Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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OAKESDALE — The Oakesdale Historical Society and McCoy Valley Museum are preparing to celebrate this year’s Old Mill Days from July 15-16. After two years of cancellations, the community celebration is expected to bring in several hundred people for food, drink, and entertainment. “The goal is to bring awareness to our community,” Historical Society Secretary-Treasurer Gail Parsons said, “And also to recognize our history.” Named after the local landmark, J.C Barron’s Mill, Old Mill Days was once a forgotten rural tradition before it was...
8 Years Ago From the Colfax Gazette, July 16, 1897 CITY WINS ITS CASE Colfax has the right to Reassess for Street Improvements As Olympia dispatch of July 9 says: "The supreme court has handed down opinions in these cases today: The German American Savings Bank of Burlington, Iowa, respondent vs. City of Spokane, appellant. Plaintiff in this case brought action to recover the amount due on certain street grading warrants, and having obtained a general judgment thereforthe city has appealed. Th...
The Colfax High School Class of 1971 Celebrates recently held its 51st class reunion. Those in attendance included, from left, front row, Allen Kirkpatrick, Greg Jones, Roxanne Miller, Loren Hickman, Tom Morris and Randy Repp; second row, JoLynn (Baldwin) Garrison, Julie (Jesse) Gaunt, Kathy (Grimm) Kroll, Monte Mandarino, Connie Ray, Debbie (Lindhag) Gylling, Marcia (Hart) Wasem, Roxy (Neil) Therrien, Julie (Link) Herro and Cindy (Olson) Doggett; and back row, Earl Leland (hidden), Doug...
Gavin Barry Morse, 38, of rural Adams County, Wash., took his final flight July 2, 2022. Gavin was born September 29, 1983 in Spokane, Wash. as the youngest of four children and only son to Bruce Morse and Maribeth Benson. Gavin grew up in the Spokane area and came to the Columbia Basin as a student in the Big Bend Community College Aviation program. It was during his time at Big Bend that Gavin met the love of his life, and partner in all things, Erin Wolf, while dirt biking in the Beezley...
Robert Earl Oehlschlaeger, 89, passed away July 7, 2022. Earl, as he was known by, was born in Pasco, Wash., to Paul and Mary (MacReynolds) Oehlschlaeger on July 15, 1932. After spending several years on their Connell, Wash., farm, the Oehlschlaeger family moved to a farm near Reardan, Wash., where Earl graduated from high school in 1950. After attending college, he joined the Navy and spent four years exploring the Mediterranean world before coming back to Reardan to farm. Earl married Gayle Ma...
Leon R. Wolfe, 89, a lifetime resident of Tekoa, Wash., passed away July 4, 2022, at the Whitman Medical Center in Colfax, Wash. Leon was born on Jan. 12, 1933 in Tekoa, Wash. to Joseph and Laura (Riggs) Wolfe. He attended the Tekoa Schools. Leon started working at Dorsey Chevrolet as an auto mechanic at an early age and worked at the dealership until it closed. Leon later worked as a farmhand for Randy Fisher of Farmington for 5 years. Leon later worked for the city of Tekoa as the Cemetery...
Graveside services for Linda Hall will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 2 p.m. in Endicott Cemetery....
Anne Jean Keisner Hay, 93. Mrs. Waldo Hay passed peacefully Dec. 6, 2021. The immediate family would like to invite all family members and friends to a celebration of life at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July, 23 in Goldenrod Cemetery in Tekoa, Wash. Friends and family will then gather for stories and laughter at the home of Marianne and Rod Willard in Plummer, Idaho....
Sally Morris and Linda Hennigar visited Sally’s sister and Linda’s childhood friend and next-door neighbor, Connie Keene on Thursday in Walla Walla. Karen Broeckel celebrated her 80th birthday Saturday in Spokane. Her sister, Patty Wieber, treated her son Brett, niece Gwen Nolan of Colfax and Broeckel to dinner at Barrel Steak and Seafood Restaurant. Afterward, they went to Riverfront Park where Broeckel got to check off one more item on her Bucket List....a chance to relive part of her childhood by riding the Loof Carousel one more time. As...
While critics contend the U.S. Supreme Court decision limiting how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants was a “gut punch;” it wasn’t. The Court appropriately threw the ball back to Congress to rectify. By a 6-3 vote, the Court said that the federal Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) broad authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming...
It began with a phone call from my recruiter, Sgt. Elizabeth De Hoyos, two weeks ago. The long-awaited news finally came about from the medical waiver I needed to enter the U.S. Army National Guard. I was accepted and would travel to the Sunset Highway MEPS (Military Entrancing Processing Station) location in Airway Heights on June 2. A swell of excitement and anxiety swept over me in that one phone call. The past seven months, I dedicated most of my time physically and mentally training for tes...
Gas can issues resolved by high gasoline prices I can’t believe it. The government bureaucracy has actually fixed a problem of its own creation. I’m talking portable gasoline containers here. As you are probably aware, the federally mandated gas containers are a mess. Literally a mess. A highly flammable mess. If you have used one of the new gas cans, you know what I mean. You cannot get gasoline into the things without spilling and you cannot get any out without three hands. When I was a kid in the 1950s, gas cans were simple and they wor...
