Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 43 of 43
COLFAX — Enrollment in the Colfax School District continues to increase. They are now just 4.84 full-time equivalent students under its forecast from last July. Student counts dropped significantly in the fall as the junior high and high schools were online-only until October, then hybrid until Feb. 1. The school district was granted an extra $280,000 payment from the federal CARES Act to cover the student count gap. School funding is based on the forecast of students created each summer b...
PULLMAN — An April snowstorm led to three vehicles colliding, sending three people to hospitals. A vehicle going north on State Route 195, about 8 miles south of Pullman, went out of control in the snow, according to Sgt. Michael Jordan, of the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office. It crossed into oncoming traffic and sideswiped a car heading south, turned sideways in the southbound lane, and was struck by a pickup pulling a trailer. “Deputies believe along with the slick conditions, speed and worn tires were a cause in the collision,” stated...
OLYMPIA — A controversial statewide cap on carbon emissions scraped through the Legislature in a 25-24 vote late April 8 after lawmakers passed a Climate Commitment Act. The majority Democrats say it will boost the state’s economy and address a looming climate problem. “It’s good for our grandchildren’s children,” Sen. Reuven Carlyle, the bill’s sponsor, told the Senate during a six-hour debate on the bill. The program is estimated to cost $27.3 million and will likely bring in $228.5 million for the state to partly fund the Working Famil...
COLFAX — Ballots were mailed last Friday with three items to vote on for the April 27 election. Proposition 1 seeks a replacement for the educational programs and operations levy for the Lamont School District. It could generate $130,000 in 2022 and $132,000 in 2023, both collected at a rate of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Next are two resolutions for Whitman County Fire District No. 12. The second proposition would authorize the district to resume a regular property tax levy at $1 per $1,000 in assessed property value to be c...
OLYMPIA — A new law will increase the strategic planting of trees in urban areas of the state thanks to Rep. Mary Dye, R-9th District. She authored the House bill that was signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on April 7. “Larger coastline cities retain heat from rooftops, pavement, and other heat-absorbing materials, creating what is known as ‘urban heat islands,’” said Dye. “Seattle is ranked 10th in the nation for its urban heat island effect.” The excess heat in Seattle is detrimental to endangered sp...
COLFAX — COVID reduction efforts by vaccinations and Washington State University (WSU) were discussed by Whitman County commissioners. Whitman County Public Health Director Chris Skidmore spoke with county commissioners April 5 morning about changes in the virus, people getting vaccinated and possible requirements at WSU. “We are seeing more cases in the outer-lying communities, mostly tied to travel,” Skidmore said. “About 90% of the new cases in Washington are now the U.K. variant.” A vaccine clinic held at Schweitzer Engineering in Pullma...
TEKOA — The streets and sidewalks of Tekoa are being upgraded this summer. Six blocks of Main Street are to be resurfaced with 3-inches of asphalt by Auburn-based POE Construction. They were the lowest bidder at $99,761 and awarded the contract on March 1, according to city records. Prior to the new surface, the city is planning to replace water and sewer lines, said Clerk Kynda Browning. It is paid for with city funds and considered a different project than the resurfacing. Roads in the s...
OLYMPIA — Lawmakers passed a $6.23 billion capital budget in a unanimous vote April 2, earmarking millions in funding for investments in community projects and public works. “We’ve put together a budget that not only provides for the infrastructure needs of big urban centers, but prioritizes rural communities struggling to survive in the pandemic’s aftermath,” stated Rep. Mike Steele, R-Chelan. For education, the proposal plans $781.7 million for the K-12 School Construction Assistance Program and $679 million for state four-year instituti...
OLYMPIA — The Washington House of Representatives passed a $10.94 billion transportation budget with some bipartisan support 87-11 on April 2. The budget pays for improved roadways and expanded “green” transportation. Construction of a hybrid-electric ferry will get $152.5 million from the budget, along with $12 million toward electric vehicle grants and $15 million for reducing carbon emissions. The proposal also spends $726 million on fish passage barrier removals to comply with federal Department of Transportation standards. More than $1 bi...
