Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 43
TYLER – A fire broke out last Friday afternoon southeast of Tyler, burning 252 acres and resulting in the loss of several homes, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Crews from the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Spokane County Fire Districts 3 and 10, and regional fire partners from Spokane and Lincoln counties responded to the fire, which threatened homes in Tyler and the surrounding areas. The fast-moving fire burned through timber and grass, ultimately c...
OLYMPIA - Gray wolves will stay listed as endangered in Washington following a tight 5-4 vote by the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission. Despite a significant increase in the gray wolf population over the past 15 years, with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reporting at least 260 wolves in 42 packs, the decision was made to retain their endangered status. The Commission's virtual meeting on Friday, July 19, also covered changes to cougar hunting regulations. New...
POMEROY - Beginning the final week of the season, Pomeroy hosted SELW on Tuesday, July 23. Pomeroy came out ahead with a team score of 618 to SELW's 407. Pomeroy's Kael Edwards topped the leaderboard with six first-place wins, a second and a third-place finish. He won the boys 11-12 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 50-yard breaststroke, 100-yard IM, and was part of the first-place finishes in the boys 13-14 freestyle and medley relay teams. Hudson Newberg, of Pomeroy, had five firsts and a...
PALOUSE — Through changes in home pool sites due to ongoing renovations, this summer season for the Tri-County Swim League has certainly been notable. From personal bests and several close matchups, the final regular-season matchups of the year have come to an end. The championship meet is set for 10 a.m. this Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Palouse pool. “The season went really well. All the teams who hosted put a lot of effort into their meets and we appreciate them,” said Tiffani Organ, a swim coach for the St. John-Endicott-LaCrosse-Washtucna (SEL...
PALOUSE - Music filled the park, Saturday, July 27 in Palouse as another year of the Palouse Musical Festival brought local talent to serenade event-goers. The Range Benders did a spirited cover of The Alman Brother's Band 'Soulshine,' and many members of the crowd got up to dance along. Pullman High School student Cora Miskin sang several original songs. Miskin has played at Palouse Music Festival several years and puts videos of playing her original music on Instagram under the handle...
GARFIELD — Summer is in full swing with local calendars brimming over with events. One of these is the Garfield Farmers’ Market. Well into its 2024 season, it will be held—rain or shine-at the town park on 5th Street from 2-6 PM every Sunday through September 29. Just follow the signs in town along Route 27! The market’s organizer is Betty Walden (AKA “the Garfield Spice Lady”) who has poured her heart into living up to this year’s slogan, “Let the fun begin!” Her booth sells a variety of products, including barbecue sauce, “Rub for Grub,” a...
COLFAX — Jennings Elementary School is temporarily housing $10,000 worth of frozen meat in their freezer for Council on Aging after their big freezer broke down on Tuesday, July 23. According to Badger, the freezer housed all of the frozen senior meal products and food that is distributed to the 13 Whitman County Pantry locations. “There is probably about 400 to 500 pounds worth of frozen food for our senior meals and our pantry give outs that had to be moved,” said Badger. Council on Aging Nutrition Coordinator Terri Badger said that the f...
PULLMAN — This year’s Distinguished Young Woman program sees eight young women in Pullman to compete for representing Washington in the Distinguished Young Women Program in its 67th year. Distinguished Young Women 2025 participants this year are Karly Wigen, Colfax, daughter of Brandy and Peter Wigen; Hailey Beckner, Garfield Palouse, daughter of Heather and David Beckner; Hayley Barnea, Clarkston, daughter of Jenny and Brandon Barnea; Holly Heitstuman, Colton-Uniontown, daughter of Bobbi and Chris Heitstuman; Allison Wood, Pullman, dau...
Okay, readers, hands up if you or your ancestors are/were immigrants to the United States, legal or illegal. All hands up? Even Native Americans came across the Bering Straits or by land. They have the best claim to land, however, since they arrived long before Europeans, Africans and Asians. Then, explain the Mass Deportation signs on display at the Republican National Convention and the anti-immigrant tone to the speeches; and why Republicans just scuttled the bipartisan immigration bill. Should legal and illegal immigrants be deported? If...
