Bulletin Column: February 20, 2020

MILLIONS IN NEW GRANT TO PULLMAN-MOSCOW AIRPORT

The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a $6 million grant for continued improvements to Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport.

The money will be used to build a taxiway for the airport's new runway, which opened last fall.

The taxiway, estimated to cost $33 million, would be built over the next two summers, with the airport remaining in operation.

The new 7,100-foot runway took three years to complete and closed the airport for a month. Three-hundred employees worked on the $154 million project.

REPUBLICAN CRAB FEED SATURDAY

The Whitman County Republicans' annual Lincoln Day Crab Feed fundraiser is set for Saturday, Feb. 22, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Palouse Empire Fairgrounds.

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers will speak at the event.

Suggested dress is business casual. Tickets cost $75, with only 200 tickets available for the event. A table of 10 costs $700. The money raised will go towards supporting local Republican candidates. For tickets call 509-255-3512.

"40 DAYS FOR LIFE" CAMPAIGN TO COME TO PULLMAN

Wednesday, Feb. 26, the "40 Days for Life" campaign returns to Pullman for 40 days of prayer and fasting, a vigil and community outreach by a group opposing abortion.

A 40-day prayer vigil will be held in a public right-of-way outside the Pullman location of Planned Parenthood at 1525 SE King Drive. All participants are asked to sign a statement pledging to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.

"40 Days for Life" events began in 2004 in Bryan/College Station, Texas, with 25 individual campaigns taking place since, involving 950 communities.

"We pray that these efforts will help mark the beginning of the end of abortion on the Palouse," said Anna Green, coordinator of the local campaign.

The initiative is non-denominational.

"We know 40 Days for Life has made a difference," said local volunteer Kimberly McCullough. "Our volunteers have made extraordinary sacrifices to offer women empowering alternatives and expose the abortion industry, protecting children and their mothers."

For more information, call Green at 208-562-7815.

HIGH WATER ON THE TOUCHET

Last week's editions of the Waitsburg Times and Dayton Chronicle included photos of flood scenes between Dayton and Waitsburg where the Touchet River threatened to go over the banks.

The flood levee through Dayton protected properties from the runoff descending from the Blue Mountains, but when water receded over the weekend damage sustained by the dike was revealed.

National Weather Service reports included 3.8 inches of snowfall Tuesday, Feb. 5, and a record .91 of inches of rain Feb. 6.

Highway 12 between Dayton and Waitsburg was closed Feb. 6 because the highway segment was covered with water and debris.

Photos show water under bridges at Dayton and against a railroad bridge.

The Touchet River runs along the south side of Dayton and crosses under the highway and continues south towards Waitsburg.

Patit Creek runs parallel to Dayton's Main Street about three blocks west and flows into the Touchet River in the southwest section of town.

PULLMAN CO-OP WILL BE TOPIC

Plans related to the proposed Pullman Good Food Co-op will be discussed at the Feb. 25 WSU Retirees Association meeting at 1:30 p.m. in the Pullman Senior Center on the second floor of City Hall

Supporters said 275 people and businesses have joined the cooperative that also plans to have a full-service bakery, deli, a hot and cold beverage bar, health products and space to visit with friends and families.

HINOJOS PLEADS NOT GUILTY

An April 14 trial date was set Friday morning for Alex Hinojos, 30, Pullman, after he pleaded not guilty in superior court to charges of possession of methamphetamine and driving with a suspended license in the first degree.

Hinojos was arrested Dec. 19 after he was allegedly observed driving a vehicle in the parking lot at Walmart.

He was allowed continued pre-trial release after Friday morning's arraignment.

DISTRICT HONORS KNAUFF

Cliff Knauff received the NE district's "assistant coach of the year" award at the start of the district tournament at Liberty. Knauff headed the Garfield/Palouse wrestling team and later joined forces with the Colfax wrestling program when the GP wrestling ranks declined.

DUO ARRESTED IN COLFAX

Two Kennewick residents were arrested Feb. 12 in Colfax and jailed. Deputy Tyler Langerveld reported he pulled over a pickup truck on Main Street after he noticed it had defective mounts on a brake light.

The report said the driver of the truck appeared to be under the influence of stimulants and had burns on her hands, which are indications of drug use. The driver was identified as Mandy R. Anderson, 37, Kennewick.

The deputy reported during questioning Anderson admitted using methamphetamine earlier that night when she visited her brother in the Lewiston-Clarkston area.

The report said Anderson later admitted she sold 14 grams of drugs to her brother in the valley. A subsequent search of the truck led to a discovery of $253 in cash.

A passenger in the truck, Robin A. Neuhart, 58, was arrested after deputies found copies of an arrest warrant which was in his backpack. The report alleges the warrant was confirmed to be still active.

VOTERS SUPPORT SCHOOLS

Returns from last Tuesday's election show voters gave strong support to the levy requests which were placed on the ballot by nine school districts around the county.

Tally of total ballots counted moved to 7,544 with the count of another 1,341 ballots Feb. 12. That rates as 33 percent of the 22,797 eligible voters.

Top return went to Pullman's request for a replacement levy for $200,000 per year for four years for tech programs which netted 80.27 percent approval with a count of 3,507 in favor and 862 opposed.

Pullman also received 77.9 percent approval on the request for $15,000,000 in bonds for upgrade work on Lincoln Middle School, with a count of 3,406 to 962.

The other Pullman request for a replacement levy for $5,300,000 over the next four years received approval from 76.7 percent of the voters at 3,360 to 1,016.

Garfield voters returned the strongest overall support with a 79.1 percent approval of a request for $100,000 over the next two years for tech support systems. Count was 159 yes and 42 no. Garfield's requests for a $176,000 replacement levy for the next two years received a 79.3 approval with 161 yes and 42 no.

Endicott voters returned a 67.1 percent approval for a replacement levy for two years at 67.1 percent with a 94 yes and 46 no.

Colfax voters approved a $900,000 replacement levy of the next two years at 67.8 percent with 746 yes and 353 no.

TRIAL DATE SET FOR CLARKSTON DUO

An April 13 trial date has been scheduled for two Clarkston women who pleaded not-guilty in superior court Feb. 7, each to a charge of possesion of methamphetamine.

They were arrested Feb. 4 on Highway 125 across the river from Clarkston. The suspects were identified as Mary Beth Clear, 49, and Angela Marie Pearson, 43, both of Clarkston.

The two suspects told Deputy Tyler Langerveld that they were returning home after gambling at the Clear Water Casino earlier in the night.