Journalist documents Adams County in a book
Courtesy photo<br> Author and journalist Steve Turner wrote "Amber Waves and Undertow," a book documenting life and history in Adams County.
ADAMS COUNTY — “Amber Waves and Undertow” tells the story about life in Adams County.
It’s told from the perspective of those who live there and author Steve Turner.
When Turner, now 70 years old, was in his 20s, he came to Ritzville during the summer for work while on vacation from college.
He said he admires the resilience of those, who live in Adams County, who are committed to their communities, despite some towns shrinking in size.
“The people who live there want to live there,” Turner said.
He said there are fewer towns in Adams County than there were 50 years ago. Many continue the struggle to stay alive, with the exception of Othello, which he describes as “bursting at the seams.”
Turner was so inspired by what he saw that summer, roughly 50 years ago while driving truck for wheat farms, he decided to come back many years later to live there part time in 2004. He stayed a few years to experience the communities and interview its residents.
He documents the rural transformation of Adams County from the 19th century to the 21st century through historical information and first hand depictions from those who lived there. He also used his personal experiences to detail his time in Adams County as a farm hand and as a part-time resident in recent years.
Inside the 206-page book are hand drawn maps created by Diane Sylvain. The maps show Adams County how it relates to the rest of the state as well as a map featuring specific areas in the county. Featured on the Adams County map are family farms, including the Smart Farm, Grant Miller Farm, Mike Miller Farm, Harder Ranch, Bob Phillips Farm and the Warden Hutterite Brethren.
There are 11 chapters in the book beginning with “Icons on the Home Ground” and ending with “Vanishing Lifeblood.”
In the opening chapter he begins to tell a story beginning at Bob Phillips’ ranch in 1957. He explains the beginning of some changes in the area.
“The undertow beneath the amber waves was largely undetected — or, when foreseen, assigned to the list of things to deal with tomorrow,” Turner states in the book.
He continues to describe the changes he sees after his 50 year stint away from Adams County. Turner also describes the deterioration and the disappearance of several small towns.
Throughout the book he provides detailed first-hand experience of those he interviewed who shared their experience from youth to adulthood concerning how the county changed during their lifetime.
In the final chapter he discusses the harsh reality of a vanishing ground water supply that is affecting Adams County communities.
The book is available through University of Oklahoma Press and can be found online at www.Amazon.com.
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