Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
Sorted by date Results 176 - 200 of 460
Last week, Fairchild Air Force announced it was erasing Col. George Wright because the history surrounding him is considered by some as divisive. In place of his name being associated with a housing area and street, the military opted for “Lilac Village” and “Willow Loop,” respectively. The move comes two years after Spokane canceled the highly decorated Army leader, as well – Fort George Wright Drive was renamed to Whistalks Way, in recognition of the wife of Spokane tribal w...
OTHELLO – A local boy is in custody after being arrested Monday morning, Aug. 29, at his home in connection with possession a a stolen handgun and stolen vehicle. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office has yet to release the name and age of the boy. The boy was booked into the Martin Hall juvenile detention center on charges of possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest, Sheriff Dale Wagner said, noting additional charges may be pending. The boy was identified Saturday night, Aug. 27, in...
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE – The military leader who led U.S. Army troops to victory over northwest tribes in the Battle of Four Lakes and the Battle of the Spokane Plains is being "canceled" on base. Base officials announced earlier this week that they are changing the name of the Fort Wright Village residential area and the Fort Wright Oval street to Lilac Village and Willow Loop, respectively. The neighborhood and street were named in honor of Col. George Wright, the decorate...
BURBANK — Two Pasco boys were injured early Monday morning, Aug. 22, after the car in which they were passengers crashed while being pursued by the Washington State Patrol. The 16-year-old driver, also from Pasco, was not injured, the patrol reported. But his 15-year-old and 16-year-old passengers were transported to a Richland hospital. The cause of the crash remains under investigation and charges are pending against the driver. The patrol has yet to release the identities of the boys or say what charges are pending a...
GRAHAM — A state senator plans to introduce a parents' "bill of rights" package when the Legislature convenes in January for its 2023 session. Sen. Jim McCune, R-Graham, said Wednesday, Aug. 24, that its time schools address parental concerns about controversial sexual education, Critical Race Theory and other questionable topics being taught in school. “Parents know what is best for their children, and the state needs to recognize the parent’s right to play the primary role in determining education policy and school curri...
MATTAWA — A Pasco man has died from injuries he sustained in a crash in the roundabout on state Highway 243. Roy L. Lomon, 80, was pronounced dead at Kadlec Hospital in Richland at about 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17. The hospital notified his next of kin. Lomon was injured in a 5:29 a.m. crash the same day, the Washington State Patrol said. He was northbound in a 1993 Toyota pickup, the patrol said. He was unable to negotiate the roundabout on the highway. Lomon's pickup left the roadway to the left and came to rest in an a...
OTHELLO – Five people were hospitalized after being ejected Wednesday, Aug. 17, from a vehicle that flipped near Milepost 49 of state Highway 24, west of the city. Othello residents Aleyssa J. Hernandez, 21; Victoria F. DellaTorre, 19; Freddy Gonzalez Rodgriguez, 19; and Trinidad Rodriguez Gonalez, 16; and Toppenish resident Elisia D. Reyes, 16; were all transported to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland for injuries they sustained in the 3:50 p.m. crash. According to the Washington State Patrol, Hernandez was westbound in a 2...
PASCO – At first glance at campaign finance records, it appears former Franklin County Commissioner Rick R. Miller is leading incumbent District No. 3 Commissioner and Chairman Clint Didier. But a closer look at Public Disclosure Commission records shows just the opposite. As of Wednesday, Aug. 17, Didier had more community financial support than Miller. Campaign records show Didier received $2,100 in cash contributions and $943.25 donated in-kind contributions toward his r...
PASCO — Three teenagers are being held on $500,000 bail each in connection with the shooting death of a Pasco man. Angel Isaiah Garcia, Brian Armando Panduro-Valenzuela and Osman C. Morales Salto, all 18, were arrested Friday, Aug. 12, in the Spokane area and booked into the Franklin County Jail for second-degree murder, records show. In addition, Salto and Panduro-Valenzuela are facing a first-degree assault charge All three are being held on $500,000 bail. They were wanted in connection with the Aug. 6 shooting death of D...
PASCO — Incumbent Dan Newhouse appears to have eked out a narrow primary election win in the contest for the 4th Congressional District seat. But he only has the support of two counties - Benton and Franklin - in the district that includes portions of eight counties. As of Friday, Aug. 12, Newhouse, running as a Republican who has been censured by most Republican committees in the 4th Congressional District, had received 37,636 votes, or 25.46%, to lead the race d...
PASCO - After 11 years, Dr. Amy Person is stepping down as Benton-Franklin Health District's health officer. "Leaving Benton-Franklin Health District after more than 10 years of service to the communities of Benton and Franklin counties is hard," Person said Friday, Aug. 12, in announcing her decision to accept a "brand-new position" as the regional medical officer for the state Department of Health. "With this new role, I look forward to joining an organization that values...
LIND - A series of fires broke out last week across Eastern Washington, including a blaze that destroyed several homes and outbuildings in rural Adams County and the Lind area on Thursday, Aug. 4. While the fast-burning blaze was short-lived, it destroyed six homes and multiple outbuildings, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials said Friday, noting it had been declared as a disaster. With the declaration, the federal Disaster Relief Fund can be used to help cover...
PAHA — U.S. Highway 395 is closed to traffic due to a wildfire in the Milepost 70 area of Adams County. The highway is closed from Cunningham Road, near Milepost 70, to Paha Packard Road, near Milepost 88, according to the state Department of Transportation. Near Lind, state Highway 21 is also closed from the highway to the town, officials said. There is not currently a detour available and motorists are asked to find alternate routes before reaching the wildfire area. The highway was closed to traffic at 12:53 p.m. and w...
