March 5, 2026
March 5, 2026
SPRAGUE - Authorities are investigating the death of a 26-year-old Moxee woman whose body was found in a Sprague backyard a week after she was reported missing. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office identified the woman as Aspen Jada Valdez. She was last seen Feb. 26 after exiting a family vehicle on state Route 23 near Sprague, saying she wanted to go to Spokane, according to a sheriff's office press release. Valdez's body was discovered about 10:05 a.m. March 3 by a resident...
DAVENPORT — Lincoln County commissioners tackled safety concerns at the Mohler and Harrington-Tokio Road intersection Monday after a recent crash, amid calls for improvements via safety grants. Commissioner Jo Gilchrist noted worsening skid marks and speeding. “I just wish that we could address something with just the history of Mohler and Harrington-Tokio Road. It's awful to see all those skid marks and they’re getting worse. People are going faster, and people are bombing across the other way,” Gilchrist said....
DAVENPORT — Broadband Director Margie Hall updated county commissioners Monday on progress in several high-speed internet projects, including completions in Wilbur and Davenport and upcoming bids for Seven Bays and Deer Meadows. Northwest Line Builders will return to finish two home drops disrupted by rock in Wilbur and Davenport, Hall said. The work falls under Phase 2 of the Davenport Wilbur Grant, as Phase 1 closeout has begun. Crews are heading to a Wilbur site near the golf course. In Odessa, invoices for underground...
DAVENPORT - A fire broke out at El Ranchito, a Mexican restaurant on Morgan Street, around 10:30 a.m. Monday, but was quickly extinguished by firefighters. The Davenport Fire Department responded to the call and contained the blaze, which originated from a malfunctioning stove, according to restaurant owner Pablo Gutierrez. No injuries were reported, and damage was minimal. Firefighters remained on scene until Avista utility workers inspected the gas connections and confirmed...
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 Feb. 22 Traffic stops:0 6:36 a.m. – A welfare check on an absent employee was requested. 1:04 p.m. – A hit and run with extensive damage was reported in Odessa. 3:31 p.m. – Lockout...
Bail reduced in Boss exploitation case DAVENPORT — A felony trial involving allegations of sexual exploitation of a minor has been delayed again, with bail reduced from $100,000 to $50,000, according to court records. James Alan Boss, 57, appeared in restraints during a March 3 hearing in Lincoln County Superior Court before Judge Adam Walser, records show. Defense attorney Bevan Jerome Maxey appeared via zoom requested the continuance, and Boss waived his right to a speedy trial. The trial is now set for July 22, with a...
HARRINGTON — The Harrington School District board accepted the resignation of longtime secondary teacher Sharon Kruger during its Feb. 25 meeting, honoring her decades of service in business, career and technical education, and Future Business Leaders of America. Board members praised Kruger for her extra efforts, including advising FBLA and overseeing the yearbook. “Thank you for many moons,” said Michelle Quigley. Justin Slack added appreciation for “all of the extra and FBLA and yearbook.” The board also...
ODESSA — Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center expects to receive about $700,000 in federal funding for rural hospitals this summer, while its board considers ending a costly sleep studies program that has attracted few patients, CEO Vince Oliver said at a Feb. 26 meeting. The funding comes from a $50 billion federal allocation to rural hospitals, with $10 billion distributed annually. Washington state got $181 million for fiscal year 2026, funneled through the Washington State Hospital Association for equitable distribution...
The Senate has voted unanimously to pass its 2026 supplemental capital budget. Our supplemental budget complements the two-year capital budget enacted by the Legislature last year by spending money in a responsible manner while addressing important needs throughout the state. Working with our Democrat counterparts, we identified priorities and worked together to create a budget that is both effective and prudent. Our budget does a very good job for several areas, from K-12...
Today, as I write this column, is the 44th day of our 60-day legislative session. The Legislature has a lot of work to do in the next 16 days before session ends on March 12th. Over the upcoming final two weeks, the Legislature needs to pass the supplemental operating, capital and transportation budgets. We have many bills, both good and bad, that must be debated, perhaps amended, and passed off the Senate or House floor. I encourage you to tune into TVW to watch this...
There is a specific kind of confidence that comes from being a small town girl from Harrington who rides a motorcycle. It says: I can handle machinery. Washington, D.C. politely disagreed. Big cities have those rentable electric scooters lined up on sidewalks like obedient little soldiers. In Lincoln County, we do not have scooters. We have wheat fields, pickup trucks and deputies who are probably grateful they have never had to respond to “reckless scooting.” Naturally,...
DAVENPORT - Davenport High School's Future Business Leaders of America chapter dominated the regional competition last week, securing seven first-place finishes and qualifying 32 students for the state conference in April. The chapter excelled at the Washington FBLA Northeast Region Winter Conference on Feb. 6 at Spokane Falls Community College, competing against 389 students from across the region. Members earned 11 second-place finishes and 17 third- through sixth-place...
100 years ago The White River Lumber Company buildings at Moody burnt to the ground. The blaze was seen by neighbors who arrived too late to help. The nearby Farmers warehouse was saved. March came in like a lamb this year. The mildest first days of March in recent memory. Highs in the 50’s and nothing lower than 28 degrees. 75 years ago Paul Schafer and Paul Hoefel of Odessa were fishing below the Grand Coulee Dam when their boat hit a submerged cable and capsized. They were rescued and taken to Coulee Dam Community...
