Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 47
DUSTY – Three motorists were cited for driving too fast for conditions Monday when four vehicles collided in a dust storm in the Dusty area. The accident occurred at mile post 113, three miles west of Dusty. According to WSP Trooper Robert Taylor, there was an area about one to one and a half miles on Highway 26 that was channeling dirt blown off from nearby fields. The driver of the first vehicle slowed down due to low viability. It was hit by a second car which was then hit by a semi truck. A...
COLFAX – The Palouse Empire Fair Board voted Monday night to postpone a decision on whether to have a fair this year or not until the May 18 meeting. The vote passed with two opposing. “It’d be a tough decision not to have the fair,” said Fair Director Bill Tensfeld at the start of the discussion. While there was strong desire to keep the fair, there were also many factors against it discussed. Public Health recommended postponing or canceling the fair. It is unknown what carnival workers...
COLFAX – Whitcom, the regional emergency dispatch center, held a special finance committee meeting, Wednesday, April 22, where it was announced the emergency center was running on a budget deficit ranging from $400,000 to $600,000 for the next fiscal year. Whitcom provides police, fire and EMS dispatch services to Whitman County, Asotin County, the City of Moscow and the Nez Perce Tribal Police Department. Member of the Whitcom Finance Committee and Whitman County Commissioner Dean Kinzer said Whitcom has had years where reserve funds were u...
The Colfax Fire Department utility pickup sports its own face mask for protection....
COLFAX – Three candidates are set to be interviewed today, April 30, for the position of principal at Jennings Elementary School. “We’re looking for a fit for Colfax,” said Superintendent Jerry Pugh. “We’re after the best qualified candidate.” The position initially drew interest from 11 people with nine applying. The district narrowed it down to the three being interviewed. The candidates are Andrew Borders, Sarah Dinkins and Jordan Jennings. While the candidates will be in town for the interviews, the process will be different from how it w...
OLYMPIA – Following two weeks of growing protests over the state’s ban on fishing, Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday, April 27, announced that outdoor recreation is allowed to resume May 5. “Based on the data we have now received, we are close to the point where we can enjoy the outdoors again,” Inslee said during a 2:30 p.m. press conference. “This includes fishing, hunting and the ability to play golf.” The announcement allows residents to fish, hunt, hike and golf, provided they stay close to home and keep at least six feet apart. Residents w...
COLFAX – At the beginning of April The McGregor Company began a collaborative effort with the Whitman County Library and Colfax School District to 3D print face shields to donate to Whitman Hospital and Medical Center. At the time, only 75 face shields were needed to allow all of the staff and any community partners at Whitman Hospital and Medical Center to have an issued face shield. Since then 128 face shields have been made with deliveries to WHMC, including its satellite clinics in the c...
COLFAX – A second round of Friday night lights in Colfax has expanded to McDonald Park. "We want to make sure we honor our seniors," said High School Principal David Gibbs. The school participated in the Friday Night Lights campaign April 10 to show support of seniors and spring sport athletes. This Friday the lights will be on at the football field and McDonald Park. Coaches will be at both locations. Those wanting to participate should start at the high school and drive northbound past the f...
COLFAX – Judge John Hart, in an effort to ensure open access to all Whitman County District Court hearings, has implemented livestream viewing of all District Court video hearings. The court has been directed to not hold in-person hearings but must remain open and available to the public during this pandemic. Judge Hart's court is one of five Washington State Courts now livestreaming all video hearings and was among the first three courts in the state to do so. "I applaud our staff for embracing and utilizing the technology available to p...
COLFAX – Since the end of 2019, a variety of upgrades and replacements have been discussed to possibly occur at the county courthouse and jail during the summer of this year. The overall project was expected to include upgrades or replacement to the courthouse roof, HVAC, elevator, windows and doors, jail plumbing, electricity, jail facade, generators, etc. Project costs estimated to approximately $8.6 million if all aspects of the project were to be completed. Although in light of the coronavirus pandemic, uncertainty on the county's f...
COLFAX – The bids received for the moderate risk waste facility will be rejected Public Works Director Mark Storey informed the commissioners at the Monday, April 27, county commissioner workshop. “After looking at the bids we received it looks like we will start over and put out for a re-bid in the future,” Storey said. “It looked like the received bids were not in the best interest for us.” The bids for the MRW facility was opened April 20 by Storey and Commissioner Michael Largent. Two bids were read and presented. The first bid was from Ken...
WHITMAN COUNTY – Last fall chickpeas were sitting in the fields, uncertain if they would even be cut due to low prices. In recent weeks, pulse crops have been flying off grocery shelves across the United States like toilet paper. "The demand has come at a feverish pace," said Spokane Seed President Andrew Fontaine. Fontaine recalled his grandfather, who was president of the company in his day, telling him their product did well in times of war and recession and they are seeing both now. P...
COLFAX–Matthew Tournay, 38, of Wenatchee, was booked for possession of methamphetamine and possession of heroin Friday, April 24, at Cougar Foodmart. According to the arrest report, Sgt. Keith Cooper approached the vehicle Tournay was driving after he had been sitting at the gas pump for about 30 minutes. Sgt. Cooper allegedly observed Tournay displaying signs of drug use including shakes, sweating profusely and dazed look. When questioned about using drugs, Tournay initially denied any recent use or that he was high. Sgt. Cooper observed a s...
