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  • Colfax Bulldogs football trees Asotin Panthers

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 30, 2021

    shut down the Asotin Panthers for the first half, leading to a 26-14 Colfax win on Sept. 24. The Bulldogs were leading 20-0 at halftime. Their first drive was 15 plays. “Our offense is set up to eat up the clock and keep their offense on the bench,” said Colfax Coach Mike Morgan. “I think we did a really good job with that.” The third quarter was a lot of plays but no scoring. “Asotin made it interesting in the fourth quarter by scoring two touchdowns,” said Morgan. “We scored on in the fourth quarter as well.” Bulldog Mascon Gilchrist led h...

  • Bulldogs bite the Crusaders

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 30, 2021

    COLFAX - The Colfax Bulldogs battled the Northwest Christian Crusaders to the last point with the final match going to 26-24 for their win on Sept. 21. Colfax hosted and won the matchup 25-16, 25-14, and 26-24. Matches end when a team reaches 25, but they still need to win by 2 points. The final match was close when it ended as the Bulldogs dropped it in to score 26, which was 2 points ahead of Northwest Christian. "We let them in a little bit," said Colfax Coach Brandy Brown. "They started out...

  • Colfax to test new water meters

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 30, 2021

    COLFAX — Colfax is replacing the 1,205 meters used to track water use and the replacements might be able to detect leaking water mains. Colfax Public Works is in the planning phase to install 50 new water meters in the Hamilton Park area to test their capabilities. The meters not only record water used but use acoustics to detect leaking water mains and can transmit data to make reading the meters more efficient. “We’re going to see if they’re going to work for us,” said Colfax Public Works Director Matt Hammer. “It’s a pretty new technolog...

  • One dead, WSU Cougar injured during shooting

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 30, 2021

    PULLMAN — One man died and a WSU Cougar wide receiver was injured during gunfire in Pullman on Sept. 25. More than 200 people were at a party in the 1200 block of Northeast Myrtle Street in the College Hill area. Pullman police were arriving at 12:30 a.m. because of a complaint about the noise when “they reported hearing multiple gunshots.” Liban A. Barre, 23, of Kent, and Brandon C. Gray, 22, of Detroit, were found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds about a block from the party near the intersection of Williams Drive and Lybecker Road...

  • Swarm of planes for breakfast

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 30, 2021

    COLFAX – The skies around Colfax were buzzing with the sound of 40 airplanes taking part in the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Fly-In. "Airplane nuts just love watching airplanes," said fly-in coordinator Barney Buckley. "The breakfast is the big deal. They come for that and to see the airplanes." The Port of Whitman Business Air Center was where 160 people ate breakfast, toured the parked airplanes, bought rides, and for some - flew home. The Colfax Rotary Breakfast served eggs, s...

  • SJEL Eagles take fifth place at SunDome

    Bill Stevenson, Gazette editor|Sep 23, 2021

    YAKIMA - Fifth place is a good finish when playing against 31 teams in the SunDome Volleyball Festival. The two days of volleyball tournaments as 80 teams split between the days of Sept. 18-19 in Yakima. The first day was 32 1B, 2B, and 1A league teams competing. The Oakesdale Nighthawks won. St. John-Endicott-LaCrosse (SJEL) Eagles moved from pool play with three teams to lose in the first round of bracket play, but their coach was thrilled at how the players composed themselves and played...

  • Oakesdale volleyball wins tournament

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 23, 2021

    YAKIMA - The Oakesdale Nighthawks volleyball team swooped into the SunDome Volleyball Festival and flew away with the win. The Yakima area was filled with 80 high school volleyball teams for two tournaments on Sept. 18-19. On Friday it was 32 teams from 1B, 2B, and 1A leagues. Bigger schools played the next day. "We actually won the tournament," said Coach McKinzie Turner. "It was a really good day for our kids. We played some really tough teams." The Nighthawks started the tournament with...

  • Colfax shuts down Lake Roosevelt football

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 23, 2021

    COLFAX - The Raiders went home empty-handed after the Colfax Bulldogs football team beat them, 30-0 on Sept. 17. "I wasn't sure how this game was going to be on Friday," said Colfax Coach Mike Morgan. "They were the eighth-ranked team in the state ... I am really pleased with our effort." The first score of the game came in the second quarter as Colfax's Damian Demler passed to JD Peterson for a 43-yard touchdown. The 2-point conversion attempt failed. In the third quarter, the Bulldogs ran for...

