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Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
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By Olivia Harnack The Record-Times ODESSA — Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center is facing a potential financial breakdown, with only 66 days of cash on hand, hospital board members revealed at a meeting on Thursday, December 30. Hospital board member Jeff Schibel warned that if the hospital does not receive additional funding, it could run out of money and be unable to operate. “The days of cash on hand is down to 66 days, which means if the hospital did not get any money to pay for itself, we would be out of money and cou...
GRAND COULEE - A man and woman accused of breaking into a local residence, stealing checks, and committing fraud underwent arraignment in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, February 4, where both defendants requested competency screenings to determine their ability to stand trial. Brittany A. Ogden, 41, and Jake Keith Denning, 42, each signed a 1077 motion for a competency evaluation after citing difficulties understanding their legal rights. Superior Court Judge Adam...
ALMIRA — A fourth suspect connected to the January burglary of an Almira residence has been charged and will face trial in Lincoln County Superior Court. Thea Wenz, 27, of Moses Lake, pleaded not guilty to one count of residential burglary, second-degree possession of stolen property, second-degree burglary, and second-degree theft. During her arraignment, the prosecution requested standard release conditions. Wenz, who resides with her grandparents, was appointed public defender Victoria Iverson. Her trial is scheduled f...
DAVENPORT - The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners convened Monday, Feb. 3, with Chairwoman Jo Gilchrist calling the meeting to order at 8 a.m. Commissioners approved various vouchers, including $700,601.43 for current expenses and small funds, $15,986.73 in current expense P-cards, and $43,904.00 for the IETT medical insurance special issue. Additional approvals included allocations for the Noxious Weed Board, county roads, solid waste, equipment rental, and pits and...
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 Jan. 26 Traffic Stops: 8 8:24 a.m. – A dispute between neighbors was reported. 8:33 a.m. – A loose dog was reported. 12:10 p.m. – A custody dispute was reported. 1:26 p.m. – Vehicle prowling re...
REARDAN - A Reardan man accused of threatening to kill his family and attempting to commit arson pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, February 4. Nicholas Gene Finch, 39, remained handcuffed during the proceedings and did not object to the restraints. Superior Court Judge Adam Walser confirmed that Finch met the qualifications for a public defender, and Finch requested a court-appointed attorney. The prosecution asked for a...
ODESSA — The dismissal of an alleged whistleblower following concerns over potential asbestos exposure at Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center was a key topic of discussion at the hospital board meeting on Thursday, Dec. 30. A hospital employee, Barbara Vogelsank, said she was placed on administrative leave after raising concerns about possible asbestos in flooring glue during hospital renovations. The employee stated that after bringing the matter to the attention of hospital leadership, she received a letter informing her t...
SOAP LAKE — Two 16-year-old boys from Soap Lake have been arrested in connection with a burglary at a marijuana shop, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded around 1:30 a.m. Friday to an intrusion alarm at 2020 Solutions, located at 261 State Route 28 West in the Lakeview community of unincorporated Soap Lake. Upon arrival, deputies found no suspects but, given a previous attempted burglary at the business on January 27, the Sheriff’s Crime Reduction Team initiated a stakeout. Shortly after conce...
REARDAN – After seven years of dreaming, planning and fundraising, Gail Daniel's and Wayne Terry's vision of building a memorial to honor the life of Joe E. Mann and the veterans of the Reardan area is becoming a reality. The groundbreaking for the memorial was Monday, Jan. 27, at the site on Highway 2, at the east end of town. Over the years, Terry, a local wrestling coach and member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, spoke of Mann's sacrifice to his athletes. "I a...
GEORGE – A single-vehicle crash on Sunday night resulted in the death of a 58-year-old Soap Lake man, according to the Washington State Patrol. The crash occurred at approximately 9:35 p.m. on State Route 283, about two miles east of George. A 2021 Honda CR-V was traveling southbound on SR 283 when it left the roadway at the intersection with North Frontage Road West. The vehicle lost control, rolled, and came to rest in a driveway, officials said. The driver, identified as James W. Carley, 58, of Soap Lake, was pronounced d...
DAVENPORT — Lincoln County’s unemployment rate remained steady at 5.1 percent in December, according to the Employment Security Department. The county reported a civilian labor force of 4,392, with 4,168 employed and 224 unemployed. Neighboring Adams County recorded an unemployment rate of 5.9 percent, with 9,345 people employed out of a labor force of 9,934. Whitman County reported one of the lowest rates in Eastern Washington at 4.2 percent, with 21,826 in the labor force and 20,912 employed. Spokane County, the reg...
DAVENPORT - The future of Davenport's skate park was a key topic of discussion at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22, as community members voiced concerns over issues surrounding the facility. Shane Gilthvedt, a property owner adjacent to the skate park, addressed the council during the public comment period, citing ongoing problems with illegal activities and property damage. Gilthvedt told the council he had contacted the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office numerous...
