Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
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PASCO — Gov. Jay Inslee's time has expired, at least in Franklin County. Five minutes into the county commissioners’ 9 a.m. meeting today, April 21, commissioners voted unanimously to reject provisions under Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-home quarantine order. Commissioner Clint Didier moved to reopen the county; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Brad Peck. “I move that Franklin County end recognition of the governor’s stay-at-home emergency proclamation that is now deemed un...
RICHLAND — Under the watchful eye of a city park ranger, hundreds of protesters from across Eastern Washington launched boats and filled Columbia Point Park today calling on Gov. Jay Inslee to end the ban on boating and fishing. Statewide, fishing, boating, camping and some hunting were shut down by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife until at least May 4, in accordance with the governor's quarantine due to the coronavirus outbreak. More than 100 boats were visible on t...
WENATCHEE — The Governor’s Office general counsel has chastised both Douglas and Chelan counties for allowing previously permitted home construction. In letters written Friday, April 17, on behalf of Gov. Jay Inslee, attorney Kathryn Leathers ordered Douglas County to “comply” with the governor’s quarantine orders and ordered Chelan County to “immediately retract” its resolution allowing construction. In addition to the two letters, Leathers sent both counties copies of guidelines on real estate and mortgage and construct...
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee and Department of Corrections Secretary Stephen Sinclair have announced plans to release up to 950 state inmates from facilities who are part of population vulnerable to COVID-19, including nonviolent individuals due to be released within the coming weeks and months. The move comes after a state Supreme Court ruling April 10 instructing the Department “to take all necessary steps to protect the health and safety” of incarcerated individuals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and submit a repor... Full story
OLYMPIA -- Beginning this Sunday, Washingtonians currently ineligible to receive unemployment benefits may get a chance to receive financial help. In a press conference this afternoon with Gov. Jay Inslee, Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine said the state will begin to implement provisions of the federal C.A.R.E.S Act expanding unemployment benefits to independent contractors and others who typically don't qualify for benefits – including those who don't have the usually required 680 hours. Other a... Full story
RICHLAND — Cracks are growing in Gov. Jay Inslee’s “stay home, stay safe” quarantine east of the Cascades. And the Tri-City area — the second most populous area east in Eastern Washington— is at the center of the uprising to lift “unconstitutional” mandates that restrict the ability to assemble, practice religion, access publicly owned lands and water, and more. The governor has ordered Washington state residents to "stay home" until at least May 4 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Richland resident Lisa Thomas has star... Full story
RITZVILLE — Hospitals statewide are taking a financial hit with Gov. Jay Inslee's order to suspend any non-essential services, and East Adams Rural Healthcare is doing their best to weather the storm. “We are still providing our swing bed, inpatient and emergency services, but our rehabilitation therapy and outpatient clinic services are very minimal right now, because folks should be staying at home unless they need care to prevent them from really having a detrimental effect to their health,” Chief Executive Officer Corey... Full story
DAVENPORT — Lincoln Hospital District No. 3 commissioners will meet at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 16. The meeting is set for Davenport Memorial Hall. An agenda was not available before press time....
DAVENPORT — First half-2020 taxes and assessments are due in the Lincoln County terarsuer’s Office or postmarked by April 30. The office is currently closed to public access due to the coronavirus shutdown. Tax payments may be mailed to Lincoln County Treasurer, P.O. Box 370, Davenport, WA 99122, or paid online at www.co.lincoln.wa.us/treasurer....
DAVENPORT — The state Department of Natural Resources has banned burning on agency-protected lands in Eastern Washington. The ban includes several “fire danger rating areas” including the highlands, Kaniksu and lower and upper basin areas in the region, the agency said. Dry conditions and expected windy conditions prompted the burn ban, the agency said....
ODESSA — Wheat-land Bank is reassuring depositors that their money is safe and readily available during the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. Funds are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., bank officials said last week. “Wheatland Bank has been serving the communities of Eastern Washington for the past 40 years, and managed through the turbulent times of the Great Recession, without ever losing its profitability, sound financial position or its 5-Star Superior Rating,” CEO Susan M. Horton said. “Due to the advance...
DAVENPORT — Avista Corp. ratepayers affected by the coronavirus pandemic may have a temporary reprieve on utility bills. Last week, the state Utilities and Transportation Commission approved temporary changes to Avista’s rate assistance program for ratepayers who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus. Natural gas and electric customers having trouble paying their bills will be able to apply for hardship grants of up to $350 and, Avista officials said. To apply for a grant, call 800-227-9187....
COLFAX–With Gov. Jay Inslee's order for hospitals to suspend non-essential services, local hospitals are tightening their financial belts in preparation of the shutdown impacting their bottom line. "Just like everybody, we're going to have to take a hit," Whitman Hospital and Medical Center spokeswoman Laurie Gronning said. Rural hospitals are seeing very few coronavirus cases. Elective medical procedures have been shutdown. And rural residents have been told to stay away f...
