Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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SPOKANE — Spokane County’s chief financial officer is out of a job. After more than a decade as the Whitman County administrative director and just two years as Spokane County’s chief financial officer, Gary Petrovich is unemployed. He was fired in November by the county commission — which includes Commissioners Al French, Mary Kuney and Josh. The county declined to discuss the reason for his termination....
As a youngster, I looked forward to Christmas. I loved the food, the traditions and especially the presents — what kid doesn’t? In high school and college, the luster subsided. As a wrestler, Christmas was a time for fasting so I didn’t have to move up a weight class. I dreaded running extra bleachers, doing additional up-downs and all the “fat man” jokes from teammates. Christmas would become just one of those “OK” holidays for me after college. As a journalist, I would be lucky to have the d...
REARDAN - Colfax, Garfield-Palouse and Tekoa-Rosalia opened their 2022-23 high school wrestling seasons Thursday, Dec. 1, at the annual Reardan Takedown Jamboree. Team scores were not kept at the event designed as a tune-up for the season, with high schoolers taking the mat for one-minute bouts in an effort to be the first to takedown opponents three times. For Tekoa-Rosalia, Joshua "Matthew" Gamez went undefeated at160 pounds, scoring 6 takedowns while only giving up two. Without any opponents...
It seems like every time you open a webpage, turn on the TV or listen to the radio, you’re bombarded with negativity. We’re on the verge of nuclear war. The recession is upon us. Inflation is high. Every storm is “historic.” Race-based politics are invading every inch of our educational system and lives. And if that’s not enough, the 2024 election season has already begun. It’s enough to get you down, and keep you there. But cheer up. You have plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Here in...
OAKESDALE - The defending 1B girls volleyball state champion Nighthawks spiked a familiar opponent Thursday night, Nov. 3, downing league rival St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse in three sets. Set scores were 25-10, 25-8 and 25-7. "Tonight, they played really, really good volleyball. It was fun to watch them," Coach McKinzie Turner said of her team. "They were just playing their Nighthawk volleyball. They were aggressive defensively; they were aggressive offensively. "It was just fun to watch them."...
SPANGLE - Liberty boys football team took time before the District 6/7 crossover game to tell a local woman she's not alone in her fight with cancel. Prior to the start of the Friday night, Nov. 4, game, Liberty Athletic Director Kyle Dodge presented Dianna Harrington with a football all of the players had signed. The ball also contained a short note of support: "NO ONE FIGHTS ALONE." After the presentation, Harrington received several words of encouragement and hugs from players, coaches and...
SPANGLE - Sometimes, a football game is decided solely on turnovers. Such was the case Friday night, Nov. 4, when the Liberty Lancers held off the visiting Lake Roosevelt Raiders, 15-6, to advance to the state 2B football playoffs. With a cold, steady rain and a muddy filed, the District 6/7 crossover proved to be a defensive battle, with little offense on both sides of the ball. Two Raider fumbles and an incepted Lancer pass made the difference in the game. The first quarter was a hard slog in...
YAKIMA – The Northeast 2B girls volleyball teams competing at state all advanced to the state quarterfinals with wins this morning, Thursday, Nov. 10, in the Yakima Valley SunDome. Lind-Ritzville/Sprague/Washtucna/Harrington swept the previously undefeated Goldendale Timberwolves. Colfax swept Granger. And Liberty (Spangle) won, 3-1, over Brewster. The Broncos hit the court at 8 a.m. Initially, they fell behind the Timberwolves. But down 14-7, Coach Cari Galbreath called her girls into a h... Full story
YAKIMA - The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague/Washtucna/Harrington girls avenged a district loss to Liberty (Spangle) this morning, Friday, Nov. 11, by eliminating the Lancers from the state 2B volleyball tournament in the Yakima Valley SunDome. The Broncos swept their league rival, 25-15, 25-17, 25-23. "It's so exciting to be able to redeem ourselves after losing to them in the district tournament," Broncos Coach Cari Galbreath said. "But it's also awesome to have two teams here from the same district...
SPOKANE – Incumbent Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers was easily out-distancing her challenger Tuesday night, Nov. 8, in her 5th Congressional District re-election bid. At the end of the first night of counting in the general election, McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, had amassed 107,971 votes (58.94%). She led every county in the district. Meanwhile, Democratic challenger Natasha Hill of Spokane was a distant second with 74,839 votes (40.85%). The two are vying to be the representative of W... Full story
SUNNYSIDE – Despite being censured by most Republican committees in the 4th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Dan Newhouse appears headed toward re-election. Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, had a commanding lead over Democratic challenger Doug White after the first round of counting in the Nov. 8 general elections. Newhouse is one 10 Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump following the Jan. 6 Capitol protest. As a result of his failure to support the president, Republican central...
PASCO – Local farm girl turned political newcomer Tiffany Smiley securely has all 20 of Eastern Washington's counties in her corner. In fact, she had the lead in 27 of the state's 39 counties in the Tuesday, Nov. 8, general election. Yet, she was still losing to career politician Patty Murray, D-Shoreline. Smiley, a Pasco Republican, trailed Murray after the first night of counting in the general election. Murray had 980,199 votes (56.92%); Smiley had 738,618 votes (42.89%). Smiley was unable t...
ROSALIA – It was a Homecoming to remember, both on and off the field. The Tekoa-Rosalia Timberwolves football team had its best game of the season, topping the Lakeside (Plummer, Idaho) Knights, 74-40, on Friday night, Nov. 28. But it wasn't the score that made Homecoming memorable. On the field, it was junior Isaac Bone's nine touchdowns for the Timberwolves (2-5). Off the field, it was a melee that broke out in the parking lot with 4:33 left on the game clock. Officials on the field called t...
