Serving Whitman County since 1877
Snake River run start may move to Wawawai Park in 2013
The search for a new member, signs at Kamiak Butte and the Snake River Half-Marathon start at Wawawai Park were among the items discussed in a Whitman County parks board meeting Feb. 9 at the Public Service Building in Colfax.
The first item addressed was newly-made signs that had been tentatively approved for Kamiak Butte. The signs indicate park boundaries and direct hikers clear of private property. Ranger Todd Heitstuman ordered the signs, which were made at the Walla Walla state penitentiary at a cost of $5.11 per sign.
Parks Director Tim Myers passed around handouts of the signs, in traditional brown with white lettering, and the board approved the designs.
Heitstuman then reported on the winter storm impact on Kamiak, notably in the parking lot.
“It was a skating rink for quite a few days up there,” said Heitstuman.
“That week, all I was doing was plowing,” he said of the January snowstorm.
Ranger Dave Mahan of Klemgard and Wawawai parks then said he has obtained two different types of traffic counters from the county road department and will install the counters this spring.
He added several days of work were required to remove downed branches from the winter storm at Wawawai.
Mahan also gave an update on discussions with organizers of the Snake River Canyon Half-Marathon, regarding moving the start to Wawawai Park next year. The 33rd annual race is set for March 3 with 700 participants expected. This year the race will again start at Wawawai Landing.
The next day, March 4, will be the third annual Wawawai Landing Time Trial and Wawawai Hill Climb which brings 40 to 50 bicyclists.
In a side note, Mahan said that the new metal roof installed at Klemgard Park last summer has brought a change in the wintertime.
“The snow comes off in one giant slab,” he said.
Program Coordinator Janel Goebel reported on the board’s Facebook page, begun in January.
“I can say we have 13 friends on it, and I know all of them but two,” she said.
Myers said that he linked it to the Historical Society’s new website.
The next topic discussed was the Colfax Trail. Myers said he hopes they will be able to put parking and restrooms at the trailhead which is along the Palouse River below the Walla Walla Highway.
The meeting concluded with talk about potential candidates who might join the board, after the death of member Dr. Jim Sharp of Rosalia, who served since 2009.
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