Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 887
PASCO — The City Council discussed funding for the effort to regentrify the downtown areas. During a council meeting July 24, Community and Economic Development Director Jacob Gonzalez introduced two Framework Consulting presenters, whom the city paired with as part of the downtown master plan adopted in January. Lesley Bain and Jeff Arango presented a change to the municipal code as well as a plan and a bid for funding “Paint Pasco.” Bain and Arango presented several steps to the process as well as a comprehensive appro...
PASCO - A group of legislators joined Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs on July 25 to tour Franklin County's downtown election center to see the ballot process first-hand. Hobbs was present with Assistant Secretary of State Kevin McMahan, Reps. Stephanie Barnard, Bill Ramos, Chris Stearns, Sharlett Mena, Bruce Chandler and Sam Low; and Sens. Nikki Torres and Matt Boehnke. The tour came just days before the Aug. 1 primary election is set to close. Franklin County...
LIND — The Town Council approved a work order to provide an analysis of Well No. 7 during its meeting Tuesday, July 11. Work order No. 4 allocates $9,493 for labor toward the total $44.250 cost of the well project. The town has already approved funding for most of the rest of the project, officials said, noting it is also a qualifier for a future USDA grant to cover refurbishment of the well. Previously, the Department of Agriculture had advised the town that it was not under emergency status yet and needed to prove an e...
PASCO — Benton Franklin Health District officials have issued a warning for the West Nile virus after detecting it in the Richland area. A mosquito in Richland tested positive for the virus July 21, officials said. More than a week prior, multiple mosquitos tested positive for the virus in the Grandview area of Yakima County. Those are the first instances of West Nile being detected in the state this year, officials said, noting no cases have been reported in people or animals, so far, this year. The virus has not been d...
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...
LIND — While residents wound down after a sunny summer day, the race for town council position Nos. 4 and 5 began to wind up during a candidate forum July 17. Modeator Robert Meader gave the candidates an array of questions to test where they stand on major issues, as well as how they handle the pressure of tense questioning. Five Position No. 4 candidates attended – Christopher Olson, Jamie Schmunk, Heather Reed, Richard Baldwin and incumbent Myra Horton. Richard Baldwin formally withdrew from the race due to personal iss...
OTHELLO – A local man remains in jail in connection with a reported arson July 18. Victor Jesus Perez-Villela, 28, was arrested and booked into the Franklin County Jail on a second-degree arson charge. He remained in the jail at press time. According to the Adams County Sheriff's Office, fire crews and deputies responded to a structure fire at ab out 3:35 p.m. July 18 in the 2100 block of West Moon Road. The suspect had fled on foot, records show. But Othello police located t...
LIND — A local woman believes town officials need to be more transparent when conducting the public’s business. During the July 11 Town Council meeting, resident Briana Osborn, who is also running for Town Council Position No. 5, called for more transparency. During the meeting, she noted having several disputes in the past with the council regarding public access to meetings, During public comment, she suggested the council create a public social media page and post recordings of the meetings, noting the recordings would be...
PASCO — County Administrator Mike Gonzalez expects county government to lose nearly a third of its employees in the coming months. During a Franklin County Commission meeting Tuesday, July 25, Gonzalez said 32.5% of county employees are expected to leave. “Despite rising morale at the courthouse, we are still set to lose a percentage of employees,” he told county commissioners. Retention and hiring of employees has been an issue across a large swath of industries and government agencies since Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-1...
POMEROY – Eastern Washington lawmakers are taking issue with a move by Gov. Jay Inslee to blame oil companies for skyrocketing fuel prices. Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, said inflated fuel prices are not because of big oil, but because of “big government gouging Washingtonians.” Her comments followed a July 20 gubernatorial press conference on why Washington has the highest prices for gasoline in the nation. As of press time Tuesday, July 25, Washington had the highest average price for regular gasoline at $4.86 per gallo...
SPOKANE VALLEY — People buying motorized wheelchairs or other mobility-improving equipment will pay less thanks to Senate Bill 5218, which makes such equipment tax-exempt. The Senate and House unanimously approved SB 5218. Introduced by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, the new law goes into effect July 23. To be eligible for the exemption, a purchasers must provide the seller with an exemption certificate as prescribed by the state Department of Revenue. The tax exemption will apply to mobility-enhancing equipment sold or...
