Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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COLFAX - COLFAX - The inaugural Eddie Olson Wrestling Clinic kicked off Monday, July 18, at Jennings Elementary School on Monday, July 18. According to wrestling coach Jack McBride, 55 wrestlers ages 5-19 are in attendance at the clinic, which is meant to honor former Colfax wrestling coach and teacher Eddie Olson. "Long retired, he was a very beloved coach and teacher at our school district," McBride said. "We just wanted to pay homage." The clinic is designed to teach basic wrestling skills...
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...
Gerald "Jerry" H. Bates, 92, a resident of Viola, Idaho passed away on June 6, 2022 at the Liberty Lake adult family home in Liberty Lake, Wash. Jerry was born on Feb. 16, 1930 at Barrington, Illinois, to Benjamin and Gladys (Simonsen) Bates. He attended his schooling at Oregon, Illinois and graduated from the Oregon High School in 1948. He joined the United States Air Force on August 3, 1948 and retired from the Air Force on August 31, 1968 as a Senior Master Sergeant. Jerry moved to Spokane,...
Ruth M. (Lawson) Dowell – Cromer, 95, a resident of Spokane Valley, Wash. passed away on June 25, 2022 at Orchard Crest Memory Care in Spokane Valley, Wash. Ruth was born on October 23, 1926 at the family farm near Tensed, Idaho to Guinther and Maude (Bovey) Lawson. She attended her schooling at Tekoa, Wash. and later attended Spokane Falls Community College where she received her Associates of Arts degree in 1982. She married Granville Dowell in 1944 and he died in 1999. She married James C...
COLFAX —Whitman County Rural Library District’s new director Cody Allen is no newcomer to the Palouse. Born and raised in Lewiston, Allen began his career at Clarkston’s Asotin County Library before attending Whitworth College in Spokane, where he worked in the school’s library. After college, Allen spent seven years working for the Billings Public Library in Montana, where Allen says he gained an appreciation for the profession. “It was really just the work itself that I really love,” said Allen, “I really liked being part of the community...
SPOKANE – Several Whitman County students have been named to the honor roll at Spokane Community College for the spring quarter. To be selected, students must maintain at 3.0 grade-point average. Local students making the grade are: Albion — Benjamin Silvernale, Kallai Molsee, Zephyrus Cook, Harleigh Parker and Nathanael Zink. Colfax — James Largent, Ashley Goebel, Jeffrey Harwood and Makaella Sears. Garfield — Laynie Southern, Madison Cloninger and Elise Opheim. Oakesdale — David Clark Rosalia — Shana Friedt, Carson McDonald, Angelina Wi...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Library District will host a book club meeting at Schmuck at 5:30 p.m., Monday, July 25. The group, open to all adults, will discuss “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig. The group typically meets on the last Monday of every month at 5:30 p.m. in-person at the Colfax branch library with digital option....
Agency rules pushed us into drug prohibition In his July 7, 2022 column, publisher Roger Harnack bemoans excessive “law-making” by agencies. I would join with him, pointing to the Harrison Narcotic Tax Act of 1914. Congress wanted to raise revenue by taxing the flow of narcotics from doctor to patient. Naturally, they assigned this revenue measure to the Treasury Department to administer. Evidently, the agency saw more growth potential in enforcing a prohibition than in just collecting a tax, because it inserted drug prohibition into the admini...
Did you know the governor’s office is currently negotiating pay and compensation with state employee unions for the state’s 2023-25 budget? What is on the table? Will the outcome of these secret talks be no tax cuts for Washingtonians but big inflation pay raises for government employees? That answer is currently a mystery since these government pay raise talks happen in secrecy without disclosure of the financial details until the deal is reached. Why is this secret process occurring? In 200...
A draft of the “Lower Snake River Dams Benefit Replacement Report,” requested by Washington’s U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee last fall, recently was released to the public. While intended to make the case for breaching the four dams between Clarkston and the Tri-Cities, the report ironically makes a good case for keeping the dams. The report estimates it will cost between $10-$27 billion to replace the benefits provided by the four dams. Knowing how government projects usually go ov...
COLFAX — The City Council discussed the upcoming 150th history celebration and public works issues when it met Monday, July 18. Public works officials said they’re currently dealing with water leaks, spraying the streets and preparing the city for the 150th celebration. The water pump for the Clay Street Well is set to get here Aug. 8, officials said, noting they are waiting for the pump and the motor to proceed. Police Chief Bruce Blood said he was making final preparations for Main Street for the celebration. Firefighters will be doing a str...
OAKESDALE - Leading up to Old Mill Days, Mayor Dennis Palmer could be seen sweeping the streets in preparation for the return of the community festival two years in the making. After cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic mandates, this year's Old Mill Days was met with clear skies, live entertainment and enough parade candy to go around. "It gave a chance for people to get out and visit when after COVID a lot people were anxious to," Palmer said. Kicking off the weekend's events was an...
COLFAX — All 14 branches of the Whitman County Library District will close from Aug. 1-7 for annual maintenance. During the weeklong closure, special projects are performed that are difficult to complete when the library is open, officialssaid. Due dates for library materials are extended during the shutdown. Book drops remain open in all locations for customer convenience. Libraries affected by the closure are: Albion, Colfax, Colton, Endicott, Farmington, Garfield, LaCrosse, Malden, Oakesdale, Palouse, Rosalia, St. John, Tekoa, and U...
