Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
Sorted by date Results 176 - 200 of 273
RITZVILLE – The Bronco and athletics communities are coming together to help a local county and his family. As of press time, a donation account for Jason Hilzer had raised more than $7,000 from 60 donations. The funds come as Hilzer readies for a bone marrow transplant. In July 2021, Hilzer – a Lind-Ritzville/Sprague assistant football coach, and head wrestling and baseball coach – was diagnosed with leukemia. Hilzer has been missing from the field and the mat, but is often mentioned by Lind-Ritzville athletes and coach...
Trying to find a great sporting event to watch on Sunday was not easy. Sure there were a few college basketball games that were televised but I can’t say there was one team that I hoped would win and to me that is half the reason for watching. The other half wants to watch great athletes play the game. I must have watched less than five minutes of the Pro Bowl which is the NFL version of an All-Star game. This game used to be played the week after the Super Bowl but since s...
RITZVILLE – Several area youth completed their hunter education requirements Saturday, Feb. 5, during a class at the Ritzville Gun Club. The 11 students received certificates allowing them to hunt after being evaluated on knowledge of firearms, attitude and handling skills, instructor Phil Peterson said. Students completing the class include Eli Demerest, Darrell Howatt, Natalie Katsel, Cameron Fletcher, Nikkodah Katsel, Edgar Coon, Darren Howatt, Abigail Hofstee, Aiden H...
STARBUCK — Approximately 64% of the Lyons Ferry Hatchery Wallowa summer steelhead stock has been lost due to equipment failure. Hatchery workers lost roughly 249,770 steelhead smolts late last week, officials said, noting the smolts escaped a rearing pond and made their way into the mainstem Snake River. This loss accounts for about 64% of Lyons Ferry Hatchery’s Wallowa stock summer steelhead production for release in 2022, officials said. The loss is less than 8% of the overall hatchery steelhead production in the Snake Riv...
PASCO — Wrestlers may lose a regional tournament and qualify directly for the state Mat Classic tournament if a proposal before the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association is approved later this week. On Tuesday, WIAA spokesman Casey Johnson confirmed the proposal will be taken up by the association’s governing board sometime this week. An actual meeting has yet to be planned. “The board is looking to make the decision this week,” Johnson said. “The proposal is to eliminate regionals.” Eliminating regional tournamen...
The awards for outstanding players in the NCAA divisions have been announced. The FBS winners are told prior to the bowl games in early December. The FCS awards are announced the night before the national championship game in January. I think it is fitting to wait until this time and make it that much more special. The Walter Payton Award is the FCS version of the Heisman Trophy only without as much glamour but still very significant. The 2021 recipient is Eastern Washington...
BURBANK — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife closed the lower section of Snake River to steelhead fishing effective Jan. 4. The closure extends from the mouth of the river at Burbank upstream to Lower Granite Dam. Above the dam to the Idaho-Oregon state line, fishermen may now only keep one steelehead per day, officials said. No native steelhead – those with unclipped adipose fins – may be kept, officials said, noting only barbless hooks are allowed when fishing for steelhead. The change in the steelhead season is ef...
Last week, the WIAA unveiled its state tournament allocations for fall sports. These allocations determine how many teams each district gets to send to the state playoffs in these sports, which around here, include football, soccer and volleyball. No changes were seen in soccer and volleyball. District 7, which includes Davenport and Reardan, was given one berth in girls soccer and three in volleyball for the 2B state playoffs. A fair allocation, as the number of 2B girls...
OLYMPIA — Hunters who report their 2021 black bear, deer, elk, or turkey hunting results by Monday, Jan. 10, will have the opportunity to win one of nine deer and elk incentive permits for fall 2022. State Department of Fish and Wildlife Game Division Manager Anis Aoude said the special permits will be awarded through a drawing this spring, as an incentive to encourage hunters to report their results as soon as possible. The special permits will be valid from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. "Incentive hunts include five deer p...
OLYMPIA – There are now two vacancies on the state Fish and Wildlife Commission. In a letter Monday, Dec. 13, to Gov. Jay Inslee, Commissioner Fred Koontz, Ph.D. of King County resigned form the at-large seat on the nine-member board after less than a year in the position. The board is appointed by the governor and provides guidance on fish and wildlife issues. The opening is the second on the board — there is an open seat representing Eastern Washington, as well. The commission comprises nine members — three from each side...
RITZVILLE – A shortage of officials here and across the nation are interrupting middle and high school sports. According to Lind-Ritzville/Sprague/Washtucna Athletic Director Greg Whitmore, the shortage has prompted the cancellation of at least one high school basketball game already this season. “The number of officials in all sports has been declining over the years, but COVID has created an even bigger shortage,” Whitmore said in an email last week. “We have already been bitten by this and had to change the basketb...
RITZVILLE – The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague boys (0-1) and girls (0-2) basketball teams both fell to Tri-Cities Prep on Tuesday, Nov. 30. The Bronco boys lost to the Jaguars, 57-54. Chase Galbreath had 18 points and J.T. Kelly had 14 in the losing effort. The boys team was also scheduled to play Medical Lake (0-1) at home Tuesday night, Dec. 7; The Journal went to press before the game started. The local girls also fell , 43-38. Hannah Chang led all girls on the court with 20 p...
YAKIMA - The Connell girls volleyball team was swept from the state 1A volleyball tournament Friday, Nov. 12, in six straight sets. The losses ended the season for the No. 14-seeded Eagles. Connell opened the tournament against No. 3-seeded Castle Rock. The Rockets dominated in three straight sets. Set scores were 25-18, 25-22, 25-13. The loss dropped the Eagles to the loser-out matchup against No. 11 Charles Wright. Charles Wright took a commanding 25-14 win in Set 1. But...