RITZVILLE - The Columbia Basin Investigative Team has identified the man shot and killed by police Saturday night as Shawn Lee. Lee, 49, hometown not released, was shot in the parking lot of Love's Travel Stop and Country Stores, 1370 N. state Highway 261, by officer Jeff Lane, said a report on the shooting released this morning. Lane is on paid administrative leave, standard operating procedure for an officer involved in a shooting. According to the report, Lee was passing...
OLYMPIA -- Washington, Oregon and California governors announced they have agreed on a shared vision to reopen their states economies and provide unified efforts to control COVID-19 in the future. The pact is based around dealing with the severe acute respiratory disease sweeping the nation and the world that is built on three principles: Health of residents, using science and data instead of politics to drive decisions and being more effective through a unified approach. "We are announcing that California, Oregon and Washing...
OLYMPIA - A bill authored by Rep. Tom Dent providing regulatory relief ro day care providers has been signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee. Dent, R-Moses Lake, represents Lincoln County as part of the 13th Legislative District. The governor signed House Bill 2556 into law Friday. "Early learning and child care providers shared with me that new state rules and regulations being imposed were increasing costs and driving many of them out of business, in an industry that was...
MOSES LAKE - An alleged drunken, wrong-way driver caused a four-vehicle pileup on Interstate 90 on Thursday, April 2. Christopher L. Mainard, 26, of Snohomish, was intoxicated at the scene and arrested for driving under the influence of the 8:17 p.m. crash between Ritzville and Moses Lake, southwest of Odessa, the Washington State Patrol said, noting the crash occurred at Milepost 193, 18 miles east of Moses Lake. Mainard was westbound in the left lane of eastbound I-90 when...
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee signed House Bill 2662 into law last week, capping the price of insulin at $100 for a 30-day supply. The bill was introduced by Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, R-Republic. The measure also creates a task force to investigate why the cost of insulin has risen 500% over the last decate. “Especially now, with so many families struggling to make ends meet under the governor’s ‘stay home, stay healthy’ orders, families need financial relief wherever they can find it,” Maycumber said of the new law. “With this...
OLYMPIA — The state Department of Transportation has extended the deadline to remove studded tires. The new deadline is May 15 to accommodate residents effected by the coronavirus quarantine ordered by Gov. Jay Inslee.....
ODESSA — While Lincoln County has only two confirmed coronavirus cases, health officials have made testing availble. Clinics and hospitals in Davenport and Odessa are ready to test residents with related symptoms, which include fever, coughing and difficulty breathing. But don’t just show up at a clinic or hospital, call first, officials said. Local residents can call Odessa Rural Health Clinic at 509-982-2614 and Odessa Memorial Hospital at 509-982-2611. In the Davenport and Reardan areas, residents should call Dav...
OLYMPIA - Gov. Jay Inslee and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal on Monday, April 6, closed schools fore the remained of the 2019-20 school year. The order keeps both public and private schools closed in accordance with the governor's original March 13 quarantine order. The governor's executive order prohibits in-person instruction through June 19, with exceptions for students with disabilities and English language learners for whom distance learning...
DAVENPORT — A Sprague man was booked into the Lincoln County Jail on April 3. Lodai Douglas McSpadden, 41, was arrested by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for residential burglary. In an unrelated arrest, Kurt James Buntin, 45, of Airway Heights, was arrested by the Reardan Police Department. He was booked into the jail for physical control on April 3....
BHARRINGTON — The city has a new mayor. Mayor Pro Tempore Nathan Luck was officially selected to lead the city as mayor during a 6 p.m. virtual meeting Thursday, April 2. He was selected on a 2-0 vote of the council, with former Mayor Justin Slack and Councilman Levi Shenk supporting the nomination. Councilmen Peter Davenport and Luck himself abstained from the vote. The decision followed some discussion and apparent confusion of parliamentary procedure. Luck was selected over applicant Desina Holling. “I have chosen to abs...
OLYMPIA — One elected state official and two bureaucrats have moved to keep publicly owned lands managed by their agencies off limits to the public. On Friday, State Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, D-Poulsbo, and appointed Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind and Washington State Parks Director Don Hoch said they will not be opening up public access because of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. Rather, they have said they will keep publicly owned lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources, the S...
OLYMPIA – The state Department of Natural Resources is implementing burn restrictions on DNR-protected lands in Eastern Washington, beginning Friday, April 10. DNR officials cited a front scheduled to pass through the region the next couple of days creating dry conditions and forecasted gusty winds as a reason for instituting the ban earlier than normal. According to an April 9, news release, all outdoor burning, which includes permit and rule burning (small debris disposal fires), is not allowed in eastern Washington. T... Full story
