Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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Tomorrow will be the last day to participate in the Colfax School district surveys which have been going on for the past three weeks. Separate surveys for parents of Colfax students, other residents of the Colfax community and school staff have been posted on the district’s Web site. A fourth survey was given to one class of high school students and one class of junior high students. Friday at 4 p.m. the surveys will be pulled off the Web site. Preliminary results will be presented at the school board meeting Feb. 21 by Superintendent M...
Lone Pine Cemetery, located near Tekoa, has been nominated for a place on the Washington Heritage Register. Listing on the register would give the cemetery protection against future development on the part of the state or federal government. It would also qualify the Friends of the Lone Pine Cemetery group to apply for public funding for the cemetery, according to Jim Irwin of Walla Walla, a member of Friends of the Lone Pine Cemetery. The group is actively working for state status to better clean up the cemetery, which holds the graves of many... Full story
From the frosted vineyards of the Yakima region to the wind-swept hills of the Palouse to the staggered breaks of the Snake River, a new book about eastern Washington shows photos of it all. Northwest Drylands Seasons shows page after page of color scenic shots of the landscape of this region. The 116-page book is a collaboration between Tri-Cities photographer John Clement, Alex McGregor and Richard Scheuerman. One of several eastern Washington book signings will be in Colfax at Main Street Books Saturday, Feb. 19, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Both... Full story
Fifteen years ago, a flood of epic proportions on the North Fork of the Palouse River hit homes and downtown businesses in Palouse. Today, Palouse residents tout the flood as the tipping point for a major revitalization of the town’s downtown. With buildings soaked and damaged, the town council set its sights on a better, more visitor-friendly downtown. The difference between then and now, said Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove, is dramatic. Five antique stores, three cafes, a bakery, a salon and a small public park now line the downtown’s Main St...
Long-time Rosalia seed company Wilhelm Seed was purchased Feb. 1 by McKay Seed Company of Almira. Barry Tee, former Wilhelm Seed owner, will continue to manage the office. The Rosalia company has sold seed on the Palouse since 1947, when it was founded by Wilbur and Edgar Wilhelm, now both deceased. By selling to the larger company, Tee said he can add an employee and have access to a broader selection of seed. Tee has been running the business solo. As the company began selling more product, the work load became too much for one person. McKay... Full story
Seven Colfax High School choir members have qualified for the state competition. Three of the students qualified as soloists. “There are some very, very fine voices [this year],” said Choir Director Cary Cammack. Lindsay Webber, Kyle Largent and Katie Largent each sung so beautifully at the district festival in Pullman they were picked as soloists for the state competition. Senior Kyle Largent said he likes the self-expression involved with music, adding he likes to entertain. For his solo piece, he picked an upbeat Italian song. “It just makes... Full story
A 30-strong crowd gathered at the Palouse Federated Church last Thursday, Feb. 3, to hear four panelists speak on livestock topics. Sponsored by the Palouse Conservation District, the night had a broader focus of informing livestock owners on the best management practices for both their animals and businesses. The first speaker was small business owner, Cheryl Williams-Cosner, who raises livestock and sells direct from her farm outside Walla Walla. Williams-Cosner spoke about her operation from start to finish, from purchasing their... Full story
Members of the new business club at Colfax High School scored exceptionally well for their first year of competition. The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), only a few months into its creation, had four students qualify for state at the regional competition last Wednesday in Spokane. Students Ryan Christopherson, Emma Gingerich, Kurt Moore and Nick Johnson each placed in the top five for their respective events. Johnson and Moore paired up and placed in the top five in a team competition. They qualified to compete at the state FBLA... Full story
State legislator Susan Fagan has two words for those asking why she signed the bill to make coffee the state beverage; “two minutes.” Fagan said it took her that much time to read and sign the bill which was pitched by a group of high school students in the Puget Sound area. Rep. Barbara Bailey of district 10 introduced the bill at the behest of the students. The class was learning how state legislature works in their government class. “I totally agree there are many more important things to do,” Fagan said. Fagan said she received an e-mail...
Uniontown hired a new clerk Jan. 27, one of the last positions to be replaced after several city staff members departed at the end of last year. Melani Roach of Genesee will now work at least 20 hours a week, if not more, as part-time clerk for the town. “She’s very well experienced,” said Uniontown mayor Joyce Mayer. Roach has worked in accounting for other companies, but she has not yet worked as a municipal clerk, the mayor said. Acting clerk Patty Kelly, the mayor’s daughter, has been performing clerk duties for the town since the resigna...
More than a third of the ballots sent out for Feb. 8 special elections have already been mailed back to the Whitman County elections office. Of the 3,276 ballots mailed, 1,159 had been filled out and mailed back as of Tuesday. Voters in the town of Rosalia, St. John cemetery district and four school districts received ballots. The town of Rosalia is asking for a special tax levy of $50,000 for the year 2012 for the city street fund. Lamont school district is asking for a two-year levy of $135,000 each year for 2012 and 2013 to support the... Full story
Rural fire departments in Whitman County are facing a downward trend in volunteers available during the day, in addition to dropping numbers of volunteers with EMT training. To manage, the Rosalia fire department has plans to hire a part-time firefighter with EMT training to cover the town of 640 during the day. Chief Bill Tensfeld said his district made the choice because they have less than five volunteer fire fighters ready during the day. Rosalia 10 years ago had roughly 35 volunteers, about 20 of which had EMT training, Tensfeld...
With an eye on working more community input into the proposed remodeling of the Colton school, committee members gathered Wednesday to discuss that input. Colton/Uniontown citizens met twice last month and gave the school administration suggestions for the project which initially had an overall cost of $10.2 million. The public voted down the proposed $5.2 million bond in November. The school is gathering public opinion on the bond proposal in order to have it on the ballot April 26. Superintendent Nate Smith said the capital projects committee...
