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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1884 | 1 |
| 1889 | 1 |
| 1890 | 3 |
| 1891 | 2 |
| 1892 | 2 |
| 1894 | 1 |
| 1898 | 1 |
| 1903 | 2 |
| 1905 | 4 |
| 1909 | 1 |
| 1914 | 13 |
| 1915 | 7 |
| 1916 | 21 |
| 1917 | 19 |
| 1918 | 1 |
| 1922 | 2 |
| 1923 | 5 |
| 1924 | 5 |
| 1925 | 3 |
94 stories
- The Sunday Bond Deal That Split Benton County
Two commissioners secretly arranged a courthouse bond sale, and a courtroom fight over lost premiums exposed how far they went to keep the third commissioner—and the public—in the dark.
- The Lame-Duck Courthouse Deal That a Judge Had to Stop
Benton County's outgoing commissioners rammed through a courthouse contract and a $9,500 payment in their final hours — and the next morning the state Supreme Court's restraining order landed on the table.
- Prosser Pump Owners Seek Irrigation District Exclusion
Prosser commissioners rule that landowners cannot dodge the irrigation district while holding onto private water rights.
- Prominent Banker's Son Convicted in Liquor Trial
A jury in Prosser returns a guilty verdict against the 19-year-old son of a local bank president for illegal liquor possession.
- The Looming Water Wars of the Yakima River
Prosser Falls Irrigation Company threatens litigation against upper-valley users, claiming their senior water rights are being drained by newcomers.
- A Violent Storm Strikes the Yakima Valley
High winds leveled buildings and tore heavy equipment from foundations in a storm that locals described as a true tornado.
- The River's Final Verdict
A suspected thief eludes arrest by plunging into the Yakima River, choosing death over the looming reach of the law.
- The New Year’s Eve Saloon Standoff
Prosser voters went 'dry,' but local saloonkeepers are refusing to close their doors.
- The Battle for the Nathan Thayer Estate
A high-stakes legal drama unfolds in Prosser as relatives contest the will of a prominent local orchardist, alleging undue influence by his primary beneficiary.
- The Dry Law Comes to the Courthouse: Auditor Accused of Pouring Drinks for Commissioners
Prosecuting Attorney C. W. Fristoe filed four complaints against Auditor J. C. Syfford, alleging he served liquor to county commissioners and others in the commissioners' room. Syfford says he is ready for court.
- The Bizarre Legal Battle for the Benton County Courthouse
A sprawling court fight over the construction contract has pulled in an army of attorneys, stalling the project and complicating the county's civic future.
- The Great Benton County Courthouse Standoff
As outgoing commissioners race to lock in a controversial courthouse contract, taxpayers secure a last-minute injunction to halt the scheme.
- Benton County Committee Calls for Conscription of Labor
With food scarcity looming in 1917, local authorities propose closing schools early and conscripting the unemployed to save the harvest.
- The Bank Failure That Didn't Break the County
Through diligent use of bonding companies and collateral, Benton County recovered every cent lost in the 1924 Citizens State Bank collapse.
- The Fight to Reopen the River
As high costs of living plague local farmers, the Courier-Reporter calls on the fisheries commission to restore public fishing rights on the lower Yakima River.
- The Night Guard Who Got Arrested for Guarding the Courthouse
Mike Driscoll was hired to watch the Benton County courthouse after a suspiciously overheated stove. Prosser’s night policeman took his gun, and the prosecuting attorney had him fined for carrying a concealed weapon.
- The Annual Salmon Harvest on the Yakima
Indigenous and white residents alike flock to the Prosser dam to harvest salmon as the fish struggle to leap the obstruction.
- The $15 Million Dream That Would Turn Horse Heaven Green
A consulting engineer told the irrigation district it could transform 300,000 dry acres with a vast Klickitat River storage and canal system—if voters backed an enormous bond issue and bought out private water-right claims.
- County Cuts Public Services to Lower Taxes
Benton County commissioners eliminate the positions of county agent and club leader to reduce the tax burden, ending agricultural extension services.
- Warehouse Company Cleared of $10,000 Debt
A jury sides with the local warehouse company in a high-stakes legal dispute over promissory notes.
- New Benton County Board Vows to Topple Courthouse Deal
Commissioners Bash and Pratt fire legal counsel and challenge the legitimacy of the previous board's construction contracts.
- Rabies Outbreak Claims Life of Horse Heaven Rancher
A tragic, overlooked bite from a family dog results in a fatal case of hydrophobia for a local rancher.
- The Price of a Mile of Road
When a $12,000 road project near Prosser had to be torn up and rebuilt after only four years, Kennewick residents questioned the real cost of 'education' for county road planners.
- The Death of a Newspaper Town
After years of consolidation, fierce competition, and economic struggle, the local Independent-Record falls to the bank.
- Taxpayers' Union Declares War on County Spending
Prosser-based citizens group demands cuts to health and horticultural budgets, targeting local officials over alleged waste.