Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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COLFAX — The Whitman County Public Works Department is improving a stockpile site and preparing for winter with a letter on snow plowing priorities. During the regular Whitman County Commissioner meeting on Monday, Dec. 2, Commissioners moved to approve providing stockpiling of aggregate for county road maintenance purposes. Whitman County Engineer Dean Cornelison reported the department was getting low on rock in Doneen. “One point last year I think all three districts were hauling out our quarry because of an increase in graveling,” he said....
COLFAX — Whitman County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man accused of burglarizing a garage in Colfax. According to the Whitman County Sheriff’s office, on Friday, Nov. 29, a resident of North Cedar Street confronted a masked man hauling a generator through a neighbor’s yard. Reports say the man, later identified as Hunter Grant, 25, of Moses Lake, drove off with the generator. The resident recorded the vehicle’s license plate number. According to documents, deputies traced the vehicle to Moses Lake and alerted law enforcement in the area. Cen...
PALOUSE — Two men were safely rescued Thanksgiving night, Thursday, Nov. 28, after their SUV crashed into the Palouse River under the State Route 27 bridge, according to local authorities. Whitman County Fire District 4 volunteers and sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene around 7:30 p.m. to find the small SUV partially submerged. The men had climbed onto the roof through the sunroof. Rescue crews tossed the men life jackets and ropes, which they used the ropes to wade through the river to shore. District 4 Chief Will Edwards said the men...
PULLMAN — The Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) awarded $348,664 to the City of Pullman for a road resurfacing project on Friday, Nov. 22. The funds from the Arterial Preservation Program will go towards the Orchard Drive and Valley Road Resurfacing Project scheduled for construction in 2025. “We are grateful that this project was selected for funding the Transportation Improvement Board,” City of Pullman’s Grants and Special Projects Manager Valerie Weaver said. “This project was dependent on grant funding to happen....
COLFAX — County Commissioners moved and seconded approving 2025 budget amendments during the regular commission meeting on Monday, Dec. 2. Chief Financial Officer Jessica Jensema reported that there was a total requested revenue adjustment of $202,642 and expense adjustments of $189,180, totaling adjustment of revenue exceeding expenses of $13,462. “No transfer from the reserve would be required,” Jensema reported. Jensema reported for general government there was a request to increase revenue by $347,000. “A majority of that is the opioid...
PULLMAN—The consulting firm managing the delayed downtown Pullman reconstruction project is requesting an additional $200,000 from taxpayers to cover cost overruns. Welch Comer, hired by the City of Pullman to oversee the project, originally signed a contract valued at just over $1 million for this year’s work. The firm now claims the extra funding is necessary for tasks outside their original agreement. The downtown reconstruction project began in April and includes rebuilding underground utilities, repaving Main Street and installing new sid...
PULLMAN — The Whitman County Health Department will be moving into a new facility after County Commissioners purchased property in Pullman. During the Monday, Dec. 2, regular business meeting commissioners moved and approved the purchase of 1240 Southeast Bishop Boulevard Suite P and Q. “We’ve been contemplating purchasing new property for the Health Department since it became known that making the current facility compliant with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements is not in the best interest of the county,” County Commiss...
PULLMAN — The Washington State Patrol has completed its investigation into the March 27 officer-involved shooting at Washington State University’s (WSU) Global Scholars Hall, submitting the case to the Whitman County Prosecutor’s Office for review. The incident began when 20-year-old WSU student John Bazan called police, reporting a man with a knife inside the dorm and providing a description matching himself. Officers responding to the fourth floor of Global Scholars Hall encountered Bazan, who allegedly kept his hands concealed in his sweat...
COLFAX - The Chamber of Commerce is hosting a day full of cheer on Saturday, Dec. 7, with the annual Winterfest. Starting at 9:15 a.m. registration for the Run Run Rudolf 5K and Kids 1-mile hosted by Colfax Friends of the Parks, will start at Schmuck Park, East 6th Street. The race starts at 10 a.m. and the 1-mile at 10:15 a.m. The Whitman County Library is hosting activities for all ages to kick-off the holiday season during Winterfest. Those who attend can tour the "Festival of Trees," in the...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Auditor’s office confirmed the 2024 General Election certification as of Tuesday, Nov. 26. Whitman County Auditor Sandy Jamison reported to County Commissioners during the Monday, Dec. 2 workshop that the election results were official and were certified. Jamison also asked about payment for the county’s portion of expenses of the primary election and noted the county would be getting a bill for the general election in the next few weeks. Whitman County Assessor Wraylee Flodin reminded Commissioners they would be ce...
COLFAX - Save the Palouse not-for-profit members came before the Whitman County Commissioners to ask them to fight against the Wind Turbine project proposed near Kamiak Butte during the Monday, Dec. 2, regular commission meeting. Colfax farmer and Save the Palouse member Bill Myers asked commissioners to reconsider the moratorium again. A moratorium is a temporary suspension of an activity, law or regulation. "It makes absolutely no sense to grant these guys anything," Myers said, noting that...
COLFAX — The Whitman Conservation District is hosting a donation drive for used live Christmas Trees starting Thursday, Dec. 26 through Wednesday, Feb. 1 in the new office parking lot, 614 North Mill Street. The Conservation District will have a large black dump trailer parked close to the office building, to use as a collection container and area residents are welcome to drop off their no longer needed used Christmas trees for free. The trees will have a “second life” to be used in the Conservation District’s riparian restoration project...
