Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 45 of 45
COLFAX — New gas tax, mental health hotline, regional health districts, shifting litter control funds, and a carbon tax were disused by the Whitman County commissioners. The commissioners took in the latest report from its lobbyist for the state legislature, Zak Kennedy on Monday morning. “We just finished signing documents and we’re ready for some bright and sunny news from Olympia,” said Chairman Art Swannack. “Can I call you back next year?” Kennedy said. His report began and Kennedy talked about a proposed new gas tax, suggesting it could l...
TEKOA - Three candidates to replace the Tekoa School District superintendent are being interviewed. The school district serves 170 students in grades kindergarten through high school. Superintendent Mark Heid is leaving the district and helping find his successor. The candidates are being interviewed by the board, school staff, and conduct a meeting with community members, said Tekoa School District Business Manager Lisa Haas District board chair Rob Wilkins declined to disclose the candidates' names or background to the Gaz...
SPOKANE — Six organizations in Whitman County will receive grants from the Innovia foundation in its efforts to help with COVID and wildfire relief. Community Action Center will get $20,000 for housing security for people displaced by wildfires. Council on Aging and Human Services and Coast Transportation will receive $13,000 to support senior nutrition programs. Pine Creek Community Restoration Long-Term Recovery Organization was marked for $20,000 for general operating support. Pullman Community Gardens at Koppel Farm will accept $10,000 for...
STARBUCK — An electrical incident at Little Goose Dam on March 19 resulted in oil loss, which was captured in a secondary containment and did not reach the Snake River. The cleanup was conducted along with oil recovery operations. A T2 transformer lost oil as a result of the electrical malfunction, stated representatives the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District. “We are committed to identifying and correcting the system failure that caused this spill. We take our responsibility to keep oil out of the river seriously, and will do...
RITZVILLE — Adams County is projected to receive an estimated $3.88 million from the most recent federal coronavirus stimulus plan, the American Rescue Plan. The city is projected to receive an estimated $360,000. Lind and St. John will each receive an estimated $120,000, Sprague $100,000, LaCrosse $70,000, Washtucna $50,000 and Kahlotus $40,000. The funds are part of the $2.66 billion earmarked for counties and municipalities in the American Rescue Plan. In addition, the plan includes $2.6 billion for K-12 and university education statewide a...
COLFAX — Gas tax revenue coming to Whitman County in 2020 dropped by $977,000. In January and February it went down another $158,000, according to Mark Storey, Whitman County Public Works director. In 2020, sales tax went up 16%, from $2.1 million in 2019 to $2.4 million in 2020, a difference of $340,000. Gas tax supports county road work. Public works is not certain what projects will be completed this summer. County Commissioner Art Swannack said last week the road department will be in consideration to receive stimulus funds coming from t...
COLFAX - A woman pled guilty to burglarizing the Red Brick Café and Bakery in Rosalia in 2019. Ashley M. Baird, 27, of Spokane, pled guilty to burglary in the second degree on March 19 in Whitman County Superior Court. A charge of theft in the second degree was dismissed. She is sentenced to a month jail and fines of $1,154, which includes restitution for the victims. An Amazon.com order led deputies to questioning the former employee of the café at her Spokane apartment. A 65-inch television a...
COLFAX — Washington advanced to Phase 3 of virus re-opening Monday. All indoor spaces are allowed to increase capacity from 25 percent to 50 percent, including stores, restaurants and gyms. For larger spaces, crowds as large as 400 people will be permitted when masking and physical distancing is enforced. To remain in Phase Three, Whitman County needs to have fewer than 200 new cases per 100,000 people in a two-week period and less than five new hospitalizations per 100,000 people over one week. Starting April 12, counties will be assessed e...
COLFAX — The Colfax School District may not have to undergo annual tests after a year of hybrid, online and in-person learning. Superintendent Jerry Pugh updated the school board on Monday night. The usual testing of 700,000 students statewide will drop to a sampling of 50,000, according to the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. "It could be that Colfax will have nobody tested," said Pugh. The sampling will be targeted with the aim of creating the best sample to offer a s...
ROSALIA — Brett Baum and Joe Beckford toured schools and were interviewed by the School Board and school staff, as part of the process to be the next schools superintendent. Baum is the Liberty (Spangle) School District superintendent. The district serves 520 students from communities south of Spokane, including Spangle, Fairfield, Latah, Waverly, Plaza and Mt. Hope. He is the former Okanogan School District administrator and left to work for Liberty in 2019. Beckford was the superintendent for the Aleutian Region School District in A...
