Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 399
OLYMPIA — Farmers and ranchers will likely continue to be taxed on agricultural diesel fuel after House and Senate committees last week failed to advance exemption bills. Senate Bill 5728, introduced by Sen. Perry Dozier, R-Kennewick, and co-sponsored by Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, didn’t make it out of the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee. House Bill 1780, introduced by Republican Reps. Joe Schmick of Colfax and Mary Dye of Pomeroy met a similar fate in the House. The bills were designed to imp...
OLYMPIA — Coyote Ridge Corrections Center inmate may have an opportunity to learn how to care for horses under a bill that passed the House of Representatives on Monday, Feb. 27. House Bill 1543, introduced by 9th Legislative District representative Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, passed on a 95-0 vote. The measure now goes to the Senate for further consideration. The bill directs the state Department of Corrections to study and develop a wild horse training and farrier program at the prison. The measure would set up a program similar t...
OLYMPIA — Farmers and ranchers will be likely continue to be taxed on agricultural diesel fuel after House and Senate committees last week failed to advance exemption bills. Senate Bill 5728, introduced by Sen. Perry Dozier, R-Kennewick, and co-sponsored by Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, didn’t make it out of the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee. And House Bill 1780, introducted by Republican Reps. Joe Schmick of Colfax and Mary Dye of Pomeroy met a similar fate in the House. The bills were designed to...
HATTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering a grant award to a local company to expand fertilizer production. Perfect Blend, LLC, manufactures organic plant food at its 771 Kulm Road location northwest of Hatton. The company has applied to the USDA for a grant to help build a 4,000-square-foot addition to increase capacity. Details on the amount of the grant being considered and other information has yet to be released by the USDA. The project is one of 21 the USDA is considering; USDA officials are expected t...
VERNITA — A Pasco man was hospitalized Thursday, Jan. 26, following a crash that killed another driver. The Washington State Patrol is withholding the name, age and hometown of the driver pending notification of next of kin. The crash occurred near Milepost 42 of state Highway 24, between Richland and Vernita Bridge at about 3:33 a.m. Thursday, the patrol reported. The driver of a 2006 Chevrolet Colorado was westbound on the highway about 20 miles west of West Richland, the patrol reported. Jeffrey D. Lewis, 40, of Pasco, w...
RITZVILLE — A local lawmaker says two environmental laws from the Democratic-controlled Legislature and Gov. Jay Inslee that took effect Jan. 1 are already causing a fuel price increase. Republican Sen. Mark Schoesler or Ritzville, who represents the 9th Legislative District, said the Washington Independent Energy Distributors Association is reporting the increase in less than a week of new laws taking effect. Wholesale gasoline and diesel prices have risen statewide as a result of the “cap-and-tax” law and the law creat...
RITZVILLE — Dryland wheat producers will meet Jan. 24 to hear presentations from a number of speakers. The producer meeting runs from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the American Legion hall, 106 W. Broadway Ave. The program includes presentations on: Soil-Active Herbicide Application in Fields of Fallow, presented by Larry Lutcher, a Morrow Count y, Ore., agronomist. Wheat, Weeds, Wireworms: A Look Back Over the Last 25 Years, presented by Ritzville agronomist Aaron Esser. Winter Whe4at Variety Selection for Low Rainfall Regions, p...
CONNELL — Gov. Jay Inslee’s proposed 2023-25 budget includes about $15 million for the Connell Rail Interchange Project. The budget includes $10 million previously approved by the Legislature in 2015 as well as an additional $5 million in the upcoming biennium. Approximately $500,000 have already been spent for design and engineering on the project that would upgrade the 100-year-old railroad interchange. Local officials said the funding is an important step to improve the growing rail activity through Connell where the Col...
OTHELLO — A local man was hospitalized Sunday night after he was struck by a car early Sunday morning, Jan. 15. Augustino P. De Los Santos, 23, of Othello, was transported to the local hospital after he apparently walked into the path of a vehicle at about 2:31 a.m., the Washington State Patrol reported. His condition was not immediately available. According to a patrol report, De Los Santos was walking on the eastbound should of State Highway 26 before walking into the roadway near Milepost 46. He was struck by an e...
OTHELLO — A local man was booked into the Benton County Jail after being arrested for multiple crimes Jan. 5. Ruben Cantu Jr., 29, was booked into the jail on charges of second-degree vehicle prowl, second-degree theft, second-degree possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, identity theft and second-degree burglary. He also had outstanding warrants, records show. Benton County Jail records showed Monday, Jan. 16, that he remains in custody without bail. Cantu is facing the charges in Adams County Superior Court in R...
RITZVILLE — A local lawmaker has introduced legislation to create the Washington State Commission on Boys and Men to address the well-being of boys and men across. “There are many issues that impact men and boys. Yet, there is no unified voice that would tackle these issues at the state level,” 9th Legislative District Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy said. “If adopted, this legislation would create the first of its kind boys and men’s commission in the nation right here in Washington state.” Dye represents Whitman, Lincoln, southern...
Washington state has high tax rates — gas, property, you name it. Government agencies collect billions of tax dollars annually from residents and businesses here. So why then are government agencies taking Washington taxpayer dollars and buying goods and services out-of-state, goods and services that are readily abundant in Washington? Those agencies are penalizing state taxpayers (residents and businesses) for paying the high taxes the agencies collected under burdensome r...
WARDEN — The Washington State Patrol is investigating an alleged alcohol/drug-related Sunday afternoon crash, Jan. 22, that left four people injured. Othello residents Breanna Rodriguez, 20, Rafael Sanchez Andrade, 24, Alvin Korrell, 70, and Gloria Korrell, 59, were all transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake for treatment of crash-related injuries, the Washington State Patrol reported. The crash occurred at about 1:37 p.m. Rodriguez was westbound in a 2008 Lincoln MKX on state Highway 170 approaching state H...
