Family to sue Whitman County over psychologist's death in jail
COLFAX – The family of a Pullman psychologist is threatening to sue Whitman County for his suicide in jail. In 2018 Dean Funabiki was found hanging in a Whitman county jail cell and died on the way...
Lamont school levy fails, others pass
COLFAX — The Lamont School District operations levy has failed. The Feb. 9 election was certified Feb. 19 by the county elections office. The vote count held at 28-24. The other two county proposals on the ballot passed. A one-year levy in Colton...
Event center project moves ahead
COLFAX - A new event center may go up at the Colfax Golf Course later this year, depending on fundraising and a bid process for the estimated $165,000-$180,000 project. Boardmember Al Kirkpatrick...
Lincoln County seeks COVID vaccinations in Whitman County
DAVENPORT - Lincoln County's loss of COVID vaccinations was found in Whitman County. Lincoln County Health Department Public Health Administrator Ed Dzedzy discussed what happened with Lincoln County...
WDFW: Keep bird feeders down for another month
OLYMPIA - Wild bird feeders should not be put out for another five weeks, advises the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Because of a series of reports of sick or dead birds at backyard...
Public records of video meetings discussed
COLFAX — Public records storage of remote meetings on video is becoming an issue for Whitman County. The topics of storage and retrieval were discussed Monday morning virtually by various county representatives during a commissioners’ work...
Weight limits lifted on county roads
COLFAX — Weight restrictions were lifted on county roads last Friday. “We’ve already been flooded with requests for permits,” said Whitman County Public Works Director Mark Storey. The public works department institutes weight restrictions...
Video meetings are affecting bills impacting Whitman County
OLYMPIA — Bills affecting Whitman County may move faster to the Legislature floor. The county’s lobbyist Zak Kennedy gave a report to county commissioners on Monday. “This is a really weird legislative session,” he said. He told...
City park may get expanded name
COLFAX - A Colfax city park will likely get a new name. The city council briefly discussed a request by the parks board on behalf of the McClintock family on Feb. 16. They asked to add the name Lynne...
Downtown Association restructured
COLFAX — The Colfax Downtown Association has announced a restructuring, under Executive Director Whitney Bond, owner of Truly You Clothing and More. Bond said the restructuring has to do with new policies and procedures. Current officers include...
Rock crushing bids opened
COLFAX — A bid of $198,000 is in to crush 40,000 tons of rock at the Whitman County-owned Cherry Cove quarry north of Winona. County commissioners opened two bids Monday for the gravel project. Lewiston-based DeAtley Crushing Company submitted...
Labor Day fire relief group issues notice
MALDEN — The Pine Creek Community Restoration Long Term Recovery Operations (LTRO) has issued a notice of weblinks regarding their efforts to help Malden and Pine City residents impacted by the Labor Day Fire. The main link is:...
Football jamboree begins sports in Colfax
COLFAX - A call from a Liberty High School quarterback was a sign football was back. Colfax, Liberty and Asotin High School football teams ran plays against each other in a fog-shrouded jamboree...
Colfax, Oakesdale unbeaten to start season
COLFAX - Colfax began the 2020-moved-to-2021 volleyball season Tuesday night with a home sweep of Lind/Ritzville/Sprague, 25-16, 25-10, 25-19. Junior setter Justice Brown led with 18 assists and six...
WIAA Athlete of the Week program to accepts nominations
RENTON — The WIAA Athlete of the Week has returned. Beginning this week the WIAA will honor outstanding student-athletes for sporting performances as well as contributions to their communities. People wishing to nominate someone may do so at the...
New high school softball coach approved
COLFAX — A new high school softball coach and junior high head football coach were approved by the school board Monday night. The board accepted the resignation of a junior high football assistant. Tracy Imler will take over for Bulldogs...
Replacement batting cage maybe covered
COLFAX — Covered batting cages may be coming to Colfax as a replacement. City parks boardmember Jerry Pugh gave an update Monday night of a new batting cage yet to be installed to replace an earlier one damaged by a windstorm. The board discussed...
Activist seeks help fighting politicians
OLYMPIA – In the past 22 years, by working together with our thousands of heroic supporters, we've qualified 17 statewide initiatives for a public vote. They all limited the governments' power over us and have saved taxpayers $46.9 billion. And...
Retroactive overtime for farmworkers is an uncalled for expensive fiction
OLYMPIA – Imagine paying off the mortgage to your home in full and on time. Then, a month later, receiving a letter from the bank outlining an additional three years of payments owed because the bank decided your interest rate changed after...
Hydrogen gaining momentum as a possible replacement fuel for trucks
In the coming decade, European Union leaders are investing heavily in hydrogen fuel research, believing it is a key to eliminating CO2 discharges from vehicles. One new technology is called pyrolysis. It is hoped the technology will allow Europeans...
Uniontown Sausage Feed pickup-only
UNIONTOWN — The 68th annual Uniontown Sausage Feed will be a curbside pick-up event for 2021. It’s held at the community center on March 7. Organizers made the announcement due to state virus restrictions for in-person dining. The drive-through...
Seven Colfax kids place at FBLA regionals
COLFAX — Results are in for the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) regional competition with seven Colfax students placing in the event held online. Corbin Burt took first place in Introduction to FBLA; Madeline Tate placed third in Job...
Spirit Week at Colfax High School
COLFAX — Colfax Junior-Senior High School will hold Spirit Week March 1-3. Monday: Pajama Day Tuesday: Teacher Tuesday (“Dress like your favorite teacher”) Wednesday: Decade Day Prizes will be given to best-dressed female and male from each...
Blood drive set for March 4
COLFAX — The Colfax School District will hold a STEM Grant Blood Drive March 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Center on Main Street. The district needs to reach 30 donors to receive a $2,000 STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)...
Post-It note art competition
COLFAX — The junior high art club will hold a Post-It Note Art Competition during March. Junior-senior high school staff and teachers are eligible to enter. All artworks are to be completed on a “Post-It” note, and will be displayed in the...
Good Old Days: Feb. 25, 2021
125 years ago The Commoner Feb. 21, 1896 The city of Pullman has a good-sized sensation which has kept the town all agog for several weeks. The excitement and agitation is caused by an assault, and by one of the most peculiar judicial transactions...
Donald Gifford
On January 27, 2021, Donald Gifford, loving son, brother, and uncle, passed away at the age of 85. Don was born on October 14, 1935 in Grand Junction, Colorado to Milton and Blanche (Gray) Gifford. Don graduated from Garfield High in 1954. He...
Homer Kenneth Hopkins
Homer Kenneth Hopkins, 92, passed quietly away Thursday, February 18, 2021, while sitting on the porch at his residence in Lacrosse. Born November 10, 1928, and raised on the family farm near Lacrosse, he was the youngest son of Elijah and Hattie...
Sharon Lynne Provost
Sharon Lynne (Curtis) Provost was born on October 20th, 1936 in St. John Wash. to Lynn Curtis and Geraldine (Feenan) Curtis, the oldest of six children. She died on January 2, 2021 at East Adams...
Larry Brown
Larry Brown passed away on Feb. 9, 2021, at the age of 67 at his home surrounded by his family and friends, after his continuous battle with cancer. He was born on April 29, 1953, in Colfax. Larry...