Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 273
HARRINGTON — A Palouse woman has been charged with vehicular homicide in the Friday, June 7, deaths of three Davenport men. A Lincoln County Superior Court summons shows Jade A. Ellsworth of Palouse is being formally charged with one count of vehicular homicide. Ellsworth is not currently in jail. Court records show Ellsworth did not have a valid drivers license at the time of the fatal crash.. She is ordered to appear in court before Judge Jeffrey S. Barkdull at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. Court records show she is a...
ODESSA — A local man remains in the Lincoln County Jail while authorities work out details over a possible mental health competency examination. Arthur James Banko, 68, of Odessa, is being held in the jail without bail while authorities determine if he is competent to stand trial after allegedly threatening to kill another resident, cut his head off and put it on a fence post. As of Tuesday, Sept. 17, Banko remained in jail on multiple charges including felony harassment-threat to kill, exhibiting/displaying/carrying a w...
SPRAGUE — Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Adam Walser said Tuesday he opposes an effort to vacate a kidnapping conviction is a 2015 case. He may have the opportunity to repeat his concerns during a 10:30 a.m. hearing Tuesday, Sept. 24, in Lincoln County Superior Court in Davenport. At that time, James R. Stocker, 25, of Spokane, will be asking a superior court judge to seal the kidnapping case file and vacate the conviction. As a teenager nine years ago, Stocker was convicted of second-degree kidnapping in 2015 and s...
DAVENPORT — A Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputy has been placed on administrative leave following an investigation into a high-speed pursuit and crash. The deputy’s name has yet to be released by the Sheriff’s Office or the Washington State Patrol, which is investigating the incident. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the deputy was among law enforcement officers involved in a Sept. 4 pursuit of a vehicle with two women that began in the Coulee Dam area. The pursuit continued through Grand Coulee and onto state Highway...
RITZVILLE – The 9th Legislative District senator pleaded not guilty Thursday, Sept. 12, on a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol. But Adams County District Court Judge Andrea K. Russell determined there was probable cause for the charge against 67-year-old Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville. She schedule him to appear before her again Oct. 8 in the 210 W. Broadway Ave. courthouse Schoesler was released on his own recognizance to a family member following his Aug. 31 arrest by citation at the Wheat Land C...
You shouldn’t be surprised the state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council last week voted to accept a site application for construction of more wind turbines atop Horse Heaven Hills. It’s all part of Gov. Jay Inslee and his financial supporters plan to breach our dams and replace them with unsightly, unpopular and unreliable wind power. The council was pushed by Gov. Jay Inslee, who didn’t like the fact Tri-Citians outright rejected his plan to supplant dams with the unsigh...
DAVENPORT - The Gorillas made their return to 11-man football Saturday, Sept. 14, on their home field. But the visiting Tonasket Tigers reminded them how different the game is from 8-mail ball. The Tigers won the 2B matchup, 38-26. The first half of the game was a back-and forth battle, with the Gorillas taking the ball down the field and scoring on their first drive, with a pass from quarterback Bennett Wagner to wide receiver Joel Odenrider. The conversion failed and the...
RITZVILLE – The 9th Legislative District senator pleaded not guilty Thursday, Sept. 12, on a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol. But Adams County District Court Judge Andrea K. Russell determined there was probable cause for the charge against 67-year-old Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville. She schedule him to appear before her again Oct. 8 in the 210 W. Broadway Ave. courthouse. In the meantime, he is prohibited from using alcohol, marijuana or other n...
RITZVILLE — Sen. Mark Schoesler will be arraigned Thursday, Sept. 12, on a charge of driving while under the influence. Schoesler’s hearing before Adams County District Court Judge Andrea K. Russell is set for 9:30 a.m. in the Adams County Courthouse, 210 W. Broadway Ave. During arraignment, the judge will determine if there is probable cause for the criminal citation and whether the senator qualifies for a public defense attorney. The judge will also advise Sen. Schoesler of his rights. Schoesler, R-Ritzville, rep...
SPRAGUE — The largest community event of the year will fill downtown this weekend with classic cars, a parade, games, vendors and more. Sprague Days is set for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14 and 15. “Sprague is a safe little community,” spokeswoman Joy Wilken said. “It’s good, old-fashioned family fun.” The festivities kick off with the arrival of classic cars and motorcycles registering for the Renegade Restorations Car and Bike Show downtown, as well as the start of the Disk Dogs event on the lawn at The Viking Drive-Inn,...
School Districts in Eastern Washington are again starting to see boys and girls differently, especially when it comes to sports. The Kennewick School Board got the ball rolling back in July, following boys participation and victories in girls track events. Only a month or two before, a Methow Valley boy won a girls event in Cashmere, claiming he is “transgender.” Then an East Valley boy also competing under the transgender caveat, beat a West Valley girl to win the girls sta...
RITZVILLE - The local 9th Legislative District senator was released on his own recognizance Saturday night, Aug. 31, after being arrested for allegedly driving drunk and hitting another vehicle twice. Sen. Mark Schoesler, 67, of Ritzville, was arrested by citation for driving while under the influence of alcohol following the Saturday night performance of the Ritzville Rodeo. According to Police Chief Dave McCormick, he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.14 at the time of his...
