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Articles written by Olivia Harnack


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  • The grocery store ruck march

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Aug 20, 2026

    There are plenty of things I expected to sacrifice during my deployment to D.C. Quiet country roads? Obviously. Having my own car? I knew that was coming. But I was not prepared to discover that grocery shopping would become an endurance sport. After months of living in hotels, I finally moved into an apartment with a full kitchen. A stove! A microwave! Actual counter space! I was ready to cook real meals again and stop treating DoorDash like a food group. There was just one...

  • Spider-Man: 0, Big toe: 1

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-TImes|Updated Aug 13, 2026

    It took me 24 years to break my first bone, and somehow the biggest miracle to come out of the ordeal was that the Spider-Man suit survived almost entirely unscathed. After the opening weekend of the new Spider-Man movie, a group of my friends and I decided watching it wasn't enough. Naturally, six fully grown adults dressed head-to-toe in Spider-Man costumes and ran around Washington, D.C. Looking back, there were several warning signs this adventure wasn't going to end...

  • Sticky city, crispy home: Summer's back again

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Aug 6, 2026

    Well, it seems the nation's capital has decided to calm down a little. The fireworks have faded, the tourists are slightly less determined to walk directly into traffic, and summer has settled into what I can only describe as "organized chaos." Around here, that's practically peaceful. Of course, with summer comes the weather, and Washington, D.C., has once again reminded me that air is apparently optional. Every morning feels like walking into someone's bathroom five minutes...

  • Your friendly neighborhood reporter

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Jul 30, 2026

    If the recent influx of Spider-People roaming the streets of Washington, D.C. is any indication, I’d say the new Spider-Man movie is going to be a pretty big deal. Just the other day, I counted three different Spider-Men casually wandering around downtown. No one seemed particularly alarmed. Around here, that’s apparently just a Tuesday. Now, for my readers back home who may not know what “cosplay” is, let me explain. Cosplay is when folks dress up as their favorite fiction...

  • America partied; Washington stayed home

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Jul 16, 2026

    The Fourth of July in Washington, D.C., is something every American should experience at least once. While Uncle Sam still had me on the clock most of the holiday, I was lucky enough to catch the incredible fireworks celebrating our nation's 250th birthday. And what a show it was. As darkness settled over the Capitol, fireworks lit the night sky well into the midnight hours. Every few seconds, another booming shell exploded overhead, showering the skyline in brilliant reds,...

  • Inside the Capitol: No map, no shame

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Jul 1, 2026

    One of the unexpected perks of traveling to Washington, D.C., has been the friendships I've made along the way. Over the past few months, I've gotten to know many locals, and recently one of those new friends offered me the opportunity to join an exclusive tour of the U.S. Capitol. To this day, I'm still not entirely sure how I managed to get on that tour, but I wasn't about to ask too many questions. What struck me first was the lack of crowds. In a city where tourists seem...

  • My lungs quit without two weeks notice

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Jun 25, 2026

    At the end of April, my body decided it was time for an unplanned software update and I was introduced to pneumonia. Not the cinematic kind where someone looks softly ill in a dramatic way, but the real kind where you start questioning whether breathing has always been this complicated and everyone just agreed not to mention it. What began as "I'm probably just tired" escalated into full-blown pneumonia, which eventually downgraded into walking pneumonia, a phrase that sounds...

  • The Oval Office meets the Octagon

    Olivia Harnack, The Journal|Updated Jun 17, 2026

    The Oval Office Meets the Octagon There are a lot of things I expected to see during my time in Washington, D.C. Monuments, museums, motorcades and tourists accidentally standing in bike lanes all made the list. A UFC fight on the White House lawn did not. Yet somehow, here we are. Apparently, one of the most recognizable pieces of real estate in the world got an octagon. Because if there is one thing I've learned about Washington, it is that eventually you stop asking "Why?"... Full story

  • Mid-20s, loud knights, quiet lessons and a big city

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Jun 11, 2026

    First, dear readers, I owe you an apology. My column has been suspiciously absent these past few weeks. Contrary to popular belief, I was not lost in the Washington Metro system, recruited by a secret government agency or permanently distracted by museums. Life simply got busy. May was a whirlwind. For starters, I celebrated a birthday and officially turned 24. I am now firmly in my mid-20s, which feels like a strange place to be. I’m old enough that people expect me to h...

