Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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PULLMAN — The trial of a Pullman man accused of killing his estranged wife is scheduled to begin Monday in Whitman County Superior Court in Colfax. Jacob Erik Spray, 36, of Pullman, is facing charges of first-degree murder with sexual motivation, second-degree murder, first-degree rape and first degree burglary domestic violence with sexual motivation. He is accused of strangling Tekoa-native Jamie Anne Wilson-Spray; her body was found in a trailer Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Sevdy’s trailer park, 605 N.W. Fish St. Jury selection will sta...
PULLMAN - The first Whitman County baby of 2025 was born at 8:02 a.m., on Thursday, Jan. 2. Caden Thompson, son to Adrianne Griebel-Thompson and Connor Thompson, was welcomed by Pullman Regional Hospital Dr. Huong Trinh of Moscow/Pullman, weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 20.25 inches long. His mother Adrianne is an Assistant Professor in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Idaho and his father Connor is an Administrative Law Judge for the State of...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Commissioners met, Wednesday, Jan. 8, placing a moratorium on wind turbines in the county. Whitman County Prosecutor and Civil Counsel Denis Tracy said the commissioners met yesterday at 1 p.m.. for an executive session to discuss the moratorium. At approximately 2 p.m., commissioners reconvened for a public meeting to consider the moratorium and approved to move forward with putting a hold on all potential wind turbine developments until county zoning code is re-examined. The ordinance states the county will adopt t...
COLFAX — An Albion man pled guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm after shooting into the darkness. During a Superior Court hearing Friday, Jan. 3, Dylan Robert McCleod, 32 of Albion pled guilty to second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm after shooting at what he thought was his girlfriend’s ex down the street. Prosecutor Dan LeBeau stated at 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 19, 2024, the defendant’s girlfriend reported to the Sheriff’s Office her ex was at the property knocking on her window. Deputies from the Whitman County Sheriff’s Officer r...
PULLMAN — The United Way of Whitman County (UWWC) is hosting a cocktail and appetizer fundraising event from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, at the Lewis Alumni Center, Grimes Way and Southeast Olympia Avenue. The event will feature spirits including a cocktail and mocktail, wines from Merry Cellars, a handcrafted IPA from Palouse Brewing Company and hors d’oeuvres and desserts from La Patissiere Etc. “We are so excited to bring our community and volunteers together to the fundraising event of the season to benefit those in need,...
TEKOA - Family and friends of Jamie Ann Wilson are turning the tragic loss of a loved one into an opportunity to celebrate her life and legacy. They are planning a future scholarship for Whitman County students pursuing a career in the Culinary Arts. The scholarship is having funds raised with t-shirts which feature Wilson's original artwork and state "Justice for Jamie." Wilson, 25, was found deceased due to strangulation in her Pullman residence on March 26, 2024. Sammie Williams, a friend of...
COLFAX — Whitman County Public Hospital District No. 3 commissioners approved an undesignated capital request for the urology department. During the regular board meeting, Wednesday, Dec. 18, Commissioner Kathy Wride requested approval from the board for the two urology requests including $60,000 for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) software and $62,000 for a chair for special urology exams. The board unanimously passed designating $122,000 in funds to urology. Wride reported the fluoroscopy unit completed. Fluoroscopy is a medical imaging t...
PULLMAN — A man was stabbed during an altercation on North Grand Avenue early morning Saturday, Dec. 21. Pullman Police Department Commander Aaron Breshears confirmed police responded to the call at approximately 2 a.m. in an area north of the Mobil gas station on Grand Avenue. The 34-year old man, whose name was not released by the city, was stabbed in the abdomen with scissors and taken by ambulance to the Pullman Regional Hospital then was transferred to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane to be treated and released. Reports say, o...
COLFAX — Whitman County Commissioners approved the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) funded projects for the new year. During the regular meeting Monday, Dec. 30, commissioners authorized carrying over incomplete 2024 CIP Projects into the new year totaling $1,528,571. These projects include Public Service Building repairs for $378,571; Developmental Services (DS) roof repairs for $150,000; DS Parking Lot Design and Engineering for $25,000; DS doors for $25,000; Sheriff, Jail Boiler Room for $550,000; Remodel of the Pro Mall 2 for Pullman H...
PULLMAN - Two teenage students accused of plotting to shoot a Pullman High School teacher will appear in Whitman County Superior Court today Thursday, Jan. 2, for another hearing. Pullman High School students Izzy Alexander Miranda of Pullman and Corban L. Hop of Colton, both 14, were arrested Tuesday, Dec. 10. Miranda was detained on charges of harassment-threats to kill and threats to bomb or injure property. Hop was also arrested on a charge of threats to bomb or injure property. Miranda and...
PULLMAN — A 28- year-old-man identified by the Whitman County Coroner’s Office as Darcy Taylor Spracklin, died after being shot Thursday, Dec. 26. According to reports, Pullman Police Department detectives have reclassified the case as a homicide and are continuing investigations. According to a press release from Monday, Dec. 30, from Whitman County Coroner Annie Pillars, Spracklin died from multiple gunshots. Pullman Police Department Commander Aaron Breshears stated the police and fire department responded to the reported medical pro...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Commissioners are considering a proposed “Whitman County-Harvest Hills LLC-Cost Reimbursement Agreement” during the regular Monday, Jan. 6, meeting. Whitman County ordinances and fee schedules require Harvest Hills, the applicant for a commercial energy facility to pay the processing costs associated with review of State Environmental Police Act (SEPA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) compliance and all County activities necessary prior to submittal of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). The processing costs cons...
