Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 384
PALOUSE — The garden above the Tony Kettel Skate Garden is set to undergo significant transformations over the next three weeks, and the Garden Transformation Team is calling on community volunteers to help bring these plans to life. “We have some ambitious goals for the garden, and we’re hoping to rally as many volunteers as possible to make it happen,” said Nicole Flansburg, co-chair of the Garden Transformation Team. Work began on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 8 a.m., when volunteers replanted the fire-damaged bed and reinstalled drip irrigat...
MOSCOW — The Humane Society of the Palouse is once again teaming up with the City of Moscow Parks and Recreation to host the annual Howling at Hamilton, a canine-focused fundraiser set to take place on Sunday, Sept. 8. The event will be held at the Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center, located at 830 N. Mountain View Road, and will run from 1 to 6 p.m. Howling at Hamilton began in 2008 and has become a beloved tradition for local dog owners and their furry companions. According to the Humane Society of the Palouse, over 340 dogs attended last y...
WASHTUCNA — A petition seeking the release of Henry Bley from the Washington State Penitentiary was filed 127 years ago, regarding the infamous double-homicide of the Moritz brothers. According to the Weekly Commoner, a predecessor to the Whitman County Gazette, dated Friday, August 20, 1897, Bley, who had been imprisoned for nine years, was connected to the infamous Moritz brothers’ murders, and filed a petition for his freedom. “This piece of criminal history is highlighted by the vigorous efforts which are now being made by citizens of Wa...
PULLMAN — The Pullman School Board met to discuss many agenda items, including budget status, Washington State graduation requirements and more. The Pullman School Board convened on Wednesday, Aug. 14, in the Paul R. Sturm Community Room at Pullman High School. The meeting began at 6:30 p.m., led by Board President Nathan Roberts, and was attended by Vice President Amanda Tanner, Director Arron Carter, Superintendent Bob Maxwell, Assistant Superintendent Roberta Kramer, Finance Director Diane Hodge, and Executive Director of Operations Joe T...
TEKOA — Tekoa School Board is set to meet to discuss multiple action items including budgeting and hiring new staff members before the 2024-2025 school year begins Tuesday, Sept. 3. The Tekoa School District Board of Directors held a regular meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 6 p.m. at the Tekoa School District Office. The agenda for this meeting, which occurred after press time for this publication of the Whitman County Gazette, included several key items. The consent agenda, according to the agenda, covered the approval of various financial r...
PALOUSE — In response to recent concerns over a chemical monitoring violation notice, Palouse Mayor Tim Sievers has issued a letter reassuring residents of the safety of the city’s water supply. The notice, which was emailed to the community, indicated a “Chemical Monitoring Violation” due to the city’s failure to submit several required water samples in 2022. Mayor Tim Sievers clarified in his letter that the violation was solely related to the failure to report and not due to any exceeding of contaminant levels in the water. “This hap...
COLFAX — The final results from this month’s primary election in Washington have been tallied, revealing key outcomes across various races and measures. However, a mandatory recount will soon take place in one key contest. In Whitman County, voter turnout for the primary was 42.62%, with a total of 9,690 ballots counted out of 22,735 registered voters. The final certification of these results for Whitman County occurred Tuesday, Aug. 20, setting the stage for the general election in November. According to Whitman County Auditors office, these a...
COLFAX — In response to growing concerns about scams, the Council on Aging and Human Services is hosting a Fraud Prevention Seminar at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22. The event will be held at 121 North Main Street, Colfax. The seminar aims to help individuals, particularly seniors, protect themselves from fraud. “We were asked by some senior clients for such a thing because they are running into a lot of scam calls and emails,” said Paige Collins, Executive Director of the Council on Aging and Human Services. Collins noted that even those who...
Hello, Whitman County! After a brief hiatus, during which I had the opportunity to temporarily take over as editor for the Lincoln County Record-Times in Davenport, I am excited to be back and reconnect with the community. As I step into what promises to be a transformative time in my life, I find myself on the brink of one of the most significant milestones yet—graduation. This final semester at the University of Idaho has arrived, and with it comes the thrilling and slightly daunting task o...
COLFAX — On September 21, 1932, three notorious criminals—George “Machine Gun” Kelly, Albert Bates, and Edward “Eddie” Bentz—executed a daring robbery at the First Savings & Trust Bank. The gang stole $71,605 in cash and securities, which, adjusted for inflation, would be equivalent to approximately $1,643,988.08 today. This represents a staggering increase of $1,572,383.08 over 92 years. The heist began around 2:30 p.m. when the armed men stormed the bank located at 102 North Main Street, a sturdy two-story building with a flat roof and front...
GARFIELD — The Garfield-Palouse School District will hold its regular school board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. The meeting will be in-person and accessible via Zoom, allowing for broader community participation. The agenda will begin with introductions and opportunities for attendees to address the board. Following this, any changes to the agenda will be discussed. The consent agenda includes several important items, such as the approval of accounts payable across various funds, the ratification of the 2024-2025 o...
PULLMAN — A man has been charged with multiple felonies in connection to the alleged rape of a child. Davis Eneas, 33, faces charges in Whitman County Superior Court, including second-degree rape, child rape and indecent liberties. The investigation began last April after Pullman Police responded to a domestic violence incident. Detectives now believe that Eneas assaulted an underage girl. Currently held in Spokane County Jail on a separate matter, Eneas is awaiting transfer to Whitman County to face these charges. Authorities have noted t...
