Good Old Days: May 2, 2019

125 years ago

The Commoner, May 4, 1894

The hearing of the case of J. A. Stromble et al. vs. the Commercial State Savings bank et al., wherein the appointment of a receiver was demanded for the defendant bank, was concluded Monday morning in the superior court. Judge Sullivan, after hearing all the evidence put forward in the matter, told the Moody brothers that if they would furnish additional securities for their notes in the bank, and such securities as were acceptable to the stockholders, he would dismiss the case. The Moody brothers expressed their willingness to comply with this demand. They will report their new securities for the approval of the court.

***

On the first day of May, O.H. Bartleson, who resides a few miles northeast of this city, came to town on a saddle horse, and hitched the animal to a post on Mill street. That was in the morning. When Bartleson went to get his horse early in the afternoon, he found the hitching post, but not the steed. He searched high and low for the animal and finally concluded that it had broken loose and started for the ranch. On Wednesday, Bartleson returned to town and informed the criminal authorities of his loss. Inquiry revealed the fact that a horse answering the description given had been seen in the possession of a couple of youths on the day before.

Complaints were lodged against the youngsters, and Constable Lawson Wednesday afternoon arrested Clarence Hanrick and brought him before Justice Zimmerman. The charge made against the little fellow was for grand larceny, and as the boy's father stated that he was unable to manage the child, and consented to a plea of guilty, the magistrate bound the boy over to the superior court, which proceeding is simply preliminary to Clarence's commitment to the reform school. The boys at first tried to deceive the officers by falsehoods.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner, May 2, 1919

Two months ago, the president of the commercial club appointed a committee to devise ways and means for the securing of a community building for this city. This committee had been busy at work on the proposition for several weeks and they have secured plans and figures on the cost of such a building and the meeting is called for the purpose of placing the proposition before the people of Colfax.

These plans and figures will be given to the people at the Friday night's meeting and they are either to be accepted or rejected. The committee had plans for a three story building, containing a gymnasium, study rooms, swimming pools, and auditorium and community rooms. The plans will be fully explained at the meeting and the cost of the entire structure completed has been estimated at $126,500.

***

Thieves entered the Standard Lumber Company's barn in the north end last week and hauled away all the feed that was in the stable. When one of the workers went to the barn to feed the horses one morning this week, he found the hay loft empty and the feed bin scraped clean.

J. S. Cronin, manager of the company, was told over the phone that the thieves had carried off everything but the horses and that the barn had been thoroughly cleaned out. Mr. Cronin stated that the barn has been visited several times this winter and quantities of feed stolen. One of the horses was lame at the time the thieves made their last visit or they might have made off with the team.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner, April 28, 1944

All of the Riggs school district, No. 128, and 59 per cent of the territory of the Goldsworthy district, No. 93, was attached to the Rosalia district following hearing Wednesday in the office of County Superintendent Ruth S. Timm. The remaining 42 per cent of the Goldsworthy district was attached to the Oakesdale district. The mergers reduced the number of districts in the county to 34.

***

Plans for placing Colfax on one or more post-war air transportation feeder lines and selection of an airport site are progressing as fast as possible, declared Senator Ernest C. Huntley, chairman of the chamber airport committee in a talk before that organization Wednesday noon.

He advised the city administration to prepare for the purchase of a site, declaring that the county would not likely be in position to do so because if one town should thus be favored all towns would expect to be given the same consideration.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette, April 24, 1969

Colfax woke to a muddy dawn Wednesday after a long night of battling mud, rock and debris which were dumped on the town from the rampaging runoff of a cloudburst. Heavy rain accompanied by lightening flashes began to hammer the town at 7:15 p.m., breaking loose a sludge attack which blocked Buck Canyon, dumped tons of debris in the North Flat area and threatened Main street businesses.

Traffic on the Buck Canyon grade was halted by several minor slides. Motorist were allowed back on the grade after an hour's closure.

Heavy rocks and mud blasted their way down the Palouse highway grade on Canyon street past the United Methodist Church and the Rose Theater. Volunteer fireman and residents, including many teenagers, helped form a channel for the water.

***

An estimated 200 head of swine, beef cattle and sheep will be exhibited at the 35th annual St. John Community 4H and FFA fair and livestock show, opening Friday morning with judging.

In addition to the judging, which will continue through Friday, the fair will offer a wide variety of entertainment Saturday, highlighted by crowning of a stock show queen at 1:45 p.m. and parade at 1 p.m.

***

A federal court order holding up prosecution of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in Whitman County was dissolved last Wednesday in a federal district court decision at Yakima. The railroad was convicted in Whitman County superior court last November of operating engines in the Malden-Rosalia area last summer without proper spark arresters. Prior to sentencing, the railroads went to U.S. District court in Spokane and won a temporary restraining order which enjoined Prosecutor Philip Faris and Superior Court judge John Denoo from proceeding further in the prosecution.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette, May 5, 1994

A 17-year-old Pullman boy pleaded guilty in Whitman County Superior Court last week to two counts of second degree assault in the Pullman drive-by shooting incident last February. His cohort awaits a hearing to determine whether he will be tried as an adult.

The Pullman youth admitted to firing several rounds from a .22 caliber handgun into the Dittmer residence.

One bullet struck Aaron Dittmer in the head, inflicting a minor flesh wound, and another went through the window of Dittmer's sister's bedroom.

A statement from the Pullman juvenile said he knew people were at the residence, but he was shooting at a car in the driveway and inadvertently stuck the house and Dittmer.

***

Colfax firefighters contained a burning gas pump at the Colfax Grange in less than five minutes Monday night after a tractor trailer dislodged the pump and ignited the spilling fuel.

According to Fire Chief Jim Krouse, a truck driver used the station for a turn around, and accidentally clipped the pump with his rear trailer.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette, April 23, 2009

Scores of residents in Colfax joined in with protesters around the nation by holding a”tea party” in Colfax last Wednesday, April 15, IRS deadline date.

The party in Colfax did not include finger sandwiches or lace napkins. Organizer Denise Culbertson said participants gathered because they felt their representatives are not taking adequate care of their tax dollars.

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Schools around Whitman County are bracing for reported cuts in the state's education fund. The state legislature is working in the final days of the regular session to produce a budget from versions which started in the state house, senate and the governor's office.

The finalized budget is due Sunday, but without much communication from the legislature, schools are unsure about how much funding they stand to lose over the next two years.