RITZVILLE - It's going to be a cold, white Christmas. Adams County was under a Wind Chill Watch on Monday, with a Wind Chill Advisory kicking in until Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service. "For the Wind Chill Watch, dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 below zero possible," a statement issued by the weather service said. After Tuesday, the temperature was expected to increase only enough to move from a watch to an advisory. "Wind chill values may...
RITZVILLE — The Bronco girls basketball team closed out the year with two wins the week before Christmas. The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague/Washtucna/Harrington girls dunked Columbia (Burbank), 48-32, on Tuesday, Dec. 20, and edged Tri-Cities Prepartory, 44-41, on Wednesday, Dec. 21. On the road against the Columbia Coyotes, the Broncos came out on fire, running up a 15-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Coyotes cut the margin, outscoring Lind-Ritzvillle, 12-8. At the half, the Broncos led the C...
As a youngster, I looked forward to Christmas. I loved the food, the traditions and especially the presents — what kid doesn’t? In high school and college, the luster subsided. As a wrestler, Christmas was a time for fasting so I didn’t have to move up a weight class. I dreaded running extra bleachers, doing additional up-downs and all the “fat man” jokes from teammates. Christmas would become just one of those “OK” holidays for me after college. As a journalist, I...
CENTRAL FERRY — The U.S. government has reached an agreement with a rancher accused of allowing his cattle to trespass on federally managed lands along the Snake River. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington approved the settlement of case no, 2:18-cv-00024-SAB (E.D. Wash.), involving conflict between federal managers of the Central Ferry Habitat Management Unit adjacent and Riley’s River Ranch. U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington Vanessa R. Waldreff said the settlement agreement bet...
PASCO — A Benton City woman is facing charges in a three-vehicle crash in which she was injured Thursday, Nov. 17, on Interstate 182. Helen L. Shuler, 57, was transported to a Richland hospital following the 7:06 a.m. crash near the 20th Avenue interchange in Pasco, the Washington State Patrol reported. She is facing a second-degree negligent driving charge. The crash occurred when Shuler's eastbound 2017 Kia Forte rear-ended a 2013 Nissan Altima, driven by Karen M. Clary, 72, of Pasco, the patrol reported. Clary's vehicle w...
It seems like every time you open a webpage, turn on the TV or listen to the radio, you’re bombarded with negativity. We’re on the verge of nuclear war. The recession is upon us. Inflation is high. Every storm is “historic.” Race-based politics are invading every inch of our educational system and lives. And if that’s not enough, the 2024 election season has already begun. It’s enough to get you down, and keep you there. But cheer up. You have plenty to be thankful for this Th...
SPOKANE – Incumbent Congress-woman Cathy McMorris Rodgers easily defeated her 5th Congressional District challenger in the Nov. 8 general election. As of press time, McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, had amassed 168,708 votes (59.25%). She led every county in the district. Meanwhile, Democratic challenger Natasha Hill of Spokane was a distant second with 115,391 votes (40.52%). The two were vying to be the representative of Washington's 5th Congressional District, which includes A...
PASCO - A local boy won a state B cross country title Saturday, Nov. 5, at Sun Willows Golf Course. Ciaran St. Hilaire, a junior at Tri-Cities Prepatory, took gold in the boys division, finishing the 5,000-meter course in 16:27.4. He was among Jaguar runners that included freshmen Paul Beery and Brenden Bohrmann; sophomores Aidric Muzatko and Josh Nolan; juniors, Tyler Baerlocher, Patrick Kovis and Brian Sweeney; and senio Gabriel Bohrmann. Overall, the boys team finished...
PASCO – Local farm girl turned political newcomer Tiffany Smiley securely has all 20 of Eastern Washington's counties in her corner. In fact, she had the lead in 27 of the state's 39 counties in the Tuesday, Nov. 8, general election. Yet, she was still losing to career politician Patty Murray, D-Shoreline. Smiley, a Pasco Republican, trailed Murray after the first night of counting in the general election. Murray had 980,199 votes (56.92%); Smiley had 738,618 votes (...
PASCO — Three Connell Eagles were among the hundreds of competitors Saturday, Nov. 5, vying for a state cross country title at Willow Springs Golf Course. In the boys division, senior Spencer Harris and sophomore Elijah Morrisette competed. Harris paced the Eagles, finishing 52nd overall with a time of 18:13.0. Morrisette was 54th, with a time of 18:16.6. In the girls division, senior Josie Miller completed the 5,000-meter course in 104th place with a time of 2...
PASCO – Voters appear to have given Sheriff Jim D. Raymond another term in office as the county’s top cop. At the end of the first day of counting in the Tuesday, Nov. 8, general election, Raymond had amassed nearly three-quarters of the ballots tallied in the race for Franklin County sheriff. Raymond had an initial count of 11,075 votes (73.81%). Challenger Chris Turner had a total of 3,837 votes (25.57%). There were 1,778 undervotes, 5 overvotes and 93 write-ins also cast in the election. Election officials said 16,788 bal...
ELTOPIA – Incumbent Clint Didier has a comfortable lead in his re-election bid to the county commission. Didier, of Eltopia, was seeking re-election to the District No. 3 commission seat. He was being challenged by a former county commissioner, Rick Miller of Pasco. At the end of the first day of counting in the Nov. 8 general election, Didier had a lead of more 1,500 votes. Early returns show Didier with 8,546 votes (55.08%). Miller was a distant second with 6,877 votes (...