Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 5336
DAVENPORT - A routine traffic stop turned into a high-speed chase, a drug arrest, and, ultimately, a year-long jail sentence for a local man. Orion White, 43, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in jail on Tuesday, March 18, after failing to appear for his sentencing hearing. White arrived late, citing road construction in Reardan as the cause of his delay. White, who faced charges of drug possession with intent to distribute, pleaded for leniency, requesting a delayed...
HARRINGTON — A Palouse woman charged with vehicular homicide in a crash that killed three Davenport men will stand trial on Tuesday, June 11, with a readiness hearing scheduled for May 20. Jade A. Ellsworth, 30, is facing a single count of vehicular homicide in connection with the June 7, 2024, crash that claimed the lives of Alan Kysar, 26, Braedon Efraimson, 26, and Blake Wilson, 24. Despite three fatalities, Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Albertson said the decision to file only one count was made in accordance w...
ODESSA — Teamsters Local 690 has filed a petition with the Public Employment Relations Commission to organize a bargaining unit at Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center. The proposed unit would include all regular full-time and part-time registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants working at the facility. The petition, submitted on March 13, marks the first time a unionization effort has been made at Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center. The bargaining unit would encompass 17 employees, according t...
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 March 10 Traffic Stops:8 7:46 a.m. – A caller advised that she saw a man walking around her house on her camera. 3:41 p.m. – A protection order violation was reported. 9:17 p.m. – A possible DUI wa...
DAVENPORT — The Davenport City Council discussed the potential relocation of the city’s skate park and concerns over installing a fuel tank at the airport during its regular meeting on March 12. Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Katz calling the meeting to order. Council members present included Heath Becker, Daniel Coriell, Robert Jenkins, Patrick Katz, Lance Strite and Mike Wilkinson. Mayor Jon Chapman and Cory Hollis were absent and were excused following a motion by Strite, seconded by Becker. The meeting was available via remote acc...
REARDAN - A local woman is being held on $20,000 bail in connection with a burglary. Justina Buffington, 40, was arraigned in Lincoln County Superior Court in Davenport on Tuesday, March 18, charged with residential burglary, second-degree theft and third-degree malicious mischief. She pleaded not guilty. She remained restrained during the hearing. The judge determined she qualified for a public defender, records show. Her trial is scheduled for June 11, with a readiness heari...
DAVENPORT — A court hearing for a man facing multiple charges related to a January burglary has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 25, at 10:30 a.m., following a motion from both the defense and prosecution. Jose Rafael Medina Lomeli, 28, appeared before Lincoln County Superior Court Judge Adam Walser on Tuesday, Feb. 25, as his cases progress toward trial. Medina Lomeli faces charges related to a Jan. 9 burglary, during which firearms, a Liberty safe, household items, and a Jeep were stolen from a residence and shop. He i...
ALMIRA — A 72-year-old Almira man charged with first-degree child molestation, fourth-degree child molestation, and two counts of first-degree rape of a child. Kenneth E. Burda faces charges related to the sexual abuse of his granddaughters. He is accused of inappropriately touching two of his granddaughters at his home on South Fifth Street. According to police reports, the case first came to light on September 9, 2024, when the mother of a 3-year-old girl contacted authorities, claiming that Burda had inappropriately t...
Editor’s Note: Brody Schillinger’s last name was misspelled in the headline of the March 6, 2025, issue of the Lincoln County Record-Times. And a private donation account has been set up at Banner Bank; it is not attached to the $50,000 WSU endowment....
DAVENPORT — A Lincoln County Superior Court judge granted a motion Wednesday to release Brittney Rose Morgan, 39, from her financial obligations related to a previous conviction. Prosecutors did not object to the motion. Morgan pleaded guilty on Oct. 17, 2017, to second-degree theft. In other court proceedings, Joseph Lee Cooper, 43, appeared for a readiness hearing as prosecutors and his defense continue negotiations on a potential deal. Cooper pleaded guilty, and a new trial date was set for May 7. His attorney, Robert S...
OLYMPIA — The three state lawmakers representing the 9th Legislative District and eastern Adams County will host a town meeting-styled event March 20. Sen. Mark Schoesler of Ritzville, and Reps. Joe Schmick of Colfax and Mary Dye of Pomeroy will host the virtual session to provide an update of the 2025 legislative session. Topics they expect to discusss are the state’s biennial operating budget, capital and transportation budgets, taxes, anti-gun legislation, K-12 education and agriculture. In addition, they will take que...
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 March 3 Traffic Stops: 10 10:30 a.m. – A caller reported his daughter called him because she had had an argument with her husband about the laundry not being done and she had locked herself in th...
