Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 887
PASCO — Franklin County elections officials will conduct a logic and accuracy test of ballot-tallying equipment on Jan. 18. The test will take place at 2 p.m. in the Franklin County Election Center, 116 N. Third Ave. It is open to the public. The purpose of the test is to validate ballot-tabulating equipment for the Feb.13 special election. The general public and candidates are allowed to observe the test, Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton said. The test is required under Revised Code of Washington 29A.12.130, and W...
PASCO — The Franklin County Auditor's Office has mailed military and overseas ballots for the Feb. 13 special election. "We anticipate mailing ballots to all Franklin County registered voters no later than Friday, Jan. 26," Auditor Matt Beaton said. Ballots are due on or before Feb. 13. Election information including measures and ballot drop box locations is available on the Franklin County website www.franklincountywa.gov/elections....
OLYMPIA — Five Republicans will appear on the March 12 presidential primary ballot. According to the Office of the Secretary of State, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and Chris Christie will be on the ballot. As of press time, other major political parties had yet to report their candidates. Under Revised Code of Washington 29A.56.031, the deadline to submit names is Jan. 9....
RITZVILLE – The local grocery store sold a $50,000 prize-winning lottery ticket in the Dec. 13 Powerball drawing. According to the Washington State Lottery, the winner claimed the prize money last week. The state Lottery Commission could not provide the winners name by press time. Lottery officials said the ticket was purchased at Akins Fresh Market, 610 W. First Ave. In the Dec. 13 drawing, white balls selected were 03, 08, 41, 56 and 64. The Powerball was 18. The winner matched 4-of-5 white balls, plus the Powerball n...
OLYMPIA – Some lawmakers are reconsidering sobriety checkpoints and automated enforcement cameras in a bid to bring the number of road deaths down in the state. Traffic deaths in Washington hit a high in 2022, with 750 fatalities, the highest number since 1990, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. And while 2023 statistics are not complete yet, by July 31, 417 people had died on Washington’s roads – on pace to surpass the number of 2022 deaths. “What we’ve done to date is not having the impact we want,” Tr...
PASCO – The Franklin County Auditor’s Office is seeking individuals interested in writing statements “For” and “Against” measures for the Feb. 13 special election Local Voters’ Pamphlet for the following districts: • Fire Protection District 2 - Proposition 1 • Kahlotus School District - Proposition 1 • North Franklin School District- Proposition 1 If the Auditor’s Office did not receive both “for” or “against” committee appointments by Dec. 30, Revised Code of Washington 29A.32.280 directs the Auditor’s Office to seek out...
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Biden Administration and environmental activists formalized an agreement Dec. 14 on plans to manage and improve salmon populations on the Snake River. A “memorandum of understanding” was filed with U.S. District Court in an attempt to curtail lawsuits over salmon and efforts by environmental activists to breach the four Lower Snake River dams. The agreement was formally announced Thursday, Dec. 14, by the Biden Administration, more than two weeks after a leaked document was released to the public by 5t...
TUMWATER – The state Department of Labor and Industries is imposing a new rule regulating workers’ exposure to smoke from wildfires. On Jan. 15, the agency’s new rule requires employers to have train employees on the hazards of smoke, monitor smoke levels and ensure workers have access to prompt medical attention. The new rule will be in effect year-round, not just during fire season. “With our changing climate, we know the threat of wildfire smoke isn’t a short-term problem,” said agency Division of Occupational Safety and...
OLYMPIA – Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is injecting himself into Idaho law. Last week, he joined 21 other Democrat attorneys general in a court brief to try to block the Idaho law requiring students to use restrooms and locker rooms corresponding to their gender. “In Washington, where the rights of transgender students are protected, public schools report no instances of transgender students harassing others in bathrooms or locker rooms,” Ferguson said in a press release announce he was joining other Democ...
RITZVILLE – An Ephrata woman is facing multiple charges in connection with an attempted theft. Tianna Gene Marie Trumble, 19, of Ephrata was arrested Dec. 6 in the 1100 block of North Rand Lane and she was found hiding in a vehicle on the property. She was arrested for residential burglary, first-degree criminal trespass and second-degree vehicle prowl. Deputies were called to the property about 11:30 a.m. for an unknown person on the property, records show, noting they c...
WASHINGTON D.C. - The Biden and Inslee administrations have been colluding secretly with extremist environmental groups and four tribal governments on plans to breach dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. A "confidential mediation document - not for distribution" on their dam-breaching efforts was leaked to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers last week, and then to the media Wednesday, Nov. 29. McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, represents Eastern Washington's 5th Congressional District,...
