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  • Pasco woman killed in crash

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated May 10, 2021

    PASCO — A local woman was killed in a crash Sunday afternoon, May 9. Karli E. Moore, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near Milepost 25 of U.S. Highway 395 at about 4:15 p.m. Moore was a passenger in a 2002 Hyundai Elantra driven by Ricky G. Cruz, 28, of Pasco, the Washington State Patrol reported. Cruz was injured and transported to a Spokane medical center. Cruz was being pursued northbound by Franklin County Sheriff's Office deputies at the time of the fatal crash, the patrol reported. He crossed into t...

  • Sinoloa Cartel member sentenced

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 27, 2021

    PASCO — A Sinaloa drug cartel member from Pasco has been sentenced on a number of trafficking and money laundering charges. Reynaldo Perez Munoz, 41, was sentenced April 21 by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Edward F. Shea to 26 years in prison and 7 years of probation after release. The sentence follows Munoz's Aug. 28, 2020, guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine, 5 kg or more of cocaine and 1 kg or more of heroin, two counts of money laundering, and p...

  • Commissioners move ahead with drug possession ordinance

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 27, 2021

    PASCO — Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond sparred verbally over drafting a controlled substance ordinance with Commissioner Lowell “Brad” Peck during a meeting this morning, April 27. Commissioners Peck, Rocky Mullen and Chairman Clint Didier were discussing a possible ordinance in the wake of the state high court’s so-called "Blake decision," which essentially vacated the law making possession of narcotics a crime. Following the lead of Grant County, County Administrator Keith Johnson provided commissioners with a propose...

  • Commissioners rezone 39 acres

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 27, 2021

    PASCO — Franklin County commissioners this morning unanimously approved the rezoning of more than 39 acres of agriculture land near the Columbia River during a quasi-judicial hearing this morning, April 27. The parcel at 6503 Columbia River Road, near the end of Ridgeview Drive, was rezoned from Agriculture Production-20 to rural Residential Community-1. The new designation allows for one home to be built per acre. The county Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the zoning change at its March 30 meeting. T...

  • Commissioners back First, Second Amendments

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 20, 2021

    PASCO —Franklin County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution voicing support of the First and Second Amendments of the U.S. Constitution during this morning’s meeting, Tuesday, April 20, but not without a dustup between Chairman Clint Didier and Commissioner Lowell “Brad” Peck. The resolution, 2021-081, was brought proposed by Didier and drafted by Franklin County Administrator Keith Johnson. Commissioner Rocky Mullen brought it forward to discuss with a motion to approve and a second by Didier. Under the resolution...

  • Fishing season opens Saturday

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 20, 2021

    ICE HARBOR DAM – The lowland lakes fishing season opens Saturday, April 24, with trout being the most sought-after species. Opening day also marks the opening day of the statewide trout derby, where fishermen can win more than 1,000 prizes totaling more than $38,000. While some lakes are open for fishing year-round, the state closes a number of lakes through the fall and winter while it stocks millions of trout and kokanee. In Franklin County, the state stocked approximately 6,500 rainbow trout in Dalton Lake, located a...

  • Gov. Inslee to sign bill to replace Whitman statues today

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 14, 2021

    OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign a bill today that would begin the process of removing statues of perhaps the state's most prominent figure from the Capitol building and the National Statuary in Washington, D.C. The governor has called an 11:30 a.m. signing ceremony, where he will sign House Bill 1372 into law. The bill would replace the statues of Pacific Northwest pioneer, teacher and missionary Marcus Whitman. They will be replaced with statues of Billy Frank Jr., a Nisqually tribal fishing rights activist. T...

  • 'Feed lot' allowed to expand to 10,000 head

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 13, 2021

    MESA — Franklin County commissioners unanimously approved a conditional-use permit allowing nearly triple the number of cattle on a rearing facility near Columbia Flats Dairy this morning, April 13. The permit will allow the 634-acre rearing lot – often referred to as a feed lot – at 1170 Pepiot Road to expand from 3,500 to 10,000 cows. The lot is located more than two miles from the dairy. Zoning regulations generally allow up to 1,000 cattle on feed lots in the county, unless commissioners approve a conditional-use permi...

