January 17, 2025
January 17, 2025
COLFAX - The trial of a man accused of killing his wife began with opening statements Tuesday, Jan. 14. The courtroom listened as Whitman County Prosecutor Dan LeBeau shared a timeline with the jury leading up to finding Jamie Anne Wilson-Spray, 25, deceased in a trailer at Sevdy's on March 26, 2024. Jacob Erik Spray, 36, of Pullman, who sat silently in the defendant's chair, is facing charges of first-degree murder and first-degree rape. LeBeau started his opening statements by stating the...
PULLMAN - A 19-year-old Pullman man facing charges of rape, assault and stalking pled not guilty to all counts, Friday, Jan. 10. During a Whitman County Superior Court arraignment Friday, Jan. 10, Cavan McCall pled not guilty to charges of two counts of second-degree rape, fourth-degree assault and stalking. The charges stem from a report of a sex offense at 4:01 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5. Pullman Police Officer Breauna Carpenter responded to the Pullman Regional Hospital E.R. where the victim was...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Commissioners are continuing discussions on the moratorium imposed on Commercial Wind Energy Generating Facilities. During a workshop, Monday, Jan. 13, commissioners brought up moving forward with re-examining county zoning code. Newly appointed Chair of the Board Commissioner Tom Handy brought up concerns about the county protecting itself from the state’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council’s (EFSEC) expedited process for going through the signing process on wind generating facilities. Handy asked if...
COLFAX — A homeless man charged with holding a woman against her will in 2024 was given a mental health sentencing alternative. James Olson, 33, of Pullman went before Whitman County Superior Court Judge Gary Libey on Friday, Dec. 10, seeking a mental health alternative sentencing. Whitman County Prosecutor Dan LeBeau stated if the alternative sentencing was not granted, Olson would face a bigger range of 43 to 57 months. Olson was facing charges after breaking a protection order in September last year, in which it was reported he was...
LAMONT — The Town of Lamont adopted the budget for the year of 2025, with total funds in revenues down by $26,455 from last year’s budget. The total funds for the budget came to $119,645, in comparison to $146,100 in 2024 and a total of $78,985 in appropriations for 2025, a $28,120 difference from appropriations in 2024. Current expense fund revenues and resources for the town came to $40,900 for the new year, down by $1,590 from last year. Appropriations for the current expense fund came to a total of $28,585, in comparison to last...
TEKOA — Girls wrestling gets a home debut Thursday, Jan. 16, for senior night at Tekoa High School. The small school dual meet is the first girls wrestling meet ever for Tekoa-Rosalia, which is hosting Colfax, Kettle Falls, Liberty (Spangle), Lind-Ritzville and Wilbur-Creston at the inaugural event. The 5 p.m. meet kicks off with senior night festivities for No. 3-ranked Lulu Taylor of Tekoa and manager Keely Fournier or Rosalia, with wrestling to immediately follow. “Girls wrestling is the fastest growing sport in the country,...
COLFAX - On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Colfax Bulldogs honored their senior wrestlers before squaring off against the Liberty Lancers in a dual meet on their home mat. Seniors this year for the Bulldogs include Alton Burt wrestling in the 157-pound weight class, Dory Doty at 235, Dillon Gassenberg (138), Grace Jones (120) and Nick Meeuwsen of Garfield-Palouse at 165. In the dual meet, Liberty defeated Colfax 30-17, with eight matches and six exhibition matchups. Starting off at the 144-pound weight...
COLFAX - In a pair of Northeast 2B matchups, the Colfax Bulldog boys and girls basketball teams played the Asotin Panthers and Lind-Ritzville-Sprague (LRS) Broncos last week. On Thursday, Jan. 9, both the Colfax boys and girls defeated Asotin. The Bulldog girls won, 73-28, and the boys won, 73-38. On Saturday, Jan. 11, the Colfax boys beat the Broncos, 67-42, and the Bulldog girls narrowly fell to the Broncos, 59-52. Girls pounce Panthers, bucked by Broncos Colfax bounced back and got a...
