Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 5722
SPRAGUE - An investigation is underway in Sprague following concerns that city council documents, including a budget-related ordinance, may have been altered, prompting the resignation of the city's clerk-treasurer. The inquiry began after a recent city council meeting where questions were raised about the authenticity of certain official records, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. "Recently, there was a council meeting and it appeared that some documents had be...
SPOKANE — A tribal official who diverted tens of thousands of dollars intended for foster children was sentenced Wednesday to more than a year in federal prison. Tawhnee Willow Colvin, of Davenport, was convicted on 26 counts of bank fraud and embezzlement from the Spokane Tribe of Indians. She will also serve five years of supervised release and must pay $100,830 in restitution. Colvin was assistant director of the Spokane Tribe of Indians’ Department of Health and Human Services and Division of Child and Family Services. Be...
DAVENPORT - Ballots for Lincoln County's upcoming levy-only election are landing in mailboxes this week, and voters may notice they look a little different from those in years past. About 4,200 ballots were mailed last Friday afternoon, according to Lincoln County Elections Manager Norm Caley. There are no candidates on the ballot, only levy measures. The change comes after state legislation passed last year requiring uniform ballot envelopes statewide, replacing what had...
DAVENPORT — One Lincoln County town logged 1,360 police calls in 2025. Another had just eight. The county’s latest crime data reveal sharp contrasts, both in total incidents and per-resident activity, showing how population, location, and local law enforcement shape who interacts most with police and the sheriff’s office. Davenport, the county seat and largest town, with about 1,703 residents, recorded the most calls. Traffic offenses, domestic violence investigations, and suspicious person reports dominated. That works out t...
OLYMPIA — School board members statewide may see a pay raise if Senate Bill 5860 passes and is signed into law. The bill raises pay from $50 to $100 per working day, reimburses child care costs during meetings and requires finance training. The proposed bill and companion House Bill 2366 do not require compensation for school board members, but would raise the maximum that they could be paid. Senate Bill 5860 passed the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee and has been sent to the Ways & Means Committee to discuss...
ODESSA — Residents may notice a stranger walking through neighborhoods and taking photos of homes, but county officials say there is no cause for alarm and no automatic increase in property taxes tied to the activity. The Lincoln County Assessor’s Office is conducting routine property assessments in the Odessa area to determine current market values, County Assessor Scott Liebing said. The work is part of a regular cycle required by the state and is not connected to tax increases. “We are assessing in that area,” Liebing said...
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 Jan. 18 Traffic Stops: 1 12:23 a.m. — A driver reported that two vehicles were racing while traveling toward Spokane. One was a Ford Focus and the other a Subaru WRX. 1:32 p.m. — An employee at Nat...
OLYMPIA – State lawmakers want to rein in how license plate cameras designed to track vehicles can be used. During a public hearing Jan. 20, Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma, said federal immigration authorities are accessing data obtained by automated license plate readers and that's a major reason for regulating them. Trudeau is the sponsor of Senate Bill 6002, which would create a regulatory structure for license plate reading camera systems and the data captured by them. "...
Meth case trial date set DAVENPORT - The most recent court activity in a Lincoln County drug case advanced Tuesday as a Superior Court judge set a new trial date during a status conference. Lincoln County Superior Court Judge Adam Walser said the court received a letter that resulted in changes to the case, including a change in defense counsel. Victoria Iverson took over representation after Dave Hearrean removed himself from the case. The deputy prosecuting attorney Bruce Co...
SPRAGE - A large crowd, fast-paced bidding and an emotional award presentation highlighted the Sprague Chamber of Commerce Auction and Dinner on Monday, Jan. 19. The annual fundraiser raised $4,438 to support Chamber efforts and local initiatives. Attendance was high enough that organizers ran out of several dinner items during the meal service. Chamber President Tim Wilken said the turnout was the best the organization has seen in years. The event was held in the Sprague...
DAVENPORT - A Wilbur man facing multiple felony charges pleaded not guilty Tuesday, Jan. 20, in Lincoln County Superior Court, where a judge ordered him to remain restrained and denied a request to lower his bond, citing public safety and flight risk. John Michael Beeler, 52, is charged with attempting to elude a police vehicle, first-degree malicious mischief, violation of a protection order and third-degree assault. Attorney Grant Riva represents him, following the...
DAVENPORT - Lincoln County commissioners met Tuesday, Jan. 20, to hear updates from the Public Works Department on staffing, road projects and upcoming contracts. Representing Public Works were Director David Orvis, Road Operations Manager Save Sanford and County Engineer James Wege. Orvis reported that one mechanic resigned last Monday but the department is caught up on work and does not plan to hire a replacement at this time. He also presented a synopsis of a new contract...
