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Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 598
DAVENPORT - Lincoln County commissioners discussed the draft 2026 budget at their meeting Monday, Oct. 6, weighing revenue trends, projected deficits and potential spending cuts as the county plans for next year. Lincoln County Auditor Chandra Schumacher said most budget requests for 2026 were similar to 2025, though some revenue streams are expected to decline. Court revenue, in particular, has decreased, while the county anticipates adding roughly $150,000 back into the...
WILBUR — A Reardan mother who pleaded for more time to pursue mental health treatment was sentenced to 38 months in prison Friday after a Lincoln County Superior Court judge determined community safety outweighed further delay. Justina Buffington, 40, asked Judge Adam Walser for leniency after her attorney, public defender Dave Hearrean, requested additional time for the Department of Corrections to complete a psychiatric evaluation scheduled for Thursday, November 14. "My c...
DAVENPORT - Davenport City Council members opened a public hearing Monday, Oct. 7, to review the city's proposed 2026 budget, highlighting preliminary revenue forecasts, utility rate adjustments and the regular property tax levy. The hearing, which began at 7:15 p.m., was closed 11 minutes later after council members reviewed the draft and discussed next steps. According to the city's proposed revenue forecast, updated Sept. 3, property tax collections are expected to...
GRAND COULEE - A Grand Coulee man arraigned Tuesday in Lincoln County Superior Court is accused of using his brother's identity during a traffic stop earlier this year. Joshua James Martin, 41, pleaded not guilty to one count of second-degree identity theft, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He was assigned a court-appointed public defender, Dave Hearrean. "I strongly encourage you to maintain regular contact with Mr. Hearrean," Judge Adam...
DAVENPORT — As cooler temperatures arrive and the National Weather Service predicts a wetter fall, some burn bans across Lincoln County are being lifted. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said Districts 1 in Sprague and 5 in Davenport are no longer under burn restrictions. In addition, National Park Service lands have lifted all fire restrictions. Burn bans are placed and lifted by fire commissioners in each district. By press time, several districts remained under restriction: District 3 in Odessa (as of June 13), Dis...
DAVENPORT — A Chewelah woman’s attempt to restore her firearm rights returned to Lincoln County Superior Court Tuesday, Oct. 7, after years of legal back-and-forth over prior convictions. Dawn Rina Kortness, 52, faces issues stemming from a 2005 escape conviction. She filed a petition in 2021 with Stevens County Superior Court to restore her firearm rights, which was granted, allowing her to receive a Washington State Concealed Pistol License. Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Albertson said, “The basis is that it is a...
ODESSA — Local public works crews are busy preparing roads for the potato harvest while keeping ongoing projects on schedule, officials said, an update discussed at the most recent Lincoln County commissioners meeting. In Sprague, crews are primarily focused on the Mohler Project, with backfilling of pipes scheduled to begin Monday, Oct. 6. Harrington crews worked on Mill Canyon last week and are now on Bald Ridge. Wilbur crews are believed to be conducting similar maintenance, officials said. Public Works Director David Orvi...
DAVENPORT — Trial dates have shifted for a 20-year-old Cheney man accused of sexually assaulting a teenager in Davenport. Superior Court Judge Adam Walser received a waiver for a speedy trial, setting the trial for Dec. 3 with a readiness hearing on Nov. 4. Devous is scheduled to appear in court again Nov. 4. Andre Marcel Devous pleaded not guilty Tuesday, Sept. 2, to one count of second-degree rape, a Class A felony punishable by up to life in prison and a $50,000 fine. Court records show deputies were dispatched Monday, A...
Harrington Fall Fest brought the usual: food, friends, laughter, and enough pumpkin spice to put a scarecrow into a sugar coma. But this year also brought something new-your local newspaper mascot and part-time diva, Winnie the weiner dog, scored her first athletic medal. Bronze, baby. The 5K Fun Run kicked off at 9 a.m., and while I was still shaking off Deutschesfest laryngitis, Winnie was in prime form. The crowd was packed, and while I was just another runner pinning on a...
This past week, America grieved twice. Thursday marked the somber anniversary of 9/11, a day of collective memory and sorrow. The day before, we lost activist Charlie Kirk to an assassin - a man who claimed Kirk was a fascist but, in taking his life, became the very thing he condemned: a silencer of voices, a taker of speech. No matter what you believe, this assassination will live in infamy among my generation. Maybe there were things I didn't fully agree with, but Charlie...
ODESSA - Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center's board met with interim CEO Emmett Schuster for a regular board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 30, following the termination of former CEO Brett Antczak, outlining financial updates, compliance issues and new leadership measures. Schuster, who stepped into the role earlier this month, said his early days have been "wild" but encouraging. He noted he found an empty corporate compliance manual on his desk and emphasized the importance of...