GARFIELD — The Garfield-Palouse softball team is back with their strong freshmen class of 2019, unseen in 2020, now returning as juniors. They started with a double-mercy rule showing on April 1 against Sunnyside Christian, taking the doubleheader 14-3 and 24-1. Garfield-Palouse was set to play next at Pomeroy on Tuesday for another doubleheader, followed by a trip to Touchet Thursday and a home doubleheader against league favorites Liberty Christian Saturday in Garfield at 11 a.m. "It d...
COLFAX — The Colfax High School golf team begins its season with a nine-hole match on April 15 at Wilbur-Creston. Returning to action after last year was cut short in week two of practice due to the COVID virus, the 2021 team includes seniors Ayden Miller, Gavin Wells, and Kennedy Schmidt; junior Dylan Meithof, sophomores Hayden Ewing, Daemond Butler, Ryder Lindbo, and Austin Miller, and freshman Lilamarie Dhillon. "This year should be fun," said second-year coach Michael Heitstuman. "With m...
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is extending the window to comment on a policy to guide management of game fish. The comment period was extended from to May 5 after fishermen requested more time to submit comments on a draft policy covering bass, walleye, catfish, crappie and some trout on waterways that connect to the ocean. WDFW tries to manage species through game fish rules. “This is an important policy, and extending the comment period will help ens...
PALOUSE — Garfield-Palouse Vikings' senior Ethan Cook was named a WIAA Athlete of the Week after setting personal-best marks. He competed in three sprint events, the 100 meters, 200, and 400 sprints, at his first meet of the year. Cook is running his last season after spring 2020 was lost to the pandemic and he missed state by one spot at regionals in the 400 as a sophomore. His first-week numbers were posted from a March 31 meet at Pomeroy. They put him at No. 6 in the rankings in state 1B for...
COLFAX — The league champion Colfax Bulldogs volleyball team placed five players on the Bi-County 2B All-league team, including League MVP Anni Cox. Sophie Klaveano, Asher Cai, and Justice Brown were named to the first team for the all league list. Perry Imler was named to the second team. For Colfax team awards, Abree Aune was named for the Spark Award, Brown and Klaveano for the Offense Award, Sydney Berquist and Perry Imler Most Inspirational, and Cox for the Defense Award...
OLYMPIA — It's easier to hire ambulance drivers for Garfield and Farmington due to a new law. Gov. Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5198 into law allowing ambulance services by an association to hire drivers without requiring medical training to insure they have enough personnel to operate. "This bill will allow the continued operations of shared ambulance services so communities like Farmington and Garfield don't have to turn to other providers farther away, simply because the driver of the a...
COLFAX — A Tekoa man is receiving mental health aid instead of facing criminal charges in Whitman County Superior Court. Ryan G. Keller, 31, was arrested on March 30 after he allegedly resisted Whitman County deputies and assaulted his grandmother. He was arrested for two counts of harassment – threats to kill, two counts of assault in the fourth degree – domestic violence, and resisting arrest. “I declined to file charges in this matter … He was presenting with some pretty significant mental health issues,” Whitman County Senior Deputy Pros...
COLFAX — Whitman County commissioner Tom Handy would like more information before agreeing to a two-year contract extension for the county's economic development agency. He talked about Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA) in a commissioners' workshop Monday. "I'd like to see what they will focus on in Whitman County," he said. "I just want to see their plan, that's all, and I can't get one from them." The current contract ends June 30. "Time is short," said Michael L...
OLYMPIA — Whitman County was rolled back to COVID Phase 2 restrictions by Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday. Whitman joins two others, Cowlitz and Pierce counties, set back because the number of new COVID cases did not meet the metrics set by the state. "These are not punitive actions. They are to save lives and protect public health," Inslee said. "These metric trends are driven by the virus and we must continue to do everything we can to sharpen our focus and keep COVID-19 activity down. We are so c...
