Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 251 - 275 of 473
PALOUSE — The Palouse City Council hosted a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 27, to discuss several projects ongoing in town this July. Superintendent Mike Wolf reported several issues with the pool, starting with its closure from Tuesday, June 20, to Saturday, June 24, due to a drain pipe problem. With the closure, the pool was set back a bit as employees began brainstorming fundraiser ideas for the pool. Kayla Johnson proposed hosting a dog day at the very end of the pool season. She explained in the meeting that other pools have done t...
PULLMAN — Two nineteen-year-old males were arrested and booked into the Whitman County Jail for first-degree robbery and four counts of second-degree robbery on Saturday, July 1. Frank Alexander Rodriguez, 19, of Richland, remains in Whitman County Jail after a request for an extraordinary bond was approved in court as reports say Rodriguez poses an extreme risk to the Pullman and Whitman County communities because of his involvement in the unprovoked attack of five members of the Washington State University (WSU) and Pullman Community. Rodrigu...
COLFAX - Flames broke out late on Tuesday, July 4, as fireworks started in town. A large fire started around 10 p.m. after fireworks were shot off too close to the 1018 S Mill Street apartment building. The fire displaced several but did not injure any residents as a quick evacuation occurred. "It started as a fire outside, and it quickly spread into the attic of the apartment building," said responding firefighter David Buckley of Colfax. Buckley reports that the flames showed through the...
COLFAX –– Whitman County Public Works director Mark Storey announced progress on the construction blocking Almota Road at Monday’s commissioner meeting. Contractors working on the road are waiting for a new pipe to place through Sommers Road adjacent to Almota Road. “This is the other closure we warned you about,” said Storey. “The other closure is still going basically from the bridge to the road.” Public Works expects the construction to begin on Monday, July 10, and will close for through traffic until Friday, July 21. “We have set aside...
COLFAX — The Washington State Auditor is referring the case of the Whitman Conservation District Manager accused of fraud and misappropriating funds to the Whitman County Prosecutor’s Office for a possible criminal case. The state agency also seeks $4,000 from the former manager to pay for their investigation. The Washington State Auditor’s Office initially investigated the man, whose name was not yet released at the time of this publication in the Whitman County Gazette. The agency was notified of the potential fraud by the Whitman Conse...
COLFAX — A Pullman man was sentenced to spend 361 days in jail, after already spending three days in jail, with additional conditions to his charges of assault in the fourth degree against his wife. Alex Kay, 30, of Pullman, was sentenced Friday, June 30, to spend 361 days in jail and pay a total fee of $1,050 by October. Alex will also be under supervised probation for 24 months following his sentence and must refrain from violating the law or alcohol-related infractions. He must also obtain an evaluation from the Social Treatment O...
TEKOA — County Commissioners voted to award the Town of Tekoa the .09 Fund at the Monday, July 3 meeting. This award gives Tekoa $28,000 to spend on public facilities. Tekoa applied for the award to construct a new reader board sign on the northeast side of town while traveling down Poplar Street. Tekoa was reportedly missing some information on their application but recently finalized and sent in the amended application. Tekoa is one of three awarded with the fund, with one more award pending for the Colfax Varsity Track team of $16,000. T...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office (WSCO) and Washington State Patrol (WSP) responded to communication advising of a stolen white 2013 Dodge Ram pickup truck on Wednesday, June 28, north of Colfax. A Shelton man, Anthony Newbern, 35, was cooperative in his arrest and admitted to stealing the vehicle from Dayton due to the voices in his head telling him to do so. Newbern also appeared to be under the influence of methamphetamine during his arrest. No weapons were found on his person during his arrest. Newbern has been charged with pos...
COLFAX - The Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office has ruled hanging as the cause of death for Nicholas Bunch, 40, of Garfield. Corrections officers found Bunch hanging in his cell while conducting a regular round in the afternoon on Monday, June 12. Officers immediately notified Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and began lifesaving measures. "We found the guy, and we at least got a heartbeat back," said Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers. Bunch was transported to the emergency room at the...
EWAN - Anglers can prepare to explore Eastern Washington's largest inland lake, which is now fully stocked. Rock Lake is located just one mile north of Ewan and is open to year-round fishing. Rock Lake has been similarly stocked as in previous years. However, Washington State Fish and Wildlife reports that fishing fanatics should be looking for large brown trout this year. Anglers can catch a variety of fish, including black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, brown trout, common carp, grass pick...
TEKOA — Whitman County Public Health is now providing funds to families seeking to enroll their children in swim lessons in a pilot program exclusive to Tekoa this summer. The program is offered to children ages 0-17 in Whitman County and is completely free. “It’s part of our safe kid program,” said Community Health Educator of Whitman County Health Department, Meghan Johns. “After the last few years, there have been some infant and toddler drownings. It’s hard to see how much they cost, and learning how to swim shouldn’t be determined by your...
WALLA WALLA — The Great American Frontier was a time of prosperity, farming, growth, and exploration. Two missionaries gave Whitman County its name in 1871. This was long after their grizzly murders in 1847 when the two missionaries, Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, were killed by the Cayuses and Umatillas people, after being accused of poisoning 200 Cayuse in their medical care during a measles outbreak, including the Whitman household. On November 29, 1847, Marcus, his wife Narcissa, and eleven other men served in a medical tent to aid locals. T...
MOSCOW — Prosecution in the Idaho Murders trial announced they are seeking capital punishment, the death penalty, against Bryan Kohberger, 28, who was accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students last November. The bodies of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were found on November 13, 2022. Kohberger is charged with four counts of murder in connection with the deaths at a house near the University of Idaho campus last November. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson filed the notice of his intent to s...
