Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 68 - 92 of 473
PULLMAN - The Long Hollow Fire, which ignited in the Snake River Canyon west of Pullman, has been contained. The blaze, which started around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, during a thunderstorm that produced lightning, burned approximately 4,000 acres of stubble, pasture, and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) ground in Whitman County. Volunteers from Whitman County Fire District 13, based in Onecho, led the initial response, battling the flames overnight before state crews joined the effort. On...
BOISE, Idaho — A status conference hearing is scheduled next week for Bryan Kohberger, 29, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students, in Ada County Superior Court following his relocation. The status conference is scheduled at 2 p.m., for Thursday, Sept. 26, before Idaho 4th District Judge Steven Hippler, who was recently assigned to the case. Kohberger was transferred to Ada County by plane this past Sunday after the Idaho Supreme Court moved his trial from Moscow to Boise. Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree m...
PULLMAN – Local primary care clinics are gearing up for the 2024 flu season by offering flu vaccine clinics to protect the community. Pullman Regional’s primary care clinics, including Palouse Pediatrics, Pullman Family Medicine, Palouse Health Center, and the Family Medicine Residency Center, will host a series of flu shot clinics with convenient options for both established and new patients. Palouse Pediatrics will offer drive-thru flu vaccine clinics, allowing established patients to receive their shots without leaving their cars. The dri...
PULLMAN — The Pullman City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 24, where key topics on the agenda included updates on 2024 housing legislation and a presentation on public entity finances. The meeting, to be presided over by Mayor Francis A. Benjamin, provided residents with an opportunity to engage in two public comment sessions — one for non-agenda-related comments and another specifically for final action items. A presentation led by Jeff Elbracht, Director of Finance and Administrative Services, will educate attendees on the...
GARFIELD — Whitman County Sheriff's Deputies identified the victim of Friday's fatal motorcycle crash as 67-year-old Michael Auvil of Garfield. According to the Whitman County Sheriffs Office, the crash occurred at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, along Wawawai Road near Nisqually John Landing. Emergency personnel from Colton, Uniontown and Clarkston responded to the scene, where Auvil was pronounced dead shortly after their arrival. According to the initial investigation, Auvil was the sole occupant of the motorcycle and was traveling e...
TEKOA — The Tekoa Empire Theater is hosting a free movie night for the community this weekend. The Empire Theater will show Inside Out at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28. Concessions will be available for purchase and attendees can enjoy a free bag of popcorn with the purchase of a drink. The Tekoa Empire Theater is located at 126 South Crosby Street....
COLFAX — State fire assistance has been mobilized to support local firefighters in their efforts to contain the Long Hollow Fire. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state resources at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, following a request from Fire Chief Peter Appel of Whitman County Fire District 13. The Long Hollow Fire ignited around 4 p.m. and has now spread to an estimated 1,000 acres, with potential for further growth. The fire is burning through grass and brush, posing a threat to homes, crops, and r...
PULLMAN — Severe thunderstorms and dust storms caused widespread power outages across the Palouse yesterday, Wednesday, Sept. 25, leaving about 11,000 customers without electricity. Avista Utilities, Clearwater Power and Inland Power reported outages affecting about 6,000 customers in Moscow and areas south of the city. More than 4,000 customers in North Latah County, Potlatch, and Viola are without power, while hundreds are affected in the Steptoe area. Scattered outages have also been reported in Pullman, impacting dozens of customers. The N...
PULLMAN — The Pullman City Council convened on Tuesday, Sept. 12, to review and discuss Hometown Hero’s Banner Program updates and revisions to the 2025 legislative agenda. The council examined proposed Hometown Hero’s Banner Program changes, which honor local veterans and military service members. The revisions include updates to application procedures and modifications to program restrictions. The city of Pullman will receive payments for the program, which will be deposited into a dedicated account managed by the Parks and Recreation Depar...
PULLMAN — Three Washington State University (WSU) students were displaced during the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 11, after a fire severely damaged their rental home on College Hill. Pullman firefighters responded to 830 NE Opal Street shortly before 3 p.m., after receiving reports of smoke and flames coming from the roof. Neighbors saw the flames, called 911, and ensured the occupants safely evacuated the building. The first fire crews on the scene requested additional support, which came from Whitman County Rural District 12 and the M...
PULLMAN — Enrollment at Washington State University (WSU) has continued to decline for the fifth year in a row. The WSU Regents will review the enrollment report during their meeting next week. Preliminary numbers indicate a system-wide headcount of approximately 25,685 students this fall, a 3% decrease from last year and nearly a 20% drop since the onset of the pandemic. Since reaching a record enrollment of nearly 32,000 students in the fall of 2019, WSU has lost around 6,000 students. Last year, the rate of decline slowed, with a 4% drop i...
BOISE, Idaho — Latah County Superior Court 2nd District Judge John Judge announced Thursday, Sept. 12, his approval to relocate the trial for Bryan Kohberger, 29, the man charged with the fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students, to Boise, Idaho. The decision to transfer the trial, set for June 2025, comes after Judge John Judge ruled that extensive media coverage, misinformation on social media and public statements cast doubt on Kohberger’s ability to receive a fair trial in Moscow. Judge also ordered Kohberger’s transfer to Ad...
PULLMAN — Whitman County Commissioners awarded $200,000 to Project Downtown Pullman from the county’s 2024 Economic Development Public Facilities Fund, commonly referred to as .09 Funds. “We’re grateful that Whitman County recognizes the value and economic impact this project brings to our community,” Mayor Francis Benjamin said last week. “Thank you to County Commissioners Art Swannack, Tom Handy and Michael Largent for granting these funds to the city of Pullman.” The award was approved Sept. 3 by commissioners. The city applied for f...
