Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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At Monday’s county commissioner workshop, Chris Nelson, county treasurer updated the commissioners on this past tax season. “I am happy to say as of Dec. 31 we, for the first time that I’ve seen in our records, we collected over 98 percent of taxes,” Nelson said. “This is a record.” At the beginning of December Nelson noted that the treasurer’s office sent out approximately 1,500 postcards whose accounts show as delinquent. “I had sent out some postcards at the beginning of December and we collected over $1 million just last month,” Nelson...
The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association recently released a study that states the removal of the Lower Snake River Dams will cost the country $2.3 billion over the next 30 years. PNWA contracted with FCS Group, an economic and financial consultant, to complete the study. The objective was to see what impacts would occur to transportation and infrastructure if dam breaching were to occur and closure of the four Lower Snake River locks. According to the summary of findings from this study, the Columbia/Snake River system is the largest wheat...
Drama/play production classes will resume Jan. 16 at Colfax Junior-Senior High School as the remodeling of the auditorium is near complete. The annual production, delayed from the traditional November shows, will be "The Little Mermaid," staged for the first time in Colfax. "I think the public is really going to enjoy the auditorium, it has a definite WOW factor," said Jerry Pugh, Colfax superintendent. Small items remain such as painting and training on the new audio system. Jeff Stroman, a...
The Whitcom finance committee called a special meeting Monday to discuss the budget for this year. Whitcom is the regional emergency dispatch center. Dispatch services cover seven counties in Washington and Idaho. Lisa Strenge, Whitcom employee, said that she closed out the budget for 2019 and came out with approximately $200,000 in its reserves moving forward. “We fared a little bit better than we originally anticipated,” Strenge said. “After going through the budget there were several line items in there that we did not touch what we had b...
Colfax Chamber of Commerce Monday announced a change in First Thursday promotions for the upcoming year. Each First Thursday this year will have a different promotional theme with the events starting earlier in the year than previously. Ladies Night Out has been scheduled for February with a theme of “I Left My Heart in Colfax.” A $200 Valentine basket will be the drawing prize with “heart” chances offered to those who shop between 4 and 8 p.m. on Feb. 6. The March 5 First Thursday feature will be “Leprechaun Luck.” Colfax shoppers from March...
Real estate sale affidavits filed last week on six tax foreclosure sales conducted by the treasurer’s office indicated a gain in the annual routine. Treasurer Chris Nelson and staff opted to place the county’s foreclosure sale online at the bid4assets site. Previously the county conducted a bid session at the commissioners room in the courthouse after listing the properties in the Gazette. The online listing, as expected, drew bids from a larger audience and also attracted more competition. Bidders were required to register prior to the lis...
Legislation proposed Jan. 14 in Olympia would allow law enforcement, social workers and first responders the ability to quickly ascertain those with developmental disabilities. House Bill 2463, sponsored by Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, would provide an optional designation on a driver’s license or identicard for those with developmental disabilities. Schmick, the ranking GOP member on the Health Care and Wellness Committee, said the designation would be completely voluntary and could be helpful in a variety of circumstances. “In many cases, we...
A comeback is underway for the Whitman County Sheriff's Posse, with three new officers elected and a sharp rise in membership, after it dropped to five people in 2017. Seven-year co-captains Barb Kinzer and Kristin Scholz stepped down last fall, along with 10-year secretary/treasurer Anna Boyd. New co-captains sworn-in Jan. 9 are Jim Pelissier of Endicott, and Gina Wilson of Pullman. New secretary/treasurer is Wraylee Flodin. The tackmaster remains Jessica Pelissier. Jim and Jessica have been...
The Colfax school board Monday night elected officers for the new year, approved a large bus purchase and took in updates on school construction and the upcoming levy. It was the first meeting with new board member Erica Anderson. Superintendent Jerry Pugh opened the meeting with comments about the Feb. 11 maintenance and operations levy, on which he had planned to present to staff Tuesday, but it was canceled due to the late snow start. “This is a replacement levy. And the levy is for learning,” Pugh said. “We really want to focus on bolst...
The Washington state legislature began its 60-day 2020 legislative session Monday. Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) is the new speaker of the house, Washington's first female speaker. Rep. Frank Chopp (D-Seattle) resigned last summer after serving as speaker for 17 years, the longest stretch in state history. Proposals by Governor Jay Inslee include a $300 million plan to counter homelessness, a ban on the sale of assault weapons in Washington and high-capacity ammunition magazines, and further climate-related legislation. Local representatives...
Colfax boys roared during the second half Saturday on their home court to defeat the LRS Broncos literately in the final second of the game, 50-49. After the home win over the Broncos, the Bulldogs rolled north to Spangle Tuesday to play the undefeated Liberty Lancers. Colfax actually posted a lead in the early going, but Liberty steadied up and extended their season mark to 13-0 on a 76-52 win. Liberty Junior Van Ricker put down 31 points for the Lancers in the first round win. Liberty, which...
