Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
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ODESSA – The Odessa Hospital Board convened its latest meeting on Thursday, Feb. 27, where community members voiced concerns about hospital leadership, financial decisions, and facility management. Barbara Vogelsang initiated the public comment session, emphasizing the board's accountability in overseeing the hospital's operations. "A lot has happened since then. I am concerned. I am here not about me. I am concerned about this community's asset, for which you have the u...
GRAND COULEE - Two suspects accused of check fraud and burglary were found competent to stand trial during a hearing in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, March 4. Jake Keith Denning and Brittany Ann Ogden, both of whom had previously undergone competency evaluations, were deemed fit for trial by both the state and their respective defenses. Denning entered a plea of not guilty to the charges against him. The state requested that his bond remain at $50,000 with...
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 (LCSO) does not release names of individuals who report possible criminal or suspicious activities to dispatchers or alleged victims for this column. DISPATCH LOG Feb. 24 Traffic Reports: 4 7:28 a.m. – A caller reported that a dog that has been killing livestock was spotted on Schwartz Rd. covered in blood 8:41 a.m. – After previously being advised of road...
DAVENPORT — Lincoln County commissioners discussed declaring a state of emergency due to recent weather-related issues and approved various county measures during their latest meeting. Commissioner Rob Coffman was absent while attending a conference in Washington, D.C., with other commissioners from across the state. “We have 12 days from the time of an emergency to declare an emergency, and then we will keep that in place for the road closures,” Commissioner Scott Hutse...
DAVENPORT — The Davenport City Council discussed various community matters during its latest meeting, including the future of the city’s skate park, airport fuel costs, and an agreement with the school district for ballfield use. The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. with all council members present. A resident inquired about park and cemetery reports and advocated for keeping the skate park in its current location unless an offer was made to relocate it. Councilmember Lance Strite responded that there had been no progres...
DAVENPORT — Brody J. Schillinger, a 19-year-old Davenport resident and standout athlete, died early Sunday, Feb. 23, in a rollover crash on U.S. Highway 2, about four miles west of the city. A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, March 1, at noon in the Davenport High School Gymnasium at 801 7th Street. The graveside service is to follow at Mountainview Cemetery. A meal and gathering will take place after at the Davenport Memorial Hall at 511 Park Street. According to the Washington State Patrol, Schillinger was e...
Flooding over the weekend closed multiple roads across the county, with Public Works still surveying and graveling to repair them throughout the month....
DAVENPORT — A combination of heavy rain, melting snow, and frozen ground created what officials are calling the “perfect storm” for widespread flooding, mudslides, and road closures throughout the county. Several roads were deemed impassable over the weekend due to high water levels and erosion. Hawk Creek Ranch Road and Mill Canyon Road were among the most severely impacted, with Hawk Creek rising to eight feet deep in some areas. Other closures included Circle Road, Gaffney Road, Cupers Road, and Sage Hen Draw Road. “We h...
DAVENPORT - Two suspects charged in connection with a January burglary in Almira returned to Lincoln County Superior Court for readiness hearings on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Jose Rafael Medina Lomeli, 28, and Delila Ellen Reid, 50, appeared before Judge Adam Walser as their cases move toward trial. Both face multiple charges stemming from the Jan. 9 burglary, in which firearms, a Liberty safe, household items and a Jeep were stolen from a residence and shop. Medina Lomeli is charged...
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 (LCSO) does not release names of individuals who report possible criminal or suspicious activities to dispatchers or alleged victims for this column. DISPATCH LOG Feb. 17 Traffic Stops: 7 2:59 p.m. – A Davenport Safeway employee called to report 3 juveniles for theft. The store doesn’t want to press theft charges but wants the juveniles trespassed from th...
DAVENPORT — A Spokane man is facing charges after deputies recovered a stolen vehicle and linked it to him through evidence found inside and witness accounts. Dathan Spurgeon Miller, 36, has been charged with possession of a stolen vehicle after Lincoln County deputies discovered a white 1993 Chevrolet pickup abandoned in a ditch along Sunset Highway on December 20, 2024. The truck, which had been reported stolen from Spokane on November 9, was partially blocking the roadway when authorities arrived. Miller did not appear for...
DAVENPORT – A Brewster woman was set to be arraigned in Lincoln County Superior Court Tuesday, Feb. 25, after a bag of suspected narcotics was removed from her person while in police custody. Kira Esmerelda Oregon Hernandez, 23, of Brewster, was charged with possession of a controlled substance in a correctional facility following her arrest earlier this month. Oregon Hernandez was not present for her arraignment hearing on the day. Lincoln County Superior Court Judge Adam Walser ordered a Warrant for her arrest with a $5,000...
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 (LCSO) does not release names of individuals who report possible criminal or suspicious activities to dispatchers or alleged victims for this column. DISPATCH LOG Feb. 9 Traffic Stops: 3 6:17 a.m. – A caller reported a pickup driving erratically on Highway 2 East bound just west of Davenport. 10:59 a.m. ...
