Suspect arrested in Controlled Substance Homicide case
R. HANS MILLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 weeks, 1 day AGO
Managing Editor Rob Miller is a 4-year U.S. Army veteran who grew up in Western Montana in a community about the size of Soap Lake. An honors graduate of Texas State University, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Brandee, and their three dogs, Draco, Pepper and Cinnamon. He has one son, William. During his free time, he enjoys photography, video games, reading and working on the house he and his wife bought in Ephrata. He is passionate about the First Amendment and educating communities. | January 13, 2026 6:42 PM
RITZVILLE — Brittney Marie Jones, 35, of Ritzville, was arrested and is being held by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office on charges associated with a November death in Ritzville, according to an ACSO statement.
“Ms. Jones was taken into custody in connection with an ongoing investigation stemming from a death investigation conducted Nov. 18, 2025, at the 1600 block of Smitty’s Boulevard in Ritzville, with assistance from the Ritzville Police Department,” an ACSO statement read.
An autopsy later found that the death was the result of an overdose and detectives established probable cause to charge Jones with Controlled Substance Homicide. The charge is a Class B felony under RCW 69.50.415, which could result in up to a decade in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.
ACSO expressed appreciation for the aid of the Odessa Police Department for locating Jones and for the public for the tips received in the case.
ARTICLES BY R. HANS MILLER
Feb. 10 initial election results
EPHRATA — Voters were asked to approve or reject educational programs and operations levy requests from a number of Grant and Adams county school districts in Tuesday’s special election. Voters in the Ephrata School District and East Adams Rural Healthcare decided the fate of specific proposals. Unofficial results released Tuesday night are listed below with additional votes coming in via mail over the next few days. Mailed-in ballots must have been postmarked by Feb. 10, 2026 to be counted.
COLUMN: It’s amazing what you can learn ...
Four years ago, almost to the day, my wife and I closed on the first home either of us have owned, a stunningly Pepto-pink house in Ephrata with what we thought of at the time as “character.” It turns out, that character is really, in many ways, a lot of work. Work I hadn’t done much of since helping my dad out when I was a kid a few decades ago. Still though, all of the work I had to relearn or learn – thank goodness for the folks at Ace, Lowe’s and experts on YouTube – has been incredibly rewarding.
Take a wander, see a wonder
MOSES LAKE — Living in Central Washington has a lot of perks, and one of those is the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife.