Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
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DAVENPORT — For the second time in as many tries, a proposal to sign a telecommunications franchise with Lincoln County for fiber-to-the-home services was continued by city council Wednesday night as the city still seeks changes to the agreement originally presented by the county. During discussions at the Oct. 11 meeting, councilmember Jonathan Chapman questioned whether the city’s receival of an Exhibit A displaying where work will occur in the city was enough to proceed with signing the agreement. Mayor Brad Sweet req...
Reardan Homecoming royalty is honored at the football game between the Screaming Eagles and Asotin on Friday, Oct 6. From left to right: Landon Bell, Taylor Yonemura, Kassidy Koch, Tate Nelson, Ashley Landt and Aiden Chilson. Odessa Homecoming royalty is also honored at the football game against Inchelium last Friday. Royalty includes Freshmen princess Katie Williams, prince Izaak Schmierer, sophomore princess Rebecca Bramer, prince John Melcher, junior princess Mackenzie...
ODESSA — A man who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2010 was arrested near town on a Dept. of Corrections felony escape from community custody warrant Saturday, Oct. 7. Jereme Joseph Bassett, 38, was arrested by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on Lakeview Ranch Loop Road, which is about five miles north of Odessa town limits off State Highway 21. Bassett’s listed hometown is Yakima, but the Sheriff’s Office believes he is living in Lincoln County. Bassett was convicted of the 2008 murder of 7-month-old Neveah...
REARDAN - Six years ago, Medical Lake contractor Wayne Terry met Gail Daniels when he was hired to remodel the basement of a local church. One of his first comments to her was, "I can't believe no one in Reardan has done anything to honor Joe Mann." Daniels was a classmate of one of Mann's nephews and had heard stories of his act of self-sacrifice that earned him the Medal of Honor in World War II, but she couldn't explain to Terry why Reardan had not honored Mann. After...
TACOMA—A Pierce County judge sided in favor of a lawsuit filed by Lincoln County, 27 other counties and the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) against the State Dept. of Health and Social Services Friday, Oct. 6. The directive by Judge Michael Schwartz mandates the state to assess patients with behavioral health conditions and issue comprehensive community notifications prior to their release from treatment, a WSAC press release said. “This significant legal action underscores the state’s responsibility to assess...
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 does not release names of individuals who report possible criminal or suspicious activities to dispatchers or alleged victims for this column. Oct. 1 Traffic stops: 11 A Texas man said he locked his keys in his work truck between the railroad tracks off Eighth Street in Davenport. A Davenport woman reported littering at F and Watson Streets in Creston. A D...
TUMWATER – The state’s minimum wage will jump 54 cents per hour on Jan. 1. On Friday, Sept. 29, the state Department of Labor and Industries announced it will raise the minimum wage from $15.74 per hour to $16.28 per hour effective Jan. 24. That’s an increase of $4.28 per hour in the last five years. According to agency officials, Labor and Industries establishes the rate based on the urban consumer price index. The new wages apply to all workers ages 16 and older. State law allows for a “training wage” of $13.84 per hour...
TUMWATER – The state Department of Labor and Industries is proposing a 4.9% increase in the workers compensation tax effective Jan. 1. Director Joel Sacks said the tax increase is lower than what the agency expects to pay for 2024 claims. The proposed tax increase is a direct result of higher wages in the state, he said, noting it will cost employers and workers jointly about $65 annually per full-time employee. The proposed tax hike has Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, fired up. Schoesler represents Legislative District N...
DAVENPORT — Local meteorologists are predicting a shift in climate patterns for the 2023-24 winter season. The National Weather Service is expecting an “El Nino” winter, which could lead to warmer-than-normal temperatures and less snow than normal. According to Spokane-based NWS lead forecaster Jon Fox, an El Nino pattern would be a shift from the last three winters, which were all El Nina patterns creating colder-than-average temperatures and higher precipitation amounts. “We’re really expecting an El Nino pattern across al...
Jacob, Mason and Wyatt Clark enjoy their donut at the Donuts with Dudes event put on by Davenport Elementary School Tuesday, Oct. 3. Elementary students and their fathers, grandfathers, uncles or father figures gathered in the middle school cafeteria for a donut prior to the school day. Community members were on hand to eat a donut with students who couldn't bring a father figure to the event....
DAVENPORT — The county commissioners heard an update from Northeast Washington Alliance Counseling Services executive director Dr. David Nielsen regarding a criminal justice treatment account (CJTA) panel and plan Monday, Oct. 2. The commissioners had just approved an amendment to the interlocal cooperation agreement between Lincoln and Stevens Counties to provide outpatient substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services. Appointed to the panel were Nielsen, counselor Stephanie Littell, Sheriff Gabe Gants, S...
HARRINGTON — The city is considering canceling its garbage program and directing residents to contract with Sunshine Disposal directly, mayor Jesse Silhan confirmed this week. Currently, residents pay the city for garbage services as part of their water/sewer/garbage bill, and the city in turn pays Sunshine. “If anybody doesn’t pay their bill, we’re on the hook for that,” Silhan said. The effect of the change on garbage rates is still being determined, he said. “They indicated there would be a slight, if any, change in r...