  • Wrong Washington, right chaos

    Olivia Harnack|Updated Apr 16, 2026

    It's no secret that this managing editor turned Army girl has found herself in a bit of an unexpected chapter – boots on the ground in Washington, D.C. And let me tell you, this concrete jungle is a far cry from the rolling wheat fields of Eastern Washington, let alone the dusty, wide-open cowboy country I call home. I like to joke that I told people I was heading to Washington and somehow boarded the wrong plane. Next thing I knew, I was living out a real-life "Home Alone 2...

  • Scooter confidence was misplaced

    Olivia Harnack|Updated Mar 5, 2026

    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, I d...

  • Ashes, echoes and no creamer

    Olivia Harnack|Updated Feb 26, 2026

    There are two kinds of Catholics on Ash Wednesday. Those who walk out of Mass with a perfectly symmetrical cross on their forehead, and those of us who look like we lost a fight with a fireplace. Every year, it is a gamble. You stand in line, head bowed, contemplating your mortality, your sins and, most importantly, the priest's fine motor skills. Some priests are artists. Michelangelo with a thumb. Others? Let us just say their ashes resemble a weather pattern. I once walked...

  • Still reporting, now with a rucksack

    Olivia Harnack|Updated Feb 19, 2026

    If you saw the front page, then yes, it is true. I have officially been deployed to Washington, D.C. While I cannot speak on the mission or the specifics of what we are doing, I can confirm that this editor in camo is slightly out of county and officially reporting for duty. Reporting. Because I am a reporter. I will let that joke stand on its own. I am writing this at 5 a.m. Thursday morning, which feels right. I like being up before everyone else. It is quiet. It is calm. I...

  • Odessa FBLA earns state bids

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Feb 19, 2026

    ODESSA - Odessa High School's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students turned in a strong showing at the regional conference, earning multiple top-six finishes and qualifying several competitors for state. The chapter competed at the FBLA Regional Leadership Conference on Thursday, February 6, at Spokane Falls Community College. Students represented Odessa with professionalism and preparation, securing top placements across a range of events. Aiden Schmierer and...

  • Fairytale magic comes to Reardan

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Feb 19, 2026

    REARDAN — A night of fairies, princesses and spaghetti dinners will fill the Reardan Elementary Commons later this month as Reardan Partners in Education hosts its annual Father-Daughter Dance. The event, themed “Fairytale Nights,” will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, and is open to elementary students in the district and a father figure of their choice. Each ticket includes a spaghetti dinner, crafts and treats, an emailed keepsake photo and a commemorative ticket. Organizers will also award prizes in categories...

  • Tiny trendsetters rock 100

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Feb 11, 2026

    REARDAN - The runway was short, the smiles were big and the outfits sparkled as Reardan Elementary students proved that 100 days of school is worth celebrating in style. Students from Heidi Nelson's first-grade class didn't hesitate when asked about the school's sixth annual 100th Day Fashion Show. The answer came back loud and unanimous: yes, they had fun. "I made a shirt with 100 gems," said Royce Rodriguez, 7, quickly clarifying that the gems were not real "so nobody gets...

  • Crab shells, Bingo luck and one judgy dachshund

    Olivia Harnack|Updated Feb 11, 2026

    This weekend, where do I even begin? Probably with the burst waterline that turned my bathroom into a splash pad and sent me out of my Davenport office early on Friday. Nothing like mopping your own floor before heading to a crab feed. Once the water chaos was temporarily handled, I pointed my car toward Odessa, assuming a calm evening at the annual Lions Club crab feed. I was wrong. Cars lined the streets, and inside the community hall I barely made it through the door...

