Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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COLFAX — Whitman Hospital and Medical will continue to offer obstetrics services while working with the state to meet abortion requirements. In the public Whitman County Hospital District Commission meeting last night, Wednesday, March 20, four commissioners voted to continue obstetric services. Commissioner Kathy Wride abstained from the vote. The meeting took place in the administrative annex at the hospital. Only about 10 people were allowed; many of those seats were occupied by hospital employees, forcing the public outside. A hospital e...
COLFAX — The Colfax Kiwanis hosted its first successful annual Masquerade Ball on Sunday, March 10, with about 65 people turning out for the event. Colfax Kiwanis member Dan LeBeau said that the turnout was good and that the Club was able to raise approximately $5,000. “We don’t have all the totals yet, but we think it will be right around $5,000,” he said. LeBeau mentioned that most of the women dressed up in nice dresses and gowns. “Almost everybody brought their own masks,” he said. LeBeau said that the men’s apparel ranged from jeans an...
TEKOA — The City of Tekoa is planning a thrilling weekend with the chance to shop antiques, and a kid’s carnival coming up on Saturday, March 16. The Saturday will kick off with the Pot of Gold Shop Hop at 9 a.m. on March 16, a route that takes participants through towns across the Palouse to shop at antique and decor shops. Shop Hop organizer Susie Creger said it is the third year they’ve done the event. “It’s very popular, and everyone has a good time,” she said. Creger said that the event is designed to start from wherever participant...
GARFIELD - This year's Distinguished Young Women of Garfield-Palouse showcase will take place at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, in the Garfield School Auditorium with the theme of "Adventure Awaits." This year's participants are Hailey Beckner, daughter of Dave and Heather Beckner; Iris Turner, daughter of Forrest and Talya Turner; and Camryn Blankenchip, daughter of Clint and Shannon Blankenchip. This year's program offers over $8,000 in scholarships and participants are eligible for several...
COLFAX — The Colfax Downtown Association is moving forward with its restaurant incubator project, with an expected completion date in June of this year. The Association is collaborating with architectural firm, Hoist, of Palouse, and Magnum Construction, of Clarkston. “We’re confident this facility will be more than just a collection of restaurants; it’ll be a place where friends and family gather, and entrepreneurs will chase their goals while also promoting economic vitality,” states an association press release from Monday, March 11. An in...
PALOUSE - The City of Palouse met with citizens Thursday, March 7, at the Community Center to discuss updates to the St. Elmo Building project, with the unfortunate news that the building's structure is not salvageable. Haley and Aldrich, an environmental and geotechnical engineering consultant group from Spokane were present at the meeting to give updates on the building's structural integrity. According to Haley and Aldrich's technical memorandum, St. Elmo's building does not have adequate...
PALOUSE - Several Whitman County residents are speaking out against a proposed Harvest Hills Wind Project near Kamiak Butte. Opposition is also building to wind turbine construction plans for nearby Spangle, Fairfield, Reardan, Edwall and Davenport areas. At press time, local residents were planning an organizational meeting for March 13 at Colfax Golf Course. The newspaper went to press before the meeting. Colfax-area resident Dan Lenssen said the meeting was organized to provide information...
COLFAX - Local women may still be forced to seek childbirth healthcare services elsewhere if the local hospital moves ahead with a previous decision to shutter obstetric services. Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinic commissioners decided Feb. 21 to end the services, but revised the issue during a special meeting Wednesday, March 6, at the Colfax Library. Commissioners on the public hospital district board are expected to take up the issue again at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, during a meeting...
TEKOA — The School District directed students to shelter-in-place this morning, Wednesday, March 20, with all students required to remain inside buildings. A notice went out to parents that campus closure was underway, but details were not immediately released. " As of 9:00 am this morning we have placed the district in a secure situation," the notice said. "Which means that we are staying inside the building due to precautionary measures. There is no threat at this time. "Please be aware when you come to the school that we are taking p...
Simeon Lippert, 33, of Missoula Mont., and Cynthia Dvorak, 56, of Colfax, were arrested Friday, Feb. 23, for possession and burglary and were in Superior Court Friday, Mar. 1 for arraignment, plea and a notice of trial. Lippert went before Superior Court Judge Gary Libey on pleading not guilty to 1st-degree burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm 2nd degree, and possession of a controlled substance. Lippert’s jury trial is set for Apr. 15, 2024, at 9 a.m. Dvorak pled not guilty to 2nd-degree burglary and possession of a controlled s...
ROSALIA — On Monday, Mar. 4, at 9:38 a.m., the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reported that a jackknifed semi-truck was partly blocking US 195 northbound at milepost 66 near Rosalia. Washington State Patrol (WSP) Public Information Officer Sergeant Greg Riddell said that Divines Towing of Spokane was able to remove the blockage within an hour. “The roads were extremely icy,” Riddell said, noting that there were no injuries and the road was closed for a short time. Riddell said that the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office...
COLFAX - Colfax Kiwanis is hosting its first annual masquerade ball this weekend, Sunday, Mar. 10, with light appetizers and snacks available from 6 to 10 p.m. and a DJ from 7 to 9 p.m. at the new event center located at the Golf Course. Colfax Kiwanis member Dan LeBeau said that somebody threw out the idea of a masquerade ball, and they thought it sounded fun. "We are encouraging people to dress up and have a good time, but to go ahead and be comfortable at the same time," LeBeau said about...
TEKOA - Tekoa High School is hosting its Royalty Program at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 16, at the Tekoa Empire Theatre, 126 South Crosby Street. Contestants this year include Tekoa High School juniors Clare Wilkins, Lulu Taylor and Denalie Chase. Member of the Tekoa Royalty Committee Karen Blomgren said that the program has been held for at least 28 years or more, and that the royalty get a scholarship at the end of their reign. Blomgren said the program will start with an opening number followed...