  • Commissioners stop short of firing Johnson

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 13, 2021

    PASCO — Franklin County Administrator Keith Johnson will keep his job. County commissioners today, April 13, decided not to resume discussion on terminating the county’s top manager after the issue was tabled last week. The motion to fire Johnson last week was the second the administrator had faced in two months. After commissioners declined to resume the debate, Commissioner Rocky Mullen made a brief statement on his decision not to pursue his motion to fire Johnson last week. Mullen said he had met with Johnson last Wed...

  • Johnson survives second termination attempt

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 12, 2021

    PASCO – Franklin County Administrator Keith Johnson narrowly survived a second effort to terminate his employment during a commissioner meeting Tuesday night, April 6. Commissioners voted 2-1 to table discussion of firing Johnson until after he meets with Commissioner Rocky Mullen. That vote followed a motion by Mullen and second by Chairman Clint Didier to fire Johnson. “I move that we terminate the employment contract with the county administrator, Keith Johnson, effectively immediately,” Mullen said in bringing up the s...

  • Douglas Farms workers to get vaccinated

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 8, 2021

    PASCO — Douglas Farms will provide a pop-up, outdoor coronavirus vaccination clinic for 250 farmworks Friday, April 9. Vaccinations will run from 8:30-11:45 a.m. at the Douglas packing facility, 110 Taylor Flats Road. "This is an important milestone in protecting essential farmworkers from COVID," Washington State Tree Fruit Association spokeswoman Lexie Robinson said. "Interestingly, while vaccine hesitancy has been much discussed in the inland empire, it’s not the case at Douglas. The company reports that nearly 100% of...

  • Gov. Inslee threatens to move some counties backwards

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 8, 2021

    OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday, April 8, that moving a county backwards for at least three weeks in his phased reopening plan may provide the impetus to improve vaccination rates. During his press conference, the governor said there has been a recent increase in coronavirus cases in some counties. And as a result, he’ll be looking at the “numbers” Monday to determine which counties should be bounced backward toward closure. “This is not judgment day Monday,” he said. “The score is the score… The numbers will be...

  • Woman arrested in Taser attack on Warden couple

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 7, 2021

    WARDEN – An Odessa woman is in jail in Grant County after allegedly attacking a man and woman with a Taser on Wednesday, April 7. Deborah Davidson, 41, of Odessa, is facing charges of first-degree burglary, first-degree assault, third-degree malicious mischief and two counts of fourth-degree assault. The charges stem from the attack, believed connected to romantic relationships, a Grant County Sheriff’s Office report said. Davidson allegedly entered a home off state Highway 262 East at about noon and shot the man and wom...

  • Ringold steelhead fishery to open April 7

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 7, 2021

    RINGOLD — The state is opening steelhead fishing from the shore beginning Wednesday, April 7. The fishery is open on the Franklin County shoreline from a quarter-mile downstream of the Ringold wasteway outlet to a halfmile upstream of Ringold Springs Hatchery Creek. Fishermen are allowed on the bank, only. Retention is restricted to hatchery fish with clipped adipose and ventral fins. Two fish may be caught each day; the minimum size to retain is 20 inches. The fishery will close Thursday, April 15, officials said. The s...

  • Another conservative challenges Newhouse

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Apr 7, 2021

    PROSSER - Rep. Dan Newhouse's refusal to support former President Donald J. Trump in January may cost him his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Over the weekend, another conservative Republican challenger announced his candidacy in a bid to unseat Newhouse in a primary challenge, even though the primary is more than a year away. Jerrod Sessler, 51, of Prosser, announced his 4th Congressional District candidacy, citing Newhouse's decision to back Democrats in the...

  • UPDATED STORY: Kennewick man killed in crash

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Mar 31, 2021

    CONNELL — A Kennewick man was killed today, Wednesday, March 31, when his vehicle overturned on U.S. Highway 395. Thomas K. Bailey, 54, was pronounced dead at the scene near MIlepost 53 of U.S. Highway 395, the Washington State Patrol said. Next of kin has been notified. The crash occurred about 12:22 p.m., the patrol said. Bailey was northbound in a 2001 Ford F150 pickup when he went off the road, overcorrected and the vehicle overturned, the patrol said. Investigators h...

  • Local credit union buys naming rights to field inside WSU's Martin Stadium

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Mar 12, 2021

    PULLMAN — Washington State University has sold naming rights of the field in Martin Stadium to Tri-Cities-based Gesa Credit Union. The university and financial business have signed a 10-year deal naming the field as Gesa Field. The value of the contract is valued at more than $11 million, officials said. "Washington State University was established 130 years ago to serve the citizens of our state," university President Kirk Schulz said today in announcing the deal. "That commi...

