Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 427
WHITMAN COUNTY – Five entities in Whitman County have been approved for nearly $3 million in funding from the state Department of Ecology for clean water projects. Municipalities of Tekoa, Oakesdale, Endicott and Garfield and the Palouse Conservation District have been awarded funding from DOE grants, forgivable loans and low interest loans totaling $2,900,899. Town projects are in regards to wastewater facility work. The town of Endicott is slated for the most funds with $1,101,256 for i...
A former Colton music teacher's fundraiser for a recently deceased student has surpassed its goal and will be benefitting the family of the student. "I never imagined it would blow up like this," said AJ Miller. Miller taught music at Colton until spring 2019. He is now assistant director for the WSU marching band and music instructor at the university. Miller set up a Go Fund Me account after learning of the June 2 death of Colton middle school student Dylan Kirpes. "Dylan was a super awesome...
COLFAX – June rainfall is already above average, promising excellent conditions for crop growth. "We're in good shape," said USDA Soil Conservation Technician Dave Weber. "It's really been a great summer for growing." While May rainfall was above average, it is the June rainfall, the timing of it, that is key to crop growth. "Timing is everything," Weber said. As of June 22, Weber had recorded 1.42 inches of rain at the office in Colfax. Historical average for the month is 1.3 inches. With a p...
COLFAX – The Colfax Police Department will receive $250,000 from a Department of Justice grant to hire two new police officers. "It's exciting for us," said Interim Police Chief Bruce Blood. Chief Blood has been looking to hire lateral officers since coming into the department. “Laterals” are officers who have already been trained and have experience versus basic recruits who take longer and more money to get in the field. "We haven't had luck getting laterals in here," he said. The quart...
WHITMAN COUNTY – Avista is replacing about 140 structures between Marengo and Shawnee as part of a 115kV transmission rebuild. The approximately 68-mile section is part of a rebuild that began in Lind and ends at the Shawnee Substation just southeast of Colfax via Ewan and Diamond. "It's a pretty big replacement project," said Paul J. Kimmell, business and public affairs for the Palouse region. The rebuilt is primarily focused on pole replacement and reinforcement of structures with wood p...
Whitman County Commissioners have voted to follow Fair Board recommendation to cancel the Palouse Empire Fair this year. "This is no one's choice," said Commission Chair Michael Largent during discussion. "I don't like this; I don't like this vote, I don't like the position the state has put us in." The fair board presented the recommendation based on a 8-3 vote. The fair board was tasked with presenting the commissioners a plan to host a fair given Phase III restrictions after a decision was...
COLFAX – Demolish of the Fonk's building began today after a permit was granted this morning. Chain-link fence barriers were erected around the building and into Main Street in anticipation of the work. According to owner Joel Warwick, the plan is to take down the building as far as the bottom 15 feet which would leave the mural and front first-floor facade in place. At that point an engineer would reassess the structure to determine if the rest would have to come down or not. "It'd be nice t...
Many people have asked-whether directly or secondhand-about the page count at the Gazette since the virus hit. It all boils down to business practices, the bottom line and trying to keep our heads above water during what the economists have officially deemed a recession. In newspapers there is ad hole and news hole. For the majority of newspapers, the size of the news hole--the space we get to fill with stories, features, records, etc.-is determined by the ad hole-how much space is taken up by...
A young Red Tailed Hawk was returned to its nest after being taken to the WSU veterinary school. Pullman Police responded June 3 to a report of and injured juvenile hawk. The young hawk was taken to the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital exotic department. According to veterinarian Marcie Logsdon, officers could tell by the time the hawk was dropped off that it was not actually injured. Veterinarian staff examined the young hawk to make sure it was well and then returned it to its nest where...
Although the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons & Riders canceled its normal cross-state ride this year, riders and the public are still able to enjoy the trail vicariously thanks to a virtual ride posted on the group's Facebook page. "We are following the itinerary and schedule of the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons & Riders on their annual cross-state ride," said Mark Borleske. "The virtual ride is supplemented by a virtual historic tour of the route with historic Milwaukee Road railroad photos and...
COLFAX – Whitman County was approved to Phase III by the state Secretary of Health Saturday with conditions. One condition is that an individual Phase III business sector (such as movie theaters, libraries, and museums) may reopen only after the state publishes its guidelines for the specific sector, which was expected to be done over the weekend. The business is only allowed to reopen after it can implement those guidelines. By moving into Phase III, recreation has opened up for outdoor s...
WHITMAN COUNTY – Thursday: Al has been sick with a stomach bug for the past week. His buddy Bill comes over to bring soup and visit. Then Bill goes to his sister Cindy’s to talk about taking his son to a family campout. Friday morning: Bill drops off son Devon with Cindy who takes him and her two kids to Grandpa Ethan’s for a “campout” in the back yard. Al lives with his mother Felicity. Al’s niece Gabby stops by for a quick visit and gives Grandma Felicity a hug, then goes to play at her frie...
