January 29, 2026
January 29, 2026
SPOKANE — A tribal official who diverted tens of thousands of dollars intended for foster children was sentenced Wednesday to more than a year in federal prison. Tawhnee Willow Colvin, of Davenport, was convicted on 26 counts of bank fraud and embezzlement from the Spokane Tribe of Indians. She will also serve five years of supervised release and must pay $100,830 in restitution. Colvin was assistant director of the Spokane Tribe of Indians’ Department of Health and Human Services and Division of Child and Family...
SPRAGUE - An investigation is underway in Sprague following concerns that city council documents, including a budget-related ordinance, may have been altered, prompting the resignation of the city's clerk-treasurer. The inquiry began after a recent city council meeting where questions were raised about the authenticity of certain official records, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. "Recently, there was a council meeting and it appeared that some documents had... Full story
DAVENPORT - Ballots for Lincoln County's upcoming levy-only election are landing in mailboxes this week, and voters may notice they look a little different from those in years past. About 4,200 ballots were mailed last Friday afternoon, according to Lincoln County Elections Manager Norm Caley. There are no candidates on the ballot, only levy measures. The change comes after state legislation passed last year requiring uniform ballot envelopes statewide, replacing what had...
DAVENPORT — One Lincoln County town logged 1,360 police calls in 2025. Another had just eight. The county’s latest crime data reveal sharp contrasts, both in total incidents and per-resident activity, showing how population, location, and local law enforcement shape who interacts most with police and the sheriff’s office. Davenport, the county seat and largest town, with about 1,703 residents, recorded the most calls. Traffic offenses, domestic violence investigations, and suspicious person reports dominated. That...
OLYMPIA — School board members statewide may see a pay raise if Senate Bill 5860 passes and is signed into law. The bill raises pay from $50 to $100 per working day, reimburses child care costs during meetings and requires finance training. The proposed bill and companion House Bill 2366 do not require compensation for school board members, but would raise the maximum that they could be paid. Senate Bill 5860 passed the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee and has been sent to the Ways & Means Committee to...
ODESSA — Residents may notice a stranger walking through neighborhoods and taking photos of homes, but county officials say there is no cause for alarm and no automatic increase in property taxes tied to the activity. The Lincoln County Assessor’s Office is conducting routine property assessments in the Odessa area to determine current market values, County Assessor Scott Liebing said. The work is part of a regular cycle required by the state and is not connected to tax increases. “We are assessing in that area,...
INCIDENT LOG Editor’s note: Most items in this section reflect the starting point for response by local police and emergency agencies. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) does not release names of individuals who report possible criminal or suspicious activities to dispatchers or alleged victims for this column. DISPATCH LOG Jan. 18 Traffic Stops: 1 12:23 a.m. — A driver reported that two vehicles were racing while traveling toward Spokane. One was a Ford Focus and the other a Subaru WRX. 1:32 p.m. — An...
OLYMPIA – State lawmakers want to rein in how license plate cameras designed to track vehicles can be used. During a public hearing Jan. 20, Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma, said federal immigration authorities are accessing data obtained by automated license plate readers and that's a major reason for regulating them. Trudeau is the sponsor of Senate Bill 6002, which would create a regulatory structure for license plate reading camera systems and the data captured by them....
Meth case trial date set DAVENPORT - The most recent court activity in a Lincoln County drug case advanced Tuesday as a Superior Court judge set a new trial date during a status conference. Lincoln County Superior Court Judge Adam Walser said the court received a letter that resulted in changes to the case, including a change in defense counsel. Victoria Iverson took over representation after Dave Hearrean removed himself from the case. The deputy prosecuting attorney Bruce...
When Olympia says 'don't look here,' it's time to start looking really, really hard. Minnesota's deepening Somali daycare fraud scandal naturally is prompting questions about whether the same thing might be happening in Washington state. And one of the most chilling things I've seen lately from our increasingly imperious Democratic leaders is their effort to squelch independent investigation by the news media. They're saying inquiry is racist. The attorney general is hinting...
Rules surrounding Washington state's new policy to allow striking workers to receive unemployment insurance (UI) benefits might have run into an inconvenient reality: UI is not only a state program. While employers in our state fund the benefits that go to unemployed workers, the UI program is a state-federal partnership with federal strings, federal oversight and federal dollars attached. That's why a recent "questions and answers" letter from the U.S. Department of Labor...
Harold "Sam" Schneider, 77, of Davenport, passed away in the early morning hours of Jan. 8, 2026, with his wife of 55 years by his side. Sam was born on June 30, 1948, in Davenport to Harry and Marge (Knack) Schneider. Sam attended school in Davenport, where he participated in FFA and showed steers, though most of his time was spent working on the family farm. He graduated in 1966. After high school, Sam worked for a short time at a gas station in Spokane, where he met the...
