Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 427
An early spring has allowed Whitman County farmers to get a jump on spring work, with those in the western part of the county already mostly through with spring planting. "Crop conditions for the 2020 crops are really good," said Fred Hendrickson, FSA county executive director. Winter wheat is looking good with even stands where as late and heavy snow last year left many weak areas in the 2019 crop. Hendrickson said that if there is good rain in May and June and the growing season doesn't get...
Whitman Medical Clinics and Whitman Orthopedic Clinic are now offering virtual visits for those seeking care. "It's an awesome tool," said Clinic Director Keith Walde at Whitman Hospital and Medical Center. Those wishing to utilize the virtual visit option need to have an email address, Patient Portal access and a cell phone, tablet or computer with camera and microphone capabilities and high speed wifi or data plan. Walde said that when patients call to schedule an appointment, the clinic...
The communities where the eight positive COVID-19 patients live is not among information the Public Health Department will be releasing, stated Health Director Troy Henderson. He noted that whether a positive test has come back from a certain community or not is "irrelevant" because that does not mean the disease is not in other communities. "It has been the Health Department's belief that COVID-19 has most likely gone undetected in our community (Whitman County) for some time," he said. "The...
The Governor's Stay Home order has resulted in more calls to local law enforcement about construction projects underway. "There's a broad leeway of what can be done," said Sheriff Brett Myers who has been receiving more calls about on-going projects and clarification on what can be done. He cited the order which allows for construction in essential activities and to prevent spoliation and avoid damage and unsafe conditions, including emergency repairs at non-essential businesses and residential...
Two people living in Whitman County have now tested positive as of Tuesday afternoon. The first case was reported Sunday. The patient is a female in her 20s. She has recovered and is self-isolating at home. The second confirmed case was announced Monday morning. The patient is a woman in her 70s. The source of infection for both positive cases is known and originated outside of Whitman County. Whitman County Public Health has completed contact tracing for each of the positive cases. The...
An area teacher encouraged her students that while they are stuck at home, they write down what is happening and how they are feeling. She pointed out that they are living what will be history someday and should document it. The old adage is, those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. So, if the events of today will be chronicled in history books tomorrow, what are you learning? Is it a time management lesson as you have to schedule laundry and office emails around high s...
Study after study shows the importance of social connection to overall health, especially mental. With the current emphasis on social distancing and fears of spreading disease, it can be easy to forget the importance of maintaining that aspect of our mental health. While we rejoice in our wireless accomplishments, we remain a herd animal drawn to the company of others. Sadly, those most needing to distance themselves are the ones that already suffer from isolation. Some elderly individuals alrea...
After years of bandaid fixes, the Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad is on track for repair and rehabilitation to make it a solid rail system. “It is kind of exciting,” said Bob Westby, PCC rail system manager. The rail line now has $11,333,963 in funding to replace ties, rail, ballast and 10 bridges to support the 110 car unit trains serving grain terminals on both ends of the county. Westby explained that rail is measured by the weight per yard. Heaviest rail is 136 to 140 pounds per yar...
The current status and future planning for managing the wolf population was discussed Monday afternoon with a regional director from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife meeting with Whitman County Commissioners. WDFW Region 1 Director Steve Pozzanghera spent nearly an hour with commissioners to update them on current wolf recolonization and collect comments from them on whether wolves should be considered for a change in listing status and modeling for future growth as part of the...
The Port of Whitman County conference room was more crowded than normal Monday afternoon as port commissioners and staff were joined by their counterparts from Whitman County for their quarterly joint meeting. "It's great to have this open communication with county commissioners," said John Love, the longest-seated port commissioner, noting previous commissions have not always been as open. Both parties had submitted items to be on the agenda, including issues first broached at previous joint me...
Lyons Ferry Park has had a rough road for the past two decades, but is on its way back to its former glory. With funding from the recently passed state budget, the park is set to have its campground reestablished. “Things are good to go at Lyon’s Ferry,” said Virginia Painter, Washington State Parks communications director. The 1,000-acre park was opened to the public in 1971 and operated jointly by the state parks commission and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Budget cuts in 2002 forced the commi...
While newspapers around the country were struggling, there was one group that kept on pretty much as it always had. They were the weekly papers that cover the local news―papers like the Whitman County Gazette. These papers cover the rural news that, often, no one else does. While rural reporting is not glitzy or high-profile, it is essential to democracy and community, especially in rural areas. Introducing student journalist to the stories that can be found in rural communities is the basis f...
Twins Cash and Rye Niehenke of Oakesdale placed first and second in the Northwest Regional Fiddle Contest in Spokane April 27-28. They will now advance to the national competition in June at Weiser, Idaho. They placed in the top eight at the nationals last year. Last year, the boys placed second and fourth at the regional with Rye topping Cash. This year, Cash managed to move ahead, and Rye did not give up any ground by placing second. "They have two completely different ways (of playing),"...
