Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 60
COLFAX — A longtime Whitman County Public Works employee is set to retire at the end of the year. Ken Arthur, a 22-year employee, will step down from his waste transfer station position Dec. 31. His retirement follows those of three other longtime county Road Department workers. Working out of the Colfax shop by the airport, Dave Steine retired in October at 36 years, Phil Herman in July at 30 years and Mike Vorderbrueggen in October after 33 years with the county. All three retirees had turned 62....
One of the biggest challenges of the 21st Century is dealing with the progress of the 20th Century — especially old computers, monitors, cellular phones and televisions. These appliances depend on hazardous materials, such as mercury, to operate. After a 5-8-year life, many are tossed into dumpsters and sent to landfills where those hazardous materials can leach into the soil and groundwater. That was the opening paragraph of a column I wrote 20 years ago. However, today the problem is much l...
As a “pandemic” rages across the land, the Washington State University basketball team had to play the Eastern Washington University team, mask-less. We must demand an end to the blatant mistreatment of college athletes. These poor wards of the state, like expendable gladiators, are thrown in the ring to face the COVID beast unprotected. Shamefully, fans endorse this as they take a seat in front of the virtual “coliseum”, remote in hand, to be entertained from the safety of their homes. Shameful indeed. Thankfully, by decree, “Caesar Inslee” h...
I am saddened and disheartened by a letter published in the Dec. 3 Gazette. The writer accuses Auditor Sandy Jamison of fraud because she was not permitted to have actual oversight of the ballot-counting process. I wasn’t there, so I am not in a position to confirm or contradict her assertion that she and other designated poll watchers were so treated. If so, there may have been some improprieties on the part of Ms. Jamison in not being more accommodating. On the other hand, perhaps her greater concern was the health of employees and w...
A Dec. 3 letter may have been a little over the top. The writer was a formal observer of the vote counting in Whitman County. She said, “Fraud was very apparent here.” The observations she cited did not support that. If she had said that the conditions that she observed were perfect for concealing fraud, I would agree with her. I observed similar conditions when I was an observer of the count at a recent election. The only difference was, we had to sit with our backs to the far window. Like the writer said, it’s so darned far away you could...
As your Whitman County Auditor, I feel compelled to respond to the letter published in the Dec. 3 edition of the Whitman County Gazette. She claims that “fraud was very apparent here” in our county and that I had “just broke election law and the count was fraudulent.” These claims are unfounded. I have never met Ms. Culbertson, nor would I recognize her if she walked down the street. Her visit to the Elections Office, as an official Republican Party observer, occurred on Nov. 6. She spoke with my Elections Supervisor, not me. I wasn’t...
Over the last few weeks, 42 businesses in Whitman County have been visited by Liquor and Cannabis Board officers from outside of the area. They’ve driven more than an hour into our communities to investigate and cite local eateries, taverns and other places based on mostly anonymous complaints. In addition to acting on anonymous tips, those same officers, local business leaders say, refuse to allow them to copy or photograph the complaints. Apparently, they are acting on completely anonymous tips or they’re hiding the identities of cor...
Okeydokes: All the Christmas lights around town. Pet Peeves: Political signs up after election....
COLFAX — November’s precipitation total was just more than a half-inch above the historical average for the month. Precipitation was logged 17 of 30 days, for a total accumulation of 3.19 inches. The historical average is 2.68 inches. Nov. 5 was the rainiest day, with 1 inch falling in a 24-hour period. Other days with precipitation ranged from 0.02 to 0.41 inches. The National Weather Service said the La Nina presence is expected to make this winter colder and wetter than average, which may provide more than enough compensation for the lac...
COLFAX — The public will have two opportunities to provide testimony on lifting the marijuana business ban in Whitman County during a public hearing Dec. 21. Whitman County commissioners decided Monday to accept public testimony at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. that day on the plan to allow growing, processing and retail sales of marijuana. The meeting may include amendment suggestions from commissioners or otherwise. A final vote may or may not happen at its conclusion. “It’s gonna be quite a working group on the 21st,” Commission Chairman Michael...
COLFAX –– A fresh crop of survey markers have sprouted in fields along state Highway 26 between Dusty and Colfax in preparation of adding four passing lanes. According to the state Department of Transportation, the $11.5 million project includes four truck-climbing lanes to “address the platooning of vehicles behind slow-moving trucks.” The project would install two westbound and two eastbound lanes between Dusty and Colfax. Design on the project began last year and construction is set to begin the summer of 2021. Completion is anticip...
COLFAX — Whitman County officials will kickoff a process Jan. 6 to create a full, new comprehensive plan. The plan is a guiding document for zoning codes. The county has hired Seattle-based LBC Consultants to help with the work. The process is expected to take about a year. Public Works Director Mark Storey said the impetus to take on the project now was to include County Planner Alan Thomson in the process before he retires...