DAVENPORT - A local man accused of assaulting and strangling his wife entered a not guilty plea Tuesday, Jan. 20, during an appearance in Lincoln County Superior Court, where a judge imposed a no-contact order and set the case for trial. Zeth William Swanger, 29, pleaded not guilty to one count of second-degree assault, domestic violence. He is represented by defense attorney Timothy Scott Note. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Bruce Cox requested standard release conditions. Super...
HARRINGTON - The City Council discussed several infrastructure and community issues during their meeting Wednesday, Jan. 14, including the city's water system, cemetery maintenance, and proposed ordinances. Council members voted against replacing the city's water main using a loan from the state, citing operational concerns with Well No. 1. Mayor Joe Armand said testing revealed a series of valves had failed and need replacement before the well can go online. Armand also...
WALLA WALLA – A retired colonel who served at Fairchild Air Force Base has announced his candidacy for the state's 5th Congressional District. David Womack, a former Medical Group commander at Fairchild and a former Whitman Hospital CEO in Colfax, announced his candidacy earlier this month, citing a need for a broader focus on the challenges facing rural communities across Eastern Washington. "Putting the people of Eastern Washington first means addressing the issues that s...
Jan Pantoja, left, shares a moment with Gina Habbestad after receiving the Citizen of the Year award during the Sprague Chamber of Commerce event. Pantoja's heartfelt gratitude and tears were felt across the room....
HARRINGTON - The City Council discussed several infrastructure and community issues during their meeting Wednesday, Jan. 14, including the city's water system, cemetery maintenance, and proposed ordinances. Council members voted against replacing the city's water main using a loan from the state, citing operational concerns with Well No. 1. Mayor Joe Armand said testing revealed a series of valves had failed and need replacement before the well can go online. Armand also...
DAVENPORT — A man with multiple impaired-driving convictions was sentenced to more than three years in prison after a judge said public safety outweighed any leniency. Freddie Leeshell Franklin, 45, of Spokane pleaded guilty in Lincoln County Superior Court to felony DUI stemming from a traffic stop on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. Charges of first-degree driving while license suspended and violation of an ignition interlock device were dismissed under a plea agreement. Franklin’s criminal history includes DUI convictions in 200...
DAVENPORT — A man with multiple impaired-driving convictions was sentenced to more than three years in prison after a judge said public safety outweighed any leniency. Freddie Leeshell Franklin, 45, pleaded guilty in Lincoln County Superior Court to felony DUI stemming from a traffic stop on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. Charges of first-degree driving while license suspended and violation of an ignition interlock device were dismissed under a plea agreement. Franklin’s criminal history includes DUI convictions in 2001, 2016 and...
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 Jan. 12 Traffic Stops: 8 2:11 a.m. – A vehicle parked in the middle4 of Hawk Creek Rd was reported. 6:49 a.m. – A vehicle with someone sleeping in it was reported at Mountain View cemetery. 9:10 a....
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 Jan. 5 Traffic Stops: 6 2:22 a.m. — A man reported several cows loose on the roadway near the intersection of Highway 231, Highway 23 and Brown Road. 12:45 p.m. — A woman reported that her cat had...
DAVENPORT — A Spokane man accused of driving under the influence in Lincoln County appeared in Superior Court this week as attorneys signaled the case may soon be resolved without a trial. “Judge, we have done some extensive work on this case and we have reached an agreement,” public defender Dave Hearrean told the court. Hearrean asked that the trial dates be stricken and the matter continued one week to allow for a change-of-plea hearing. Lincoln County Superior Court Judge Adam Walser granted the request, setting the h...
DAVENPORT — Updated court proceedings this week set a February trial date for two Davenport brothers charged in connection with an alleged assault involving a juvenile at their 12th Street residence. Michael Jake Gatewood, 43, and Christopher Ray Gatewood, 45, both of Davenport, appeared in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, Jan. 13, where attorneys confirmed they are prepared to proceed to trial on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Public defender Victoria Iverson told the court the trial is expected to last up to three days, t...
OLYMPIA — With a $12-$16 billion budget shortfall hanging over the Legislature, House and Senate leaders and Gov. Bob Ferguson are offering different proposals to address the issue. The 2026 legislative session opened Monday, Jan. 12. Three panels of House and Senate leaders discussed the state’s transportation budget and general fund, while Ferguson renewed his support for a “millionaire tax.” The proposal would tax high-earners’ incomes. The biggest proposal to balance the budget is implementing the state’s first incom...
Vehicular assault trial delayed again DAVENPORT — A Lincoln County vehicular assault case was continued in Superior Court, with a February trial date vacated and rescheduled for later this spring. Dean Robert Swanson, 64, of Lincoln, appeared before Superior Court Judge Adam Walser, who reset the trial from Tuesday, Feb. 4, to Tuesday, March 25. Swanson faces two counts of vehicular assault stemming from a May 3, 2024, head-on collision on State Route 2 in Lincoln County. According to court records, Swanson was allegedly d...