ODESSA —The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced plans to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Odessa Subarea Special Study Project. The SEIS will analyze lands and resources tied to a proposed irrigation distribution system that was not included in the Bureau of Reclamation’s 2012 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the project. The project, a collaboration with the Washington State Department of Ecology, aims to replace groun...
MOHLER — A 67-year-old man accused of unlawfully possessing a firearm following a domestic dispute pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Monday, January 15. Wesley Rollon Brown, 67, of Mohler, was arrested on January 13, 2024, after deputies responded to a report of threats made during a conflict involving Brown, his partner Stacy Davis, and her son, Jason Davis. According to court documents, Jason Davis called 911 at 10:30 a.m. to report that Brown had threatened to kill him. Deputies were told that the conflict b...
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 Jan. 19 Traffic Stops 7 6:14 a.m. – Caller reporting that there is a dog at Traders and it belongs to “crackhead Joe” 11:02 a.m.- Caller received a blackmail email that morning that sounded t...
OLYMPIA — Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, has introduced an updated version of the House Republican ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Climate Adaptation) Plan, aiming to address Washington’s pressing climate concerns while expanding opportunities for outdoor recreation. House Bill 1288, a revision of the ORCA Plan initially introduced in 2022, would utilize revenue from the state’s Climate Commitment Act to mitigate issues such as flooding, wildfires, drought, air quality, and wastewater pollution in Puget Sound. “The ORCA Plan offers...
SPRAGUE - The Sprague Chamber of Commerce announced Gina and Ed Habbestad as its 2024 Citizen of the Year during its annual meeting and fundraising auction held on Monday, January 20. Habbestad and her husband, Ed, were recognized for their dedication to animal welfare as the founders of "Norm's World Animal Rescue and Sanctuary" and the "Lincoln County Lost and Found Pet Network." Together, they have provided critical support to lost and abandoned animals throughout Lincoln...
SPRAGUE — A 69-year-old man accused of threatening to kill people while armed with a loaded firearm at the Sprague Motel is set to face trial on Tuesday, March 19. Michael Gilstrap was charged with one count of felony harassment-threat to kill following his arrest on June 11, 2024, at the Sprague Motel, located at 312 East First Street. According to reports, deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a man waving a gun and threatening to kill everyone. “There is a man walking around waving a gun around telling everyone tha...
ALMIRA - Three suspects have been charged in connection with a burglary reported on Tuesday, Jan. 9, where several firearms, a Liberty safe, household items and a Jeep were stolen from a residence and shop. Deputies responded to the burglary report at 9:48 a.m. after the homeowner discovered the break-in. Missing items included a Smith & Wesson M&P .40 caliber, a Kimber Custom .45 caliber, and a Sig Sauer P365 XL .40 caliber, according to police records. Security footage from...
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 Jan. 5 Traffic Stops 10 12:37 a.m. – Death Investigation 3:01 a.m. – A man called asking about a ride to Nespelem 9:23 a.m. – Caller reporting a commercial fire alarm was going off, investiga...
OLYMPIA — A public hearing was held Monday, Jan. 20, in the House Environment and Energy Committee to discuss House Bill 1188, proposed by Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy. The bill aims to give local counties and tribes greater authority in deciding the placement of wind and solar energy projects across Washington state. The legislation comes in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s decision last November to approve the 74,600-acre Horse Heaven wind and solar project near the Tri-Cities, despite opposition from Benton County officials, loc...
DAVENPORT — Washington State University Lincoln/Adams Extension will host two grower meetings this month, with each offering a unique agenda tailored to local producers. The first meeting will take place Tuesday, January 28, at the American Legion Hall, 106 W. Broadway Ave., Ritzville. The second meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 30, at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds, 1601 Morgan Street. The Davenport meeting will also feature the WSU Extension Dryland Wheat Producer Meeting, which begins at 7:45 a.m. and runs u...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — A second teenager has died following a crash last Wednesday on U.S. Highway 2 near Airway Heights. Shayanne Cicherski, 18, of Fruitland, died Monday, Jan. 13, from injuries sustained in the crash, according to the Washington State Patrol. The crash had earlier claimed the life of 16-year-old Sweeny Holt-Stearns of Wellpinit, who succumbed to his injuries shortly after being hospitalized. According to officials, Cicherski was driving south on Wood Road when her vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign and e...
HARRINGTON — As temperatures continue to drop below freezing, the City of Harrington is asking residents to run a small trickle of water from their faucets to help prevent freezing pipes. In a recent Facebook post, Mayor Joe Armand reassured residents that extra water usage for this precautionary measure will not be charged, emphasizing the importance of avoiding costly damage to both private and city water lines. “Some of our supply lines are shallow, and we want to prevent your (and the City’s) lines from freez...
DAVENPORT - The case of Joseph Lee Cooper Sr., 43, was continued Tuesday, Jan. 21, in Lincoln County Superior Court for the final time. A readiness hearing is set for March 11, with the trial scheduled for April 2. "I won't object to this continuance, but it must be the last one. Mr. Cooper has been in jail for the last year waiting for this to happen," Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Albertson said during the hearing. Cooper Sr. was arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023...
