Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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County Sheriff Brett Myers brought before the county commissioners, during their Monday workshop, the status of medical providers for inmates at the jail. “We are in the middle of medical contract providers for inmates,” Myers said. “Probably about July of last year I got notified that there were some changes going on up at the hospital and the hospital bought out the medical group and we have been in the process of trying to track down an actual doctor.” According to the county website, inmates at the jail are afforded the opportunity to see...
Whitman County commissioners learned Jan. 21 costs for 2019 recycling. The county lost $47,000 on single-stream recycling. The total represents out-of-pocket costs, not including equipment or labor. "The plan so far is to continue to recycle, even though it costs a lot of money," said Mark Storey, Public Works director. "Is there gonna be a market on single-stream recycling?" asked Commissioner Dean Kinzer. "I don't see it turning around soon." In 2017, county recycling numbers were still a net...
Brandy Dean, county facilities management director, and Gary Petrovich, county administrative director, Monday presented to the county commissioners the cost and possible upgrades and replacements at the courthouse and jail. The project presented could include upgrades and replacements to roofing, HVAC, elevator, windows and doors, plumbing, electricity, jail facade, generators, etc. For example, elevator changes could include access to the elevator from the ground level of the courthouse all the way to the roof. For generator upgrades, it was...
Eliot Robert Casey arrived at 1:16 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, to win first baby honors and prizes at Whitman Hospital. He is the seventh child born to Patricia and Robert Casey of Rosalia. In addition to being the first baby of 2020, Elliot is the first baby for the new decade. Birth weight was six pounds, eight ounces. The baby joins Arianna 15, Bryce 14, Shane 11, Finn 5, Violet 3 and Bailey 2. His mom said she was surprised the first baby contest remained open 25 days into the New Year. Two...
After a 15-minute executive session Jan. 21, Colfax city council members re-convened and approved a settlement sum offer of up to $85,000 for alleged damages sustained by Chief Rick McNannay as a result of his firing and subsequent re-hiring last year. McNannay was placed on administrative leave with pay in October of 2018 and then fired in January of last year for alleged "dishonesty" in hiring practices of officers. He appealed his dismissal to the city Civil Service Board, and they later ruled in his favor even before a formal civil service...
Issac DePaolo, the Cheney resident who was sentenced to a year in jail July 12 after he pleaded guilty to charges of second degree arson and reckless burning of the Theta Chi fraternity on College Hill in Pullman, was the subject of a lengthy report on violations of work release which he was allowed while serving his sentence. After the hearing, DePaolo was ordered to be locked down in jail for 80 days, two months of good time credit was rescinded from the one-year sentence. A 35-page report on the work release violations was submitted as part...
The Cosmic Crisp apple is front and center at Safeway in Pullman Jan. 24. The cosmic crisp is a hybrid between Honeycrisp and Enterprise apples. It was created to have the texture and juiciness of the Honeycrisp and the late ripening and shelf life of the Enterprise. The Cosmic Crisp became available to consumers in 2019, after 20 years of breeding and development. This variety of apple is only available to Washington-based growers for at least 10 years; WSU owns the patent....
The aerial ladder on the 1979 Maxim Fire truck for the Colfax Fire Department underwent a series of tests Thursday in the rain and passed, according to Assistant Chief Tim Tingley. The truck had been scheduled for the Underwriter Laboratories test. The aerial ladder extends for 100 feet on the mounts on the truck. UL ultrasound equipment was used to test the thickness of the ladder sections which gradually lose thickness because of rust. The last section of the ladder is now right at the minimum width allowed for certification. The last...
Dan Gladwill, county building inspector, delivered year-end and fourth-quarter building reports to county commissioners Jan. 21. “A little short of most of the years past,” Gladwill said of the last quarter. For the year-end, it was as expected. “About average, but the fourth quarter was slow,” said Mark Storey, Public Works director. The top three commercial projects for the year were $2.6 million for the St. John Hardware and Implement retail and shop buildings at the state line; $525,00...
Jennings Elementary staff and students put on a school board appreciation session in the school library Monday night, with each class presenting something about what they are now learning. To begin, two representatives each from kindergarten and first grade spoke into a small microphone, introducing themselves, followed by "Tenzi," a math game, they played with board members and Superintendent Jerry Pugh. Fourth graders then presented on how they were learning long division, taking the board...
The Washington State University Interfraternity Council passed its first executive order of 2020 Jan. 26, which will restrict social events with alcohol following the death of WSU fraternity Alpha Tau Omega member, 19-year-old Samuel Martinez, Bellevue, Wash. Martinez died Nov. 12 from acute alcohol intoxication, otherwise known as alcohol poisoning. The executive order declares that there should be no social events with alcohol present between Sunday 8 a.m. to Thursday 5 p.m. The order states each group is required to hold its members...