PULLMAN - The Pullman Greyhounds boys swim team handily defeated the Walla Walla Devils in a home meet at the Pullman Aquatic Center on Saturday, Jan. 11. The Greyhounds defeated the Devils, 99-71, in a dual matchup. Jake McCoy won two races, the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard freestyle. Kevin Gu won the 100-yard breaststroke for pullman and teammate Nolan Pollestad won the 200-yard freestyle. The following are the top three results for each race: 200 medley relay - 1. Walla Walla...
OAKESDALE - Both the Oakesdale Nighthawks boys and girls basketball teams went undefeated last weekend, defeating the Colton Wildcats on Friday, Jan. 10, and the St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse (SJEL) Eagles on Saturday, Jan. 11. The Nighthawk boys defeated the Colton Wildcats, 70-23, on Friday before heading to LaCrosse to beat the SJEL Eagles, 70-40 on Saturday. The girls won against the Wildcats, 55-33, and beat the Eagles, 75-16. Boys games Against the Wildcats, the Nighthawks defense shut out...
PALOUSE — The Garfield-Palouse (Gar-Pal) Vikings boys and girls remain at the top of the League as they continue through the regular season. The Viking boys narrowly fell to 2B opponent Asotin Panthers on Tuesday, Jan. 7, before winning a pair of League matchups against the Waitsburg Cardinals on Friday, Jan. 10 and the Dayton Bulldogs on Saturday, Jan. 12. The Gar-Pal girls went 3-0 last week as they defeated the Panthers, Cardinals and Bulldogs on the same nights. Girls undefeated in League...
OAKESDALE — The Colton Wildcats continued League action with a pair of Southeast 1B matchups over the weekend. The Wildcats took on the Oakesdale Nighthawks on Friday, Jan. 10 and played the Waitsburg Cardinals on Saturday, Jan. 11. Both were away games. For the Colton boys, the Nighthawks defeated the Wildcats, 70-23, before the Wildcats beat the Cardinals, 54-50, For the girls, Oakesdale defeated Colton, 55-33, and the Wildcats beat the Cardinals, 64-27. Boys games Against Oakesdale, The Nighthawks gained a 17-point lead to end the first...
As you sit at home watching video footage of the wildfires currently burning in California, it makes you wonder could happen here. Well, yes, it could. As California goes, so goes Washington. Our state politicians and bureaucrats in Olympia have a long history of copying California. Our politicos have gotten so lazy, they've even sponsored, supported, pushed and/or passed laws that say if California enacts a policy, Washington state will follow (cap and trade, vehicle emissions, gas-powered...
The mood heading into Washington state's 2025 legislative session Jan. 13 was not exactly hopeful. According to the Cascade PBS/Elway poll, a majority of voters feel the state is headed in the wrong direction. Many Democrats and Republicans agree, with more than half of those surveyed saying things are getting worse with high taxes, budget shortfalls and the rising cost of living. Voters want their pocketbooks prioritized. The poll found 66% of respondents preferred cutting government spending...
A Disgusting Tax Request Residential landlords received an overreaching letter from Wraylee Floodin, Whitman Co Assessor, entitled “Income and Expense Questionnaire”, signed by Crystal Langley. The Request for Financial Information (RFI) indicates the financial success of a landlord will be used to determine their property tax liability. It states that the Assessor’s office is required to annually determine the market value of all property in the County as of Jan 1st. They do not in fact assess every property in Whitman Co annually....
Rosalia resident Mike Day was recognized Saturday, Jan. 11, as Mr. Rosalia for his commitment and support of the community and Tekoa-Rosalia athletics and activities. Prior to the start of the varsity girls basketball game against Pomeroy, Rosalia High School senior Westley Bryan read a proclamation recognizing Day and school Superintendent Brett Baum presented him with a certificate. As basketball fans and Day watched a banner in the school gymnasium was unveiled proclaiming Day as Mr....