FOUR LAKES – The railway system serving Eastern Washington's wheat industry in Lincoln, Adams, Whitman, Grant and southern Spokane Counties will be getting a facelift, thanks to $112 million in grants. The state Department of Transportation has been awarded a $72.8 million grant for the Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad Project. The grant, a product of the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration's Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement program, is d...
ODESSA - The renovation of the Odessa Community Center was completed in time for 2023 Deutschesfest, although a few details remain to be finished up before the town signs off on the project. An open house was held Friday, Sept. 29, affording the public an opportunity to visit the facility and view all the work that had been done. The project was funded through a grant offered by the Washington State Department of Commerce. Town clerk Meri Jane Bohn and Steve Nelson of...
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 does not release names of individuals who report possible criminal or suspicious activities to dispatchers or alleged victims for this column. Sept. 24 Traffic stops: 10 A car versus deer crash was reported. A Davenport man reported a red pickup truck pulling a camper being pulled solely by a chain up the hill eastbound from Davenport. A caller said her Hon...
ODESSA — The local school board approved 11 action items at the regular meeting in the high school library Wednesday, Sept. 27. But before voting on action items took place, administration offered reports. Superintendent Steve Fisk said the current headcount is 209 students before sharing he’s applying for special education, consolidated title and football field light, bathroom and school electrical panel repair and playground renovation grants. Fisk also said he completed emergency sub applications for Danielle Scrupps and...
DAVENPORT — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will test the national public alert system at 11:20 a.m. (our time) today, Wednesday, Oct. 4. The test will mean all cell phones and broadcast companies will "tone out" at that time. If your mobile phone is within range of an active cell tower, you should receive the test. Wireless providers will be transmitting the test for a 30-minute window, but each phone is expected to sound the tone only once. A backup test is set for Oct. 11. The tests are planned to ensure e...
DAVENPORT — Lincoln County has signed franchise agreements for fiber-optic broadband access through several grants with seven of the eight county municipalities, but one municipality agreement remains outstanding: The county seat. And that’s because the city, spurred by concerns identified by attorney David Bingaman, has identified language in the proposed agreement that some key stakeholders worry could give the county access to city-owned property without giving the city the ability to negotiate any changes or updates to...
The Davenport High School Homecoming king, queen and court were announced at halftime of the football game Friday, Sept. 22. Shown are Queen Emma Cormier and King Jaeger Jacobsen (center), along with the court featuring Brody Schllinger, Jensyn Jacobsen (left), Samantha Odenrider and Jacob Harvey (right). Turn to Page 10 for more on the football game against Moses Lake Christian Academy....
DAVENPORT — A replacement Educational Programs and Operations levy, and a separate capital projects levy, will be the topic of discussion at a special school board meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16. Superintendent Chad Prewitt and business manager Dana Telecky told the school board at a regular meeting Monday, Sept. 25 that the two current four-year levies, valued at approximately $2.50 per $1,000 assessed property value and $1.15 per $1,000 assessed property value respectively, will expire at the end of 2024. The district t...
CRESTON - Late Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputy Luke Mallon was remembered at a public Celebration of Life at the local school gym attended by many Friday, Sept. 22. Mallon died at age 40 at his rural Creston home Saturday, Sept. 2. He had been with the Sheriff's Office for nine years. Deputies and administration from the Sheriff's Office led Mallon's family into the gym to begin the memorial proceedings. Chaplain Pat Hogan offered an introduction before sharing Scriptur...
SWANSON WILDLIFE AREA — Since the devastating Whitney Fire in 2020, which burned a large portion of the Swanson Lake Wildlife Area, work has been ongoing to restore the habitat for Columbia Sharp Tailed and Sage Grouse populations and other wildlife. According to Swanson Lakes Area Manager Mike Finch, the first thing experts set out to do after the fire was to develop a map based on fire severity at the site. He worked in partnership with Bureau of Lands Management (BLM) Biologist Jason Lowe. Between the Swanson Lake area 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 does not release names of individuals who report possible criminal or suspicious activities to dispatchers or alleged victims for this column. Sept. 17 Traffic stops: 2 A disabled vehicle with hazard lights flashing was reported. A caller said he found some unknown baggies. A caller said a white Chevy was all over the road. A Davenport man said his neighbor...
DAVENPORT — Every year, the state requires students to take standardized tests in English/language arts, math and science. Students are given the Smarter Balanced Assessment in ELA and math in grades 3-8 and 10 and Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science in grades 5,8 and 11. Results from last school year were recently released by the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for each school district and measured based on what percentage of students in each grade “met grade level standards” in each subje...
REARDAN — The town council approved a resolution allowing grant writer Emily Zwaintz the authority to seek funding for park improvements at its meeting Thursday, Sept. 21. If funded, the grant could provide up to $100,000 to purchase a new backstop and picnic tables and to update the restrooms and pavilion. The Local Parks Maintenance Program would fund the grant through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office....