COLFAX – Whitman County Commissioners and Board of Health will meet Friday, June 5, to consider and possibly take action on requesting a variance to move into Phase III of Gov. Jay Inslee’s reopening plan. “The application package is pretty much the same as last time with the same letters and recommendations needed, except a new set of metrics has been created by the Governor for use by the State Department of Health to use in making this determination to approve or reject,” stated Commiss...
COLFAX – According to a report from the Washington Department of Health, the latest statewide modeling report shows COVID-19 transmission trending downwards in western Washington and upwards in eastern Washington. The report is based on data from May 3-12. The report estimates the effective reproductive number – the measure of how many new infections a single COVID-19 case will produce – for different parts of the state. A reproductive number below one means the number of new cases are declining...
The question of providing vaginal birth after cesarean service was discussed in a special meeting of the hospital board Monday night. While doctors at the hospital have provided the service in the past, there is no set hospital policy. Two are scheduled for June and have prompted “significant” discussion said Whitman Hospital and Medical Center CEO Hank Hanigan at the start of the meeting. A panel from different hospital departments participated in the meeting in person and via Zoom. Before hea...
COLFAX – Colfax volunteer firefighters were called out to a structure fire on Morley Road May 20 less than 12 hours after structure fire training less than half a mile from the location. At 5:03 a.m. May 20, fire crews from Fire District 11 and Colfax were dispatched to a structure fire on Morley Road. The single family dwelling was fully engulfed upon arrival. Water tender trucks from District 7 Rosalia, District 12 Pullman and District 4 Palouse responded to the scene to assist with water d...
While chatting with a high school chum, I asked him about the outbreak in his neck of the woods. He lives in an East Coast city which has received national news coverage for its COVID-19 infection and response. I was surprised by the comments he made throughout the conversation: "There have been a lot of deaths and hospitalizations but compared to the population still very low... So among people I know I haven't heard of anyone even getting sick." "To me there is no real visible crisis at all- j...
COLFAX – Stay home orders have prompted people to pursue a variety of activities they may not have otherwise. For Dylan Nails, 20, Colfax, that includes running for Washington State Governor. "I think the youth are really underrepresented in politics," said Nails, a 2018 Colfax High School graduate. Nails is running to show that youth have something to bring to the table of politics and to promote youth involvement in government. "I definitely want to be a voice for Eastern Washington and W...
If you listen to a person long enough, you gain a better understanding of them and can facilitate stronger camaraderie among all parties. That's not to say they will agree any more or less with each other, but allowing people to speak and listening to them seems to make things better all around. There is a story of two women who shared a house. There was one orange and they both wanted it. Thinking it was fair, they cut the orange in half and went their ways. Had they taken the time to talk and...
GARFIELD – A bull stands sentinel over SR 27 in Garfield. Although he is almost 100 years old, he has not been given his own name – until now. Garfield Meats is accepting submissions of a name for their fiberglass bull mascot which was recently returned to his post after being repaired and given a fresh coat of paint. "I think it'll be really fun," said Garfield Meats co-owner Windy Tevlin. Windy and husband Tom first saw the bull about 10 years ago tied at a hitching post outside the Palouse ho...
COLFAX – There is still a chance for some version of a Palouse Empire Fair 2020. Whitman County Commissioners met Tuesday, May 19, to determine whether there would be a fair this year based on the recommendation of the Palouse Empire Fair Board. The fair board met the evening of May 18, 115 days before the fair, to decide what that recommendation would be. On a seven to four vote, the board recommend the county keep the fair scheduled with the elimination of entertainment except for rodeo. T...
COLFAX — A Steptoe resident is seeking an injunction in Superior Court to prevent Gov. Jay Inslee from further harming Whitman County. The injunction was filed May 11. A status conference on the matter was set for Monday, May 18, but was stricken when the defense had the case moved to federal United States District Court. The notice of withdrawal was filed May 15 on the basis the case includes federal claims. Another injunction was filed May 15 in Whitman County Superior Court. The defense filed for that injunction to be transferred to T...
ST. JOHN – Sprint boat racing has been postponed until the fall due to the coronavirus quarantine rules. Webb's Slough announced its June 20 race date has been rescheduled to Sept. 26. The sprint boat race course annually hosts two events and hopes to retain that tradition this year by moving the June 20 date which would have been the first race of the season, organizers said. "We'll pull off whatever we can," owner and event organizer Amanda Webb said. Due to the size of crowd the events d...
COLFAX – “Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey,” the song goes. But local researchers are finding it is the sun that is the Pacific Northwest’s most reliable and untapped asset in increasing wheat yields. It has long been assumed it is the amount of water that dictates the yield on wheat, but the amount of water in a given year is one of the most unreliable factors. Not so with sunshine, and utilizing that sunshine is showing to improve yields by 10 percent according to research by The McGrego...
COLFAX – What does the arts council fish fence, restaurants and state parks have in common? When lodgers don’t stay at local hotels, they all take a hit. Projects like arts council murals, the regional swim meet, Chamber of Commerce photography contest and the MacDougall track invitational all receive funds from the local lodging tax through the economic development, tourism and events commission and city council. This fund is fueled by a two percent tax in addition to sales tax when sta...
