Colfax Chamber installs Julie Womack as president

About 60 people Saturday dined at Hill-Ray Plaza for the first Colfax Chamber of Commerce installation banquet in four years. Julie Womack gave a brief talk on her outlook after taking the top job. Womack, who moved to Colfax after her husband, David, was named CEO at Whitman Hospital in late 2009, is the 70th president of the Colfax Chamber. She suggested Chamber members follow the “one more step” credo, which is inscribed on the memorial at Henry Niehenke park, in pursuing Chamber goals in the future.

Colfax artist Tim Ely, was guest speaker. Ely showed a model of a book from medieval times at the start of his talk on “The Book Business in the Small Community, 12th-21st Century.” The chamber also honored Kim DeHart who has served as president for the past four years.

Board member Shawn McAdams of Rosauers handed DeHart a giant bottle of spirits to help her cope with retirement from the chamber helm. Board members for this year are McAdams, Debbie Wells of Northwest Farm Credit, Shirley Walker of AIA Insurance, Steve Kauffman of Northwest Farm Credit, Randy Daniels of Avista, Harold Wilkinson of The Courtyard and Shanne Miller of Whitman County Red Cross.