Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 15862
COLFAX- A Pullman man has been found guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree rape and first-degree manslaughter on Thursday, Jan. 23, in Whitman County Superior Court. After four hours of deliberation a jury of twelve found Jacob E. Spray guilty of murdering his estranged wife Jamie Anne Wilson-Spray last March. Wilson-Spray's body was found in a trailer, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Sevdy's trailer park, 605, N. Main St. The jury reached their verdict after two weeks of evidence and...
PULLMAN — Four Star Supply is being fined over $100,000 dollars by the federal government. According to reports, fuel was found leaking from a tank over 85 years old in April of 2022, causing the Washington State Department of Ecology to find approximately 450 gallons diesel spilled. Though most of the fuel was absorbed into the ground, approximately 100 gallons reached the South Fork of the Palouse River. The Four Star Supply is being fined by the Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) for $111,000 after finding out the company committed n...
PULLMAN — Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) Board of Directors named a new president, with Ed Schweitzer taking the title of Founder. Assuming the role of President is former CEO Dave Whitehead. Taking the role of Executive Vice President is former Chief Business and Financial Officer Nestgard. “Dave and Joey are already doing an excellent job leading SEL, and at this point, I want to be contributing more as a mentor, inventor, collaborator and teacher. Their promotions recognize their leaerdship and our teamwork,” said Schwe...
PULLMAN — The Whitman County Coroner’s Office confirmed the cause and manner of death of a man found in a fatal structure fire on Dec. 31. Pillars confirmed Steven Paul Sargent, 60, of Pullman, died from asphyxia due to inhalation of smoke and the manner of death accidental. Sargent was found deceased when Pullman firefighters responded at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, to a small structure fire on College Hill at the 400 block of Northeast Maple Street. Upon discovery, the investigation was turned over to Pullman Police detectives and Whi...
COLFAX- Whitman County Commissioners approved a public hearing for a moratorium concerning commercial wind energy. During the regular commission meeting Whitman County Commissioners approved a notice of public hearing concerning the moratorium imposed on Commercial Energy Generating Facilities. Commissioner Tom Handy stated the public hearing will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, in the Public Service Building auditorium, located at 310 North Main Street. Handy said the hearing is for...
COLFAX - New residents Brian and Michelle Hernandez delivered the first baby born in 2025 at Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics. Liam Hernandez Allioti, a boy, was born on Wednesday, Jan. 15, entering the world 6 pounds, 5.7 ounces and 19 inches. The parents welcomed Liam to the family, with older brother Damian, 7, and sister Ozette, 5, who Mrs. Hernandez said are already going to school at Steptoe Elementary. "They love it," she said. "We love it." "We just moved from California two weeks ag...
COLFAX — The Port of Whitman County received a $2.49 million grant for high speed broadband in rural areas. The Port was awarded $2.49 million in funds from the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) for the rural broadband project. Funds will support the construction of dark fiber to 109 un-served and under-served locations in the county. Dark fiber is unused fiber optic cables that are not carrying data and can be leased from the network owner by businesses and services. The leased cables can...
PULLMAN — A 20-year-old Washington State University (WSU) student was found with a knife wound Monday by WSU Police. WSU Police Officers responded to a report of a stabbing at 1:18 a.m., Monday, Jan. 20, at Orton Hall, 1475 Southeast Olympia Avenue on the WSU Pullman Campus. Arriving Officers discovered a 20-year-old male resident of Shoreline with a knife wound to his left arm. According to reports, the investigation revealed the male was allegedly stabbed by Tatiana Martinez, 20, a WSU student and resident of Orton Hall. Pullman Police o...
COLFAX - The jury in the trial against a Pullman man accused of killing his wife last March reconvened after a four day delay, Tuesday, Jan. 22. Jacob Spray, 37, is facing charges of first-degree murder and first-degree rape, after his estranged wife Jamie Wilson-Spray, 25, was found dead last March at Sevdy's trailer park in Pullman. The trial resumed on Tuesday morning, with witnesses who worked with Spray recounting his demeanor and location on March 26, the day that Wilson-Spray's body was...
LAMONT — The Town of Lamont adopted the budget for the year of 2025, with total funds in revenues down by $26,455 from last year’s budget. The total funds for the budget came to $119,645, in comparison to $146,100 in 2024 and a total of $78,985 in appropriations for 2025, a $28,120 difference from appropriations in 2024. Current expense fund revenues and resources for the town came to $40,900 for the new year, down by $1,590 from last year. Appropriations for the current expense fund came to a total of $28,585, in comparison to last year’s appr...
COLFAX — A homeless man charged with holding a woman against her will in 2024 was given a mental health sentencing alternative. James Olson, 33, of Pullman went before Whitman County Superior Court Judge Gary Libey on Friday, Dec. 10, seeking a mental health alternative sentencing. Whitman County Prosecutor Dan LeBeau stated if the alternative sentencing was not granted, Olson would face a bigger range of 43 to 57 months. Olson was facing charges after breaking a protection order in September last year, in which it was reported he was h...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Commissioners are continuing discussions on the moratorium imposed on Commercial Wind Energy Generating Facilities. During a workshop, Monday, Jan. 13, commissioners brought up moving forward with re-examining county zoning code. Newly appointed Chair of the Board Commissioner Tom Handy brought up concerns about the county protecting itself from the state’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council’s (EFSEC) expedited process for going through the signing process on wind generating facilities. Handy asked if anyon...