PULLMAN — The City Council convened on Tuesday, August 13, to review financial updates and discuss significant resolutions affecting the city’s future. During the meeting, Council members received an overview of the city’s revenue sources. Intergovernmental funds constitute 37% of the revenue, while grants have recently been successful, their sustainability still needs to be determined. Contract services with institutions such as Pullman School District, Spokane Falls Community College and others contribute 34% of the city’s revenue. Miscellane...
PULLMAN — Pullman Village Centre Cinemas will permanently close its doors on Thursday, Sept. 5, after 21 years of serving the Pullman community. The theater’s closure is due to mounting financial pressures, including the city’s admissions tax, rising property taxes and the escalating costs associated with Washington state’s minimum wage laws. In a press release, the theater cited these economic challenges as significant factors in its decision to shut down. Despite the closure, moviegoers from Pullman will still have options nearby. Village...
COLFAX — Whitman County Public Health has issued a health advisory following the detection of a harmful algal bloom along the stretch of the Snake River. This advisory was prompted by a water sample taken on Friday, Aug. 16, near Granite Point, which tested positive for microcystins, a liver toxin. The harmful algal bloom has been identified intermittently in the Snake River stretch between Nisqually John Landing and Little Goose Dam. Additional testing will be conducted in the coming weeks to determine the full extent of the bloom. R...
OLYMPIA - Gray wolves will stay listed as endangered in Washington following a tight 5-4 vote by the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission. Despite a significant increase in the gray wolf population over the past 15 years, with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reporting at least 260 wolves in 42 packs, the decision was made to retain their endangered status. The Commission's virtual meeting on Friday, July 19, also covered changes to cougar hunting regulations. New...
COLTON — Swift action from helicopter crews on Tuesday, July 9, prevented a fire in the Snake River Canyon in southern Whitman County from growing. Volunteer firefighters from Whitman County Fire District 14, based in Colton-Uniontown, and Asotin County Fire District 1, based in Clarkston, responded to the fire around 3 p.m. The fire ignited just east of Red Wolf Bridge near the Port of Wilma. Two helicopters from Leading Edge Aviation, stationed at the port, immediately began water drops on the fire. Additional helicopters from the W...
ROSALIA — Hot temperatures caused three buckles on U.S. Highway 195 south of Rosalia on Tuesday, July 8. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), all the ruptures occurred near the Horn School Rest Area. “The maintenance crews in Area 2, Whitman County and surrounding counties, got a report of the road buckling on U.S. Highway 195 into the Horn School Rest Area,” said Public Information Officer Joe McHale, of the WSDOT Eastern Region office in Spokane. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews...
COLFAX — Washington State University, (WSU) Eastern Washington University, (EWU) Spokane Falls Community College, (SFCC) Spokane Community College (SCC) and Gonzaga University have announced their Dean’s List for the recent academic term, recognizing outstanding students from Whitman County for their academic achievements. The Dean’s List honors students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance by maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher. ALBION — Several Albion residents made the Dean’s List at Washington State University and Spoka...
PULLMAN — A Moscow teenager accused of starting the fire that destroyed a bridge on the popular trail between Pullman and Moscow has been found innocent. The 14-year-old was charged with arson in Whitman County Juvenile Court. According to court documents, the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office believed the boy started the wildfire last August, which spread to a bridge on the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail. Reports say two juveniles from Moscow, aged 13 and 14, allegedly started it. The two had been seen in the immediate area when the fire began. The...
COLFAX — A former social worker in Colfax has been sentenced to prison for coercing a woman into sexual acts in exchange for helping her regain custody of her children. In April, Robert Tarver, 35, was found guilty during his bench trial in Whitman County Superior Court. Judge George Fearing convicted him of felony receiving unlawful compensation with sexual motivation and perjury, but acquitted him of felony extortion. On Tuesday, July 9, Judge Fearing sentenced Tarver to 14 months in prison and three years of parole. Tarver is also r...
COLFAX — A long-lived legend remains along the shores of the Palouse River. The legend lives after 132 years in an article published in the Adams County Newspaper dated July 7, 1892.According to the article, E. K. Loyd, a local resident, made a grim discovery along the Palouse River. He was walking by the riverbank, one mile west of town, when something peculiar caught his eye. There, partially submerged in the mud, lay a pile of clothing, hinting at a dark and sinister story. Loyd’s curiosity led him to inspect the garments. The first ite...
OAKESDALE - Old Mill Days is right around the corner, with new excitement coming this weekend. The annual celebration kicks off on Friday, July 12, at the Oakesdale Muesem with Bingo, and a beer and wine garden in the evening. At 2 p.m., an open mic will be held on 2nd Street by the bus garage, inviting performers, singers, and others to perform. "It is to celebrate the old flour mill here in Oakesdale. It is going on this Friday and Saturday. On the 13th, we will have a parade, and the museum...
PULLMAN — Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics (WHMC) have been ranked by the Lown Institute as one of America’s most socially responsible hospitals, earning “A” grades in Equity, Value, and Outcomes on the 2024-25 Lown Institute Hospitals Index. Of the over 3,500 hospitals Lown evaluated, only 5% achieved honor roll status, and WHMC is among this elite group of high performers. On the social responsibility metric, WHMC ranked #1 out of 28 critical access hospitals in Washington and #3 nationally out of 806 hospitals. According to the Index,...
PULLMAN — The YMCA of the Palouse announced Tuesday, July 9, that it will disaffiliate from the YMCA and close its doors effective August 31. According to a press release from the YMCA, the organization has struggled with financial strain for several years due to rising minimum wages and operating costs. Reports say no viable alternatives to closing were found. “This is a difficult decision for all of us. The YMCA of the Palouse has been more than just a facility; it’s been a home, a place of learning, and a safe space for so many,” said Jo...
