Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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On Saturday, Dec. 7, I had the enjoyment of attending my daughter’s graduation from University of Idaho. As a father, I enjoyed kicking back in the stands and watching the next Harnack generation matriculate. And, as you would expect, I was as proud as any dad in the crowd. Aside from being Dad and enjoying the fanfare and Pomp and Circumstance, however, one part of the ceremony didn’t sit well with me — the push for so-called “DEI,” or diversity, equity and inclusion. As I crossed the campus headed to the ceremony, the push for DEI became ev...
Ah, Thanksgiving. Turkey, cranberries, pumpkin pie and family. It’s a time to give thanks and celebrate family traditions. But not if you’re glued to a cellphone. As adults, it’s time to set an example and put those devices away. Spend time with your family partaking in long-standing traditions or creating new ones. There’s no need to be spending the day surfing social media. Instead, enjoy real social media with family and friends. Talk together, eat together, enjoy each other’s company. You have a lot to be thankful for, and Thursday...
PASCO — State Attorney General candidate Pete Serrano is keeping his spirits high as he watches ballots return over the next several days in the Nov. 5 general election. Early returns Tuesday night, showed Serrano trailing Nick Brown; the two are vying to replace Bob Ferguson, who is running for governor. The unofficial early tally showed Brown with 1,412,902 votes (56.47%) and Serrano with 1,087,107 (43.45%). Brown was leading in 10 counties; Serrano in 28, including 19 of the 20 in Eastern Washington. At press time, Chelan County had yet t...
Four measures on the Nov. 5 general election could make a difference in your lifestyle and your wallet. Here’s what you need to keep in mind when you cast your ballot: Initiative 2066 This initiative would repeal regulations that attack your ability to use nature gas use dryers, stoves, heating systems and more in your home and business. It would also restrict government agencies from implementing policies and programs that promote the use of electric appliances over natural gas. The measure c...
TEKOA - The Timberwolves boys football team took an early lead Friday afternoon, Oct. 18, over visiting Dayton, but frustration and a late penalty opened the door for the Bulldogs to take a Southeast 1B victory home. The Bulldogs then held on to win, 34-26, over host Tekoa-Rosalia. The Timberwolves opened scoring when senior quarterback Westley Bryan ran off-guard and up the sideline 47 yards for a touchdown with 9:21 left in the first quarter. Bryan then completed a pass to junior Brian Place...
Motorists in Washington state are sometimes handing over hundreds of dollars for licensing of their vehicle, but only receiving paper plates in return. According to an Aug. 28 legislative report, the state is had a backlog of at least 230,000 standard license plate orders, 10,000 specialty orders and 5,000 personal vanity orders. More than 20 counties (30 counties now) statewide are out of or nearly out of license plates. Still, the state is collecting money for plates it cannot provide as of...
It’s a bit premature to say the bell tolls for community newspapers. Sure, big city media printing the same diatribe you see on television is declining. (That’s because the city media moguls have forgotten their place in society.) And sure, with the Googles of the world, cellphones and social media have impacted our advertising, which, by the way is how we pay our bills. But in our community newspapers, we haven’t forgotten our place. Our reporters shop in the same stores, eat in the same restaurants and attend the same community functions as y...
PASCO —With less than 30 days to go in the Nov. 5 general election, a county auditor and state representative want to intervene in an effort to sweep away the constitutional residency requirement to vote. Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton of Pasco and 19th Legislative District Rep. Jim Walsh of Aberdeen, both Republicans, are seeking to require to state elections officials to follow the state Constitution or go about a legal change to the constitution. At issue is the unilateral decision by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, King County A...
DAVENPORT - The Gorillas drew first blood, but the Bulldogs answered the next three times to win a Northeast 2B football game Friday, Sept. 27. The Colfax Bulldogs topped the Davenport Gorillas, 33-13. The Gorillas marched down the field on their first possession of the game, with 5-foot-10 junior running back punching the ball in on Davenport's first possession to take a 6-0 lead. Colfax responded on the Bulldog's next two possessions on the running of senior John Largent, passing of Ryker...
There’s a disturbing trend among tax-payer funded agencies that needs to be nipped in the bud. If you haven’t noticed, public agencies like hospital and utility districts, school boards, city councils, and others have been taking steps to insulate — dare I say isolate — elected board members from the public. Have a concern about something in your local school district? Don’t like a utility rate increase? Want to know if your local public hospital is making a profit? Have questions about city taxes and fees? As a state resident, taxpayer...
You shouldn’t be surprised the state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council last week voted to accept a site application for construction of more wind turbines atop Horse Heaven Hills. It’s all part of Gov. Jay Inslee and his financial supporters plan to breach our dams and replace them with unsightly, unpopular and unreliable wind power. The council was pushed by Gov. Jay Inslee, who didn’t like the fact Tri-Citians outright rejected his plan to supplant dams with the unsightly wind turbines on Horse Heaven Hills. Local roadblocks to his plan...
RITZVILLE – The 9th Legislative District senator pleaded not guilty Thursday, Sept. 12, on a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol. But Adams County District Court Judge Andrea K. Russell determined there was probable cause for the charge against 67-year-old Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville. She scheduled him to appear before her again Oct. 8 in the 210 W. Broadway Ave. courthouse Schoesler was released on his own recognizance to a family member following his Aug. 31 arrest by citation at the Wheat Land Communities’ Fai...