OAKESDALE – The defending 1B girls volleyball state champion Nighthawks spiked a familiar opponent Thursday night, Nov. 3, downing league rival St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse in three sets. Set scores were 25-10, 25-8 and 25-7. "Tonight, they played really, really good volleyball. It was fun to watch them," Coach McKinzie Turner said of her team. "They were just playing their Nighthawk volleyball. They were aggressive defensively; they were aggressive offensively. "It was just fun to watch them." Th...
PASCO – Local farm girl turned political newcomer Tiffany Smiley securely has all 20 of Eastern Washington’s counties in her corner. In fact, she had the lead in 27 of the state’s 39 counties in the Tuesday, Nov. 8, general election. Yet, she was still losing to career politician Patty Murray, D-Shoreline. Smiley, a Pasco Republican, trailed Murray after the first night of counting in the general election. Murray had 980,199 votes (56.92%); Smiley had 738,618 votes (42.89%). Late-arriving ballots will continue to be counted over the next two we...
FAIRFIELD – Excessive speed and possibly alcohol are believed to be factors in a crash here that killed a Latah man late Saturday evening, Oct. 8. Anthony J. Silva, 27, of Latah, was pronounced dead at the scene at the intersection of State Highway 27 and Main Street, the Washington State Patrol reported. The crash occurred about 8:19 p.m., the patrol reported. Silva was northbound in a 2005 Mini Cooper at an “excessive speed,” the patrol reported. Jeffrey W. Gunderson, 56, of Potlatch, Idaho, was turning southbound onto the highway from Main...
LaCROSSE – Three people were transported to a Colfax hospital on Friday, Sept. 7, following a crash on State Highway 26 about 4 miles west of town. Kaitlyn R. Harris, 18, of Tacoma, Shaniah Roberts, 18, of Lakewood, and Joyce M. Kubitza, 90, of Blaine, were all taken to Whitman County Memorial Hospital following the 1:26 p.m. crash, the Washington State Patrol reported. Thomas L. Duman, 67, of Craigmont, Idaho, escaped injury. According to the patrol, Harris was westbound in a 2016 Toyota Corolla when she attempted to pass another vehicle a...
Six-man football. I’d never heard of it before mid-August. When I played football, it was the traditional, 11-man variety. Heck, I didn’t even know there was anything else. Playing for Kiona-Benton, my team always had more than enough players to have mostly different players on offense and defense. But over the last few years, I’ve learned about – and developed an appreciation for – 8-man football. Along with it, I’ve gained a lot of respect for the athletes playing both sides of the ball. As mo...
SPANGLE – The Liberty Lancers leaped into the football rankings this week with a resounding 47-6 win over the Colfax Bulldogs on Friday, Sept. 17. The Lancers (3-0) moved up to No. 3 in the state Class 2B rankings after the win. And they are tied for first place in the NE2B with Jenkins (Chewelah) and Davenport. "I think we played the best team in the league tonight," Bulldogs Coach Mike Morgan said after the loss. "They certainly proved that." Morgan said the Lancers have "more tools than we k...
CHENEY – Turkey hunting is coming to Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge in the fall of 2023. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials are opening 1,883 acres in the Long Lake Unit of the refuge for hunting four days per week during the fall turkey season, from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 beginning next year. The Long Lake Unit is located east of Mullenix Road, south of the city. The new Turnbull hunt would align with state and federal hunting laws, officials said. And hunting would be by r...
Last week, Fairchild Air Force announced it was erasing Col. George Wright because the history surrounding him is considered by some divisive. In place of his name being associated with a housing area and street, the military opted for “Lilac Village” and “Willow Loop,” respectively. The move comes two years after Spokane canceled the highly decorated Army leader, as well – Fort George Wright Drive was renamed Whistalks Way, in recognition of the wife of Spokane tribal warrior Qualchan....
EWAN – A fire that broke out Thursday afternoon was in patrol status on Monday, Aug. 22. The Wagner Road Fire broke out at about 2:04 p.m. Aug. 18 and grew to nearly 800 acres by late Thursday evening, officials said. The blaze was burning in dry grass, and in stubble and active wheat fields. The dry grass and brush was taller than two feet, officials said, noting in many areas the height exceeded 4 feet. That night the fire flared up and grew to about 7,000 acres, officials said. As of Monday, state fire officials estimated the blaze at 7...
ST. JOHN – Several families are combining their stage skills for three performances of "The Pirates of the Penzance" this coming Friday and Saturday. Directed by Eastern Washington University student Dominic Treis of St. John, the free performances will take place at Eccles Community Hall, 9752 state Highway 23. Show times are 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. Sound is being managed by Ken Treis. Jackie Widhalm and Danielle Treis handled costumes, while D...
ST.JOHN – The 2022 Webb’s Slough sprint boat season wraps up Saturday, Aug. 27. The race is the second and final of the season in Whitman County. But it’s not the only thing happening. Thousands of campers are expected to file into the community beginning Thursday for a weekend of food, fun, camping and racing. Camping opens at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Webb’s Slough race site, Those planning on camping for the weekend should arrive during daylight hours. There is a fee to camp. Although racing begins at 10 a.m. Saturday (gates open at 9 a.m.),...
CHENEY – The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has suspended the fishing limits for Williams Lake in preparation for poisoning the lake with rotenone. The unlimited daily retention will run through Oct. 9 for all gamefish, officials said. The lake will close Oct. 10 through April 21 for application of piscicide rotenone, a naturally occurring poison is used to remove species Fish and Wildlife officials deem undesirable or illegally stocked. The 317-acre is stocked annually by the d...
