Serving Whitman County since 1877
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COLFAX— Whitman County Gazette has hired Matthew Strissel, 39, as a sports reporter. Originally from Rudyard, Mont., Strissel is no stranger to small farming communities having been raised in the farming area of Montana boasting approximately 200 residents. Strissel worked at the Lewiston Tribune before deciding to relocate to Pullman with his wife Bre, two dogs (Evee and Ronald), a Senegel parrot (Kisses), and a chameleon (Bruni). Obtaining his degree in photography from Northwest college in Powell, Wyo., Strissel fell in love with j...
TEKOA — The Port of Whitman County Commissioners approved the first lease on the new Tekoa economic development site during their Monday, June 3, regular meeting. The two-year lease is with Hefty Seed Company, supporting the expansion of the business by providing warehouse seed storage on the 14-acre property northwest of Tekoa. According to a press release from the Port of Whitman the company will store seed in the existing 5,000-square-foot building on the property. Hefty Seed Company offers seed, fertilizer and crop protection for farmers i...
OAKESDALE — During the regular Port of Whitman County meeting on Monday, June 3, commissioners unanimously passed the motion to continue forward in discussion of taking ownership of the Oakesdale Mill. Port Commissioners discussed what it would mean to take ownership of the Mill citing several concerns moving forward. Commissioner Karl Webber said that his two biggest concerns had to do with terms of ownership and when that would take off. “There’s an argument to be said for taking it as soon as possible and there’s also several argumen...
COLFAX - The Hospital Foundation Board of Directors presented a $130,000 check to the Whitman County Hospital and Medical Board of Commissioners on Thursday, May 30. The check is for an instrument washer needed for the hospital, which will be replaced at the same time as the sterilizer. "It is at end of life and it makes sense to replace it at the same the sterilizer is," said Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics Manager of Administration Services Laurie Gronning. During the Wednesday, May 15, W...
COLFAX - Tassels were turned as several Whitman County seniors went through graduation ceremonies last weekend, Saturday, June 1 and 2. Colfax, Colton, Garfield-Palouse and Oakesdale all made a huge step forward into their futures on Saturday, June 1 and St. John-Endicott seniors also celebrated with friends and family on Sunday, June 2. On Saturday, Colfax's senior class of 2024 went into the world beyond high school with the motto "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around...
TEKOA — The John Wayne Trail Riders are on the trail again this year, riding horse drawn carriages along the trail. Riders started on Friday, May 24, and are now in Malden for a rest day on Thursday, May 30. The trail riders will set out from Malden on Friday, May 31, going 10 miles were they will set up camp in Rosalia. The riders will not be in this year’s Rosalia Battle Days parade and will set out at 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 1 and go 22 miles until they hit Tekoa where they will end with an end of the ride celebration. The trail ride wil...
COLFAX - Long time residents Tony and Amanda Talley are starting their own plumbing business in Colfax called Cobra Drains Services Company. The Talleys have lived in Colfax for almost 20 years. "He's been in the plumbing and mainline business for years," Amanda Talley said. The Talleys have been obtaining their business licenses and are excited to serve Colfax and Whitman County. "We're excited to be a service that can be counted on," said Tony, adding that Cobra Drains Services Company will...
PALOUSE — The Spring Hotrod Gathering will be happening in Palouse this weekend from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 1. The gathering will feature hot rods, customs cars, and choppers pre-1965 only. People are invited to enter their hotrods for a small fee. The show will start at 11 a.m., followed by a frozen t-shirt challenge at 1 p.m. and the t-shirt booth will close at 2 p.m. Trophies will be placed in from of recipients’ cars at 3:30 p.m. Individual favorites will receive a trophy. Main Street will open at 6 p.m., and the Palouse Cab...
PINE CITY - Pine City boasts a new welcome sign replacing the one that was burned in the 2020 Babb Fire. According to Board Member of the Pine City Historical Society Teresa Brown, Jim and Sue Crutcher Rhodes, a generous couple who have never lived in Pine City, made the new sign possible. Brown said that the Crutcher family does have ties to Pine City, going back to 1880 when Sue's great-grandfather, Sam Crutcher, first came to the area. "Sam was born in Kentucky and served in the War of the...
ROSALIA — Battle Days is in route again this year with a weekend of fun May 31 and June 1. Festivities start, Friday, May 31, with dinner provided by the Battle Days Association at 5 p.m. at the Rosalia Park. From 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. there will be free swimming and games at the pool. Also on Friday, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. live music will be provided by Valente and The Jim Basnight Band. Saturday, June 1, will start out at 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. with a Scouts Breakfast at the fire station, 607 Whitman Avenue. The Fun Run will take at 8 a.m., with r...
COLFAX - Whitman County observed Memorial Day, remembering the men and women who sacrificed their lives for freedom on Monday, May 27. Colfax, Washtuchna and Garfield all held Memorial Day ceremonies, while several other towns remembered the fallen with flags placed on the graves of service members. Colfax and Washtucna both held their events at 10 a.m., with Colfax cemetery displaying approximately 315 full size American flags, as well as small flags adorning all the graves of the veterans....
COLFAX — High School seniors across the county are gearing up for the end of their high school careers and looking towards their future with graduation approaching. Four schools are preparing for their graduation ceremonies at 11 a.m., on Saturday, June 1, including Colfax, Colton, Garfield-Palouse, and Oakesdale. Both Colton and Colfax will host their graduation ceremonies in the gymnasium, with Colton in their big gym. “This class is a group of strong willed individuals, who as they leave us are going to be able to conquer whatever obs...