Lizann June Hink, 67, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at Virgina Mason Hospital in Seattle, Wash. Born on Sept.19,1958, in Odessa, Wash. Lizann was the daughter of Lamar and Marlene (Scrupps) Homberg of Odessa, Wash. She attended Odessa Schools and graduated with the Class of 1977. Lizann married Wilford (Shorty) Hink on June 11, 1977, and together they welcomed their two boys Jeremy and Josh. Lizann started working at the Kittitas...
Ruth Sieverkropp Kendall, age 91, passed peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026 at Mills Nursing and Rehabilitation. Born in Puyallup, Washin., she lived as a devoted housewife and cherished member of Saint Paul Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday school and leading kids in Christmas caroling. Her children meant everything to her-she adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ruth treasured memories of her father, brothers, and growing up in Washington, embracing a life of...
Harrington kids teamed up with reading buddies and lined the halls with free books during National Reading Day, proving that reading is better when...
I write this column with the kind of caution usually reserved for handling live grenades. Why? Because this time last year, I innocently mentioned sunshine, a lack of snow, and, oops, the county apparently thought I was issuing a challenge. Snow piled in, my inbox nearly exploded with frustrated messages, and the latest gem arrived just in time for this column: if anyone has to shovel snow after I write this, I’ll be receiving a bill. Consider this a very polite, slightly nervous preemptive apology to Mother Nature… and...
Sprague, formerly known as Hoodooville in the early 1880s, is a small town home to around 525 people right off of I-90. Nestled in the corner of Lincoln County, this town is a place rich with history, both tragic and interesting. Officially incorporated into the United States in 1883, and the original home of the Pacific Railway Depot, Hoodooville changed its name to Sprague after John W. Sprague, a Civil War veteran and railroad executive. Sprague blossomed until a fire burned it down in 1895. The depot was moved to...
DAVENPORT — The Lincoln County Fair and Rodeo is seeking entries for the 2026 premium book cover contest. Entries are due by March 31. The theme of this year’s fair is continuing the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. “Honor the Past, Imagine the Future and the Lincoln County Fair and Rodeo. This year the fair takes place from August 20th to the 22nd. There are four age divisions for entries with a winner selected from each age division. All division winners with have their entries published in...
100 Years Ago The coldest temperature of the season was recorded here last Thursday evening when the thermometer registered 14 above zero. The coldest previous temperature had been 18 above. A bull on the S. A. Weipert farm south of Reardan gored five horses Monday when the stock came to a straw pile to feed. One of the horses will not recover. Davenport was victorious in four high school basketball games last weekend, the high school first team defeating Creston, 29-16, Friday, and Reardan, 44-14; Saturday, while the grade...
DAVENPORT — Spokane Community College has released its honor roll for the Fall 2025 quarter, recognizing students from across Lincoln County for their academic achievement. Students from Davenport earning honors include Jessica Thao, Marlaena McKeehen, Koda Coffman, Jerrica Razpotnik and Avneet Sekhon. From Reardan, honorees are Melissa Warwick and Keivon Singleton. Odessa students named to the honor roll are Hayden Schuh, Lily Starkel and Bo Walter. From Sprague, students recognized are Harlee Hennings and Heather... Full story
Davenport Birthdays Jan. 29: Tim Utley, Doug Reinbold, Eliza Lynn Bailey, Jaymie Bennett Jan. 30: Teresa Vesneske Jan. 31: Debbie Orvis, Danita Hammond, Kalah Dehn, James Bellotti Feb. 1: Anna Cash, Sherrill Hansen, Brenda Guhlke, Carson Tucker, Ryker Plasencia Feb. 2: Greg Hein Feb. 3: Braelynn Carruth, Susan Coffman, Jeanne Morrision, Sydney Abbott, Jason Raugust, Blake Warwick Feb. 4: Dawn Shaver, Amber Hubbard Reardan Birthdays Jan. 29: Jeff Wagner, Sarah Spearman, Jennifer Kieffer, Ruth Wollweber Jan. 31: Rhett...
Patchwork quilting weather is here. Cold, dreary days are perfect for settling in with a winter project. This weeks column is a patchwork of recipes with no particular theme. Some would be perfect for a game day buffet, others ideal for everyday family meals or celebrations. Charlene Kagele recently shared a King Arthur brand recipe for Chewy Granola Bars at a recent quilt gathering. These fruit and nut filled bars are made with oat flour, making them a gluten free option for game day buffets. Chewy Granola Bars 1 2/3 cups...
REARDAN – The Northwest Christian girls basketball team avenged its only loss of the season with a decisive 63-45 victory over the Screaming Eagles on Senior Night, Tuesday, Jan. 27. The win keeps the Crusaders atop the 2B state rankings. Reardan came out of the chute fast, scoring the game's first seven points, but then NWC scored 15 straight points and never looked back. The Screaming Eagles scored 15 first-half points, seven from Rylynn Green. The Crusaders led 28-15 at...