In basketball, when an opponent is trying to steal the ball from you, teammates will shout, “wolf!” Last Friday the Washington State Fish & Wildlife Commission ignored the cries of “wolf!” from state agency and tribal scientists, livestock raisers, and others when they voted not to downlist or delist the gray wolf in Washington state. The predators which have enjoyed 15 years of population increases are still considered an endangered species after a 5-4 vote. The most recent population count l...
I received some fantastic news last week! I received an email that read: “Hello Lou Marzeles.” (Okay, there should have been a comma after hello, but I’m a professional editor highly trained to notice such details in a world that drops punctuation and whole sentence errors by the dozen every second. I was willing to let that go. I figured they were just in such a hurry to share the good news.) “This is Mazie Reddit.” (Hm. Okay, another pause. Really? Mazie Reddit? Reddit is a website. And I’ve never heard of anyone with the name Mazie, though I...
SPOKANE COUNTY – Addyson Shafer, 13, died in a boating accident at Clear Lake on July 27. Sheriff's Office Dive Team members located and recovered the body of the teenage girl with assistance from Marine Enforcement after four and half hours looking for her body. The county Medical Examiner on Monday listed the death caused by accidental drowning. Addyson was a student at Horizon Middle School in the Spokane Valley. The school reached out to the public by saying, "Those who knew Addyson know s...
COLFAX - Whitman County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a wildland fire at 6:41 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, in which a structure was on fire. The fire located at 1452 South Palouse River Road had responders on scene requesting evacuations, according to a report by the Whitman County Sheriff's Office. Colfax volunteer firefighters from Whitman County District 11, Diamond, Steptoe and Albion were called to the building which was fully engulfed in flames. According to a report by Officer Dan Brown,...
COLFAX — Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics has signed a contract with Planned Parenthood to comply with the Reproductive Privacy Act. During the Wednesday, July 17, meeting Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics Board of Directors discussed compliance with the Reproductive Privacy Act and steps being made to meet state law. Board Vice President Michele Beckmann updated the board on a meeting of the compliance board. “Hank met again with the assistant attorney general and a contract with Planned Parenthood for out of state patients has been sig...
COLFAX - Construction on the Colfax Downtown Association restaurant incubator project was wrapping up on Friday, July 26, to prepare for the upcoming Wild Ember Kitchen grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 17. The grand opening will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Aug. 17, in the newly opened restaurant at 102 North Main Street, formerly the Washington Federal Bank. Bond said that a ribbon cutting will take place at 10:30 a.m. during the grand opening and the public is invited to show their...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Assessor’s Office reported the following land transactions from June 25: June 25 Audra Peringer, Oakesdale, Wash., sold 606 West McCoy Street, Oakesdale, Wash., to Alexander Baklamov, Spokane Valley, Wash., selling price $35,000, Statutory Warranty Deed. M. M. Enterprises, eInc, a Washington corporation, Colfax, Wash., sold land only, Whitman County, Wash., to Gregory J. Mader, Colfax, Wash., parcels 2-0000-45-15-13-2000, 2-0000-45-1514-4900, 2-0000-45-15-14-3900, 2-0000-45-15-15-4490, 2-0000-45-15-1000, 2-0...
COLFAX — Whitman County District Court reported the following criminal conviction sentences from July 26 July 26 Kenneth Willoughby was dismissed of charges of driving with license suspended 3rd degree pursuant to plea agreement. Matthew Martinez, was found guilty of assault 4th degree. Therefore, the defendant has a deferred sentence for 24 months, 364 days of jail, 363 suspended and a fine of $500, $500 suspended. Defendant must serve one day in jail, with credit for one day served and has a total of $343 in fines. $300 in fines can be c...