ODESSA — A local man is being held in the Lincoln County Jail in Davenport after allegedly threatening to shoot another man, cut his head off and put in on a fence post. Arthur James Banko, 68, of Odessa, is being held on $100,000 bail following a Sept. 3 arraignment for felony harassment-threat to kill in Lincoln County Superior Court. In addition, he is charged with exhibiting/displaying/carrying a weapon with intent to intimidate and violation of an anti-harassment protection order. Another hearing in the case has been s...
DAVENPORT — Athletes countywide will be returning to action this week as the fall 2024 school sports season officially kicks off. Davenport, Odessa and Reardan football teams all hit the field Friday night for their season-openers. After struggling to field a full football team last year, the Davenport Gorillas are back. They Gorillas will be on the field in Mabton, where they will face the Class 2B Vikings. The Vikings managed to field an 11-man team last year, but they went winless for eight games, before a victory over H...
SPRAGUE — A former local resident has petitioned Lincoln County Superior Court to seal the court record on his conviction in an attempted kidnapping of a 22-month-old child. James R. Stocker, 25, of Spokane, was scheduled to be in court Sept. 3 on his request to seal the record of his conviction when he was a minor in Sprague. In 2015, when Stocker was a teenager, he pleaded guilty to second-degree kidnapping and was sentenced to juvenile detention. The plea stemmed from an attempted kidnapping on March 8, 2015, in Sprague Ci...
RITZVILLE - The local 9th Legislative District senator was released on his own recognizance Saturday night, Aug. 31, after being arrested for allegedly driving drunk and hitting another vehicle twice. Sen. Mark Schoesler, 67, of Ritzville, was arrested by citation for driving while under the influence of alcohol following the Saturday night performance of the Ritzville Rodeo. According to Police Chief Dave McCormick, he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.14 at the time of his...
Spokane, Reardan, Davenport, Harrington, Odessa. Schools across the region are tackling the issue of cellphone addiction among students, at least while on campus. Well, maybe tackling the addiction is a bit strong. Let’s just say school boards here in Eastern Washington and elsewhere are finally taking action to keep phones out of students’ hands in classrooms. At issue in many districts is whether cellphones should be allowed in class, at lunch, on buses or even on cam...
REARDAN — A local man was arraigned Wednesday, Aug. 20, after a neighbor reported a “peeping Tom.” Andrew Christopher Nilles, of Reardan, was charged with first-degree voyeurism in Lincoln County Superior Court. His arrest and arraignment stem from an Aug. 8 report by resident Lance A. Bruckelmeyer, who told law enforcement officers that a “peeping Tom” had been seen looking in a window above a shower, records show. According to court records, a 17-year-old girl was getting a shower and noticed a man watching through a...
Under outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee, the state has been greenwashing just about everything it can. What is greenwashing? It’s the act of using false or misleading claims that an action will have a positive impact on the environment. This November, voters will have an opportunity to undo some of the greenwashing done by the Inslee Administration and state agencies. Two initiatives on the ballot are designed to restrict government agencies from continuing policies that have l...
When we travel, as Americans we often visit the landmarks of our heritage. I’m not different. I spent most of the last two weeks on the road visiting family from here to Iowa, Minnesota and back. Along the route, I visited the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, the Corn Palace, Mount Rushmore and other truly American destinations. But I also stopped at a couple places that were of this world, almost. One of my stops on my way back was at Devil’s Tower, north of Sund...
OLYMPIA — Given Washington's recent political history, it's no surprise that Democrat Bob Ferguson is leading all candidates in the gubernatorial race to replace outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee. But former King County deputy-turned-politician Dave Reichert's apparent second-place finish, may be a surprise. Earlier this year, the Republican Party rejected Reichert and instead endorsed Semi Bird of Richland for governor. In the initial count of ballots in the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary election voters appeared to have overruled the c...
PASCO - A prominent local attorney and community leader is headed to the November general election for Secretary of State. At the end of ballot counting in the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary election, Pete Serrano of Pasco led the three-candidate field. "I am incredibly honored by your support tonight," Serrano said after the initial tally. "Your vote has made it clear that public safety is a top priority for Washingtonians. I am deeply grateful to my team, our volunteers, and...
SPOKANE — A perennial local politician is leading in the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary election race for the 5th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. At the end of the first day of counting, Spokane Republican Michael Baumgartner had a commanding lead with 29,892 votes. Spokane Democrat Marla Conroy was in second place with 20,938 votes. Baumgartner won most of the counties in the southeast portion of the district, but the lion's share of his support — 21,429 ballots, or 71.69% of his ini...
TOPPENISH — A local doctor and former gubernatorial candidate appears headed to the Nov. 5 general election in his bid to be the state's newest U.S. Senator. In the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary election, unofficial results show Republican Dr. Raul Garcia trailing incumbent Democrat Maria Cantwell, 212,439 votes to 578,629, respectively. The two candidates top a field of more than 10 vying for the position. Only the Top 2 advance to the general election. Here are the initial results of the first night of ballot counting: Mel R...
Dams on the Columbia River and its tributaries contribute greatly to the way of life here in Eastern Washington. So, when the federal government says it has reached an agreement on proposed revisions to the Columbia River Treaty with Canada, rural residents should say not so fast. On the surface, the “in principle” agreement announced last week looks good for Americans. Under the proposed changes, the U.S. will get to keep more of the power generated on our side of the bor...