DAVENPORT - The Davenport/Liberty Launch Academy Gorillas celebrated senior night with an upset, rallying to defeat a favored visiting team by 12 points in a high school wrestling dual in Davenport on Wednesday, Jan. 28. The Gorillas topped the Kettle Falls Bulldogs 48-36 in a matchup that showcased multiple quick pins and strong home performances. Davenport coach Jesse Hoff credited his wrestlers for rising to the occasion against an opponent with recent momentum. "I thought...
EDWALL – After a slow start, the Christian Heritage School girls basketball team showed late fight but came up short in a 35-25 loss to non-league opponent Spokane Athletic Co-Op on Thursday, Jan. 23. The Golden Eagles jumped on CHS early, opening a 13-2 lead in the first quarter. Baskets by Maiyah Miller, Taylin Frost and Sarah Turnbough helped the Patriots trim the deficit to six, but a late SAC run sent CHS to the locker room trailing 28-10 at halftime. CHS struggled to...
ODESSA - Effective early defense helped one girls varsity basketball team establish a big halftime lead on the way to a senior night win. Odessa defeated St. John-Endicott 67-26 in a nonleague game Tuesday in Odessa. The Tigers jumped out to a 16-4 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 46-7 by halftime. St. John-Endicott mounted a brief rally in the third quarter, outscoring Odessa 11-4 to close the gap to 50-18. But the Tigers pulled away again in the fourth,...
DAVENPORT - A dominant display of defense and offense turned a high school girls basketball game into a rout, with one team holding its opponent to single digits through three quarters. The Davenport Gorillas defeated the Chewelah Cougars 75-16 in a Northeast 2B League matchup Tuesday night at Davenport High School. Davenport led 32-5 after the first quarter, extended the margin to 48-6 at halftime and held a 66-9 advantage heading into the fourth. Glenna Soliday scored 22...
To submit a legal or public notice, please email legals@odessarecord.com. 1. Put your Notice in a Word format. There is an additional fee of 10% for PDF submissions. 2. Deadline for publication is Monday by 5pm for publication on Thursday of that same week. 3. Cost. There is a flat rate for Notice to Creditors and Probate Notice to Creditors of $140. This fee includes a three consecutive week publication, an original affidavit and a searchable internet. There is a flat rate... Full story
Public Notice Lincoln County Public Works, David Orvis, 27234 State Route 25 N Davenport, WA 99122-9579, is seeking coverage under the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Construction Stormwater NPDES and State Waste Discharge General Permit. The proposed project, Duck Lake Road, is located at the intersection of HWY 28 and Duck Lake Road East, and is the EOP in Harrington in Lincoln County. This project involves 41.1 acres of soil disturbance for Highway or Road, Utilities, and construction activities. Some...
PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF SPRAGUE – NOW HIRING City Clerk/Treasurer (FT, 32+ hrs/wk) $21.00–$26.65/hr (DOE) + benefits. Call office for further job details. City of Sprague, 119 W 2nd St, Sprague, WA 99032 • 509-257-2662 CITY OF SPRAGUE – NOW HIRING Deputy Clerk (PT, 20+ hrs/wk) $19.00–$26.65/hr (DOE). Call office for further job details. City of Sprague, 119 W 2nd St, Sprague, WA 99032 • 509-257-2662 CITY OF SPRAGUE – NOW HIRING Public Works Employee (FT, 32–35+ hrs/wk) $19.00–$25.00/hr (DOE) + benefits. Call...
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 928 CITY OF SPRAGUE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Sprague City Council adopted Ordinance No. 928 on January 20, 2026, amending Ordinance No. 768 regarding the regular City Council meeting schedule. Ordinance No. 928 establishes the regular meetings of the Sprague City Council to be held in the Library at City Hall on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. If a meeting date falls on a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the day before or the day after, at the same hour....
SHERIFF’S PUBLIC NOTICE OF ORDER OF SALE FOR PROPERTY ADDRESS: 24946 STATE ROUTE 28 NORTH DAVENPORT, WA 99122 SHERIFF’S # 26C020 CAUSE # 20-2-00015-22 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN STATE OF WASHINGTON BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, FKA. AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CW ABS INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-11., Plaintiff vs TANNIS E JESCHKE; and OCCUPANTS OF THE PREMISES, Defendants TO: TANNIS E JESCHKE; OCCUPANTS OF THE PROPERTY UNKOWN PARTIES IN POSSESSION; OR CLAIMING A...
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LINCOLN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Lincoln County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on February 17, 2026, for the purpose of receiving public testimony and making written findings as to whether the proposed contract is in the public interest, is financially sound, and is advantageous to the County regarding the selection of a vendor for Solid Waste Disposal Services pursuant to RCW 36.58.090. TIME AND LOCATION: The hearing will be held in the...
PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS (RCW 11.40.030) SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR SPOKANE COUNTY No: 25-4-00266-32 ESTATE OF JOHN D. SIMPSON, JR. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE The personal representatives named below have been appointed as co-personal representatives of the Estate of John D. Simpson, Jr. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing by...
