Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 460
OTHELLO – A Connell resident is among the five men arrested July 29 in a reverse prostitution sting. Cesar Chavez-Alcala, 28, of Connell, is facing charges in Othello District Court, along with Victorina Garcia, 45, of Mattawa; Isaias Zarata-Pineda, 41, and Juan Salas-Camacho, 61, both of Moses Lake; and Javier Gonzalez-Arroyo, 31, of Othello. All were all arrested for misdemeanor patronizing a prostitute, according to police. During the sting, investigators arrested the five “sex buyers” and interviewed at least one sex w...
LIND - Preliminary primary election returns show Jamie Schmunk and Jim Weidemann leading Town Council races. At the end of counting Tuesday night, Aug. 1, Schmuck had 62 votes (37.8%) to lead the race for Town Council Position No. 4. Myra J. Horton was second with 47 votes (28.66%). In the race for Town Council Position No. 2, Weidemann led with 53 votes (32.32%), followed by James N. Dworshak in second with 44 votes (26.83%). Only the Top 2 advance to the Nov. 7 general...
CONNELL — Candidate Preston Hart has a commanding lead in the Aug. 1 primary election race for City Council Position No. 5. but it's a dead heat to see who will be the runner-up. After the end of the first day of counting Tuesday, Hart had 108 votes, or 51.92%. His count exceeded the tally for the remaining two candidates, Patrice Hebel and Stephanie Hallman. The women were tied for second with 48 votes each, or 23.08%. Election officials said late-arriving ballots should break the tie before the election is certified Aug. 1...
OTHELLO – A local man is facing a child rape charge after being caught in bed with a child. Manuel Trinidad-Ortiz, 32, of Othello, was booked into the Franklin County Jail following his July 19 arrest for first-degree child rape and residential burglary. According to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Trinidad-Ortiz was arrested near a home in the 600 block of Wagon Road at about 12:30 a.m., July 19. He was booked into the jail in nearby Franklin County about six hours later. Deputies responded to the home after a mother all...
RITZVILLE – Smoke from multiple wildfires is creating near-whiteout conditions along portions of Interstate 90, prompting the state Department to of Transportation to close the highway. Fires erupted earlier this afternoon at multiple locations along the highway. "Brush fire smoke over road, on I-90 eastbound at Milepost 218," an alert issued by the agency said, announcing the interstate closure. The fire started about 2:26 p.m., the state reported. "It's like white-out c...
BASIN CITY – One of the top bull riders to come out of Eastern Washington won All-Around Cowboy honors at the Freedom Rodeo on July 3-5 . Shane Proctor of Grand Coulee took home $5,777 for his performance in the saddle bronc and bull riding events. He won the bull riding event, scoring 83 points on Dirty Dan for an additional $7,702 purse. He didn’t place in saddle bronc. Here are the results from Freedom Rodeo: Bareback riding — 1. (tie) Jacob Lees, on Ted, and Jayco Roper on Buckaroo, 83.5 points, $4,422 each; 3. Trent...
Like most Americans, I enjoy watching – and lighting – fireworks on Independence Day. America’s “birthday” should stand out among all national holidays. And the colorful, aerial explosions showcase the freedom and independence for which the U.S. stands. But why then do only tribes have the ability to sell and use the “good” fireworks – you know: firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, mortars and more. There’s nothing magical about the imaginary line on a map suggesting...
HATTON – Three Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies have been placed on administrative leave in connection with shooting death of a suspect Sunday, June 25. According to Sheriff Dale Wagner, two road deputies and a sergeant were placed on leave following the death of Ramon O. Morfin, 29, of Warden. The names of the officers involved in the shooting have yet to be released publicly, Grant County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman said. An Othello police officer was also involved. Morfin was shot and killed by the law e...
HATTON – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that a Warden man was killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers Sunday, June 25. Ramon O. Morfin, 29, of Warden, was pronounced dead at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of state Highway 26 and Kulm Road, just outside Hatton, a small community west of U.S. Highway 395. Morfin’s identity was confirmed Tuesday morning, June 27, by Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman. The names of the officers involved in the shooting have yet to be release...
HATTON – An independent investigation is reviewing an officer-involved shooting Sunday, June 25, near Kulm Road in this tiny community just west of U.S. Highway 395. According to Grant County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman, the shooting is being reviewed by the Central Basin Investigative Team. Few details had been released publicly, Foreman said at press time. But at least one person was injured, declining to say who. Foreman said he could not yet release the names of the officers involved or the suspect, not...
LIND – The city roars to life Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10, as the 34th annual Combine Demolition Derby Days brings thousands of residents and visitors out for weekend of smashing fun. The highlight of the event is the Lions Club Combine Demolition Derby, in which area farmers, fans and others put their fortified combines to the test in a demolition contest, with the last combine running crowned the victor. But the weekend also includes a car show, barbecue, car and pickup truck racing, grain truck racing, camping, m...
OTHELLO – Two people were transported to area hospitals Thursday afternoon, June 8, following a crash on state Highway 26. Perejitei E. Bekewe, 26, hometown unknown, was transported to Richland Hospital. Anthony J. Williamson, 52, hometown not reported, was taken to an Othello hospital. According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred at about 12:20 p.m. Bekewe was northbound on Johnson Road approaching Highway 26; Wiliamson was westbound on the highway, the patrol reported. Beweke’s 2022 Ram 1500 struck Wil...
