Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1066
COLFAX - The Colfax FFA won first-place in the State Land Judging Contest on Wednesday, Oct. 30, in Reardan. The event hosted by the Lincoln County Conservation District took place in Reardan at the farm of Jim and Diane Baye brought twenty six groups representing schools throughout the state. Top teams were recognized with certificates based on scores, with Colfax taking home first place to represent the state next April at the National level. The contestants evaluated soil and site...
COLFAX - The Regional Theatre of the Palouse is putting on a timeless Christmas tale for the season, with the retelling of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," presenting "SCROOGE! The Musical" The musical began Thursday, Nov. 7, with showings through this Sunday, Nov. 17. The story of Ebenezer Scrooge came first from "A Christmas Carol," written by Charles Dickens in 1843. The story was adapted by composer Leslie Bricusse in 1970 as the musical film, "Scrooge," which then morphed into...
ROSALIA- A crowd of people filled the Rosalia Veterans Park to honor those who served on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11. Attendees were welcomed and reminded in 1918, on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month the Allied countries signed an Armistice with Germany to end WWI, declaring the day a federal holiday in 1938 following the aftermath of WWII and the Korean War becoming known as Veterans Day. Clinton Tucker who received his Quilt of Valor at the Veterans Day program on Friday,...
STEPTOE - The annual Steptoe Elementary Veterans Day assembly on Friday, Nov. 8 in honor of those who have served. Elementary school teacher Sarah Mayer said the 5th through 8th graders put together the depiction of the Korean War memorial that could be seen standing next to all the wartime memorabilia that covered tables. Teacher, Principal and Superintendent Eric Patton had gathered all the memorabilia for those in attendance to look through. "The students made 19 soldiers, weapons, helmets,...
PULLMAN — The Ruck for the Fallen group is hosting a three part event for heroes this weekend on Sunday, Nov. 17. The three part event will feature a ruck of 11 miles, 11 feet and 11 inches starting at 8:30 a.m. in Johnson to raise awareness for the Pullman Cemeteries New Veterans Memorial Park Site. There will be a sandbag ruck the last mile for first responders, military and law enforcement and a meet and greet with Ruck for the Fallen founder Sergeant Major Mitch Kriebel at Zeppoz. “I’m so excited and hopeful to raise dollars for our heroe...
LACROSSE — The LaCrosse School was nominated and received recognition from the Association of Washington Student Leaders and the Association of Washington School Principals. The award recognizes schools that create and sustain a positive school culture and set the tone for a successful academic year highlighting the school’s commitment to fostering a sense of community among students, staff and families. The school started off the year with a culture kick-off event, hosting a large all-school assembly to introduce the new principal and dis...
COLFAX — Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics Commissioners set forth their Strategic Goals and Objectives during the Wednesday, Oct. 16 board meeting earlier this month. Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics CEO Hank Hanigan presented several strategic goals and objectives that the hospital would have moving into the new year. Hanigan said the hospital plans to complete an expansion of the therapy area, which is a continuation of the project happening this year. “It is not yet complete, but still needs to be a focus,” said Hanigan. Hanig...
COLFAX — Building Inspector Ginny Rumiser presented the last five years of building permit totals to County Commissioners during the Monday, Oct. 21 regular commission meeting. Whitman County building and development division issues building permits including structural plumbing and mechanical, personnel perform plan review, building inspections and retain building records. Building permits issued in 2024 came to 68, 13 pending and 15 for commercial construction. There was a total of 130 inspections and 41 final inspections. Total miles d...
COLFAX — The Port of Whitman County Commissioners authorized an earnest money agreement for a potential site for a new childcare facility on Thursday, Nov. 7. The money agreement for property behind Colfax High School comes after months of community engagement to figure out analysis of the gaps and needs for childcare in Whitman County. Included with the agreement is an 18-month due diligence period in which the Port will continue to explore the feasibility of the site. “Families and employers continue to tell us how desperately they need qua...
PULLMAN - The doors of Fonks Coffeehouse are back open as of Monday, Nov. 11, after complete reconstruction. The coffee shop located at 112 North Main Street burned down in a fire on March 17, 2020. Customers could be seen ordering Monday morning and sitting in the building as co-owner Amy Warwick happily greeted and took their orders. "We're happy to be back," Warwick said. "We're excited to see all of our people." Barista Natalia Meyerhofer who was making coffee by Warwick's side. "It's been...
TEKOA — Schools were reopened on Thursday, Nov. 7, after a nearby welfare check between police and an unknown man. According to Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers deputies responded around 7 a.m. to a call of a man who was walking around disturbed and frustrated. “It did happen to be around the school,” Myers said, “There were some indications that he was carrying a sword.” Myers said the man had not committed a crime and there was no obligation that he come out of his house. “We did notify the school so they we were aware,” Myers said, n...
PULLMAN - With Nov. 5 general election votes still being counted here, many residents are wondering why Whitman County is the only "blue" county in Eastern Washington. Unofficial results after late-arriving ballots were counted Nov. 9, show Whitman County as the only Democratic "blue" county in a sea of Republican red east of the Cascade Curtain. Here, current Vice President Kamala Harris garnered 51.8% of the vote county-wide, with former President Donald J. Trump collecting 45.2%. But that...
PULLMAN — The Neill Public Library is hosting a poetry event with authors Alexandra Teaue and Jory Mickelson at 6:30 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 8. Teague is a professor and Master of Fines Art program co-director at the University of Idaho and has written her fourth poetry collection [ominous music intensifying], and has writing Spinning Tea Cups: A Mythical American Memoir and The Principles Behind Floation: A Novel. Mickelson is a writer, educator and storyteller from Bellingham and has writing books of poetry “Wilderness//Kingdom,” a 2020 High...