PULLMAN — The Pullman Police Chief has been put on administrative leave pending an investigation from the Washington State Patrol (WSP). According to reports, Police Chief Jake Opgenorth was placed on administrative leave at an unspecified time. Reports confirm the Washington State Patrol is doing a confidential investigation into Opgenorth which can not be shared due to the personal nature of the incident. Washington State Patrol Sergeant Greg Riddell is reported to have stated the WSP is brought into conduct an investigation at the request o...
ST. JOHN– The Volunteer Fire Department was presented with a $1,500 donation from the Rosalia non-profit The Rattling Pans Barbecue, during their annual Christmas party Friday, Dec. 20. Public Works assistant Steve Gibson said the event spanning over 20 years had over 70 people show up, including retired firefighters and their spouses. Co-owner of Rattling The Pans BBQ Dominic Petrovich said the money goes toward the volunteer firefighters ropes training coming up this spring in March or May. "...
COLFAX – Whitman County Public Hospital District No. 3 commissioners unanimously approved establishing a new hospice care program. During the regular Wednesday, Dec. 18, meeting, Dr. Peter Edminister reported that a contract was needed to allow Gentiva Dr. Eric Sohn to admit patients, write orders, direct nurses and more at Whitman Hospital. Gentiva is the only hospice provider in the St. John area and it is having staffing troubles, Edminster said. With the staffing shortage, hospice providers there need a place for patients to receive care wh...
COLFAX –– Whitman County commissioners are expecting a $4.2 million budget shortfall next year. The expectation was explained during a regular meeting Monday, Dec. 13, on the proposed $38.1 million budget. The meeting included approval of the 2025 budget as well as discussions on the financial status of county funds and projects. Whitman County Chief Financial Office Jessica Jensema estimated the county budget shortfall for 2025 to be $4,183,472. But she noted the shortfall doesn’t accurately reflect county finances. “I do not believe that wi...
STEPTOE - Residents gathered at the Steptoe Cemetery on National Wreaths Across America Day to honor and remember those who have served Saturday, Dec. 14. Cherry Alice Van Tine opened the ceremony honoring those who are currently serving, followed by a prayer by Pastor Bob Ingalls for those who paid the ultimate price, families facing loss and those wounded in service. Cadet Kaitlyn MacDougall and Jeremiah Fassler presented the colors and the National Anthem was sang by David Buri. "Wreaths...
TEKOA - The School District held its first band concert in years Wednesday, Dec. 11, with students utilizing the music program that started this year. Superintendent Mike Jones said it has been about five years since the school has been able to put on a concert. Principal Yolanda Bone said the middle school band performed two songs including 'A Christmas Chant,' and 'Holiday Sampler." Up next was the high school band performing 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' and 'Deck'n the Halls,' a jazz version... Full story
COLFAX — The Whitman Conservation District is hosting a donation drive for used live Christmas Trees starting Thursday, Dec. 26 through Wednesday, Feb. 1 in the new office parking lot, 614 North Mill Street. The Conservation District will have a large black dump trailer parked close to the office building, to use as a collection container and area residents are welcome to drop off their no longer needed used Christmas trees for free. The trees will have a “second life” to be used in the Conservation District’s riparian restoration project...
ST. JOHN —The St. John-Endicott Schools announced free math tutoring for students in grades 6 through 12. The state legislature approved funding for a math tutoring program across Washington. Math Nation awarded the contract to facilitate the legislated request, with goals to reduce disparities in student performance and improve algebraic achievement to create a statewide interactive math tutoring tool for middle and high school students. It is accessible 24 hours a day for students, teachers and parents. The program, Math Nation-Washington, i...
ST. JOHN — The St. John-Endicott School Board has established a budget review committee for evaluation of the 2025 through 2026 school budget. The committee was started to ensure a transparent and thorough process for evaluating next year’s budget with the possibility of reducing expenditures and taking proactive steps to identify potential adjustments early. The job of the committee will be to carefully review the current budget and provide informed recommendations for the board to consider and allow the district to address potential cha...
PALOUSE — The City Council released a revised proposed budget for the new year. The revised budget expects a proposed deficit of $4,582,896.60, a $526,520.45 difference from the original proposed revenue. Current Expense has a proposed difference of $11,150 in revenues, at $1,045,434.50. Expenditures come to $607,516.05, at a difference of $66,226.70. Pool revenues are project at $212,951, a difference of $3,908; the RV park proposes a difference of $7,000, coming to a total of $62,405.00 and Parks comes to $63,065, a difference of $370. The Po...
FARMINGTON — The town held its monthly town council meeting Monday, Dec. 16, discussing several topics including laws regarding recording minutes, a new snow plow and appointing a new member to the board. The first item on the agenda was the approval of the November 2024 Consent Agendas. Meeting minutes In discussion Council Member Mike Erickson stated there were several inaccuracies and omissions from the regular town council meeting Monday, Nov. 18, minutes. “There was an omission, complete omission of discussion around a controversial ema...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Commissioners allocated $100,000 from the county’s .09 Economic Development Fund to help pay for the shortfall for Pullman’s Downtown Reconstruction project. During the Monday, Dec. 16, workshop, County Commissioners discussed Pullman Mayor Francis Benjamin’s request from last week’s meeting for the county to help pay some of the extra cost totaling approximately $400,000. Commissioners added the request to their agenda, discussing concerns of fully paying the project’s shortfall since several other projects in...
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...
