Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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RITZVILLE – Adams and Franklin counties could be dived between two different legislative districts if the state Supreme Court approves a new redistricting map previously supported by a state commission. Last week, the state Redistricting Commission failed to reach an agreement on a plan to create new, equal-population legislative and congressional districts by the Nov. 15 deadline. As a result, state law now gives authority over redistricting to the high court in Olympia. The previously proposed...
Poland and America are like two trains passing each other in opposite directions. That is becoming increasingly clear as President Biden rolls out his progressive agenda. The key question looking forward, “Will government or consumers drive our economy?” Poland broke the shackles of Soviet communist domination three decades ago. Free for the first time since World War II, Poland cast off its yoke of government control and central planning in favor of an American-style free enterprise system whe...
OLYMPIA - A new plan for managing Palouse Falls State Park may end camping and require hiking permits if approved. Washington State Parks officials are taking comments on the proposed plan during a virtual meeting Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. The meeting is accessible online at https://bit.ly/3tYuVAo. The state is also planning to host in-person meetings at 6 p.m. on Nov. 8 and Nov. 9. The locations have yet to be determined. The meeting includes discussions of agency-planned changes for Lyons Ferry and...
TEKOA – The Tekoa-Rosalia Timberwolves swept Chesterton Academy, 3-0, in a non-league Class 1B girls volleyball matchup on Sept. 27. Set scores were 25-18, 25-11, and 25-11. Delani Lehn led the Timberwolves with 15 kills and 6 aces. Teammate Anglina Nocker added 4 digs. The win comes after a week's hiatus from the court due to coronavirus concerns for the local girls. Non-vaccinated players have since tested negative for the virus, allowing the Timberwolves to resume playing volleyball. The g...
TEKOA — The undefeated Pomeroy Pirates showed why they are the No. 1-ranked Class 1B football team in the state, dominating the Tekoa-Rosalia Timberwolves, 74-0, in a league matchup on Sept. 24. "The young Timberwolves ran up against a big, experienced team from Pomeroy," Timberwolves Coach Jay Scholz said, noting his team wants to forget about the loss and move on. "The 'Wolves matched the physicality through most of the first quarter, but after a couple missed defensive assignments and m...
WALLA WALLA — A firefighter from Whitman County is among nearly 100 health care workers, law enforcement and corrections officers, fire personnel, and others suing Gov. Jay Inslee over his get vaccinated or be fired mandate. The lawsuit was filed on Sept. 10 in Walla Walla County Superior Court. Spokane firefighter Nicholas Holmes is from Whitman County. He’s identified as one of the main plaintiffs in the William Cleary, Sherra Rena Cleary, Nicholas Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Steven Collins v. Jay Inslee lawsuit. In addition to firefighters,...
RITZVILLE — Whitman County would remain in the 9th Legislative District under three different proposals offered by the Redistricting Commission. But a fourth proposal would split the county between Colfax and Pullman, moving those Whitman County voters in Pullman, Uniontown, and Colton into the 16th District. The proposals come from House appointees Democrat April Sims and Republican Paul Graves, and Senate appointees Democrat Brady Walkinshaw and Republican Joe Fain. Walkinshaw’s plan would split Whitman County between Colfax and Pullman. He...
COLFAX - For the second time in three years, a local woman was named Superintendent of the Year by the Palouse Empire Fair. Mary Davidson, 62, was notified of her selection Saturday morning while volunteering in the 4-H barn at the Palouse Empire Fair. "I just found out," Davidson, said. Davidson served as the superintendent of the 4-H building, managing entry divisions including 4-H, vegetables, flowers, photography, and art. Davidson grew up in a 4-H family and has been involved ever since....
Talk about a bureaucrat with delusions of grandeur. On Sept. 3, Washington State University (WSU) Extension Office Director Vicki A. McCracken took it upon herself to dictate that all 4-H volunteers now have to be “fully vaccinated” to continue in their position or face being “inactive.” She cited Gov. Jay Inslee’s edict that everyone connected to education, from preschool through the university system, must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18. Apparently, neither McCracken nor Inslee have attended t...
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee this afternoon extended his coronavirus-related eviction moratorium through Oct. 31. Calling the moratorium a "bridge," Inslee said his action will allow municipalities to put in place financial assistance programs for those who haven't paid their rent or mortgages during the 18 months of his orders related to the virus that originated in Wuhan, China. Money is available, he said, adding: "We think this extension provides ample times for these funds to get out to c...
COLFAX - Cowpokes competing in the Palouse Empire Rodeo took home more than $21,500 in prize money Sept. 9-10. More than $18,000 was paid out to Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) competitors and another $3,500 was paid to breakaway ropers. Jordan Ketscher won All-Around Cowboy honors, winning $928 as the heeler in the winning team roping team. He was also among the top-tier cowboys in tie-down roping, although he didn't place. Aces Wild Pro Rodeo, of Soap Lake, was the stock...
PULLMAN - The Washington State University (WSU) Extension Office is applying the governor's COVID vaccination requirement to all 4-H volunteers. In a letter dated Sept. 3, Extension Office Director Vicki A. McCracken gave all volunteers until Oct. 18 to prove they have been vaccinated or be removed from their post. "WSU is required to comply with Governor (Jay) Inslee's recent vaccination proclamation requirement," McCracken wrote. "This health and safety proclamation that has been ordered by th...
