Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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ST. JOHN - A long-time third generation St. John farmer and veteran was recognized for his service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, receiving a Quilt of Valor. Louis White, 91, of Spokane Valley, received a quilt honoring his time served from the Greater Spokane Valley Quilts of Valor group. Born and raised in St. John, Wash., White joined the United States Army ROTC program in college in 1952. "I graduated as a commission officer from Eastern Washington College of Education," said White,...
PALOUSE - Palouse Days is just around the corner bringing another year of community fun and camaraderie next weekend. A Kickoff Party with live music at the Palouse Caboose at 7 p.m. will set the weekend of fun into motion Friday, Sept. 12. Following Friday night music comes the Lion's Club annual pancake breakfast starting at 6:20 a.m. - 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 14, in Hayton Green Park, 102 Idaho Road. Starting at 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. attendees also have the chance to view the Palouse...
PALOUSE — Residents have come to the rescue of Shady Lane trees on Shady Lane being attacked by an infestation of Western Pine Beetles. Palouse City Administrator Misty La Follett said a couple of residents applied for a grant from the Department of Natural Resources to fight the pine beetles. Local residents, husband and wife, Al Pancoast and Kayla Johnston noticed Shady Lane trees were starting to die and contacted the city. Pancoast said the grant came out to just over $100,000 to restore the forest. “It’s a grant for the removal of dead...
COLFAX — A homeless Pullman who allegedly held a woman against her will pled not guilty to all charges in Superior Court. In a Superior Court arraignment Friday, Aug. 30, James S. Olson, 33, of Pullman pled not guilty to charges of domestic violence, residential burglary, third degree assault and a resisting arrest misdemeanor. Superior Court Judge Gary Libey, read the charges and accepted the state’s recommendation to sign a pre-trial no contact order. Libey said the pre-trial contact order requires Olson to not have any direct contact or ind...
COLFAX - The fair is just around the corner and another year of the annual Palouse Empire Threshing Bee is in the books, leaving a harvested field for trailers to park during fair festivities. Horses and teamsters gathered to bring history to the fairgrounds, Sunday, Sept. 1, as a crowd of people gathered around to watch. Palouse Threshing Bee Association Secretary Jessica Erickson said despite the heat, the morning harvest went well, with all their equipment working. "We got rained out last...
COLFAX — An Oregon man pled guilty during Superior Court, Friday, Aug. 30, to leading Whitman County Sheriff’s Deputies on a high speed car chase in Colfax. Gordon, Jr. Griffin, 41, of McMinnville, Ore., pled guilty to attempting to elude a police vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and possession of cocaine. Superior Court Judge Gary Libey said the state moved to dismiss the other charges of third-degree driving with a suspended license and two counts of first degree assault. According to public record, Whitman County She...
COLFAX — Students gear up for auditions for this fall’s production of the musical ‘Hello Dolly.’ Musical Advisor Cary Cammack is teaming up with new music teacher Emily Bopp to set up high school auditions occurring 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 3. Cammack said that no elementary students are involved in the show this year. “That’s an oldie but a goodie,” Superintendent Jerry Pugh said at the Colfax School Board District meeting Monday, Aug. 26. “It’s happened before and so we’re excited about that.” ‘Hello Dolly,’ is a musical about a strong-wi...
COLFAX - The annual Palouse Threshing Bee is coming back another round of harvesting, featuring new and old machines to celebrate farming history. The Threshing Bee is taking place the weekend before the fair, Sunday, Sept. 1. "The Threshing should be up and running about 10 a.m.," said Co-Organizer Eric Reiber. Reiber said a no-host lunch of shredded roast beef sandwiches, pasta salad, baked beans and cookies which will take place at the community building at the fairgrounds. "We'll stop...
COLFAX — The Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics Board of Commissioners discussed upcoming hydroseeding for the RV park at the Wednesday, Aug. 21, meeting. Board President Georgie Leinweber updated the board on building and grounds, reporting that the hillside of the RV park will be hydroseed in late September. The RV park is is designated for Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics (WHMC) employees, agency staff, patients and the patients family while they are in the hospital. Reservations are required to stay and stays are limited to 16 w...
COLFAX — Board members discussed several topics ranging from safety, bus bids, budgeting and policies during the Colfax School District Board meeting Monday, Aug. 26. Superintendent Jerry Pugh reported to the board he continued to meet with the emergency management to plan for community-wide safety control. “Next summer we’re going to do an in-depth table top exercise in February,” Pugh said, noting all the district windows and doors are now numbered except for the second story of the high school. “Elementary is done throughout,” said Pugh....
COLFAX - The Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics experienced an operating loss of $1,042,000, due to lower patient intake during the harvest season this summer. Board Commissioner Kathy Wride reported the finance committee meetings to board commissioners at the Wednesday, Aug. 21, board meeting. Wride said that cash disbursements for July came to $5,930,342.70, noting two payments came through, normally only getting individual months. "An extra $330,000 did get through there, and then health...
COLFAX - New teachers introduced themselves to Colfax School District Board members at the district school board meeting Aug. 26. Emily Bopp, the new Kindergarten through 12 grade choir teacher introduced herself first. Bopp originally from Spokane, said she moved to Pullman after finishing her Master's Degree in Musicology. "The elementary went great today," Bopp told board members. Kindel Evanoff, the new Transitional Kindergarten teacher stood up to introduce herself as the second new hire...
PULLMAN — A homeless Pullman man faces several charges after allegedly holding a woman against her will. According to reports, Whitcom dispatched and officer for an order violation 9:17 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 25, to an apartment at 1590 Northeast Northwood Drive. It was reported that Katherine Gunn, 39, called to report her friend Melena R. Powers, 37, was being held against her will by James S. Olson, 33, of Pullman. Pullman Officer Mike Leggett reported Gunn said Powers had a no-contact order against Olson and Olson was keeping Powers locked i...