  • Seven suspects, five burglaries, two arrests

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 23, 2021

    PINE CITY - Seven men are suspected of breaking into a Pine City home five times within 10 days stealing a pistol, cash register, and other items. In between the five break-ins, a surveillance camera was installed on the property on Pine City-Malden Road, according to a report written by Sheriff Brett Myers. The sheriff led the investigation. On Sept. 11 during the third burglary, the camera recorded two males breaking into the detached garage and taking several things. The men then broke into...

  • State funds Malden construction efforts to build fire station

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 23, 2021

    OLYMPIA - Malden is receiving nearly $1 million for a new fire station from the state Department of Commerce. The state chose 20 rural cities, towns, and counties to receive a total of more than $11.4 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for 2021, according to Penny Thomas, commerce communications spokesperson. Three grants are for towns in Whitman County and one for Washtucna. Malden lost most of its buildings in the devastating 2020 wildland fire, including the fire station....

  • Whitman Hospital faces potential staff crisis

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 23, 2021

    COLFAX - Whitman Hospital & Medical Clinics is missing 45 employees and desperate to hire replacements before services are impacted. The open positions represent 13.4% of the 335 people needed to run the hospital, said Jessica Keck, of Whitman Hospital & Medical Clinics human resources. There are jobs open in the medical-surgical unit, operating room, cardiopulmonary department, environmental services, food and nutrition, and therapy. "Those are all the departments we are worried about ......

  • Small plane crashes near Palouse

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 23, 2021

    PALOUSE - Two people were injured when a small plane crashed at a private airfield near Palouse on Sept. 15. The plane crashed at Schoepflin Airport on Ringo Road at around 11 a.m., according to Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers. "Initial reports indicate the student pilot, accompanied by his flight instructor, attempted to make a landing when the plane made a hard touchdown causing the landing gear to malfunction," said Myers. "As a result, the plane flipped and came to rest on its top." The...

  • One dead, WSU Cougar injured in shooting

    Bill Stevenson|Sep 23, 2021

    PULLMAN – One man died and a WSU Cougar wide receiver was injured during gunfire in Pullman on Sept. 25. More than 200 people were at a party in the 1200 block of Northeast Myrtle Street in the College Hill area. Pullman police were arriving at 12:30 a.m. because of a complaint about the noise when "they reported hearing multiple gunshots." Liban A. Barre, 23, of Kent, and Brandon C. Gray, 22, of Detroit, were found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds about a block from the party near the i...

  • Oakesdale sweeps Odessa Tigers

    Bill Stevenson|Sep 16, 2021

    OAKESDALE – The Oakesdale Nighthawks made it look easy as they beat the Odessa Tigers in three games on Sept. 7. Oakesdale won 25-19, 25-10, and 25-14, according to Athletic Director Ken Lindgren. "It was our first real match of the season. The girls were playing in front of their fans so there were a little jitters," said Coach McKinzie Turner. "We haven't had a chance to play our starting lineup yet due to injuries." Their starting setter Samantha Holling was out with an injury, as well as A...

  • Indians take down SJEL Eagles

    Bill Stevenson|Sep 16, 2021

    ST. JOHN – Rain grounded the St. John-Endicott-LaCrosse (SJEL) Eagles football teram during their loss to the Touchet Indians on Sept. 10, 32-6. "The rain was terrible," said SJEL Coach John Hergert. "It quit for halftime then sheet rain fell in the third quarter. Rain led the Eagles' offense to shift to more running plays. It also contributed to a couple of fumbles. SJEL's sole touchdown was in the first quarter, said Hergert. Quarterback Tanner Fleming threw a short pass to freshman Ben Bailey...

  • Bulldogs comeback after fair start

    Bill Stevenson|Sep 16, 2021

    COLBERT – Colfax Bulldogs football players trickled into the game against the Northwest Christian Crusaders from the Palouse Empire Fair. The rescheduled game began Saturday at 7 p.m. on Sept. 11 to accommodate players who were selling livestock at the fair. As the game started, players were still showing up, changing into uniforms, and making their way onto the field. "From Tuesday on I had half my squad because they were working with their animals," said Colfax Coach Mike Morgan. "We needed t...

