Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 45 of 45
In 1935, a five-year old boy rode in his uncle's lap in the open cockpit of a biplane over Joliet, Ill. Eighty-five years later, he did it again. Colfax resident Jeremiah Shea, 90, a retired Pan-Am and United Airlines captain, flew on a 1929 steel-tubing, cotton and lacquer-wrapped Fleet Model Two open-cockpit biplane Aug. 12, based at Hangar 180 in Lewiston. It was the same vintage and model of plane from that day in Joliet. "It was like heaven," Shea said. "Flying again in the same old...
RITZVILLE — A duststorm that began just before noon caused multiple crashes, prompting area road closures through early evening hours Monday, Sept. 7. Washington State Patrol Sgt. Ethan Wynecoop said the multiple car crashes, which were all dust-related, resulted in no serious injuries. “It was absolutely a mess. You couldn’t see more than 10 feet in front of you,” Wynecoop said. “Almost every state route through our patrol area here had crashes of one sort or another.” Wynecoop said Intestate 90, state Highways 26, 21 and 261, and U.S. Highwa...
COLFAX-The Whitman County Sheriff's Office announced it has recognized Isabelle Fowler and Jordan Campbell of Pullman for their courage and bravery last month during a serious domestic violence situation. Both were presented a Citizen Act Of Bravery Award for their actions on Aug. 1, 2020, that likely saved the life of a fellow citizen, stated the Sheriff's Office. Fowler and Campbell were delivering papers early Aug. 1 when they noted suspicious activity by an SUV. After passing it once, they...
PULLMAN — School officials and police are investigating a case of someone hacking into a Lincoln Middle School Zoom class and playing a video of bestiality Sept. 3. According to reports, the perpetrator hacked into an eighth-grade band class session, started loudly cursing, blasting rap music and took over the feed to play the video. The school district told families in a letter it was one of seven attempts at “zoom-bombing” in a few days’ time. In each case, the teacher immediately ended the session before contacting school adminis...
August 2020 precipitation logged less than one-fifth the historical average for that month. According to the rain gauge at the NRCS office, 0.12 inches was recorded, most of that Aug. 6 when .09 inches was logged....
PULLMAN—A man accused of robbing a Pullman couple at knifepoint in August on a walking path has been arrested after being identified violating a no-contact order. According to a report, Pullman Police received a call from a man and woman Aug. 20 at approximately 1:30 a.m. about a sale of items that had allegedly ended in Daniel Pils robbing them of a tablet, cell phone and tent. The couple alleged Pils used a bowie knife during the robbery. After the alleged robbery, Pils, 34, was arrested after he was identified violating a no-contact order. T...
PULLMAN—A Pullman man is being charged with burglary and possession of methamphetamine after allegedly taking items he claimed were abandoned in an apartment. According to the police report, Pullman Police responded to a report of items being taken from an apartment the resident was moving out of. Police tracked the incident to Edward Gunn who, according to the report, admitted removing the items without permission because they had been abandoned. Gunn had officers accompany him into his residence to retrieve personal items. In the process, o...
DAVENPORT - Gun owners anticipating the fall hunting season or hoping to get in some target practice are having more difficulty than normal acquiring the ammunition necessary to operate their firearms. National media reported in early August that gun sales in 2020 had already surpassed sales in 2019, but the available ammo stock wasn’t keeping pace. Area firearms dealers say there are several possible reasons for an ammo shortage. Mainly, the COVID-19 fallout caused a spike in gun sales, with a...
A fast moving fire consumed over 70,000 acres in Lincoln County yesterday as high winds made the fire hard for crews to contain. The fire, also being referred to as the Hawk Creek fire, is currently burning in the areas of Hawk Creek Road, Cottonwood Creek, Gunning, South Telford, Whitaker Lake and Seven Springs Dairy. Isabel Hoygaard of the Type 3 Incident team said the fire has burnt at least four homes and numerous outbuildings. “We saw exponential growth of the fire yesterday and extreme fire behavior,” Hoygaard said. “Due to the wind...
MALDEN — High winds and dry weather conditions propelled a wall of flames southwest across rural Spokane and Whitman counties Monday, leveling homes, businesses and government offices. Approximately 75 percent of structures in Malden burned to the ground, including City Hall, the post office, a gas station and a historic church. Burned out cars were visible throughout town adjacent to what was left of homes and garages. Local ranchers and residents manned hoses and buckets of water to try to kee...
