Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 444 - 468 of 473
COLFAX – The state lowland fishing season opened Saturday, April 23, kicked off with a statewide trout fishing derby. The season kickoff ignited excitement in the fishing community as well as introduced new statistics for fish biologists. State Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Staci Lehman in Spokane Valley reported water temperatures in Eastern Washington lakes Saturday ranged from the low- to mid-40s. Fishing should be picking up, she said. "It generally needs to hit 50 degrees befo...
COLFAX – The 1970s return for Colfax High School. Colfax is hosting a 1970s all-class reunion June 24-26 for all graduates, staff and family of graduates from 1970-79. Organizer Janet Ray, Class of 1974 graduate. said she is eager to see all of her family and high school friends. “I have three sisters and cousins that graduated in the 1970s,” Ray said. “So, I’ll see them there. The event is really going to bring family and old friends together.” A tour of the town, high school and hospital are planned for alumni. Additional activities...
COLFAX – Free experiences in virtual reality will be at the Whitman County Library 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 20. Adults and youth ages 13 and older can participate in the VR event. Participants can explore the Titanic, visit the world with Google Earth, and tour the International Space Station. Roughly 14 virtual reality experiences will be available, library officials said. Experiences can run between 6-25 minutes. Appointments to experience Oculus Rift Virtual Reality at the Colfax library can be made by calling 509-397-4366. Colfax branch l...
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Colfax farmer John Aeschliman earned a first-place state award in the 2021 National Corn Growers Association National Corn Yield Contest. The award was announced today, Monday, April 18. Aeschliman is one of the highest corn yield producers in the nation with DEKALB® DKC33-78RIB brand blend corn, yielding an outstanding 110 bushels per acre in the No-Till Non-Irrigated category. “These folks make farming look easy, but it’s far from it,” said Dipal Chaudhari, DEKALB® Asgrow® Deltapine® Brand Lead. “A lot goes into these ou...
8 Years Ago From the Colfax Gazette Friday, April 23, 1897 NEW TIME CARD Colfax Has Not a Single Daylight Train The new time card on th O. R. & N. went into effect on Wednesday, April 21. The new schedule is generally regarded as the most inconvenient that could possibly have been named for the Colfax people. It does not give the Palouse country at any point a daylight train. 100 Years Ago From the Colfax Commoner Friday, April 21, 1922 ST. IGNATIUS TO OBSERVE HOSPITAL DAY ON MAY 12 Movement W...
COLFAX - A law limiting police chases to cases only involving a potential violent offender has led to an 88% increase in vehicle thefts. With the number of vehicle thefts skyrocketing statewide, Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers is calling on lawmakers to rescind the law that only went into effect July 25 last year.. House Bill 1054 changed regulations on tactics and equipment used by police officers. Under the law, officers can only engage in a pursuit with probable cause to arrest a person...
COLFAX – Pastor Don Moore is retiring after 34 years of pastoral service at Colfax's Church of the Nazarene. Moore, 75, moved from Atlanta, Texas, to Colfax 34 years ago after traveling across the West as a preacher. Moore served as a pastor for 52 years. "We felt God was leading us to retire. By different means, age, and our health, and how well the church was doing, the timing was right for us to make the decision," he said. Moore and his wife, Peg Moore, are looking forward to retirement, b...
8 Years Ago From the Colfax Gazette Friday, April 16, 1897 CAUGHT IN THE ACT Earl Hodges and Arthur Baird Convicted of Theft Gaines' Store Watched for Several Nights and One Culprit Caught Robbing the Till Monday Evening Deputy Sheriff Green Smith arrested Earl Hodges and Arythur Baird, on a charge of burglarizing the story of F.W. Gaines in Colfax. Hodges was caught in the store. He had just tapped the till, taking 40 cents, and had concealed a box of cigars on his person, when held up by...
