News Briefs

Libraries closed for Labor Day weekend

COLFAX — In observance of Labor Day, all 14 branches of the Whitman County Library District are closed Saturday, Sept. 3, through Monday Sept. 5.

In anticipation of the closure, due dates for library materials have been extended. No late fees will be charged for these days.

Drop boxes and Wi-Fi networks will remain open in all locations.

Access to the library’s web catalog, audio and eBooks, as well as other resources will remain available online.

Two renovated courthouse offices reopen

COLFAX — After months of renovations, two county offices have reopened in the Whitman County Courthouse, 400 N. Main St.

The county treasurer’s and assessor’s offices have moved back into the renovated courthouse in their normal locations.

The offices reopened to the public Wednesday, Aug. 24.

Other Whitman County offices are still operating from their temporary locations and are expected to be moving back to the courthouse over the next several weeks.

Grants received for airport improvements

PULLMAN — The U.S. Department of Transportationrecently awarded $1.05 million to the city for design of improvements to Airport Road near the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport.

Along a 2.1-mile stretch of Airport road the project proposes several multimodal improvements including a wider roadway with two drive lanes and a two-way left turn lane. It also includes a bike/ pedestrian path on the south side of the road, as well as a pedestrian sidewalk on the north side.

The redesign also includes a bus stop and a roundabout at Terre View Drive and Airport Road.

Fire crews douse another Ewan blaze

EWAN – A fire kept a blaze to about 100 acres Thursday, Aug. 25.

The fire was near Texas Lake and Jordan-Knott roads.

Volunteer firefighters were dispatched to the fire around 2:30 p.m. The fire burned near last week’s Wagner Road fire which burned over 7,000 acres.

The Thursday fire mostly burned scabland; officials do not know what caused the blaze.

Man arrested after shooting

in apartment

PULLMAN — A local man is facing charges after allegedly firing a handgun inside a Military Hill apartment.

Andrew DeBowes, 21, of Pullman was arrested Sunday, Aug. 28, records show.

Police said DeBowes told them he thought his 9 mm pistol was unloaded when attempting a “dry fire practice.”

The bullet passed through the wall and into an adjacent apartment where no one was home, records show. Nobody was injured.