Volume 125, Number 28 Ritzville, Washington 99169-0288 — (509) 659-1020 — Single Copy 50¢ Thursday, July 14, 2011

MORE INSIDE• Spokane resident sues Adams County, sheriff ....................... Page A-2

• Mobile food bank returns to Lind Wednesday ............................. Page A-3

• Watson leads Washington State Fair Association ............................ Page A-3

• Celebrity guest hosts converge at Ritzville golf course............... Page A-6

NEWSBRIEFS

High Lo Pre. Sn.July 7 93 53July 8 91 43July 9 73 43July 10 75 45July 11 81 51July 12 84 55July 13 80 55 .086.67” precipitation year-to-date

(Readings are for previous 24 hours)

Soft white wheat, bushel ............ $6.42Club premium, bushel ...................$.00Hard red wheat, bushel ...............$7.25 Barley, ton ............................... $200.00

(Wednesday quotation f.o.b. Ritzville)

• MARKETS

• WEATHER

Hospital board to vote on 5-year plan today at 2 p.m.

A vote to approve a five-year strategic plan is expected during a special meeting of the Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2 Board of Commissioners today at 2 p.m.

The plan was presented at the board’s regular meeting in June and the draft was unanimously approved by the commissioners. A public comment period was allowed.

The Thursday afternoon meeting is scheduled for two items of business, according to the hospital district. The first is a discussion on the strategic plan.

Mark Barglof, CEO for the district, said there will be a presentation by a billing vendor.

“We are exploring the option of outsourcing our billing process and a vendor will be present to give a presentation to the board regarding their services and what the relationship/partnership may look like,” Barglof explained in an e-mail to The Journal.

Lind chamber prepares for annual dinner, auction

The Lind Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its annual dinner auction, set for Oct. 1 at the Lind Grange Hall.

Organizers are planning a night of western décor and activities based on this year’s theme of “Meanwhile Back at the Ranch.”

The chamber is looking for people to serve on committees to help organize the event and auction items. Those who are interested in lending assistance need to contact the chamber.

The chamber will change its meeting time starting in September to 6:30 p.m. All meetings are held at Slim’s Bar & Grill.

The next meeting is Aug. 1 at 5:30 p.m. and will focus on the annual dinner auction. Those who want to help are invited to attend.

Sign up for Washtucna swimming lessons

Swimming lessons are slated at the Washtucna Community Pool July 19-22 and July 26-29 beginning at 5 p.m.

Interested persons need to contact Della Fleming at the pool, 646-3436, as soon as possible in order to develop a schedule.

Cost is $20 for the two-week session.

Three years after being charged with animal cruelty, Sharon Provost was convicted on June 23 in Adams County Superior Court. Sentencing for the Lind resident is set for Friday, July 15, at 2 p.m.

The case originated on July 12, 2008, when the Adams County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant and arrested Provost on East Third Street in Lind.

Jury selection was on June 22, and the jury found Provost guilty on four counts of first-degree animal cruelty and two counts of transporting or confining animals in an unsafe manner.

The jury went into deliberations at 10:44 a.m. and returned to the courtroom after 1 p.m.

Provost was initially charged with one count of animal cruelty for a dog that had apparently strangled itself and was left in the kennel as well as four counts of second-

degree animal cruelty for the dogs left in the kennel with the dead dog.

The search warrant and arrest culminated from a complaint received by the sheriff’s office on July 3, 2008, from a potential buyer of the miniature Australian shepherds Provost raises.

The buyer notified the sheriff’s office that Provost had a large number of dogs that were being mistreated and not taken care of properly, including the dog that apparently strangled itself on its collar and was left in the kennel with several other dogs for an extended period of time, at a location on Smart Road.

Accompanied by about 30 Adams County Pet Rescue volunteers, the sheriff’s office seized 111 dogs, which appeared to be purebred or mixed miniature Australian shepherds.