ST. JOHN —The St. John-Endicott Schools announced free math tutoring for students in grades 6 through 12. The state legislature approved funding for a math tutoring program across Washington. Math Nation awarded the contract to facilitate the legislated request, with goals to reduce disparities in student performance and improve algebraic achievement to create a statewide interactive math tutoring tool for middle and high school students. It is accessible 24 hours a day for students, teachers and parents. The program, Math Nation-Washington, i...
ST. JOHN — The St. John-Endicott School Board has established a budget review committee for evaluation of the 2025 through 2026 school budget. The committee was started to ensure a transparent and thorough process for evaluating next year’s budget with the possibility of reducing expenditures and taking proactive steps to identify potential adjustments early. The job of the committee will be to carefully review the current budget and provide informed recommendations for the board to consider and allow the district to address potential cha...
COLFAX — Cases in whooping cough went up by eight cases last week. According to Whitman County Public Health the local pertussis, also known as “Whooping Cough”, outbreak has now reached 85 people and includes four cases identified within two elementary schools. Health officials are asking everyone to cover their mouth when they sneeze and cough, stay home when they are sick, wash their hands often and get vaccinated against pertussis. Those whose are most susceptible to contacting pertussis include infants under 1-year-old, pregnant women...
COLFAX — A homeless man was sentenced to four months in jail after leading a Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper on a dangerous car chase near Colfax. Angel Cartagena, 36, pled guilty to felony attempted eluding on Friday, Dec. 13, after failing to stop for a WSP trooper north of Coflax. According to reports, Cartagena was going 93 miles per hour in a Prius, with the pursuit ending when the car broke down climbing Buck Canyon Northbound on U.S. Highway 195. Reports show, the trooper found methamphetamine, a gun and an explosive device inside...
PALOUSE — The City Council released a revised proposed budget for the new year. The revised budget expects a proposed deficit of $4,582,896.60, a $526,520.45 difference from the original proposed revenue. Current Expense has a proposed difference of $11,150 in revenues, at $1,045,434.50. Expenditures come to $607,516.05, at a difference of $66,226.70. Pool revenues are project at $212,951, a difference of $3,908; the RV park proposes a difference of $7,000, coming to a total of $62,405.00 and Parks comes to $63,065, a difference of $370. The Po...
PULLMAN — Two 14-year-old students were arrested Tuesday, Dec. 10, following threats of violence at Pullman High School. According to reports, Pullman Police responded to reports at approximately 8:01 a.m. after school staff became aware of threats made by a student to bring a gun to school and target a teacher. The suspects were intercepted upon their arrival, before the start of classes, and were sequestered from other students to ensure campus safety. The school briefly entered a “secure and teach” protocol. Police investigations revea...
FARMINGTON — The town held its monthly town council meeting Monday, Dec. 16, discussing several topics including laws regarding recording minutes, a new snow plow and appointing a new member to the board. The first item on the agenda was the approval of the November 2024 Consent Agendas. Meeting minutes In discussion Council Member Mike Erickson stated there were several inaccuracies and omissions from the regular town council meeting Monday, Nov. 18, minutes. “There was an omission, complete omission of discussion around a controversial ema...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Commissioners allocated $100,000 from the county’s .09 Economic Development Fund to help pay for the shortfall for Pullman’s Downtown Reconstruction project. During the Monday, Dec. 16, workshop, County Commissioners discussed Pullman Mayor Francis Benjamin’s request from last week’s meeting for the county to help pay some of the extra cost totaling approximately $400,000. Commissioners added the request to their agenda, discussing concerns of fully paying the project’s shortfall since several other projects in...
By Teresa Simpson Gazette Reporter PULLMAN — The Board of Commissioners of the Pullman Regional Hospital is seeking to fill a vacant board position. Former board member Sandra O’Keefe served on the board for 16 years and is resigning form the role to care for her family out of the area as of Dec. 31. “Sandy has provided a tremendous service to the hospital and the community,” Pullman Regional Hospital Board of Commissioners President. Serving on the board since 2008, O’Keefe is has a 30-year career as an oncology nurse. “I’ve always been a...
POMEROY — Rep. Mary Dye has been recognized for her efforts to curtail the spread of invasive mussels in Washington state waters. She was one of three leaders the Washington Invasive Species Council recognized for their efforts in managing and preventing the spread of invasive plants and animals. Dye, R-Pomeroy, was named the Distinguished Leader, receiving the inaugural award last week. Dye represents the 9th Legislative District, which includes Whitman, eastern Adams and Franklin, southern Spokane, Lincoln and other counties. Dye is c...
LIND — The Lind Dryland Research station has been around since 1915, and has gone through a succession of leaders. But the last two years it has been headed by a couple from India. Surendra and Shikha Singh are employees of Washington State University, respectively, as assistant professor and director, and research assistant professor. The research station exists to help area farmers get the most out of crops that survive or even thrive, on little annual rainfall. “We have wheat, peas and canola,” Surendra Singh said. “So, we work on all thr...
PULLMAN — Health officials are responding to a whooping cough outbreak in Whitman County. As of Wednesday, Dec. 6, 77 confirmed cases of pertussis had been reported. The outbreak, which includes one case in the county’s K-12 school system, has prompted Whitman County Public Health to recommend post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with antibiotics for household contacts of infected individuals. Officials are urging parents and guardians to monitor children for disease symptoms and take precautions to limit the spread of the disease. “Pertussis is hi...
PULLMAN— The city completed accountability, financial and federal grant compliance audits through the Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO) for 2022 in good standing. The State Auditor reported no deficiencies regarding design or operation of internal financial reported. “We issued an unmodified opinion on the fair presentation of the city’s financial statements in accordance with its regulatory basis of accounting,” wrote the State Auditor’s office. According to the report the SAO identified a deficiency related to contracts with two co...