GARFIELD - When former Garfield resident Alisa Jones sits down at the piano at 3 p.m., this Saturday, January 18, at the Garfield Christian Fellowship, she will not only entertain her audience but will contribute her talents to support a life-altering ministry more than 7,000 miles away. Doors open at 2 p.m. for the performance located at The Garfield Christian Fellowship, 303 North 3rd Street. Admission to the 3 p.m. benefit is by donation and all proceeds will assist the GCF's Ladies Aid...
Pullman Regional Hospital Ammar Folawiyo Akande, a boy, was born Jan. 6, 2025, to parents Liadi Akande and Yetunde Salimon-Akande, of Pullman. He weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces. Paternal Grandparents are Yaya and Adijat Akande, of Ibadan, Nigeria. Maternal Grandparents are Wasiu and Toyin Salimon, of Ibadan, Nigeria. Ammar joins sisters Anisah, 6, and Ameerah, 3 at home. Landon James Johnson, a boy, was born Jan. 9, 2025, to parents Clarissa and Lester Johnson, of Farmington. He weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces. Paternal Grandparents are Tess Johnson,...
Colfax Thursday, Jan. 16 Sweet and sour pork, rice, salad bar, mandarin oranges, fortune cookies Monday, Jan. 20 Closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day Palouse Wednesday, Jan. 22 Barbecue chicken, macaroni salad, carrot and celery sticks, jell-o and pear salad Pullman Friday, Jan. 17 Sweet and sour pork, rice, asian style vegetables, mandarin oranges, fortune cookies Tuesday, Jan. 21 Chicken enchiladas with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and salsa Uniontown Wednesday, Jan. 22 Barbecue chicken, potato salad, Jell-o and pear salad, carrot...
COLFAX - The 4-H Palouse Area Robotics Team (SciBorgs) started their season for the year on Saturday, Jan. 4. The team is made of high school-aged students from Colfax, Pullman and Moscow who met on Saturday, Jan. 4 and Sunday, Jan 5 for the first time this year. The group will have eight weeks to make prototypes, design, build, wire and program a 115 pound competitive robot. "As a junior in high school, I've learned so much from being on this robotics team for three years," Colfax High School...
PULLMAN — Applications for Palouse Habitat for Humanity’s Pullman location are now open, for the 565 Umatilla Court house. Palouse Habitat for Humanity Outreach Coordinator Virginia Martinson said the application process for the home located off of Grand and Umatilla Court in the Sundance Community started Monday, Jan. 6, and will run until Feb. 3. “A lot was generously donated by Kevin Kirkman,” Martinson said, adding a typical Habitat home is about 1200 square feet, with two bedrooms and two baths. “We are looking for the next...
COLFAX — Whitman County students made the honor Fall Honor Roll for Spokane Community College (SCC) and Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC). The 2024 Fall Quarter ended for both colleges in December, with SCC and SFCC having 2,350 and 1,698 students respectively. Making the list requires achieving a grade point average of 3.0 or above. The following Whitman County students made the honor roll: At SCC, Albion local Susanna Molsee made the fall quarter honor roll. From Colfax, Logan Boumont, Ashley Goebel and Cydni Miller were listed on...
SPOKANE — Several students from Whitman County made the Gonzaga University President’s and Dean’s Lists for Fall semester 2024. The Gonzaga University President’s List named three Colton residents. Kate Shutheis, Sidni Whitcomb and Georgia Meyer earned a 3.86 to 4.0 grade point average to make the list. Four Whitman County residents made the Dean’s list for the Fall semester 2024 by earning between a 3.5 to 3.85 grade point average. Lyneth Calderon-Lopez, of Pullman; Anna Pittmann, of Rosalia; Jesus Sanchez, of Tekoa and Ellie...
125 Years Ago From the Colfax Gazette, Friday, January 19, 1900 A Successful Mill Carley Brothers, after years of patient endeavor, have succeeded in bringing their roller feed mill to a prominent place in the trade. The mill has recently been greatly improved and is commanding the attention of buyers. Last week they shipped one of their large pattern to Pullman, where it takes the place of a Gilbert Hunt mill which has been on trial there. This week one was shipped on order to Rockford and...