Whitman County commissioners have set a public hearing for a requested zone change at LaCrosse for W.H.E.A.T (We Honor Every American Troop). The change would create a new limited light industrial zone on a two-acre property with an existing building. W.H.E.A.T. purchased the property from Herron Trucking Company last October with plans to use it as a place to pack care packages to send overseas to U.S. military members. “There won't be much impact in terms of traffic or otherwise,” said Katrin Kunz, assistant county planner. “It's basic...
Stacie Archer is honored with a big bass happy birthday solo played by SJE Band Director Billy Ray Jr. Saturday night at St. John before varsity games....
Following a public hearing, Palouse city council Jan. 14, voted to raise its residential sewer rates from $39 to $44 per month. The change is part of the city's preparation to fund required upgrades to the city's wastewater treatment facility. City Administrator Kyle Dixon explained during the hearing that the move is also intended to show potential funding agencies that Palouse is acting “in good faith” to cover its share of the pending costs -- which is part of how more favorable funding packages are granted....
Palouse City Administrator Kyle Dixon has been appointed to the Association of Washington Cities' Small City Advisory Committee. Named in December, he was set to go to his first meeting Tuesday in Olympia. The group advocates for the interests of small cities to the state legislature....
Tough As Nails will conduct its first community workshop called “Share the Love” Saturday Feb. 8, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Rosalia Middle School gym to assemble 60 activity kits for hospital donation. “This event is not limited to Rosalia members and we hope to encourage people from other towns to attend the free event,” said Caryn Bothman, one of the founders of Tough As Nails. The activity kits will be donated to Sacred Heart Children's Hospital including the child psychiatric ward in Spokane. Kits that will be created on Feb. 8 are new to...
Palouse Mayor Chris Cook Jan. 14 swore in new city council members Steve Alred and Mary Welcome, along with re-elected council members Bill Slinkard and Katie Cooper. The same night the council accepted the resignation of Will Perry for seat no. 5, which he was elected for, but has since moved out of Palouse. The council now has an open position for which letters of interest may be submitted to city hall by Feb. 14. Those who submit letters will be asked to attend the Feb. 25 city council meeting for questions and answers....
With two more Southeast 1B wins each last week, Oakesdale and Garfield/Palouse remain in first and second place in league standings for boys basketball – Oakesdale ahead because of a narrow win over the Vikings Jan. 17. Both teams stand at 8-1. Oakesdale avenged an earlier league loss last Saturday to Prescott. With three league dates to go, the top two teams look to stay on course for a regular season culmination Feb. 8, at Palouse, which could decide the top seed for the district t...
Colfax boys put on the pressure Friday at Reardan to top the Indians in the second half and take a win that moved them up a notch in the end-of-season district playoff grid which will start next week at West Valley. Reardan Friday started fast on their home court and moved to as 18-11 lead for the first quarter. They still led 32-29 at the break, but the Bulldogs chipped away at the early lead and then bombed the hosts 19-7 in the third quarter to set up the 62-51 win. Colfax Tuesday hammered Up...
Colfax girls Friday ripped to an early lead in a showdown game at Reardan, but they lost traction in the second half and the Broncos booked a two-point win in overtime. It was the second Bronco win over the Bulldogs in the double league loop on the south side. Colfax bounced back with a high energy 54-25 crunch over the Upper Columbia Academy Lions who made their debut in the Colfax game Tuesday. The split for the week leaves the Bulldogs at 6-4 in the league with two tough assignments next...
The Oakesdale girls took down unbeaten Pomeroy 38-37. On Jan. 24, in the Pirates' gym, the Nighthawks evened the series, the two teams now tied at the top of the Southeast 1B. Oakesdale led by 12 points with 1:20 remaining. Pomeroy, pressing, got two quick turnovers and cut into the margin. They fouled and Oakesdale missed four three throws in the last minute. "We had an opportunity to put it away," said Nighthawks Coach Heidi Perry. "They made a furious comeback." With six seconds left,...
Liberty’s Lancers continued to dominate the league Friday when they bounced both Tekoa/Rosalia teams at Tekoa Friday. The Lancer boys posted a 83-39 win with Jake Holling hitting 21 points and Tayshawn Colvin hitting 26. Riley McLain led TR with 12 points. The win stretched the Lancers win string to 16. Liberty girls defeated the Timberwolves 71-36 with a 32-6 launch in the first quarter. Maisie Burnham finished with 32 points in the runaway win, and Aleena Cook hit 15. Paige Brown hit nine for the hosts, and Elise Wilkins and Camryn H...
LEVY BALLOTS HIT MAIL Ballots for this year's school levy arrived at Colfax Saturday and Monday. The ballots were mailed out of Tacoma Friday by a contractor. Colfax district has approximately 2,800 registered voters. The programs and operations levy proposal seeks to raise $900,000 in 2021 and again in 2022. It would replace the current two-year levy which was approved by voters in 2018 and will expire in 2020. Estimated levy rate is $1.97 per $1,000 of assessed value for 2021 and $1.91 for 2022. Actual rate will depend on the valuation of pro...