HARRINGTON - Harrington Fall Fest returned Saturday, Sept. 27, drawing crowds downtown and filling Memorial Hall, the city park and Main Street businesses with food, music and community spirit. The celebration began with the FFA Pancake Feed at Memorial Hall and the Huff 'N Puff Fun Run. The run drew participants of all ages, with Kyler Davenport taking first in the men's 5K at 18 minutes, 19 seconds, and Charlotte Soliday placing first in the women's 5K at 23:16. In the one-m...
DAVENPORT — The first official day of fall passed on Sunday, Sept. 22, and with it, Lincoln County residents are beginning to see cooler temperatures sweep into the region. “The outlooks are generally not that specific,” said Miranda Cote, meteorologist for the National Weather Service station in Spokane. “The forecast for the fall is for near-normal temperatures and leaning above normal precipitation.” Cote said residents could see highs in the 60s this week before temperatures climb back into the 70s by Oct. 7 or 8. While...
LAKE ROOSEVELT — Federal operations across the country came to a halt Tuesday night after Congress failed to reach an agreement on funding, leaving agencies like Lake Roosevelt with limited staff and services. Lawmakers remain deadlocked over enhanced health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Non-essential federal operations were suspended at midnight, and staff at Lake Roosevelt are out of the office until the government reopens. Voicemail messages warn that some services may be unavailable and that employees are...
SOAP LAKE — A two-vehicle crash in Soap Lake on Monday afternoon left one driver hospitalized after a motorhome pulled into an intersection and was struck by an oncoming car, according to the Washington State Patrol. According to Washington State Patrol, the crash happened at approximately 3:50 p.m. at the junction of state Route 17 and state Route 28. Troopers said a 2007 motorhome driven by Cody T. Johnson, 71, of Soap Lake, failed to stop at a stop sign before entering the intersection. A 1996 Chevrolet Geo Tracker, d...
DAVENPORT — Davenport’s Public Works Department has closed a section of Mohler Road to replace a drainage structure that previously had weight restrictions, Public Works Director Dave Orvis said. “We are replacing a drainage structure that had weight restrictions with two large pipes that will not have weight restrictions on them,” Orvis said. “Basically, it will change the old granite structure that the feds call a ‘bridge.’ The channel is dry most of the year, but in the spring, there is a good runoff.” The closure is just...
HARRINGTON — Harrington’s Chamber of Commerce convened Wednesday, Oct. 1, for its regular monthly meeting, discussing finances, recent community events and upcoming activities, while also drawing interest from Reardan residents considering a chamber of their own. Two Reardan locals attended to observe and learn more about how Harrington’s chamber operates. They noted the chamber’s role in coordinating events and said they are exploring the possibility of establishing a Reardan Chamber of Commerce. The treasurer’s report sh...
ODESSA - Deutschesfest returned to downtown Odessa last weekend, bringing crowds to Main Street, First Avenue, Old Town Hall, the Historical Museum and city parks for four days of parades, live music, contests, food and German traditions. The festival kicked off Thursday, Sept. 18, with tricycle races, mattress races, sidewalk chalk art and live music. Events continued through Sunday, Sept. 21, featuring a full schedule of activities for all ages - from pancake breakfasts and...
HARRINGTON — Pancakes, parades and plenty of small-town charm are on tap this weekend as Harrington hosts its annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Sept. 27. The celebration kicks off early with the FFA Pancake Feed at Memorial Hall from 8 to 10 a.m. and continues with a parade at 11 a.m., followed by an afternoon packed with activities. Highlights include the Huff N Puff Fun Run at 9 a.m., an alumni gathering at noon, and kids’ carnival games beginning at 12:30 p.m. Vendors and the Lions Club barbecue will run through the aft...
DAVENPORT - Davenport city leaders focused on business permits, committee planning and museum funding during their regular council meeting Wednesday, Sept. 24. The council held a public hearing on Sandra Dart's request to operate a one-room home hair salon at 535 Harker Street. Dart, a licensed cosmetologist for 40 years, told the council she intends to serve one client at a time and operate on a limited basis. Councilmember Patrick Katz reminded her that state law requires a...
There are certain weekends in small towns where it feels like the whole world gathers in one place. For Odessa, that weekend is Deutschesfest. And let me tell you, I came away with a full heart, a full stomach, and absolutely no voice. The first thing that struck me wasn't the food (though trust me, we'll get to that). It was the sheer joy of it all-the laughter spilling across Main Street, the families bundled together on hay bales, the sound of polka drifting out of the...
