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Articles from the November 23, 2017 edition


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  • Green-ing up her thumbs: County's lone Master Gardener ready for more

    Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter|Nov 23, 2017

    Registration is now open until Dec. 22 for Master Gardener classes and Debbie McNeil is looking forward to another round of plant, bug, soil and weed learning. “I thought I knew something until I went to those classes,” said McNeil who is currently the only Master Gardener in Whitman County. Although she is already a bonafide Master Gardener, McNeil is planning to attend the classes, which are offered every other year, to brush up and learn more about a broad range of topics. “The speak...

  • My two cents: Understanding Pullman's validation tally on bond props

    Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter|Nov 23, 2017

    On Nov. 16, this paper and another area newspaper reported opposite results on the same issue. The Gazette stated the Pullman bond measures had not reached their validation point whereas the other paper reported Pullman had. So, which is it? The answer to that may still be pending. Each bond is passing based on the percentage of yes votes they have received. But in the air is whether they have been validated, which means if they have received 40 percent of the number of voters who participated...

  • Eastern Star shines on CASA

    Nov 23, 2017

    Sandra Cavallo and Jean Flanigen, right, of Malden Order of the Eastern Star, present a check for $1,000 to Lenea Keltner, Program Manager of Whitman County CASA....

  • Bi-County 2B All-League

    Nov 23, 2017

    All-league volleyball players from the NE League were named during the district playoff finals at St. George's. South side players named to the team included Jessie Williams, Reardan; Greta Geier, Colfax; Piper Cai, Colfax; Gabby Lee, Reardan; Adrienne Washington, Asotin; Abbie Miller, Colfax; Kylie Kackman, Colfax; Peyton Curtis, LRS; Maysie Burnham, Liberty, and Carmen Gfeller, Colfax. Gfeller was again named league MVP....

  • Southeast 1B All-League

    Nov 23, 2017

    All-league volleyball players for the SE 1B were recognized at the district finals in Walla Walla. In front, from the left are Payson Griner, Garfield/Palouse; Deana Caruso, Pomeroy; Madison Shrope, Oakesdale, and Jazzmyn Gordon, LaCrosse/Washtucna/Kahlotus. In the back row, from the left, are Dariana Aceves, Touchet; Jaydn Corder, St. John/Endicott; Jordyn Moehrle, Colton; Carmen Gingerich, Pomeroy; Emily Schultheis, Colton; Sydney Smith, Pomeroy; Brooklyn Henley, and Logan Reed, both...

  • Odessa outmans Gar/Pal in quarterfinal

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Nov 23, 2017

    Gar/Pal’s Jordan Paddock and Caden Sanderson tackle Camden Weber. (Below) Riley Pederson, No. 55, in the scrum. On a cold, strange night in Royal City, the Garfield/Palouse football season ended in a state 1B quarterfinal loss to Odessa. The unbeaten Tigers went to 11-0 and advanced to meet Sunnyside Christian in the semifinals Saturday at Pasco. “It was probably the weirdest football game I've ever been involved with,” said Garfield/Palouse coach Will Woltering. The young, athletic Odess...

  • WSU prof nominated for Pulitzer in Music

    Nov 23, 2017

    Greg Yasinitsky, WSU Regents Professor and director of the university’s School of Music, has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Music for his Jazz Concerto for Piano and Orchestra. The composition was premiered in January 2017 by the Baton Rouge Symphony, conducted by Timothy Muffitt with soloist Willis Delony. Muffitt noted, the Concerto “is a unique work in the American orchestral canon and most deserving of recognition....

  • Haunted Palouse sets record

    Nov 23, 2017

    Further results now compiled from Haunted Palouse 2017 show a record net profit of $59,477. This year’s 16th edition of the event, held over two weekends in October, had a total of 3,547 tickets sold. The total was more than last year and above the 10-year average of 3,321. Proceeds go to support organizations which put on the event, including Palouse Community Center, Palouse Chamber of Commerce, Roy M. Chatters Printing Museum, 4H Palouse Area Robotics Team, Tony Kettel Skate Gardens, Garfield/Palouse FFA and Garfield/Palouse Athletic C...

  • Gibney, Hill on plan panel

    Nov 23, 2017

    Whitman County commissioners approved two planning commission members Monday at their regular meeting. Robert Hill of Rosalia and David Gibney of Pullman were re-appointed to four-year terms. “I appreciate their being willing to serve,” said Commissioner Art Swannack....

  • Reiber joins fair board

    Nov 23, 2017

    County commissioners approved fair board appointments Monday, with one new member added among six which are appointed by commissioners by district. Eric Reiber joins the board for District One, Position No. 2. He replaces Brian Jacobs of Colfax. District One is the northwest section of Whitman County, represented by Commissioner Art Swannack....

  • Palouse reverts to earlier plan on wastewater plant

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Nov 23, 2017

    Disbanded plans are back on in Palouse as another round of discussions on the city’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System have led them back to where they were earlier this year. The change comes after a meeting Nov. 6 with Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) representatives on the subject of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), which may lead to further mandates for the Palouse wastewater treatment plant and its discharge into the Palouse River. The PCB question is new to Palouse, w...

  • Local entrepreneur

    Nov 23, 2017

    --Steve Stone photo Pavlo Rudenko of Colfax, founder of TriboTEX, explains the science behind his company at The Center as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week observance Nov. 13-19....

  • WDFW seeks nominations for salmon advisory board

    Nov 23, 2017

    Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking nominations for four vacant positions on a citizen advisory group responsible for reviewing proposals to maintain and improve sportfishing for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River and its tributaries. The board’s primary role is to advise WDFW on implementation of the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement Program. The board meets at least twice a year. Board members serve two-year terms, effective 2018, and can be reappointed. The board consists of 10 members. Any i...

