Special Olympics returns to county

COLFAX – Special Olympics return as an in-person event in Whitman County on Saturday.

The local Special Olympics is at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at Colfax First Baptist Church at 200 N. Mill St.

The event starts with an awards ceremony for all basketball participants in the gymnasium.

It’s followed by news on the spring season and “thank you” awards.

It concludes with the Polar Pop, which is athletes popping water balloons on the athlete’s choice of coaches, according to Whitman County Special Olympics Program Coordinator Debbie Niehenke.

Any athlete who raises $25 can pop a water balloon on a coach. All donations go to Special Olympics Washington.

“Let’s raise a few dollars, promote awareness of Special Olympics Washington, and have fun ... freez’en for a reason,” Niehenke said.