Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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Gov. Jay Inslee may order quarantines and business shutdowns, but he cannot enforce them. In agreeing with that argument — presented by attorneys for the governor — U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle ruled last Friday that Gov. Inslee cannot be sued for the “unconstitutional” quarantine of healthy residents, shutdown of otherwise viable businesses or mask mandates. According to the judge, state officials can only be sued if they are connected to enforcement of an allegedly unconst...
Several subscribers have complained in the paper that there is no state voters pamphlet. There is, but only on line. Those in the county without computer access are out of luck since our library system has had to be shut down. Given the importance of the voters pamphlet and the public’s expressed interest in having one, I submit the greatest service to county residents the Gazette could supply since the ownership change would be publication of the pamphlet in next week’s paper. This is your chance to validate your support of the 1st ame...
Truth to tell, there are some immigrants we would be much better off without; and I am not afraid to name them. They include Russian knapweed, field bindweed or morning glory, dogfennel, rush skeletonweed, kochia, Canada thistle (all natives of Eurasia); yellow star thistle and diffuse knapweed (Mediterranean area); canary grass and fanweed, to name a few. No matter how many we Roundup, they continue to proliferate. As for human immigration to North America, arguably the most destructive, in terms of disease importation, genocide, habitat...
Sending federal marshals into Portland, Chicago, and other cities will go down as one of the President’s biggest mistakes. It hurts him politically, it harms the already tarnished image of the police, and it works against the rule of law and order. Sending Homeland Security forces to quell the protests under the guise of protecting federal property creates a no-win situation for the President. If his troops clear the streets, he will be rightfully accused of denying the right of peaceful assembly. Any use of force will be countered by the c...
Okeydokes: New paint on Colfax Main Street. My body. My choice. NO mask. All the parking lot fixes done by local businesses. Pet Peeves: My body. My choice. Birth control. People who don’t mind their own business about others not wearing masks. Masks are a choice and some of us won’t be controlled by fear projected by our governor. New format of the Sheriff’s Log. The new county website is pretty, but I miss the old click on the calendar. Very important national election...Whitman County left without information on candidates for office. Compu...
Harvest has begun in the southwestern portion of the county and is rolling along. To all the farmers out there, just in case no one has told you lately, thank you. Thank you for what you do, for the food and commodities you provide and for what that in turn does for our communities. Farmers (which heretoafter shall mean all people busting their rears to put food on our tables; farmers and livestock producers alike) have been greatly disrespected in the last year or so. Politicians and actors...
I always enjoy hearing from Les Wigen (Gazette 7/9/20). And while his arithmetic is impeccable, his logic and sense of thoughtful consideration fall short. Les argues that since Covid deaths (statistically speaking) have been minimal, our Governor has unjustifiably infringed on our freedom (Socialism?) by closing some area businesses and asking county residents to wear face masks. Statistically speaking, very few deaths have occurred on Whitman County’s roadways this year. Does this warrant the removal of all speed limits and other driving r...
Are you as disappointed with our Fifth Congressional District Congresswoman as I? Not once has Cathy McMorris Rodgers had the courage to stand up to Trump and his divisive actions. It is time to vote for someone who has the courage, who has demonstrated skill in dealing with people of all walks of life, and who will work across party lines to serve us and our country. It is time to vote for Dave Wilson! Any successful challenger to CMR must bring all Democrats, Independents and disaffected Republicans together to defeat her. Democrat Dave...
On Friday, July 1, 2016, I chanced to meet congressional candidate Dave Wilson on Main Street in Walla Walla. Being a newly retired healthcare administrator, my eye caught a reference to Critical Access Hospitals in his campaign brochure. I was pleasantly surprised when he accepted my request to meet over coffee later that afternoon to talk about rural healthcare in particular and his campaign, in general. That meeting eventuated into a deep friendship that is now over four years in the making. What I observed then, and continue to experience,...
There are two legal options to respond to a state budget deficit: The governor orders across the board budget cuts, or a special session of the Legislature occurs liquidating the deficit. The first is a blunt instrument allowing no thoughtful response. The second provides the people’s legislative branch of government the opportunity to deliberate a more surgical response. Gov. Jay Inslee, however, has made it clear he doesn’t plan to call a special session to allow lawmakers to meet to bal...
When someone who has lived a long time dies, those who were close to them feel the loss, yet are able to look back on all that person has done and accomplished. When someone who is young dies, there is the pain of the loss, the separation, but also the pain of the loss of all that could have been, all the dreams, hopes and aspirations of a life that will never be realized. Yet another family in Whitman County is mourning this loss. It is a loss that never truly goes away. My husband's sister die...
