Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 51 - 66 of 66
Whitman County commissioners Monday created a rural transportation district which will allow the Council on Aging and Human Services to apply for grant funding that will provide a rural van service in Whitman County. Council on Aging operates COAST senior transit services. Karl Johanson, executive president of the Council on Aging, said the agency is applying for a grant from the state Department of Transportation that would fund two 12-passenger vans. Johanson explained the Council on Aging can not apply for the state funds because it is not... Full story
An array of autumn attractions will take over Rosalia this weekend when the Chamber of Commerce conducts its second annual Fall Festival. Pumpkins, pies and a petting zoo will await attendees at this year’s edition. “We’ve really put together a great event,” said Jim Sharp, chamber president. “It was a great time last year, and it should be even better this year.” Sharp will provide hay rides around Rosalia throughout Saturday with his red 1961 Ford Workmaster tractor. Hay ride pickup stations will be set up around town to transport fall frolic...
The publicly declared campaign warchests of Susan Fagan of Pullman and Pat Hailey of Mesa show a difference in fundraising styles in their campaign for the open 9th District representative’s seat. The two Republicans are vying to replace the retiring Don Cox who served last year as a replacement for the late Steve Hailey. According to documents on file with the state’s Public Disclosure Commission, Fagan holds an advantage in overall funding, with $98,014 in her coffers as of Tuesday. Hailey’s campaign stood at $65,224. The bulk of those funds...
Effective Jan. 1, Whitman County will no longer accept electronic waste at the county transfer station between Colfax and Pullman. The ban includes computer, monitor, television sets and similar equipment. Public Works Director Mark Storey said the state of Oregon has banned electronic waste from landfills. Refuse from the county transfer station has been hauled to a landfill near Arlington, Ore., through a contract with Waste Management, Inc., Currently, two places accept e-waste: Goodwill Industries’ trailer near Shopko in Pullman and P... Full story
Retiring Whitman Hospital Administrator Jon Davis was awarded the Joe Hopkins award Oct. 15. A surprise party was held for him in the annex of the hospital Monday afternoon. The award is named after a WSU administrator who passed away from cancer. It was given to Davis for his outstanding leadership ability.... Full story
Whitman County finished its 2008 year-end financial statement Friday, marking the first time in five years the county has submitted a complete accounting of its records to state auditors. The year-end report was due in May. Commissioner Michael Largent said he believes it was more important to have a complete review of the county’s books than to make sure the statement was turned in by the state’s deadline. “The important thing is the people’s representatives, in this case the state auditors, will have our entire financial stateme... Full story
Whitman County Public Works Monday issued a list of snow and ice removal priorities for the upcoming winter. The letter cautioned cost-conscious road superintendents will be more hesitant this year to dispatch crews on weekends so Monday plowing could require extra time. Public Works Director Mark Storey said the prioritization list is the county’s attempt to avoid excessive costs for diesel and overtime labor. Atop the priority list are paved arterials, while gravel school bus and mail routes will receive second consideration. Roads not on s...
Whitman County officials are worried that voter approval of Initiative 1033, now before the voters, would create what Assessor Joe Reynolds called a “downward spiral” in revenue that would leave the county with no choice but to reduce services. “Basically it rips the rug right out from under us,” Commissioner Greg Partch said Monday. “I want to point out the dangers of this thing.” Other entities have crafted resolutions urging rejection of the initiative, but Partch was the only commissioner to speak on the matter during Monday’s re...
Whitman County’s allotment of nasal spray vaccines for the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, has been distributed to local health clinics. The county last week received 350 doses of a vaccine which is sprayed into the nose, said Fran Martin, director of the county health department. The spray will be distributed to those most vulnerable, namely people aged two to 24. Martin said the virus has killed four people in Spokane, all of whom were young and pregnant. Where deaths from the normal flu typically strike older people, the swine flu affects a d...
Palouse residents can expect an increase in their sewer and water bill by next February. The Palouse city council is preparing to add a six percent utility tax on all city sewer and water bills to offset the town’s struggling finances. The average water bill in Palouse runs about $30 in the summer, said City Clerk Joyce Beeson. With the utility tax, a water bill of $30 would increase to $31.80, Beeson said. Palouse charges a flat fee for sewer of $21. With the tax, residents can expect to have $1.26 added to their bills. Citizens can express t... Full story
Bo Claassen from the Jennings Bullpups of Colfax shares a little camraderie with some fellow linemen, the big guys from the University of Hawaii. The UH Warriors conducted a practice on the Colfax playing field last Thursday as they tuned up to face the Idaho Vandals in the Kibbie Dome Saturday. The Warriors lodged in Pullman and their plans to practice at Pullman High went awry so they wound up making a unique appearance at Colfax. Claassen and the rest of the Bullpups were suited up for their game at 4 p.m. after the Warriors... Full story
Whitman County commissioners Monday began chipping away at the county’s budget deficit by eliminating scheduled raises through the end of the year. “We have to make a statement on wages,” said Commissioner Pat O’Neill. County employees normally receive “step” raises of three percent when they are upgraded in the county’s classification system every 18 months. Freezing the raises scheduled for non-union employees, approximately 60 people, through the end of this year is expected to save around $2,000. “The compelling nature of our budget is s...
Stacks of food rest on the counter at the Whitman County Treasurer’s office, next to finance specialist Donna Poland. Several food drives have popped up to supply the pantry which was running very low of food in late September. In a surprising turnaround, the empty shelves of the local food pantry are filling back up thanks to food drives springing up around Colfax. Three food drives started around the Colfax once residents learned pantry supplies were alarmingly low in late September. Three more were already planned. “It is absolutely ama...
A tale of two newspapers A study on newspaper readership by the National Newspaper Association and Missouri School of Journalism is in its fourth year. During these four years, the death of the newspaper industry has been proclaimed in all the media. Even newspapers themselves have decried the difficulties they face and are looking for new ways to disseminate the news. It is a grave situation for the country. Without serious journalism that is both objective and comprehensive, the source of important news coverage and independent investigative... Full story
NOTICE OF ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the dirt portion of the following Whitman County roads are closed to vehicular traffic effective November 15, 2009 through March 15, 2010 pursuant to R.C.W.47.48.010, unless a permit is obtained from the office of the Whitman County Engineer: ROAD NO. NAME 0015 Waterman Road 0030 Merritt Road 0050 St. John Road 0060 Wilhelm Road 0100 Russell Road 0115 Carter Road 0190 Bourne Road 0310 Catholic Cemetery Rd 0410 Fairbanks North Road 1140 Bancroft Road 1180 I.N. Balthis Road 1420 Faught Road 1540...
8 years ago, Oct. 24, 1884 Jerry McAuley, of New York, somewhat celebrated as a reformed criminal, died recently in that city, and his funeral was an occasion of peculiar interest, due to the large number of varied characters of the people who were in attendance. McAuley was a convict who had served his term in one of the New York prisons and who was, a number of years ago, prominent as a member of the criminal class: but conscience aroused him and he became religious and spent his time in preaching to and exhorting the people who had formerl...