While searching the residence, the sheriff’s office located carcasses of four adult dogs that had been there for an extended period of time.

The dogs ranged in age from newborn to 10-12 years old.

Dr. Marvin Chamberlain, DVM, and veterinary technicians from Moses Lake were on scene to inspect the condition of the animals.

Two dogs were humanely put down because of their declining medical condition.

One of the destroyed animals was deformed on one of the legs.

Another dog had lost the use of its right front foot, which was bent all the way back, but rescuers were unsure if it was a birth defect or from an injury that healed improperly.

Provost guilty of animal cruelty, sentencing Friday

Ritzville’s community float is the city’s premier traveling advertisement, a colorful rolling billboard used to promote the rural city. The 2011 award-winning float has been invited to participate in the Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade in Seattle on July 30.

Ritzville’s float has been to the prestigious parade just twice since 1950.

In order for the float and Ritzville’s Distinguished Young Women to make the rare pilgrimage to the Seafair parade, they must raise $1,200 to cover travel expenses for the float riders and their chaperones.

Annually the float and the young ladies who ride on it make a tour of several community parades in Eastern Washington on behalf of the city. The travel expenses are covered by the Ritzville Festivals Association, which provides the truck and trailer to transport the float and also provides the funds used to construct a new float each year.

The float riders and their parents are required to assist in the construction of the float.

This year the float has captured major awards in each of the five parades it has entered. On its maiden voyage, the animated float entitled “Fanta Sea,” earned the Community Sweepstakes Award at the 73rd Armed Forces Torchlight Parade.

Since then the float has garnered top honors in Moses Lake, Reardan, Lind and Royal City.

The float carries Distinguished Young Woman Dezarae West with finalists Crystal Brooks, Davi Killian and Bridget Banner. Banner will not be able to make the trip to Seattle, but the other three Ritzville High School students will.

According to West, the Ritzville Festivals Association will cover the fuel expense for the float and the truck and trailer that will haul it to Seattle.

Help send float to Seafair parade

Community float entries can apply to be part of the Seafair parade, but selection is competitive and an invitation is not guaranteed. Ritzville had not applied to participate in the Seattle event. Instead the float’s winning ways have gained notoriety, resulting in a special invitation to participate.

West is excited about the prospect of attending the Seattle parade.

“The float is used to help get our community recognized by other cities,” she said. “It’s great to have an opportunity for our float to be seen by others, other than the towns who already know who we are.”

At press time the young ladies had

raised approximately $450. They sold bottled water and bags of peanuts during the Ritzville Blues Festival as part of their efforts to raise the needed funds.

To contribute to the Seattle trip, send a check, payable to Distinguished Young Woman, Dezarae West, 203 East Fifth Avenue, Ritzville, WA 99169.

Free lunch, tour of MRI unit July 20

Inland Imaging’s Mobile MRI services will be in Ritzville on Wednesday, July 20.

Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2 would like to give residents an opportunity to become familiar with the imaging unit and the diagnostic services it provides.

A free lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. During the luncheon residents can tour the unit, ask questions and visit the MRI technologist.

Bruce Garner, manager of the hospital district’s imaging department, will also be available to answer questions.

General membership luncheon July 21

The Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce will host its next general membership meeting on Thursday, July 21, at Casuela’s Mexican Grill at noon.

REFLECTING. Grammy award-winning zydeco performer Chubby Carrier captivates the crowd during the 18th Ritzville Blues Festival Saturday. The main stage audience was enormous, as reflected in Carrier’s sunglasses as he delivered a high energy 90-minute show. Look for more photos and an event summary in the July 21 edition of The Journal.

SEATTLE BOUND? Ritzville’s community float “Fanta Sea” has been invited to the Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade in Seattle on July 30. In order for the float and its riders to make the trip, the group needs to raise $1,200 to cover expenses. This is just the third time since 1950 Ritzville’s float has been invited to the Seattle spectacle.

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