Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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* Conservative author and commentator William F. Buckley Jr., a graduate of Yale University, once made the following controversial remark: “I’d rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the faculty of Harvard University.” * The first auctions in recorded history were held in 450 B.C. in Babylon. Sadly, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the items up for sale were humans. * The Goodyear company, known today for its automobile tires, was originally founded to produ...
Whitman County’s public works department will buy a vibratory pile driver for local bridge projects from Hercules Machinery Corp., Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The machine vibrates support posts into the ground to ensure they are tightly in place. Public Works Director Mark Storey said it works better than the bridge crew’s current piece of equipment, which essentially hammers the posts into place. Hercules was the lone bidder for the pile driver, with a quote of $41,500....
James Elmer Construction, Spokane, was awarded a contract to build Whitman County’s new elections office by county commissioners Monday morning. Elmer quoted a price of $489,040, including tax, to remodel the county-owned building at the corner of Main and Upton streets into the new elections office. The building last housed Greg’s Electric. Plans call for the front half of the building to be remodeled to provide better access for disabled voters. It will have two street-level doors into the lobby. Also bidding on the project were Western Sta...
These reports are from the previous four issues of the Daily Bulletin in Colfax. They are reprinted here for the benefit of Gazette readers who reside outside of Colfax. Some accounts have been updated. Street not city’s problem Planned vacation of two little-used segments of city streets on the south end has been canceled because city officials determined they were already vacated in the 1930s. On the chopping block were Ash Street, a steep segment of street running downhill from E. Fairview to Highway 195, and Reed Street, a small alleyway p... Full story
Cutis Scholz of the Colfax branch of St. Louis-based financial services firm Edward Jones has achieved the professional designation of Accredited Asset Management Specialist. Scholz earned the designation after completing a professional education program from the Denver-based College for Financial Planning. The training provides in-depth information on managing assets and developing financial strategic plans....
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will hold a public meeting in Spokane Valley next Wednesday, Aug. 25, to discuss modifications to the state’s white-tailed deer hunting regulations in the Chewelah area. The agency is proposing changes that would restrict harvest of bucks in game management units 117 and 121 to white-tailed deer with four antler points or more. Under current rules, any buck can be harvested in that area. The meeting will be a 7 p.m. in the Great Room at the Center Place Regional Event Center, 2426 N. Discovery P...
Whitman County’s road department will receive $4,471,570 from state gas tax proceeds to perform maintenance work on county roads in 2011. The state’s County Road Administration Board informed county commissioners this week of next year’s estimated total. Public Works Director Mark Storey said the number is down a bit from the last few years. Gas tax revenue has been declining over recent years, he said, as high gas prices have caused more of the state’s residents, primarily in metropolitan centers, to use public transportation. Of the total,...
The wooden sign for Kamiak Butte rests stoic at sunset next to a field of wheat. Could Whitman County Parks use a fund-raising foundation? This was the question a Pullman couple posed to the parks council at a board meeting in Elberton on Aug. 12. The short answer is “yes.” The couple, Dick Domey and Diane Gillespie, approached parks board members about forming a foundation to help fund improvements to the park. Domey said the sprawling beauty of Whitman County’s parks has captured he and his wife’s hearts for years - and they are anxious...
What are your thoughts on CRP farming? Rob Phibbs, Eatonville, Wash. “Why not do it so farmers can make a few extra dollars for, really, the entire county?” Christy Houk, Spokane “It seems kind of weird to pay them to stop working.” Gwen Hunt-Palmer, Colfax “I don’t think there should be a cap on the amount of land a person has in CRP.” Rick Van Tine, Colfax “I think it’s a good deal for the farmers, if it fits.” Jeff Dean, Colfax “I don’t know. I feel it’s up to the person who owns the land.... Full story
Though a lack of funds cancelled this year’s edition of the Rosalia Motorcycle Rally, organizers have planned a street dance to fund next year’s event. Rita Crowl with the Brass Rail tavern said the rally was too important to the town, and members of the Rosalia Motorcycle Rally Association wanted to see it continue. “It brought so much to our town, we figured this is a start to bringing it back,” she said. Throughout its four-year stint, the annual August motorcycle rally stoked controversy in Rosalia. While it was first viewed as an economi... Full story
Colfax football player Tyler Morse puts his helmet in the belly of an opponent in this picture from last year’s season. While coaches and officials have put policies in place that discourage players from leading with their helmets, such plays inevitably happen. Fall sports are set to begin at high schools throughout the county, and coaches, parents and athletes are being briefed on the impact of a state law aimed at limiting the dangers of concussions. Colfax Athletic Director Mike Morgan advised parents and athletes about the law at the a...
Dozens of determined young bullpups stood in a circle on the Schmuck Park ballfields as the sun sets on a scorching August afternoon. While the sun may have made for a hot afternoon, these young future stars of the gridiron are feeling more heat from their thighs as they practice proper football stances. “It really burns,” said Chris “Ox” Jones. “But it’s supposed to. You should feel like you’re doing squat thrusts.” Colfax gridders in the third through sixth grades began practice Monday for this year’s Bulldog youth football season. John Klav...
