Good Old Days: Feb. 22, 2018

125 years ago

The Commoner

Feb. 17, 1893

James Carroll, a hobo who was last night released from the county jail after serving a sentence for petty larceny, gets back to his old quarters in short order. He stole two coats and two vests from the mercantile store Thursday night and tried to sell the articles at a Main Street saloon. He was promptly arrested and this afternoon Justice Dillon sentenced him to 30 days in the county jail.

Tom McLachlan, another fellow of the same stripe, was released from jail this morning and had been at liberty only about an hour when his fingers became fastened to a two-dollar pair of pantaloons that hung in front of Gaines Store. He was arrested and sent up for 20 days.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

Feb. 15, 1918

J. E. Nessly, correspondent for the Spokesman-Review and Chas.

R. Hill, an attorney of this city, engaged in a duel of words in one of the cigar stores of this city last week which came very near starting a fight.

Some of the men who were present said they were not sure but what one or two blows were struck.

Nessly jumped up from the card table and grabbed the stove poker and wildly shouted for the attorney to come on.

One or two men present said that it looked as if the Spokesman-Review writer had the attorney bluffed.

The dispute arose over the attempt of the two men to insult each other and when they failed to do this each of them got mad.

Nessly left town Sunday, and some of Mr. Hill's friends claim that it was through fear of Mr. Hill.

Mr. Nessly took up his residence in Moscow.

After the duel of words was over Nessly continued playing his card game with the stove poker in his lap.

Mr. Hill would make no statement in regard to the encounter, but bystanders say they were sorry that the matter was not continued to a finish.

75 years ago

The Colfax Gazette-Commoner

Feb. 12, 1943

Dentists of Whitman County have volunteered some of their office hours free of charge to the war emergency dental program which had for its purpose preparing boys and girls of high school age in dental health for whatever branch of military service or war work to which they may be called.

50 years ago

The Colfax Gazette

Feb. 15, 1968

Lucille Cocking, who announced last week that she was taking over management of the Whitman Café, will hold a grand opening Saturday with free refreshments. The restaurant will be open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week and will feature regular meals and waffles at any time.

25 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Feb. 18, 1993

A fire gutted the Thornton home of Sam and Roxie Johnson on E North Street Tuesday night. According to Roxie, the lights in the kitchen started to flicker while she was preparing dinner. Shortly thereafter, her husband went out to the cellar to get some food and saw smoke coming out of a door leading to the attic. The Johnsons ran a hose indoors to the washer outlet and Mr. Johnson sprayed down the roof while Mrs. Johnson summoned the fire department. The Johnsons escaped without injury.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Feb. 14, 2008

Starting Feb. 1 Colton had its town marshal, Brian Keller, back on the job, but now he will be on part-time status. Keller started working full-time for the Town of Colton in Feb., 2006. The city paid him to go through the police academy with the agreement that he would work for the city for three years. In October of last year, he was hired by the Whitman County Sheriff's office.

“He's a good man and a good force and he had the opportunity to improve himself working for the sheriff's department,” Mayor Weber noted. Weber said that instead of making Keller pay to cover the contract a new contract was drafted. Keller agreed to work the remainder of the contract over two-and-a-half years as a part-time marshal.