Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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Over the last several decades, many journalists saw hometown community columns as quaint links to how newspapers once operated. But with few journalists left in the Pacific Northwest applying for jobs since the COVID-19 shutdowns two-and-a-half years ago, we’re hoping to revive the idea of publishing content from local community correspondents — no formal training needed. We’re looking for volunteer correspondents who like to tell the world what’s going on in their part of the world on a regul...
SPOKANE – A Rosalia man was sentenced Tuesday, Aug. 2, to 10 years in federal prison in a child-pornography case. Philip Mario Harhill, 74, of Rosalia, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Washington for coercion and enticement of a minor, U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref said. U.S. Senior District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson sentenced Harthill to 120 months to be followed by a life term of supervised release, records show. Peterson emphasized that “the damage to children” caused by Harthill’s crimes is very “r...
COLFAX – Several outdoorsmen and Eastern Washington county commissioners are expected to take the state Fish and Wildlife Commission to task during its three-day meeting this weekend. Northeast Washington Wildlife Group spokesman Dale Magart said Tuesday afternoon that the meeting "might be interesting." Several outdoorsmen and Eastern Washington commissioners active in the Eastern Washington Council of Governments are expected to speak Friday during the public input portion of the the Fish a...
The back roads of the Palouse are beautiful this time of year. But there’s a lot more to see if you traverse them on a motorcycle. A couple weeks back, after looking at the cost of gas and the weather forecast, I rode my Harley-Davidson to work for the first time this summer. I don’t have a fancy bike; it’s a simple Sportster – no flashy chrome, no windshield or fairing, no saddlebags. It’s kind of a modern day version of the iconic Triumphs James Dean and Marlon Brando rode decades ago. Usua...
“But the Constitution does not authorize agencies to use pen-and-phone regulations as substitutes for laws…” U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wrote that and more in his 19-page concurring opinion in the West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (Case No. 20-1530). The Supreme Court ruled, 6-3, that the EPA cannot create over-reaching “laws” that bound entire industries; the ruling was released Thursday morning, June 30. The leftwing champions of so-called “climate change” reg...
Like the old Olympia beer commercials used to say, “I seen ‘em.” No, I’m not talking about “them there artesians” brewing beer in Washington state. I’m talking about “Squatch,” Sasquatch, Bigfoot. He was alive and well in Metaline Falls this past weekend at the annual Bigfoot Festival. The region’s most ardent Bigfoot believers headed to up the Pend Oreille River to investigate Sasquatch evidence, meet the “experts” and hobnob with likeminded individuals. I tagged along for a day. I was sure I...
TEKOA - Nearly 50 people turned out Sunday morning, June 5, for the reopening of the historic Tekoa Trestle. The John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders Association crossed the span in the pouring rain and were greeted by Washington State Parks officials. The heavy rain prompted officials to plan a quick ribbon cutting, with association President Tom Short cutting the ribbon, followed by ceremonial cuttings by parks staff. As the rain picked up, the dedication ceremony moved to the Tekoa Community...
Hundreds of people braved the cold rain Saturday morning, June 18, to participate in the annual Slippery Gulch celebration in Tekoa. The event included two parades, a truck and tractor show, games, an Egg Toss and more. Above, 5-year-old Driggs Sexton of St. Maries, Idaho, awaits his airborne egg. At right, this year's champions are Shelby and Joey Dickinson of Spokane....
COLFAX— Despite record high fuel prices, Whitman County motorists are spending less money on gasoline and diesel than across much of the state. This morning, GasBuddy.com reported the average price for a gallon of gasoline at a new record level of $5.51 per gallon in Washington State. That’s the fifth-highest price in the nation. Drivers in Washington state are paying an average of 53 cents more per gallon than the rest of the country. Washington state’s fuel tax is 49.4 cents per gallon, in additional to national and other taxes. Despite the r...
LIND – With names like "General Lee," "Let's Go Branden" and "The Bandit," politics were on full-display Saturday along state Highway 21. Dozens of "Trump Country," Trump 2024" and patriotic flags flew along the highway as motorists honked and waved entering town. Anti-President Joe Biden flags waved from high atop farm combines, pickups and campers. But it wasn't the anti-Biden sentiment that brought thousands of people to town, it was the 33rd annual running of the Lind Combine Derby in the f...
The Colfax Bulldogs girls fastpitch softball team received several honors for its season. Jorja Koerner, left, was named NE2B Co-MVP, and Tracy Imler, center, was named Coach of the Year. Earning All-League honors are Delaney Imler, second from left, Harper Booth, second from right, and Justice Brown, right....
LIND – A couple Whitman County entries are listed among the competitors in the annual Combine Derby this weekend. Two day of thrills will dominate Lind on Friday and Saturday, June 10-11, as the annual Combine Derby returns after a two-year hiatus. Most of the combines come from Adams County, but there are entries from Hooper and LaCrosse. And a couple of the combines have drivers from Western Washington. “It’s a good time,” Lind Lion’s Club member and derby spokesman Mike Doyle of Lind said Monday. “You’ll never experience the action and th...
Progress. Sustainability. Resiliency. Growth. Recovery. Those were among the buzz words tossed about Tuesday morning during the Live Local Palouse Program at The Center in downtown Colfax. The program brought together a handful of business leaders, non-profit organization volunteers and employees and representatives of the state Department of Commerce and other organizations to discuss what the future of Colfax looks like. It was a good program that too many local business and community leaders...