COLFAX - The Colfax Distinguished Young Women participants are gearing up for their showcase on Friday, Mar. 22, practicing their talents, routines and learning from the program. In an interview with the Gazette on Monday, Mar. 4, the girls made time from their busy schedules between school, class and sports to speak individually about what the program means to them so far. Many of the girls said they had gained a closer camaraderie with their participating classmates. "I've gotten to be closer...
COLFAX - Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics (WHMC) Board of Commissioners held a meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 21, voting to shutter their obstetric services at the hospital. Dr. Peter Edminster told the Gazette on Monday, Mar. 4, that the board made the decision, that it was not on the meeting agenda for Feb. 21. Those present at the meeting were only aware it was an option once it was voted on. According to Edminster those who are in opposition to the closure believe that the birthing unit is...
COLFAX —The Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinic (WHMC) Board of Commissioners held a Special Meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 7, to hear further public comment on the decision to close the hospital's obstetrics services, which was made at the Wednesday, Feb. 21 commissioner meeting. Several community members gathered in the Colfax Library Center to hear, and those registered to speak stated their thoughts in three minutes. WHMC Board of Commissioners President Georgie Leinweber started the meeting by reiterating that the purpose of t...
UNIONTOWN — The 70th annual Uniontown Sausage Feed is set for this Sunday, March 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Uniontown Community Building, South Washington Street. The feed is a fundraiser for the community building, with all proceeds returning to the building maintenance and utilities. The sausage feed will be a drive-through again this year, due to restructuring how the Uniontown Community Building operates. Event planners are working to bring back an in-person sausage feed in 2025. The drive-through line will start at the Uniontown Coop...
PULLMAN — The Gladish Center hosts the Gladish Brewfest this Saturday, Mar. 2, at 2 p.m., 115 Northwest State Street. This year, the festival will have brews and wines from Paradise Creek Brewery, Another Round Brewing Co., Moscow Brewing Company, and Merry Cellars. The event coordinator at the Gladish Center, Aryn Vance, said they are excited to host the 3rd annual Gladish Brewfest to bring the community together to celebrate the craftsmanship of local brewers and winemakers. “This year’s lineup is exceptional and will include live music...
PULLMAN— Friends of Hospice opened its 2024 grant cycle to provide funding that supports palliative, end-of-life care, or bereavement projects in Whitman County. Friends of Hospice awarded $20,000 to four nonprofit groups on the Palouse last year, including Circle of Caring, Willow Center, Pullman Regional Hospital and Palouse Paws. Circle of Caring was able to use funds to help purchase a new patient van to transport adults with specialized needs. Willow Center received a grant to expand grief services for Whitman County youth and families t...
COLFAX — Kincaid Real Estate is celebrating 25 years of being in business. Owner C.D. “Butch” Booker said he purchased the business in 2007. Booker said the business was founded by Mike and Gail Kincaid and opened on Feb. 16, 1999. “I had worked as in those days, they called you an agent,” Booker said, adding that now they’re called brokers. Booker had his license under the Kincaids for seven or eight years, and when they retired, they offered him the opportunity to purchase the business, and he did. Booker said that they’ve always held t...
COLFAX — The City of Colfax Public Works department received a $5,105,525 loan for 20, years for water at a 1.38% interest rate. Colfax Public Works Director Matt Hammer told City Council members in the Tuesday, Feb. 20 council meeting that the council had approved their application for a $6 million loan, which they ended up getting the $5 million instead. Hammer told council members they also received $900,000 in grants. “That’s going to go towards some of the booster station rehabilitation,” Hammer told the Gazette Thursday, Feb. 22, adding...
COLFAX — The Colfax City Council met for their second meeting of the month on Tuesday, Feb. 20, to rescind Ordinance 24-04, vacate Alley Lower and Upper A Street, and address the Building Code Updates. In new business, Mayor Jim Retzer opened rescinding Ordinance 24-04 to vacate Alley Lower and Upper A Street. Council members discussed that the property owners did not want to move forward with it due to having to provide a new legal description with the vacated portions, so the formality to repeal the ordinance had to be addressed in the c...
COLFAX — The City of Colfax City Council passed their water goal 13.26.010 in a public hearing held Monday, Feb. 5, to improve and upgrade the water system and reduce parks and government irrigation by the year 2026. Colfax Public Works Director Matt Hammer said the goals are achievable just with participation from the residents of Colfax. “The biggest impact will come to parks,” he said. The goal is to continue improving and upgrading the water system to achieve 10% or less Distribution System Leakage (DSL) and reduce customer usage durin...
COLFAX — With the Presidential Primary approaching on Tuesday, Mar. 12, Whitman County Auditor Sandy Jamison reminds voters that on this election’s ballot, they have to declare a party affiliation of either Republican or Democrat, or their vote will not be counted in the primary election. Jamison said every registered voter will receive a ballot for the Presidential Primary that happens every four years, in the year that a president will be elected, with the Washington presidential primary taking place in March. “The only purpose of this ballo...
COLFAX - Clarkston's removal of a homeless camp is pushing some indigent residents into Whitman County. During the Tuesday, Feb. 20, Colfax City Council meeting, Councilwoman Crystn Guenthner asked officer Perry Tate, during the Police Department report, about a man she had seen sleeping along Main Street. Guenthner raised concerns about whether the city would see more homeless people due to the recent removal 306 Fifth St. camp in Clarkston. She isn't the only one raising questions. Whitman...
