Good Old Days April 21

125 years ago

The Commoner

April 17, 1891

The visit of the commissioners to Whitman County has been made, and with their departure they have left our people strong in the belief that the agricultural college will be located in Whitman County.

Every advantage which the county possesses, every claim made of her superiority in the diversities of agricultural pursuits, over her competitors in the race, have been abundantly demonstrated, and in the unbiased judgment and integrity of the commission does Whitman County now rest her claims.

Our people express the utmost confidence in the commission that they will consider well and fully the many merits of Whitman, together with those advanced by other counties in the state, and decide upon the location to be made with due regard to merit and the welfare of this institution.

Whitman County asks for nothing more at their hands, and will content itself with nothing less.

The people of Whitman County, united as they are in this matter, are not selfish in their demands. All they ask for is a “fair shake.”

This they have been openly assured; and having received this they confidently believe that Whitman's pre-eminent position in the agricultural interests of the state will prevail when the vote is taken upon the location of this grand state institution.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

April 21, 1916

A committee of citizens from the western part of the county went before the board of county commissioners Monday to ask for the location of a road leading west of La Crosse and connecting with the road which has been laid out on the west side of the Palouse river by the Adams county officials. The road in question was laid out some time ago, but owing to some minor changes it will be necessary to re-survey the right of way as far west as the river.

The visitors stated that there were a number of residents living on the west side of the river who were getting their mail at La Crosse, but owing to the high water in the Palouse river, it was impossible for these people to cross the river during at least three months of the year. They ask the commissioners to put a bridge across the river near the Shobe ranch to connect with a line which had been established by the Adams county commissioners who had agreed to stand half of the expense of the bridge.

The members of the board advised the visiting delegation to secure waivers for the right of way and as soon as this was done, an order would be issued to the county engineer to survey and establish the road.

Mr. Manchester stated that if the road was laid out and graded this year it would be about all the commissioners could do and that the building of the bridge would be deferred until next year.

Mr. Hawkins, who is a resident of Adams county, was present and stated that the road had been laid out on the Adams county side and the right of way fenced.

He claimed the Adams county officials were ready to do their part towards the building of the bridge.

Mr. Whitlow told that the gentleman that as soon as official word to this effect was received the Whitman County officials would do their part towards the building of the bridge.

Among those who attended the commissioners' meeting Monday from La Crosse were A. J. Shobe, J. B. Schweiger, Ira M. Camp, W. H. Rudolph, L. R. Keller, Fred Turner, H. T. Ecton, Ben Latham, J. E. Moore and Mr. Hawkins.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

April 18, 1941

The two-story brick structure at the southeast corner of Main and Upton streets, known as the Burrell building, and the room adjoining it on the south, occupied by the Gazette-Commoner, was purchased Monday by John Flaig, Waverly, for $8,000, according to revenue stamps on the deed executed by Mrs. Emma Leitch and Boone Freeman.

Mr. Flaig is the father-in-law of Lester Hill who, with his brother, Flay Hill, will move the equipment of the Colfax Creamery from the Liberty Theater building, which is being remodeled for a new grocery store by the Weskil interests, to the room occupied by the Gazette-Commoner, necessitating the newspaper publishers to seek a new location. The Hills have been asked to vacate May 1 and Bramwell, Lacey and Bramwell, publishers, May 31.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

April 21, 1966

Road boosters in the area are urged to assemble information justifying the proposed highway link from Pullman and Colton down Steptoe canyon to the Wilma port site and Clarkston, Manager Neal Klemgard of the Port of Whitman said this week.

“The Steptoe canyon road is a vital link in the proposed Spokane – Colton – Clarkston – Enterprise, Ore., multipurpose interstate highway, but it will never be built – or even investigated – unless residents of the area actively support the proposal,” the port manager said.

Action by the legislature is essential to obtain a directive to the department of highways to make an adequate feasibility study, leading to inclusion of the route in state and federal planning, Klemgard said he had been advised by Director C. G. Prahl of the state highway department.

To support favorable action in the state legislature, a recommendation from the joint committee on highways is essential, it was learned from Rep. W. L. McCormick of Spokane, chairman of the subcommittee on road extensions. The proposed Steptoe canyon link may be introduced in a forthcoming public hearing scheduled in Clarkston.

The Steptoe canyon road has been a dream of area road boosters for many years and several years ago, Gov. Dan Evans and Highway Commissioners Elmer C. Huntley, both members of the legislature at the time, proposed a feasibility study of the route.

However, changing conditions and the imminent development of the Snake river now make the study more desirable than ever, according to Manager Klemgard of the port district. “The present road should be given reconsideration and assigned a priority rating in the state's master road plan,” he said. “The present Lewiston grade is unsuitable for commercial travel anticipated in the forthcoming development of the tri-port district which includes the Port of Wilma in Whitman County and the ports of Lewiston and Clarkston.”

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

April 18, 1991

Lack of economic diversity and the need for more businesses not connected to the university is the central challenge faced by economic development organizations in the county, area officials concluded at a Friday morning meeting in Colfax.

The purpose of the meeting was to identify problems facing the county and coordinate the activities of the various agencies who deal with those problems.

Those attending included officials from the Pullman and Colfax chambers of commerce, the Port of Whitman County, the Palouse Economic Development Council, the county commissioners, Washington Water Power, Community Action Center, Whitman Community Hospital and the WSU Research Park.

The group tried to identify “root problems” which have grown out of this lack of economic diversity.

These problems included emigration, a declining wheat market, resistance to change, legislative insensitivity, increasing state regulation, solid waste issues and farm consolidation.

Then the group tried to list problems which result from these “root problems.”

The list developed was lengthy. Some of the items included a lack of affordable housing; loss of population, especially young people; loss of retail sales; declining transportation system; shrinking tax base; and lack of local investors.

Then they listed what each organization was doing to solve that problem.

These solutions ranged from development of a Colfax motel to increased lobbying of the legislature to business recruitment from urban areas to enhancement of the “quality of life” in the county through such things as parks.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

April 20, 2006

Washington State's Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has awarded Small Repair Grants to three county schools for maintenance projects.

Lamont, Steptoe and Tekoa school districts were among the 26 districts statewide to receive funding. Washington State Legislators allocated $2.37 million for the grants and 133 districts applied for funding.

Lamont received $100,000 to remove asbestos from the school's boiler and steam pipes, replace old windows in the kitchen and connect with the revamped Lamont water system.

School secretary Janet Smith said the repairs will be made this summer.

The school had been getting water from its own well, but Smith said state regulations requiring the school to raise its wellhead would be too costly, so it decided to attach pipes to the town's water system.

Smith said the school recently replaced most of its windows, but could not afford to replace the kitchen windows at the same time.

Steptoe School District also received funding from the grant to replace an aging boiler and repair or replace buckling sidewalks.

“The grant is only for $100,000, so the new boiler should pretty much eat that all up,” said Principal Cheryl Kammerzell. “Whatever's left over we'll use to replace the sidewalks that have decayed.”

Kammerzell said the current boiler was installed in 1919.

The grant program awarded $72,228 to Tekoa School District. The school will use the grant to replace the elementary school boiler and upgrade its fire alarm system.

The boiler has been in the school since it was purchased second hand in 1927. Outgoing Superintendent Sergio Hernandez said he thought it came from either Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, or a defunct saw mill.

Representatives from OSPI will visit the schools April 27 to present the grant awards in the form of oversized checks.