Absence of potential .09ers rankles Blue Ribbon panel

Members of Whitman County’s Blue Ribbon Advisory Task Commission were disappointed with the turnout at their initial meeting last Wednesday to discuss potential awards of .09 economic development funding.

Kristie Kirkpatrick, director of the county library system, attended the informational session which kicks off the annual funding award process.

“I just hope that’s not an indicator of how many applicants we’re going to get,” said Ron Wachter, a member of the commission from Pullman.

Each year since 2000, the county has awarded grants for projects intended to pump up the economies of Whitman...