  • Love sweeps the county

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Feb 11, 2026

    DAVENPORT — Romance, creativity, and a little mischief are in full swing across Lincoln County this Valentine’s season. From Galentine’s gatherings to teen sweetheart dances, there is no shortage of ways to celebrate. Arrow M. Saddlery in Davenport is hosting a Galentine’s Workshop on Friday, Feb. 13. Participants can craft beginner-friendly projects such as hat bands, mini jewelry boxes, claw clips, and mini makeup bags. Pizza, tools and materials will be provided. The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Attendees are urged to RSVP...

  • Early election results show passing levies

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Feb 11, 2026

    DAVENPORT — Early results from Tuesday’s special election show voters approving all levy-only ballot measures across Lincoln County. As of 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 11, voter turnout was 32%, with 1,393 ballots cast out of 4,303 registered voters. Lincoln County Elections Manager Norm Caley said 4,400 ballots were mailed. Results will be certified February 20. The next update is expected at 1 p.m. Thursday, February 12....

  • Respiratory illnesses climb

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Feb 11, 2026

    DAVENPORT — As the season drags on, Lincoln County health officials are reporting an uptick in respiratory illnesses, with influenza A currently leading the surge. According to Lincoln County Public Health, cases of influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 are all trending upward across the county. Officials said influenza A is the most prevalent infection at this time. Public health officials have received notification of one influenza A-related death in Lincoln County. Statewide, 74 i...

  • Odessa school board reorganizes

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Feb 11, 2026

    ODESSA — Routine governance, long-term planning and student-focused programs took center stage during the school board meeting late last month. The Board of Directors met in regular session Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the high school library following a workshop on athletics and results from a district cell phone survey. Chris Crossley was unanimously elected board chairman, with Carmen Weishaar elected vice chairman. Sheena Starkel was named legislative representative, and Zach Schafer was selected as the district’s WIAA rep...

  • Crab cracked, community came hungry

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Feb 11, 2026

    ODESSA - Good food, live music and a strong community turnout helped make the Odessa Lions Club's annual crab feed a smooth and successful night, organizers said. The fundraiser, held Friday evening, Feb. 6, drew at least 200 people despite being short a few people, according to Lions Club President Marlon Schafer. "We grossed about $8,500," Schafer said. "I don't know net, but we probably raised $4,000 to $5,000. It went really well." Schafer said feedback from attendees was...

  • Odessa Lions Crab Feed Friday

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Feb 5, 2026

    ODESSA — Get ready to shell out for a good time. The Odessa Lions Club will host its annual crab feed Friday, Feb. 6, featuring fresh crab from the Western Washington coastline and prime rib for those who prefer land over sea. Tickets guarantee each guest a crab and a half or a hearty slice of prime rib. The event, a longtime club tradition and one of its top fundraisers, typically sells out each year, according to Marlon Schafer, president of the club. . Organizers expect a couple hundred attendees at the Odessa Community C...

  • Odessa hosts alumni career fair

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Feb 5, 2026

    ODESSA - The Odessa High School gymnasium buzzed with energy Friday as 35 alumni, ranging from the classes of 1982 to 2025, returned to share career experiences with students. Four additional alumni attended virtually. All students in grades six through 12 participated, connecting with former graduates from a wide variety of fields. Careers represented included medicine, agriculture, technology, law, engineering, firefighting, and law enforcement. Among those present were...

  • Harrington board delays school calendar

    Olivia Harnack, The Record-Times|Updated Feb 5, 2026

    HARRINGTON — The Harrington School Board approved most agenda items Tuesday, Jan. 28, but the 2026-2027 school calendar was tabled amid concerns over summer camp scheduling. Courtney Strozyk, principal and superintendent of Harrington School District No. 204, said the board’s main goal is to keep the district updated and compliant with state requirements. “The school board just has to approve everything for the state,” she said. The meeting included a work session at 6 p.m. for onboarding a new board member and a regular...

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