Briefs: Nov. 16, 2017

Kyle Appel, Lexi Deishl named

Washington wheat

ambassadors

Two high school seniors have been selected to represent Washington wheat farmers as Wheat Ambassadors for the upcoming year. Lexi Deishl of Waterville and Kyle Appel of Colfax were selected after an initial written application process that also included submitting a short introductory video.

They will each give a speech at the upcoming Washington Association of Wheat Growers Annual Awards Banquet Nov. 9 during the Tri-State Grain Growers Convention in Spokane.

The seniors will be judged on the quality of their presentation, and at the conclusion of the banquet, scholarships funded by the Washington Wheat Foundation of $2,500 and $2,000 will be awarded. Deishl and Appel will represent Washington wheat farmers at various civic and community events and will also participate in an advocacy trip to Olympia with WAWG leaders.

Kyle is the son of Eric and Shannon Appel and their family farm is near Colfax. Kyle has maintained strong scholastic achievement; recording a 4.0 GPA while enrolled in rigorous college level courses. Kyle also excels out of the classroom by being very active in school and community activities. Among his list of interests include being involved in 4H, FFA, drama, Knowledge Bowl and varsity baseball. Kyle participates in community service through his various roles. Kyle plans on earning a Mechanical Engineering and Ag Systems Management degree at a 4-year university.

Lexi is the daughter of Angie Deishl and Miles Deishl. The family farms on the Waterville Plateau. Lexi has maintained a strong 3.9 grade average throughout high school and has been active in numerous school and community activities. In addition to participating in swimming, basketball and track, Lexi is very active in the Waterville 4H Club and takes part in multiple fundraising efforts to benefit those in her community.

Fair mails

premium checks

Premium point checks were mailed out by the Palouse Empire Fair office Thursday, Nov. 9. Just more than $13,000 was mailed among the 810 exhibitor.

According to Janel Goebel, pay was made at 10 cents per premium point. That total does not include cash paid out for special awards paid on top of the premium points.

County awards

quarry contracts

Whitman County commissioners opened bids Oct. 30 for two road rock contracts.

The first, at Bauer Quarry, will be to furnish and stockpile 30,000 tons of crushed surfacing top course at the location between Colton and Uniontown. Commissioners chose the lowest bid, by law, of three submitted. Ron Robinson, Jr., with 4R Equipment in Bend, Ore., was the winner with a price of $164,000.

Other bidders were DeAtley Crushing of Lewiston at $173,500 and Seubert Excavation of Cottonwood, Idaho, at $165,360.

Commissioners also tentatively approved a bid for 40,000 tons of maintenance rock, sanding material and rock chips for the Gnaedinger stockpile site outside Garfield. The low bid from Shawnee Rock of Pullman came in at $316,800, which was $90,000 more than the public works department budgeted, but it was still approved after evaluation.

County dirt roads closed Nov. 15

Whitman County commissioners have issued their annual notice of road closures for the coming winter. The seasonal roads on the list covers nearly 400 miles of the county. They are posted with white signs warning of their closure Nov. 15 - March 15.

The dirt roads are closed for safety and reduction of road damage in wet and cold weather.

“Those roads are not suitable for travel in winter,” said Mark Storey, Public Works director.