  • Kitchen fire damages Tekoa apartments

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 16, 2021

    TEKOA — Three of Wheatland Apartments units in Tekoa were damaged during a fire on Sept. 9. “A neighbor called it in and said there was fire coming out the windows,” said Whitman County Fire District 1 Fire Chief Donovan Chase. “The fire started in the kitchen.” Fire destroyed the upstairs apartment. No one was inside during the fire. No injuries were reported to firefighters, residents, or their pets. “All the plastics in the apartment were melted,” said Chase. “It got hot in there … It’ll b...

  • 9/11 – We remember

    Bill Stevenson, Gazette Editor|Sep 9, 2021

    We remember. As a country, we remember when 2,996 people died and two iconic New York buildings fell from a terrorist attack. Our military headquarters was struck by a high jacked airliner. And, a group of heroes rose to resist Al-Qaeda terrorists to crash Flight 93, the plane they were on rather than allow it to strike the White House. If you are old enough, you can remember when you learned that two airliners full of passengers were flown into the World Trade Center, causing two 110-story...

  • Gorillas' experience paid off against Colfax

    Bill Stevenson, Gazette editor|Sep 9, 2021

    COLFAX - The young Colfax Bulldogs football team met the Davenport Gorillas for their opening game of the season on Sept. 3, and lost 40-14. "We knew that would be a tough first draw," said Colfax Coach Mike Morgan. "We're starting a lot of young guys. Davenport is a very experienced ball club. We knew that coming into the season." The first score was Davenport moving the length of the field to score the first touchdown of the night on a 45-yard run. Colfax was driving downfield and reached the...

  • Students rally for freedom

    Bill Stevenson, Gazette Editor|Sep 9, 2021

    COLFAX - More than 60 students rallied in front of the Colfax High School on their first day back against state COVID vaccination and mask mandates. The Associated Student Body (ASB) organized the event on Aug. 30 to express the students' views. "We thought that what the state is doing is wrong with the mandates," said ASB Representative Tucker Senter. "We wanted to do something peaceful and that got our point across." He's a senior and said the rally represented the students. "A lot of the...

  • Man accused of attacking ex-girlfriend

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 2, 2021

    PULLMAN - James S. Olson was reportedly found hiding under a blanket and pillows after attacking an ex-girlfriend a second time. In her Pullman apartment Olson, 31, of Albion, was charged on Aug. 30 in Whitman County Superior Court with burglary in the first degree – domestic violence, violating a no-contact court order, and obstructing a law enforcement officer. Olson is accused of attacking his 35-year-old ex-girlfriend twice in her Pullman apartment on Aug. 24 and Aug. 27. For the earlier a...

  • State employees' union sues over vaccine mandate

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 2, 2021

    Inslee mandated state employees must receive a COVID vaccine and the Washington Federation of State Employees disagreed. Inslee mandated all state employees be vaccinated against COVID by Oct. 18 or lose their jobs. The union represents state employees and recently filed a lawsuit against the state claiming the state did not "bargain in good faith" when mandating forced COVID vaccinations. The governor's office said the lawsuit allegations are "false" and "we look forward to the opportunity to...

  • State threatens school funding over COVID

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 2, 2021

    OLYMPIA - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal threatened funding for schools not following COVID vaccination and mask mandates. Reykdal filed an emergency rule on Aug. 25 listing penalties for districts ignoring the state mandates of students wearing masks in school and district employees being vaccinated. The new order gives districts time to come into compliance if they are found in violation of the mandates. Districts failing compliance will get two notices and 20 days...

  • Pullman considers creating municipal court

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 2, 2021

    PULLMAN - The Pullman city council reviewed information about ending a contract with Whitman County District Court to make a municipal court. "It's something they have been thinking about off and on for some time," said Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy. Last year a study was done on the benefits and costs of creating a municipal court by consultant Anne Pflug. She was assisted by Washington State University student Megan Parks, who created a similar report on Aug. 24. Municipal courts...

  • Former Colfax fire chief dies doing what he loved

    Bill Stevenson, Whitman County Gazette|Sep 2, 2021

    COLFAX — Jim Krouse was on his fourth emergency call of the day when the former Colfax fire chief collapsed from an apparent heart attack. "Krouse was like a kid in a candy store" when he was driving a fire tender to a roughly 12 acre wildfire on Green Hollow Road. He was pulling a hose when he collapsed, said Assistant Fire Chief Craig Corbeill. He died despite receiving CPR and being immediately taken to Whitman Hospital, according to Pullman Fire Public Department Information Office Glenn J...

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