PALOUSE – City officials identified a gas main issue and construction to replace it is underway. “We have identified that we will need to replace a portion of our gas main on Palouse Cove and East Union Avenue,” City Administrator Misty La Follett said. Work was scheduled to start July 18 and finish July 22. A gas crew is set to bore south along Palouse Cove Road and cut asphalt in the intersection of East Union Avenue and South Bridge Streets, she said. Flaggers will direct traffic....
PULLMAN — An Idaho man was killed on state Highway 270 while walking his bike across the road Monday, July 11. Jason Wallace, 49, of Moscow, was later pronounced dead at Gritman Hospital in Moscow, Idaho, following the 8:45 p.m. crash near Milepost 93, the Washington State Patrol reported. The driver of the 2021 blue Toyota Highlander involved in the crash, Cynthia Anderson, 47, of Moscow, was not injured. According to the patrol, Wallace was walking his bike north, from the south side of the highway, at the time of the crash. He was not w...
ROSALIA — Whitman County Sheriff’s Office deputies apprehended a man with $10,000 worth of stolen property at the Horn School Rest Area in the early morning hours of Thursday, July 14. Brian G. Funk, 53, of Spokane, was caught pulling a trailer loaded with plywood valued at $3,500 after the owner of the trailer spotted his stolen property on the highway, Sheriff’s Office records show. The owner of the trailer and plywood followed Funk while informing deputies of his whereabouts, leading to Funk’s eventual arrest at the rest area on Highway...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Jail reported the following people in custody between July 12-19: July 19 Nick Perez, 20, second-degree malicious mischief and first-degree burglary. Gootime release date July 23. July 16 Reneae Francis Hilchey, 35, Upper Kittitas County District Court warrant for violation of probation for fourth-degree assault-domestic violence, $5,100 bond. July 14 Steven Kristopher Young, 37, warrant for failure to register as a sex offender, $100,000 bail. Brian George Funk, 53, ignition interlock violation, first-degree t...
COLFAX — The Police Department responded to the following calls for service between July 8-14: July 8 9:27 a.m. – False information to police. 12:20 p.m. – Suspicious person/circumstance. 11:10 p.m. – Unattended death. Police, EMS and coroner responded. July 9 1:17 a.m. – Trespassing complaint. 10:39 a.m. – Nuisance/obscene phone calls. 4:20 p.m. – Burglary. Reporting person said someone has been in his business. July 10 7:34 a.m. – Other law enforcement calls. Person is requesting a ride home. 2:30 p.m. – Theft of automobile. Resid...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office responded to the following calls for service from July 11-18: July 11 11:34 a.m. – State Highway 270, Pullman. Sheriff’s deputy responded to a report of neighbor threaning person. 12:21 p.m. – North Madison Street. Tekoa Care Center, Tekoa. Sheriff’s Office received a referral from Adult Protective Services. 12:57 p.m. – Sheriff’s Office requested a case number for a suspicious subject. 1:05 p.m. – Haxton Road, Hooper. Sheriff’s Office received report of someone making threats. 1:29 p.m. – 411 Nor...
COLFAX - Three people have joined forces to reopen Barbershop on Main. Formerly owned by longtime barber Terry Lee Vietz, the shop at 209 N. Main St. reopened Tuesday, July 19. Vietz passed away Feb. 5, 2022. Steven and Samantha Burd, both 52, and their partner Jack Cramer, 63, all of Boise, said they are excited to keep the "old-timey" feeling alive. Vietz had closed down his barbershop after 38 years due to his battle with cancer before his death. "Some would come in just to talk to other...
TEKOA - A father-daughter team has opened a new diner here. Jeff Lohmiller, 61, and Crystal Taylor, 40, officially opened the doors of Frostys Diner at 205 N. Crosby St. on Friday, July 1. The new diner serves burgers, sandwiches, breakfast and more. Taylor and Lohmiller are still sorting out hours and are looking for a cook. "We just wanted to bring back a family affordable diner to town," Taylor said. "The community has been very welcoming and very supportive." The diner was named after...
By Gazette Reporter COLFAX – Whitman County commissioners discussed concerns over the new BA.5 COVID-19 variant during their meeting Monday, July 18. Whitman County Public Health Director Chris Skidmore brought commissioners up to speed just as the next school year is on the horizon. “I am pretty sure it is already here and moving throughout the county,” Skidmore told commissioners. “I think it’s important that we are on the back end of the spike before students come back.” BA.5 has similar symptoms as previous variants including fever, runn...
COLFAX - The much-anticipated Colfax 150th Celebration kicks off Saturday, July 23, with a dedication in Eells Park. Volunteers are already decorating the community in preparation for the event. Downtown, the "Yarn Bomb" exploded with volunteers wrapping colorful crocheted squares around trees and posts in advance of the weekend festivities. Colored crocheted and knitted pieces also hang from facets of downtown businesses. Other volunteers have organized a number of activities that begin with...
Oakesdale’s Old Mill Days returned this past weekend after a two-year pandemic hiatus, bringing in crowds for parades, local history and classic cars, such as this 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88....
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHITMAN IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LYNN GEORGIA WHEATON, Deceased. The Personal Representative named below has been appointed as Personal Representative of this Estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Personal Representative or the Personal Representative’s a...