Colfax girls sustained two big defeats this week to finish up the first round of league action with a 2-3 record. The Bulldogs were crunched 64-31 Saturday in a home game with the LRS Broncos, and again 66-39 Tuesday at Spangle against a veteran Liberty team which is rolling on a 12-1 record. Lancer senior Maisie Burnham powered up for 30 points in the Tuesday game which saw the hosts roar to a 32-18 lead at halftime. Colfax was led by Kierstyn York who finished with 16 points. Coach Corey...
In a makeup game from last Friday's snow-out, Colton played at home Monday against St. John/Endicott/LaCrosse and picked up another league win, 76-44. Rylee Vining led with 19 points while Josie Schultheis scored 15 and Taylor Thomas 13. For SJEL, Brooklyn Bailey led with 24 points in the loss, including six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Senior post Drew Curtis-Brewer, the team's leading rebounder, had 11 points. "I'm pretty proud of the score (76-44)," said fifth-year SJEL coach...
Caden Noha picked up another win in the 195-pound class at Saturday's tournament hosted by the Broncos at Ritzville. Other placers for the Bulldogs were Kolby Slate, second in the 160 class; Braeden Rogers, second in the 170 class; Trentin Ensley, 3rd in the170 class. Laynie Southern placed third in the 120 class for girls....
Gar/Pal-Oakesdale 2020 begins Friday night at Oakesdale, the first meeting of the two teams which last year added a chapter to Whitman County basketball lore, in three games, the first two won by Gar/Pal and the third, for the district championship, taken by Oakesdale. The two senior-laden teams then both advanced to state, Gar-Pal eliminated on the first night at Spokane Arena and Oakesdale making it to day four and a sixth-place finish. This year, the teams are again at the top of the...
Tekoa/Rosalia teams host Upper Columbia Academy Tuesday in the Rosalia gym and booked a split. The TR boys took a win in a game which burned up the scorebook. Final score was 95-83 for the hosts. Riley McClain hit 38 points to lead the T-wolves in the scoring explosion. Anthony Gehring finished with 18 points and Garrett Naught hit 16. The UCA girls posted a 48-43 edge over Timberwolves in a game which was close all the way. Mia Pierce dominated for the guests with a total of 37 points Delani Lehn and Elise Wilkins each hit 10 points for the...
HAYES PLEADS NOT GUILTY Phillip A. Hayes, 59, Lamont area resident, pleaded not guilty in superior court Friday to charges of drive by shooting and second degree assault Jan. 2. Hayes remains in jail in lieu of posting bond for pre-trial release. His bond has been set at $350,000 surety or $35,000 cash. Hayes has been charged with shooting at the farm shop of a neighbor, Rowdy Brown, who lives on Spuler Road. He has been scheduled for a readiness hearing Feb. 7 and trial Feb. 17. ANOTHER WARRANT ON ASHLOCK Dustin Ashlock, 34, the "white camo"...
These reports are from the previous four issues of the Daily Bulletin in Colfax. They are reprinted here for the benefit of Gazette readers who reside outside of Colfax. Some accounts have been updated. UNDERSHERIFF CHARGED Whitman County Undersheriff Ron Rockness has been summoned to appear in court Friday, after a charge of assault in the second degree with domestic violence was filed against him Friday in superior court. He has been charged with assaulting Barbara Rockness, Dec. 12, at Rosalia and causing substantial bodily harm. According...
Over 300 people attended a workshop in Lewiston on the Snake River dams. The meeting was designed to give various views on the future of the dams, fish runs and alternatives. The third and last of the workshop meetings was in Pasco. A panel representing different positions gave information on the subject. According to the report in the Lewiston Tribune, a number of comments revolved around developing a more cooperative stance between those advocating different solutions. A theme which developed was to try to work together and balance the...
The president is smack-dab in the middle of impeachment politics. Suddenly, he orders a bold but perilous military action. His defenders vehemently argue that petty politics is getting in the way of his exercising his hugely important duties as commander in chief. Donald Trump, the 45th president, ordered a fiery drone attack that assassinated Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the leader of Iran's Quds Force. For decades Soleimani was the coordinator for Tehran's proxies and had been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans. While he was a hero...
In the torrent of idiotic commentary unleashed by the killing of Qassem Soleimani, Colin Kaepernick's deserves a place of honor. The NFL washout and Nike persona who makes sure the company doesn't produce any overly patriotic sneakers tweeted, "There is nothing new about American terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people for the expansion of American imperialism." For Kaepernick, Soleimani is just another dark-skinned man brutalized by the United States. The Iranian terror master was, in effect, driving while nonwhite and paid the...
