Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 51 - 74 of 74
The Rock Creek recreational area, which includes Escure Ranch, has been closed as part of BLM's COVID-19 response. It was one of 12 BLM recreation sites that have been temporarily closed in the state. Rock Creek recreational area straddles Whitman and Adams counties west of Winona....
While February was wetter than normal, precipitation for March came in at less than half the month's average. A total of .83 inches was logged at the Colfax NRCS station, far short of the average of 2.03 inches, with only six days of precipitation recorded. March 7 and 31 were the wettest days with rain/snow mix and rain bringing .17 inches each day. Snow and rain were also recorded on four other days....
Despite the announcement of the shutdown mid-month, March housing sales surpassed those of the same time last year. The first three months of 2020 have seen higher residential home sales than the first quarter of 2019 each month. March 2020 had eight more homes sold with a total of 38. According to the Whitman County Association of Realtors, 44 sales were pending. Although more homes were sold, the average price was lower than March 2019. The average for those March 2020 sales was $283,200. Average for March 2019 was $298,20...
Whitman County Sheriff's Office arrested Brook Duncan in Endicott March 30 for violation of a restraining order. Deputies responded to a call of Duncan allegedly making calls to her ex-husband threatening to harm him and burn his house. Per a restraining order issued in Benton County, Duncan was under order to have no contact with her ex, including phone calls, except for situations involving a child they shared. Duncan was arrested for violating the order and booked in the county jail. She was released on her own recognizance with condition...
On Wednesday, April 8, the Port of Whitman County announced that it will be canceling the 2020 Snake River Family Festival at Boyer Park. The Snake River Festival will not take place again until 2021. “We are very disappointed that we cannot host this year’s festival for our community,” said Port of Whitman Executive Director Joe Poire in a press release. “It has become a cherished celebration of our river and we will miss seeing all of our wonderful exhibitors and attendees.” At the April 2 port commission meeting, it was discussed if the fe...
Four of the 12 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Whitman County have fully recovered and are cleared from isolation. No new cases have been reported. People still need to meet certain criteria before being tested, but Public Health Director Troy Henderson said that those criteria parameters have loosened as the capacity to test has increased. At the same time, he has seen a decrease in the demand by citizens to be tested. He attributed that to people becoming more comfortable with the situation. According to the Public Health...
Grants of up to $10,000 are being offered through the Working Washington Small Business Grant program. Announced by Gov. Jay Inslee Tuesday, the grants are for small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Businesses can use this money to pay for rent, utility bills, supplies, inventory and other operating expenses. The grants are part of the Governor's Strategic Reserve Fund and administered through the Department of Commerce and local county economic development organizations. The grant option was one of several items Inslee presented to...
OLYMPIA – The state Department of Natural Resources is implementing burn restrictions on DNR-protected lands in Eastern Washington, beginning Friday, April 10. DNR officials cited a front scheduled to pass through the region the next couple of days creating dry conditions and forecasted gusty winds as a reason for instituting the ban earlier than normal. According to an April 9, news release, all outdoor burning, which includes permit and rule burning (small debris disposal fires), is not allowed in eastern Washington. This includes the f...
POMEROY — Gov. Jay Inslee vetoed 147 bills in the last week, including two sponsored by Rep. Mary Dye. The vetoes removed $235 million in spending from the 2020 supplemental budget and an additional $210 million in the next biennial budget. Dye, R-Pomeroy, had introduced bills on a wild horse inmate training program and an increase in funding for invasive species programs. Both passed the House and Senate to reach the governor’s desk. “I am disappointed, because both of these measures took an enormous effort to get through the Legis...
While church doors are closed due to stay at home orders and gatherings prohibited, Colfax pastors and ministers are still working to provide worship and spiritual services to area residents. The different denominations are providing various Easter services, many in online formats. UCC Plymouth Congregational Church-Pastor Lynn Nelson is doing "church by snail mail" with weekly letters going out. If anyone would like a copy of the Easter service or wants to be added to the mailing list, contact...
COLFAX -- An Albion man was booked into the Whitman County Jail on Saturday after attempting to elude law enforcement. Shane Ellingsworth, 48, was stopped by spikes strips and now faces potential charges of attempting to elude and possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. He was wanted on two warrants. The chase began about 11:20 p.m. Friday when Whitman County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Keith Cooper observed an altered license plate and defective brake lights, according to a report. The...
Colfax Fire Department was called out this morning at 6:19 a.m. to a report of a house fire. A house in the 400 block of Parkview was found to be on fire. The residents were not at home; the call was made by a passerby. Colfax, Diamond and Steptoe vehicles responded. The fire was contained to an upstairs bedroom and hall. It was extinguished after about 20 minutes. According to Fire Chief Craig Corbeill, the fire appeared to be an accident caused by an "old style" in-wall electric heater. Other than the damage to the room and ceiling, there...
