Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Sorted by date Results 701 - 725 of 5014
DAVENPORT-Lincoln County Treasurer Jody Howard's last day in office is Friday, Dec. 30. Howard, 62, only held the elected position for four years but has worked in the Treasurer's Office since 2000. Howard was first employed by Lincoln County in the Auditor's Office as a 28-year-old in 1989. "At the time, I was the youngest person working in the Courthouse," Howard said. "Nowadays, there's plenty more people younger than that." Howard, a native of Wilbur and alumna of Eastern...
DAVENPORT-A Moses Lake man charged with the murder of his wife entered a not-guilty plea in Lincoln County Superior Court Tuesday. Charles R. Bergman, 54, appeared in court Dec. 13 after he was extradited by the U.S. Marshals back here last week. Bergman is charged with first-degree murder after the body of his wife, 53-year-old Theresa Bergman, was found 12 miles northwest of Sprague off Stolp Road Thursday, Sept. 22 after the pair had been reported as missing persons in...
DAVENPORT—It’s budget season, and the “largest” local budget is that of Lincoln County. Rising medical insurance, risk insurance and other costs have made the 2023 budget a challenge to complete for the Auditor’s Office and county commissioners, but that budget is getting closer to finalization every day. Chief accountant Rhonda Luiten shared department figures with The Record-Times and said these figures likely won’t be adjusted before the budget is finalized. The costliest current expense item budgeted is Sheriff ope...
DAVENPORT-After a snowstorm canceled school events and caused businesses to close last week, Lincoln County could see a potentially record-breaking winter. The National Weather Service has Davenport at 25.5 inches of snow for this winter, which is already more than December of 2021 at 13.8 inches. The most snowfall Davenport has gotten in January was in 1949-1950 at 45.1 inches, but the most snowfall in a season was in 1949-1950 at 74.9 inches. According to National Weather...
DAVENPORT—Local U.S. Postal Service workers are in their busiest week of the year. According to the Postal Service, this coming week will be the busiest of the year as patrons’ delivery needs increase ahead of the Christmas holiday. As a result, Sunday delivery has been expanded in several communities. The Postal Service recommends sending packages as follows, if you want them to arrive by Christmas: · Dec. 16 — Military addresses such as APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093). · Dec. 17 — First-Class mail service letters a...
DAVENPORT-A former Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputy who unsuccessfully ran against Wade Magers for Sheriff in 2010 is back in the county as undersheriff. Current Sheriff Gabe Gants swore in 49-year-old Jesse Allen Thursday, Dec. 1, and Allen was in the office this week Monday, Dec. 4. Allen has spent the past eight years working for the Spokane Tribal Police Department based in Wellpinit, most recently as deputy chief of police. "I oversaw patrol, dispatch and our...
DAVENPORT-Snow, ice, frost and fog are nothing new to residents of Lincoln County, many whom are wheat farmers and cattle ranchers. That doesn't mean winter conditions don't require planning, response and knowledge of what to do with the fields and cattle when such weather arrives. Matt Schneider, a cattle rancher and wheat farmer in the Davenport area, said winter preparation often starts as early as September. "Usually, it's all done before the weather hits," Schneider...
DAVENPORT–County residents will see a 1% increase in their property taxes next year. As is a typical annual practice, the Lincoln County Commissioners approved a 1% bump at their regular meeting Dec. 5. Government municipalities such as counties, fire districts and school districts are prohibited from raising taxes more than 1% in an annual cycle. “If we didn’t need the money, we wouldn’t do it,” commissioner Rob Coffman commented while noting that a 1% raise equates to very little money received compared to the expenses...
DAVENPORT—One item packed into a busy Lincoln County Commissioners meeting Monday, Dec. 5 was the approval of the county capital facilities plan, which aims to identify public facilities and projects needing to be completed, how much money those projects will cost and where that money will come from. Projects in the plan for 2023 include redoing sidewalks on the west end of District Court, the north side of the Probation office and the entrance to the Weed Board, as well as replacing the concrete stairwell on the west side o...
DAVENPORT—The annual public meeting between representatives from the Lincoln County Public Works Department, Lincoln County Commissioners and members of the public to discuss the county’s six-year transportation improvement program played a familiar tune: Some projects are funded, many aren’t, and the majority of citizens present wanted to know when Hawk Creek Road will be paved. Though funding hasn’t been obtained, some improvements to that road are amongst the 26 projects presented Monday, Dec. 5. Projects already funded...
REARDAN--After 31 years of teaching, Dorothy Balum retired in 1998, only to return here as a substitute teacher for the next 22 years (and counting.) Balum, age 80, has spent most of her life in education. She attended a two-room school for eight years before moving on to Cheney High School. After graduating, she attended Eastern Washington State College, earning degrees in English and psychology. She then completed master's programs at Eastern and Gonzaga. In 1964, the Waterv...
SPRAGUE — The Chamber of Commerce will elect its 2023 officers at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15. The event will take place at the Sprague Community Center, 213 S C St. Chamber officials are encouraging members to turn out to the event and vote for next year’s leadership. “Your vote giving direction for 2023 is needed,” officials said in a press release. In addition to the election of officers, the chamber is planning its annual gala for Monday, Jan. 16. That 6 p.m. event includes a potluck and recognition of locals for their e...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS– City council voted this week to reduce fire, EMS and police services in two areas owned or held in trust by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians. “The Kalispel Tribe failed to pay on two separate contracts for service from the city, so we are reducing service proportional to that lack of payment,” city administrator Albert Tripp said. One of these contracts between the city and the Tribe, established in 1996, was paid annually until 2019. The second contract is a 3-party contract between the Kalispel Tribe, Spoka...
