Harrington News

HOHS meets in former newspaper office

The Harrington Opera House Society held its monthly meeting Monday evening at 7 p.m. in the art room of the Opera House, with the vice president presiding in the absence of Linda Wagner. A total of 13 members were in attendance. Updates were provided on the group’s many renovation projects, including the stage lighting, the proposed elevator, potential sidewalk repairs or alterations and proposed entertainments.

Tina Turner-Fisher, an artist, was present and spoke briefly of her interest in historical artwork, outdoor murals and her affiliation with the town of Washtucna. She will return for the Harrington Fall Festival weekend, when she will have a showing in the art room of the Opera House building.

Historical perspective

What is now called the art room of the Opera House building in Harrington was for many years the home of The Harrington Citizen, an early-day newspaper owned and operated for most of its history by Herman S. Bassett. The Citizen was sold to the Davenport Times in the 1960s, and the old press eventually became the property of the Lincoln County Historical Museum in Davenport.

In addition to the Citizen, Harrington had other newspapers prior to the town’s incorporation: the Harrington Times, Harrington Leader, The Kicker (or Harrington Kicker), Harrington Independent, Harrington Democrat and The Banner.

The Harrington Citizen was first published on November 11, 1898. Bound editions from that date through its demise are located at Harrington City Hall. From that first issue of The Citizen, we quote: “The Citizen. Published Every Friday At Harrington, Wn. Jas. R. Goodwin, Verne L. Joslyn: Editors and Publishers. The Harrington Citizen. In offering to the people of Harrington and vicinity the first number of the Citizen, the publishers do so with a confident belief that the field for such a paper is an excellent one, and by hard work and perseverance, we hope to deserve success. While the newspaper business may be a comparatively new one to us, we feel that no apologies are demanded so long as we print the news truthfully and fully, but to our critics we would say, deal gently, to our friends be patient and to our enemies, if perchance some should look at us in that light, be just. Our object is to give the people each week a paper worthy of the name it bears, working for the welfare of Harrington and vicinity, advancing whatever cause is right, and to stand firmly for principle. A glance at our advertising columns is proof enough that the Citizen has come to stay. To the merchants of Harrington, who are so liberal with their patronage, we are thankful, and hope to be able to give them a receipt each month, ‘For value received.’ If there are those who do not agree with our opinion, as expressed in these columns, we will say, in the words of another country editor: ‘When a subscriber finds a line in his paper that he does not like, and can’t agree with, if he will bring his paper to the office, and point out the offending line, the editor will take his scissors and cut it out for him’.” (Citizen: 11-11-1898)

H.S. Bassett bought the Citizen in 1907 and published it from 1907 until his retirement in 1958, when his daughter, Adelia Bassett Scott, increased her role and managed the paper until it was sold to the Times Publishing Co in 1959. She continued to work for the Times. The Citizen then became a one- to two-page paper inside the Davenport Times. She retired to Spokane in 1966.

A community’s best helpmate is the local newspaper. Purposes of a newspaper are complex, and through the years the Harrington Citizen elevated pride for the community, encouraged participation in the activities as announced, and endeavored to capture the history of the people contained in its vicinity. Eventually a town without news coverage becomes a town with little history.

Harrington welcomes Jill Plaskon

Several weeks ago, The Odessa Record reported on the ice cream social sponsored by Allen Barth of the Studebaker Garage in Harrington. We now learn that Barth’s daughter, Jill Plaskon and her three children moved to Harrington this past May. Jill, most recently of Moscow, Idaho, was raised primarily in Oakesdale.

Plaskon’s children are Reese Bentley, age 14 ½, Sidney Plaskon, 9 ½, and Jack Plaskon, 8. Reese was not at home at the time of the interview. Sidney enjoys reading, is athletic, and is fast on the computer. Jack enjoys sports, especially the trampoline and basketball. Jack would be interested in Scouts if a local troop were available. The family loves their pets, at present, two dogs, a cat and a kitten, and they enjoy living a short distance from Jill’s parents.

Jill Plaskon moved into what had been “The Ark”, an adult care facility in Harrington, and as such the house has many rooms. Jill is owner and operator of The Wild Hair Salon, and has more than 18 years experience and provides full family service including color, cut, perm, formal styling, waxing, ear and nose piercing. She has specialized in hair color and color correction. Her shop is on the lower level of the house at 601 W. Lincoln St., around back with easy access. She has been remodeling the three rooms and has one entirely ready for use, which includes a special children’s chair, a must-see item that was Jill’s personal creation. Of the three lower-level rooms, Jill is willing to rent one room to a professional aesthetician who might be looking for a space to do nails, facials, massage or pedicures.

Jill’s salon can be found on the Internet at http://thewildhairsalon.wix.com/thewildhairsalon. Her phone number is 509-253-4073, for appointments or to welcome her to the community. She is licensed in Idaho and Washington, and is continuing her business part-time in Moscow into the fall.

Harrington Chamber Meeting

The Harrington Chamber of Commerce meets the first Wednesday of each month at city hall at noon. The August 7 meeting was led by Cassandra Paffle-Dick, President of the Chamber. Seven others were in attendance, including Margie Hall of the EDC. Reports were read and approved. The Treasurer’s report by Cindy Haase elicited some discussion. The rapid-pace meeting consisted of discussions on a broad range of topics which included mud bog entry forms, selection of a “yard of the month”, the rest room project at the city park, Fall Festival vendors, new local businesses, rural development grants, PDA surveys, job opportunity at Odessa, a posted notice “Dog Lovers Unite”, a box of brochures “Grand Coulee visitor’s guide, and the back-to-school-barbecue on August 26.