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, Council on Aging and Human Services has increased the availability of its senior meals. Meals are now available in Colfax for pick up or delivery on Monday and Thursday. On Tuesday meals are available in Pullman, Colton/Uniontown, LaCrosse and on the second and fourth Tuesdays in Endicott. Wednesday meals are in Palouse, Garfield and Farmington. Friday in Pullman, Colton/Uniontown and LaCrosse. Meals are available for those 60 years and older....
Colfax Public Works has dealt with several issues since the COVID-19 shutdown in relation to sewer lines clogged with flushable wipes. According to Colfax Public Works Director Matt Hammer, the department spent about 15 hours last week cleaning up the mess caused by residents putting wipes marketed as flushable in their toilets. He said the city has never had an issue like this, but since the crisis they have responded to four cases of septic backing up in a house and the street. It has especially been an issue on Thorn Hill. Hammer said the...
RITZVILLE - An officer-involved shooting took place at Love's Travel Stop Saturday night. Ritzville Police responded to the travel plaza at 1370 SR 261 regarding a call of a suicidal subject at around 11:20 p.m. According to the Ritzville Police Department, the police officer and a Washington State Trooper contacted the subject in the parking lot. At some point in the contact, the Ritzville officer discharged his weapon and struck the subject. Matt Simmons, a Loves Tire Shop employee, said he wa...
COLFAX -- The Whitman County Health Department is reporting one new confirmed coronavirus case. That brings the total number of cases to 13 in the county, officials said. The newest resident infected by the virus is a woman older than 80, health officials said....
RITZVILLE - The Columbia Basin Investigative Team has identified the man shot and killed by police Saturday night as Shawn Lee. Lee, 49, hometown not released, was shot in the parking lot of Love's Travel Stop and Country Stores, 1370 N. state Highway 261, by officer Jeff Lane, said a report on the shooting released this morning. Lane is on paid administrative leave, standard operating procedure for an officer involved in a shooting. According to the report, Lee was passing through Ritzville...
OLYMPIA -- Washington, Oregon and California governors announced they have agreed on a shared vision to reopen their states economies and provide unified efforts to control COVID-19 in the future. The pact is based around dealing with the severe acute respiratory disease sweeping the nation and the world that is built on three principles: Health of residents, using science and data instead of politics to drive decisions and being more effective through a unified approach. "We are announcing that California, Oregon and Washington have agreed to...
GARFIELD — A local man was booked into Whitman County Jail on Monday afternoon for eluding, driving with a suspended license and three warrants. Andrew Arland, 34, of Garfield, turned himself into deputies after several hours of eluding law enforcement on dirt roads on the east side of the county. The chase began about 11 a.m. when Garfield Town Marshal Joe Handley observed Arland driving a Toyota Tercel with a dented hood in town, a report said. Aware that Arland was wanted on multiple w...
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee and Department of Corrections Secretary Stephen Sinclair have announced plans to release up to 950 state inmates from facilities who are part of population vulnerable to COVID-19, including nonviolent individuals due to be released within the coming weeks and months. The move comes after a state Supreme Court ruling April 10 instructing the Department “to take all necessary steps to protect the health and safety” of incarcerated individuals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and submit a report to the Court on “all...
Whitman County Library remains closed due to stay at home orders but the WA Anytime Digital collection of ebooks and audiobooks is open. To access, the public can go to anytime.overdrive.com or download Libby from the OverDrive app, select Whitman County Library and enter your library card. Whitman County residents without a library card can now sign up for an Instant Digital Library card now through June 30 and begin borrowing ebooks and audiobooks by entering a cell phone number. Instant Digital library cards can be obtained through...
Colfax Fire Department was called out Monday morning at 6:19 a.m. to a report of a house fire. A house in the 400 block of Parkview was found to be on fire. The residents were not at home; the call was made by a passerby. Colfax, Diamond and Steptoe vehicles responded. The fire was contained to an upstairs bedroom and hall. It was extinguished after about 20 minutes. According to Fire Chief Craig Corbeill, the fire appeared to be an accident caused by an "old style" in-wall electric heater. Other than the damage to the room and ceiling, there...
Steven McMillan, 63, Pullman, was booked into the Whitman County Jail early Thursday morning for alleged domestic violence assaults and threatening to kill his wife. Pullman Police responded to McMillan's home at midnight. McMillan's wife Kathryn McMillan told officers he was intoxicated and had chocked her. According to the arrest report, Steven McMillan was verbally aggressive and uncooperative with officers and had to be detained in handcuffs. He denied hurting his wife. Officers observed red marks on Kathryn's neck and behind her ear. She...
Grants of up to $10,000 are being offered through the Working Washington Small Business Grant program. Announced by Gov. Jay Inslee April 7, the grants are for small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Businesses can use this money to pay for rent, utility bills, supplies, inventory and other operating expenses. The grants are part of the Governor's Strategic Reserve Fund and administered through the Department of Commerce and local county economic development organizations. The grant option was one of several items Inslee presented to...
