Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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STEPTOE - Gathering once again for its 33rd year of celebrating old time farming, the Morgan Plowing Bee is preparing ground for another year of growth. The event will take place this weekend starting at 8 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the intersection of Klaveano and Bartlett Road. Organizer John Morgan, 87, of Colfax, said people will start gathering around 8 a.m. to unhitch and prepare to plow the ground that was harvested. "It's essential what we're doing and we look forward to having...
MOSCOW — The Palouse Habitat for Humanity was awarded $15,000 in funds to build a home in Palouse. The grant awarded through Wells Fargo Foundation will go towards building the Jones family home and is designed to fit the family of seven comfortably and affordably. Wells Fargo volunteers from the Lewiston and Moscow offices joined Habitat for Humanity volunteers on Thursday, Oct. 10, to prepare for pouring the foundation of the home. “We appreciate Wells Fargo’s partnership, supporting affordable home building with both funds and helping hands...
COLFAX — During the Whitman County Commissioners workshop Monday, Oct. 15, officials addressed moving forward on awarding funds to the Tekoa Runway project. An early press release from the City of Tekoa, on Tuesday, Oct. 8, stated the City of Tekoa was awarded $20,000 in Economic Development Funds for its airport runway project. “According to the request it is going to be $20,000,” said Swannack, stating that commissioners would make a formal action on Monday, Oct. 21. The funds are from requests for funding proposals from the Whitman Count...
COLFAX — A man facing multiple charges of assault of law enforcement officers pled guilty. Darien Leaf Armstrong, 26, jury trial was stricken after he entered a plea of guilty to charges. According to past reports, the case began when officer Holden Humphrey was initially dispatched with other officers at 4:22 p.m. June 27 to 845 S.E. Spring St., for a report of an assault. Armstrong was arrested for threatening and hitting a man later identified as Christopher Hundahusen, Humphrey reported. Armstrong is reported to have assaulted officers w...
COLFAX - The Port of Whitman County received an update on projects affected by the $500,000 Community Revitalization Grant. During the regular Thursday, Oct. 10, commission meeting Haley and Aldrich representative Sarah Sieloff presented stating it is a four year running grant, closing Sept. 30, 2027. The Port received the $500,000 grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to lead community-wide brownfields assessment. Community member nominated sites for the program...
ST. JOHN — The city is teaming up with the Port of Whitman County and the Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics to assess a property for future use of a medical clinic. During the Monday, Oct. 14 City Council meeting several guest attendees gathered for a presentation by Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering Consultants Haley and Aldrich, Inc., representative and Geologist-Environmental Scientist Ward McDonald, to discuss the potential clinic site. Guest attendees were Port of Whitman County Executive Director Kara Riebold, Port C...
TEKOA — The City of Tekoa was awarded $20,000 in Economic Development Funds for an airport runway. Port of Whitman County Commissioners awarded $20,000 to the city for their Willard Field Runway Rehabilitation Construction Project. Willard Field is a public airport owned and managed by the City of Tekoa, which adopted a goal to build an industrial park at the airport in April 2024 and expand airport capabilities. The airport has one runway with an asphalt surface and self-service fuel. The Whitman County Economic Development .09 Funds s...
TEKOA — The Tekoa Chamber is teaming up with the Tekoa Empire Theatre to bring music to the theatre with new music festival WheatStalk coming this month. The event set for 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, features Pacific Northwest and Eastern Washington bands including Kyle Richard, Thundergun Express, Jordan Paddock, The Kevin Shay Band and another surprise special guest. Tekoa Chamber President Melinda Wilkins said this is the first year they will have put the grass root music festival on and are hoping it grows every year to be annual. “I hav...
COLFAX — The Colfax Greenway Citizens Committee is working on a feasibility study. The committee will host a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the Whitman County Library, 110 South Main Street. The meeting is free to the public and will feature a presentation by Colfax citizens who want to develop a safe, alternative walking and biking route to the current U.S. 195 access downtown. Colfax City Council member Blaine Golden reported on the feasibility study during the Monday, Oct. 7, city council meeting. “As par...
TEKOA — Tractor and historical farming fans have another chance to see a historical plowing bee near Tekoa this weekend. The eleventh annual ‘Plowin Palouse’ plowing bee starts at 7 a.m. with unloading near Tekoa this Saturday, Oct. 19. Born and raised in Tekoa, Organizer Brian Wise, of Spokane, said he started the event eleven years ago. “I always thought it would be neat to have an old tractor plow bee out in the west, because there is several of those out in the country,” Wise said. Wise said that the first plowing bee he organized...
COLFAX — County Commissioners signed a contract with Central Washington asphalt during the Monday, Oct. 7, regular meeting. Whitman County Engineer, Dean Cornelison reported the project to pave Endicott Road from milepost 23.71 to 29.81 would get started on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Cornelison said activity would start on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at approximately noon. “The paving part of the project is going to take about two weeks,” Cornelison reported to commissioners. Cornelison reported delays can be expected for approximately three weeks, inclu...
COLFAX — During the regular meeting of County Commissioners Monday, Oct. 7, a state of emergency was rescinded for a bridge on Elberton Road. Commissioners declared a state of emergency on Aug. 5, 2024, after scour damage was detected on the Ewell Bridge. “I commend the bridge crew for getting right on that job,” County Engineer Dean Cornelison reported, noting the crew started right after the state of emergency was declared. “Everything seems to be holding up just fine,” Cornelison reported. “I don’t think it’s going anywhere, there’s too muc...