YAKIMA – The Tri-Cities Prep girls volleyball team went two and out at the state 2B volleyball tournament Nov. 11 and 12 in the Yakima Valley SunDome. The No. 12-seeded Jaguars of Pasco opened the tournament with a 3-0 loss to No. 5-seeded Manson. Set scores were 25-7, 25-14, 25-9. The loss sent the girls to the consolation round. In their first loser-out game, the Jaguars faced the No. 13-seeded Liberty (Spangle) Lancers. The Lancers won, 3-1, ending Tri-Cities Prep's run f...
OLYMPIA — The state Fish and Wildlife Commission may implement new firearms restrictions and hunting closures when it meets virtually Oct. 21-22. In addition, commissioners will discuss a new rule on importing and retaining dead non-resident wildife, and a non-native game fish policy, in addition to accepting public comment on the 2022 spring black bear hunting season. Public comment will be taken Friday morning. And on Friday, Oct. 22, the board will consider transfering a 0.37-acre parcel on the west back of the S...
PASCO - A citrus-flavored boys basketball fundraiser has kicked off in support of the Pasco Bulldogs hoops programs. Fans, supporters and others can order citrus from today, Oct. 11, through Monday, Nov. 1. Part of the proceeds from the sales will go to the boys basketball program, officials said, noting items will be delivered in early December. The fundraiser includes oranges, grapefruit and clementines, officials said. To order fruit for the holidays and simultaneously...
OLYMPIA – A new plan for managing Palouse Falls State Park may end camping and require hiking permits if its approved. Washington State Parks officials will take comments on the plan during a virtual 6 p.m. meeting Oct. 5. The meeting will be accessible online at https://bit.ly/3tYuVAo. According to State Parks' Lauran Moxham, the meeting will also include discussions of agency-planned changes for Lyons Ferry and the Lewis and Clark trail State parks Under the proposal for P...
CASCADE LOCKS, Ore. — Fishermen will be able to catch and keep sturgeon on a section of the lower Columbia River for four more days in September. Fisheries managers for Oregon and Washington announced Wednesday, Sept. 15, that fishermen will be able to retain sturgeon on the Columbia River from the Wauna powerlines upstream to Bonneville Dam (on Sept. 19, 22, 25 and 29. The additional catch days follow a lower-than-expected harvest after the initial Sept. 11 opening, officials said, noting fishermen kept an estimated 347 l...
PASCO - A local football team is ranked among the Top 5 among all divisions in Washington state. MaxPreps.com has ranked the Chiawana Riverhawks as the No. 5 team, behind Graham-Kapowsin, No. 1; Tumwater, No. 2; Lake Stevens, No. 3; and O'Dea (Seattle), No. 4, among all high school teams in the state. Across the Columbia River, Kamiakin broke the Top 10, coming in at No. 9. The highest ranked small school team is Royal, according to the rankings. The Royal Knights, a Class 1A...
BASIN CITY — Recreational activities can resume on Scooteney Reservoir as a toxic algal bloom has subsided. The reservoir was closed Aug. 13 after water tests showed a high level of toxins, the Benton-Franklin Health District said. The water has since been tested regularly and toxins have subsided and the water is now considered safe for swimming and fishing, among other water activities, officials said. The water is not safe to consume or drink, officials said, noting children should not put their mouths in the water or s...
CONNELL - The booster club for the Connell Eagles sports program will host a fundraising barbecue Sept. 2. The Eagle's Nest barbecue will take place from 5-7 p.m. at the Connell High School courtyard. There is a charge that includes both a barbecue meal and an Eagle's Nest membership. Each barbecue meal includes a hamberburg, chips, corn on the cob, watermelon and cookie, officials said. There are also more than $400 in door prizes being given away....
PASCO - One local football player is among the state's Top 25 seniors on the high school grid iron. MaxPreps.com ranked J.P. Zamora, the 6-foot-4, 185-pound Chiawana quarterback as No. 24; the Top 25 list was released today, Tuesday, Aug. 17. "The state's second-ranked quarterback has offers from Utah and Nevada," the sports company reported, noting Zamora remains undecided where he will go to college. Zamora is the only Eastern Washington player listed among the Top 25. The...
CHENEY — Two Franklin County cowgirls were among the Cheney Rodeo contestants last weekend. Jennifer Casey of Mesa and Kaite Breazeale of Pasco were both on the ticket for Saturday's nights peformance. Breazeale rode fourth in the performance, completing the cloverleaf pattern in 18.10 seconds. That run put her in the Top 10 for the three-day event, sending her home with $67. Officials breakaway roping results were not reported. In addition to the two Franklin County c...
OTHELLO – The city was awarded $1,350,000 in grants from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, which will be used to improve Lions Park. The city plans to use the funding to replace 1950's playground equipment and playground surfacing with a new Pride Rock Playground. Both the equipment and surface will make the area accessible to people with disabilities. Landscaping and furnishings will also be added to offer shade and comfort during Othello's hot summers. The city will also be using part of the f...
BASIN CITY - Thousands of rodeo fans turned out Friday and Saturday, June 25 and 26, to watch the second Freedom Rodeo. Temperatures neared 100 degrees at performance time Friday night and topped 105 at the start of Saturday's rodeo. To keep cool, several fans put on canopies on the rim of the arena, while at least one family brought a toddler wading pool and filled it with water. The event got underway Friday morning with slack competition and a vendor area, compete with...