Whitman County schools cancel athletics, early dismissals

COLFAX — With the winter surge hitting Whitman County, local schools are taking action, canceling schools and extra-curricular activities.

Updates for Friday, Jan. 19, from the Whitman County school districts are as follows.

Colfax: The school has been running on emergency routes for buses in the mornings and afternoons. The basketball game against Davenport Friday, Jan. 19, is still on.

Pullman: School was on time. Buses are running on emergency routes. No sports have been cancelled. In district activities are not cancelled, and trips may be cancelled.

St. John and Endicott: Both St. John and Endicott school districts are closed. Both were on a two-hour delay before deciding to shut down operations. All after school activities are closed, including boys basketball.

“The really difficult things for our schools is when you have bad weather conditions or bad drifting, and deciding when do you close. Closed Jan. 19 due to drifting. And closed half day on Jan. 18. It’s hard to make the right decision about when to close. Kids are disappointed when games are cancelled, because they can’t make that up," said St. John Superintendent Mark Jacobson.

Tekoa: Friday, Jan. 19, school was closed due to weather. The basketball game against Pomeroy has been postponed, and rescheduled to be played on Tuesday, Jan. 30, in Pomeroy.

Rosalia: School started on time Friday, Jan. 19. Only emergency bus routes will run. There was no bus to Oakesdale, however. The Malden bus will pick up students at the Fire Station at 7:45 a.m. and drop them off after school. The Thornton bus will pick up students at the Fire Station at 7:45 a.m. and drop them off there after school. Lora’s bus route North Route will not run. There will no in-town Rosalia bus service, except to and from the Footprints Day Care. All after school activities are cancelled. The game at Pomeroy will be re-scheduled. No Sports practices.

Colton: Friday, Jan. 19, was an early dismissal for the school district for the end of the quarter. Basketball game against Prescott has been cancelled as Prescott did not have school.

Garfield: Late start took place Wednesday, no other cancellations or bus routes for schools

Palouse: Friday, Jan. 19. Garfield-Palouse basketball game against Dayton postponed, rescheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 30.

Oakesdale: Friday, Jan. 19, school on a two hour delay. Buses on paved roads. Preschool is on. No skills center. Basketball game tomorrow at Palouse still on at the time of writing.