Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 15819
PALOUSE — The City of Palouse Council approved a 1% property tax increase and set levy amounts for the 2025 fiscal year during its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The total amount to be raised by taxation is $394,139.25. The council passed Ordinance No. 1033, which adopts a 1% property tax increase for emergency medical services. In addition, funds were allocated for several key projects, including improvements to Cove Road and replacing a well pump. The remaining 2024 funds will be zeroed out and a resolution to formalize this decision is expecte...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Commissioners signed an interagency agreement with Washington State University (WSU) extension office during the Monday, Dec. 2, regular commission meeting. Presenting the interagency agreement was WSU Assistant Director of Extension Michael Gaffney. “After a couple of false starts, what I have to present to you for your consideration is a corrected document and it is the interagency agreement for 2025 to support the WSU extension office in Whitman County,” Gaffney reported. Gaffney reported the monthly contr...
COLFAX - Several Conservation Districts updated commissioners during the Monday, Dec. 9, workshop on where they are this year and their plans going into the new year. Pine Creek Conservation District Pine Creek Conservation District located at 401 U.S. Highway 27 in Oakesdale, reported first on new hires, what they are offering and plans moving forward. Pine Creek Conservation District Manager Casey Lowder stated the district serves the northeast part of Whitman County and works closely with...
COLFAX — Pullman Mayor Francis Benjamin updated County Commissioners on the Pullman Downtown Project opening discussion for future possible .09 funding, during the Monday, Dec. 9, workshop. The county previously awarded $200,000 to the project from the Whitman County Economic Development Public Facilities, .09 Funds, a sales and use tax for public facilities in rural counties. Benjamin opened by saying the City appreciates the support the county has provided with .09 funding. “We understand that there might still be some available so wan...
PULLMAN — A 38-year-old Pullman man has been charged with six felonies for allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material. Robert Keller was arrested by Pullman Police on Saturday, Nov. 25, following an investigation that began when officers responded to a report of Keller attempting to harm himself on Military Hill. He was taken to Pullman Regional Hospital for a mental health evaluation. While Keller was in the hospital, his girlfriend allegedly discovered child sexual abuse material on his phone, prompting his initial arrest on 20 felony c...
COLFAX- The holidays are starting off with a fun-filled day of Winterfest sales and family activities. On Saturday, Dec. 7, community members and residents from across the Palouse could be seen filling the streets of Colfax for Christmas shopping, visiting with Santa, singing and lighting a tree. Colfax Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rachel Schad said the event was great and it looks like a lot of people came out despite the rainy weather. "It stopped just in time for the parade, and...
PALOUSE — The City of Palouse is preparing for snow and reminding residents of responsibilities going into the winter months. The city released its snow removal policy reminding residents before or when it starts to snow they need to park vehicles off the street if possible. Any vehicles left parked in areas of snow removal operations can prevent removal or become blocked by plowed snow. It is property owner’s responsibly to remove snow from sidewalks and are reminded to shovel snow into their yards on not onto the street or it gets plowed bac...
PALOUSE—The City of Palouse has released its proposed 2025 budget, which shows significant changes to revenues and expenditures across multiple funds. The proposed revenue is $4,498,196.10, an increase of $406,830.25 or 9.9% from the original 2024 budget. Expenditures are expected to rise by $363,041, reaching $2,814,869.75, an overall increase of 14.8%. Among the changes, the Current Expense Fund is set to see a revenue increase of $18,000, or 1.7%, while expenditures are projected to rise by $68,177.50, or 10%. The Pool Fund is expected to ex...
MOSCOW, Idaho — Prosecutors in the case against Bryan Kohberger, 30, accused of murdering four University of Idaho students in November 2022, have filed a request to appoint a new special assistant attorney general. Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary in connection with the fatal stabbings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at an off-campus residence. The request, submitted Tuesday, Nov. 19, updates an earlier April 2023 petition that led to the appointments of D...
COLFAX — Two people were arrested on multiple charges following a high-speed pursuit through Whitman County that ended with the discovery of drugs, weapons and explosive materials in the suspect’s vehicle, according to the Washington State Patrol. Angel Figeroa Cartagena, 36, homeless, is charged with driving under the influence, attempting to elude a police vehicle, possession of controlled substances including methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl; unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree, possession of an explosive device and...
COLFAX — The Port of Whitman County Commissioners approved the Port’s 2025 budget after a discussion and public hearing during the Thursday, Nov. 21, regular commission meeting. The budget outlines the Port’s expected revenues from its leases and tax levy, its expenditures for operations, debt service and capital investments to support economic vitality of Whitman County and the region. Projected carryforward balances expected from Dec. 31, come to a total of $11,255,527. “Our 2025 budget reflects our commitment to building stronger, more vi...
COLFAX — Whitman County Commissioners awarded Mangum Construction the bid for work on the Kamiak Butte Water Project during the regular meeting Monday, Nov. 25. Commissioner Art Swannack said the bid from Mangum Construction, of Clarkston, was the lowest bidder at $430,347.98. Whitman County Director of Emergency Management Bill Tensfeld said the project will replace the well house and a couple thousand feet of water line. “It will include a booster station,” said Tensfeld, noting construction will start in the spring and go appro...
