Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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Lloyd and Mark Johnson stand at the counter of the Tick Klock pharmacy. Lloyd and his wife Joyce purchased Tick Klock Drug in 1966, and Mark took over the business in 1987. Tick Klock Drug has been a Main Street fixture in Colfax since the 1930s, and it has now been under the ownership of the Johnson family for 50 years. Lloyd Johnson arrived in Colfax with his wife, Joyce, and their four children in 1966 after purchasing Tick Klock Drug from Lawrence Klock. “Everyone called him ...
Passports are returning to Colfax. Local businesses will have Passports to Colfax starting Nov. 1. The passports will be at businesses which are members of the chamber. “You can purchase items in Colfax, get stamps, fill it up and turn it in,” said Valoree Gregory, Colfax unified executive director. Passport to Colfax will be the entire month of November and will conclude Dec. 1, which is First Thursday and Winterfest. Passport to Colfax was introduced last year around the holidays to encourage local shopping. “It was a big hit,” said Gregory...
With five First Thursdays now in the books, Colfax's Unified Executive Director Valoree Gregory said the event is doing well. “We think it's going good,” she said. “It brings people downtown.” Gregory said people have reported enjoying the vendors. “They love the vendors,” she said. “We have more signed up for next year.” Two more First Thursdays are scheduled this year. Next week on Nov. 3, First Thursday will be a holiday open house, with several businesses participating. The Dec. 1 First Thursday will celebrate Colfax's annual Winterfest, an...
Endicott Community Club's annual German dinner and silent auction is booked for Nov. 6 at the Endicott school. The menu includes German and potato sausage, meatballs, noodles, kraut kouga, sauerkraut, tossed salad, coleslaw, rye bread, rolls, apple crisp, pumpkin dessert, cookies and beverages. “It's all traditional German food,” said Cinda Tribble, Endicott Community Club president. Price for those 11 and up is $12, while those age 6-10 are $6. Those five and younger are free. Funds raised will go toward the Endicott swimming pool. The poo...
On a recent trip to Florida to visit his father, retired U.S. Navy veteran Steve Aspenwall of Colfax met up with a former commander and learned of a program aimed at helping veterans to manage and overcome PTSD. The program, called Songs and Stories for Soldiers, provides pre-loaded MP3 players to veterans to help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. “He took some information, and when I returned home, a box showed up with a few of these MP3 players,” said Aspenwall. Aspenwall, a former senior chief petty officer, said the MP3 has helped him...
It sat abandoned for nearly a decade, and now it is making headlines across the United States. The former St. Ignatius Hospital is receiving attention as the Haunted Hospital. Colfax Unified Executive Director Valoree Gregory and a team of volunteers have been conducting tours at the hospital building for the entire month of October. “We've done at least two a day, some days three to four,” said Gregory. Prior to the Haunted Hospital opening up for the month, Gregory had about 30 tours scheduled. That number more than doubled to 65 as more peo...
The Colfax & Community Fund had its annual kickoff luncheon at the Colfax Rotary meeting last week. The drive aims to raise $25,000 in the next year for eight non-profit organizations. Colfax & Community Fund officially launched for the next year last Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Colfax Rotary luncheon. The fund drive each year begins in October. “Now we are officially kicked off,” said Phil Misner, president of the fund board, after reading a proclamation signed at the Oct. 17 Colfax City Cou...
Republican incumbent Mary Dye, left, and Democratic challenger Jennifer Goulet, right, speak at the League of Women Voter's forum in Pullman Thursday, Oct. 20. The forum highlighted the two candidate's differing views on many subjects. Candidates for the Ninth District representative seat met in Pullman Thursday, Oct. 20, to discuss their views and ask for the public’s vote this General Election. Incumbent Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, and Democratic challenger Jennifer Goulet of Pasco were at Pullman C...
The Board of County Commissioners did not take long to make a decision Monday morning regarding the proposed budget amendment #2 to the 2016 budget. The commissioners unanimously approved the amendment which added $98,847 to the spending side of the budget. The motion was passed after the commissioners during the week located $276,847 to plug into the revenue side of the budget. The conversation was a lot shorter this week than last week when the discussion focused on not having the money to cover the extra spending requests. “Trying to h...
The Palouse Falls Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute has booked a guest lecture in November. Nick Zentner, a professor of geology at Central Washington University, will present “Flood Basalts of the Pacific Northwest” on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre in Ritzville. The free lecture will teach about the source, size, magnitude, frequency and the uniqueness of the Ice Age floods, according to a chapter press release. “He's going to be teaching about the basalt floods, the first floods that came in our area,” said Lloyd S...
--Dean Hare, WSU Photo Services From left: Rich Koenig, Ron Mittelhammer, Randy Suess, Laurie Suess and Tim Pavish stand together after Randy Suess received the Alumni Achievement Award from WSU's Alumni Association last week. When Randy Suess was invited to attend a reception at Washington State University for people who had worked with the WSU Extension office, he started thinking about who else might be there. When he arrived, however, he noticed none of them were there, and some people...
A foundation aimed at providing support for local veterans is moving its way into Whitman County. The Guardians Foundation, which got its start in 2011 in Spokane County, is a public charity which assists veterans and their families in areas such as homelessness, food, clothing, household items, counseling referrals, unexpected expenses and educational and job opportunities. The foundation was founded by Sgt. Mike Shaw, who served in the U.S. Army and Idaho National Guard. He was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation New Dawn and...
The county public works department is instituting its annual closure of dirt roads beginning Nov. 14. The roads are scheduled to re-open March 13, 2017. The list this year includes 95 dirt roads throughout the county to be closed during the winter months. The roads are closed to vehicular traffic unless a permit is obtained from the office of the Whitman County engineer. The department also issued its annual reminder about winter snow and ice removal this week. The letter clarifies the department policies regarding winter snow and ice control....