TEKOA - A Vietnam Army Veteran from Tekoa was honored for his service on Sunday, Oct. 27. Volunteers from the Greater Spokane Quilts of Valor program gave a presentation at the Harvester Restaurant to honor Stanley 'Joe' Horlacher, of Tekoa, on Sunday, Oct. 27, for his service during wartime. Horlacher was joined during the presentation by nine family members and received a quilt in appreciation for his service and sacrifice with distinct Army-themed patriotic fabrics. Serving honorably in the...
COLFAX— With Veterans Day approaching Monday, Nov. 11, Whitman County is taking the time to honor those who have served. Closures across the county include the Whitman County Courthouse, commissioners will not hold their regular meeting and banks will be closed for the holiday. All fourteen branches of the Whitman County Library will be closed. In observance of the holiday, there will be no school and several schools will hold assemblies to commemorate the holiday. Colfax Junior/Senior High School will hold a Veterans Day assembly to recognize...
GARFIELD — The town of Garfield is one of seven communities receiving a $30,000 grant from the Community Heart and Soul Initiative receiving a $30,000 grant. The Heart and Soul Initiative recognizes communities with a population of 30,000 or less in the foundation’s 20-county service and the city is tasked with engaging residents in identifying what they love the most about their community, and how to better its future. “I was ecstatic to hear Garfield is a grant recipient for the Heart and Soul Program,” President of Community of Garfiel...
ROSALIA- The Fire Department volunteers closed out another annual pig roast fundraiser bringing in a crowd of supportive community Saturday, Nov. 2. The fundraiser served over 170 people, Rosalia Fire Chief Laura Lautenschlager said. Lautenschlager said they had 60 items in the Silent Auction. "Everything sold," she said. "There was a variety of gift baskets, a BB gun, a drum of oil and various gift certificates." All the proceeds from the event go back into the fire department and the Rosalia...
COLFAX — Palouse Conservation District is inviting farmers and ranchers to a November Soil Health Breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m., on Thursday, Nov. 14. The breakfast is taking place at The Center, adjacent to the Whitman County Library, located at 110 South Main Street. Farmers and ranchers are invited to start their morning with coffee and breakfast while discovering innovative soil health practices being implemented by fellow producers. The featured speaker is Brian Bohnhoff of Precision Bio, who will be presenting on “Leveraging Biology on You...
COLFAX - A ribbon cutting ceremony commemorating the opening of four new passing lanes along State Route 26 took place on Wednesday Oct. 30 Representatives and community members gathered at the Palouse Empire Fairgrounds to mark the grand opening of the lanes between Dusty and Colfax. Washington State Department of Transportation Regional Administrator Charlene Kay said the ribbon cutting represents how it all started, with collaboration of elected officials and local partners. "It has been a...
COLFAX — Whitman County Commissioner Michael Largent announced his resignation from the Board of County Commissioners during the regular board meeting Monday, Nov. 4. After 18 years serving on the board, Largent said it is with a heavy heart and mixed emotions that he is resigning effective at 5 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2025. “The reason I’m giving little over two and a half months is I think we need to leave adequate time for people to consider whether or not they would like to put their name forward,” Largent said to those in attendance. Largent...
COLFAX — Two legislative representative positions are up on the General Election ballot. Running for State Representative Position 1 incumbent Mary Dye takes the lead against Patrick Miller and Position 2 sees a lead in votes by Joe Schmick against Pam Kohlmeier. Statewide Dye is leading with 38,933, 66.21% of the votes with Miller behind at 19,734, 33.56% and 139, 0.24% write-ins. Whitman County voters have voted Dye in the lead at 6,272 votes, 55.59%, with Miller behind at 4,997 votes, 44.29%. “Joe (Schmick) and I are here in Garfield Cou...
COLFAX — Several levies were on this year’s General Election Ballot; results for the ballot count as of Thursday, Nov. 7 are as follows for each town. COLTON —The town of Colton proposes one levy in this year’s General Election concerning supporting general operations, street improvement and water maintenance. Proposition No. 853 is a one-year proposition for the town’s property tax at 80 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value, to raise the town $30,000. The levy passed with 128, 71.11% voting yes and 53, 29.28% against. ENDICOTT...
TEKOA — Schools are back to normal after a nearby welfare check between police and a man prompted a lock down this morning. Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers said deputies responded approximately 7 a.m. to a call of a man who was walking around disturbed and frustrated. "It did happen to be around the school," Myers said. "There were some indications that he was carrying a sword." Myers said the man had not committed a crime and there was no obligation that he come out of his house. "We did notify the school, so they were aware," Myers s...
COLFAX — On the ballot this election season Initiative 2066 passed, prohibiting state and local governments from restricting access to natural gas. The initiative would also prohibit the state building code council from discouraging or punishing the use of natural gas in any building. It requires gas and utility companies, cities or towns that provide natural gas to provide people or corporations natural gas even if other energy services or sources are available. A total of 2,793,408 voted state-wide, with 1,434,521, 51.35% voting in favor, a...
OAKESDALE — The Innovia Foundation announced that Oakesdale was selected as one of the first Eastern Washington and North Idaho communities for the Community Heart and Soul Initiative. For two years the town of Oakesdale tasked with engaging residents in identifying what they love the most about their community, and how to better its future. “The Community Heart and Soul framerwork is a great way for us to be able to engage with both active community members, as well as those individuals and groups whose voices aren’t as frequently heard,” Gran...
