Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 61
8 years ago The Commoner July 12, 1895 Elberton is nothing if not progressive. The “Asphodel of the Palouse” during its short life has always been reaching out for more worlds to conquer and more business to do and is still at it. Its last effort is to develop its natural advantages as a trading place by constructing roads along the water courses. A party of Elberton business men and farmers were before the county commissioners on Tuesday with a petition for a road from Elberton up Silver Creek two miles to connect to the existing road to...
NOTICE OF HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of County Commissioners of Whitman County, Washington will meet in its office in the Whitman County Commissioners' Chambers, in the Courthouse in Colfax, Washington on Monday, the 20th day of July 2020, at the hour of 11:15 a.m. for the purpose of considering Whitman County's Six-Year Road Program (2021 - 2026), at which time and place any taxpayer may be heard for or against said program. Remote participation is available for attending the Commissioners' meetings. Due to COVID-19 all...
WHITMAN COUNTY –Whitman County's GIS project continues, since its start last fall, to create a layered database for county geography; from roads to streams to private land parcels. Jeff Marshall, project engineer, a 22-year Whitman County Public Works employee, leads the Geographic Information Systems project. “A little over 40 percent through now,” he told county commissioners Monday, referring to the first phase. A total of 12,500 private property parcels have been mapped so far. “They a...
SPOKANE – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) July 1 began to restrict campfires and other activities on department-managed lands in Eastern Washington, to help reduce the risk of fire on state wildlife areas and water access areas. "Observing fire restrictions and exercising common sense will go a long way toward preserving public recreation lands, wildlife habitat, public health and safety for local communities," said Cynthia Wilkerson, Lands Division Manager for WDFW. Wilkerson said the threat of wildfires and smoke is e...
COLFAX – The Purpose Roasters building, formerly the location of Arby's, has been purchased by S & L Rentals, owned by Scott and Lori Ackerman. The sale is set to close at the end of July. According to Scott Ackerman, the building will be converted into office space. "It will no longer be a drive thru," he said. A tenant is already lined up for two-thirds of the building and Ackerman will have the last third available for lease upon closing. He plans to have the first tenant in the first of November after remodel work is completed. Ackerman n...
COLFAX – The Colfax Downtown Association is half-way through flower plantings as part of a project to beautify Main Street. "We're planting beautiful flowers on Main Street of Colfax to add some life and beauty to our downtown corridor," said Colfax Downtown Association Executive Director Whitney Bond. "We are all going through a lot right now and could use some more beauty in these unprecedented times." The project is ongoing this week. Anyone who would like to help is welcome to plant in t...
COLFAX – Monday night's city council meeting discussed signage that is going up to direct semi traffic away from Fairview Street. Once the “Local Deliveries Only” signage is up, the city will have enforcement options and be able to cite truckers using the road. "It's not necessarily a suggestion," said Mayor Jim Retzer at the meeting. Two signs will be erected, one at Highway 26 and Colfax Airport Road and the other at Highway 195 and Mill Street. The signs will hopefully direct truck drivers to go through Colfax's main artery and stay off F...
COLFAX – Jury trials in Whitman County will resume July 13 with some noticeable differences. Superior Court Judge Gary Libey issued courtroom safety orders last week for the courtroom and jury trials. The Washington State Supreme Court adopted orders April 29 suspending all civil and criminal jury trials until after July 6. While Judge Libey has continued to hear cases–many incorporating the Zoom platform for participants–all jury trials have been pushed back. Now the court will be making up for...
COFLAX – A Whitman County man was booked into the jail July 5 for two counts of assault and domestic violence. According to the arrest report, officers responded when a friend of the victim reported the victim had been threatened by her husband. After the victim was contacted by Whitman County Sheriff's Office, she allegedly told deputies he had threatened her with a knife after her refusal to engage in intercourse after he had cheated on her. According to the report, further discussion revealed a previous incidence wherein he had allegedly t...
ROSALIA – A Spokane woman was arrested for possession of heroin after a citizen reported to Washington State Patrol. According to the arrest report, on June 30 the reporting party stated people were smoking crack in a vehicle at a rest stop on Highway 195. Trooper Adrian Jones located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop near milepost 41. The passenger in the vehicle, Summer Atkinson, 55, Spokane, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. She was allowed release on her own recognizance and an arraignment set for July 1...
COLFAX – The Whitman County Sheriff's office announced July 3 that retired K-9 Bosco passed away due to old age. Bosco began his Whitman County law enforcement career in 2005. In 2011, Bosco retired after completing nearly 1,000 narcotic searches. Bosco spent his retirement years living with his handler, Sgt. Keith Cooper, and his family. Bosco was 19 years old....
COLFAX – Work has begun in preparation of new crosswalk signals being installed for four Main Street intersections. City crews are prepping corners at Upton, Stevens, Cooper and Thorn streets for the solar-powered, pedestrian activated crossing signals. Prep work includes removing trees at Upton and Stevens streets, cutting out curb outs and digging up tree roots. Work is anticipated to be finished this week. Then the city will await contracted concrete work. Once that is done, Public Works Director Matt Hammer estimated about another week t...
BASIN CITY - What do you call it when more than 3,000 rural residents get together for the Fourth of July to rodeo, parade, dance and shoot off fireworks? Well, rodeo clown turned Freedom Rodeo announcer J.J. Harrison calls it a "cowboy protest," a protest in which ruralites build up America instead of tearing it down. Harrison, of Walla Walla, emceed the inaugural Freedom Rodeo on July 3 and 4 in this city of 1,100 people in Franklin County. The mask-optional "protest" rodeo took place in...
The AAA (19-under) Palouse Coyotes have begun playing independent summer baseball, five games in after the American Legion canceled its regular program in April due to the virus. The Palouse team is led by Kevin Agnew, Pullman High School coach, and features six players from Colfax, including Big Bend Community College’s Kelen Becker and Nate Akesson, along with younger boys Nate Akesson, Eric Akesson, Layne Gingerich, Sam Kopp and Kolby Sisk. They opened last week with five games against the same team; LC19U, from Lewiston-Clarkston. On J...
It wasn't advertised to keep attendance down. Those who did come were met with signs advising them they were there at their own risk and to observe social distancing. But, while subdued, the traditional Endicott Fourth of July celebration still went off with small town neighbors and friends. The variety of activities was greatly curbed with only dinner and ice cream sundaes available to help fund the firework display. The pool was also open for locals and guests to cool off in. One new event was...