From cars to bigfoot to high-speed sprint boats, you don’t have to look very far to find something to do this weekend. But dad won’t care if you take him somewhere or just spend time with him. For dad, Father’s Day isn’t about spending money, it’s about time – time to connect, reflect and enjoy each other’s company. Dads spend a lifetime taking care of the needs of their children. Through their children’s formative years into college, fathers bring structure, discipline, log...
TOUCHET — The state is providing support to local fire crews fighting the Hat Rock Fire. Walla Walla County Fire District No. 6 Chief Rusty Watt requested state help at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday night, June 13. The fire started northeast of Hermiston and had burned more than 8,500 acres by 8 p.m. Tuesday night when it raced through dry grass and brush into Walla Walla Couty east of Wallula Junction. Fire officials set the evacuation level at 1, meaning there is a fire in the area. Under Washington state law, evacuations are v...
PASCO – Two former and three current Franklin County commissioners may have to return nearly $89,000 in wages following an audit of payroll practices for the board. Commissioner Lowell "Brad" Peck may have to repay $47,000 that he was not legally entitled to receive, Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton said. And former Commissioners Robert "Bob" Koch and Rick Miller are facing possible repayments of $20,000 and $21,000 each, respectively. At issue is a 2016 post-election d...
OLYMPIA – Wolves may be downgraded from an endangered species to “sensitive” under a proposed reclassification by state Department of Fish and Wildlife staff. The gray wolf was already removed by the federal endangered species list, but the state has maintained the status despite the rapid population growth over the last decade. The reclassification comes with the required five-year review of endangered, threatened and sensitive species in the state. "This draft recommended reclassification to sensitive reflects that progr...
WALLULA – The spring Chinook salmon fishing season is open for only a week between The Dalles Dam and Wallula Junction. From about 1,300 feet upstream of The Dalles Dam to the Orgon-Washington border, salmon may be retained from today, May 19, through May 26. There’s a daily limit of six Chinook, but only two may be kept, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Salmon must be at least 12 inches long. The limited season is due to a smaller than expected spring Chinook run, fisheries staff said. Agency sta...
OTHELLO – The local high school was locked down Wednesday, May 10, after a reported threat. According to a report, city police and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office responded to the high school, 340 S. Seventh St., at 11:18 a.m. after a threat of a school shooting. The threat call, which was made to the Sheriff’s Office in Ritzville, indicated there was an armed person in front of the school, records show. Responding authorities were joined by school staff; their search failed to locate any suspect or threat, records show....
The state Legislature is headed back to Olympia this week for a special session specifically to deal with the prospect of all drugs becoming legal July 1. Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, says he hopes lawmakers will pass a new drug-possession law to fix last year’s so-called “Blake fix.” At issue is a temporary law that expires at the end of next month relating to possession of drugs in Washington. The temporary law was implemented during the 2022 legislative session after...
Hundreds of motorcyle racers from across North America the braved Rattlesnake Ridge near Vernita during three days of action during the Washington Nitro Nationals from May 6-8. Racers pitted their skill against a clock and a 1,000-foot course that gained 900 feet in elevation....
RITZVILLE – Sen. Mark Schoesler and other state lawmakers will return to the Capitol for a special session beginning May 16. “After returning home to Ritzville early last week following the end of this year’s legislative session, I was not planning to return to Olympia for at least a few months,” the 9th Legislative District senator said. “Turns out, my fellow legislators and I may be back at the Capitol little more than a week from now.” Gov. Jay Inslee called the special session in an effort to prompt the Legislature...
OTHELLO – All but two charges have been dropped against a local man accused of attacking a co-worker with a tree branch in an orchard near Basin City on May 2. Omar Eusebio Zuniga, 40, of Othello, remained in the Franklin County Jail on $100,000 bail on a charge of second-degree assault as of Monday, May 8. He was initially arrested on charges of second-degree murder, five counts of displaying a weapon with intent to intimidate, failure to appear/surrender, fourth-degree assault and second-degree assault. Most of the c...
OTHELLO – A local man was arrested and booked into jail Friday, April 28, after allegedly being caught after burglarizing a house in the 600 block of South Fourth Avenue. Angel M. Lara, 25, was apprehended after a short chase and booked into the Franklin County Jail on first-degree burglary. As of press time, Lara was being held without bail in the Franklin County Jail. According to a police report, police responded to a call of a residential burglary where the resident and L...
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee won’t be seeking a fourth term. Inslee, a Democrat from Bainbridge Island, announced Monday, May 1, that he’s ready to move on. “Today I announced I will not seek a fourth term,” he said. “We’ve made Washington a beacon for progress for the nation, and now it’s time to pass the torch.” Born and raised in Seattle, he was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1989, then elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1993. The 72-year-old Inslee was elected to lead the state in 2013...
WASHTUCNA – The access road to the new Waste Management landfill is being named in honor of a former longtime mayor who staunchly supported the development. The access road is being named Syd Sullivan Lane, Waste Management officials said. His daughters, Eleanor Brodahl of Othello and Karen Kinch of Washtucna were on hand for the Thursday dedication, April 20. "He was such a visionary," Brodahl said of her late father. "What an honor this is." According to Brodahl, her f...