ALMIRA - Another man charged in the Almira burglary case appeared in Lincoln County Superior Court for his readiness hearing in preparation for his upcoming trial. Recardo Rocha, 32, appeared in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, Feb. 18, for a readiness hearing on multiple felony charges stemming from a residential burglary. The defense asked the state to reschedule the trial date and readiness hearing previously set in court and moved to have the trial set for April 1...
DAVENPORT - Lincoln County commissioners approved the establishment of Klein Road No. 2280 and Sage Road during their regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 18. A public hearing for Klein Road opened at 10:40 a.m. Commissioners voted to waive the reading of the full affidavit. Klein Road, which currently exists in Adams County and crosses the border into Lincoln County, will be the larger of two roads connecting intersecting properties. It was classified as a primitive road. No...
REARDAN - A local man accused of threatening to kill his family and attempting arson is seeking a mental health evaluation to determine his competency to stand trial. Nicholas Gene Finch, 39, appeared in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, February 18, where attorneys indicated they would file a proposed order for a 10.77 assessment. The evaluation, required under Washington law, determines whether a defendant is mentally competent to proceed with trial. Finch's trial...
HARRINGTON - The Harrington City Council held a public hearing on Wednesday, February 12, to discuss potential water system upgrades, code enforcement, and other city matters. The hearing opened at 7:03 p.m. Discussions centered on securing a loan to replace Well #1, which is aging and experiencing mechanical issues. The city had previously been offered a $1.2 million loan, with 15% of it forgivable as a grant. The loan, at an interest rate of 1.08%, would amount to...
DAVENPORT — The Davenport City Council met on Tuesday, February 12, 2025, to address key issues affecting the community, including code enforcement concerns, tourism funding, and plans for a potential airport fuel tank. The meeting opened at 7:00 p.m. with all council members present. During the meeting, several community members voiced concerns about the city’s appearance, particularly regarding junk vehicles and unkempt yards. Carolyn Olson requested the council take action against these issues, especially along Was...
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 (LCSO) does not release names of individuals who report possible criminal or suspicious activities to dispatchers or alleged victims for this column. DISPATCH LOG Feb. 2 Traffic Stops: 12 10:47 a.m. – An employee at Family Dollar called to request a welfare check on a person who had been sitting in their car in the parking lot for a while. 12:27 p.m. – A m...
HARRINGTON - A Palouse woman charged with vehicular homicide in the deaths of three Davenport men appeared in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, Feb. 11, where the court ordered assessments and proposed a trial date of April 9. A readiness hearing is scheduled for March 18, and a waiver of a speedy trial was completed. Jade A. Ellsworth, 30, of Palouse, is facing one count of vehicular homicide in connection with the Friday, June 7, 2024, crash that killed Alan Kysar,...
GRAND COULEE - Linda Ann Zaragoza, 44, of Spokane, pleaded not guilty to multiple burglary and theft charges during her arraignment in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Judge Adam Walser found probable cause to move forward with the case. Prosecutors requested standard release conditions, citing Zaragoza's nine outstanding warrants and asking for a $50,000 bond. "Judge, she can't afford a $50,000 bond, but she could afford a $5,000 bond," her defense argued....
OLYMPIA – With cold weather and long distances, Eastern Washington would seem an unlikely region to find school district officials excited about electric buses. But Reardan-Edwall School District Transportation Director Mike McCain is looking forward to the experiment. “If it doesn’t work, we can always park it,” McCain said. His district’s two electric school buses are still in production and scheduled for a March delivery. The district has also ordered one new diesel bus. “We’ll be able to compare maintenance and operating...
DAVENPORT — A readiness hearing has been scheduled for March 18 in the case of Jason Trickel, a Sprague man facing second-degree burglary charges, following a Lincoln County Superior Court hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Trickel’s trial date has been set for April 9 and 10, with an additional day on April 11 if needed. He waived his right to a speedy trial, and both the prosecution and defense agreed that two days would be required for trial proceedings. According to court records, Trickel, 45, was arrested following an Oct...
CRESTON — The Superior Court hearing for Mathew S. Chafin, 35, was postponed on Tuesday, Feb. 11, after officials noted that the court lacked contact information for him. However, the Department of Corrections does have his contact details. The hearing has been rescheduled to an unspecified, later-to-be-determined date. Chafin, who was arrested on Dec. 12, 2020, is facing a charge of first-degree child molestation. The hearing was intended to address a motion and affidavit for an order determining the existence of probable c...
DAVENPORT— The Lincoln County Superior Court judge reviewed Wallace Elby Buck’s firearm rights restoration order on Tuesday, Feb. 11, after past domestic violence convictions raised legal concerns. Judge Adam Walser examined the orders signed by Judge Dan Johnson, who restored Buck’s firearm rights in August. However, prosecutors noted that Buck, 62, still had a prior domestic violence assault charge in district court, which disqualified him from possessing firearms. “It looks like the orders that Judge Johnson signed...
