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Reporting today's news, Recording tomorrow's history Since 1954
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This Weeks Story
November 3 General Election:
Early results are in November 3, 2026 With a 36% voter turnout reported by the Franklin County Elections Office early results were released just before 8pm. Several local races of note included the Franklin County Sheriff , Franklin County Assessor, District Court Judge, and Franklin County Commissioner. State seats included Superior Court Judges, and state legislators. On a National level US Congressional seats were up for the mid-term election vote. Franklin County could
24 minutes ago
Franklin County to vote in new Sheriff
Early results show Huber leads over Lee November 3, 2026 By: Katherine Trowbridge Franklin County voters will select a new Sheriff in today’s General Election. The voters were set to select between current undersheriff Monty Huber and Connell Police Chief Chris Lee. In early voting counts released tonight, Huber is leading (51.32%) over Lee (47.55%). With votes still being counted it will be interesting to see if these numbers shift any. Huber seeks to continue to provide pro
57 minutes ago
Mesa Grocery & Deli burglarized
October 21, 2026 By: Clayton Trowbridge The Mesa Grocery Store It was near midnight on Monday, October 19 when a person wearing a hoodie and mask broke a window at the Mesa Grocery and Deli. One of the large windows was broken by throwing an object at 11:40pm. The suspect, then, proceeded straight to a beer cooler and took 2 cases of beer, uninterested with other items. The person then left with the stolen property as the business camera recorded. The video footage was pre
Oct 21
Local Government
November 3 General Election:
Early results are in November 3, 2026 With a 36% voter turnout reported by the Franklin County Elections Office early results were released just before 8pm. Several local races of note included the Franklin County Sheriff , Franklin County Assessor, District Court Judge, and Franklin County Commissioner. State seats included Superior Court Judges, and state legislators. On a National level US Congressional seats were up for the mid-term election vote. Franklin County could
24 minutes ago
Franklin County to vote in new Sheriff
Early results show Huber leads over Lee November 3, 2026 By: Katherine Trowbridge Franklin County voters will select a new Sheriff in today’s General Election. The voters were set to select between current undersheriff Monty Huber and Connell Police Chief Chris Lee. In early voting counts released tonight, Huber is leading (51.32%) over Lee (47.55%). With votes still being counted it will be interesting to see if these numbers shift any. Huber seeks to continue to provide pro
57 minutes ago
Two law enforcement leaders to vie for Franklin County Sheriff - results from August 4 Primary Election-
August 13, 2026 By: Katherine Trowbridge Monty Huber leads over Chris Lee in the Primary, they both took the lead in the race for Franklin County's next Sheriff, moving them onto the General Election The results of the August 4 Primary Election are coming in with preliminary numbers showing two local law enforcement leaders set to face off for Franklin County Sheriff in the November General Election. Current Undersheriff Monty Huber took the lead in the primary with 47.16% of
Aug 26
Business in the News
La Luna
Connell Gets New Restaraunt HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: October 8, 2026 By: Miurlin Escalante & Clayton Trowbridge Lilliana and Adriel Rivera welcome you to La Luna - their new restaraunt in Connell. Lilliana Rivera, owner and manager of La Luna Kitchen & Bar in Connell (710 S. Columbia Ave) welcomed the Graphic to introduce herself and the restaurant to the community. Rivera and her four employees are happy to be serving the Connell community as well as passers by who stop in o
Oct 7
Farm Feed Store Opens in Connell
March 12, 2026 By: Katherine Trowbridge Moises Magana stands inside the new Feed Store room at The Old Brick Store in Connell (center). What began as a conversation between a husband and wife as they drove past a vacant building, has evolved into a new Farm Feed Store in Connell. Moises Magana shared the story with us. “I was driving by the US Bank and told Jodi [his wife] ‘You know what? This US Bank will be great for a feed store because it’s right by the highway and Connel
Mar 18
Connell Fitness Center now open
January 15, 2026 By: Katherine Trowbridge Fernando and Elizabeth Ontiveros, owners of the 24 Hr Connell Fitness. Connell, once again, has a fitness center. The 24 hour Connell Fitness opened in November under the ownership of Fernando and Elizabeth Ontiveros. The Ontiveros also own centers in Othello (Diamond Hands Boxing and Her Iron Paradise - a women’s only fitness center), Warden, and Ritzville. Since they took over the lease in Connell, the couple has been bringing in ne