COLFAX — The Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics Board of Commissioners discussed new services to be offered, including wound care and nuclear medicine, during the Wednesday, Aug. 21, regular hospital board meeting. Chief Nursing Officer Bill Bryant told hospital commissioners that the wound care is close to a start, and will be offering services Monday, Sept. 9. “We’re very close to our start, we did have to push back a couple of weeks,” said Bryant, noting the delay was the result of implementing, Epic, a software which inputs data for the...
COLFAX - The local Kiwanis Club stuffed the bus for several schools throughout the county this year. Colfax Kiwanis Service Project Manager, Sara Golden said the drive brought in $10,000 this year, including the drive and donations. According to Golden, the club was able to provide supplies for schools including Garfield, Endicott, St. John and Steptoe. "Rosauers brought in $1,806," Golden said. The club helped get school back up and running supplying backpacks at the school during the Back to...
COLFAX - An abundance of apple sauce gave kids the chance to test out their baking skills Wednesday, Aug. 14. The Colfax branch of the Whitman County Library, Council on Aging Human Services Nutrition and the Colfax Pantry teamed together with local youth baking delicious cakes. While the cakes were baked kids were given coloring pages and played BINGO. "Baking is a lot of hand on fun for kids," said Colfax local Lauren Olin, "Hopefully it will be delicious too." Olin's two kids participated,...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Commissioners signed an interlocal agreement with the Benton County Coroner’s Office during the Monday, Aug. 19, regular meeting. Whitman County Commissioner Tom Handy moved to sign the cooperative agreement with Benton County to use facilities. “It’s a great idea that you’re willing to sign it,” said Whitman County Coroner Annie Pillars. “This allows us another place to have autopsies. We need better options, so thank you for that.” The Interlocal agreement was moved and seconded for Whitman County Coroner’s offic...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Commissioners spoke with Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers concerning an increase in fees to obtain body camera footage during the Monday, Aug. 19 regular meeting. Whitman County Commissioner Art Swannack clarified that it was a notice of hearing for making a resolution and asked Myers to explain. “We spend a great deal of time filling public records requests at the Sheriff’s Office, and there is very little way to recoup any sort of cost associated with those,” said Myers. Myers said body cameras require a lot of...
COLFAX - An escaped Idaho inmate waived his rights to extradition during Whitman County Superior Court Friday, Aug. 16, and was taken back into Idaho Department of Corrections Custody. Wayland Savage, 34, was booked into Whitman County Jail on Tuesday, Aug. 13, for charges of first-degree escape. According to reports, Aug. 13, Savage walked off the University of Idaho campus from Theophilus Tower around 4:40 p.m., while working on prison-staffed cleaning crew. Moscow Police, Pullman Police and...
PULLMAN - The National Lentil Festival presents another year of locally-grown lentil fun this weekend. Festivities will start at 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, with the Downtown Vibes event, hosted by the Downtown Pullman Association. Downtown Vibes will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the parking lot located at 150 Southeast Kamiaken. The event will feature live entertainment, including Classic Rewind, Ally Fraser, DJ Goldfinger and WSU Country Swing. There will be a lentil hunt with a map to...
ROSALIA - The Rosalia Parks and Recreation Board recognized Isaac Fuchs for completing his Eagle Scout project, a display that posts the boards notifications to all visitors. District 5 Vice Chair of the Rosalia Park Board Kelley Messinger said Fuch's display holds all of the Rosalia Parks and Recreation board's notifications on present and upcoming activities. "It turned out amazing. Congratulations Isaac on a job well done," said Messinger. "We would also like to give a big thank you to...
COLFAX — Local pharmacy Tick Klock Drug is taking on several St. John Pharmacy customers after the business’s unexpected closure. The pharmacy located at 18 Front Street in St. John was owned and operated by Michelle Welch. Tick Klock Drug owner Nathan Johnson said that he knew the St. John Pharmacy was thinking about closing and the owner got in contact with them to see if they wanted to help with the transition. “We purchased her files and inventory, so all the prescriptions were sent to us,” Johnson said, noting that they currently have al...
COLFAX — Residents of North Palouse Road are asking questions concerning the conditions and upkeep of a Colfax road past McDonald Park. Local John Ward said that 11 residents of North Palouse Road went to the Colfax City Council meeting on Monday, July 8, to raise their concerns to council members. Public Works Director Matt Hammer confirmed that the road was annexed by the City of Colfax from Whitman County in 2008. “They assumed the responsibility of maintaining that road and they just don’t maintain it,” said Ward. According to Ward, t...
FARMINGTON — Results for the two Farmington levies on this year’s Primary Election ballot have taken a turn, going up in votes in favor. The results from the Friday, Aug. 9, ballot count put Farmington’s Proposition No. 1 Resolution 421-24, to finance streets, up two votes in favor. Tabulation left the vote at 33 yes, 51.56%. There were 31 votes for no, 48.44%. The second levy on the ballot from Farmington concerning the current expense fund of the town, Proposition 2, Resolution 421-24, also saw a spike in votes by seven votes. As of the A...
PULLMAN - A family home was damaged by fire on the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 9. Pullman firefighters responded to the call at approximately 4 p.m. at the single-family home located at 425 Northwest Darrow Street. According to a report by Pullman Fire District Public Information Officer, Glenn Johnson, firefighters saw smoke pouring from the broken windows on the second floor and immediately called in a second alarm for additional personnel. Assistant Chief Ryan Scharnhorst reported that Pullman...