COLFAX — For the second time in three years, a local woman was named Superintendent of the Year by the Palouse Empire Fair. Mary Davidson, 62, was notified of her selection Saturday morning while volunteering in the 4-H barn at the Palouse Empire Fair. "I just found out," Davidson, said. Davidson served as the superintendent of the 4-H building, managing entry divisions including 4-H, vegetables, flowers, photography, and art. Davidson grew up in a 4-H family and has been involved ever since. I...
TEKOA — The Tekoa-Rosalia Timberwolves face a tough gridiron schedule when they take the field this fall. The boys football team is competing in the 1B Southeast (eight-man) league this season. While the Timberwolves are not ranked, at least three of their competitors this season made ScorebookLive.com’s Top 10 preseason rankings. The Liberty Christian Patriots, Pomeroy Pirates, and the DeSales Fighting Irish all got listed as teams to watch this season. The Patriots are ranked No. 4 in the sta...
LAMONT - A Lamont man was named as a board member for the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. Dave Swannack replaced Randy Suess as the Whitman County president in June, the association reported last week. Swannack was one of two new appointees to the board. The other is Leif Claassen of Asotin County. "It's important farmers get involved (in industry organizations) because we are going to lose everything we farm if we don't get involved," Swannack said. "We've got to keep our markets...
COLFAX — A local state lawmaker is calling on the governor to rescind his order requiring public school students to wear masks on campus. Ninth Legislative District Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, wrote a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee on Aug. 9 calling for him to back off the gubernatorial mandate. In addition, 24 other Republicans signed the letter. The 9th Legislative District includes Adams, Asotin, Franklin, Garfield, Whitman, and southern Spokane Counties. Citing the state Department of Health a...
OLYMPIA - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal is calling on the governor to require teachers to be vaccinated. In an Aug. 12 letter, Reykdal says he is "strongly encouraging" the governor to require public school employees to be vaccinated against COVID as a condition of employment. "I am strongly encouraging you to issue an executive order requiring all employees working in public K–12 schools to get their vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment," R...
SPANGLE — More than 450 people stood on the Liberty High School baseball field singing the National Anthem on Aug. 12. A World War II-era P-51 fighter flew overhead, piloted by Jared Segebartt, of Moscow, Idaho, as the "stars and stripes" waved in the wind. Some in the crowd waved American flags while others hoisted signs demanding the governor rescind his edict requiring public school students to be masked when classes resume in the coming weeks. On the dais, 9th Legislative District R...
Parents of public school students in the 9th Legislative district have had enough of coronavirus-related mandates from Olympia. Shutter schools, curtail sports, wear masks, limit field trips, and restrict access to graduation. The actions have not been embraced here. And neither has Gov. Jay Inslee’s renewed call for all public school students to remain masked for the upcoming 2021-22 school year. Area parents are pushing back. This week, led by a group from Fairfield, many parents are e...
PULLMAN — At least two Eastern Washington cities have instituted mask mandates for everyone entering indoor areas. The Pullman police chief announced the new mask mandates on the city website earlier today, Tuesday, Aug. 17. It follows an announcement Monday, Aug. 16, posted to the city of Richland’s website. “In consistency with Whitman County Department of Health and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommendations, masks are required in all indoor, public spaces within city of Pullman facilities, effective immediately,” Pullm...
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee ordered all public school districts in the state to require students and employees to wear masks on school grounds when classes resume in the fall. Inslee blamed the need to wear masks on residents who have chosen not to get vaccinated against COVID-19, during a press conference on July 28. "We will continue our existing policies regarding masking, all students and employees will be required to wear masks around each other in the building, regardless of their vaccinatio...
CHENEY — Speakers overwhelmingly backed changes to shift two counties east into the federal 5th District in Washington state. A state Redistricting Commission public meeting was held on July 24. With the population shift over the last decade, several people testifying during the hearing called for Adams and Walla Walla counties to move out of the 4th Legislative District (Central Washington) and into the 5th Legislative District (Eastern Washington). "Eastern Washington is not just everything e...
SPANGLE — A farmer along East Spangle Waverly Road erected a “Bay Watch” parody using haystacks. His “Hay Watch” depicts a man with a hairy chest wearing swim trunks and a woman with long eyelashes wearing a one-piece swimming suit. The display is located along the rural road southeast of Liberty High School in Spokane County....
SPOKANE VALLEY — Law enforcement officers from across Eastern Washington are warning residents that new laws make it difficult to serve the public on possible criminal activities. Nine police chiefs and eight sheriffs gathered at Center Place July 22 to voice concerns about Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1310 and House Bill 1054, and Senate Substitute Bill 5066. The laws went into effect on Sunday, July 25. “The Legislature of the state of Washington chose to craft laws and did not invite your law enforcement leaders to the table to...
CHENEY - A Colville man was named All-Around Cowboy after taking home the most money from the three-day Cheney Rodeo. Travis James Eller took home $2,058 after competing in tie-down roping and team roping, according to Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) standings. He and partner Brett Hale, of Tenino, tied for third place with 7.8 seconds. Eller took fourth in tie-down roping with a time of 12.8 seconds. While Eller was posting good times in roping, another Colville resident was busy...
