Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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The Board of County Commissioners Monday formally accepted and passed the third and final budget amendment for 2016. The amendment added in more than $200,000 to the revenue side of the budget. “This is basically technical corrections to various departmental budgets,” said Gary Petrovich, county administrator. “A lot of the reasons for these things was that revenue and expenditures didn't match up.” Petrovich reported that district court ended up with a surplus of $53,950 in revenue. Commissioner Art Swannack told the Gazette two weeks ago tha...
The future of St. Ignatius Hospital is once again up in the air with the reported sale stalling. Colfax Unified Executive Director Valoree Gregory reported last Thursday, Dec. 15, that the potential buyer had hit a stall due to the cost involved with an environmental assessment of the building. That same day, an article published in the Gazette detailed that the sale could be finalized by Jan. 1. The report of the stall came after press deadline. The potential buyer, who is wishing to remain anonymous, is still reportedly “very interested” in t...
The Washington State Auditor's Office Thursday, Dec. 8, issued a letter to Whitman County Fire District No. 4 after the district failed to provide the office with necessary documents to perform an audit review. The fire district, which serves Palouse and surrounding areas, reportedly did not submit a required annual financial report. “Our office is required to audit all government offices within a three-year period,” said Philip Mendoza, assistant audit manager at the State Auditor's Office. “It was very difficult for us to perform an audit...
St. John Park and Recreation District has issued a call for bids to have its pool boiler replaced before the summer season. “It's (the boiler) about 13 years old,” said Roger Beck, park district supervisor. “We've been patching it.” Beck said the typical life of a boiler is around seven years, and the district is grateful to have had the boiler exceed its life. It has had several repairs. “They've totally taken it apart, cleaned things up and repaired parts that needed to be replaced,” said Beck. “Every time they take it apart, they say it's...
The Board of County Commissioners Monday granted a request from Tom Kammerzell of Maple K. Enterprises, LLC, to re-classify 113.6 acres of land from current use ag land to open space land. “It’s just changing the classification to meet what it actually is,” Kammerzell told the commissioners. The re-classification first came up in September when Kammerzell filed with the county’s assessor’s office to have the land re-classified. The decision at that time was tabled so that County Prosecutor Denis Tracy could look over the matter. The land, loc... Full story
Whitman County commissioners Monday voted to not pay $3,000 to a campaign by the Washington Association of Counties to change the state’s annual revenue limit of one percent on property tax revenue. The Washington State Association of counties has asked members for the one-time assessment to lobby the legislature to lift the one percent limit. The WSAC proposal wants the limit to reflect cost inflation and population growth. “I struggle with this one,” said Commissioner Michael Largent. “We have budgetary constraints that are compelling on this...
After a months-long process to balance the projected 2017 budget, Monday morning saw little discussion at the Board of County Commissioners meeting as the 2017 budget was officially adopted. The budget, as passed, stands at $64,734,000. The budget includes $15,460,502 in the current expense fund and includes a carry-over of $210,133 from 2016 that was used to balance out the budget. County Administrator Gary Petrovich said there could also potentially be another $40,000 to $50,000 carrying over. “We won’t know 2016 actual numbers until nex...
The Southeast Washington Economic Development Association recently received an $18,000 USDA grant for rural business development. “It's going to be used for rural micro farming enterprise programming,” said Sarah McKnight, Whitman County SEWEDA director. McKnight said SEWEDA is planning three workshops for the benefit of local “stakeholders,” which would include growers, small vendors, local ag start ups and ag businesses. “I'm trying to reach out to people I think would benefit from it,” said McKnight. The first of the workshops being plann... Full story
Fire District #4 out of Palouse had a failed levy this election, the levy having been for emergency medical services. It would have been in the amount of $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation for six consecutive years. Fire district commissioner Ben Barstow told the Gazette that in hindsight he can see that voters were probably confused by the levy. “When I read it on the ballot, I was confused,” he said. Barstow said the confusion may have stemmed from the wording of the levy being classified as a supplemental levy. He said some vot... Full story
Briget Thompson, front, stands with Mark Johnson, Katie Johnson and Bob Vuletich at the Tick Klock pharmacy. Thompson recently was named pharmacy technician of the year by the Spokane Pharmacy Association. Her award is in front of her. Katie Johnson nominated her for the award. Tick Klock Drug Store pharmacy technician Briget Thompson did not set out to have a career in pharmacy, but she has fallen in love with her job and was recently named pharmacy technician of the year by the Spokane...
Columbia Bank teller and Warms Hearts spokesperson Laura Van Dyke, right, and Kathy Wride, bank manager, stand with the Warm Hearts donation bin and goal monitor at the bank. The winter drive started Nov. 21 and will run through Dec. 31. It started with a vision to help homelessness in the Pacific Northwest. Last year, Columbia Bank Vice President and Marketing Director David Devine came up with the Warm Hearts Winter Drive, to be conducted at every Columbia Bank branch in Washington, Idaho and Oregon. “The Warm Hearts Winter Drive is s... Full story
When Shawn Burt decided to go into the computer business five years ago, it was the community that helped him to make it a reality. “The community really rallied behind me when we decided to open up in Colfax,” said Burt. A few weeks ago, Burt made the decision to close the doors to Colfax Computer Services. He said the decision did bring him some guilt because of the loss of services to the community, but ultimately, there was not enough time to have the Colfax business and continue to work remotely for a firm out of Long Island, N.Y. “Th...
