Special filing period for open elected positions in Adams County
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year AGO
One position on the Othello School board is among those open for candidates during a special filing period next week.
FILE PHOTO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | August 11, 2025 6:57 PM
RITZVILLE — A special filing period for elective offices in Adams County that haven’t attracted any candidates is scheduled for Aug. 20 through 22.
City council, school board, fire district and parks and recreation district seats are among the offices that didn’t attract candidates.
The filing period will include one open seat on the Othello School Board. People who are interested in filing for District 2 must live within that district, which includes a small section of the city and a substantial portion of ODS south and east of Othello. The seat has been empty since incumbent Chris Baginski resigned in March. The new board member would fill the final two years of Baginski’s term.
The OSB position is the only one where candidates must live within a district. The rest are all at-large seats, which means the candidates can live anywhere in the district.
One seat is open on the Town of Washtucna council, with the new council member serving for four years. Gary Marmes Jr. is the incumbent, but did not file for reelection. One position, also for four years, is open on the Washtucna School Board. The incumbent is Steve Crouse.
All five positions are open on the Othello Parks and Recreation District board. The district no longer operates PJ Taggeres Park, which has been annexed into the city of Othello. The district is still responsible for the bond that paid for the Othello Community Pool; the bond will be paid off this year. One seat is vacant and the incumbents are Frank Vazquez, Rolando Cerrillo, Kim Coreson and Robert Pruneda.
Four positions are open on the Washtunca Parks and Recreation Commission. Three of the positions are four-year terms, while one is a two-year term. One seat is vacant, and the incumbents in the other seats are Alta Hunt, Audra Christianson and Tracee Sitton.
There’s one seat on the Adams County Fire District 4 commission (Lamont) for a four-year term. Harry Harder is the incumbent.
All three positions are open on the Othello Cemetery District Commission. Two are vacant, with the other held by LuAnn Morgan. The Othello Water District has two open positions, one for two years and one for four years. JR Ozuna and Cedelia Cano are the incumbents.
There’s one open seat on the Lind Cemetery District for a six-year term. Barbara DeVore is the incumbent.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Road projects on hold for Labor Day weekend
MOSES LAKE — With Labor Day weekend dead ahead, drivers will be able to move freely about the state. Most road projects are on hold for the holiday weekend. Nobody will be working on the Hansen Road overpass on Interstate 90, but the lane restrictions that are in effect will continue through the end of the project.
Cost estimates for water source alternatives given to Moses Lake City Council
Protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, efforts are ongoing to keep it self-sufficient
MOSES LAKE — It’s going to cost a lot of money to provide alternative water sources for the city of Moses Lake, but some of the possible alternatives will cost more than others. City officials provided the Moses Lake City Council with costs for various alternatives Tuesday.
Dryer vent cleaning is important -- but often overlooked
MOSES LAKE — Not all the maintenance a house needs is visible. Sometimes a potential problem just goes unnoticed until it causes trouble, sometimes serious trouble. But a lot of potential problems give off warning signs. Clothes dryers often do when they need a good cleaning.