Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 226 - 250 of 2119
COLFAX - Whitman County drivers were slowed down on four roads Monday. The Board of County Commissioners approved speed changes, dropping speed limits from 50 mph to as low as 35 mph because of signs cost and safety requirements. Two sections of Sand Road near Pullman will go from 50 mph to 35 mph because of driveways and sight distance, according to the county. All 5.9 miles of Becker Road, out of Johnson, is cut from 50 mph to 40 mph. Elberton Road goes from 50 mph to 35 mph. And, drivers on...
COLFAX – Public Works Director Matt Hammer has proposed increasing the monthly stormwater fee from $2.30 to $5 to pay for the replacement of a 10X15, 8-inch thick concrete slab at the river by Jennings Elementary School. The estimated $30,000 section is the first of what Hammer expects to be more cracking in the river channel. The city last replaced one of the sections in 1985, after the 1964 original encasing of the river. “There’s already more (cracks) that are starting to pop up,” Hammer said. “But it’s held up really well.” The stormwate...
COLFAX – The 2021 city budget is being developed with possible free pool admission and a study for next year. The Colfax City Council met Oct. 5 through a digital meeting for a 2021 budget workshop presented by Public Works Director Matt Hammer. The discussion included pool admission prices, sewer and water pipe leaks and more. Hammer noted the parks board was talking about keeping the pool admission at no charge for next year due to the 2020 season being impacted by the virus with a limited opening. “I’m not a big fan of free,” said council...
COLTON –– The Genesee High School football team – and its five Colton players – went down twice to blowouts in the last week, its first two losses of the year. On Monday night at home, the Bulldogs lost 56-6 to Clearwater Valley. Last Friday, Oct. 9, at Kamiah for the Kubs’ Homecoming, Genesee got run 72-14. On Monday, across the Idaho border, Genesee (2-2 Whitepine League Division I) trailed 26-0 at halftime. “Another tough loss,” said coach Alex Schnebly. “We had a couple sparks of good and we’re hoping to rally off that this week.” One s...
COLFAX –– Week 2 is underway for resumed football practice as the Bulldogs finish their allotted practice time, cut off in the summer after a surge of virus cases in Washington. The practices are no-contact. This week something was added. "The kids are in helmets and shoulder pads because they like the feel of it," said head coach Mike Morgan. "They just missed it." When football season does arrive – moved to Feb. 17-May 7 in the WIAA four-season schedule for 2020-21 – the Bulldogs are expected...
COLFAX — A second Colfax Mercantile is to open Oct. 10 on Main Street after a so-called "soft opening" Tuesday. Located in the former "Bully For You" building, 13 vendors will start it, to be named "The Lief" – after the giraffe that graced Bully For You. Val Gregory and Allie Cofer will run it as a private business, two of the instigaters of the Colfax Mercantile, which was started last summer as part of the Colfax Downtown Association. It separated from the association recently. The Lief, whi...
COLFAX — Whitman County saw a 56% increase in July sales tax over the same month last year. The state sales tax distribution will be $99,000 more than the same period in 2019, for a total of $274,252 going to the county’s general fund. “It’s a nice surprise. It’s better than what we were fearing,” said Art Swannack, county commissioner. “On average, we’re about on par. I thought we might be down $500,000 when it looked like no WSU students may be coming back.” The July 2020 total is a 28% increase over June. “Because people are not traveling, t...
GENESEE, Idaho –– The Genesee football team returned to action after a COVID-19 quarantine to win at home against Troy. Genesee was in a two week quarantine after a coach tested positive for COVID-19. The Bulldogs scored two late touchdowns to take the Whitepine League Division I game 64-52 on Oct. 2. Genesee (4-0) is set to play Friday at Kamiah followed by three Monday games, Oct. 12 against Clearwater Valley, Oct. 19 at Prairie and Oct. 26 against Lapwai. Genesee and Prairie are the two remaining unbeaten teams in the league. Prairie is the...
COLFAX — High school sports practices resumed around the county Monday, picking up time allowed from summer, which was cut off by new virus restrictions in July. The resumed summer practice period goes from Sept. 28 to Nov. 30. "These are local decisions made allowable by WIAA rules," Don Wilkins, WIAA District Nine director, said. In Oakesdale, the Nighthawks volleyball and girls and boys basketball teams practice in rotating schedules, in groups of 10 players in 1.5-hour practices. O...
COLFAX — Public Works Director Mark Storey recommended county commissioners lower speed limits on the first of a list of county roads in a meeting Monday morning, Oct. 5 . The suggestions came out of five speed zone studies on 50 mph roads. First would be a drop to a 35 mph limit on Sand Road, because of driveways and sight distance. Next, a new 40 mph limit on Becker Road and Cashup Flats Road - from U.S. Highway 195 to state Highway 23 - as well as a new 35 mph limit on part of Elberton Road and 30 mph on Draper-Brown Road. County E...
COLFAX – Thirty-year Tekoa resident Karl Webber was appointed as the new Port of Whitman County District No. 1 commissioner after he and three others interviewed for the seat in a socially distanced format. Webber works in consulting/manufacturing in process improvement and organizational development. "I go out and make friends and figure out how to help them," he said. On the side, he runs a hobby business making custom fly rods. He now joins commissioners Tom Kammerzell and Kristine Meyer f...
COLFAX — Area schools are now able to resume the “summer” practice period which was cut off due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in July. Colfax High School football, for example, got in nine of an allowed 20 practices. In turn, the team have 11 more practices it may use now. While the WIAA has moved to allow practices from Sept. 28-Nov. 30, schools are still expected to get a recommendation from local health departments, officials said. To comply with the county’s state coronavirus "Phase 3" reopening designation, sessions will be require...