REARDAN–Brad Eylar was installed as a reserve officer for the police department at the town council meeting on Dec. 1. Eylar is director of security for the Reardan-Edwall School District. As a reserve officer, he will be on call during weekends and evenings and will pick up an occasional shift, as needed. He previously worked for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Spokane Tribal Police. “Taking this position is another way I can serve the community,” Eylar said....
HARRINGTON--A state Department of Transportation snow plow was rear-ended by a Ford F150 amidst thick fog Monday morning, Dec. 5. The crash happened on Highway 28 just outside of the city and was attributed to the Ford driver speeding too fast for conditions. No one was seriously injured, but the driver was transported to a local hospital out of precaution. Highway 28 remained closed in both directions west of Harrington as of Monday morning....
DAVENPORT—A Kennewick man accused of murdering another man was arrested by the U.S. Marshal Service and Kennewick Criminal Apprehension Team near Hawk Creek last week. 24-year-old Antonio James Aguilar Hartman was charged with first-degree murder after being arrested on the 47000 block of Hawk Creek Road North Wednesday, Nov. 23. A nationwide warrant was signed for Hartman Monday, Nov. 28 after the body of 67-year-old Mark Jurgens was discovered on the 4100 block of West Third Street in Kennewick Saturday, Nov. 19, according...
DAVENPORT—After no one from the public spoke up during a budget hearing, city council approved the 2023 budget at its regular meeting Wednesday, Nov. 23. The approved budget features a plan for the city to spend less than it takes in, as is usually the case. Overall, the city is budgeting to spend $6,012,148 from $6,907,691 of resources. The highest expenditures include the current expense fund at $1,605,767, the airport capital improvement fund at $622,000, the sewer fund at $574,500, the garbage fund at $545,700, the w...
RITZVILLE—The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the thefts of multiple traffic signs last week. Investigators received information that led them to a location in the 1800 block of East Franz Road. During execution of a search warrant there Nov. 23, deputies recovered several signs, records show. “Deputies recovered stolen road signs that belonged to the Public Works Departments of Adams County, Franklin County and Lincoln County,” Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner said. “Also recovered were road signs belonging...
DAVENPORT—Schools closed and cars slid across highways in a record-setting snowstorm in Lincoln County Wednesday, Nov. 30. As of press time, anywhere from 6 to 13 inches of snow had fallen around the county. Reardan was the hardest hit with 13 inches as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. By the same time, Davenport had 11.9 inches of snow. The near-foot received in Davenport shattered a daily record for Nov. 30. The previous marks were 4.2 inches in Davenport in 2005 Harrington, Odessa and W...
SPRAGUE--Over the past few years, water levels in Sprague Lake, which straddles the Lincoln and Adams County lines, have been slow to recede following storm events. To help identify flood risk solutions, the Department of Ecology is partnering with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to study water levels at the Sprague Lake outlet channel. In 2017, high water levels combined with heavy rain and frozen ground caused significant flooding that damaged both public and private properties and city infrastructure. “This s...
Last budget meeting scheduled mid-December ODESSA— Mayor William Crossley announced a 2022 budget amendment and discussion of the 2023 proposed budget during a brief 12-minute town council meeting on Monday, Nov. 28. The final budget hearing and amendment meetings are scheduled before the regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 12. Two hired to work facilities at school district DAVENPORT–Two locals were hired by the school district here to work facilities and maintenance after longtime facilities director Joe Coppersmith announced h...
Kamry Kolterman shares her winning ticket during Turkey Bingo in Odessa on Saturday, Nov.19. Turn to page 7 for more local Turkey Bingo pictures....
"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members." -Coretta Scott King REARDAN--We C.A.R.E. is kicking off a "Blessing Boxes" program this holiday season. C.A.R.E. (Care About Reardan/Edwall) is a non-profit outreach of Reardan's four churches, along with other community members whose goal is to serve residents of the Reardan-Edwall area, particularly those in need. "Blessing Boxes are like the Little Free Library boxes...
DAVENPORT—Gonzaga head baseball coach Mark Andrew Machtolf pleaded guilty to one count of reckless driving in Lincoln County District Court Monday, Nov. 21. The 58-year-old Nine Mile Falls man gave his plea that stems from a DUI incident in Reardan last June. Machtolf was sentenced to two days in jail with credit for one day served, a $1,500 fine and 24 months supervised probation by presiding judge Carolyn J. Benzel of Adams County. He was originally arrested by the Reardan Police Department for driving under the i...
HARRINGTON- Teresa Myers has spent most of her life giving back to others, but what started Threads of Hope, her solo organization dedicated to helping those struggling with addiction, happened eight years ago. Myer's granddaughter, whom Myers wanted to remain anonymous, was addicted to heroin. "I had searched the streets for her," Myers said. "I couldn't find her anywhere." A call from a hospital in Seattle came in 2017 as she was out looking for her. "She had a baby, a...