OAKESDALE – LouEllen Reed is more than a Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Player of The week for March 15-19. The Oakesdale senior is considered a phenomenal player and asset for her team, according to her coach McKinzie Turner. "She's a really big leader and a big asset. We are going to miss her next year," said Turner "It's nice when you have someone like (Reed), who will take players on her own. ... She works well with them and I can trust them with her." As the c...
COLFAX — An expected $9.8 million is coming to Whitman County as part of the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress last week. Half of the money will arrive over the next 60 days with the other half no earlier than one year after the first disbursement. County Commissioner Art Swannack gave a report from his tractor Friday, March 18. “I didn’t expect it to be that big,” he said. “We’re still researching what all it can be used for.” The money will come straight from the federal government, unlike the $3.75 million received from the CARES Act...
WALLA WALLA — A group of Endicott Gun Club members went to Walla Walla March 14-16 for the 2021 Camas Prairie Trap Shoot. Jessica Pelissier won Lady High All Around, Lady High Overall, Ladies Handicap Championship, and Lady 1 Runner-up in doubles. The Endicott club took first in the Camas Prairie 3-person team category, which included Pelissier, James Gilchrist and Eric Johnson. Endicott Gun Club also won 4-Person Team, with members Pelissier, Gilchrist, Johnson and Jim Pelissier....
POMEROY — The St. John/Endicott/LaCrosse boys tied with Garfield/Palouse for first-place at the four-team District Nine championship cross-country meet March 10 at Pomeroy. Touchet took third and Pomeroy fourth. Ethan Cook, of Garfield/Palouse, finished first overall with a time of 18:09 followed by Pedro Molin Contreras, of St. John/Endicott/LaCrosse, at 18:50. Danny Laughary of Garfield/Palouse took third at 19:28. For the girls meet, Lola Baerlocher, of Colton, took first with a time of 2...
KENT — Kent-based Baden will return as the official ball supplier of the WIAA this fall after a five year absence. A multi-year agreement was announced Wednesday, for all sports except football, beginning with the 2021-22 school year. Baden is a third-generation, family-owned company, operating in south King County for more than 40 years. “We believe in building stronger individuals and communities through sports. To be able to do that with the WIAA in our home state is a special honor and one with magnified importance as we emerge from the pan...
CLARKSTON — The Colfax High School volleyball team took its first loss March 20 at Clarkston High School. Playing without Asher Cai, the Bulldogs were swept (20-25, 17-25, 17-25). "They were a good team," said Colfax Coach Brandy Brown. "We haven't faced a challenge like that this season. It was good for us." Junior setter Justice Brown had 19 assists in the match while Sophie Klaveano got 10 kills and four aces. Abree Aune added 13 digs. Against Davenport at home on March 18, Colfax won in t...
CHEWELAH — Reardan Coach Eric Nikkola said it was going to be a "heck of a matchup." When Colfax went to Chewelah last Friday night to play Jenkins High School, it was as advertised. It had blocked punts, dropped passes, a safety, small linemen out-blocking bigger ones, Colfax more than doubling Jenkins' total offense and the Cougars' decorated running back breaking the game with a 90-yard interception for a touchdown. "We won all the battles, but lost the war," said Colfax Coach Mike Morgan. T...
SPOKANE — National Weather Service officials are tracking a powerful cold front that will be passing through the region this weekend, bringing with it the potential for very strong winds on Sunday into Monday that could create blowing dust conditions and damage from downed trees and power lines. Projections at a Friday press briefing are for winds increasing throughout the day on Sunday. Peak speeds reaching 45-40 miles per hour in the Columbia Basin and Spokane regions and 50-55 mph in the P...
PULLMAN — The WSU Schnitzer Museum will open two new exhibitions April 6 with guidelines in-place for in-person visits. “On the heels of our recent safe re-opening, we are excited to announce two new exhibitions and two new virtual programs as we complete the spring semester,” said Ryan Hardesty, executive director of the WSU Schnitzer Museum. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday, 1 – 4 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The two exhibits are “MFA Thesis Exhibition” and “World Without Reason: Goya’s Los Disparates.” “MFA Thesis Exhibition” is t...
OLYMPIA — Studded tires need to be removed from vehicles by the end of day, Wednesday, according to state law. Beginning at midnight Thursday, drivers with studded tires will be subject to a $136 fine. The winter tires damage pavement, thus a removal date takes effect each year. Some years the date gets extended, though not for 2021. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews will still work to clear any late season ice and snow from roads. Oregon also has the same remove-by date for studded tires. The Washington law applies t...
