Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 1101 - 1125 of 2119
Apples lie at the foot of a lone tree on Steptoe Butte land sold last week to two couples intending to preserve it. In the background are more apple trees once tended by descendants of James Cashup Davis. The apple land has sold. Kent and Elaine Bassett of Bellevue bought the 437-plus acre Steptoe Butte parcel at auction in St. John Oct. 5, with partners Ray and Joan Folwell of Pullman. The price was $638,000, including a 10 percent buyer's fee. Kent, an ophthalmologist, graduated from Pullman...
A federal judge's ruling has re-opened the question of environmental impact of Columbia and Snake River dams. As a result, a series of meetings will be conducted around the northwest this fall to gather public input on the matter. Judge Michael Simon, United States District Judge for Oregon, ruled in May that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation had violated the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 “by failing to prepare an environmental impact statement in c...
Garfield/Palouse quarterback Evan Weagraff runs for some of his 260 yards against Pomeroy. Their best running back from last year injured, Garfield/Palouse may have a stable nonetheless. Without Cameron Springstead, it's Weagraff, Hawkins and Knauff – the strong, quick quarterback, the lumberman fullback and the darting middleweight. The three combined, along with sophomore Jacob Reed, to own the ground for the Vikings in a 52-26 league win over Pomeroy Sept. 30. “We were pretty happy with the... Full story
Kirk Suess of Steptoe discussed road concerns with county commissioners and Public Works Director Mark Storey at their meeting Monday. “Please don't shoot the messenger,” he said. “These are just everyday things that need to have a look.” He noted the need for a crosswalk at the Steptoe School. Scholz Road, a school bus route, had problems with the shoulders, he said. “We'll take a look, that's about all we can do right now,” Storey said. Suess then noted what he termed “a solid waste site” w...
Public Works Director Mark Storey has officially put a hold on a project to replace the Edmondson Bridge on Sand Road near Pullman. Now under historical review by the Army Corps of Engineers, the bridge will remain at least until next year. The bridge design is what is known as a Luten-arch concrete bridge, named after Daniel Luten, one of the nation's most influential bridge engineers of the early 1900s. Luten and his affiliated contracting companies built thousands of his patented designs... Full story
The City of Tekoa has named three trustees to administering the Cohn Trust fund. Mayor John Jaeger asked three residents, who accepted, in mid-September. They are Carol Sturman, a member of the city council, Joyce Hanson and Virginia Heaton. The $2.2 million endowment is deemed for Tekoa's Goldenrod Cemetery. The three trustees will be for a to-be-formed tax exempt organization which will administer the endowment. “Procedurally, where this is right now is in the hands of the city attorney,” sai... Full story
Members of WSU's Sigma Chi fraternity put up framing in the Roy M. Chatters Printing Museum in Palouse Sept. 30 to convert the museum to a temporary haunt site. Construction has begun for the 15th year of Palouse's two-weekend annual fundraiser, Haunted Palouse. The event has generated $464,693 to date to support numerous Palouse projects and groups. Put on with all-volunteer labor, crews of 30 will work Saturdays, Sundays and many evenings leading up to Oct. 21-22 and Oct. 28-29. Beneficiaries... Full story
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers spearheaded a bipartisan letter Sept. 27 to the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) asking for a change to aid wheat growers affected by falling numbers. The letter, signed by 10 other congressional representatives, calls for the RMA to forgo current agency procedures used to calculate growers’ actual production history (APH) due to falling numbers test results. As it is now, APH measures a grower’s average yield over a multi-year period, meaning that discoun... Full story
Audra Sims has taken over management of 10 state parks. A new area manager is in place for the 10-park Blue Mountain State Parks area. Audra Sims began Sept. 1 after transferring from Alta Lake State Park near Chelan. She now oversees the operation of Sacajawea, Columbia Plateau Trail, Iron Horse/John Wayne Pioneer Trail (Lind to Idaho border), Lewis and Clark Trail, Camp Wooten, Lyons Ferry, Palouse Falls, Steptoe Butte, Steptoe Battlefield and Fields Spring State Parks. A staff of 14 report to...
A change in policy on a senior citizens' pass for Colfax High School events has drawn a reaction. Since the start of the school year, seniors who attend Colfax football games and volleyball matches with a Bulldog pass have been told it will no longer allow entry. The change came after district staff members went to a training session earlier this year. “This is how we were advised to do things, to stay legal,” said Nathan Holbrook, Colfax athletic director. The funds go through the Associated St... Full story
Garfield/Palouse’s Travis Knauff and Nathan Aston combine for another stop Sept. 23. Evan Weagraff disappeared on a 59-yard touchdown run, soon followed by a Weagraff 48-yard punt return. While an intermittent drizzle came down in Palouse, the tone was set in a non-league game Sept. 23. Weagraff, a junior quarterback, carried the ball seven times for 152 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. A throw to tight end Mason Bates for a two-point conversion made it 22-0 at the 11:45 mark of the... Full story
After just two snaps last year in backup, Colton's Brady Chadwick has made the conversion from dangerous receiver to quarterback for his senior year. In four games, he is 55 of 82 attempts for 1,311 yards, along with 332 yards rushing on 51 carries. “He's off to a great start,” said Wildcats coach Clark Vining. With a 3-1 record, Colton's only loss is to Salmon River, followed by wins over Wallace, Idaho, and Tekoa/Rosalia twice. After another non-league matchup this week – a bus trip south... Full story
The 1/4-acre site on Main Street in Palouse is the former home of a gas station and fertilizer operation. Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove will seek an extension on remaining grant funds for the five-year-old Brownfields environmental cleanup project. The 12 to 18-month extension would cover final tests from the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE). The approximate $1 million cleanup at the former Palouse Producers site on Main Street has three test wells which are monitored by the DOE....
