Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 290
YAKIMA — An Odessa man facing multiple child rape charges in Yakima County Superior Court will now stand trial in September, after both the prosecution and defense agreed to postpone the case. Nathanial James Lathrop, 59, of Odessa, is facing two counts of child rape in the first degree and one charge of child molestation. He was originally scheduled for trial on April 7, but during a March 13 hearing, the court rescheduled proceedings to Sept. 22. A readiness hearing is set for Aug. 7. Authorities said Lathrop was c...
ODESSA - Odessa once again has a queen, as the town crowned its first Miss Odessa in four years during a ceremony held Saturday, April 12. The coronation, held in the Heritage Church basement, marked the revival of the Odessa Royalty program after a four-year hiatus. Alyx Scheller, 17, will serve as Miss Odessa for the 2025–2026 year. The program was brought back to life by Odessa royalty alumna Sandi (Greenwalt) Smith, who served as queen in 1991–1992. Smith said she fel...
DAVENPORT — Communities across Lincoln County are celebrating Easter with events for all ages, from sunrise services to egg hunts and train rides. In Davenport, the Lions Club will host an all-you-can-eat breakfast and egg hunt on Saturday, April 19, at Davenport City Park. Breakfast will be served from 8 to 11 a.m. and includes scrambled eggs, ham, sausage, pancakes, coffee, orange juice and milk. The Easter egg hunt begins at 9 a.m. On Easter Sunday, April 20, Christ Lutheran Church (Egypt) will hold a service at 8:30 a...
ODESSA - Motorcyclists across the country now have a new stop in Washington state's 2025 Tour of Honor: Odessa's veterans memorial tank. The tank, an M60A3 used during Operation Desert Storm, sits at the Odessa Cemetery off WA-28 and serves as a tribute to 12 Odessa residents who lost their lives in World War II. It was brought to the cemetery in 2000 after a four-year effort led by Odessa resident Mike Hardung, with support from former U.S. Rep. George R. Nethercutt. "I...
ALMIRA — The fourth and final suspect in the Almira burglary case is expected to complete intensive substance abuse treatment the week of April 20 and return to custody shortly after. Recardo Rocha, 32, was represented by his attorney during a hearing on Tuesday, April 15. His defense informed Judge Adam Walser that Rocha is still in treatment but nearing completion of the program. The court agreed to set the matter over for one week to allow for his return. Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Albertson said Rocha e...
This past weekend, I did something wild. I swapped my reporter's notebook for combat boots and spent 72 exhilarating, exhausting hours playing soldier with the Idaho Army National Guard. If you thought journalism was chaotic, let me introduce you to my weekend. As part of our prep for Advanced Training-coming up next month in southern Idaho-I found myself not analyzing intelligence, as my job title might suggest, but instead learning how to operate military vehicles that are...
DAVENPORT - The Davenport Lions Club presented the Lincoln County Museum with a $5,000 check two weeks ago to support the replacement of two furnaces in the museum's outer exhibition buildings, enabling the facility to complete critical heating and air conditioning upgrades ahead of its seasonal reopening. The donation, partially raised through the Lions Club's annual Turkey Bingo event, calendar sales and pop can drives, helped the museum reach its fundraising goal after...
DAVENPORT — The City Council was scheduled to meet Tuesday, April 9, to review first-quarter financial data, including budget expenditures and departmental activity, according to agenda documents and quarterly reports. Council members were presented with detailed revenue and expense reports for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, showing that most departments are operating within their budgeted expectations. According to the quarterly revenue and expense report, the city’s general fund — which covers core services such...
ODESSA — The Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program (OGWRP) has reached a significant milestone with the launch of the EL 86.4 irrigation system, converting 5,426 acres from deep well irrigation to Columbia River surface water. The transition eliminates 16 wells, conserving 16,143 acre-feet, or 5.3 billion gallons, of water annually in the Odessa Subarea Aquifer. The project, spearheaded by the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District (ECBID), is part of a broader effort to address declining groundwater levels in the Odessa S...
DAVENPORT - A man charged with multiple felonies across several counties was sentenced to 48 months in prison in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, April 8, after pleading guilty as part of a global plea agreement. Joseph Lee Cooper, 43, appeared before Judge Jeffery Barkdull to be sentenced on two felony charges stemming from a high-speed chase last November that ended in a wheat field outside Davenport. The court originally considered a 50-month prison term. However,...
HARRINGTON — The Harrington Chamber of Commerce met Tuesday, April 2, to discuss upcoming community events, business trends, and general updates. The meeting was called to order at 4:20 p.m. with 14 members present. During the “Good of the Order” segment, Sam Matthias shared data from credit card companies, highlighting the economic impact of outside business in Harrington and the success of non-local ventures. The golf course reopened and is now offering free lessons on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Glow Golf, has been pos...
DAVENPORT – High-speed 5G WiFiber internet will go live in Davenport on May 5, providing residents with faster and more reliable connectivity. "We are launching May 5," said Shane Monroy, a technician of WiFiber. "We have a sign-up portal online. People can be proactive and sign up with us and check our website. We have a pretty big list of people waiting for fiber or wireless customers. May 5 we are going to start going live." WiFiber has already expanded its services to seve...