COLFAX — City Public Works, police and fire reported on how the departments are doing during the Monday, Oct. 7, council meeting. City Public Works Director Matt Hammer reported to City Council the swept rock from the road was being utilized for the police shooting range. “We took it out to where the police have a shooting range, and we got that a little better for them,” Hammer reported. Hammer stated the contractor is finished with the road and the department will be out and sweeping leaves soon. “We will put another basically whole town sw...
COLFAX - The Port of Whitman County spoke during the Colfax Chamber of Commerce quarterly meeting on a feasibility study to get childcare in Colfax and the surrounding area. The Chamber held its quarterly meeting Tuesday, Oct. 8, with guest speakers Port of Whitman County Executive Director Kara Riebold and representatives from NAC Architecture to discuss an ongoing feasibility study towards childcare services. Riebold told the crowd that the feasibility study was a continuation of work being...
COLFAX — With winter approaching construction on the Colfax City Pool is not stopping with several unseen renovations happening inside. During the Monday, Oct. 7, City Council meeting Mayor Jim Retzer reported despite the community not being able to see the progress it is happening. Retzer reported the construction crew has started forming up scaffolding and is cutting the gutter system out in the deep end. “They did a lot of knocking down some concrete around all the light posts and fixtures inside,” Retzer reported, adding there are two b...
COLFAX — Departments requested changes in revenue and expenses on the county budget. County Commissioners moved and approved several proposed 2024 department budget amendments. Whitman County Chief Finance Administrator Jessica Jensema reported the current expense proposed budget amendment has a zero net effect of the requested revenues. “Increases and decreases were offset equally with expense increases or decreases,” reported Jensema, adding there would not be a requested transfer from the reserve fund. The Administration Department reque...
COLFAX - The Dugger Plowing Bee is coming up for a fourth year this weekend, Saturday, Oct. 5. Palouse resident and Iowa State University student Colby Dugger flew back home to host the annual plowing bee. "It's on state route 272, between Colfax and Palouse," said Dugger. "It's about three miles from Palouse on your way to Colfax." Dugger said they are hoping to have as many tractors and spectators as they can. "It's a pretty good field this year," said Dugger. "We've got field for all kinds...
COLFAX - Local plane enthusiasts and families gathered to eat breakfast, view vintage planes and vote their favorite. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) 328 flew in vintage planes and hosted a breakfast for the ninth year in a row. "We had slightly less than last year and that's good," said Organizer Barney Buckley. Buckley said the event brought in 215 people for breakfast and approximately 45 planes flew in. Groups of people could be seen viewing planes as new ones flew in. At the...
COLFAX — The St. John-Endicott collaborative School Board discussed September finance updates for both schools during the Monday, Sept. 30 board meeting held in Endicott. St. John-Endicott School Business Manager and Human Resources Director Janelle Kelley reported numbers for the month of September. Kelley reported Endicott payroll for the 2024-2025 year at $226,892.76, in comparison to 2023-2024 at $246,657.12. The general fund accounts payable came to $196,246.12 for Endicott in September, for capital projects accounts payable $9,738.48. 1...
COLFAX — Whitman County commissioners discussed the budget for the Green Hollow Road Project during its Sept. 30 meeting. The project will include grading, draining, widening and resurfacing the road. It also includes improving sight-distance and establishes a clear zone from near Milepost 6 to just past Milepost 8. “It is just south of Manning Road to just south of Roberts Road,” Whitman County Engineer Dean Cornelison said, noting the county will straighten and level the road. The project is partially funded through the 2023-25 biennium, with...
COLFAX — Is Washington State neglecting youth educational funding? With a 44% drop in allocations, several Whitman County schools would say yes. The Colfax School District outlined three top priorities they are bringing before the 2025 legislature: • Immediately address the significant underfunding of allocations for Materials, Supplies and Operating Costs (MSOC). • Fully fund the cost of special education services. • Fix the pupil transportation formula to ensure transparency, predictability, and adequate funding for “special passenger...
COLFAX — Commissioners discussed insurance rate increases and the effect it has on the 2025 budget during the Monday, Sept. 30, workshop. Commissioner Michael Largent reported on a meeting with the liability insurance company. “They are starting to tighten up their estimates, they are now at about a 18% to 19% rate increase,” reported Largent. Whitman County Chief Finance Administrator Jessica Jensema reported through Zoom comments the increase was $170,000 more than originally budgeted for 2025. Jensema reported that it was a $340,000 total...
ROSALIA — Rail fans can gather in Rosalia for several events centered around railroad history. The library is teaming up with Cascade Rail Foundation and Thunderhead Ranch to put on a railroad history presentation in downtown Rosalia at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5. After the presentation, attendees can take a guided history hike on the former Milwaukee Road right of way over the Rosalia Concrete Arch bridges which are now part of the Palouse to Cascades State Park trail. The hike after the presentation will feature comparative historic photos o...
COLFAX - A decked-out-in-pink Bettie Steiger Community Center boasted a large group of women who were coming together to raise funds for breast cancer awareness Saturday, Sept. 21. The Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics Auxiliary hosted "Strength in Pink," the first luncheon honoring those who have been affected by breast cancer on Sept. 21. A silent auction took place until 2 p.m. to raise funds. Diane Clark welcomed the group of women, followed by a blessing by Darlene Kroll and the tables...
COLFAX - It is said that the appearance of a butterfly can signify that a passed loved one is with you always. This was taken into consideration as attendees of the first Palouse Butterfly Release gathered in Shmuck Park, Saturday, Sept. 21. The park gazebo filled with people who had sent in names of those they lost and those who came to share in the memories of their loved ones. Tables along the edges of the gazebo had notes stating "you are missed," with other similar sentiments and tissues...