Will that be deep tissue, Swedish or hot stone? A new massage therapy business is open in Tekoa in a room next to the offices of Stateline Processors on Crosby Street. Myriah Johnson opened the business Sept. 1. “It's been great,” she said. “I expected it to be kind of slow to start out, but I've been busy.” With hours on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and every other Saturday, Johnson specializes in deep tissue massage while also offering Swedish massage, chair massages and, startin... Full story
Set for an auction Oct. 5 at the St. John Community Building, 437-plus acres on the south side of Steptoe Butte will be for sale. The land includes a segment on which rare species of untended apple trees have been located by a Chattaroy, Wash., hobbyist and propagated by members of WSU’s horticulture department. Aside from apple trees, the parcel includes a stock water well and two communication tower leases. “It has not been tilled in the past,” said auctioneer Butch Booker of Kincaid Real Esta...
A new three-year contract is in effect for Colfax School District teachers. Ratified by the school board Sept. 12, the new deal includes changes in working conditions, benefits, due process and the Teacher-Principal Evaluation Program (TPEP). Salaries were not part of the discussions, as they are set by the state salary schedule. To account for changes in cost of living, school districts negotiate in other areas. “Working conditions. That's how you adjust,” said Christopher Clausen, pre...
With Southeast 1B league play still a week away, Garfield/Palouse and Colton both picked up wins on the road last week while St. John/Endicott/ LaCrosse went down at Selkirk. Garfield/Palouse 78, Lakeside 36 Playing at Plummer, Idaho, Gar/Pal went 1-1 on the season with a strong dismissal of the Knights, mounting 550 yards rushing. Junior quarterback Evan Weagraff scored five all-purpose touchdowns while sophomore Ely Hawkins ran for 190 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. Weagraff also ran...
After a two-year search with the Washington State Department of Ecology threatening fines, Mayor Ray McCown and the Town of Garfield have hired a Level II sewer plant operator. Reuel Klempel started on the job Sept. 6. A Level IV certified operator, Klempel lives in Eltopia and originally interviewed in Garfield last year. McCown offered him the job then, but the town’s pay rate was lower than Klempel was qualified for. He declined the Garfield job offer and was hired at Lake Stevens, where h...
Questions from a historical bridge group based in Texas have led to a setback on proposed work to replace a 1916 bridge near Pullman. The Edmundson Bridge project now awaits a historical survey by the Army Corps of Engineers, which holds the permit on the work. “We’re out of time for this year,” said Mark Storey, Whitman County public works director, to county commissioners Monday. “I am frustrated, I can’t tell you to what degree. Everybody is on hold for literally two months now on a project...
Pictured, left to right, are: Mark Sawyer - Gar/Pal Ag teacher and FFA advisor, Travis Frey - Monsanto representative and grant presenter with his daughter, Victoria Welch - FFA president, Tulip O'Neill - FFA vice president, Payson Griner - FFA reporter, Ainslee Marcus - FFA treasurer, Taylor Jones - FFA secretary, Emily Bagott - FFA vice president, Tanner Anderson - FFA sentinel, Jiggs Anderson - FFA booster member and nominating farmer, and Mike Patrick - Gar/Pal Ag teacher and FFA advisor. A...
A crew from Motley & Motley of Pullman puts down the outer ring of asphalt at the new track Tuesday. The project is expected to be complete in mid-October. The Colfax track reached the paving stage Tuesday as 12 asphalt trucks arrived and laid down a bright black oval. On Monday night, Superintendent Jerry Pugh gave an update to the school board, in which he told them the re-working of soft spots will increase the project's overall cost. After pulverization of the surface was finished in late Au...
A new way to drop ping pong balls onto the street, a dunk tank, a kids area and the return of the chalk art contest will mark Palouse Days, happening Friday and Saturday in Palouse. Friday starts with chalk art from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., royalty will be crowned at 7 p.m. – moved from Saturday to not conflict with a volleyball tournament at the high school. Preparations are underway for the annual town celebration. “This is the week we do or die,” said Debbie Goetz, president of Palouse Chamb... Full story
Randy Davis, Colfax, has started Davis Snow Plowing & Handyman Services after a 20-year career at Almota Elevator. He's the man on the four-wheeler with a five-foot plow on front. Now he's adding to his business. Randy Davis, who has plowed snow for hire and otherwise since 2001 in Colfax, is now making it official with Davis Snow Plowing & Handyman Services, LLC. “I want to help some of these older folks who can't do chores. They shouldn't be getting up on a ladder,” he said. Aside from sno... Full story
The St. John/Endicott bus heaved through the storm, east to Odessa for the team's opening football game of the season. “The rain came down so hard, the road looked like a river,” said Eagles coach Ken Gering. They got there and the sun was out, but the field lights did not work. In view was an Avista bucket truck parked in a driveway. Odessa officials went over and knocked on the door. The man was not home. “In the end, there was nothing they could do,” Gering said. The Eagles were suited up to...
The term would have drawn a blank from many wheat growers only five years ago: falling numbers. Last Friday, it was the subject of a special meeting called by Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers at the Colfax headquarters of the McGregor Company. Assembled with about 50 representatives of farms, grain elevators, grain organizations, WSU researchers and more, McMorris Rodgers listened to input. In summation, she suggested four main areas to consider: the need for a new test to be developed,... Full story
