Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 2119
COLFAX - A new eating establishment is coming to Colfax. "Serfes Foods" is taking shape in the former Imperial Chinese Cuisine & Lounge on Main Street. It's a project for Susana Serfes, husband Alex and her children Chris, Carolyn and Daniel, to start a to-go food operation to open in May and continue to a bistro restaurant format later this summer. "We do catering already," Susan said. "In the future, we may add a bakery." The project came about from a few sources. "We cook. We love food. We...
COLFAX — The Colfax chapter of the Fraternal Order of Eagles may be closing their bar on Main Street. “There is a chance we could be closing our charter,” said Liliana Fry, club secretary, and manager. A meeting is on Sunday at 4 p.m. for all members to determine its future. The officers could decide to sell the building. “Whatever option we choose, we will commence that process,” Fry said. The club has been closed since April 17. What led to this crossroads had been coming for some time. “COVID kind of took its toll on us,” said Fry. “But, it...
COLFAX - St. Ignatius Hospital in Colfax sold to Landlock Holding, LLC, for $115,000 on April 23. The facility at 1009 South Mill Street was sold by Anthony Griges and Marianne Salib. Austin Storm and his wife Laura are behind Landlock Holding, the proprietor of Bully for You in Colfax and the Storm Cellar in Moscow. "We've been working on this for some time because we love it and think it's worth preserving," said Austin. "Of course our goal is preservation." He and Laura will partner with the...
COLFAX — The request to have chickens in the city came back to the Colfax city council Monday night. “I’m just tired of the council getting bounced around by the chicken issue,” said councilmember Tom Huntwork. A presentation on a requested ordinance change followed a pitch to the council in early March by planning commission member Donna Huntwork to revisit whether to allow chickens inside city limits. The ordinance would allow five hens at any one property, no roosters, all kept in ventilated coops with shade and protection from element...
COLFAX — Southeast Washington Economic Development Agency (SEWEDA) will be Whitman County's Associate (economic) Development Organization for the next two years. County commissioners approved the designation Monday. Following comments in last week's Gazette by commissioner Tom Handy, who sought more detail to SEWEDA's plans for the county, Whitman County SEWEDA Managing Director Suzy McNeilly spoke to the commissioners. "I was completely caught off guard (by the Gazette's phone call last w...
COLFAX — More Whitman County schools could return to online education because of increasing COVID cases. Whitman County Health Director Chris Skidmore updated county commissioners Monday on the virus and vaccines. Cases are down “quite a bit” at WSU, while an increase has come in outlying communities in Whitman County, specifically among K-12 student populations. Skidmore said much of it could be traced to an April 1 local sporting event that included different schools from around the county. Schools in St. John and Endicott both went back to o...
COLTON — The undefeated Colton Wildcats softball swept Liberty Christian at home April 24 to put their record at 12-0 turning to the home stretch of the abbreviated season. In the first game tied at 3-3 in the seventh inning, Colton laid a bunt down to advance a runner and win 4-3. They won the second game 8-3. Josie Schultheis went 4-for-6 at-bat for the day, while Riley Vining and Maggie Meyer also delivered multiple hits. It was the first time Colton played full-seven inning games this y...
PALOUSE — Denni Fealy is the Distinguished Young Woman of Garfield-Palouse and Maggie Meyer for Colton-Uniontown. Maci Brantner was named first runner-up and Samantha Snekvik second runner-up for Garfield-Palouse. The virtual event on March 21 saw the contestants awarded $5,300 in cash scholarships contributed by local organizations, individuals and businesses. Awards presented included $200 to Snekvik for the Spirit Award, $700 to Fealy for the Scholastic category, $700 to Fealy for Judges' I...
COLFAX — Ballots were mailed last Friday with three items to vote on for the April 27 election. Proposition 1 seeks a replacement for the educational programs and operations levy for the Lamont School District. It could generate $130,000 in 2022 and $132,000 in 2023, both collected at a rate of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Next are two resolutions for Whitman County Fire District No. 12. The second proposition would authorize the district to resume a regular property tax levy at $1 per $1,000 in assessed property value to be c...
COLFAX — COVID reduction efforts by vaccinations and Washington State University (WSU) were discussed by Whitman County commissioners. Whitman County Public Health Director Chris Skidmore spoke with county commissioners April 5 morning about changes in the virus, people getting vaccinated and possible requirements at WSU. “We are seeing more cases in the outer-lying communities, mostly tied to travel,” Skidmore said. “About 90% of the new cases in Washington are now the U.K. variant.” A vaccine clinic held at Schweitzer Engineering in Pullma...
GARFIELD — The Garfield-Palouse softball team is back with their strong freshmen class of 2019, unseen in 2020, now returning as juniors. They started with a double-mercy rule showing on April 1 against Sunnyside Christian, taking the doubleheader 14-3 and 24-1. Garfield-Palouse was set to play next at Pomeroy on Tuesday for another doubleheader, followed by a trip to Touchet Thursday and a home doubleheader against league favorites Liberty Christian Saturday in Garfield at 11 a.m. "It d...
COLFAX — The Colfax High School golf team begins its season with a nine-hole match on April 15 at Wilbur-Creston. Returning to action after last year was cut short in week two of practice due to the COVID virus, the 2021 team includes seniors Ayden Miller, Gavin Wells, and Kennedy Schmidt; junior Dylan Meithof, sophomores Hayden Ewing, Daemond Butler, Ryder Lindbo, and Austin Miller, and freshman Lilamarie Dhillon. "This year should be fun," said second-year coach Michael Heitstuman. "With m...
