Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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Lester Gale Estes, beloved son, father, brother, friend, and partner, passed away on March 8, 2024, at the age of 74. Born on September 4, 1949, in Moscow, Idaho, Lester most recently resided in Colfax, Wash. Lester had a zest for life and enjoyed spending time with his family. He had a special bond with his son, Patrick, and cherished every moment they spent together. Lester also had a deep love for riding his bike on the open road, finding solace and joy in the freedom it brought him. In his...
Jamie Ann Wilson, 25, from Tekoa, Wash., passed away Mar. 26, 2024 in Pullman, Wash. She was born July 8, 1998, in Salem Ore., to Troy Michael Wilson, and Alicia Tammarra (Tate) Wilson. Jamie died by domestic violence. Her life, although brief in years, was impactful and vibrant in the way she fulfilled each of those days. She was the youngest of four girls and was later joined by their younger brother. The family traveled around the United States and eventually settled in Tekoa, Washington....
Juanita J. Brophy, 97, longtime Pullman, Wash., resident passed away April 3, 2024, in Spokane, Wash, at her daughter's home. Juanita was born March 26, 1927, in St. John, Wash., to Eddie & Emma (Jenkins) Jones. She grew up in the St. John/Lancaster area where she attended school in both communities. Juanita graduated from St. John High School and went to work for the Colfax School District for a time. On July 3, 1947, Juanita married William (Bill) Brophy and they made their home in St. John...
John Heitstuman, 68, of St. John, Wash., passed away at his home on March 11, 2024. He was born March 13, 1955, to Gene and Betty Heitstuman, on the family's farm in Uniontown, Wash. John attended St. Boniface Catholic Grade school from 1961-1969. He then attended Colton High School, graduating in 1973. He was an active FFA member and enjoyed wood shop. After graduating, he began ranching for his Uncle, Harold Heitstuman. Based on his numerous stories, some of the best days of his life were...
William (Billy/Bill Jr.) George Harder, Jr. died April 1 at the age of 62, in Kahlotus, Wash. Billy was the first child born to Bill Harder, Sr. and Vivian (Hamilton) Harder, on Dec. 16, 1961. He was joined by his brothers Kurt and Eric in 1964 and 1969. The boys were raised on their family's Kahlotus, Wash., wheat and cattle ranch, partaking in chores and taking on responsibilities from an early age. Billy proved his toughness in his youth getting bucked off a horse then pitch from a four-wheel...
Colfax Thursday, April 11 Tomato bisque, grilled cheese sandwich, broccoli and grape salad, 7-layer bar Monday, April 15 Baked ham with pineapple, scalloped potatoes, green beans, salad, pie Garfield Thursday, April 18 Ham, macaroni and cheese, green string beans, green salad and dressing, garlic bread, dessert, coffee and punch Palouse Wednesday, April 17 Ham and cheese sliders, cottage cheese with fruit, 3- bean slad, chocolate chip cookies Pullman Friday, April 12 Biscuits and gravy, sausage, eggs; oranges, banana, grapes Tuesday, April 16...
Pullman Regional Hospital Elean Iyanuoluluha, a girl was born at 12:23 p.m., March 30, 2024, to parents Louisa Okeoghene Eejenavbo, and Tobi Raphael Famuyikia. She weighed 5.5 pounds, and 18 inches. Kellyn LeeAnne Dudley, a girl, was born to parents Owen and HayLee Dudley, of Pomeroy. She weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Paternal Grandparents are Rex and JoAnne Dudley, of Lynden. Maternal Grandparents are Brian and Jana Killer, of Pomeroy. Kellyn joins brother Benson, 1 year and 7 months, at home. Wesley Charles Ward, a boy, was born April 3, 2024...
WASHTUCNA — Preschool and elementary school students participated in Reading Month in March, reading hundreds of books and thousands of pages. This year’s theme was “Grow Where You Are Planted.” This year, the preschool read 345 books, school officials said. Elementary school students read a total of 20,915 pages. Students focused their reading efforts learning about plants, as well as participating in related activities, school officials said. Each week started with a teacher reading an entire story to students in a school hallway, officia...
COLFAX — Students are getting ready to promenade in 2024, with Prom hitting the Palouse from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. this Saturday, April 13, at the Palouse Empire Fairgrounds. The prom includes high school students from Colfax, Washtucna, LaCrosse, St. John/Endicott, Rosalia, Tekoa, Garfield-Palouse, Oakesdale and Colton. Colfax Junior Class Advisor Stacy Aune said that juniors across the county vote on what the theme for the year will be. This year’s theme is Meadows/Tangled. A “Rapunzel” and “Tangled” theme with lights and flowers. Aune said t...
ROSALIA - The Rosalia Garden Club received awards to improve the community and receive new tools at its monthly meeting. The club met on Wednesday, April 3, with Rosalia Garden Club President Carley Dube presenting a $500 check to Rosalia Garden Club Treasurer Penni Barringer, from the Washington State Federation of Garden Club's Endowment Fund Project Grants Committee. Funds from the committee were awarded after the club had applied for a grant based on ways to enhance the Rosalia community...
PULLMAN— The Whitman County Genealogical Society is hosting a free Spring Mini-Seminar from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 27. The event will take place at Bishop Place Independent Living Social Room, located at 811 Southeast Klemgard Street in Pullman, and will feature several speakers including Kathy Buchholtz, Alex Otero and Jill Nock. Buchholtz is Program Manager for Whitman County Library’s Whitman Heritage Digital Collections. Accompanying Buchholtz for her presentation will be Archivist for Whitman County Historical Society Alex Ort...
