Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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Colfax will soon have a new business. Donna Holberg plans to open a new shop at 213 N. Main Street inside the building owned by Kimberly DeHart. The building also houses Terry Vietz’s barbershop and DeHart’s shredding business. Holberg’s new shop will be called Eclectica, and though she does not have an official opening date, she said she thinks it will be before the end of the month. “Watch the signs in the window, but it will be soon,” she said. Eclectica will have a variety of goods, said Holberg, with most of them centered around four them...
After a successful pilot program, the LaCrosse senior meal is set to become permanent. The meal will continue to be served the first and third Tuesdays each month at the LaCrosse Café. “I know Darlene (Kates) has been cooking like a crazy person back there in the kitchen during these meals, so it is very generous and gracious of her to agree to do more,” said Paige Collins, executive director at the Council on Aging. “It’s really becoming what could be a wonderful asset to our small community of LaCrosse.” The first senior meal at LaCrosse M...
The Board of County Commissioners Monday approved a request from the county’s information technology department for the purchase of a new Barracuda Backup Server. The county is currently operating with a Barracuda Backup Server 890 that has been in service for three years. “We no longer have the capacity to take care of the 17.5 terabytes of county data,” Chris Nelson, IT director, told the commissioners. With the approval from the commissioners, the county will now upgrade to a Barracuda Backup Server 990 that has unlimited cloud stora...
One candidate will appear at the Port of Whitman County commission meeting today, April 20, to interview for the open commissioner position. The seat became vacant with the passing of longtime commissioner Dan Boone on March 2. Kristine Meyer, the executive director of the Avista Foundation, will be at the meeting for the interview and possible appointment to the board. Meyer said she sees this position as a vehicle for serving the community. “I’m interested in it primarily for the opportunity to support the community and help provide and overs...
The Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport has received three bids for the next phase of the runway reconstruction project, Tony Bean, airport administrator, reported last week. Bids have been received from MA DeAtley Construction out of Clarkston, Selland Construction, Inc. out of Wenatchee and Nelcon, Inc. out of Kalispell, Mont. MA DeAtley completed the first phase of the project last year, and though the company is not guaranteed the bid the second time around, Bean said that as of right now they are the “apparent low bidder.” Bean detailed tha...
Fujiyama Japanese Steak House and Bar will open in Pullman next week on April 20. Extensive renovations have been completed on the building which once housed Denny’s Restaurant. The grand opening for Pullman's newest restaurant has been set for next week. Fujiyama Japanese Steak House and Bar is set to open Thursday, April 20. The restaurant will open at the site of the former Denny's restaurant, which closed suddenly in August of 2013. The building sat vacant for three years before it was p... Full story
The Port of Whitman County at its meeting last week made a decision to transfer fund entitlements to the City of Deer Park for its airport taxiway project. The total amount transferred equalled $1,173. The entitlement funds come from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and are not actual money the Port has on hand. Each year, airports are entitled to a certain amount of funds from the FAA, which can be saved for up to four years before they expire. “It's just money sitting on the FAA books that would otherwise be expired,” said Deb...
A Pullman developer has proposed converting the former Pullman Building Supply space into a permanent food truck hall along with an arcade space and bar. The developer is also seeking to lease a pump house building on the site for use as an outdoor seating area. A Pullman developer is proposing to breath new life into the former Pullman Building Supply quonset hut on Grand Avenue in Pullman. The developer is proposing a permanent food truck hall with a bar, arcade and event space. Plans call...
The Port of Whitman County last week awarded a contract to Clark’s Roofing of Pullman for a roof repair replacement project at Boyer Park & Marina. Port staffer Kara Riebold told port commissioners at a meeting a month ago that the roof of a pump house at Boyer had been leaking, and insects had also been getting in through the roof. The bid includes blowing insulation in the roof that is more resistant to bugs, she said. The bid from Clark’s roofing came in at less than $10,000, much lower than the budgeted amount for the project. “That budge...
The Endicott play park could get a boost if enough votes for the community are cast in the Meet Me at the Park grant initiative. With St. John vying for its chance to win a $25,000 Main Street award, one Endicott resident was inspired by the attempt to beautify that community and decided to do something for Endicott. “Endicott needs a lot of help,” said Rae Maloney, a teacher in St. John who lives in Endicott. Maloney recently found out about an initiative called “Meet Me at the Park,” which ann...
The state Senate budget passed last week includes $400,000 in funding to help with safety improvements for “Cougar Nation.” The funding was included in the 2017-19 transportation plan at the request of Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Every year it seems there’s at least one fatal crash on SR 26 or US 195 associated with ‘Cougar Nation.’ The challenge of making those corridors safer is recognized by everyone I’ve talked to at WSU, from President Schulz to the student leaders who came over to share their concerns,” Sc...
The Port of Whitman County at its meeting last week discussed the installation of a communications hut in Garfield. The hut will allow for more homes to have access to fiber. “It’s primarily for companies that are selling internet services,” said Joe Poiré, Port executive director, of the hut. The 10x20 hut will be constructed on Third Street in Garfield, said Kara Riebold, Port staffer. She said Palouse River Rock has been contracted to do the foundation work for the hut at the cost of $10,715. Poiré said an internet provider is ready to go in... Full story
In January the Board of County Commissioners placed a moratorium on loans to junior taxing districts for the purpose of protecting the county's financial position while the county treasurer is working on establishing policies and procedures in relation to intergovernmental loans. Initially anticipating that he could have the policies and procedures ready for the commissioners by February, County Treasurer Mark Clinton this week reported it is still a work in progress. “We're not very far with it,” he said. “I did do some research with other...
