Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
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SPRAGUE - A local teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenage student pleaded not guilty Thursday and was released on reduced bail. Madeline Marie Gregory Scoon, 29, of Cheney, was arraigned on charges of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor and communication with a minor for immoral purposes. She will face trial at 9 a.m. June 17; a 10:30 a.m. readiness hearing is set for May 26. Court records show Gregory, the teacher's maiden name, has been...
SPRAGUE — Students and staff at Sprague-Lamont High School are receiving counseling support and maintaining normal learning routines as the district works to minimize disruption from a science teacher’s sudden departure. Superintendent Ray Leaver said his top priority since the position became vacant Monday after school has been caring for students and staff. Counselors from the Educational Service District in Spokane were available Tuesday for anyone who needed to talk. Leaver said the district sent another com...
ODESSA - In a spirited nod to March Madness, a small-town chamber banquet turned into a casual bash with game-day grub, comedy and a lively auction, uniting locals for awards and fun. The Odessa event Saturday at Old Town Hall highlighted community honors, as Vice President Zach Schafer, 45, of Odessa, touted its role in building ties under a "big game day" theme. The Odessa Chamber of Commerce named Das Kraut Haus Business of the Year, praising owners Alyssa and Winston Wade...
SPRAGUE - A Kelso woman was sentenced to two months in jail for possessing a stolen pickup truck in a cross-country case that ended in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, March 9. Courtney Mae Currera, 35, of Kelso, appeared in restraints Tuesday in court and entered a guilty plea on one count of possessing a stolen vehicle, a Class B felony with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine, according to court records. Superior Court Judge Adam Walser...
REARDAN — In a fiery clash that exposed raw divisions in Reardan, a resident publicly branded a council member as “radical” during a city council meeting, sparking heated demands for apologies and debates over transparency in the town’s governance. The Thursday, March 5 session at the fire department featured sharp exchanges among officials and the public. Mayor Kathy Eastman presided, with council members Rocky Kidder, Dan Graham and Leanne Merkel present. Clerk-treasurer Sam Mathis attended, while Wayne Terry and Pat Hog...
ODESSA — The Odessa Town Council voted Monday to deny a request to vacate a portion of an alley in Block 5 between East Fifth and East Sixth avenues, citing concerns over access costs and safety after a public hearing drew opposition from residents worried about utility maintenance and vehicle navigation. The decision followed a letter from resident Dennis Bergquist’s attorney, who supported the closure as long as it didn’t restrict his access. Council members debated the undeveloped west end, filled with rocks and trees, est...
DAVENPORT — The City Council approved aid for an indigent resident, upheld an infrastructure fee for new development and saluted retiring local grocers, closing with light chatter on snow plows and sparse police patrols. The council, led by Mayor Brad Sweet remotely from Seattle, met Wednesday with members Patrick Katz, Michael Wilkinson, Chris Stein, Heath Becker and Cory Hollis present. Michael Strite was absent. City Administrator Steve Goemmel, Clerk-Treasurer David Leath and Sabrina Warwick were present. During the s...
A superior court judge granted a woman’s request to rescind a no-contact order against her estranged husband in a domestic violence case involving alleged threats to kill their family and burn down their home, but kept a previous parenting plan in place as a safeguard for the child’s safety. Michelle Edgerton, the victim, and the defendant’s father appeared Tuesday at the motion hearing in Lincoln County Superior Court, where Judge Adam Walser approved the request against Nicholas Gene Finch, 39, who also was present accordin...
REARDAN - In a touching moment that evoked tears of gratitude amid a routine City Council meeting, a Vietnam veteran and local leader was surprised with a handmade quilt last week, honoring his wartime sacrifices and lifelong community service. The emotional presentation unfolded Thursday when Councilman Raymond "Rocky" Kidder received the tribute from the greater Spokane chapter of Quilts of Valor. Presenters Cheryl Moriarty and Glenda Haddican, representing the national...
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 - 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...
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...
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...
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 a...
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. “So it...
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 approved...
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 a...
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 estat...
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...
DAVENPORT - As a phone call between alarmed superintendents in Davenport and nearby Colfax, highlighted mounting fears over state budget cuts that could strip rural districts of up to $250,000 in funding, the Davenport School Board on Monday approved retirements, sports cooperatives and a new calendar while decrying threats to early learning and levy equalization aid. Superintendent Chad Prewitt, during the meeting at the high school media center with in-person and Zoom...
DAVENPORT — A woman who accused her estranged husband of threatening to kill their family and attempting to burn down their home asked a judge to lift a domestic violence no-contact order, saying she wants to reconcile. Megan Edgerton appeared Tuesday in Lincoln County Superior Court to request rescission of the order against Nicholas Gene Finch, 39, who was arrested last year on charges of felony harassment with a threat to kill and attempted first-degree arson, according to court records. Prosecutor Ty Albertson o...
ODESSA — Odessa School District faces potential funding challenges from proposed state budget cuts to K-12 education, but Superintendent Steve Fisk told the school board Tuesday the district remains financially stable thanks to conservative budgeting and strong local levy support. At the Feb. 24 regular meeting in the high school library, Fisk reported that recent state revenue figures came in about $814 million higher than earlier projections. Despite the boost, both the Senate and House proposed reductions to public s...
TACOMA - The WIAA Mat Classic wrestling championships wrapped up Feb. 21 at the Tacoma Dome, with strong performances from Reardan and Davenport in the small-school divisions. Reardan finished 13th with 89 points. Logan Valdez took third at 285 pounds, Carson Kline placed fourth at 132, and Owen Pendell earned sixth at 138. Three Eagles reached the semifinals. "All of the boys wrestled extremely hard with grit and determination," Reardan Coach Carson Durbin said. "Our boys...
SPOKANE VALLEY — A second-half surge turned an early deficit into a season-extending victory in a winner-to-state, loser-out matchup at the District 6 2B girls district basketball tournament. Davenport erased a 14-12 first-quarter hole to defeat Lind-Ritzville/Sprague 43-37 on Friday at West Valley High School in Spokane Valley, clinching a berth in the district tournament. The Broncos built early momentum with crisp ball movement, including two quick passes to Zoe Galbreath for a finish off the glass. Lin...