The town of Palouse is weeks away from hiring an engineer to develop the town’s comprehensive water system plan. The town is looking to put together an extensive water system plan that would map out city water structure, pinpoint future city water projects and detail past projects. Water and sewer committee member Connie Newman said the committee will boil down a list of 20 to 30 engineers to three to five finalists. The committee will make a final selection within six weeks. The high end of estimates for the project cost is $50,000, Newman s...
Residents of Tekoa are now feeling the direct effect of the USDA Rural Development loan and grant taken out by the town last fall for upgrading the water system. Tekoa water rates increased $5 at the end of December. The base rate of $38.50 paid by most citizens is now $43.50 each month. There are 365 active water connections charged each month in Tekoa which has a population of 820. The aim of the project is to replace most of the aging lines in the city’s water system. City Clerk Kynda Browning said surveyors from Century West, the engineerin...
The aftermath of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day flood in Palouse was minimal. Two 16-foot swales raced down the channel of the North Palouse River and flooded Hayton Green Park and downtown basements. Palouse police chief Jerry Neumann last Thursday told the Gazette very little damage was sustained in town. Some specialized playground bark laid under the playground set at Hayton Green Park was picked up by flood waters and dumped around the rest of the park. “The bark was all retained inside the park. I don’t think much of it washed dow... Full story
As soon as weather permits, Whitman County Parks staffers will begin ripping cedar shingles off the shelter at Klemgard and laying down new roofing. “It’s leaking in a few spots. That roof is like 35 years old. That’s about how long those roofs last,” said Dave Mahan, park ranger for the county’s Klemgard park. Mahan ordered $4,500 in metal roofing supplies last month. They were delivered Jan. 11. “I’m waiting for a chance to get up there when it isn’t snowing or blowing 40 miles per hour winds,” Mahan said. He plans on bringing in park...
An out-of-state communication company is launching high-speed Internet service in small towns in Whitman, Latah and Spokane counties over the next month. Frontier Communications is holding public promotion events for the service in Garfield, Oakesdale, Palouse, Rosalia, Tekoa, Thornton, Weippe, Rockford, Fairfield, Genesee and Latah. The national company bought all of Verizon’s assets in the Palouse region last July. Since July 1, Frontier has spent $1.2 million to lay down fiber optic cables to these 11 small towns. “It’s a game changer for t... Full story
The county environmental health office has filled two health specialist positions after the prior health specialists left. New environmental health specialist-two Killian Condon and new environmental health specialist-one Phil Hagihara began their new jobs this month in the environmental offices of the Public Health Building. Former environmental specialist Bruce Koliba left the position because his spouse took an out-of-state job. The other former specialist, Cinnamon Brown, transferred to the county public health department. Condon moved to...
Palouse mayor Michael Echanove was awarded the Excellence in Local Government Award by the local Avista office at a council meeting Jan. 18. “I’m so humbled. It’s really my honor to be the mayor of Palouse. I’m just lucky- that’s all. Palouse is so awesome,” Echanove later told the Gazette. Echanove received the 2010 plaque in front of the city council, staff and Palouse citizens. Paul Kimmel, Regional Business Manager for Avista, gave it to him and spoke to those in the room on the meaning of the award. Avista picked two elected officials f... Full story
Patient billing at Whitman Hospital & Medical Center changed hands from the hospital staff to a patient billing company in Spokane, starting Dec. 1. The hospital said it was becoming more and more difficult for staff to keep up with the nation’s complex billing regulations. Patients are now mailing their medical bills to a company in Boise, which is sub-contracted with a company that deals in patient billing in Spokane, Complete Business Office Solution (CBO). Patients will not be charged extra funds on their bills for the use of the new c...
The state game department is actively asking for experienced hunters to try out for the Master Hunter program, a program in which qualified hunters are trained to hunt problem wildlife for the department. There are already 19 master hunters in Whitman County and 1,956 in the state. Hunters are tested on their hunting prowess, including their ethical standpoint on hunting. The state game department routinely calls out master hunters to take down problem animals in areas where elite or ethic-sensitive hunting is needed. For example, the state...
The meat scientist holds up a fresh shank. “Where is this going to go? Straight to hamburger.” The crowd of Whitman County and northwest ranchers and WSU students watch as meat scientist John Unruh slices up the next part of the steer; the brisket. For four days last week, 44 participants from all corners of the northwest cattle industry gathered at the WSU and U of I meat labs for a workshop on the latest and best production methods. A half dozen local ranchers, including Dick Coon of Washtucna, former president of the Washington Cat...
Colton School Board president Gary Reidner last Thursday told the approximately 25 people who attended a public session in Colton that the board will consider their comments before a proposal for a bond issue goes before the voters a second time April 27. Reidner said input from the Jan. 6 session in the Colton school cafeteria and comments tonight, Jan. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the Uniontown Community Center, will be considered. A district proposal for a $5.16 million bond issue failed to get the 60 percent required majority in the Nov. 2 general...
Workers prepare to erect a 100-foot-tall wind turbine on Tony Kettel’s property off Highway 27. A 100-foot-tall wind turbine dedicated to the late Mike Carlton will soon be erected at the home of Tony Kettel south of Palouse. Carlton passed away suddenly in October and was a long-time advocate for sustainable energy on the Palouse. He was a beloved presence in the town of Palouse and this is one of two memorials in his name. Carlton was working on the foundation of this wind turbine last June and its completion was delayed by his passing. Kette...