PULLMAN — A Sunday Pride service followed by a hands-on arts and crafts session will be held Sunday, June 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Community Congregational United Church of Christ (CCUCC) located at 525 NE Campus St. in Pullman. The event is free and open to everyone. Families and children are encouraged to come. Sandy Evenson of Pullman will provide a guest sermon and a joy-filled food and art event featuring Rainbow Jell-o. Attendees will have the opportunity to make rainbow-colored snowflakes and rainbow paper hearts. People are welcome to t...
COLFAX - Local woman Julie (Solbrack) Stoa will share her ministry to Oregon University students at Plymouth Congregational Church at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 25. She'll share her vision and passion so young people know and see her message put on through her ministry. Stoa hopes to transform students through God's love and her role on staff with Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. All are welcome to join in the event, which will offer refreshments. She is a certified Christian leadership coach with...
COLFAX — An inmate at Whitman County Jail died after he was found unresponsive in his cell. The inmate, Nicholas Bunch, 40, died over the weekend at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane. Corrections officers located Bunch unresponsive in his cell while conducting a regular round in the afternoon on Monday, June 12. Officers immediately notified EMS and began lifesaving measures. The inmate was transported to the Emergency Room at the Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinic before transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center via Life Flight. He was a...
ST. JOHN — Deputies had their hands full with drivers allegedly under the influence of alcohol June 17 after the conclusion of sprint boat racing. At around 6:15 p.m., Whitman County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a one-car, rollover crash with several occupants of the vehicle injured. Records show deputies arrived at the Webb’s Slough campground area, 4480 Rogers Road, and found a 2005 Chevrolet pickup on its side. Emergency personnel assisted the injured occupants of the pickup. Deputies spoke with the driver, Tanner D. Berze...
ST. JOHN - Thirty-five sprint boats hit the water of Webb's Slough on Saturday, June 17; only three went home with checkered flags. The high-speed sprint boats competed in three classes – modified, 400 and unlimited – for the best time and bragging rights from the first weekend of racing in Whitman County this season. Sprint boat racing pits a driver, navigator and their boat against a maze of islands and the clock, with some boats hitting turns at up to 10 times the pull of gravity. Modified Cl...
PULLMAN - December typically brings a countdown of excitement for the holidays. Families gather together, be merry, and enjoy the company of their friends. It was a cold and cloudy day on Friday, Dec. 7, 1979, when the city of Pullman and surrounding areas were informed of the murder of their beloved dance instructor, Nona Rae Lynch. The time of celebration for those who knew her was quickly overcome with mourning. It was the late morning of Thursday, Dec. 6, when Nona's body was found crumpled...
COLFAX — Local Whitman County man Nicholas J. Bunch, 40, was arrested and booked into the Whitman County Jail after attempting to steal a vehicle while armed on Friday, June 9. Bunch has been charged with Burglary in the First Degree, two counts of Taking a Motor Vehicle Without Permission in the Second Degree, Driving With License Suspended (DWLS) in the Second Degree, Harassment with Threats to Kill, Failing to Drive a Vehicle with Ignition Interlock Built-In and Driving Under the Influence. The Garfield native appeared under the influence o...
COLFAX — An Airway Heights man, Joseph Baker, 28, was arrested by the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office during a traffic stop in November of 2021 and was sentenced on Monday, June 5, to spend eight years in prison. Baker was arrested with a large number of narcotics during a fall 2021 traffic stop in Colfax and was found with a stolen loaded handgun, over 800 dollars in cash, over 100 fentanyl pills, two ounces of methamphetamine, two ounces of heroin, and digital scales. He was initially charged at the state level in Whitman County Superior Cour...
CLARKSTON –– A Clarkston man was arrested on the felony charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver (Fentanyl), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Possession of Stolen Property. Monte D. Clark (36), of Clarkston, was discovered by detectives from the Quad Cities Drug Task Force (QCDTF) and is a known felon with a lengthy criminal history. Detectives from the Quad Cities Drug Task Force, with assistance from the Clarkston Police Department and Lewiston Police Dep...
LaCrosse –– The town of Lind roared to life Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10, as thousands of fans rolled in to see local LaCrosse man take the gold in the grand finale in the combine derby. The weekend festivities included car, pickup, grain truck racing, parades, live music, and of course, the event's highlight – the combine derby. The combines competed in five heats, with the fifth marking the grand finale. This year, several teams entered the derby. And several cars, pickups, and two-g...
TEKOA — Slippery Gulch is on its 94th year of running, and the festivities begin Friday, June 16. The event celebrates the town in many ways and includes family and adult-themed events. A fishing derby for kids 12 and under kicks off the festivities at Hangman Creek. A prize is offered at the end of the derby. Free throw competitions occur on the outdoor basketball courts in the heart of the town on Friday, June 16, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tekoa’s swimming pool invites all teenagers to join in on a lock-in event on Friday from 8 p.m. to 11...
COLFAX — A 34-year-old former social worker in Colfax is accused of extorting a woman for sex in exchange for helping her get her children back. Robert Tarver has been charged with Receiving Unlawful Compensation, Extortion in the Second Degree, and Perjury in the First Degree. Tarver pleaded not guilty to the Whitman County Superior Court charges on the morning of Friday, June 9. Court Commissioner Doug Robinson placed Tarver on pretrial release without bond at the recommendation of the prosecutor’s office. Colfax Police Officer Perry Tat...