On March 16, 2024, a group of ten volunteers waited at the Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Ariz., for their van to pick them up and take them across the border, through the desert and to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, for a week of missionary work. The group was a mash-up of five EMT's, three missionaries, one pastor leading the group and a solitary Whitman County Gazette journalist graciously invited to document the experience. The mission trip was organized by Well Child International and aime...
After a five hour drive from Phoenix, Ariz., across the U.S.- Mexico border and through the Sonoran desert, our group arrived at the coastal city of Puerto Peñasco. Nestled in the heart of the city is the mission building that serves as the home-base for Well Child International's Peñasco trips, Mission Villa Granada. The building was originally built in 1963 as a hotel. From 1963-1978 the hotel was a local hot spot for politicians, local celebrities and international celebrities like Rock H...
Mexican citizens have their medical expenses covered through the national socialized health care system. Despite many of the financial burdens that are lifted from citizens with this system, many are left in a position where seeking and/or acquiring medical services in a timely manner is very tough. Many of the non-affluent denizens of Puerto Peñasco do not have reliable vehicles. For people such as single working mothers, being able to get off work, walk with children to the closest medical facility, get an appointment and attempt to arrange...
On our second and third day in Puerto Peñasco, our group traveled from the center of town about 3km (1.8 miles) to a section of town called Nuevo Peñasco, splitting into two teams for home canvasing the neighborhoods' medical needs for several hours each day. Nuevo has a stark conditional contrast to other parts of Peñasco. Cracked pavement turned to dirt as we entered. While there was litter strewn through Peñasco, it is common to see piles of garbage all around, with a noticeably larger str...
Over the course of several days, two members of our group, Beverly Yates and Dixie Netsby, led sewing classes for local women who might need to learn foundational techniques. Yates, who has been sewing her entire life, was eager to help teach some of the young women some basics like how to thread and knot a needle, take in fabric and stitch designs. Netsby has a different style of sewing than Yates, both in materials used and in technique, but together they were able to act as a reservoir of...
In Mexico, the medical emergency service that responds for any emergency call is a Cruz Roja Mexicana - Mexican Red Cross - ambulance team. This is also the case if a person needed to walk in for urgent emergency services. During our trip, our group split into two. One group would go with the Red Cross one day, the other to work with the firemen - bomberos. Our group would alternate on the following day so both could experience the local medical services. A paramedic named Alex, explained to...
During our trip, our group split into two. One group would go with the Red Cross one day, the other to work with the firemen - bomberos. Our group would alternate on the following day so both could experience the local medical services. When my group arrived at the Central Fire Station in Puerto Peñasco, we were greeted by Captain Jose Cruz, who had worked in the department for over 43 years. He explained that in Peñasco there were three stations, each with five working EMTs working 24-hour s...
One need that Well Child International also helps fill is basic construction projects for single mothers and families in need. During our trip to Puerto Peñasco, I worked alongside our Canadian member Percy David in a couple projects to help increase the quality of life for a local family. Guyo, 75, and his wife Vicenta, 72, have lived in Nuevo Peñasco for about 10 years. While walking home one evening from work recently, Guyo was struck by a car. He had broken multiple ribs and his leg, l...
While in Peñasco, our group orchestrated two days of neighborhood clinics setup in a local church, proving our home visits days prior worthwhile. During the clinics, those in need of medical attention were able to get services quicker than they would normally through the public medical system. Our team of EMTs worked with local physician and former Director of Municipal Heath Dr. Eliel Lopez Uriel. Those needing to be seen would be greeted and called over to the EMT groups individually or by...
While our group worked hard most days that we were in Puerto Peñasco, our trip organizers made sure that every day there was something new to experience. Most evenings, our group would go out to dinner at local restaurants. These ranged from the local mom and pop shops (with arguably the best food in the city) to much higher scale restaurants overlooking the Sea of Cortez. Our first dining experience was at La Casa Del Capitan, built next to the only lighthouse in Puerto Peñasco, overlooking t...
Our group would gather together to depart back to the United State on Friday, March 22. As we loaded back up in the van and headed off, many talked and reflected on the time spent in Peñasco. While many of the group experienced some minor culture shocks like the available amenities, the cultural issue of litter in the street, extreme poverty; the amount of thanks, experiences, sights and new friends seemed to extinguish any of the negatives that were found on the trip. The smiles from the...
It turns out that, as we have been saying for years, honeybee populations aren’t declining, but are actually increasing. A recent article in Vox notes that the talk of honeybees disappearing was “greatly exaggerated.” Admitting that his previous stories predicting the collapse of honeybee populations hadn’t aged well, the reporter explained that a recent agricultural census found that the 31 percent increase in honeybees since 2007 is “a larger increase than any other domesticated animals....
While wind and solar farms generate “greenhouse gas free” electricity, there are ongoing concerns over their impacts on our environment especially as a rapidly growing number of worn-out blades and panels are landing in landfills. Those blades, housed on giant wind towers reaching over 250-feet in the sky, are starting to reach the end of their useful lives (15 to 20 years) and are being taken down, cut up and hauled to burial sites. Even though over 90 percent of the decommissioned wind tow...
