Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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ST. JOHN— The St. John Winterfest is coming this weekend with activities to celebrate the upcoming holidays and a visit from Mrs. Claus at the library. Winterfest will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, with the Holiday Fair taking place until 3 p.m. at the Eccles Community Hall, 9752 U.S. Highway 23. There will be live music, a songfest, homemade soups, baked goods all available to dine in and take out. Local area crafters, artisans and makers will be selling items for holiday shopping. Soup in the fire station profits will go towards n...
COLFAX — Local volunteer firefighters are continuing over 40 years of Christmas tradition, accepting donations for this year’s Christmas Toy Box Drive. Colfax EMS Coordinator and Toy Box Organizer Jamie Keller said the firefighters provide toys to children in Whitman County. “We take donations and they start in November and go through February,” Keller said, adding they then go shopping for kids in the age groups. “We put together a store and we let the people who register through the Health Department come and look,” she said, adding this...
STEPTOE - The local branch of Wreaths Across America (WAA) is hosting a wreath-laying ceremony at noon next Saturday, Dec. 14. The annual ceremony is in observance of National Wreaths Across America Day at Bethel Cemetery on Scholz Road in Steptoe. Organizer Cherry Alice Van Tine said the event will honor 123 veterans this year, one more than last year. "We appreciate all the people who pay for a wreath for their family veteran or friend veteran," Van Tine said, adding that they also receive...
PULLMAN — The Kiwanis Club of Pullman is hosting the 66th annual pancake breakfast and music festival at 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Lincoln Middle School, 315 Southeast Crestview Street. The breakfast is the opening event of Pullman Holiday Festival day which includes shopping, a food drive, tree lighting and more. Breakfast includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, ham, turkey sausage, fruit, coffee, milk and fruit juice. During the program there will be music from local and school groups and a silent auction with items donated b...
COLFAX - The Colfax Schools Foundation teamed up with the local branch of P1FCU to raise awareness for the foundation's Dollars for Scholars program. P1FCU donated and printed labels for water bottles to be sold at concessions during Bulldog games which have a QR code to scan and donate to scholarships for graduating seniors. Colfax School Foundation President Mary Anne Wigen said the Colfax Schools Foundation was established in 2002 by the Colfax High School graduating class of 1952. "Because...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Public Works Department is improving a stockpile site and preparing for winter with a letter on snow plowing priorities. During the regular Whitman County Commissioner meeting on Monday, Dec. 2, Commissioners moved to approve providing stockpiling of aggregate for county road maintenance purposes. Whitman County Engineer Dean Cornelison reported the department was getting low on rock in Doneen. “One point last year I think all three districts were hauling out our quarry because of an increase in graveling,” he said....
PULLMAN — The Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) awarded $348,664 to the City of Pullman for a road resurfacing project on Friday, Nov. 22. The funds from the Arterial Preservation Program will go towards the Orchard Drive and Valley Road Resurfacing Project scheduled for construction in 2025. “We are grateful that this project was selected for funding the Transportation Improvement Board,” City of Pullman’s Grants and Special Projects Manager Valerie Weaver said. “This project was dependent on grant funding to happen....
COLFAX — County Commissioners moved and seconded approving 2025 budget amendments during the regular commission meeting on Monday, Dec. 2. Chief Financial Officer Jessica Jensema reported that there was a total requested revenue adjustment of $202,642 and expense adjustments of $189,180, totaling adjustment of revenue exceeding expenses of $13,462. “No transfer from the reserve would be required,” Jensema reported. Jensema reported for general government there was a request to increase revenue by $347,000. “A majority of that is the opioid...
PULLMAN — The Whitman County Health Department will be moving into a new facility after County Commissioners purchased property in Pullman. During the Monday, Dec. 2, regular business meeting commissioners moved and approved the purchase of 1240 Southeast Bishop Boulevard Suite P and Q. “We’ve been contemplating purchasing new property for the Health Department since it became known that making the current facility compliant with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements is not in the best interest of the county,” County Commiss...
COLFAX - The Chamber of Commerce is hosting a day full of cheer on Saturday, Dec. 7, with the annual Winterfest. Starting at 9:15 a.m. registration for the Run Run Rudolf 5K and Kids 1-mile hosted by Colfax Friends of the Parks, will start at Schmuck Park, East 6th Street. The race starts at 10 a.m. and the 1-mile at 10:15 a.m. The Whitman County Library is hosting activities for all ages to kick-off the holiday season during Winterfest. Those who attend can tour the "Festival of Trees," in the...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Auditor’s office confirmed the 2024 General Election certification as of Tuesday, Nov. 26. Whitman County Auditor Sandy Jamison reported to County Commissioners during the Monday, Dec. 2 workshop that the election results were official and were certified. Jamison also asked about payment for the county’s portion of expenses of the primary election and noted the county would be getting a bill for the general election in the next few weeks. Whitman County Assessor Wraylee Flodin reminded Commissioners they would be ce...
COLFAX - Save the Palouse not-for-profit members came before the Whitman County Commissioners to ask them to fight against the Wind Turbine project proposed near Kamiak Butte during the Monday, Dec. 2, regular commission meeting. Colfax farmer and Save the Palouse member Bill Myers asked commissioners to reconsider the moratorium again. A moratorium is a temporary suspension of an activity, law or regulation. "It makes absolutely no sense to grant these guys anything," Myers said, noting that...