PULLMAN — The largest community event of the year will fill downtown this weekend with classic cars, a parade, games, vendors and more. Sprague Days is set for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14 and 15. “Sprague is a safe little community,” spokeswoman Joy Wilken said. “Bring your kids; they can run around and be in the parade. It’s good, old-fashioned family fun.” The festivities kick off with the arrival of classic cars and motorcycles registering for the Renegade Restorations Car and Bike Show downtown, as well as the start of the Disk Dogs e...
School Districts in Eastern Washington are again starting to see boys and girls differently, especially when it comes to sports. The Kennewick School Board got the ball rolling back in July, following boys participation and victories in girls track events. Only a month or two before, a Methow Valley boy won a girls event in Cashmere, claiming he is “transgender.” Then an East Valley boy also competing under the transgender caveat, beat a West Valley girl to win the girls state 2A title in the...
RITZVILLE — Sen. Mark Schoesler will be arraigned Thursday, Sept. 12, on a charge of driving while under the influence. Schoesler’s hearing before Adams County District Court Judge Andrea K. Russell is set for 9:30 a.m. in the Adams County Courthouse, 210 W. Broadway Ave. During arraignment, the judge will determine if there is probable cause for the criminal citation and whether the senator qualifies for a public defense attorney. The judge will also advise Sen. Schoesler of his rights. Schoesler, R-Ritzville, represents the 9th Leg...
RITZVILLE – The 9th Legislative District senator pleaded not guilty Thursday, Sept. 12, on a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol. But Adams County District Court Judge Andrea K. Russell determined there was probable cause for the charge against 67-year-old Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville. She schedule him to appear before her again Oct. 8 in the 210 W. Broadway Ave. courthouse. In the meantime, he is prohibited from using alcohol, marijuana or other non-prescription drugs, t...
RITZVILLE — The local 9th Legislative District senator was released on his own recognizance Saturday night, Aug. 31, after being arrested for allegedly driving drunk and hitting two other vehicles. Sen. Mark Schoesler, 67, of Ritzville, was arrested by citation for driving while under the influence of alcohol following the Saturday night performance of the Ritzville Rodeo. According to Police Chief Dave McCormick, he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.14 at the time of his arrest. The citation will be referred to Adams County District Court, which...
Schools across the region are tackling the issue of cellphone addiction among students, at least while on campus. Well, maybe tackling the addiction is a bit strong. Let’s just say school boards here in Eastern Washington and elsewhere are finally taking action to keep phones out of students’ hands in classrooms. At issue in many districts is whether cell phones should be allowed in class, at lunch, on buses or even on campus. It’s a no-brainer — the short answer is no. Cellphone-addicted students are more focused on taking a “selfie” than they...
RITZVILLE — The local 9th Legislative District senator was released on his own recognizance Saturday night, Aug. 31, after being arrested for allegedly driving drunk and hitting another vehicle twice. Sen. Mark Schoesler, 67, of Ritzville, was arrested by citation for driving while under the influence of alcohol following the Saturday night performance of the Ritzville Rodeo. According to Police Chief Dave McCormick, he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.14 at the time of his arrest. The citation wi...
Under outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee, the state has been greenwashing just about everything it can. What is greenwashing? It’s the act of using false or misleading claims that an action will have a positive impact on the environment. This November, voters will have an opportunity to undo some of the greenwashing done by the Inslee Administration and state agencies. Two initiatives on the ballot are designed to restrict government agencies from continuing policies that have little-to-no environmental benefit and help curtail new ones from being e...
PASCO - A prominent local attorney and community leader is headed to the November general election for Secretary of State. At the end of ballot counting in the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary election, Pete Serrano of Pasco led the three-candidate field. "I am incredibly honored by your support tonight," Serrano said after the initial tally. "Your vote has made it clear that public safety is a top priority for Washingtonians. I am deeply grateful to my team, our volunteers, and every voter who placed...
OLYMPIA — Given Washington's recent political history, it's no surprise that Democrat Bob Ferguson is leading all candidates in the gubernatorial race to replace outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee. But former King County deputy-turned-politician Dave Reichert's apparent second-place finish, may be a surprise. Earlier this year, the Republican Party rejected Reichert and instead endorsed Semi Bird of Richland for governor. In the initial count of ballots in the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary election voters appeared to have overruled the county. Ferguson f...
Dams on the Columbia River and its tributaries contribute greatly to the way of life here in Eastern Washington. So, when the federal government says it has reached an agreement on proposed revisions to the Columbia River Treaty with Canada, rural residents should say not so fast. On the surface, the “in principle” agreement announced last week looks good for Americans. Under the proposed changes, the U.S. will get to keep more of the power generated on our side of the border. The proposed agreement says the U.S. will reduced the power all...
Truck, truck, truck, Tesla. Truck, truck, truck. Here in rural Eastern Washington, the running joke is that the “T” on a Tesla electric vehicle stands for “tourist.” Indeed, the expensive cars, like their electric Toyota and Rivian counterparts, are an oddity easily picked out among rural residents’ pickups, four-wheel drives and older vehicles. But what some rural residents may not realize is that they are paying to charge many of those expensive EVs. Over the last couple years, electric vehicle and utility companies have pushed installat...
SPOKANE - Ratepayers who purchase electricity from Avista may have their power turned off on windy, hot summer days when utility officials deem fire danger high. According to company officials, Avista's so-called "Public Safety Power Shutoff" plan is in response to summer conditions in Eastern Washington. When high winds are forecast, company employees may increase sensitivity on power lines, officials said. The increased sensitivity could lead to more and prolonged power outages. Officials...