Name: Stephanie Hallman Age:53 Employment/Business/Other Experience: Nurse Case Manager for Reliable Healthcare/Nurse 30 years m Community Service: American Red Cross Education: BS Occupational Safety and Health, BA Troy University, Wallace Community College Nursing and EMT program graduate Family: Married with two adult children and one grandson. 1.What are your goals for the city of Connell? Create policies that protect the hometown feel of Connell yet helps develop businesses that bring in investments to the local...
City of Connell – City Council Position No. 6 Name: Shelly Harper Age: 52 Employment/Business/Other Experience: Nutrien Ag Solutions-Administrator, Grace United Community Church Secretary, Franklin County Cemetery District #2 Commissioner, Current City of Connell Councilmember Community Service: North Franklin Heritage Museum - Executive Director, Connell Community Club Vice President, North Franklin Eagles Nest Treasurer, Dream With Me Preschool Treasurer Education: C...
Name: Patrice Hebel Age: 56 Employment/Business/Other Experience: General Manager at M&M Motel in Connell for 9 years. Community Service: I am board member elect on Chamber of Commerce since 2018, Fall Festival Committee since 2019, Hotel Motel Tax Committee since 2019 and the Salary Commission Committee in 2022. Education: High school and college graduate Family: Did not answer Disclaimer: The following questions are to be answered by candidates in 100 words or less. We do...
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...
ELTOPIA — Franklin County Public Hospital District No. 1's emergency services will receive a $1.5 million grant from American Rescue Plan Act funds. Franklin County commissioners learned about the grant status during their July 5 meeting. The funds come out of the $18,495,757 in ARPA funds the county accepted in 2021 as part of the federal COVID-19 relief program. The hospital district encompasses about 715 square-miles, serving around 12,500 people in northern Franklin C...
CONNELL — The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed July 11 that remains found six miles east of the city are those of a 2019 homicide victim. The remains of Estella Torres-Rodriguez, 52, were recovered between Connell and Kahlotus in a remote location, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed. Torres-Rodriguez was reported missing in 2019. Sheriff’s Office Cmdr. Marcus Connor said the remains will be returned to her family in the near future. Torres-Rodriguez was last seen March 28, 2019, and listed as missing the followi...
CONNELL — Ballots for the Aug. 1 primary election were mailed July 11 to registered voters in the city. Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton said registered voters should already be receiving them, as well as a voter pamphlet the Franklin County Elections Department created to help voters learn about candidates. City residents not currently registered to vote still have an opportunity to participate in the election, Beaton said. City residents can register online at www.votewa.gov or by mail until Monday, July 24; or in p...
PASCO — An old organization is making a comeback in Washington state, bolstered by woke shifts in Washington State University Extension Office’s 4-H and school-based Future Farmers of America programs. Washington State Grange, founded in 1889, is now providing an alternative way for rural families to participate in fairs statewide. Grange is a rural organization that unites rural families with agricultural programs, community halls and activities, and more statewide. The Benton-Franklin Fair in Kennewick was initially hes...
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...
PASCO — The Franklin County Auditor's Office election staff will be testing ballot-counting equipment and software July 10 in advance of the primary election. Franklin County Auditor, pursuant to RCW 29A.12.130, WAC 434-335-300 and WAC 434-335-310 will conduct a logic and accuracy test at 10 a.m. that day in the Franklin County Election Center, 116 N. Third Ave. The purpose of the test is to validate ballot tabulating equipment for the Aug. 1 primary election in Franklin County. The logic and accuracy test is open to p...
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...
BURBANK - Several Republican members of the congressional House Energy and Commerce Committee spent Monday in Eastern Washington, specifically to learn about the importance of dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. Committee Chairwoman Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, was joined by as Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Chairman Republican Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, and Rep. Mike Collins, R-Georgia, for a tour of Ice Harbor Dam, the lower-most Snake River...
PASCO – Personal fireworks sales off reservations is allowed from noon today, Wednesday, June 28, through 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 5. From June 29 to July 4, fireworks may be sold from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. On July 5, fireworks may be sold from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Under station law, residents and visitors may discharge personal fireworks from noon until 11 p.m. today. Discharge is also allowed from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 to July 3 and from 9 a.m. to midnight on Independence Day. On July 5, fireworks may be legally d...
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...