By Teresa Simpson Gazette Reporter PULLMAN — The Board of Commissioners of the Pullman Regional Hospital is seeking to fill a vacant board position. Former board member Sandra O’Keefe served on the board for 16 years and is resigning form the role to care for her family out of the area as of Dec. 31. “Sandy has provided a tremendous service to the hospital and the community,” Pullman Regional Hospital Board of Commissioners President. Serving on the board since 2008, O’Keefe is has a 30-year career as an oncology nurse. “I’ve always been a...
ST. JOHN - Christmas cheer hit St. John on Saturday, Dec. 7, as residents gathered in the streets for Winterfest to shop for the holidays, enjoy live music and end the day with fireworks. Starting the day, sales took place with the Holiday Fair getting in early Christmas shopping from local area crafters, artisans and makers. Live music could be heard as a songfest took place and homemade soups and baked goods were enjoyed by all. Mrs. Claus made an appearance to read at the library with childre...
ROSALIA - The Garden Club decorated the City Mini-Park, next to the library at 40 South Whitman Avenue, for the holiday season on Monday, Dec. 2. Garden Club members used nine wreaths and swags designed with fresh evergreens, along with a holiday character, made and designed by member Barbara Bothman. Bothman used a tomato cage and covered it with cedar boughs along with other components. Rosalia Garden Club Publicity Chairman MarvaLee Peterschick said the character sits on the bench in the...
OAKESDALE - The High School Drama Class put on a showing of the Lousia May Alcott novel "Little Women," on Wednesday, Dec. 4. The story, published in 1868, was written by Louisa May Alcott, an American novelist and is about four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, as they grow up during the American Civil War. Jenna Ruals depicted Meg March, the first sister to get married to John Brooke, played by Adam Scott, much to Jo's dismay. Grace DeMeerleer was cast to play Jo. Beth March, originally slated...
COLFAX - The Perkins House hosted a Vintage Holiday event Saturday, Dec. 7, with models decked out in their Christmas best for a historical fashion show. Perkins House Outreach Coordinator Jill Gfeller said though the crowd was small onlookers loved every minute of it. Gfeller said Perkins House textile Coordinator Hannah Strong put together all the outfits and fitted the models ranging from age 4 to their late twenties. Strong said there were 14 models including Sarah McKnight, Grace...
PULLMAN— The city completed accountability, financial and federal grant compliance audits through the Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO) for 2022 in good standing. The State Auditor reported no deficiencies regarding design or operation of internal financial reported. “We issued an unmodified opinion on the fair presentation of the city’s financial statements in accordance with its regulatory basis of accounting,” wrote the State Auditor’s office. According to the report the SAO identified a deficiency related to contracts with two co...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Commissioners signed an interagency agreement with Washington State University (WSU) extension office during the Monday, Dec. 2, regular commission meeting. Presenting the interagency agreement was WSU Assistant Director of Extension Michael Gaffney. “After a couple of false starts, what I have to present to you for your consideration is a corrected document and it is the interagency agreement for 2025 to support the WSU extension office in Whitman County,” Gaffney reported. Gaffney reported the monthly contr...
COLFAX - Several Conservation Districts updated commissioners during the Monday, Dec. 9, workshop on where they are this year and their plans going into the new year. Pine Creek Conservation District Pine Creek Conservation District located at 401 U.S. Highway 27 in Oakesdale, reported first on new hires, what they are offering and plans moving forward. Pine Creek Conservation District Manager Casey Lowder stated the district serves the northeast part of Whitman County and works closely with...
COLFAX — Pullman Mayor Francis Benjamin updated County Commissioners on the Pullman Downtown Project opening discussion for future possible .09 funding, during the Monday, Dec. 9, workshop. The county previously awarded $200,000 to the project from the Whitman County Economic Development Public Facilities, .09 Funds, a sales and use tax for public facilities in rural counties. Benjamin opened by saying the City appreciates the support the county has provided with .09 funding. “We understand that there might still be some available so wan...
COLFAX- The holidays are starting off with a fun-filled day of Winterfest sales and family activities. On Saturday, Dec. 7, community members and residents from across the Palouse could be seen filling the streets of Colfax for Christmas shopping, visiting with Santa, singing and lighting a tree. Colfax Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rachel Schad said the event was great and it looks like a lot of people came out despite the rainy weather. "It stopped just in time for the parade, and...
COLFAX — The Friends of Hospice are hosting the annual Tree of Light and Remembrance Ceremonies in both Colfax and Pullman. The Pullman ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the Bishop Place Event Center, 815 Southeast Klemgard Street. In Colfax a ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the local branch of the Whitman County Library. Friends of Hospice are offering attendees the opportunity to honor loved ones they have lost, including parents and grandparents who have passed. The ceremonies w...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Developmental Services is teaming up with DreamWorks Inc., LMK Inc., and Boost Collaborative setting up three Giving Trees. The Giving Trees will be located at two places in Colfax, the Whitman County Courthouse and Public Service Building and one will be in Pullman at the Human Services Building. Gifts items requested along with directions are located on tags and items collected will be distributed to adults who live in Whitman County with developmental disabilities. Those who give can return the gift wrapped i...
MOSCOW — The Palouse Habitat for Humanity was awarded a $25,000 Community Possible grant from the U.S. Bank Foundation. The grant will go towards supporting Habitat’s work building affordable homes around the Palouse region. Funds provide operation support going into 2025, while the nonprofit finishes the Jones family home in Palouse, the Austin family in Moscow and starts the 2025 home in Pullman. “In Latah and Whitman Counties, the median income earner can no longer afford the median home price,” Executive Director of Palouse HFH Jennife...