The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office will be accepting applications for the position of Reserve Deputy Sheriff for the upcoming 2010 2011 Academy. Applications may be obtained in person at the sheriff’s office during regular business hours and will be accepted through Sept. 24. Successful applicants must pass a written examination, physical agility test, polygraph examination, psychological review, criminal history and background check. Applicants will be required to particpate in a 220-hour Basic Reserve Academy.... Full story
Two math teachers have been picked to fill the vacancies left by the two teachers who resigned in early August from the Colfax school district. The school board will make the final vote to hire on the new teachers at their Aug. 23 board meeting. Seven candidates applied for the jobs. The final two were chosen Aug. 17 by an interviewing panel of school staff. Superintendent Michael Morgan said he was very confident in the teachers chosen, adding they both had strong qualifications and backgrounds. Long-time Colfax math teacher Wendy Mandere and... Full story
Marriage Licenses Derek Jones, 29, Kennewick and Amie Senter, 23, Kennewick, Aug. 6 Wyatt Butler, 28, Colfax and Makayla Lohman, 21, Colfax, Aug. 11 Justin Heaton, 34, LaCrosse and Kathlyn Tellessen, 27, LaCrosse, Aug. 13 David McCartor, 24, Moscow and Cassie Novak, 23, Moscow, Aug. 13 Edmund Schweitzer, 29, Pullman and Laura Griebling, 24, Pullman, Aug. 16 Jeff Segebartt, 28, San Diego and Morgan Wilson, 27, San Diego, Aug. 16 Building Permits Bud Ackerman, reroof, 917 W. Fairview, Aug. 11 J and J Partnership, reroof, 913 N. Morton, Aug. 11... Full story
David Ayres, 66, Sammamish, died of an apparent heart attack Saturday morning while working on a combine for the Brad Buck harvest operation at Long Hollow southwest of Colfax. Emergency crews from the Colfax and Pullman rural fire districts were called to the scene at 8:15 a.m. MedStar was called in, and EMT’s provided aid to Mr. Ayres until a helicopter arrived. Officials with the coroner’s office determined he died before he could be stabilized for hospital transport. Arrangements are being made through Bruning Funeral Home in Col...
A motion has been filed to reinstate former Colfax Fire Chief Ralph Walter. Ross White, Spokane attorney who represents Walter in the appeal of his dismissal, filed a motion for the city’s Civil Service Commission to reinstate Walter as chief prior to a noon meeting of the board Aug. 18. White’s motion contends city officials failed to follow civil service procedures when Walter was dismissed. Walter was fired the morning of July 2 after he reported for a shift at the fire station. The firing came two weeks after a lengthy session in the may...
Coyzet Cueck (left) and Dana Repp (right) hold up school supplies they donated. The Colfax Community Action Center is knee-deep in its annual school supply drive. Inside the supply room at CAC, rows of Elmer’s glue, crayons, notebook paper, markers, rulers, and stacks of backpacks are piledup. Starting next Monday, families in need can pick up free school supplies for their children at the center on Main Street. Dana Repp, Colfax, said her husband learned of the need for donations, prompting her family to go out shopping for supplies. “As a fam...
THURSDAY Flight attendant Steven Slater becomes a national sensation after standing up to a rude passenger on a flight. After a passenger opened an overhead locker door that hit him in the head, Slater launched into an expletive-filled tirade on the plane’s intercom, grabbed two beers from the drink cart and slid down the emergency chute out of the plane. He was arrested on several charges and released on bail. Congress passed a $600 million border security bill that will provide funding for some 1,500 new border patrol agents in a crackdown o...
A tragic accident in a Thera harvest field took the life of Irvin Bailey, a 69-year-old life-long resident of St. John Saturday Aug. 14. Mr. Bailey was a member of a crew performing maintenance on a combine on the Mark Richter family harvest operation on Lee Road, six miles east of Endicott. According to a report from the county Sheriff’s office, he climbed up on the combine to close an engine panel. The driver of the combine, unaware Mr. Bailey had climbed on the combine, drove it forward. The sudden movement caused Mr. Bailey to fall to t...
Prosecutor Denis Tracy thinks county commissioners need to bone up on their knowledge of the state’s Open Public Meetings Act. “The answer to this question is not complicated,” Tracy wrote in a letter to commissioners. “If two or more of you discuss anything having to do with the county other than the weather, it is a meeting – and all provisions of the Public Meetings Act apply.” Tracy Aug. 10 sent the letter on public meeting law to commissioners entitled “What is a meeting? And other important questions”. “A good lawyer does not stand by... Full story
A new metal box built to hold discarded prescription drugs is now available to the public in the lobby of the Whitman County Sheriff’s office. A kaleidoscope of prescription drugs may soon be filling two new drug boxes installed in the county. The public can now dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs in two locations: the lobby of the county sheriff’s office and at the Pullman police department. Palouse River Counseling received a $15,000 grant from the Washington Attorney General’s office in July for the two drug boxes. The drug...
The Palouse Empire Fair is looking to boost participation in this year’s home brewing contest. Lorena Lynch, home arts superintendent, encouraged back yard brewers to enter samples of their homemade beer, wine and root beer in this year’s fair, which hits the Mockonema grounds Sept. 9 through 12. Several local brewing companies have put up prizes to be awarded to the top homemade hooch.... Full story
Lack of action by Whitman County’s now-defunct finance department has added another $56,414.54 to the county’s 2010 budget deficit. Assessor Joe Reynolds informed commissioners Monday the county owed that sum to its mental health agency. For two years, the county has not paid Greater Columbia Behavioral Health for providing mental health services to the public. “It definitely hurts us that much more in terms of budget,” said County Commissioner Greg Partch. Whitman County’s budget is currently expected to finish the year $349,690 in the red.... Full story
Two people were found dead of an apparent murder suicide at their residence two miles west of Thornton last Wednesday morning, Aug. 11. Sheriff Brett Myers’ report said deputies were called out to the home for a welfare check at 9:34 a.m. Wednesday. Found dead at the house Wednesday were Jennifer Dale, 42, and her husband, Wayne A. Dale, 51. The call came in after Jennifer Dale failed to report for work at Crossett’s Market in Oakesdale. Deputies arrived and received no response from the residents. They then found the back door of the hou... Full story
