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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 |
19 stories
- Benton County's Courthouse Fight Turns Into a Four-Commissioner Circus
A newly elected commissioner is kept waiting, a courthouse contract is let in defiance of a court order, and $125,000 in bonds leave just $1,362 for furnishings.
- Benton County Courthouse Scheme Declared Invalid
The State Supreme Court strikes down a $125,000 bond issue, citing 'reeking' bad faith by county commissioners.
- 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.
- The Courthouse Contract Benton County Couldn't Swallow
Commissioners Clements and McNeill let a courthouse contract and issued a warrant without advertising for bids. A judge said they were within the law; the Courier-Reporter said the taxpayers would remember.
- 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.
- 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 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 $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.
- 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.
- Benton County Commissioners Clash Over Special Counsel
A heated debate between commissioners reveals deep-seated regional rivalries between Kennewick and Prosser.
- The Secret Bond Deal Costing Taxpayers Thousands
A critical look at why Benton County’s courthouse bond issue failed to provide the value achieved by neighboring Walla Walla County.
- Court House Construction Dispute Nears Legal Limbo
A procedural error by the bench keeps former county commissioners out of jail while the county's infrastructure project remains deadlocked.
- The Court House Frame-Up: Farmers Cry Foul Over a $30,000 Bond Deal
Benton County taxpayers say commissioners tried to sell courthouse bonds without advertising for bids — and that the prosecuting attorney helped fight the very people he was elected to represent.
- 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.