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Articles from the August 26, 2015 edition


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  • Rich Lowry: No Trophy for You

    Aug 26, 2015

    NFL quarterbacks fear Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison. So should participation trophies, the ubiquitous trinkets given to children for merely showing up and rounding out the rosters of local sports leagues. The other day, Harrison learned that his sons had brought a couple of them home and was none too pleased: "I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies!" He swiftly returned the offending tokens and explained himself on Instagram: "These trophies will be given back until they...

  • Bob Franken: Dynasty Dynamics

    Aug 26, 2015

    Because our nation's creation is the result of revolting against a revolting king, we Americans are predisposed to being skeptical about political dynasties. True, we've elected some silver spoons, but still we're leery of those who try to float along their famous gene pool, or those who dive in by marriage. Fair or not, there's been a lot of grumbling about the prospect of a White House race between still another Bush and still another Clinton. In Jeb Bush's case, it is brother George W., the immediate ex-POTUS. It seems like wherever he...

  • For the firefighters

    Aug 26, 2015

    The current drought has caused more than just truncated crop yields in the west. It has been a cause of numerous, large wildfires. In fact, the western United States is ablaze. Our area is no exception. Large, destructive fires surround Whitman County, and smaller ones have dotted the fields within the county. Smoke from the multitude of fires has covered the county in a haze. Air quality, as a result, has been classified as "unhealthy" and, in some cases, "hazardous." Outdoor activities have been cancelled, simply to avoid exposure to the...

  • Colfax defending champs return seven seniors

    Aug 26, 2015

    Volleyball team captain Katelyn Scholz refers to Coach Sue Doering during team introductions Tuesday at Bulldog Night. Morgan Lord and Olivia Mellor are other captains for the team this year. Colfax volleyball players began to crank up the season with two-a-day practices on the boards this week. Coach Sue Doering and her assistants welcomed back a strong lineup of returning seniors from the team which rolled through the season last year with a powerhouse finish for a second straight state...

  • Six college teams set for Colfax XC race

    Aug 26, 2015

    Five college teams are expected Tuesday in the Inland Norhtwest cross country race at the Colfax Golf Course. Gonzaga, Whitworth, Eastern Washington, Idaho and LCSC teams will be the guests with WSU as the host team. The men’s race is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and the women’s team will race at 6:30. Admissionn is free. The golf course will be closed all day Tuesday while prepartationss are made to lset up the course. Tuesday’s race is expected to serve as a trial run for the big Pac 12 Cross Country race which will be at the golf cours...

  • Savvy senior

    Aug 26, 2015

    Dear Savvy Senior, An old family friend recently asked me to be the executor of his will when he dies. I feel flattered that he asked, but I’m not sure what exactly the job entails. What can you tell me? Concerned Friend Dear Concerned, Serving as the executor of your friend’s estate may seem like an honor, but it can also be a huge chore. Here’s what you should know to help you prepare. Rules and Responsibilities As the executor of your friend’s will, you’re essentially responsible for winding up his affairs after he dies. While this may...

  • Summer Reading program attracts nearly 500 youths

    Aug 26, 2015

    Whitman County Library Summer Reading youth logged more than 4,900 hours of reading time to complete the 2015 literacy program. “Every Hero Has A Story” was the theme for the program presented by a consortium of states working together to provide public libraries with high-quality reading program materials. The Whitman County Library system wants to thank the generous sponsors, Friends of the Library, and volunteers who donated money, incentives, and time to enhance the literacy event for close to 500 youngers in this area. Participants are lis...

  • Morgan, Colfax gridders start new football season

    Aug 26, 2015

    Colfax Head Coach Mike Morgan, at left, smiles at his team as they run out on the track for introductions on “Meet the Bulldogs” night Tuesday. A total of 35 football recruits started practice last week for the Bulldog football team which is expected to face another competitive lineup in the NE league. Colfax graduated eight seniors off the team which rolled out a 6-4 record last year, but they have 11 seniors back. "Most of our seniors played last year, so we do have a lot of experience," Coa...

  • Football season launches with Tigercats missing

    Aug 26, 2015

    Start of the football campaign will mark a big absence in the 1B lineup with the LWK Tigercats out of the lineup. LaCrosse/Washtucna/Kahlotus football has been shut down for the same enrollment reasons which led to consolidations or closures at other locations around the county. Football players from LaCrosse this year have been commuting to St. John and Endicott to hook up with high school and junior high teams. The official format under WIAA rules allows players to join neighboring teams when a sport is not offered at their school. LaCrosse p...

  • Standards-based grading will start at Jennings

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Aug 26, 2015

    Standards-based grading has come to Jennings Elementary School in Colfax. New Principal Travis Howell and two teachers gave a presentation to the school board Monday night on the new system. Howell explained that the intent of it is not what a student’s cumulative grade is in a class, but their level of mastery of the subject, as compared to state standards. In addition, the new grading system comes with a revised report card, which allows more space for specific feedback from a teacher. ...

  • Car accident near Colfax

    Aug 26, 2015

    A Tuesday afternoon car accident north of Colfax left the driver’s side of this SUV badly damaged....