Feb 6
Ag in the News
South Columbia Basin Irrigation District extends 2026 Irrigation Season
October 9, 2026 The South Columbia Basin Irrigation District (S.C.B.I.D.) board of directors voted to extend the 2026 irrigation season. While water shut off was set for October 16, the extension will provide water through Friday, October 23. The extension will provide much needed water for agricultural production in this dry season. The Bureau of Reclemation's October water forecast, thier final for the season, shows September precipitation for the five reservoirs that supp
Oct 12
Fair Season is Just Around the Corner
Mike Meads Memorial Livestock Show fills up CBJLS Barn July 28, 2026 By: Katherine Trowbridge Showmanship was on display at the Columbia Basin Junior Livestock Barns on Saturday, July 25. The Mike Meads Memorial Livestock Show, better known as the “Summer Showcase,” filled up the show barn at the Columbia Basin Junior Livestock (CBJLS) grounds in Connell on Saturday, July 25. This show emphasizes the efforts young showmen are putting to prepare for the upcoming fair season,
Jul 28
Franklin County sees increase in agricultural thefts
Deputies arrest two July 15, 2026 By: Katherine Trowbridge Franklin County is seeing an increase in agricultural thefts. Over the past several weeks, there have been multiple cases involving the theft of brass sprinklers from irrigation equipment. Brass may be a relativley low value item, yet the impact to area farmers is significant, often resulting in thousands of dollars in replacement costs. Franklin County Sheriff's Deputies have been investigating these cases and on Tue
Jul 15
Sports
Eagles Baseball takes 1st Round of District Playoffs
May 8, 2026 By: Katherine Trowbridge EAGLES BASEBALL TAKES 1st ROUND OF DISTRICT PLAYOFFS The Eagles took the first round of SCAC Districts on Thursday, May 7, with an exciting 4-2 victory over the Royal Knights. Connell was first on the board in the top of the first inning with a single. But both teams remained scoreless for the next three innings. The Eagles really hit in the fifth putting up an additional three runs. Royal got on the board in the sixth inning. Hunter Van
May 8
Connell High School tops at state wrestling
February 24, 2026 By: Miurlin Escalante Eagles Wrestling topped the state wrestling chart with their first Lady Eagle State Champion - Sophomore Madison Magana (105) made history with her state win. As a team, the Lady Eagles stood 9th out of the 72 schools attending the state wrestling tournament at the Tacoma Dome, February 20 and 21. The Boys Wrestling Team also attended the state championship. The Eagles had many girls and boys taking to the podium. Magana is pictured wit
Feb 24
Eagles Cross Country at State
November 13, 2025 By: FCG Staff A parade through the hallway led by the CHS ASB was given to Lucy Campbell - as she headed to represent the Eagles at Cross Country State on Friday, Nov. 12 Campbell was excited to participate among the best and see how she would compete amongst them. “And this year I was like, I am one of the best this year, so let’s see how I do,” Campbell shared. “I am so happy for the opportunity to be able to go,” Campbell shared with the Graphic, “I am v
Nov 17, 2025
Community
North Franklin School District Launches Community Facilities Task Force, Seeks Applicants
The North Franklin School District (NFSD) is inviting community members, parents, and local stakeholders to apply for seats on a new Community Facilities Task Force (CFTF), a volunteer advisory committee that will help shape the District's long-range facilities plan. The CFTF will bring together approximately 20 community members and stakeholders alongside representatives from the School Board, faculty and student body to study district facility needs and develop recommendati
Jul 21
Basin City Celebrates America with annual July 4th Parade
July 9, 2026 Photo colage by: Katherine Trowbridge & Brenda Vasquez The Stars and Strips - Royalty in the parade Family Farming Local candidates Vehicles and businesses Dancing Horses!! Bubbles! Water fight!!! People - Community!
Jul 12
Basin City Freedom Rodeo celebrates 7th Year - America’s 250th Birthday
July 9, 2026 By: Katherine Trowbridge BASIN CITY — The seventh annual Basin City Freedom Rodeo, once again, lived up to its reputation of celebrating the American spirit of independence, drawing crowds July 2-4 for three days of world-class rodeo action, patriotic tributes, and small-town traditions. What began in 2020 as a community effort during a time of uncertainty to revive a long-forgotten arena, has grown into a premier PRCA rodeo. As one announcer reflected during the
Jul 12
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