I was surprised to find Mark Bordsen last week calling for President Trump to take charge of the COVID-19 shutdown and the countywide reopening from the shutdown. As I recall last April when Trump said he was going to use his federal powers to orchestrate the nation's virus response it was the Blue State governors Inslee, Cuomo, Newsom, Whitmer, et al, that essentially said, “no, you are not―that is our job.” They stated the 10th amendment gave that responsibility to them―not him. They charged that the President was trying to be a dictato...
As of this Monday morning, it is estimated that in the United States there is one case of Covid-19 for every 100 Americans. This would seem correct for the location of the "Freedom Rodeo," which was held in the "hottest" (most cases being found right now) location in our state. Two days for transmission involving 3,000 people. I hope Publisher Harnack is as enthusiastic about reporting on the possible outbreak of the virus as he was about the rodeo. Bob Curry, Endicott...
The news is totally composed primarily of the coronavirus (COVID-19). All sports events, fairs, livestock shows, rodeos, concerts and churches are being canceled for fear of getting this virus which only kills 1/2 of 1% of people infected by it (source: John Hopkins University School of Medicine, AP. Washington Post). Not as many or any more deaths than occurred due to Spanish flu, Hong Kong flu, Swine flu or many other diseases in the past. Realize people that Nancy Pelosi went to China in November 2019 and shortly thereafter this virus...
First let me begin by thanking Pam Lewison for all of her hard work. It’s people like her that have helped our country remain strong during this unprecedented period in our nation’s history. After reading Lewison’s article “Waste” last month, I’m disappointed that the meat industry’s scarcity narrative has trickled down even to the Palouse. Although the president of Tyson Meats warned of a nationwide meat shortage and meat prices rose by 4.2% in April, publicly available U.S. Meat Export Federation data shows that beef exports actually rose...
Yes, You Have Been Conned. The media lies, the numbers do not. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Washington State has had 29,901 deaths in the first six months of 2019 and 29,528 deaths in the first six months of 2020. The coronavirus has not increased the overall death rate. It is an average flu season by a different name. You have been conned. Why? Those in control of the media and a large portion of government are tapping into your fears. They have created an illusion of a health crisis. As a result, people distrust one another....
I’m referring to letter a to the Gazette, July 9, 2020 about blaming everything on President Trump. Subject: Covid 19 World Wide Deaths As of today, Sunday, July 12, 2020, I checked Google for the facts on Covid-19 worldwide. Whitman County Population: 50,104 - 0 Deaths = .0000%; State of WA Population: 7,615,000 - 1,424 Deaths = .0018 %; USA Population: 320,000,000 - 134,572 Deaths = .00040 %; World Population: 7,800,000,000 – DEATHS = 570900 = .0000731%. Check Google for yourself on my numbers as of July 12th 2020. Governor Inslee Shut dow...
Pet Peeves Being turned away for mask exemptions due to medical complications. People who take out their frustrations about store policies on employees, especially the young adults. People who take it upon themselves to be mask police Okeydokes When others wear masks in public they don’t smell it if I fart. When our communities can come together in times of tragedy and adversity to support each other....
I was sitting in my recliner scrolling through the channels the other day looking for something interesting to watch. At last count my cable gives me access to 119 channels, none of which could hold a candle to the Ed Sullivan Show. For $212 dollars a month, you would think I could find something worth watching. I remember when TV was free except for commercial interruptions. We now have more commercials than we have ever had plus a cable bill that exceeds my first house payment. We were one of the last houses in our area to get a TV. I would...
In case you didn't know, we've got a lot of problems in the world right now. And those problems are voiced very loudly, sometimes even violently. We have division, brutality, political differences and even strong opinions both ways about face ornamentation. What we need are more solutions. Not just from highly-educated people who have had all day to think about it, just more potential solutions. We need to look at the problems from many different ways and then start trying them. Some of those...
Let's review our national time since November 2016: "Tyranny." "Fake news." "Hoax." "Enemy of the people." Have you noticed that these and his other accusations apply more to our president than anyone/anything else? The president does not know many things, and he certainly does not know how to lead. It has taken only a lowly virus for more and more Americans to realize that our would-be emperor has no attire except a long red tie (made in China). The president does not know how to lead and ignores any good leadership advice offered to him. He...