PULLMAN — The Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization has launched a survey regarding its regional transportation plan. The plan includes active modes of travel such as walking, biking and skateboarding in Whitman, Garfield, Columbia and Asotin counties. The survey seeks input on locations for improvement, repairs, new capacity and concerns related to safety and engineering. The survey will be open until Jan. 15 online at www.palousetrails.palousertpo.org/survey....
COLFAX — Whitman County commissioners Nov. 30 approved re-appointments to four committees. Ron Wachter and Michele Beckmann were re-appointed to four-year terms on the Blue Ribbon Advisory Task Committee. Dan Leonard was re-appointed to a new six-year term on the Whitman County Parks board and four people were named to new three-year terms on the county’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee: Aaron Lawhead, Devon Felsted, Michele Beckmann and Matthew Pederson. For the Veterans Advisory Board, Daryl Lord, James Woomack and Jerry Coker were re-...
COLFAX — Livestock and crop producers can apply for the USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2. The program provides financial support to producers facing market disruptions and related costs due to the coronavirus shutdowns. The application is available online at www.farmers.gov/cfap; the deadline is Dec. 11. The Colfax Farm Services Agency will help farmers through the application process, spokeswoman Doreen Riedner said....
COLFAX — The U.S. Forest Service is offering Christmas tree-cutting permits for those who would rather cut one down than buy one. Areas in proximity to Whitman County to cut a tree include the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, the Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest, and Umatilla National Forest. Permits and maps are available from www.recreation.gov. “Whether for the first time, or carrying on a time-honored tradition, being able to secure a permit in advance, while learning important details of where and what to cut, will simplify this pro...
COLFAX — The Colfax Chamber of Commerce is blaming miscommunication for the early launch of fireworks Dec. 3. The Winterfest fireworks display went off at 6 p.m. instead of the planned 6:30 p.m. “It’s just 2020,” chamber President Nancy Cochran said, chalking up the premature launch to miscommunication with the pyrotechnic team, with no finger being pointed at one individual or incident. “We apologize immensely,” she said. Usually, the Colfax Downtown Association coordinates the annual fireworks. When the association opted out this year, the c...
COLFAX — The City Council approved a $3.88 million budget Monday night for the 2021 fiscal year. The budget totals $3,877,232, which is $74,991 more than last year. The extra expenditure mostly goes toward paying for another police officer. The budget includes money to replace concrete panels in the river as it runs through town, which is to be funded by an increase in the monthly storm drain fee (from $2.30 to $5). The city has also received a $250,000 grant over three years for help in adding two new police officers. “We were behind on the...
COLFAX — Hospital boards at Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics, Pullman Regional Hospital and Gritman Hospital have made the decision to dissolve Palouse Surgeons LLC, effective Sept. 1, 2021. The partnership was developed to provide general surgery to the three area hospitals and has served them since 2009. The three surgeons in the partnership are Drs. John Visger, Juan Parra and Nancy Panko. “It’s worked really well,” Whitman Hospital spokeswoman Laurie Gronning said. The struggle has been in giving adequate service to all three hospita...
MALDEN — The local branch of Whitman County Library Rural Library District has moved to a temporary location for the winter. After providing pop-up library service outside under a tent for the past month, the library reopened Dec. 2 in a new portable building in the City Park recently installed by the Avista Foundation. Winter hours are 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. The Pine Creek Community Long-Term Recovery Group and Malden Food Bank share the building. The library is offering books and movies for all ages, computer use, free Wi-Fi and g...
COLFAX - The Whitman County Sheriff's Office has a new deputy. Resident Randy Miller was sworn in Dec. 1. "He's a real great hire for us," Undersheriff Chris Chapman said. Miller, 30, is the son of Clark and Fonda Miller of Diamond, one of eight children to the pair. He first became involved with firefighting when he was 16, accompanying his dad at the Diamond Fire Department. "He liked that law enforcement deal a long time ago," his father, Clark Miller, said, recalling Randy Miller always want...
COLFAX — Commissioners approved a $59 million county budget for 2021. At $58,989,074, the budget is down from $64,002,692 for 2020. “It’s definitely been a journey,” Administrative Services Director Jessica Jensema said. “Considering the year it’s been and the absolutely unforeseen future in ’21, I think we did pretty good. “We knew we would be budgeted to lose money in ‘21.” The difference in revenues and expenditures is $1,068,187, expected to be covered by the county’s $7.5 million (as of 11 a.m. Tuesday) cash balance. The county also has $...
MALDEN-Like most of the town, the fire station here was burned down during the Babb Creek Fire on Monday Sept. 7, Labor Day. About three months later, on Sunday, Dec. 6, the station received a $10,000 check from security company ADT to help with rebuilding. ADT Director of Corporate Affairs Bob Tucker presented the check to volunteer Fire Chief Chad Fanara to help rebuild the fire station, which will in turn helps support the department's 6-10 volunteers. "Any donations at this point are great...