SPRAGUE - A local veterinarian is helping some Ritzville residents care for an injured stray dog. The stray dog - dubbed "Evie" - appeared in Ritzville without a clue where she came from. When she was captured, "Evie" had two broken legs and an infection, and was in need of major surgery. The cost, an estimated $10,000 to $15,000. Veterinarian Jill Swannack of Ritzville has been helping care for the injured pooch. But before she could help, Evie had to be caught. "We don't...
SPOKANE — The State Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit Monday, March 10 against Adams County over its cooperation with federal immigration officials in their deportation effort. The lawsuit alleges the Adams County Sheriff’s Office of “illegally collaborating with federal immigration officials and aiding the Trump administration’s efforts to enlist local officials for federal immigration work.” It’s the second lawsuit in as many months seeking to stop local officials from handing over illegal aliens to U.S. Immigrat...
ODESSA – The Odessa Hospital Board convened its latest meeting on Thursday, Feb. 27, where community members voiced concerns about hospital leadership, financial decisions, and facility management. Barbara Vogelsang initiated the public comment session, emphasizing the board's accountability in overseeing the hospital's operations. "A lot has happened since then. I am concerned. I am here not about me. I am concerned about this community's asset, for which you have the u...
GRAND COULEE - Two suspects accused of check fraud and burglary were found competent to stand trial during a hearing in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, March 4. Jake Keith Denning and Brittany Ann Ogden, both of whom had previously undergone competency evaluations, were deemed fit for trial by both the state and their respective defenses. Denning entered a plea of not guilty to the charges against him. The state requested that his bond remain at $50,000 with...
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. 24 Traffic Reports: 4 7:28 a.m. – A caller reported that a dog that has been killing livestock was spotted on Schwartz Rd. covered in blood 8:41 a.m. – After previously being advised of road...
DAVENPORT — Lincoln County commissioners discussed declaring a state of emergency due to recent weather-related issues and approved various county measures during their latest meeting. Commissioner Rob Coffman was absent while attending a conference in Washington, D.C., with other commissioners from across the state. “We have 12 days from the time of an emergency to declare an emergency, and then we will keep that in place for the road closures,” Commissioner Scott Hutse...
SPRAGUE — A 69-year-old man accused of threatening to kill people while armed with a loaded firearm at the Sprague Motel is now set to face trial on Friday, April 19, with a readiness hearing scheduled for Monday, March 25. Michael Gilstrap was charged with one count of felony harassment-threat to kill following his arrest on June 11, 2024, at the Sprague Motel, located at 312 East First Street. According to reports, deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a man waving a gun and threatening to kill everyone. “There is a m...
DAVENPORT — The Davenport City Council discussed various community matters during its latest meeting, including the future of the city’s skate park, airport fuel costs, and an agreement with the school district for ballfield use. The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. with all council members present. A resident inquired about park and cemetery reports and advocated for keeping the skate park in its current location unless an offer was made to relocate it. Councilmember Lance Strite responded that there had been no progres...
CRESTON — A man accused of leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase on U.S. Highway 2 on Halloween remains in custody as his case moves toward trial. Alberto Lorenzo, 40, is being held in the Lincoln County Jail in Davenport on $50,000 bail on a charge of attempting to elude law enforcement. As his case moves toward trial, Lorenzo has claimed that his vehicle was disposed of and his cell phone was hacked. He sent a letter to the court stating that his personal belongings were inside the vehicle, which was recorded as bei...
DAVENPORT - Two suspects charged in connection with a January burglary in Almira returned to Lincoln County Superior Court for readiness hearings on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Jose Rafael Medina Lomeli, 28, and Delila Ellen Reid, 50, appeared before Judge Adam Walser as their cases move toward trial. Both face multiple charges stemming from the Jan. 9 burglary, in which firearms, a Liberty safe, household items and a Jeep were stolen from a residence and shop. Medina Lomeli is charged...
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. 17 Traffic Stops: 7 2:59 p.m. – A Davenport Safeway employee called to report 3 juveniles for theft. The store doesn’t want to press theft charges but wants the juveniles trespassed from th...
DAVENPORT — A Spokane man is facing charges after deputies recovered a stolen vehicle and linked it to him through evidence found inside and witness accounts. Dathan Spurgeon Miller, 36, has been charged with possession of a stolen vehicle after Lincoln County deputies discovered a white 1993 Chevrolet pickup abandoned in a ditch along Sunset Highway on December 20, 2024. The truck, which had been reported stolen from Spokane on November 9, was partially blocking the roadway when authorities arrived. Miller did not appear for...
DAVENPORT – A Brewster woman was set to be arraigned in Lincoln County Superior Court Tuesday, Feb. 25, after a bag of suspected narcotics was removed from her person while in police custody. Kira Esmerelda Oregon Hernandez, 23, of Brewster, was charged with possession of a controlled substance in a correctional facility following her arrest earlier this month. Oregon Hernandez was not present for her arraignment hearing on the day. Lincoln County Superior Court Judge Adam Walser ordered a Warrant for her arrest with a $5,000...