MOSES LAKE – The Columbia Basin Development League elected its leadership for 2024 during its annual meeting Nov. 14. The three first-time board members elected are David Dormier of Quincy, Derek Friehe of Moses Lake and Mike Garza of Othello. Dormier is an Erlandsen and Associates engineering manager and a member of the Quincy City Council. Friehe is the Friehe Farms general manager. Garza serves as the District No. 3 Adams County commissioner and has served as the Othello School Board President and Columbia Basin Health A...
LIND – The Adams County Sheriff's Office is looking for information on the whereabouts of a Ritzville man wanted in connection with a domestic violence incident. According to the Adams County Sheriff's Office, Chad Michael Pichette is wanted in connection with an alleged domestic violence assault as well as felony harassment. On Nov. 17, deputies were looking for Pichette in the Lind area, records show, noting Pichette allegedly ran from deputies responding to a related c...
OTHELLO – During a Nov. 13 City Council meeting, a life-long resident was promoted from school resource officer to the city's No. 2 position in the Police Department. Sgt. Aaron Garza was recognized during a pinning ceremony in which he was introduced as assist police chief. Garza grew up in Othello and was an Othello High School Class of 2000 graduate. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, then returned home to work in the police department, where he has b...
HATTON – It took three weeks for the declared candidates in the town of Hatton to win their seats, but certified Nov. 7 general election results show they pulled it out – barely. In all of the town’s races, declared candidates with their names on the ballots edged undeclared write-in insurgents by a single vote. Rhea Isaac won the mayoral race with 15 votes; a write-in candidate received 14 votes. By the same margin, Barbara Pence won the Council Position No. 2 seat, Eric Rawson the Council Position No. 4 seat and Linda...
RITZVILLE - The National Weather Service has issued an air stagnation warning until 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 30. The service said freezing, foggy conditions will trap pollutants and other particulates in the air, reducing air qualitymuch of the week. The warning covers much of Eastern Washington. The warning is expected to be lifted Thursday before a new cold front moves across the region, potentially bringing snow to Adams County. The forecast calls for a 40% chance of snow on...
PASCO — A local woman has been sentenced to 108 in prison after pleading guilty to drug-dealing charges. Amy Lynn Loza, 38, of Pasco, was sentenced after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture of a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced her to 108 in prison, followed by five years of probation. Court records show that in October of 2022, the federal DEA and the Tri-Cities drug task force began tracking several f...
LIND – Washington State Patrol detectives are still seeking witnesses to a vehicle versus pedestrian fatality Oct. 30 on U.S. Highway 395. Nicholas A. Cooper, 31, of Lakewood, was killed in the incident near Milepost 81. Troopers believe Cooper was killed about 3:30 a.m. after possibly being hit by a white passenger vehicle, “whose driver may or may not know their vehicle(s) struck a pedestrian.” Cooper’s body was later found and an Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputy notified his next of kin. According to the patrol, t...
RITZVILLE – Kyya Grant and Anthony Daily of Adams County Pet Rescue highlighted their concerns about an abundance of large dogs and inadequate funding during the Oct. 24 Adams County commissioners meeting. “We’re stuck between a rock and a hard place,” Grant said. “In the past, we’ve had substantial donations that carried us, even when we had fewer dogs.” She said Pet Rescue, 1961 W. Bench Road in Othello, collects $170,000-$200,000 in adoption fees annually, but that’s not enough to cover expenses. Deficits are running mor...
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...
PASCO - Here are the first-day tallies in the Nov. 7 general election. Late-arriving ballots will be counted over the next several days, with the next tally set to be released at 5 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 8. Benton, Franklin Superior Court Judge Position 3 Diana Ruff - 6,456; 99% Port of Kahlotus Commissioner, District 2 William Harder Jr. - 59, 85.5% Jon Andrewjeski - 10, 14.5% Commissioner, District 3 James D. Moore - 62, 98.4% Port of Pasco Commissioner, District 1 V...
WASHTUCNA – Headlights lit up Main Street on Thursday, Oct. 26, as diners headed to the newly re-opened Sonny's Tavern for their first night open since the business's acquisition by Bridget and Paul Coon. Farmers, firefighters and first responders, who were the inaugural guests during the opening service, were greeted with smiling faces of Farm Bureau representatives, the familiar smell of frying chicken and the sight local farm brands that were burned into the interior 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...
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...