passed by the House earlier this year. A reconciliation vote is expected to come quickly, as the only difference between the bills House Bill 1143, when signed into l...
SPOKANE VALLEY – Avista ratepayers will face higher bills beginning July 1 if a proposed rate hike is approved by the state Utilities and Transportation Commission. Avista has requested price adjustments, including electricity rate hikes that will increase its revenues by 6%. The request to increase the rate to comply with state regulations that require Avista to either obtain an authorized increase or return or rebate money to ratepayers if the utility has a deferral balance of $30 million or more. The rate increase would l...
OTHELLO — A local man was arrested for robbery after deputies used a Taser to subdue him following a pursuit. Andres Garza, 35, of Othello, was booked into the Franklin County Jail on Friday, March 31. He is facing charges of first-degree robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm, attempting to elude police, and second-degree driving while license suspended. He was also wanted on three outstanding misdemeanor warrants out of Adams County. According to an Adams County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies searching for Garza fou...
CONNELL — The March drought report shows good news for farmers across much of Washington state and Franklin County. According to the report released earlier this month, the state is drought-free. But, some "abnormally dry" areas remain. Conditions remain abnormally dry in the Othello area, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a division of the USDA. But with a better-than-average snowpack and rain in the forecast, farmers should be ready for the spring g...
WASHTUCNA — Expect to see more Washington State Patrol troopers on the road from March 9-19. The agency will be operating its Washington State University spring break emphasis in Spokane, Whitman, Grant, Kittitas and Adams counties as students leave and return to Pullman. The emphasis will focus on U.S. Highways 195 and 395, State Highway 26 and Interstate 90. Troopers will be focusing excessive speed, distracted driving and impaired driving during the emphasis. “Our primary mission is to ensure that everyone enjoys safe tra...
OLYMPIA - Under a bill making its way through the Legislature, irrigation districts would be required to move to all-mail ballots for elections. Senate Bill 5709, introduced by Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, would eliminate polling places and absentee ballots for election of irrigation district directors. The bill passed the Senate, 47-0, on Tuesday, Feb.28. The bill now moves to the House. According to state officials, the measure applies to about 100 irrigation districts,...
CONNELL — A recent study by SmartAsset shows that Connell is the most affordable city for homeowners in the state of Washington. The financial analysis released by the company used an "affordability index" comparing costs of ownership to income. Costs considered in the study include closing, property taxes, insurance and mortgage payments. Connell's affordability index was the highest in Washington state at 53.76. The study showed the average closing cost is $4, 174 in the city and the average annual property tax is $...