Kay Ellen Branch passed away on January 11, 2025, in Spokane Valley at the age of 72. Her husband, Bill, and daughter, Taryn, were by her side. Kay was born in Colfax, Wash., on April 9, 1952, to Harold and Gladys Kirkpatrick. Kay grew up in Colfax. She graduated from Colfax High School in 1970 where she was a cheerleader and met the love of her life, Bill Branch. Bill followed Kay to Eastern Washington University (she was the studious one in the relationship) and they were married in 1971....
Our beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, Velda Zae Sheer, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2025. She was born on April 11, 1932, in Benge, Washington, to Kirk and Nora McCall. At the age of 2, Velda's family moved to Winona, Washington, and later, when she was 15, they settled in Colfax, where she lived for the remainder of her life. The youngest of nine siblings, Velda experienced both joy and hardship growing up. One brother, died at birth, and two others, Glen and Cordalis,...
Colfax Police COLFAX —The Colfax Police reported the following incidents from Jan. 6 to Jan. 8 Jan. 6 12:49 p.m.- Colfax agency assistance. Jan. 7 10:34 a.m.- Agency assistance East James Street. 3:46 p.m.- Missing person North Mill Street. Jan. 8 2:00 p.m.- Suicidal subject West Fairview...
Jail Logs COLFAX—The Whitman County Jail reported the following individuals booked from Jan. 7 to Jan. 14 Jan. 7 Peter Medill Barnes, 18, third-degree theft. Good time release date 6 p.m., Jan. 8. Nicolas James Batten, 23, possession of a stolen vehicle. Held without bail through Superior Court. Benjamin Lee Rinehart, 45, second-degree malicious mischief. Held without bail through Superior Court. Jon Carl Taylor, 55, warrant failure to register as a sex offender. Held without bail through Washington Department of Corrections. Jan. 8 James...
Sheriff’s Log COLFAX – The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office responded to the following calls from Jan. 7 to Jan. 13 Jan. 7 1:51 a.m.- Southwest Center Street, Pullman. Jacobie I Jones Fannie, 26, cited and released for driving with a suspended license. 12:17 p.m.- Country Club Road, Pullman. Burglary alarm. 5:21 p.m.- Colfax Airport Road, Colfax. Cole A Shelton, 29, of Pullman arrested for driving under the influence. Jan. 8 7:30 a.m.- Pullman Airport Road, Pullman. Three vehicle non-injury incident. 8:12 a.m.- Pullman Airport Road,...
COLFAX — Whitman County District Court reported the following criminal case dispositions from Jan. 10: Joseph Aga, came before the state pursuant to a plea agreement to amend the charges of driving under the influence to first-degree negligent driving, endangering or like to endanger person or property while exhibiting the effects of consuming alcohol. Charges of speeding fourteen or over were dismissed. The defendant is found guilty of first-degree negligent driving and is sentenced to one day in jail, and fines totaling $1,093 to be paid...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Auditor’s Office issued the following wedding licenses from Jan. 3 to Jan. 7 Jan. 3 Jonathan James Stromberg, 20, of Moscow; Jaiden Briley Bea, 20, of Moscow. Austin Jordan Edgerton, 25, of Pullman; Mariasanjuana Angel Garay, 27, of Pullman. Jan. 7 Joshua Glass, 39, of Moscow; Nirav Eric Sinha, 39, of...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Assessor’s Office reported the following land transactions from Jan. 8 to Jan. 9 Jan. 8 Erica Alexandrea Marrie-Myers, of Uniontown, FLEM 1963, to William Gareth, of Uniontown. Crystal Price, of Moscow, 2401 Conrad Road, Colfax, to Thomas and Evonne Conrad, of Colfax, $101,666.66. Jan. 9 Scott and Jo Ann Matulich Family Trust, of Pullman, 1285 SW Hannah St., Pullman, to Chelsea McQueen,...
NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE Loan No: ******2207 TS No: 24-11472 PURSUANT TO THE REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON CHAPTER 61.24 RCW Grantor: STEVEN E. GARRETT and CHERYL L. GARRETT Current Beneficiary of Deed of Trust: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Current Mortgage Servicer for the Deed of Trust: U.S. Bank National Association Current Trustee for the Deed of Trust: MICHELLE R. GHIDOTTI, ESQ. Trustee’s address is 1920 Old Tustin Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705 (206) 331-3280 If there are any questions regarding this Notice, please contact (206)...
NOTICE TO VENDORS AND CONTRACTORS Whitman County, Washington is soliciting vendors and contractors for placement on the following lists: 1) General Government - Office/Data Processing Equipment 2) General Government - Building Maintenance/Park and Recreation 3) General Government - Professional Services 4) Public Works Department - Materials, Equipment, Supplies, Etc. 5) Public Works Department - Contractors 6) Public Works Department - Professional Services Whitman County maintains current rosters of vendors and contractors from which...
NON-PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS SUPERIOR COURT OF W ASHlNGTON FOR WHITMAN COUNTY CAUSE NO.25-4-00004-32 1N THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BEVERLYP. GEARHlSER, Deceased. The Notice Agent named below has elected to give notice to creditors of the above-named decedent. As of the date of the filing of a copy of this notice with the court, the Notice Agent has no knowledge of any other person acting as Notice Agent or of the appointment of a personal representative of the decedent's estate in the state of Washington. According to the records of the...
NOTICE OF A DETERMINATION OF NONSIGNIFICANCE (DNS) AND A ZONE CHANGE HEARING Whitman County Planning issued a Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS) under the State Environmental Policy Act Rules (Chapter 197-11 WAC) for the following non-project action: The Port of Whitman County proposes to change the zone of a former airstrip from the Agricultural District to Heavy Industrial District for an industrial park to provide agricultural-related services such as manufacturing, processing, and storage. The site address is 53541 SR 27, Tekoa, WA...
NOTICE AND SUMMONS AND ADVICE OF RIGHTS Superior Court of Washington, County of Whitman, Juvenile Court No. 24-7-00031-38 In re the Guardianship of Judge Keller, DOB: 12/07/22 DIRECTED TO KEIONA ZACHOW and MICHAEL KELLER, FOR HEARING ON FEBRUARY 6, 2025 AT 1:30 p.m. to Establish Title 13 RCW Guardianship To: Keiona Zachow and Michael Joseph Keller I. NOTICE OF HEARING. 1.1 You are notified that a petition, a copy of which is provided, was filed with this court alleging that: Title 13 RCW Guardianship: the court should establish a Title 13 RCW...
NOTICE AND SUMMONS AND ADVICE OF RIGHTS Superior Court of Washington, County of Whitman, Juvenile Court No. 24-7-00031-38 In re the Guardianship of Judge Keller, DOB: 12/07/22 NOTICE AND SUMMONS AND ADVICE OF RIGHTS DIRECTED TO KEIONA ZACHOW and MICHAEL KELLER, FOR HEARING ON FEBRUARY 6, 2025 AT 1:30 p.m. to Establish Title 13 RCW Guardianship To: Keiona Zachow and Michael Joseph Keller I. NOTICE OF HEARING. 1.1 You are notified that a petition, a copy of which is provided, was filed with this court alleging that: Title 13 RCW Guardianship:...
PUBLIC NOTICE A poll-site election for a board seat on the Rock Lake Conservation District will be held on February 18, 2025, at 3 N Park Street St. John WA 99171. Polls will open at 9:00am and close at 2:00pm. Registered voters who reside within the Conservation District boundary are eligible to vote. Candidates must be registered voters residing in the conservation district. Candidates are required to be landowners or operators of a farm, based on the current composition of the district board of supervisors. The filing deadline for...