  • Bill banning American Indian mascots a complete waste of time

    Roger Harnack, Free Press Publishing|Updated Mar 3, 2021

    It’s a solution in search of a problem. Lawmakers in Olympia appear to be fast-tracking House Bill 1356, which would ban the use of “racially derogatory or discriminatory” American Indian mascots, logos and team names in public schools in the state. Simply put, the bill is political theater, nonsense that kowtows to the politically correct crowd that’s bent on cancelling our culture, heritage and history. The bill is quickly moving through the Legislature even though I think...

  • No confidence in county administrator?

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Feb 23, 2021

    PASCO — Franklin County Administrator Keith Johnson narrowly survived what can only be called a vote of no confidence during a county commission meeting this morning, Tuesday, Feb. 23. A clash over county administration resulted in Chairman Clint Didier moving to fire Johnson when commissioners returned to an open meeting after two executive sessions. “I move that we terminate Mr. Johnson immediately as administrator and start the process of hiring an interim administrator as soon as possible,” Didier said. “I could not disag...

  • Soap Lake reserve and K-9 officer arrested

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Feb 19, 2021

    SOAP LAKE – A local reserve and K-9 police officer remains in the Franklin County Jail today after a drunken driving-related arrest last night, Feb. 18, north of Pasco. Reserve and K-9 Officer Shane Jones, 49, was arrested shortly before 8 p.m. after his marked patrol car was found in a ditch along U.S. Highway 395 north of Pasco. He was booked into the Franklin County Jail at 11:50 p.m. Records show Jones is being held on possible charges of first-degree assault, hit and run-attended vehicle, possession of a stolen v...

  • Most area school sports delayed at least two weeks

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Feb 16, 2021

    UPDATE: On Saturday, Feb. 13, Franklin County and the surrounding area were moved to Phase 2, allowing football, and girls volleyball, soccer and slowpitch softball games to proceed as previously scheduled. PASCO — With Gov. Jay Inslee declining to allow Franklin County to advance to his so-called “Phase 2” of coronavirus recovery, the Pasco, Columbia and North Franklin school districts will have to delay middle and high school football, and girls volleyball, soccer and slowpitch softball. Pasco, Chiawana, Columbia (Burb...

  • McKinney, McKay credited for area move to Phase 2

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Feb 16, 2021

    YAKIMA – Two Central Washington county commissioners are being credited for Saturday’s local move to “Phase 2” of Gov. Jay Inslee’s current coronavirus recovery plan. Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney and Benton County Commissioner Will McKay last Thursday recognized that the state Department of Health wasn’t accurately reporting coronavirus-related data for the so-called “South-Central Region.” The governor's designation includes Columbia, Walla Walla, Franklin, Benton, Yakima and Kittitas counties. Following a pre...

  • Tri-Cities area to remain in Phase 1

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Feb 12, 2021

    PASCO — Franklin County and the greater Tri-Cities area will not be allowed to move to the so-called "Phase 2" next week. That's the word from Gov. Jay Inslee during a press conference minutes ago, Thursday, Feb. 11. The governor announced that all of his so-called regions, except the "South-Central" region, will be allowed to move forward due to reductions in coronavirus risk. The only counties remaining in Phase 1 are in the so-called "South-Central Region," which i...

  • Bill requiring classes for kayakers, paddleboarders may be scuttled

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Feb 11, 2021

    OLYMPIA – A bill that would've required boating classes for kayakers, canoeists, paddleboarders and even some surfers appears to have been scuttled. House Bill 1018 is the subject of an online petition that had drawn 18,450 protest signatures as of this morning, Feb. 11. The bill would have required nearly everyone piloting a vessel – even human-powered boats like kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and some surfboards – on state waters to complete a boater education course. In addit...

  • Rep. Dye opposes House Bill 1084

    Roger Harnack, Franklin Connection|Updated Feb 9, 2021

    OLYMPIA – Rep. Mary Dye spoke out Tuesday against House Bill 1084, which would prohibit the use of natural gas in new homes and buildings. Dye, R-Pomeroy, represents Franklin County as part of the 9th Legislative District. Dye objected to the bill as it was brought up for a vote in the House Environment and Energy Committee. She was joined in her opposition by Republican Reps. Mark Klicker of Walla Walla, Peter Abbarno of Centralia, Matt Boehnke of Kennewick and Keith G...

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