COLFAX — Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics met with Planned Parenthood on Wednesday, May 22, to discuss plans moving forward on compliance with the Reproductive Privacy Act. During the Wednesday, May 15 meeting Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics Vice President Michelle Beckmann said that the compliance committee had met that morning, scheduling a meeting with Planned Parenthood. Beckmann stated that the meeting with Planned Parenthood would result in a presentation to be given to the state by the next regular meeting, set for June 19. “Whi...
PALOUSE — Born at the old St. Ignatius Hospital and raised in Colfax, Ronald “Ron” Harder , 79, of Palouse, joined Washington State University ROTC to learn how to fly helicopters, going onto serve in Vietnam. Harder said during his military service he had to take two years training at Washington State University ROTC “They promised to teach me to be a pilot, so I went two more years ,” he said. Becoming a second lieutenant after training, Harder then went to his next training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as an armor officer. He married his wife...
ROSALIA — Pat’s Books and combined business Just Stuff is closing after over 20 years of being in business. Rosalia local and owner Pat Voge said that she is in the process of closing and will be getting rid of the books her store has collected since 1998. “I will be open for Battle Days and then a couple days after that, and we’ll be trying to eliminate things out of here,” Voge said. Voge said that she started out small, with just the front of the building, but had expanded. The business started when Duplicates, a bookstore that had close...
FARMINGTON - Sophomore students from the Upper Columbia Academy in Spangle helped out at the Farmington Cemetery on Wednesday, May 8, cleaning up and power washing headstones. Farmington Mountain View Cemetery District Commissioner Wes Wagner said that the students do their community service four times a year, and the program is ran by Curtis Anderson. "I was interested in having them come help clean up some of the old gravestones from the early to lat 1800s," said Wagner. HOPE Task Force Coordi...
PULLMAN — The Pullman Board of Directors awarded the Dedicated Teacher Award for the year 2024 to Heather Strader during their Wednesday, May 8, meeting. Franklin Elementary Principal, Stephanie Bray nominated Strader who is currently a second grade teacher at the school. “When I first started at Franklin, she was Kindergarten and she moved to second grade,” Bray said during the meeting. Bray read some of the letter for her recommendation stating that Strader is pivotal at Franklin, and is not only a member of the district but on several teams...
GARFIELD - Families and community members gathered along California Street as an announcer declared who was walking through the Saturday, May 18, May Day annual parade. The second day of the festivities started out with the kids parade, locals could be seen riding down the street on four wheelers and walking with colorful costumes. Following the kids, were Whitman County Garfield Fire District 3 fire trucks. One engine shot a stream of water out over the street. Ambulances from Whitman County...
COLFAX — Cemeteries across the county will fly the flag in remembrance of service men and women who gave their lives for their country. The annual Colfax event will be held at 10 a.m. at the cemetery, 804 State Route 272. Resident funeral director and longtime volunteer Craig Corbeill said they the call the program put on by the FFA students the Flag Program. Corbeill said that the program has happened for over 20 years, and that this year’s program will start with a service led by Pastor Bob Engles with singing provided by Craig and Kri...
COLFAX -The Center was packed and decorated bringing in mothers, grandmothers and granddaughters dressed in their Sunday best for a tea party on Saturday, May 11. The Friends of the Libraries annual Afternoon Tea and Silent Auction brought in a good turnout this year according to Whitman County event Organizer Nanette Nebe. "I feel like the news of the tea from last year has spread," she said, adding that this year they were able to see families bringing in three generations. For several it was...
TEKOA - The film crew for "Train Dreams" filled Henkle Street Wednesday, May 8, bringing in spectators to watch movie making magic unfold. Crew members could be seen dumping dirt across the road for the first scene, which featured extras being thrown out of "The Mercantile," Tekoa's old bank building that had been remade into a general store. Amongst the crowd was the drama class from Oakesdale, who were able to take the day off school to watch as the scenes were filmed. The class got to talk ab...
COLFAX- The Colfax Junior/High School held their final Jazz Band Concert for the year on Monday, May 13. First up was the smaller group including the students that compete, with a setlist including "Fancy Pants", "In a Sentimental Mood", and "Secret Love". Soloists were Lauryn York on the trumpet for "Fancy Pants"; Darin Repp on the trumpet and Walter McGraw on tenor sax for "In a Sentimental Mood", and Winona McGraw on trombone for "Secret Love". A total of 37 band members were on stage for...
COLFAX - A local family seeking justice for the death of their mother, Shannon Kambitsch, 58, of Deer Park, will go to trial after two and a half years of six continuances in the homicide case in Spokane County. A new readiness trial date is set for Tuesday, May 28, and the trial date is set for June 17. Shannon Kambitsch's son James Campbell and his wife Angela Campbell have been raising funds to pay for court costs, and are holding a benefit from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday, May 18, at...
COLFAX - A rare occurrence brought residents of Whitman County and Eastern Washington out on Friday, May 10, to stare up in wonder as the Aurora Borealis filled the night sky with vibrant radiating colors. The show of nature had been reported earlier Friday, as The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement relaying updates the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center to alert of an ongoing geomagnetic storm. Spokane National Weather...
PULLMAN — The Women’s Leadership Guild is aiming to raise and give away $10,000 at its Girlfriends Gather event taking place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, at the Lewis Alumni Centre on the Washington State University campus. For a $100 donation, each attendee nominates an eligible non-profit to take home all the donations of the evening. For a non-profit to be eligible, it must align with the mission to serve women’s and children’s health and wellness. “I love Girlfriends Gather, and it keeps getting better and better as more people he...