COLFAX - A Tekoa resident has been hired as the new sales and marketing specialist serving local businesses at The Whitman County Gazette. Chelsea Smoke, 26, of Tekoa, began her first day Monday, April 11. She replaces Sarah Stephens, who accepted a job in Spokane. Smoke will be assisting businesses in Colfax and greater Whitman County with their advertising and marketing needs. The new career is a good fit for Smoke, who says she enjoys working with people. "I am really looking forward to...
COLFAX - Photo opportunities and treats are coming Saturday, April 16, as Easter egg hunts hit the county. In Colfax, Friends of the Park is bringing the Easter Bunny to visit the following parks for treats, a parade, and a special egg delivery beginning with Thorn Hill at 11 a.m. From Thorn Hill, the Easter Bunny will hop over to Main Street for a stop at Lookout Park. By 11:30 a.m., the bunny is expected at The Flat and Cedar Street. The route continues to the high school, past Jennings...
PASCO — Joyce Margaret LePage was born Dec. 4., 1949, into a farming family that lived just outside the city. As an athletic and intelligent student, her decision to attend Washington State University was not a surprise to the LePage family. The family had several ties to the university in Whitman County. But Joyce would not graduate. In fact, Joyce would never grow beyond the age of 21 years old. In the summer of 1971, the WSU junior disappeared without a trace. Nine months after her d...
TEKOA – Four young ladies compete for Tekoa Royalty on April 16. The event starts at 3 p.m. at the Empire Theater. Tickets can be purchased from contestants or at the door. “Let It Reign” is the theme. The Tekoa Royalty program competition is four young ladies competing in several categories including interview, talent, poise and composure, and impromptu question categories. The current royalty court gives their farewell speeches and presents a video review of the past year. The event is hosted by Sara Chase....
COLFAX – A local couple is celebrating 50 years together as a family and business owners. Gary Lee Stilson and Kay Ellen Crandall were married in 1972. Eleven years later they bought Colfax Monument Co. The Stilsons met in the summer of 1971 through a cousin of Gary. "We met in the summer of 1971 and were married April 8, 1972. Gary is a country boy, and I was the city girl," Kay Stilson said. The couple raised their sons while active in the Colfax Chamber of Commerce, church, and Boy Scouts o...
COLFAX – A Diamond woman will run for Whitman County Assessor, an office she’s held since last year. Wraylee Flodin, 42, announced last week that she plans to seek election for the post she was appointed to following the death of Robin Jones last year. “When Robin passed away, I crossed over and it has been a seamless transition,” Flodin said. “It feels like a good fit for me.” Flodin started working in the Whitman County Treasurer’s Office five years ago and stepped into the job while serving as chief deputy treasurer. “There is a lot of tec...
COLFAX – The annual high school spring band concert returns after a COVID-19 mandate-related hiatus. The concert is set for 7 p.m. April 18 in the Colfax High School auditorium, 1110 N. Morton St. The concert features band students in grades 5-12. The concert concludes with the high school Jazz band. “Everyone is welcome and admission is free,” high school band director Mike Morgan said. The bands have spent their time playing at music events throughout the winter months, he said. “The spring is competition time for the junior high concert...
COLFAX - The Whitman County Auditor has announced her intention to seek a second term. Sandy Jamison, 59, of Garfield, said she is seeking re-election for the post that oversees licensing, elections and other county functions. "It has been an exhilarating ride, and a steep learning curve," she said Tuesday. "But I do believe that the Auditor's Office is in a good place now and I'd like to continue to see it grow and prosper." In the last four years, Jamison said she has accomplished her goals...
COLFAX - Whitman County's five-term prosecuting attorney has put his hat in the political arena again. Denis Tracy, 59, of Pullman, is seeking re-election after 20 years already in office. "I started in 2003. At the end of this year, I will have been in office for about 20 years," Tracy said. "I like the job. "It allows me to make a difference in the community and to do the most good that I have." After receiving a law degree, Tracy began as a deputy prosecuting attorney and eventually went...
