Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 48 of 48
Martin Hall, the multi-county facility for incarcerating juveniles, is in financial trouble. Simply put, not enough juveniles are being sent there. A consortium of counties is trying to solve the problem. The answer is simple: Incarcerate more kids. Follow a long-held government tradition: Go for the money. One classic example is the state of Washington a few years ago during the budget crisis. After years of criminalizing marijuana, the possibility of getting income from taxing marijuana sales prompted some legislators and government... Full story
When a team puts down 98 points in the state’s regional ground of 16, does that signal a preview of things to come when the team advances to the final eight in the 1B title show at the Spokane Arena? Most coaches and fans in the SE 1B league this winter would answer the question with a yes. Besides its undefeated credentials for this season, Colton’s Wildcats will arrive in Spokane today with an unprecedented record of five state title wins. The Wildcats, who have been wearing a “tix for six...
All SE league players for the girls were named before the title game at Colfax. In front, from the left, are Zoe Moser, Jackie Warner, Savannah Chadwick, and Jenna Moser, all Colton; Torrie Koller, Pomeroy; and Sami Bailey, St. John/Endicott. In back, from the left, are Taylor Redman, Garfield-Palouse; Sierra Jo McKeown, Touchet; Wynter Greeno, Liberty Christian; Kim Groom and Mattie Jo Johnson, Tekoa-Oakesdale; Emily Jones, SJE; Cassandra Mendoza, Tekoa-Oakesdale; Mackenzie Monahan, Pomeroy;...
Named for all-SE honors before the 1B championship game last week at Colfax were, in front, Tyson Feider, Pomeroy; Jesse Lopez, Garfield/Palouse; Austin Meyer, Colton; Matt Holbrook, G-P; Craig Nelson, Rosalia; Isiah Ojeda, Liberty Christian; and Robert Staples, St. John/Endicott. In back, from the left, are Dillon Frank, Colton; Darcy Stamper, LaCrosse/Washtucna; Riley Bott, Pomeroy; Cody LaMunyan, Pomeroy; Dalton Patchen, Colton; Riley Roberts, L/W; Jake Straughan, Colton, Tyler Thurman,...
Before the game, the Sunnyside Christian boys basketball team walked into the Eisenhower High School gym in “2013 WIAA State Championship” sweatshirts, including two players with the height to see eye-to-eye with Dalton Patchen. At gametime the defending state champs took the floor in orange, red, yellow and green shoes. At the final buzzer, the colors bled, 67-44 Colton. “That tops last week’s game,” said Jake Straughan with a smile, referring to Colton’s 66-60 win over Gar-Pal to get the las...
Tekoa-Oakesdale girls avenge last year; end 15-year Sunnyside Christian state berth streak It wasn’t yet close to midnight, but there was something lurking in the dark. It was a yellow school bus parked outside Eisenhower High School last Friday night with the words “Sunnyside Christian” painted on the side. Their girls’ team again had the No. 1-seed from the Greater Columbia Gorge League which meant that Tekoa-Oakesdale would play them in a re-match in the regional playoffs from last year. I... Full story
Colfax girls, who have been out of the final state 2B hoop show since winning titles in 2009 and 2010, will return to the Spokane Arena today for the start of the three-day final tournament. The Bulldogs passed the last test for a state ticket Saturday at Cheney when they bumped Lind/Ritzville/Sprague 44-38 in the regional round. Colfax had a 2-1 record over the Broncos in the NE campaign. “They have just worked very hard this year,” Coach Corey Baerlocher commented the the long road to the state show. He noted members of the team on the fir...
A meeting of the Conservation of Palouse Prairie will be Thursday, March 13, in the Great Room of the 1912 Center in Moscow beginning at 7 p.m. The presentation is free and open to the public. In this presentation, they will provide a brief overview of the work that has been done by these teams, then share the results of ongoing study focused on bees. Bees are important pollinators in both natural and agricultural systems. Although Palouse Prairie fragments can be quite small, they can still support a rich and diverse community of native bees....
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will accept comments on proposed changes to state hunting rules for deer, elk, moose and other game species during a public meeting Friday and Saturday in Moses Lake. The commission, which sets policy for the WDFW, will convene at 8 a.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Moses Lake Civic Center, 401 S. Balsam Street in Moses Lake. An agenda for the meeting is available on the commission’s website, wdfw.wa.gov/commission. On March 7, the commission will be briefed and take public comment on proposed...
With the Martin Hall Juvenile Detention Facility at Medical Lake continuing to operate at a loss because of low occupancy, members of the seven-county board in charge of the hall decided to revert to a set fee payment plan. The decision last week is intended to sustain the Martin operation for the balance of the year while the board considers the long-range fate of the operation. Commissioner Art Swannack, who represents Whitman County on the hall’s board, said the numbers of juveniles in the hall has remained low the last several months, a... Full story
In order to use the Palouse compost facility for dumping leaves, grass and soft vegetation, Palouse residents must buy a 2014 permit at city hall. The 2013 permits, regardless of when purchased, are now expired. Each yard that dumps items requires a $15 permit.... Full story
Dog licenses for 2014 are now available in Palouse and required for all dogs three months or older kept within city limits. Dog licenses are valid Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, regardless of purchase date. For all neutered or spayed dogs, the cost is $5. For dogs not neutered or spayed, the cost is $10. Proof is required for the dogs’ rabies vaccination....
