Good Old Days

125 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Friday, Jan. 15, 1897

All Whitman County Officials Are Now Populists

The county is now under populist guidance and control.

Monday noon, January 11, the last remnant of republicanism in officialism in this county were relegated to private life with the retiring of Superior Judge Sullivan and Sherrif John Lathrum and the installation of their successors. The change in the janitors will not occur until February 1, when Henry Miller and M.E. Scantlin made way for Wm. Larkin and August Drasher. There was no ceremony observed in the changes, except in the case of Superior Judge McDonald. At one o'clock Monday, quite a number of persons were assembled in the court room, when Judge Sullivan requested their attention, and after thanking the bar and public for kindness and courtesy extended him during his term of office, asked that the same consideration be extended to his successor, Judge McDonald, whom he introduced with a few remarks. Judge McDonald, on ascending to the bench, spoke briefly.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

Friday, Jan. 13, 1922

Colfax Men Pinned Under Car

F. D. Newton and Chas. H. Bass were found pinned under their automobile by Engineer Jas. D. Bigger of the Northern Pacific passenger train who stopped his train when his attention was called to the car by his fireman Ed Montes. Montes saw the overturned car and called his engineers attention to it. The train was stopped and backed up to the scene of the wreck near Spangle and the passengers of the train aided the train crew in lifting the heavy car off the two men. Mr. Bass escaped with a few bruises but F.D. Newton was seriously injured. The men were placed in the baggage car and taken to the Sacred Heart hospital. Mr. Bass telephoned to his wife that he would be able to return home Thursday evening but Mr. Newton's condition is such that he is able to stand an X-ray examination to determine just how seriously he was injured.

75 years ago

From the Colfax Gazette-Commoner

Friday, Jan. 10, 1947

Divorces outnumber crime cases 2 to 1

Marriages and divorces in Whitman County showed a marked increase in 1946 over 1945, the reason being seen by courthouse officials in the wholesale discharge of war veterans. Marriage licenses issued at the office of auditor Kenneth McNeily numbered 219 in 1946 as compared to 144 in 1945; 159 in 1944 and 197 in 1943. In Superior court 82 divorce actions were brought, more than half the total number of cases filed, 157, and nearly double the number of criminal cases, 42. The divorce actions included one for seperate maintenance and one for annulment. Cases dealing with the probate of estates and the establishment of guardianships numbered 207.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Thursday, Jan. 13, 1972

Hayes ranch sold at St. John; Pflugrads buy land at Endicott

Sale of approximately 1,400 acres in the St. John area to Bobby C. And Betty Jean Hamilton was recorded in a transfer tax affidavit filed Dec. 21 in the county treasurer's office. Selling the land, located a mile north of St. John, was E.M. Hayes et. Al. The sale price totaled $419,000 with $25,000 allowed for personal property. Emma Schmick, Wenatchee has sold approximately 311 acres three miles northwest of Endicott to Myron and Barbara J. Pflugard and Wilmer E. and Myrna M. Pflugrad, co-partners in Pflugrad and sons. Price of the land was $93,300, according to an affidavit filed Dec.22 in the treasurer's office. The land consist of 307 acres of farmland and 4 acres of rangeland.

25 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Thursday, Jan. 9, 1997

High waters nearly break North Palouse food bank

Despite big holiday donations, supplies at North Palouse Area Food and Clothing Bank in Garfield are low following the high waters which hit Garfield New Year's Eve night. The food bank was among Garfield victims hit after waters jumped Silver Flat Creek. Flooding at the food and clothing bnk ruined approximately 65 percent of it's overall stock, piling up to an estimated $70,000 to $90,000 in preliminary damage. The biggest casualty at the food bank has been its food freezers. As of Tuesday, 15 of the bank's 33 food freezers have been pronounced victims of high waters which shorted out motors. Seven others are presently being monitored for safety. "They're dying all the time," said Bob King, food bank director. "The general assumption is that they'll keep on dying." A large $20,000 walk in freezer, which was purchased less than one year ago after the February floods, also fell prey to the flood waters.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012

Hey, buddy can you spare $15 million?

Having committed last week to $15 million worth of infrastructure at Hawkin's Companies' state-line shopping center, Whitman County commisioners are now looking for the money. "Just 15 million balls up in the air this week," said Administrative Director Gary Petrovich. Commissioners voted 2-1 last Tuesday to provide the funding after Boise-based Hawkins asked for an additional $5.9 million on the county's 2008 agreement to provide $9.1 million for development of the site. Commisioners are looking into several sources including state funding, revenue bonds and credit lines with area banks. The agreement with Hawkins calls for the county to repay the company for building the roads, water and sewer systems, lights and a fire station at the site.