Valoree Gregory, front, addresses business owners at a workshop last week at the McGregor Company. Kimberly DeHart and Sarah McKnight stand at the left. Colfax Downtown Association met with business owners at the McGregor Co. conference room in Mockonema Friday, Dec. 9, to help the businesses get a head start on applications for tax credit incentives through the state's Main Street program. Colfax was accepted into the program last year and subsequently missed out on earning tax credit... Full story
St. Ignatius Hospital gained fame in the last year as the site of ghost hunts conducted there. It attracted attention nationally and was even featured on Good Morning America. In this 2015 photo, a ghost hunt participant wanders the halls of the abandoned hospital. An interested buyer has stepped forward to potentially purchase the former St. Ignatius Hospital building. Though the potential buyer is remaining anonymous, he has visited Colfax several times and is said to be making plans for the...
--Rena Davidson photo Clean up and remodeling are underway at the former Sandbagger Tavern. Kevin and Mary Davidson, formerly of Buhl, Idaho, have purchased the building and plan an antique shop there. When Mary Davidson opens her new antique shop in downtown Colfax for business, her commute to work will not take long at all. “Twenty-seven steps,” she said. Kevin and Mary Davidson purchased the former Sandbagger Tavern building in July from Felipe and Luz Guitron of Colfax. The couple – along...
The Board of County Commissioners Monday, Dec. 5, voted unanimously to convert from salary pay to hourly pay for non-exempt employees. “It will affect any employee who is non-exempt from overtime,” said Kelli Campbell, who works in the county human resources department. “Most of us, the majority.” Non-exempt employees, under the Fair Labor Standards Act are able to receive overtime pay. The county has decided to convert the employees from a salary basis to hourly basis to help the county be more in line with federal regulations. Campbel...
The Old Rose Theater could be back in operation soon. The Colfax Downtown Association was awarded a grant to assess work needed to restore the building. The restoration of the Old Rose Theater on Colfax’s Main Street may have just become a step closer. Colfax Downtown Association last week received a Valerie Sivinski Washington Preserves Fund grant for a building assessment. Washington Trust for Historic Preservation issues grant awards each year through the Sivinski Fund, and the o... Full story
Construction crews work on the exterior of the former Glaser’s building recently. The space is being renovated as the new location of the Carpenter, McGuire & DeWulf law firm. The law firm is set to open its doors in January. Colfax’s Unified Executive Director Valoree Gregory has reported that she is seeking to have Colfax designated as a historic downtown through the Washington Historic Preservation Commission. The designation would be a part of the Main Street program Colfax is enrolled in.... Full story
The Port of Whitman County is working with CHS Primeland at the Port of Wilma and Railworks to re-construct railroad crossings at Wilma that were incorrectly constructed. Port Executive Director Joe Poiré said the rail crossing construction on Wilma Drive started about a month ago, and when it was complete, they discovered that the installation did not match the engineer’s design. Poiré explained that the crossings were intended to cover the width of Wilma Drive, about 30 feet. The plans called for two crossings filled with 2x3 concrete pan...
With winter setting in, the efforts to halt an infestation of pine beetles in ponderosa pine trees is on hold until the spring, WSU Extension Agent Steve Van Vleet told the Gazette Monday. The infestation of western pine, turpentine and ips beetles was discovered in July. The three species of beetles infest at different spots on the trees. The western pine are typically found in the four to eight foot range on the tree, while the turpentines infest at the bottom within the first two feet and the ips infest at the top. Van Vleet and Colfax city... Full story
The Colfax Downtown Association has changed the time of the tax incentive workshop slated for Friday, Dec. 9. The workshop will now start at 2:30 p.m., instead of 10 a.m., at the McGregor Training Center on Airport Road. The time was changed to accommodate those who plan to attend the funeral for Larry Jones at 11 a.m. Friday at the Peace Lutheran Church. The workshop will have computer access so those who attend can start working on applications through the Department of Revenue to pledge business and operation (B&O) taxes to the Downtown...
A Dodge Ram crashed into the Exclusively Yours site on Spring Street Nov. 10. Exclusively Yours has relocated while the building is being repaired. Exclusively Yours proprietor Kristi Geier is no stranger to different store fronts in Colfax. Since moving back to Colfax with her husband in 1990, she has operated a hair salon in various locations in downtown Colfax. “I've been all over town,” Geier said. Geier has relocated her salon to Myndi's Studio M on Spring Street. She was forced to rel...
--Medina Ingraham photo Medina Ingraham has re-opened the former LaCrosse service station as LaCrosse Auto Care. The business is open Monday through Friday. The station was previously operated by the late Ted Torgeson. The LaCrosse service station, formerly operated by the late Ted Torgeson, is back in business as LaCrosse Auto Care, LLC. Medina Ingraham, formerly of the Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls area, moved with her mother Melody Wise, a LaCrosse native, back to LaCrosse a couple of years ago,...
The third and final budget amendment for 2016 is now set to go before the county commissioners. The commissioners Monday set a hearing date for the proposed amendment. County Commissioner Art Swannack told the Gazette the amendment is mostly housekeeping and revenue. “It’s all pretty much positive, and we haven’t had anything new from the coroner yet,” he said. The coroner’s office reported to the commissioners that it is expected to make it through the end of the year with the funds it currently has. The amendment includes approxima...
Port Properties and Development Manager Debbie Snell reported the pending sale of one Port building at Wilma has fallen through and closing date for sale of a second building has been extended. The two buildings up for sale, located at 1845 and 1847 Wilma Drive, are the last structures owned by the Port at Wilma. The sale of 1847 Wilma Drive fell through after the buyer declined to proceed with closing. The buyer gave the reason of dissatisfaction with the proposed terms of the site lease. Port properties at Wilma are leased to tenants who... Full story