  • Whitman hospital earns national honor

    Nov 23, 2017

    Whitman Hospital and Medical Center announced Nov. 16 it has been recognized by The Chartis Center for Rural Health/iVantage Health Analytics and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health for overall excellence in quality and patient perspective reflecting top quartile performance among all rural hospitals in the nation. “We are proud of our entire staff and providers who continue to provide excellent healthcare to the communities we serve. We continue to remain focused on all aspects of quality, outcomes, and patient p...

  • New Palouse firetruck responds to first call

    Nov 23, 2017

    The new Palouse firetruck went out on its first call Nov. 6, its debut except for the Palouse Days parade. The department bought the 1997 HME pumper-tanker in July from a dealer in Lawrenceburg, Tenn. The fire call, which coincidentally happened during a training meeting, led to a large crew responding, riding along in the new truck’s closed, four-man cab. For what was a chimney fire off Highway 27, firefighters ultimately only needed chainsaws and extinguishers. The new pumper-tanker was put on duty in September, replacing a 1987 Pierce. P...

  • Public Works in need of drivers

    Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter|Nov 23, 2017

    Whitman County Public Works is feeling the pinch from a lack of Class A drivers. “It’s a nation-wide shortage,” Mark Story, Public Works director told the board of county commissioners Monday morning. Public Works has been continuously trying to fill positions requiring Class A drivers for about six months. Storey stated the department is short four or five drivers with several current drivers within a few years of retirement. The county’s operators drive snowplows and sanders in the winter...

  • Palouse hikes pay offer in search for police officer

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Nov 23, 2017

    The city of Palouse has increased the wage listing in its search for a new police officer. Approved Nov. 14 as part of an overall city wage raise package for the 2018 budget, the new rate to be offered is $44,000 per year, up six percent. The new officer would join after the retirement of Joe Merry, whose last day is Nov. 28. “I think they are being competitive,” said Palouse Police Chief Jerry Neumann, of the city council’s move. “We’re getting better. They want quality personnel. Palouse is a...

  • Turbine burns on Naff ridge

    Nov 23, 2017

    One of the wind turbines along Naff Ridge between Rosalia and Oakesdale caught fire and burned Friday night. The turbine was located on the Oakesdale end of the row of 58 turbines, and Oakesdale volunteers were the primary responders. Fire crews from Rosalia, Garfield and Steptoe also responded. Crews remained on scene for approximately three hours. The turbine generators are in nacelle units which are mounted on 80 meter (260 feet) steel poles. Each of the towers is fitted with sensing devices...

  • Father Cataldo note found at Rosalia church

    Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter|Nov 23, 2017

    Monica Peters and Father Mike Savelesky with the commemerative framed display comprised of Father Cataldo’s note and picture, a picture of Willam Hesse’s headstone, copies of the East Oregonian banner and story about Hesse’s death and write-ups by Savelesky. A bit of housekeeping at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Rosalia has uncovered an historic gem. “I’m just amazed they didn’t see this before,” said Pastor Father Mike Savelesky who made the discovery. Savelesky was going through the b...

  • LaCrosse considers change to code city

    Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter|Nov 23, 2017

    LaCrosse is considering a move the county’s two largest cities have already made. The LaCrosse town council has been kicking around the notion of changing to a code city for at least a year with more discussion expected to come. “We’re really unsure of what we’re going to do with it,” said Randy Camp, LaCrosse mayor. A code city is a classification alternative to the basic statutory classification system of municipal government. It was created to provide broad statutory home rule authority...

  • Shutdown of Colfax swim pool in 2018 discussed

    Nov 23, 2017

    A possible shutdown of the Colfax swim pool for next summer has emerged from final budgeting sessions at city hall. The pool has been operating at a deficit for the past two years and projections for this year indicate it could consume up to $40,000 in reserves for the upcoming season. Pool revenue marked another drop last year. Operation of the pool for next year is projected to cost in the range of $58,000, and the revenue, based on last year, at $19,000. That points to another year when the pool will consume money from the parks reserve...

  • Palouse approves 8% pay increase

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Nov 23, 2017

    The City of Palouse approved an eight percent across-the-board raise for city employees Nov. 14, after extended debate at that night’s city council meeting. Proposals discussed included rates for specific employees, such as police officer Joe Handley, who will move up in seniority after officer Joe Merry retires. Other varied raises batted back and forth were for Police Chief Jerry Neumann, Clerk/Treasurer Kyle Dixon, Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin and Don Myott, waste treatment o...

  • Turkeys rally for food banks

    Nov 23, 2017

    Volunteers for Tom’s Turkey drive sold 491 dinner bags Friday and Saturday during the campaign at Rosauers. A truck from Colfax Food Pantry traveled to Second Harvest in Spokane to receive turkeys and other ingredients for the Thanksgiving meals. The dinners were set to be distributed by Colfax Food Pantry Wednesday. Sales for the 491 donated bags totaled $9,820. Paige Collins of Council on Aging reported 30 volunteers stepped up to help with the drive. Top: Josh Huber hands a bag to Evie A...

  • Legals: Nov. 23, 2017

    Nov 23, 2017

    NOTICE OF A VARIANCE HEARING Heather Steen requests a variance to reduce the side setback from 20’ to 10’ for a new garage building located at 811 W. Summit Road, Colfax, WA 99111, in the NE ¼ of Section 15, Township 16 N, Range 43 E, W.M., Whitman County, Washington. The public is notified of the intent to issue a variance in front of the Board of Adjustment on December 14, 2017 at 7 PM in the Public Service Building, 1st floor auditorium, N. 310 Main St., Colfax, WA 99111. Interested persons may submit written comments by 5:00 PM on Thursday,...