COLFAX – The Whitman County Jail reported the following individuals booked from July 10 to July 24: July 10 11:33 a.m.- Citizen ride North Mill Street. 12:18 p.m.- Communications problem North Main Street. 1:09 p.m.- Suspicious person/circumstance West Railroad Avenue. July 11 9:58 a.m.- Other law enforcement call Hamilton Park. 5:46 p.m.- Other law enforcement call South Middle Street. 6:29 p.m.- Welfare check North Riverside Lane. 7:47 p.m.- Non-injury accident East Valleyview Avenue. July 12 1:28 a.m.- Theft North Park Street. 12:01 p.m.- W...
COLFAX – The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office responded to the following calls from July 23 – July 29: July 23 11:39 a.m.- 411 North Mill Street, Colfax. Sex offender registration. 12:14 p.m.- West 9 th Street, Rosalia City Park, Rosalia. Suspicious person. 1:08 p.m.- South Summit Avenue, Rosalia. Junk vehicle. 2:31 p.m.- SR 195, Rosalia rest area, Rosalia. Controlled substance problem. 4:07 p.m.- 411 North Mill Street, WCSO, Colfax. Citizen rider. 4:42 p.m.- Country Club Road, Pullman. Suspicious person. 6:23 p.m.- SR 195, Rosalia. K9 searc...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Jail reported the following individuals booked from July 24 – July 30: July 26 Victoria Marie Abrahamson Smith, 27, assault 4th degree domestic violence. Held without bail through District Court. Jason Andrew Williams, 38, possession stolen property 2nd degree. Controlled substance amphetamine/meth. $50,000 bond or $5,000 cash bail through Superior Court. July 27 Susan Viola Small, 73, assault 4th degree, domestic violence. Held without bail through District Court. July 28 Abraham Angel Gonzalez, 26, assault 4th deg...
COLFAX — A Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics orthopedic surgeon has been appointed to serve on the Medical Committee of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. W. Douglas B. Hiller, is on the Medical Committee of the Event Advisory Group for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, 2024 Europe Triathlon Baltic Championships and the 2024 World Triathlon Development Regional Cup. Dr. Hiller said that there is a medical structure for the Olympic Games, including a representative of the Olympic s...
ROSALIA — Three people were injured in a car crash on Saturday, July 27, one mile south of Rosalia. Brad Olander, 43, of Lewiston was driving northbound on state route 195 on Saturday, when he exited to State Route 271 driving through the curve on the off ramp, striking the embankment and coming to rest in the median. Olander was reported to have been under the influence and wearing a seat belt. Two other passengers Willie Campbell, 30 and Sophia Jones, 30, of Lewiston were injured. Both were reported to have not been wearing seat belts. All t...
COLFAX — An Albion woman was sentenced to the maximum charge of 18 months in prison for giving marijuana to minors. Catherynne Starks, 38, of Albion pled guilty in Whitman County Superior Court on Friday, July 26, to four counts of providing minors with cannabis. Starks was arrested at approximately 2:30 p.m. on November 15, 2023, when officers responded to a drug offense after receiving a call from Robert Keller who stated that Starks had given his 13-year-old stepdaughter drugs. The probable cause was read by prosecutors who stated that S...
COLFAX - Community members were invited to The Center to see draft visual simulations of Harvest Hills' proposed wind turbine project near Kamiak Butte on Thursday, July 25, and again on Friday. Harvest Hill Project Director Shane Roche said that they decided to do the visual simulations after listening to the concerns of the community. "The number one concern that people have talked about is the viewshed from Kamiak Butte, so we're here as one of the first steps to be transparent," said Roche....
PULLMAN - On Tuesday, July 23, Pullman hosted Colfax and Garfield-Palouse-Oakesdale-Plummer (GPOP). Pullman won the meet with 583.5 points, followed by GPOP with 302 and Colfax at 211.5. Pullman went on to host Colfax on Friday, July 26, for the final meet of the regular season before the championship meet on Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Palouse pool. GPOP hosted St. John-Endicott-LaCrosse-Washtucna and Pomeroy on Thursday, July 25, for their final meet of the regular season. On Tuesday, Pullman's...