  • Garfield marijuana operation gets license

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Aug 26, 2015

    The town of Garfield now has a marijuana grower licensed by the state. Debra Lantzy’s operation was granted a license last week, giving it legal status for growing and processing marijuana on part of a three–acre site. The property, on the south edge of town, was inspected Aug. 5, after which an interim permit was granted Aug. 15. The official certificate arrived a week later by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. The license first grants Lantzy a 15-day window to bring in and pla...

  • SEL, Schweitzers donate $2 million to airport project

    Kara McMurray, Gazette Reporter|Aug 26, 2015

    Monday, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc., donated $1 million to help fund the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PMRA) Runway Realignment Project, and SEL founder Ed Schweitzer and his wife Beatriz matched the donation with an additional $1 million. "The Schweitzer and SEL donations put us over the top for the local match," Airport Manager Tony Bean said. "These gifts will help us to give the region a competitive advantage for maintaining the quality of life enjoyed on the Palouse as well as attracting and retaining companies, jobs,...

  • Tekoa comment period underway for Shoreline plan

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Aug 26, 2015

    The city of Tekoa has a 60-day comment period underway for the proposed update to its Shoreline Master Plan. At the conclusion of Tekoa’s public comment period, a public hearing will be Oct. 19. As part of a freshening of the 1974 documents – which categorize shorelines for purposes of protection – Tekoa is part of a county wide interlocal agreement which hired consultants Berk Consulting and The Watershed Company to aid the process. Both are based in the Seattle area. The state-required updat...

  • Colfax airport project advancing, 4 days ahead of schedule

    Kara McMurray|Aug 26, 2015

    Construction vehicles litter the site at the Colfax airport where crews are finishing excavation work and beginning asphalt work to lay the new runway. Construction is currently about four days ahead of schedule. Anticipated completion date is still Oct. 5. Gazette Report Reconstruction of the runway at the Port of Whitman County Business Air Center is moving along as expected, Port Properties and Development Manager Debbie Snell told port commissioners at their meeting Thursday, Aug. 20. The c...

  • Charges filed against trio

    Aug 26, 2015

    Charges were filed Aug. 18 against the three suspects who were arrested Aug. 13 following a report of a hit and run accident on Upper Union Flat Road. The three suspects were arrested at Albion after an investigation of the accident. Jennifer Charawell, 28, was charged with second degree assault and obstruction of justice. Charawell was alleged to be the driver of a truck which struck Cody Rohrich of Colfax in the early morning hours. The charge alleges Charawell assaulted Rohrich with a late model Dodge four passenger pickup truck. Joshua...

  • Fire truck run to JES

    Aug 26, 2015

    A Colfax fire truck crew responded to an alarm that was activated at Jennings Elementary Aug. 19 at 1:29 p.m. The alarm was believed to have been triggered by dust generated by cleaning....

  • Festival awards Heatons 2015 Lentil Family

    Garth Meyer|Aug 26, 2015

    The 2015 lentil family of the year, the Heatons of Tekoa, rides down Pullman’s Main street saturday. Gazette Reportr The National Lentil Festival honored the Gary and Salli Heaton family of Tekoa as the 2015 Lentil Family of the Year at Saturday’s Lentil Festival parade in Pullman. Riding on a firetruck were Gary, Salli and their children, Andrea, Shana and Patrick and four grandchildren. “Our youngest grandchild, he learned to wave for the first time,” said Heaton. “Now he waves at everybody...

  • Wetland construct begins; PMRA to seek Port funds

    Kara McMurray, Gazette Reporter|Aug 26, 2015

    Construction equipment sits on the Kammerzell land along the South Fork of the Palouse River which is being converted into wetlands. The first phase of the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PMRA) Runway Realignment Project began Aug. 16 with wetland mitigation along the South Fork of the Palouse River east of Colfax. The land being converted to wetlands is owned by Tom and Cheryl Kammerzell, owners of Maple K Farms, who sold the development rights of the land for the wetland conversion. The wetla...

  • Air quality worsens: DNR asks for citizen volunteers for fires

    Kara McMurray, Gazette Reporter|Aug 26, 2015

    Blue skies could be seen in the Palouse area last Thursday after more than a week of smoke-filled skies, but the smoke quickly returned and worsened the air quality throughout the weekend. Early last week, smoke from nearby wildfires across the state and in Idaho reached the area and created a smoky haze, prompting the Department of Ecology to rank the area’s air quality as poor and unhealthy at times. The ranking warned that members of sensitive groups such as people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children were more likely to b...

  • Everybody dance now

    Aug 26, 2015

    Butch T. Cougar and some of the Crimson Girls get down with Snap Fitness Zumba Instructor SungYee Yang, front, and Facility Director Megan Hammer, at left, at a Zumba flash mob Saturday during Pullman’s 2015 National Lentil Festival. Snap Fitness had several flash mobs throughout the afternoon, drawing large crowds and even getting some festival-goers in on the action. The festival also drew crowds with the parade, lentil cook-off tasting and performances thoughout the two-day e...