ALBION – An Albion woman was arrested Saturday and booked into Whitman County Jail for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver after a search of her home by Whitman County Deputies. Deputies were informed April 25, that individuals living on D Street in Albion were in possession of illegal drugs. Deputies contacted residents of the home and learned there were illegal narcotics inside. They received a search warrant for the home. During the search, deputies uncovered several packaged bags of methamphetamine, scales, a...
Chopsticks make great eating utensils. If you know how to use them. Same with roundabouts. Pullman is looking at putting in its first roundabout. Installation of roundabouts have been breached in Colfax as a possible solution to traffic concerns on both ends of town. There are strong opinions for and against. Often cited is the effectiveness of roundabouts in Europe and other places. On a trip to Germany there are some driving points you pick up quickly: 1) Every road leads to Ausfahrt. Instead...
PULLMAN – Brissia Valenciano Ibarra, 18, of Pullman, was booked into the Whitman County Jail Saturday after leading a WSU police officer on a chase which at one point reached speeds up to 80 miles per hour on Grand Ave. Officer Brock Westerman initially attempted to stop the white Nissan Altima Valenciano Ibarra was driving for going 41 mph in a 25 mph zone just before 1 a.m. According to the arrest report, during the pursuit she went 50 in a 25 mph zone and 60 in a 30 mph on Stadium Way. Valenciano Ibarra stopped for a red light at the i...
PULLMAN –Two men were booked into Whitman County Jail Sunday, April 26, in connection with theft at Walmart. Pullman Police responded Sunday afternoon to a report of a theft suspect fleeing Walmart on foot and getting into a Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Officer Ryan McNannay was informed a male suspect had allegedly been taking items off the shelves and returning them for credit without paying first. A second suspect was allegedly "under ringing" items, which means scanning the barcode of cheaper items when buying. The Chevrolet was stopped on S...
ROSALIA – A pole building south of Rosalia was destroyed by fire early Friday morning. Whitman County Fire District 7 from Rosalia responded at 4:37 a.m. and found the 50X120 foot farm shop fully engulfed. District 7 was the first to respond to the fire which was east of Highway 195 in the Horn School Rest Stop area. Other units responded from Oakesdale, St. John, Colfax and Steptoe. Washington State Police and Whitman County Sheriff's Office responded for traffic control. Colfax firefighters received the call at 4:46 a.m. and responded with a...
COLFAX – With the state under stay home orders, it seems a prime environment for anxiety and depression. But the current situation is only laying the ground work for mental health issues which may not manifest themselves for months down the road. "The place we're in now, people are just hunkered down," said Mike Berney, director of Palouse River Counseling, the main community behavioral health organization in Whitman County. "We're starting to see a few requests come in," said Berney. Those c...
I am a numbers guy – always have been. In my early childhood, I dreamed of either being a famous singer or a writer, but my voice changed from an alto to bull frog baritone about the same time as I realized I had no spelling gene. My sisters had it, but to my dismay, I inherited my Grandfather’s inability to spell. To offset my spelling deficiency, Dad enrolled me in all the math courses our school offered. I continued to explore the quantitative sciences through graduate school. Even with an adequate academic background, I find it imp...
I am writing to express my disappointment with Rep. Mark Schoesler’s April 16 editorial. As a leader he should spend less time criticizing Governor Inslee and more time working on bipartisan measures to develop safe and effective guidelines on how to restart Washington’s economy. Other than “faith," he offers no clear suggestions on how employers can keep workers and customers safe. He correctly mentions that early action by state government has protected public health in this pandemic. Thanks to the swift actions of Gov. Inslee and other...
District Court filings Sugarbaker, Dominic, found guilty of driving under the influence with a blood alcohol concentration of .14. The defendant was sentenced to 364 days in jail with 363 suspended. Ordered to pay fines and fees of $1,643. Ogawa, Kyrra, found guilty of third degree theft. The defendant was sentenced to 180 days in jail with 176 suspended. Four days of jail time could be converted to 50 hours of community service to be completed by Sept. 30, 2020. Ordered to pay $1,088.31 in fines and fees including restitution to Walmart of $70...
At Pullman Regional Hospital Kenan, born April 19, 2020, at seven pounds, one ounce, to Maya and Ozan Akyildiz, Pullman. Paternal grandparents are Sabahat and Orhan Akyildiz, Bolu, Turkey. Maternal grandparents are Nihal and Ferdi Celayir, Ankara, Turkey. Leke, Nansu, born April 21, 2020, at eight pounds, 10 ounces, to San Leke and Nan Su Su Hlaing, Pullman. Paternal grandparent is U Kyan Tin Hlaing, Myanmar. Maternal grandparent is Daw Nan Mu Mu, Myanmar. Valenzuela, Refugio Ierma, born April 21, 2020, at six pounds, 12 ounces, to Pedro and...