Whitman County Commissioners and department representatives met with County Administrator Gary Petrovich last Thursday to discuss ways to approach the 2017 budget plan. Representatives from the assessor's, treasurer's and auditor's offices were present. The current budget projection has the county sitting with a deficit of $143,000 which needs to be resolved before the budget can be approved. Petrovich suggested to those present a way to solve the issue is by better controlling internal efficiencies. “We're running deficits each and every y...
A Halloween activity is slated to be at The Gathering Place in LaCrosse on Halloween. The fest has been going on for several years in the town and will include a chili feed and costume contest. “The LaCrosse Business Association has a free chili feed for anybody that would like to take advantage of it,” said Carol Cauley, board member with LaCrosse Community Pride. Jasper Trucking is also sponsoring a costume contest. The contest is split into five age groups, including infant-2 year-olds, 3-5-year-olds, 6-8-year-olds, 9-11-year-olds and 12-adu...
Foundation has been laid for a steel communications tower on Steptoe Butte. Work to erect a communications tower at the top of Steptoe Butte has hit a snag with weather. “The entire time to complete the tower is about three weeks, but there is also the issue of winter coming in,” said Toni Droscher, state parks spokesperson. Bob Schwent, electronic services division commander with the Washington State Patrol, said the tower is being constructed to replace a 50-year-old WSP tower which is dam...
A contract has been awarded for the Rosalia sidewalk project. The town council met Tuesday night, Oct. 11, and awarded the contract to Cameron-Reilly Concrete, Spokane Valley. The contract was awarded at $105,477. “That came in 32 percent below, so that’s good,” said Trevor Skelton, project manager with J-U-B Engineers out of Spokane. “Our estimate was $156,000. We’re just excited to get it going.” A pre-construction meeting with town representatives, J-U-B and Cameron-Reilly is slated for today, Thursday, and a more definitive schedule fo...
Whitman County Commissioners Monday conducted hearings on the second amendment to this year’s budget and the 2017 budget. The county weed department was present to request the budget amendment, totaling $5,238 for overtime work. Peggy Wright, county weed coordinator, explained to the commissioners her duties which have contributed to the overtime she has worked. Among these were pulling weeds on county road sides, bio collection, overseeing spray jobs for trails, working with the Corps of Engineers at Almota and checking product at nurseries f...
This Hinderer family photo shows three generations. Left to right are (top row) Fern and Ted (Theo) Hinderer, (third row) Kenny, Dorthey, Stella and Blaine, (second row) Toby, Loette, Jeanie, Robert and (bottom row) Leslie and Randy. Ted and Fern purchased what would become the Hinderer Farm in 1936. The Hinderer family is hosting an 80th anniversary celebrated Oct. 22. Randy Hinderer, center, with his dad Blaine, left, and LeRoy Cocking, right. Randy currently operates the Hinderer family...
The Colfax & Community Fund Drive will get its official start next week at the Rotary luncheon. The meeting will be at noon at the Colfax Methodist Church. The year-long campaign, which traditionally kicks off at the October Rotary luncheon, once again has a goal of $25,000. “We got close this year, but didn't quite get there,” said Jeannette Solimine, fund treasurer. The fund raised $20,088 in the last year. 'That's the best we've done in the last four years,” Solimine told the Gazette in September, noting that does not include the year when...
Registration opened Monday, Oct. 10, for Washington State University's annual Wheat Academy coming up Dec. 13-14. The two-day event provides comprehensive, hands-on learning for participants and will provide information about the causes of low falling numbers, how spray particle sizes and nozzle selection affect drift, wheat growth and development, herbicide resistance, among other things. Experts will present in 90-minute slots. Presenters include Dr. Ian Burke, WSU weed scientist; Dr. Arron Carter, WSU winter wheat breeder; Paul Carter, WSU...
Apparently, Colfax's Unified Executive Director Valoree Gregory does not mind going without sleep. Gregory has been conducting tours of the St. Ignatius Hospital building for the “Haunted Hospital,” and despite having more than 30 tours booked already, she has added 14 more. “I just keep adding tours. I just want to add as many as I can,” Gregory told the Gazette last week prior to adding the additional times. One of the tour times Gregory added – a three-hour tour on Friday, Oct. 28 – sold out quickly after the new times were posted, and...
These life-size portraits depicting the fallen Lima Company 3/25 will be on display Nov. 7-11 at the Red Lion Hotel in Lewiston. The portraits were completed by Ohio artist Anita Miller. A traveling veteran's memorial will be on display at the Red Lion Hotel in Lewiston the second week in November. The “Eyes of Freedom” memorial, presented by the Lewis Clark Quilts of Valor Foundation, depicts life-size portraits of the fallen Lima Company 3/25, one of the hardest hit units in Operation Ira...
The LaCrosse Café officially opened its doors last week on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Approximately 100 customers came through the doors each day last week. Proprietors are Darlene Kates, Julie Roberts and Soni Broeckel. The café will have special hours this weekend to mark the opening of deer hunting season. It has been 11 years since Darlene Kates and Julie Roberts have been in the café business, but it did not take the mother-daughter duo – this time with Roberts' daughter Soni Broeckel in on the acti...
A name has been settled on for Pullman's fourth elementary school. The Pullman School Board announced last month that the school has been named Kamiak Elementary following public input and a committee's selection. Pullman School Board President Dean Kinzer said a committee of school administrators, board members and residents took recommendations from the public, leading to a plethora of responses. “The committee received over 30 recommendations,” he said. “The committee narrowed it down to six and presented those. Kamiak was the highest recom...