SEATTLE – Two seniors from the Garfield-Palouse High School girls basketball were picked from across the state to compete in a 1B versus 2B All-State game March 19 in Western Washington. Vikings Kenzi Pedersen and Macy Brantiner said before the game they were excited to be selected to compete in the tournament. "I am most excited to play another game with one of my best friends," Brantiner said. Pedersen echoed her sentiments. "It feels pretty good to do this because we thought our last game tog...
LaCROSSE - Paint Nights at Whitman County libraries returns at the LaCrosse and Endicott branches this March. The public services manager at the Whitman County Library, Catalina Flores, is hopeful that the lifting of the mask mandate will bring more people to area libraries. "We are hoping more will come out and enjoy these programs we offer," Flores said. "We are excited to host these classes." Flores, a Colfax local, was disappointed to see the classes end in Oakesdale and Garfield during the...
ROSALIA – Rosalia is celebrating its 150th anniversary with the return of Battle Days and the All Class Reunion after a two-year absence. Lori Furman moved to Rosalia three years ago and immediately joined the Battle Days committee. She dedicated much of her time to the event. Furman took on the roles of secretary and treasurer for the board of directors. Battle Days have been a long-running event and is marking its 51st annual event in 2022 on June 4. “We are finally going to have a Battle Days and it’s been in the works since COVID-19 start...
COLFAX – Two men have reopened Marshall Munitions for special orders, with plans to offer online services in the coming month. Earl Marshall of Colfax and Mark Shelton of Sacramento, Calif., are operating by requested order now, but plan to expand online and their 220 S. Main St. physical business this year. Marshall Munitions opened in October of 2021, but closed due to supply shortages. The co-owners reopened in January, with the hopes of boosting the Whitman County economy. “We want to establish our name and brand as a go-to brand of amm...
COLFAX - Backed-up pipes have caused plumbing issues for the Whitman County Jail. During a Whitman County Commission meeting last week, Sheriff Brett Myers reported "roughly a month and a half ago, the pipes were blocked and a leak started, once again." Three years ago, the jail reported an issue with the pipes, where a backup so severe occurred that parts of the basement flooded, he said. "It's been a really crappy situation," Myers said of ongoing jail plumbing issues. The second and third...
ST. JOHN – The elementary and high schools have announced honor rolls. At St. John elementary, fourth-graders making the Honor Roll are Eli Cook, Daiquani Johnson, Emma Loomis, Aubree Mackey, Bennett Repp, Olivia Rieck, Landen Stach and Rylie Taylor. Fifth-graders are RyanDeFord, Thomas Logen, Zaiden McSpadden, Peyton Organ, Grady Quigley, Liam Shawgo, Jose Torres, Isabelle Venegas and Hadley Watt. St John-Endicott High School's Honor Roll is based on students' grade-point. In the first semester, the following students had a 4.0 GPA: Seniors -...
COLFAX — Mayor James Retzer provided the “State of the City” to Colfax Chamber of Commerce members and guests during a lunch meeting Tuesday, March 8. Retzer addressed several issues in town. According to the mayor, the city will have to replace two pumps for Thornhill water and irrigation systems. Another pump will have to be replaced at the Clay Street Well, he said. With hopes of receiving funding from the American Rescue Plan, Retzer estimates this project to be expensive. “We estimate the Clay Street well project to cost roughly $318,00...
COLFAX – During the Monday, March 7, county commissioner meeting, David Tysz was appointed to the Whitman County Water Conservancy Board. The Whitman County commissioners selected the Tekoa man as an alternative member of the board after it dropped from five members to three. Tysz volunteered to help maintain the three seats on the board. The commissioners conducted other business at the same March 7 meeting. County commissioners opened bids for the 2022 liquid asphalt contract and the Doneen Quarry Crushing Project. Idaho Asphalt Supply o...