COLFAX—Fire crews responded Monday at 10:40 a.m. to fire on the west hill. Exact cause is undetermined, yet it is reported to have started as a brush fire. The fire started between Cromwell and West streets and spread southwest across the hillside as far as Crestview. Three structures were lost; two houses and a shop/garage. The homes are located on Cromwell Street and Crestview Drive, belonging to the Garcia family and Pugh family, respectively. The garage belonged to another family. Much of th...
PULLMAN – A rural mobile medical clinic that visited county towns earlier this year is now parked in Pullman as part of an increased effort in COVID testing by Washington State University. The William A. Crosetto Mobile Health Care Unit visited rural towns at the beginning of the year providing comprehensive primary care and preventive health services. It is now parked by WSU President Todd Schultz’s house to test the influx of students who are believed to be responsible for the massive sur...
COLTON—Whitman County Sheriff’s Office has reported a Colton man died Sept. 6 following a combine accident west of Colton and Uniontown. At 3:50 p.m., Whitman County Deputies and District 14 Fire and EMS were advised of an unconscious person who was involved in a combine accident on Bauer Road near Wolf Road, according to a media release from Undersheriff Chris Chapman. Once deputies arrived on scene it was determined the individual had succumbed to his wounds. The investigation revealed the deceased, Brian Lee Smith, 55, had been working on...
Donations have been pouring in to locations throughout the county, some being overwhelmed by the outpouring. According to Deanne Noel of Rosalia who is coordinating local efforts, the greatest need at this time is toiletries including vitamins, emergency packets, razors, shaving cream, deodorant and hairbrushes (there is no need for toothbrushes), half gallons of milk, butter, baking and pancake mixes, cheese, hoodies, baby socks, practical shoes (no high heels), duffel bags, small suitcases, totes, paper products, some baby and toddler food,...
COLFAX--The Manning Fire is now 25% contained with control line in place and fire crews focusing on hot spots. The fire destroyed three single family homes, the Manning Covered Bridge and one other structure, according to the Southeast Washington Type 3 Inter-Agency Team which is managing the fires. The train car which was moved out to the Manning area this spring has been reported as okay. The fire burned 3,063 acres stretching from the Green Hollow Road area to Endicott Road....
MALDEN — The Babb/Malden Fire is now credited with burning 17,781 acres, 1,000 of which were in Spokane County. Crews are performing their final assessments of the Malden and Pine City communities. The current tally from the Southeast Washington Type 3 Inter-Agency Team is 121 single-family homes destroyed, four single-family homes damaged, eight commercial and governmental properties - including Malden City Hall, library, post office, convenience store and Masonic Lodge No. 188 destroyed - a...
MALDEN - Gov. Jay Inslee was in Malden this morning, Sept. 10, to view the damage and talk to residents. He met with citizens separate from media, telling them Washington had its arms around Malden. He talked about the need to get federal aid over the next few days. Mayor Chris Ferrell said they will rebuild the town, although many people did not have insurance. Cathy McMorris Rogers was also on site and said there is a need for more aid. Residents interrupted her speech early on to correct him...
BASIN CITY - A wildfire raced along the edge of the city Monday, Sept. 7, destroying at least two homes. The homes were located along North Canal Boulevard and Loen Drive, but winds driving flames nearby fields of dry grass and sagebrush also spread the fire to the structures and vehicles parked nearby. According to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, nobody was injured. Meanwhile further east in the county, flames from another fire rapidly moved through dry fuels near Pasco-Kahlotus Road....
SPOKANE -- Officials at the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency are warning residents in the region that, depending on the winds and fire activity, air quality over the next several days is expected to worse. According to a Sept. 10 news release, air quality today (Sept. 11) could possibly reach the Orange Range (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) or worse of the Air Quality Index (AQI). Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-13, the air quality could decline even further to the Purple (Very Unhealthy) or...
MALDEN -- Access to the towns of Malden and Pine City continues to be restricted as crews continue to mop up Babb Fire hotspots. The fire grew to 15,266 acres and was 90% contained, according to Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team No. 10, which was managing fire operations until 6 p.m. Monday evening. At least 110 firefighters and 26 engines remained in the area. Local fire officials have since assumed control of the wildfire the swept across southern Spokane County and northern...