COLFAX — Residents of Whitman County are gathering this Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 28, to celebrate and give thanks. County operations and facilities will be closed on Thanksgiving with the courthouse closed, post offices and banks closed. The Whitman County landfill and Transfer Station will be open on Friday, Nov. 29. The Whitman County Gazette will not have a Daily Bulletin on Thursday, Nov. 28, in observance of the holiday. The Annual Palouse Turkey Leg is set to kick off Thursday, Nov. 28, at 8 a.m., offering participants the chance t...
COLFAX - The Colfax Chamber of Commerce has a new Executive Director. Rachel Shad, of Rosalia, started the position on Friday, Nov. 12. "I've been looking for a role that involves community engagement," Shad said. Shad and her husband lived in Pullman where Shad was the owner of Sweet Mutiny, a cupcake shop formerly in Pullman, Shad has experience as a small business owner and was operating manager of the business from 2016 to 2018. Living in Rosalia for four years, Shad's husband is a...
COLFAX — Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics (WHMC) Board of Commissioners approved the Hospital 2025 draft budget and capital budget during the Wednesday, Nov. 20, regular meeting. During a special meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 13, WHMC Chief Financial Officer Abby Smith presented the drafted budget numbers to the board. The WHMC Budget shows an operating revenue for 2025 is at $62,196,947, compared to the 2024 budget of $59,116,505. Net Patient Care is budgeted at $57,860,047, with 2024 at $55,538,505. Within net patient care, outpatient c...
PULLMAN — A local man was arrested and booked into the Whitman County Jail on Tuesday, Nov. 25, for multiple child pornography and conduct charges. Robert M. Keller, 38, of Pullman, is being held without bail in the Whitman County Jail on nine counts of first-degree dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, one count of second-degree dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, nine counts of first-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and one c...
PULLMAN — Whitman County has reported 15 more whooping cough cases this month, bringing the total to 63 since the outbreak began earlier this fall. Whitman County Public Health is urging residents to take precautions to help curb the spread of the illness, also known as pertussis. Officials recommend covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing, staying home if sick, washing hands frequently and ensuring vaccinations are up to date. Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can be especially dangerous for infants and t...
COLFAX — The Washington State Patrol (WSP) has resumed firearms background checks after a two-week suspension caused by security concerns with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) data systems. The WSP’s Secure Automated Firearms E-Check (SAFE) system regained connectivity with the AOC data repository on Sunday, Nov. 17, allowing delayed checks to resume. During the outage, WSP processed non-AOC-related requests to minimize disruptions. On average, the agency receives 700 background check requests daily. Once service was restored, per...
PULLMAN — The Washington State University (WSU) Board of Regents voted 8-1 on Friday, Nov. 15, to raise tuition by the maximum amount allowed under state law for the 2025-2026 academic year. The 3% increase marks the ninth consecutive year of tuition hikes at WSU, raising annual in-state undergraduate tuition by $339 to $11,644. The increase is tied to the growth in Washington’s median hourly wage, as mandated by state law, and is expected to generate an additional $3 million for the university. Regents were presented with reports pro...
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) started an online open house Friday, Nov. 15 through Friday, Dec. 6, for the Lower Snake River Dams Transportation Study. The online study is of road and rail transportation impacts and needs if the Lower Snake River dams were removed and if barges could no longer be used. The first of four phases of the Lower Snake River Dam Transportation Study began in April 2024 in which WSDOT started gathering and analyzing information about the movement of goods on barges, trucks and t...
PULLMAN—Washington State University (WSU) has secured a $3 million federal grant to enhance safety and security measures on its Pullman campus. The funding, awarded through the 2024 Office of Community Oriented Policing Services’ Technology and Equipment Program, represents the largest award received by any agency in Washington state. Nationwide, the program distributed over $240 million. The grant will fund the WSU Pullman Safety Enhancement Project, which includes the installation of 120 new security cameras, increasing the campus total to...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Auditor’s Office has processed approximately 2,500 additional vote-by-mail ballots from this month’s general election. Most small taxing district levies across the county are on track to pass. However, several measures, including the Endicott parks levy, Rosalia’s streets and parks levies, Uniontown’s parks levy, Tekoa’s parks levy and Garfield’s cemetery levy, are still failing. These measures require a super majority for approval. The Auditor’s Office reports about 300 ballots remain to be counted. The next update...
ROSALIA - A Pullman teenager was killed Saturday morning, Nov. 16, in a five-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 195. Zion M. Bischoff, 13, was transported from the scene of the crash about 3 miles north of Rosalia to Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, where he was pronounced dead, the Washington State Patrol reported. Stephen A. Bischoff, 44, also of Pullman, was also transported to the hospital, where he was treated and released. Nobody else was injured in the crash. The crash investigation prompted...