COLFAX - Cold, blustery weather added to the somber mood Monday, May 30, as communities across Whitman County and the nation paused in observance of Memorial Day. In Colfax, nearly 50 people turned out to pay their respects during a Serviceof Honor and Remembrance for the service men and women who have given their lives protecting American freedoms. Veteran Jim Lemon and managed the program at the Colfax Cemtery. Rev. Robert Ingalls offered a prayer for veterans and their families. And Craig...
CHENEY - The Oakesdale girls track and field team paced Whitman County at the state 1B/2B/1A meet at Eastern Washington University from May 26-28. In 1B competition, the Nighthawks girls finished fifth with 49 team points. Pope John Paul II won the girls division with 73 points. Meanwhile, Garfield-Palouse girls were 10th with 31 points and St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse tied for 12th with 21 points. In boys 1B, St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse and Garfield-Palouse tied for seventh with 33 team points.Oak...
TEKOA — Local elementary school students will present their version of “Beauty and the Beast” on stage at Empire Theatre on Tuesday, May 31, and Wednesday, June 1. “We’ve been working very hard for months,” 12-year-old actress Aislinn Gamble said. “I’m Bobette, the feather duster.” According to Gamble, the play features students in third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade; she’s a sixth-grader. The play is being directed by Mrs. Mendoza, who also designed the costumes. Mrs. Schultz has been as...
COLFAX — Three members of the Colfax Bulldogs baseball team have been named to the All-League Team. J.D. Peterson and Braden Plummer were selected for 1st Team All-League. Mason Gilchrist was selected for 2nd Team All-League. Zach Bowman of Jenkins (Chewelah) was named as the league’s Most Valuable Player....
RITZVILLE —The Colfax track teams finished second Tuesday, May 10, in the Northeast 2B-South championships at Ritzville High School. Reardan won both the boys and girls divisions. Reardan topped the boys division with 138 team points, followed by Colfax with 123. In the girls division, Reardan racked up 160 team points, followed by Colfax with 137....
RITZVILLE — The St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse Eagles had several athletes among the top competitors in the 1B District 7&9 boys meet Wednesday, May 11. Junior Logan Marconi took second in the 800-meter in 2:13.67 and fourth in the 1,600-meter in 5:06.89. Senior Ryan Anderson and junior Rory Maloney finished second and third, respectively in both the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter low hurdles. Anderson’s times were 18.08 seconds and 45:67; Maloney finished in 18.40 and 46.01. The four also combined to win the boys 4X400 relay in a tim...
RITZVILLE - A Colfax High School senior isn't letting his physical disability get in the way of his track career. Jonathan Kinley scored 40 points for the Bulldogs in the Tuesday, May 10, Northeast 2B-South championship ambulatory track meet at Ritzville High School. He brought home four first-place finishes in the ambulatory division. Kinley completed the 100-meter in 24.9 seconds and the 200-meter in 55.20 seconds. In field events, Kinley tossed the 12-pound shot a distance of 10-06.75 in...
ROSALIA - The Tekoa-Rosalia girls fastpitch softball team wrapped up itsseason, dropping four straight games. The Timberwolves were swept by the Liberty Christian Patriots on Thursday, May 5, at home. Then lost a doubleheader to cross-county rival, Garfield-Palouse (story on Page B1). In the opener against Liberty Christian, hot bats put the Patriots up 4-0 in the first inning. The girls from Richland added 3 more in the top of the 2nd. And the scoring continued. Down 11-0 in the bottom of the...
COLFAX - The No. 4-seeded Colfax Bulldogs boys baseball team advanced to the District semifinal game Tuesday, May 6, after eliminating Kettle Falls from the postseason. The local Bulldogs topped the No. 5-seeded northern Bulldogs, 9-1, to advance. Individual statistics were not available by press time. The local boys were scheduled to play the Jenkins (Chewelah) Cougars in the 4 p.m., semifinal. The top-ranked Cougars topped the No. 8-seeded Davenport Gorillas to advance. The results of the...
I’ve never been a fan of the new ban on plastic bags and straws in our state. Subconsciously, I always knew it was a designed scheme to get more money out of people shopping in stores or having a beverage at a gas station or fast food stop. As you know, the politicos in Seattle and Olympia said that wasn’t the case. They said it was necessary to help eliminate the number of plastic straws and bags along our roadways, ending up in our streams and plaguing our landfills. They said future bags wou...
Colfax freshman Zachary Cooper won the Northeast 2B league championship Tuesday afternoon, May 3, on his home field. The Bulldog boys finished third in the standings; while the local girls finished fifth. Full results were not available at press time and will be published in the May 12 edition of The Gazette. For Undeberg Invitational results, see Page B1....
RALSTON – A month after vetoing sections affirming local input into development of solar and wind farms, Gov. Jay Inslee tried last week to put a positive spin on his move. The governor spent part of Wednesday, April 20, at Rattlesnake Flats Wind Farm north of Washtucna, in the heart of the 9th Legislative District represented by Sen. Mark Schoesler, and Reps. Mary Dye and Joe Schmick. Inslee’s visit coincided with Earth Week. Rattlesnake Flats includes 57 wind turbines, according to Clearway En...