Zak Kennedy, lobbyist for counties at the state legislature, did not have many good things to report to Whitman County Commissioners Monday morning about the fate of county interesst in the legislative session which closed at midnight Sunday. “Almost the worst case scenario all the way across,” he reported to commissioners via phone at the end of a workshop session. Kennedy is one of the lobbyists who call commissioners to report on what is happening at the state level and how it will aff...
“It is easier to divide the state than it is to fix it,” is the motto of the movement to split Washington state and create a new state, Liberty. “We’re not about a revolt. We want to return to principles that have served our country well,” said Kevin Akesson of Colfax, captain of the Liberty State movement in Whitman County. Akesson held a meeting April 17 to relay information about the movement to those interested. A dozen people attended, and some were ready to start helping him right awa...
The Malden community rural identity contest is seeking entries about the town to be considered for the community section of the Whitman County website. The contest is the brain child of Malden resident Colleen Cross who began the Malden Positivity Campaign in 2014 and has posted a new spring contest every year that promotes Malden. This year, she is using the contest to generate a blurb about Malden in the hope of getting it posted on the county’s website. The parks and rec section of the c...
Whitman County is in need of people who can listen and speak up for those whose voices are fading or hard to hear. Volunteer ombudsmen help residents in adult family homes, nursing homes and assisted living facilities have a better quality of life by listening to their concerns and watching out for their well-being. There are 26 facilities in Whitman County providing care to elderly or disabled, but only one ombudsman; and that volunteer is cutting back. “To say we could really use some v...
After years in a traditional veterinary clinic setting, Dr. Shannon Merry is now providing the same services sitting on living room floors in homes around the Palouse and loving it. "I am exceptionally happy doing this," said Dr. Merry who now works from the homes of her clients instead of an office. Dr. Merry started Traveling Tails in October, 2018. She said it was scary to quit her job at Alpine Animal Clinic in Pullman and start her own business, but everyone around her comments on how...
Fifth District Congressional Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers addressed constituents Monday morning at the Public Service Building in Colfax as part of a tour of the district. The main topics revolved around trade and energy with both tied into the Snake River dams. McMorris Rodgers greeted the audience, which included businessmen, county and port commissioners and area farmers, and said a "battle of ideas is waged every day" in Congress. She noted her work in protecting river systems,...
Last year, almost 70 miles of new fiber optic lines were laid in the second year of Pioneer Telephone’s $8.5 million project. That contrasts with the scarcely more than 20 miles laid the year before. “We’re ahead of schedule,” said Dallas Filan, Pioneer Telephone manager, told the Gazette last Friday. Originally the project was projected to take five or six years to complete. Given the current progress, if it had not been for the two months of snow and freezing temperatures, the project may hav...
A list signed by seven petitioners advocating installation of fuel service at the Port of Whitman Business Air Center at Colfax prompted discussion by port commissioners April 18. Port Chair Kristine Meyer noted the board would like to grant the requests, but a “permanent fuel station doesn’t pencil out at this point for us.” The petition was circulated at last year’s fly-in at the Colfax Airport which was sponsored by the Lewiston Experimental Aircraft Association. Four of the petitio...
A trend in American society has been sliding away from the religious toward secular or just spiritual. Easter is a prime example with the Easter bunny gaining more popularity while the Christian observation just spikes attendance at church for the weekend. And, there are those who focus on the pagan ties to classic Easter symbols. Regardless whether it is for the egg hunts or celebrating the resurrection of Christ, the holiday still serves as a reason for people to gather. They gather in homes,...
Whitman County residents have another resource for reporting on local issues thanks to Whitman County Watch. “Journalism has a long tradition of public service – amplifying the voices of concerned citizens, holding local officials accountable, challenging old assumptions. I have always considered it one of the easiest and most immediate ways to empower regular people,” stated Jacob Jones who reports and posts stories from Whitman County. “Action at the local level starts with information at the...
With the emergence of spring, many animals are coming out of winter hibernation. One of those creatures is the only true flying mammal, the bat. While the benign night feeder has intrigued and stirred the imaginations and fears of humans for centuries, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has a particular reason to keep a closer eye on the bats in Eastern Washington. Not for fear of bats, but for them. “If white-nose comes and kills colonies, we’ll have issues with bugs,” said Staci Lehme...
With spring in the air, it is time to start thinking about what seeds are going in the ground. To encourage those with green thumbs of all shades, a new garden club has sprouted and the dormant seed bank project is blooming once more. Malden library hosted the first meeting of a new garden club April 9. Seeds were shown and shared and those in attendance talked about future projects. “It was a nice start,” said Vanessa Place, Malden librarian. One of the club members is a long-time resident wit...