RITZVILLE — Incumbent Dale Wagner took an early lead in the race for Adams County Sheriff on Tuesday night, Aug. 2. Preliminary primary election returns showed Wagner, an Othello resident, with a 193-vote lead over challenger Matthew Carlson of Ritzville. Wagner had 804 votes, or 56.22% after the first day of ballot-counting. Meanwhile, Carlson had 611 votes, or 42.73%. Late-arriving ballots will continue to be counted until the results are certified on Aug. 16....
OLYMPIA – Several outdoorsmen and Eastern Washington county commissioners are expected to take the state Fish and Wildlife Commission to task during its three-day meeting this week. Northeast Washington Wildlife Group spokesman Dale Magart said Tuesday afternoon that the meeting “might be interesting.” Several outdoorsmen and Eastern Washington commissioners active in the Eastern Washington Council of Governments are expected to speak during the public input portion of the Fish and Wildlife Commission’s meeting at about 8...
RITZVILLE — Only 46 votes separate the two candidates in the Adams County Commission District No. 3 race. At the end of counting in the Tuesday, Aug. 2, primary election, Miguel "Mike" Garza had a 181-vote tally, for 56.04%. In second place, Terry Thompson had 135 votes, or 41.80%. Both candidates will be advancing to the Nov. 8 general election. Primary election results will be certified Aug. 16, after late-arriving ballots are counted....
PASCO — A sitting Franklin County commissioner is trailing in his bid for a seat at the Republican party table following the Tuesday, Aug. 2, primary election. Lowell "Brad" Peck trails David Milne in their bid for the Precinct 057 committee officer post. Milne had 47 votes, or 47.96%, early return results show. Peck was second with 40 votes, or 40.82%. In third place, Mike Clayton had 11 votes, or 11.22%. The Top 2 candidates advance to the Nov. 8 general election....
PASCO - A local farmgirl appears to be headed to the Nov. 8 general election. Challenger Tiffany Smiley, R-Pasco, was sitting in second place in the race for a U.S. Senate seat behind incumbent Patty Murray, D-Shoreline, at the end of the first day of counting in the Tuesday, Aug. 2, general election. Smiley held a commanding lead in Franklin County, but trailed statewide. The early tally showed Murray had 557,978 votes, or 54%, and Smiley had received 330,176 votes, or...
PASCO - A current Franklin County commissioner was dominating a former commissioner in the race for the District No. 3 seat after the first day of counting in the Tuesday, Aug. 2, primary election. Incumbent Commission Chairman Clint Didier of Eltopia held a 294-vote lead over former commissioner Rick Miller at the end of counting Tuesday. Didier received 1,986 votes, or 53.63%, to Miller's 1,692, or 45.69%. Both Didier and Miller are headed to the Nov. 8 general election....
PASCO - Despite being censured by most Republican committees in the 4th Congressional District, incumbent Dan Newhouse holds a slim lead in the Tuesday, Aug. 2, primary after the initial count. Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, had 20,542 votes, or 27.32%, at the end of the first day of counting early arriving ballots. Democrat Doug White was a close second with 19,534 votes, or 25.98%. White was the only Democrat on the ballot. Running in third and fourth places, respectively, were Repu...
WALLULA – Three people were injured Sunday, July 30, in a crash on U.S. Highway 12 about 11 miles east of Pasco. Roger Q. Hoover, 33, of West Richland; Britni S. Branson, 37, of Montros, Colo.; and Javier Martinez Ortiz, 41, of Pasco, were all transported to area hospitals, the Washington State Patrol reported. The two-vehicle crash occurred about 9:52 p.m., the patrol reported. Hoover was driving a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup and Ortiz was driving a 2002 Toyota Echo, the patrol reported. Both vehicles were westbound. Near M...
OTHELLO – An Immigration and Customs Enforcement employee is facing a series of child-sex charges. Koby Don Williams, 47, of Ellensburg, was booked into the Adams County Jail on July 26 and released on his own recognizance Wednesday, July 27. Police records show he was arrested after allegedly traveling to Othello to pay a 13-year-old girl to have sex with him, Police Chief Phil Schenck said. Williams is facing possible charges of second-degree attempted rape of a child, attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor and c...
RITZVILLE – A local lawmaker is taking issue with educational moves being pushed by the state superintendent of public education. Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, who represents areas of Franklin County as part of the 9th Legislative District, said last week that State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal's plans to end standardized testing and reallocate timber revenues would be detrimental to education. Reykdal unveiled his plans for ending standardized t...
MESA – An Othello man was booked into the Franklin County Jail on Sunday, July 17, for a driving while under the influence charge after crashing his pickup. Narciso A. Gomez Sanchez, 53, of Othello, was booked into the Franklin County Jail, where he remained Monday morning pending a court appearance. He was booked Sunday after his 3:51 p.m. crash on state Highway 17, about 10 miles north of Mesa. Gomez Sanchez was southbound on the highway when his 1994 Ford Ranger pickup left the roadway near Milepost 20, the patrol r...
CONNELL – Farmers relying on the Potholes Canal for irrigation water can rest a little easier today after crews repaired a located and repaired a "significant" breach overnight Thursday night, July 7. "Full flows were restored to the canal mid-morning on Friday, July 8," South Columbia Basin Irrigation District officials said in a press released posted to the district webpage. The canal starts at the outflow of Chance Lake, south of Bruce and west of Connell. It provides i...