The Community Garden Backyard Harvest program is looking to expand into other communities in the county. According to organizer Janelle Miller, the program was so successful in Colfax last year that organizers want to develop more gardens in other towns. Community Garden partnered with Peace Lutheran Church and located the Colfax garden on lots along Lake Street south of the church. Miller said the gardens produced several kinds of peppers, tomatoes, winter and summer squash along with carrots, radishes and lettuce. Backyard Harvest provides... Full story
Briann Maley of Rosalia (left) and Kayla Johnson of Colfax, both players on the Whitworth women’s hoop team, say hello to Buddy, a seven-year-old Newfoundland, who is a certified therapy dog owned by Peter Forgey, a 1971 Rosalia High School grad who is now a teacher at Canyon Creek Middle School in Vancouver. The photo was taken when the Whitworth team was in Portland to play the Lewis and Clark Pioneers.... Full story
Invitations have been sent to a broad array of agricultural interests to participate on the state Department of Ecology’s new agriculture and water quality advisory committee. DOE is reaching out to expand upon and improve working relationships with agricultural landowners and livestock producers. The aim is to provide an open forum for dialogue ensuring both water quality protection and a healthy agricultural industry. “I believe we can have on-the-ground approaches that preserve agricultural lands and protect water quality if we roll up our...
At left, Linda and Scott Becker handle the homemade sausage with care at the Uniontown Sausage Feed Sunday. Organizer Ken Oenning said he was worried when the community building was virtually empty first thing Sunday morning, but after the roads improved, the crowds came in droves. He said after counting tickets that 1,350 people were fed, which is an average crowd. He said they served about 1,200 pounds of sausage. Below, the crowds enjoy the meal. This is the 61st year for the event. Money...
A new phase of combatting mosquitoes in Farmington is set to begin this spring. After recent years of running into problems with fogging, the town will use tablets this year to kill larvae. The change began with Ron Dugan, who completed his term as mayor in December. “There’s all kinds of problems with it,” he said referring to mosquito fogging. One of which was that the chemical set for use is evidently not certified for exposure to wheat. Dugan reported that the label on the Bio-Mist 4+4 U...
NOTICE OF A MITIGATED DETERMINATION OF NONSIGNIFICANCE AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMIT Whitman County Planning issued a Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance (M-DNS) under the State Environmental Policy Act Rules (Chapter 197-11 WAC) for the following project: Whitman County Public Works proposes to expand the existing Gordon Quarry. The existing quarry is approximately 22.27 acres and the new leased area will be 23.93 acres. The site of the quarry is owned by Albert Lynn Bruce in the Agricultural District, located approximately 5 miles... Full story
Two Eastern Washington University students who died tragically in a car crash just outside of Colfax were remembered at a memorial service on Monday at the university. Nancy Zepeda and Ashley Gonzales, both 21, died instantly when the car they were riding in crashed into a semi truck on Highway 195 on the S curves early on Feb. 21. Erica Musso, 21, was the driver and she was transported by MedStar to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. The third passenger, Carmen Vallapando, 22, was treated at Whitman Hospital and Medical Center and...
A series of classes is gaining momentum at the Whitman County Library in Colfax. Taught in the library basement and adjacent former Hamilton Drug Store building, which the library now owns, the classes are put on by Community Colleges of Spokane. The program began with a few offerings last spring, after an effort by Friends of the Library’s Sue Hallett, who contacted CCS three times asking about bringing their Act Two program to Colfax. Some of the low-cost classes are four-part series while oth...
Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers on Monday announced that he will seek a fourth term in the upcoming primary election this year. Myers began serving as sheriff in January of 2003 after defeating incumbent Steve Tomson in the 2002 primary election. “It has been my privilege to serve as the sheriff of this county for the past 11 years,” he said in a statement. “The sheriff is the only law enforcement officer in the entire county who works directly for the people and who holds that position based on a vote of confidence. I am humbled by the s...
The town of Garfield representatives are in the process of deciding whether to allow marijuana to be grown and processed within city limits under Washington’s new law. The issue came up when a town resident applied to become a grower and processor. The town’s council will decide whether to pass an ordinance to permit or ban marijuana production in the town. “We’re debating it right now,” said Mayor Ray McCown. The matter is presently in the hands of the city’s planning and zoning committee and a...
The Colton Wildcats celebrate as the buzzer sounds in a 67-44 victory over defending state champions Sunnyside Christian in Yakima last Friday. Colton will now play at the state tournament beginning today (Thursday) in Spokane. At center, Colton senior Jake Straughan raises his arms, with Dalton Patchen, another senior, over his right shoulder. In the foreground, dropping to the floor is head coach Seth Paine. Assistant coach Ben Aune bends down with him. Colton won by a score of 67-44. For...