PULLMAN — A Washington State University student faces first-degree extortion charges in Whitman County Superior Court following allegations from her former partner. Taylor Asante, 21, of Pullman, is accused of threatening to damage Ethan Reynolds’ phone if he did not pay $80 for its return, court records show. The charge stems from a Sept. 13, 2023, incident, records show. Reynolds reported the alleged extortion to police. According to court documents, Reynolds and Asante had been in a brief romantic relationship that began in August 2023. Rey...
MOSCOW — An Idaho judge has agreed to relocate the trial of Bryan Kohberger, 29, who faces charges in the 2022 killings of four University of Idaho students. On Monday, Sept. 9, Judge John Judge granted a motion from Kohberger’s defense team, which argued that a local jury could be too biased to ensure a fair trial due to extensive pre-trial media coverage. The judge ruled the courthouse lacked the resources for such a high-profile case and noted that the media coverage had been both extensive and prejudicial. The trial, originally set for Jun...
ROSALIA - A tragic love affair culminated in the murder of a Rosalia man in the early 1980s, when 20-year-old Richard Miller from Lewiston shot Glen D. Henning, 48, with a .22 caliber rifle. On Wednesday, October 7, 1981, just eight months after the fatal shooting, Miller was convicted of first-degree murder in Whitman County Superior Court. The incident occurred on January 8, when Henning was shot while attempting to retrieve a cookie sheet from the oven of a camper stored in an outbuilding on...
PULLMAN — The Downtown Pullman Association (DPA) is seeking applications for a new executive director following the departure of Mallory Nash, who is moving to the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation in the same role. Nash, who has led the DPA since July, will assist with the transition to her successor over the coming weeks. The application process is open and will remain so until the position is filled. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt. The DPA website provides a detailed job description, including organizational structure, q...
PULLMAN — The future of the Pullman Aquatic Center is in question as local governments work to resolve funding issues. The indoor pool, located on Military Hill next to Pullman High School, is owned by the Pullman School District and managed by the City of Pullman. The district pays the city approximately $100,000 annually for using the facility, which includes high school swim team practices and meets. The city and the district share the costs of repairing the pool. The Pullman School District currently faces a significant budget shortfall. S...
PULLMAN — The Civil Service Commission convened for a special meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 8 a.m. in the City of Pullman Council Chambers. Commission Chair Nathan Deen led the session, and Commissioner Milford Hodge was present. The meeting occurred after press time, and outcomes will be reported in another publication of the Whitman County Gazette. The Sept. 4 agenda includes considering and approving several new job announcements. The Commission will review and vote on the Fire Lieutenant Internal Promotional Process and Job Announcement...
PULLMAN — The Environmental Resilience Commission will hold its next meeting at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, in Council Chambers, City Hall, 190 SE Crestview Street, Building A. The meeting will include roll call, approval of minutes from the previous session and a review of the City Council’s recent updates and the Commission’s 2024 objectives. During the Friday, Aug. 2, meeting, the Commission discussed several important matters, including updates from the July 30 City Council meeting, where resolutions on cost distribution to the Pullm...
PULLMAN — The Pullman City Council convened Tuesday, Aug. 27, to discuss the establishment of a Transportation Benefit District (TBD) and the potential for a 0.1% sales tax increase to fund critical transportation projects. The meeting featured extensive public comments, including strong advocacy for improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Mike Urban, Director of Finance & Administrative Services, outlined the rationale behind the TBD, noting its potential to generate funds for various transportation needs, including road repairs and p...
PULLMAN — The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have honored the City of Pullman with the 2023 Excellence Award for Best City Project. The accolade recognizes the successful completion of the Arterial Streets Resurfacing 2020 project on Pioneer Hill, finalized in 2021. The Arterial Streets Resurfacing project, carried out by prime contractor Motley-Motley, Inc., involved resurfacing 1.3 miles of deteriorated streets on Pioneer Hill. The project utilized a cost-effective g...
PALOUSE — The garden above the Tony Kettel Skate Garden is set to undergo significant transformations over the next three weeks, and the Garden Transformation Team is calling on community volunteers to help bring these plans to life. “We have some ambitious goals for the garden, and we’re hoping to rally as many volunteers as possible to make it happen,” said Nicole Flansburg, co-chair of the Garden Transformation Team. Work began on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 8 a.m., when volunteers replanted the fire-damaged bed and reinstalled drip irrigat...
MOSCOW — The Humane Society of the Palouse is once again teaming up with the City of Moscow Parks and Recreation to host the annual Howling at Hamilton, a canine-focused fundraiser set to take place on Sunday, Sept. 8. The event will be held at the Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center, located at 830 N. Mountain View Road, and will run from 1 to 6 p.m. Howling at Hamilton began in 2008 and has become a beloved tradition for local dog owners and their furry companions. According to the Humane Society of the Palouse, over 340 dogs attended last y...
WASHTUCNA — A petition seeking the release of Henry Bley from the Washington State Penitentiary was filed 127 years ago, regarding the infamous double-homicide of the Moritz brothers. According to the Weekly Commoner, a predecessor to the Whitman County Gazette, dated Friday, August 20, 1897, Bley, who had been imprisoned for nine years, was connected to the infamous Moritz brothers’ murders, and filed a petition for his freedom. “This piece of criminal history is highlighted by the vigorous efforts which are now being made by citizens of Wa...
