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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1916 | 7 |
| 1917 | 4 |
| 1922 | 2 |
| 1923 | 5 |
| 1924 | 5 |
| 1925 | 3 |
26 stories
- The Battle for the Benton County Courthouse
Taxpayers mount a legal challenge to halt a $125,000 bond issue, alleging backroom deals and corrupt influence by county commissioners.
- The Sliding Hill: Railroad Abandoning Prosser
A shifting, unstable hill beneath the tracks forces the Northern Pacific to build an expensive eight-mile detour, threatening to bypass the town of Prosser.
- Benton County Commissioners Caught in Courthouse Bond Scandal
Chairman J. B. Clements and Commissioner Alex. McNeill face an injunction after allegedly pushing through a $125,000 bond issue for a new courthouse without public consent.
- Commissioners Defy Court Order on Courthouse Construction
Two Benton County commissioners pushed ahead with a massive construction contract despite a judicial injunction, sparking a direct challenge to the court's authority.
- Benton County's First Bank Failure of the Depression
A collapse in Prosser reveals the fragility of an agricultural economy reeling from repeated crop failures and frost.
- The Tragedy at the Railway Crossing
A conductor and engineer face manslaughter charges following a fatal train accident in Prosser.
- WWI Veteran Sent to Sanity Commission in Prosser
Local man B. W. Wright, suffering from injuries sustained during overseas service, is evaluated by a sanity commission.
- 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 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 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.
- 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.
- A Sanctuary for the Yakima’s Winged Residents
A dedicated local conservationist secures a protected refuge for migratory birds along the Yakima River.
- A Constitutional Deadlock in Benton County
A dispute over an appointed county commissioner’s term creates a legal stalemate between state law and the constitution.
- The Strange Demise of the Human Ostrich
James Fitzgerald, a former White Bluffs resident who earned fame by consuming knives, nails, and gold coins, has died at age 69.
- The Price of Power: Benton County’s 1916 Election Scuffle
Candidates in the 1916 election face off over county spending, with one challenger promising a tax-payer-funded bond to slash office costs.
- Farmers Clash Over Costly County Services
A delegation of farmers attempts to defund the local county agent and club leader, sparking a debate over the value of agricultural services.
- The Commissioner Battle Finally Settled
After an election victory and months of legal maneuvering, C. E. DeBow prepares to take his seat as County Commissioner despite an appeal.
- Prosecutor Bans Minors From Public Dances
Public dances face strict age enforcement under state law, citing moral concerns.
- The Bidding War for Public Office
A candidate for County Clerk promises to slash the department's budget, sparking a debate over the ethics of 'auctioning' government services.
- County Officials Face Off Against Railroads in Olympia
Benton County leaders head to the state capital to defend tax valuations against railroad corporations seeking lower assessments.
- The Teenager Who Stole a Shotgun for a Souvenir
A local rancher tracked his stolen firearm all the way to Ephrata after a brazen daytime theft from his cabin.
- The Great Pressure Tank Feud
A local dispute over a galvanized iron tank leads to a courtroom showdown in Prosser.