PALOUSE — Garfield-Palouse Vikings' senior Ethan Cook was named a WIAA Athlete of the Week after setting personal-best marks. He competed in three sprint events, the 100 meters, 200, and 400 sprints, at his first meet of the year. Cook is running his last season after spring 2020 was lost to the pandemic and he missed state by one spot at regionals in the 400 as a sophomore. His first-week numbers were posted from a March 31 meet at Pomeroy. They put him at No. 6 in the rankings in state 1B for...
COLFAX — Whitman County commissioner Tom Handy would like more information before agreeing to a two-year contract extension for the county's economic development agency. He talked about Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA) in a commissioners' workshop Monday. "I'd like to see what they will focus on in Whitman County," he said. "I just want to see their plan, that's all, and I can't get one from them." The current contract ends June 30. "Time is short," said Michael L...
COLFAX — Colfax softball returns April 13. The team lost its season last year due to the pandemic and subsequent shutdowns. They are back with new coach Tracy Imler succeeding Michelle Miller. The 2019 team played at state, losing in the early rounds. The Bulldogs now return six starters from two years ago, led by seniors Rian Jones at catcher, Perry Imler at third base, Helena Hahn at shortstop, and Anni Cox at second base. Junior pitchers Jorja Koerner and Justice Brown are also back. “What I’ve seen so far is looking pretty good,” said Co...
COLFAX — The Colfax High School baseball, softball, golf and track seasons are set to begin competition on April 13. The baseball team opens at Liberty, to start a Tuesday-Saturday slate of games that run until May 4. The abbreviated regular season would be followed by short regional playoffs. The Bulldogs softball team starts at Asotin, to follow at home April 17 against St. George. The softball regular season runs until May 4, followed by short regional playoffs. For track, Colfax opens at a home jamboree with Liberty, Reardan, Ritzville, D...
COLFAX - A new gathering limit of 10 people was placed within Pullman as part of an emergency order issued by the Whitman County Health Department on April 2. The move is in response to rising COVID-19 cases tied to Washington State University (WSU) students. "I'm pretty proud of my health department and health director. That was the right move at the right time," said Michael Largent, Whitman County commissioner. The order limits a maximum of 10 people for outdoor social gatherings that are...
PULLMAN — An old steam plant could see new life for the Port of Whitman and Washington State University. The port is seeking $45 million from the federal government to develop the 1935 electricity plant. It features a tall smokestack at the southwest edge of campus. The port filed an Infrastructure Priority Solicitation Form with Sen. Patty Murray’s office for the project. The coal-fired plant once produced all the power and heat for the university. It was converted to natural gas allowing for extra space inside to be used for other pur...
COLFAX — A letter to the editor in last week’s Gazette about spending a levy increase drew a response from Whitman County Public Works Director Mark Storey. He talked to county commissioners about it at a workshop Monday. “I have no problem taking criticisms for my decisions,” Storey said. Letter writer D.W. McCall, of Farmington, questioned expenditures and a lack of gravel on gravel roads following the approval of a road levy increase in November 2019. “Number one, nobody got raises, nobody got bonuses, the revenue can only go to roads,” S...
COLFAX - The Colfax Bulldogs were ready for more football, but instead turned in their gear. They were set to gather Tuesday for their last week of practice and to prepare for a one-shot playoff game to finish the abbreviated season. The No. 3 seed Colfax versus No. 4 Reardan game was canceled as Reardan went back to remote learning and stopped extracurricular activities. The game will not be rescheduled. "As (athletic directors) and football coaches, we had all agreed April 3 will be our last...
COLFAX — A fifth cell may be added to make more room at the Whitman County landfill. An engineering study meeting will be held Wednesday for the project which may add another expansive area for dumping and eventually be sealed and monitored when full. County Public Works Director Mark Story told county commissioners on Monday that the idea is just in the feasibility phase at this point. He noted the reasons to look into are costs to transport the waste elsewhere. “At some point, the price of diesel, or carbon credit, whatever it may be, wil...
COLFAX - Whitman County may have to refund fines to people formerly convicted of drug offenses going back 50 years. County officials discussed the possibility on Monday, which stems from the state Supreme Court relating to what is known as the Blake decision. The Blake name comes from Shannon Blake, a Spokane resident who borrowed a pair of jeans from a friend that contained a small bag of methamphetamine in one of the pockets. The case was heard in February and the state Supreme Court ruled in...
UNIONTOWN — Two new houses will be new homes here courtesy of Habitat for Humanity. The organization made the announcement Wednesday. Two parents and a three-year-old girl will move into one house, while a single father and a 6-year-old boy will move into the other. Kyle Hansen is the father with sole custody of son Kyas. “I had to move a lot as a kid, and I wanted something different for Kyas … for him to have a room that would always be his room, to have a safe yard to play in, to have a school where he could make friends to grow up with....
COLFAX — New gas tax, mental health hotline, regional health districts, shifting litter control funds, and a carbon tax were disused by the Whitman County commissioners. The commissioners took in the latest report from its lobbyist for the state legislature, Zak Kennedy on Monday morning. “We just finished signing documents and we’re ready for some bright and sunny news from Olympia,” said Chairman Art Swannack. “Can I call you back next year?” Kennedy said. His report began and Kennedy talked about a proposed new gas tax, suggesting it could l...
STARBUCK — An electrical incident at Little Goose Dam on March 19 resulted in oil loss, which was captured in a secondary containment and did not reach the Snake River. The cleanup was conducted along with oil recovery operations. A T2 transformer lost oil as a result of the electrical malfunction, stated representatives the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District. “We are committed to identifying and correcting the system failure that caused this spill. We take our responsibility to keep oil out of the river seriously, and will do...
