Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Jerry and Cindy Warner of Davenport were voted 2023 Pioneer Days parade grand marshals.
A home blazes on the 15000 block of Clear Lake Road during the Gray Fire Saturday, Aug. 19. Firefighters approached the structure but were unable to save it from burning.
Event-goers sport their beer hats in the Bier Garten at 52nd annual Deutschesfest Sept. 14-17.
The Davenport soccer team won the District 7 championship and secured a spot in the 1B/2B state tournament with a 2-1 victory over Northwest Christian Tuesday, Oct. 31.
The coveted "Golden Plunger," awarded to the school which combines for the most points through a week of friendly competitions and school spirit activities during WinterFest week between Davenport and Reardan, was awarded to the Gorillas at halftime of the boys basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 12.
DAVENPORT - It may be hard to believe, but another year has come and gone. As usual, there was plenty going on in Lincoln County in 2023.
Here's a look back at the top news items from the year, July to December. January to June was covered in last week's newspaper.
July
Howard King was named superintendent of the Harrington School District.
Nate Lathrop opened 410 Burgers in downtown Odessa.
Jordan Mills-Jay pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree murder in a case surrounding the death of a 5-month-old baby.
The Lincoln County Commissioners announced the closure of the Alcohol/Drug Center.
Multiple fires blazed near Sprague.
Kenneth S. Brandenburg of Davenport was killed after colliding with a semitruck while on his bicycle on State Highway 206 in Spokane.
Edna's Drive-In was officially demolished. The longtime burger joint had been open in Lincoln County for roughly 70 years.
Jerry and Cindy Warner were named grand marshals of Davenport Pioneer Days, which took over the city in mid-month.
August
The Reardan-Edwall School District elected to ban cell phone use by students while at school.
Rebecca L. Powelson of Reardan was killed in a two-car crash a mile north of Riverside.
Bill Crossley, Marlene Kramer and Gavin Wagner were the top vote getters in their respective races for Odessa Mayor, Odessa Town Council and Harrington City Council after the top-two primary election.
Crews extinguished a 50-acre fire near Kloster and Rocklyn Roads.
Melinda S. Curd of Fruitland was killed in a one-vehicle crash six miles north of Davenport.
An excessive heat wave hit Lincoln County, with temperatures topping out at 103 degrees in Odessa.
An Interstate 90 closure from Sprague to Four Lakes caused by the Gray Fire in Medical Lake detoured traffic through east Lincoln County and created miles-long backups on local state highways and county roads.
Jensen Memorial Youth Ranch founder Carl Grub was killed in the Gray Fire in Medical Lake.
Students returned to the classroom for the 2023-24 school year.
Lincoln County hosted the annual Fair and Rodeo at the Fairgrounds outside Davenport.
September
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputy Luke Mallon died at his Creston home after nine years of local law enforcement service. His death was ruled self-inflicted.
Dean's Drive-In closed after 27 years of business in downtown Reardan.
Ericka Rose was sworn in as Police Chief in Odessa.
Jonathan Ray Stocker of Sprague was arrested on six criminal charges after police allegedly discovered over 100 files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on a laptop in Stocker's residence.
Odessa celebrated the 52nd annual Deutschesfest.
Longtime Reardan town councilmen Clay Soliday and Shad Vincent didn't file for re-election, bringing to an end a run of a combined 73 years on the council.
Lincoln County and the City of Davenport began to negotiate terms of a franchise agreement for right-of-way access in city limits for broadband in the city.
Harrington held its annual Fall Festival downtown.
October
The renovated Community Center in Odessa reopened to the public.
Harrington city stakeholders considered canceling its garbage program and directing residents to contract with Sunshine Disposal directly.
A Pierce County Judge sided in favor of a lawsuit filed by Lincoln County and 27 other counties against the State Dept. of Health and Social Services.
Raymond (Rocky) Kidder was tabbed to fill a vacant seat on Reardan Town Council.
The Davenport School District accepted a $500,000 emergency grant for repairs to the high school roof.
Potential insurance rate hikes of up to 50-60% created budget concerns for the Lincoln County Commissioners.
A trial featuring a second-degree rape trial was dismissed after most people summoned for jury duty failed to appear.
Scott McGowan announced his retirement as Fire District No. 6 Chief.
November
Assault charges were dropped against former Harrington music teacher Seth Bergman. Bergman did have to serve three days in jail on an unrelated driving with a suspended license charge.
Davenport FFA competed at the National Convention for the first time in school history.
Incumbents were unseated in Harrington School Board seats, as Britney Wagner and Tony Hamilton won races over then-current board members Darren Mattozzi and Jon Evans.
Chris Crossley and Carmen Weishaar were re-elected to the Odessa School Board, while Zach Schafer unseated incumbent Ed Deife for a third seat up for election.
J.J. Kowalkowski defeated incumbent Brad Sweet in the race for Mayor of Davenport but decided against taking the role.
The City of Davenport and Lincoln County reached a franchise agreement for broadband internet in the city.
Davenport's soccer team took third place at state in Federal Way.
The Edwall fire station received a new fire engine through the Federal Firefighter Property program.
The Davenport School Board approved motions to put replacement educational programs and operations and capital projects levy on the Feb. 2024 special election ballot.
The Reardan-Edwall School Board voted to run a single educational programs and operations levy in February.
December
A father and son from Mansfield were arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen Dodge Power Wagon through Davenport and into wheat fields east of the city.
The Lincoln County Commissioners approved the six-year transportation plan concocted by the Public Works Dept.
World War II veteran and longtime Davenport resident Joe Lilje died at age 100.
Davenport School District administration joined 11 other school districts in appealing the WIAA's interpretation regarding counting of alternative school students toward athletic classification numbers.
Churches around Lincoln County offered Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
Davenport High School took back the Golden Plunger after defeating Reardan High School in the annual WinterFest competition.
Davenport City Council narrowed its preference for Mayor to incumbent Brad Sweet and current councilman Jonathan Chapman but didn't make a final choice by the end of the calendar year.
Reardan town council approved a balanced budget that included a new utility tax aimed at offsetting expecting revenue shortfalls.
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