PULLMAN–Incumbent County Commissioner Dean Kinzer and challenger Tom Handy appeared Sept. 25 in a Northwest Public Broadcasting debate, answering questions and rebutting responses in an hour-long format hosted by Matt Loveless. The candidates agreed on items such as keeping Snake River dams in place and how the county has handled the coronavirus. Areas which they diverged included the state of Whitcom – the region’s emergency dispatch agency – questions about the county budget/revenue and mar...
COLFAX—Flooring replacement work is underway at the Whitman Hospital and Medical Center emergency department. New surfaces are being installed in the trauma room, six exam rooms and an office—hot-welded, one-solid sheet vinyl, with no seams, extending two inches up the walls. Skelton’s Carpet of Lewiston started the work Sept. 8, on the estimated $78,000 project, which meets requirements by the Washington State Department of Health. The new flooring, which comes with a 20-year guarantee, takes...
COLFAX — “So, is this the last meeting online?” “I sure hope so. I don’t know why it wouldn’t be.” The School Board met Monday night, with an opening question from Jennifer Hauser, board president, and answer from Superintendent Jerry Pugh. With School District Technology Director Carter Comito at the digital meeting controls, the board took in updates on hybrid-learning plans for the junior-senior high school, practice time to be allowed for sports this fall, a construction update and mo...
COLFAX–The Whitman County Public Health Department has updates its recommendation for in-person classes. The department announced today it now supports hybrid or in-person learning for all schools and grades within Whitman County expect Pullman and Tekoa. Previously, Public Health had recommend all middle and high school classes be hybrid for county schools. All schools are required to follow State DOH and OSPI guidance, including but not limited to, the use of face coverings and social distancing requirements, stated public health. As with t...
GENESEE–The Genesee football team and its five Colton players are on hiatus following a positive test by one if its coaches last week before the fourth game of the season. Genesee (3-0) was set to play Clearwater Valley (Kooskia), a Whitepine League game Sept. 19 – moved from Friday because of air quality – before it was canceled. The coach’s name was not disclosed, for privacy laws. A letter sent by Genesee Athletic Director Kelly Caldwell to parents and staff stated that the coach has not fel...
COLFAX—The “Flight Line Drive Realignment and Drainage Project” continues at Colfax Airport, to improve paved road accesses and drainage near the center of the airport. The work will replace drainage pipes with smooth-walled pipes – as opposed to corrugated – adding new catch basins and “valley gutter” and improve drainage pipe evaluations. “So the water will actually flow downhill like it’s supposed to,” said Debbie Snell, Port properties and development manager. Valley gutter is set into...
“One of the plays he drew up, I’d already stolen from him.” “In ’03 when we lost to Brewster at state in double overtime, that could’ve been us.” “I would never coach a kid like me, I’d throw him out of the gym.” “I would always say I refused to lower my standards to meet today’s acceptance of mediocrity.” Eighteen years, 397 wins-108 losses, 16 state appearances and eight 1A/2B state championships; Corey Baerlocher is no more as Colfax High School girls basketball coach. Baerlocher, 48, ha...
COLFAX-With the burnt remnants of the private, 1918 Manning-Rye covered bridge fallen into the Palouse River, plans are underway for removal of debris and replacement of the bridge; perhaps with a deconstructed span from elsewhere of the same era. Downstream from the site northwest of Colfax-where a family also lost their new house-are four county-owned bridges, starting five miles away on Shields Road. "If left unmitigated though the winter, (the remains) will mobilize and probably smack up...
PULLMAN - The Rolovich era will begin in 2020 after all for WSU football as the Pac-12 CEO Group voted Thursday, Sept. 24, to resume athletics competition Nov. 6. The team will play seven games, all within the conference. No fans will be allowed at any PAC-12 football venue. WSU will also not host tailgating. The CEO Group noted that the decision to resume play - which had been postponed to no earlier than Jan. 1 - was based on updated Pac-12 COVID-19 Medical Advisory Committee recommendations,...
COLTON-The Genesee Bulldogs are 3-0, ending a two-year Whitepine League football losing streak with a win over Potlatch Sept. 11. A year after going 1-8, the Genesee team has five additions from Colton this year, including sophomore quarterback Angus Jordan, who threw for 264 yards and rushed for 102 against Potlatch, for five touchdowns. Genesee won 48-30. They led 48-24 at halftime. Genesee junior Cy Wareham scored two touchdowns, on a 47-yard fumble return and an 80-yard kickoff return. The...
COLFAX—The Colfax School Board met Monday night to field a variety of items, including a drop in enrollment and subsequent impact on the budget, a construction update and the resignation of longtime junior high/high school girls basketball coach Corey Baerlocher. The district’s September enrollment stands at 485.5 full-time equivalent students, down 56.5 from its forecast – which determines money coming from the state. “That’s a big deal for us, a big financial hit,” said Jerry Pugh, Colfa...
COLFAX—Work continues this week on Whitman County jail sewer lines, fixtures and electrical, along with roofing improvements at the courthouse, marking $2,084,097 in projects. At the jail, a crew from McKinstry Co. of Spokane has begun to install a new sewer line from the first and second floor to the street, followed by putting in new stainless steel sinks, faucets and toilets in inmate areas. Also replacing copper and iron pipes behind the walls as needed. “We’ve had leaks from (behind the w...
Fall hunting season is underway in Whitman County with much of the traditional dates intact for birds, elk and deer, unaffected by virus restrictions. "The bird numbers are looking good," said Grant Silver, Whitman County game warden. "Always kind of a mecca for pheasant hunting. Deer are always iffy." Pheasant and deer are the top animals hunted in Whitman County. Deer populations are still returning after the spread of blue tongue disease in 2015. As game warden, Silver covers the county, as...