PULLMAN - A 19-year-old Pullman man facing charges of rape, assault and stalking pled not guilty to all counts, Friday, Jan. 10. During a Whitman County Superior Court arraignment Friday, Jan. 10, Cavan McCall pled not guilty to charges of two counts of second-degree rape, fourth-degree assault and stalking. The charges stem from a report of a sex offense at 4:01 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5. Pullman Police Officer Breauna Carpenter responded to the Pullman Regional Hospital E.R. where the victim was...
COLFAX - The trial of a man accused of killing his wife began with opening statements Tuesday, Jan. 14. The courtroom listened as Whitman County Prosecutor Dan LeBeau shared a timeline with the jury leading up to finding Jamie Anne Wilson-Spray, 25, deceased in a trailer at Sevdy's on March 26, 2024. Jacob Erik Spray, 36, of Pullman, who sat silently in the defendant's chair, is facing charges of first-degree murder and first-degree rape. LeBeau started his opening statements by stating the...
PULLMAN — The Police Department has completed an investigation into the stabbing of a 34-year-old Pullman man early morning Saturday, Dec. 21. Officers responded to a call at approximately 2 a.m. in an area north of the Mobil gas station on Grand Avenue. According to reports, the investigation determined the man, whose name was not released by the city, was stabbed in the abdomen with scissors by a 19-year-old Pullman man during an altercation over the suspect’s cat. The man was transferred to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane to be tre...
COLFAX - The Whitman County Superior Court courtroom filled with people on Friday, Jan. 3, to see the swearing in of new Whitman County Superior Court Judge Roger Sandberg. Former Whitman County Superior Court Judge Gary Libey swore Sandberg in, then placed his own picture next to those who served before. "Roger ran in a very opposed election with two other people and he was a very popular contestant," Libey told attendees, adding Sandberg knocked on thousands of doors in Whitman County. "Probab...
PULLMAN — A man found in a fatal structure fire on Tuesday, Dec. 31, was identified, Wednesday, Jan. 1. The Whitman County Coroner Annie Pillars confirmed the identity of the man found in a structure fire Tuesday as Steven Paul Sargent, 60. According to Pillars, the cause and manner of death are pending and no additional information is available at this time. Sargent was found deceased when Pullman firefighters responded at 7 a.m. to a small structure fire on College Hill at the 400 block of Northeast Maple Street. Upon discovery, the i...
COLFAX - Residents of Whitman County in opposition to the proposed Harvest Hills Wind Turbine project are asking county commissioners to either work with them or resign. During the Monday, Jan. 6, workshop county resident Kevin Akesson presented a petition signed by 3,546 people in opposition to the project, titled 'Kamiak Butte, Stop the Harvest Hills Wind Project.' Akesson stated a group of neighboring landowners have signed 30 year leases with Steelhead Americas Vestas Corporation for Wind...
COLFAX — Two teenage students accused of plotting to shoot a Pullman High School teacher signed waivers of speedy trial during a hearing in Superior Court Thursday, Jan. 2. Pullman High School students Izzy Alexander Miranda, of Pullman, and Corban L. Hop of Colton, both 14, appeared before Whitman County Superior Court Judge Gary Libey, who approved moving a readiness hearing to Thursday, Feb. 6, and set a trial date for Monday, March 31. Both Miranda and Hop stated they understood the waiver of speedy trial. Miranda and Hop were arrested T...
By Gazette Reporter SPOKANE — Former Whitman County resident, Joshua T.L. Musselman, was identified as the man shot by Spokane Police Officers, Sunday, Dec. 29, at an apartment complex located in the 800 block of West Cora Avenue. Spokane Police Officers responded to a call at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29, of a male in the apartment complex holding a rifle and firing it. The caller is reported stating the male, later identified by the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Officer as Musselman, had fired several shots and provided Mus...
PULLMAN — The trial of a Pullman man accused of killing his estranged wife is scheduled to begin Monday in Whitman County Superior Court in Colfax. Jacob Erik Spray, 36, of Pullman, is facing charges of first-degree murder with sexual motivation, second-degree murder, first-degree rape and first degree burglary domestic violence with sexual motivation. He is accused of strangling Tekoa-native Jamie Anne Wilson-Spray; her body was found in a trailer Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Sevdy’s trailer park, 605 N.W. Fish St. Jury selection will sta...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Commissioners met, Wednesday, Jan. 8, placing a moratorium on wind turbines in the county. Whitman County Prosecutor and Civil Counsel Denis Tracy said the commissioners met yesterday at 1 p.m.. for an executive session to discuss the moratorium. At approximately 2 p.m., commissioners reconvened for a public meeting to consider the moratorium and approved to move forward with putting a hold on all potential wind turbine developments until county zoning code is re-examined. The ordinance states the county will adopt t...
COLFAX — An Albion man pled guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm after shooting into the darkness. During a Superior Court hearing Friday, Jan. 3, Dylan Robert McCleod, 32 of Albion pled guilty to second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm after shooting at what he thought was his girlfriend’s ex down the street. Prosecutor Dan LeBeau stated at 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 19, 2024, the defendant’s girlfriend reported to the Sheriff’s Office her ex was at the property knocking on her window. Deputies from the Whitman County Sheriff’s Officer r...
OLYMPIA — With a new year just around the corner, a host of new statewide laws will soon impact Washingtonians’ wallets beginning Jan. 1. Here are some of them. Minimum wage The state’s minimum wage – already the highest state-level minimum wage in the nation – will increase 38 cents. According to the state Department of Labor & Industries, the minimum wage will rise to $16.66 an hour next year, a 2.35% increase over the current minimum wage of $16.28. The increase applies to workers age 16 and older. Employers may pay 85% of that wage, or...