COLFAX— The City Council discussed City Hall roof repairs and Morton Street upgrades during its July 5 meeting. City Hall’s roof leaks 2-3 times a year, officials said. “I thought the bid was around $125,000-$126,000, roughly in that range,” Mayor James Retzer said. “We’re going to move forward with the roof repair and use some of America Rescue Plan Funds.” Concerning Morton Street, Public Works Director Matt Hammer asked whether or not the sewer and waterlines should be updated. “Matt is applying for a grant to replace that road,” Retzer t...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Jail reported the following individuals booked from June 29 to July 11: July 12 Elsie Aline Hada, 26, fourth-degree assault-domestic violence. Held without bail through Whitman County District Court. July 11 Osiel Alvarez Mendoza, 31, third-degree driving while license suspended or revoced and driving while under the influence. Held without bail through Whitman County District Court. Scott David Gallina, 58, second-degree rape (indecent liberties). July 8 Riley Quinn McLain, 20, second-degree voyeurism and d...
COLFAX — The Colfax Police Department responded to the following calls for service from July 1-9: July 1 9:41 a.m. – Violatation of a court order. Officer responded. 10:13 a.m. – Illness. EMS, fire and law enforcement responded. One patient transported. 11:55 a.m. – Citizen dispute. Officer responded. 5:51 p.m. – APS referral. July 2 7:12 a.m. – Suspicious person/circumstance, Officer advised of abandoned vehicles. 8:05 a.m. – Trespassing complaint. Officer responded. 10:31 a.m. – Warrant arrest. 11:04 a.m. – Citizen assist. Officer advised....
COLFAX — The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office responded to teh following calls for service from July 5-10: July 5 12:03 a.m. – South Mill Street, Colfax. Deputy responded to assist Colfax Police Department. 10:02 a.m. – Wawawai Road, Colton. Suspicious circumstance; deputy responded for a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area. 10:10 a.m. – State Highway 27; Pullman. Littering; deputy requested a case. 11:33 a.m. – Sunshine Road, Pullman. Non-injury crash. Deputy responded for a one vehicle crash. 12:20 p.m. – South Bartholow Avenue, St. J...
COLFAX — Whitman County District Court reported the following case dispositions: • Loren Hall, first-degree negligent driving. Defendant sentenced to 90 days in jail, 89 days suspended. The defendant must pay a criminal conviction fee of $43 and a supervised probation fee of $600 by May 30, 2024. Defendant may preform community service in lieu of $600 of fines to be credited at the rate of $14. Defendant sentenced to supervised probation for 24 months and unsupervised probation for the last 12 months if all essential requirements of the sen...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Assessor’s Office reported the following land transactions from June 28 to July 7: June 28 Taylor W. Green of Pomeroy, 1220 N.W. State St., Unit 15, Pullman, to Jason Brandow and Jacqueline Brandow of Klamath Falls, Ore., $159,500. Lihua Zhu of Pullman, 605 N.W. Fisk St., SPC 15, Pullman, to Calantha Phillips of Pullman, $29,380. June 29 Karman Khan of Pullman, 1460 S.W. Panoram Drive, Pullman, to Rubi Gul of Pullman, $215,065. Brandon T. Asato and Miki Asato of Moscow, Idaho, 1510 N.W. Bella Vista Drive, Pul...
Mike Day | Special to The Gazette Dozens of classic cars lined Whitman Avenue during the Rose Garage Car Show in June....
COLFAX — The three-story Fraternity Block building was designed by A.F. Perry of Walla Walla and constructed in 1889 at a cost of $12,000. In many historic pictures of Main Street, the building can be seen as a centerpiece. This three-story building was originally capped with a wooden tower and referred to as the “space needle,” which was removed for safety reasons. Referred to today as the Masonic Lodge, it was a favorite with the public in local tours of historical buildings. The Hiram Masonic Lodge and International Order of Odd Fello...
COLFAX— The City Council discussed the ongoing Clay Street well project delay during its July 5 meeting. Officials said the project is delayed due to COVID-19 and delayed delivery of the pump. The issue initially came to light Tuesday March 8, when Mayor James Retzer provided the “State of the City” address during a Colfax Chamber of Commerce lunch meeting. “We had the approval to order the pump through the council,” Retzer said. During the July 5 council meeting, members discussed the next steps in the project. “We’re just replacing the pump a...
PULLMAN — A local man is being held on $250,000 bail for alleged multiple child-sex crimes. Douglass Martin, 61, of Pullman, was arrested at 10 p.m. Friday, July 1 on rape of a child, child molestation and dealing depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, records show. He remains in the Whitman County Jail. Martin is charged with six counts of rape of child, two counts of first-degree child molestation, two counts of second- degree child molestation, and second-degree dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually e...
COLFAX – An Elk man has pleaded guilty in several decades old rape cases. Kenneth Downing, pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree rape and one coun of second-degree assault with sexual motivation. Downing will spend 213-283 months (17-23.5 years) to life in prison, in a plea deal supported by the victims. A sentencing hearing is set for Aug. 19 beforeWhitman County Superior Court Judge Gary Libey. The sex crimes date back 19 years to 2003, records show. The case began in 2003 when a woman reported she was raped at gunpoint in her home to...
COLFAX – Registered Whitman County voters should begin receiving their Aug. 2 primary ballots later this week. Ballots are scheduled to be in the mail by Friday, July 15, according to county elections officials. Voters who have not received their ballots by July 25 should contact the county Elections Office. Contested races on the ballot include Whitman County Commissioner District No. 3, Secretary of State, U.S. House District No. 5 and U.S. Senate. The Top 2 candidates advance to the Nov. 8 general election. The only ballot measure for voters...
CHENEY— A Lamont woman took the reigns of the Cheney Rodeo as queen from July 9-11. Coming from a wheat ranch and cattle farm in Lamont, Janaye Wilkie, 19, provided the highlight of the rodeo grand entry. She also participated in the rodeo parade, assisted in the arena and signed autographs for young fans at the PRCA event. During a pre-rodeo interview, she attributed her passion and interest in horses to her grandpa, who was heavily into the rodeo culture and lifestyle. Her grandfather, Jim Hof...