Davenport Birthdays March 5: Donna Fisher March 6: Angie Nicholls-Stiles, Jake Mattox, Lynnzee Zeus, Jennifer Gill, Ayla Wagner, Fia Sharer March 7: Jesse Morrison, Trissie Sanguinet, Ginny Hein, Alex Guhlke, Macie Hopkins March 8: Gabe Gants, Becke Alexander, Gio Bellotti, Piper Kowalkowski, Ella Morris March 9: Casey Parsons, Isabelle Singer, Bob Rambo March 10: Sawyer Semprimoznik, Vinny Bellotti, Mack Dehn, Mary Hollis, Shirley Williams March 11: Whitney Mead, Mike Honey, Mark Downey Reardan Birthdays March 5: Paul...
DAVENPORT - The Davenport Lions Club hosted its annual Surf and Turf Dinner on March 3 at Memorial Hall, drawing a record 135 attendees for an evening of fellowship and community engagement. Club President Tim Hosking said the event, which opened at 5 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m., is not a fundraiser but an open meeting to invite spouses, family and potential new members. "It was started by Dean Anderson back in the day, Lion Dean Anderson," Hosking said. "It was kind of his...
ODESSA — The Odessa Volunteer Fire Department hosted its 16th annual consignment auction last Saturday, helping residents liquidate excess machinery, tools and other items while raising funds for essential equipment. Fire Chief Brian Schorzman said the event supports operations in the rural community by funding items the department cannot otherwise afford. “It’s been going 16 years, and it helps the community and neighbors liquidate some excess machinery and tools and different items that they have at their farms and...
Recently, the Washington State Association of Counties released its 2026 County Fiscal Health Survey. The results confirm what many of us have been saying for years: county governments across Washington are under significant and growing financial pressure. Out of 39 counties, a majority report significant or severe General Fund pressure. Twenty counties say state mandates are the primary driver of their budget problems. Twenty-one report moderate reductions or delays in...
Bella Abrahamson leads the Screaming Eagles through the spirit tunnel prior to the opening game of the 2B State Tournament on Friday, Feb....
CHENEY - From the opening tip, Davenport made it clear Friday night it was ready for the state tournament stage. Glenna Soliday poured in a game high 24 points as the Gorillas powered past Mabton 72–39 in the opening round of the 2B Girls State Basketball Tournament on Feb. 27 at Cheney High School. The convincing win sends Davenport into a quarterfinal matchup with Mount Vernon Christian on Wednesday, March 4, at the Spokane Arena. Experience and size were firmly on...
CHENEY - Cle Elum–Roslyn edged Reardan 67–56 in the opening round of the 2B Girls State Basketball Tournament on Friday, Feb. 27, at Cheney High School. The loss sent the Screaming Eagles into the losers' bracket, where they play Raymond–South Bend on March 4 at the Spokane Arena. The opening-round matchup was tightly contested from the start. The teams were tied 16–16 after the first quarter and remained deadlocked at 27 apiece at halftime. Cle Elum–Roslyn carried...
ODESSA - The Odessa Tigers are gearing up for a youthful baseball and softball season, aiming to instill a stronger will to win amid thin pitching and motivational challenges. Head coach Joe Schlomer said the roster will feature 12 to 13 players, leaning on returning standouts Miller Stout, Aiden Villanueva and Travis Scherer for leadership. "We're going to be a little young and a little short in numbers," Schlomer said. He highlighted Sophia Martinez as a potential pitching...
SPOKANE – Fresh off a 24-point performance in Davenport's opening-round win over Mabton, Glenna Soliday came out firing again Wednesday night, scoring 25 points to power the Gorillas to a convincing 52–34 victory over Mount Vernon Christian in the second round of the 2B Girls State Basketball Tournament at the Spokane Arena. The Hurricanes briefly looked ready to challenge Davenport, racing out to a 7–1 lead. That momentum didn't last long. Once Soliday found her...
SPOKANE - Tenice Waters scored 25 points as Reardan earned a 43–37 victory over Raymond South Bend in the second round of the 2B Girls State Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 4, at Spokane Arena. The game was tightly contested from start to finish, with neither team able to build a comfortable lead. The score was tied 9–9 after the first quarter, 21–21 at halftime and 33–33 after three quarters. The lead changed hands 13 times during the game. Reardan took a...
The names of Davenport High School girls basketball athletes appear on the tinted windows of the team bus as it prepares to parade through town for the state tournament send-off Wednesday, March...
OMAK - Maveric Sobotta scored 10 points in the fourth quarter as Reardan pulled away to upset Okanogan 60-48 in a WIAA Class 2B boys basketball regional game on Feb. 28. The sixth-seeded Screaming Eagles built a double-digit halftime lead before the third-seeded Bulldogs rallied to tie the score at 40 entering the final period. Reardan ran off to a 17-point lead in the first half and held Okanogan to nine points in the first quarter, leading 35-24 at halftime. Okanogan closed...
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
