Good old days

125 years ago

The Commoner

Jan. 10, 1890

A correspondent asks whether it is best to plow stubble under or to burn it off. That depends on circumstances. If the stubble is light, it does not matter. If heavy enough to interfere with a good job of plowing, or if the burning would destroy the weed seeds, we would burn it off. The manurial value of a crop of dry stubble is not very great, and the stubble is sometimes liable to do as much harm as the manure good.

Tekoa is not on a standstill because of the winter and the severe weather, nor will she experience such a standstill. She is taking a rapid and steady growth, each day adding to her importance as a railroad centre. Each day brings in newcomers, men with means, who are anxious to get some property and a location before the spring boom commences.

While Walla Walla is enjoying (?) a big scandal Dixie has a little one. In Walla Walla, Ward Douglas and Miss Fannie Turner are the centres of attraction while at Dixie a minister of the gospel and another man's wife are the observed of all observers.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

Jan. 8, 1915

A dispatch from the state college at Pullman that Lieutenant C.R. Bennett, for four years commandant of the cadets, has been ordered by the war department to report at the Mexican border line for patrol duty and will join the Seventeenth infantry as a first lieutenant. Lieutenant Bennett has secured a stay of the order for two months which will give the college officials ample time to secure another army officer to command the 600 college cadets. The regents have asked the war department to delegate Lieutenant F.J. Osterman, stationed at Presidio, California, to the position.

A dispatch from Spokane states that the people of that city are now speculating heavily in wheat, having purchased 100,000 bushels of wheat futures on the Chicago board of trade. Cash purchasing was also active among local brokers, it being estimated that from 25,000 to 50,000 bushels of Inland Empire wheat changed hands this morning.

J.E. Crane, pioneer farmer of Pleasant Valley, was in Colfax from his ranch Monday. Mr. Crane fears that some damage has been done to winter wheat but hopes that the recent snow will save much of it.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

Jan. 12, 1940

A pig caused enough mischief on the Pullman highway a short distance south of the prune orchard at 6:45 Saturday evening to severely hurt three persons, slightly injure three others and badly damage the two cars involved. The pig was hit by a car driven by Steve Yedinak, Colfax insurance man, who tried to avoid an accident by driving onto the shoulder of the road about three feet. The impact threw his auto into the left lane and into the path of a pickup.

Thirteen members and one guest, Mrs. Raymond Brannon, met at the home of Corenth McNeilly Thursday afternoon last week for the Daffodil Club meeting. In a contest, Stella McNeilly won first prize and Ellen Kroll second. Next meeting will be held at the home of Pauline McNeilly January eighteenth. Delicious refreshments were served by the hostess.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Jan. 14, 1965

Trouble came double for the Jack Reynolds' family of Colfax this week. Son Joe, a sophomore at Colfax High School, broke some bones in his right foot while playing intramural basketball Monday and wound up at St. Ignatius hospital. Son Jack, a senior, made it to St. Ignatius Tuesday night with a deep laceration on his right leg, sustained when he slid into the bleachers while playing intramural basketball Tuesday afternoon. The remaining two children in the Reynolds' family were still "up and around" this morning and hope to stay that way, at least for the time being.

Owners of Palouse Nursing Home, Inc., will remodel the first two floors of St. Ignatius hospital to provide facilities for 50 nursing home patients if present plans materialize, Roy McDonald of the nursing home corporation told Colfax Kiwanians Tuesday noon.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Jan. 11, 1990

Damage estimates ran into the millions and power was knocked out all over the county Monday morning as winds of near hurricane force hit the Palouse area. The Steptoe Butte historic sign on highway 195 was among the victims of Monday morning's storm which took a toll of public and private property. Aging log support beams on the sign snapped under pressure of the wind.

Dick Miller, proprietor of Allen's Restaurant in Colfax for the past 10 years, will be installed Tuesday as the first president of the Colfax Chamber of Commerce in the 1990s.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Jan. 13, 2005

Faced with budget shortfalls this year, the county parks department is implementing a vehicle fee at parks to maintain current services. The fee, which Parks and Recreation Director Tim Myers said he hopes to implement by April 1, will be $2 per vehicle per day. Visitors will also have the option of purchasing an annual pass for $20 per vehicle in the form of a window or bumper decal. Families with two vehicles can purchase a second decal for $15.

The new Jennings gym went into service when school resumed last Monday and will be open to the public for exercise weekday mornings.