Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 43 of 43
COLFAX — Concern about the condition of McDonald Park restrooms were brought to the Colfax city council by two people on Aug. 2. It led to assurances that it's being addressed by the city. Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Kackman said the input was welcome. "We thought they had some legitimate concerns and we'll get them addressed," Kackman said. Matt Hammer, city public works director, is talking to the maintenance contractor, who takes care of the restrooms during the April-October season. City parks s...
COLFAX — Congress member Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers spoke to people assembled at the McGregor Company on the subject of agriculture. She gave an update of what she has been working on in Congress, highlighting her "all of the above" energy strategy, including support for hydropower, protecting Lower Snake River dams and more. A presentation followed from a representative from Farm Services Agency regarding resources for growers dealing with drought and high temperatures. The morning session c...
COLFAX - A new ordinance bans camping on Whitman County right-of-ways along a 27-mile stretch of the Snake River. Passed unanimously by county commissioners on Aug. 2. The move followed a public hearing with no testimony. Concerns from the county health department and Whitman County Fire District 12 about encampments along the river led to the decision. Camping is banned within 500 feet of the centerline of Wawawai Road along the designated stretch, except for places marked specifically for...
PULLMAN - Washington State University (WSU) totaled more than $120 million in donations for the fiscal year 2021. All told, more than 35,000 donors gave 104,170 grants, gifts, and pledges, to go to academic, research, and outreach projects, according to a report released on Wednesday. In addition, the WSU endowment rose 30% during the past year, reaching a high of $650 million. During the fiscal year, more than $21 million went out in distributions to fund student scholarships, faculty jobs,...
COLFAX — A houseboat was fund after it sank at the Boyer Park Marina on Aug. 4 No one was on board as the craft took on water and sank overnight, according to the Port of Whitman. Oil containment booms were used after the discovery by Mike Olmstead, the park manager. “Although this was an unfortunate incident we are certainly glad no one was hurt,” said Joe Poire, executive director of the Port of Whitman County. “Mike … did an exemplary job handling the situation and alerting all the necessary people of what had happened.” The boat was re...
COLFAX - As Washington State University (WSU) students prepare to return to campus in Pullman, the Washington State Patrol is planning increased patrols along U.S. Highway 195 and State Route 26. The increased patrols run through the Sunday, Aug. 15. Troopers are looking for speeders and motorists not wearing seat belts....
COLFAX - Colfax received $27,000 in a state grant to cover half of the training of new police officer Tyler Paris. Police Chief Bruce Blood informed the city council on Aug. 2. "We've had past chiefs that have failed to go get that money," said Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Kackman. A three-year $250,000 federal COPS grant helps fund benefits for Paris and a second new Colfax officer....
WEBB'S SLOUGH - A debut is in the making for the next sprint boat races in St. John on Aug. 28. Dangerous Curves is a team of locals, Mike Thomas and Clint O'Keefe, who formed last year and waited out the pandemic-canceled 2020 season. Then the night before the opening race at Webb's Slough in June, they put the boat in the water for a test run and it did not go as they hoped. "Catastrophic failure," said Thomas. The boat sucked in water, ruined two push-rods, and bent a valve. No racing for...
COLFAX - Weightlifting ends early because harvest started early. Colfax High School football players finish at 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday weights workouts this week, unless they are already lost to working in the fields. The team reconvenes on Aug. 18 for two-a-days practices. "I told them, as I do every year, get out of the truck, run to the top of the hill, do push-ups, do sit-ups, don't just sit out there," said Colfax Coach Mike Morgan. Once back on grass and out of the stubble,...
COLFAX - The Colfax School District board approved a 2021-22 budget on July 26, based on a projection of 534 students, up to five from last year. The total includes $8.6 million in the general fund, $1.2 million in debt service for bond payments, $500,000 in capital projects, $209, 674 for the associated student body fund, and $150,000 for the transportation fund. District Business Manager Reece Jenkin presented the numbers to the board. "You're going to see a reduction in our state revenue,"...
COLFAX - The two candidates with the most votes move forward toward the November general election. The only races in the primary election are ones with three or more candidates. The Aug. 3 primary election ballots are all counted. Whitman County voters cast 2,731 ballots. It means 34.8% of the county's 7,893 registered voters took part in the primary election. The last ballots were counted on Aug. 6 but results remain unofficial until they are certified by the county canvassing board on Aug....
PULLMAN - Fire destroyed a home on Maple Street in Pullman and shed embers to set another house on fire on Aug. 8. "Firefighters said the winds were gusting up to 30 miles per hour at the time and carried embers from Maple Street to more than a block away igniting the cedar shake shingles on a three-story home at 400 NE Howard Street," said Pullman Fire Department Public Information Officer Glenn Johnson. Embers started a wildland fire causing half an acre of a hillside on North Grand Avenue to...
COLFAX - It's hot already and it'll creep up a little more until it starts to cool on Sunday. "High pressure will build back over the region with drier and warmer weather ... The main story will be the extreme heat that returns by Thursday and lasts through the weekend," stated a National Weather Service meteorologist. It is predicted to reach 97 degrees on Thursday, Aug. 12, in Whitman County, climb to 99 degrees on Friday, and reach 100 degrees on Saturday, according to the weather service....
ROSALIA - "Where's my picture?" "How come it didn't get in?" "It better get in next week. Put it on the front page." Mike Day, of Rosalia, has been a contributor to the Whitman County Gazette since before the Warren Commission. Some weeks have been more satisfying than others. It started when he was a boy. His mother told him to come right home from St. Patrick's in Colfax after school to the apartment above the tavern on Main Street, where his father worked. He was to change clothes and go...
ST. JOHN - Parents can rally for local control of schools at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 19, in the city park. The event is organized by Amy Swannack and Micah Armstrong. It comes after a rally last week that attracted 450 parents and public school employees opposed to masking students and mandating vaccinations. "There are many difficult topics that have arose, trickling down from our government leaders (in Olympia)," Armstrong said in a social media post. The event in St. John follows similar...
PULLMAN — At least two Eastern Washington cities have instituted mask mandates for everyone entering indoor areas. The Pullman police chief announced the new mask mandates on the city website earlier today, Tuesday, Aug. 17. It follows an announcement Monday, Aug. 16, posted to the city of Richland’s website. “In consistency with Whitman County Department of Health and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommendations, masks are required in all indoor, public spaces within city of Pullman facilities, effective immediately,” Pullm...
PALOUSE – Nine Garfield Palouse schools retirees are being honored on Aug. 24. "Please join us as we celebrate and honor our 2020 - 2021 retirees who collectively have dedicated over 200 years of service to Garfield Palouse schools," said Shyra Hallan, secretary for the Palouse School schools. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Palouse City Park. Honored retirees are from 2020: Jay Iverson, John Bofenkamp, Patty Rippee, Marv Pillers, Frankie Swinney, Jody Akins, and Darlene Ackerman. Retirees f...
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