ODESSA - The infamous Frostbite Grand Prix race saw hundreds flood the Odessa Dessert in a heated competition. The race was held just outside of Odessa, organized by Randy Niles. "Everything about the race is my favorite part," he said. "I just like hearing people's stories and something like that. I like to hear how excited people are to be here and you know, that's what makes the work worthwhile. We spend about four or five weekends out here to prepare." Cooper Stevens...
IRBY — The 54th annual Stumpjumpers Desert 100 is set to take place April 5-6 in Irby, drawing riders and fans from across the region for a weekend of racing, camaraderie and community spirit. The event kicks off Friday, April 4, with event shirt sales, registration and food vendors opening. Limited riding will be allowed throughout the day, and a live band will perform in the beer tent that evening. Saturday features a series of poker runs, a mini race and a Ladies Beginner Ride. A riders meeting is scheduled for 7 a.m. befo...
SPRAGUE - A local man was sentenced Tuesday, April 1, to nearly 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary in Lincoln County Superior Court. Jason Trickel, 45, of Sprague, received a 29.75-month sentence in connection with an October 22, 2024, incident near a cell tower site on Newark McAbee Road. According to court records, Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputy Kody Becker responded to a report at approximately 9:02 a.m. from Thomas Pelley, who had...
DAVENPORT - A Spokane man accused of stealing a vehicle in Lincoln County pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Tuesday, April 1, in Lincoln County Superior Court. Scott Skenandore-Kieffer, 36, is charged with theft of a motor vehicle in connection to an incident reported April 10, 2024. He was granted a public defender, David Hearrean, and no objections were raised to the omnibus application. His trial is set for June 25, with a readiness hearing scheduled for May 27....
DAVENPORT — A fourth suspect in the January burglary of an Almira residence has been charged and will face trial in Lincoln County Superior Court, though her trial date was rescheduled Tuesday, April 1. Thea Wenz, 27, of Moses Lake, pleaded not guilty to residential burglary, second-degree possession of stolen property, second-degree burglary, and second-degree theft. Wenz, who lives with her grandparents, was previously appointed public defender Victoria Iverson. Her trial is now set for May 21 at 9 a.m. According to c...
ALMIRA — Scammers are using fake hostage situations to demand money, preying on fear and targeting vulnerable individuals. A local woman reported receiving a call from an unknown number with a 253 area code. When she answered, she heard a young woman screaming. “I got a call, and it was a girl screaming, saying, ‘Mommy, help me! Mommy, mommy, mommy!’ She was inconsolable,” Cathy Florenzen said. “I could sense it was not my daughter because she has never called me ‘mommy’ in her life.” Florenzen handed the phone to her husb...
It was a day for walking, running, hiking, and, most importantly, dirt-flying fun. I arrived at the Odessa Grand Prix just in time to catch the tail end of the riders’ meeting on Saturday. The moment I stepped onto the course, I was immediately greeted by the roar of engines, racers from across the state, and the warm Eastern Washington sun. Enter Randy Niles—the man, the myth, the legend—who organizes the weekend’s chaos. Without hesitation, we hopped into what can only be...
HARRINGTON – A local science teacher at Harrington Jr/Sr School has been selected to participate in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum’s Teacher Innovator Institute in Washington, D.C. Justin Ikehara was selected to join the program as it aims to enhance classroom instruction by integrating informal STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) education with hands-on learning experiences. The two-week immersive program, set for summer 2025, will bring together 80 educators from across the count...
There are many ways to start a day, but locking myself out of my house with my car keys inside, before work, was not the ideal choice. Yet, I stood outside in the brisk morning air, watching my life choices flash before my eyes as I realized my door was locked, and so was my fate for the foreseeable future. It all started so innocently. I had taken Winnie outside, as responsible pet owners do. I locked the door behind me, because, you know, safety first. And then, just a few m...
GRAND COULEE — A man accused of burglarizing an elderly resident’s home and committing financial fraud is moving toward a plea agreement as his trial date is rescheduled. Jake Keith Denning had previously undergone competency evaluations and was deemed fit for trial by both the state and their respective defenses. “We worked out a plea deal,” Denning’s defense attorney said during a recent superior court hearing on Tuesday, March 25. Denning, who faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree burglary, first-deg...
ODESSA – A local Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members achieved outstanding results at the recent Regional Conference, held at Spokane Falls Community College. Fifteen students represented Odessa, with several earning top placements and qualifying for the FBLA State Leadership Conference in Bellevue, Wash., from April 23-26. Students who placed in their events include: Mackenzie Lutz, 1st place, Job Interview; 2nd place, Electronic Career Portfolio; Viet Tran, 2...
ODESSA - The Oroville varsity baseball team and the Odessa Tigers each secured a victory in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday, March 25. In the first game, Oroville defeated Odessa 14-8. Oroville took an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning and adding two more in the second. Despite a late five-run push by Odessa in the seventh inning, Oroville held on for the win. Oroville recorded 12 hits and one error, while Odessa finished with 11 hits and two errors. In...
ODESSA — Riders and spectators alike are gearing up for the return of the Frostbite Grand Prix and White Knuckle Poker Run, taking place this Saturday and Sunday, March 29-30, in Odessa. The annual off-road racing event, part of the NMA racing series, is expected to draw competitors of all skill levels to the rugged desert terrain of Eastern Washington. The Frostbite Grand Prix kicks off Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with the long course race, featuring various classes including Senior, Women, and Open. The short course follows at 12...