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District is seeking public input on its Lower Granite Master Plan. The Corps plans to revise the plan. The master plan is the strategic land use management document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all project recreational, natural and cultural resources throughout the life of the water resource project. “What do people want us to look at? It does not look at operations, but we're talking about associated lands and how they're used,” explained Gina Baltrusch, public aff...
A public meeting Tuesday, March 28, in the multipurpose room at the Endicott school brought out several residents and varying opinions on the issue of allowing chickens within town limits. The meeting was scheduled to gather public input on the matter after an Endicott resident presented a petition with 115 signatures in favor of allowing chickens in town at the last town council meeting on March 14. “We had a very positive turnout at the meeting,” said Laura Jones, town clerk/treasurer. “Most of the people were interested in having the optio...
Rosalia's Whitman Avenue reconstruction project is set to get underway this summer. Last week, the town awarded a contract to Sandry Construction Company out of Spokane Valley to complete the project. This will be the first time the town has worked with Sandry, but the project engineers, J-U-B Engineers, have worked with the company. Trevor Skelton, project engineer with J-U-B, said they previously worked with Sandry for a sewage project. Jenna McDonald, Rosalia town clerk/treasurer, said the bid amount from Sandry was $632,550. Four bids were...
This month, Washington Federal bank will be marking its 100th anniversary. The bank was first established in 1917 in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood by two brothers, W. C. Kean and Frank C. Kean. The bank was founded as Ballard Savings & Loan. According to a written history of the bank, the Kean brothers wanted to better the community by offering steady, practical loans to help their neighbors achieve the dream of owning their own homes. Kay Riebold, branch manager in Colfax, said it is great to be able to mark this milestone. “We're excited t... Full story
The new vintage Route 26 Market is set to make its debut in Colfax this weekend at the Jennings Elementary School gym. It is booked Friday and Saturday, April 7-8, with the Friday show from 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturday booked from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. “We’re closing in on it,” said Debi Anderson, one of the event organizers. The market will have a total of 15 vendors, including Colfax businesses Hen House Chicks and the Dusty Attic. Vendors on hand will have an assortment of items, including vintage and antique items, repurposed and up-cycled, signs... Full story
The RV park at the Palouse Empire Fairground will have a new addition this summer: restrooms. The Board of County Commissioners Monday approved a $22,000 expenditure from the county’s lodging tax proceeds at the recommendation of the lodging tax advisory committee. Fair and Facilities Director Bob Reynolds and Melissa Leinweber, office administrator, were present at the meeting to discuss the project. “We do not have restrooms in the RV park,” Leinweber told the commissioners. “This would be of benefit to everyone in the RV area.” Reynolds... Full story
Town members gather on Front Street in St. John for a picture to enter the America’s Main Streets contest. If awarded the grand prize, the town would receive $25,000 to fix up its downtown corridor. St. John has thrown its hat in the ring for a chance to win $25,000 for its main street (Front Street). The town has entered the America’s Main Streets contest. The nomination round began at the end of February, and voting continues until April 24. St. John just entered the contest last week, abo...
Matt Lasof (center) along with chefs Will Wohlfeil (right of Lasof) and Ryan Avery (far left) and challenge assistants at the Chef’s Challenge Sunday. The Community Action Center in Pullman hosted its first Chef's Challenge Sunday, bringing 150 audience members and exceeding its goal to raise $21,000 for the community kitchen. “It went smooth for a first time,” said Jeff Guyett, executive director of Community Action Center. Competing were Matthew Lasof, executive chef at Washington State Univer... Full story
After nearly three years, the remodeling of Pullman High School is complete. The changes will be shown off at a public open house April 20. The school only kept two original parts – the old gym, which is now the auxiliary gym, and the metal shop. Everything else is new. A ribbon cutting ceremony and open house has been slated at Pullman High School to show off the new school after nearly a three-year remodeling process. “We broke ground in June of 2014,” said Joe Thornton, executive director of...
The former Fireside building in Pullman was purchased recently, selling for $1,850,000 to Paragon Northwest LLC out of Yakima. Paragon Northwest is serving as the contractor for the building, which will be converted to a dental office by Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. “We're working on putting a dental facility there,” said Joe Sevigny, contractor with Paragon Northwest. Gina Popovic, vice president of external affairs with Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, said the organization has more than 20 sites in Oregon and Washington. The cli...
Master's Touch Auto Repair in Colfax, owned by Jake and Kandace Olson and Garth and Christina Mader, has been in business for about 20 years and plans to expand into towing. The addition of towing has come based on input received from customers. “Our expansion into towing is really just a response to our customer’s needs. We believe there's opportunity, and many of our customers have asked us to provide a towing service,” said Garth Mader. “We like to provide great customer service.” With the towing business also comes an impound yard on State... Full story
--Paige Collins photo Ryan Avery, director of transportation at COAST, tries out the driver’s seat on the new COAST bus, expected to go into operation here on Monday. The bus was funded through a WSDOT grant and a grant from the Empire Health Foundation. COAST Transportation will add a new bus to its fleet this week. It will be the sixth bus in the fleet. Paige Collins, executive director at the Council on Aging in Colfax, said the bus was ordered in September after a grant was received from t... Full story
