Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 53
Teacher with guns? In all the discussion about gun control, an idea has been put forward by the President. He is proposing that some teachers at each school be armed in case of a school shooter. It would have been instructive for him to watch the Olympic Biathlon athletes compete. These Olympians race on cross-country skis carrying a .22 caliber rifle, stop at fixed targets to fire single rounds at the target, then continue skiing. These Olympians practice for years in their home country then practice on the specific Olympic course for days or...
If only Joe McCarthy had lived to see this moment, when it is suddenly in vogue to attribute large-scale events in American politics to the hand of Russia and to inveigh against domestic subversion. Robert Mueller released an indictment of 13 Russians for crimes related to their social-media campaign to meddle in our internal affairs in the run-up to and aftermath of the 2016 election. Mueller obviously isn't a McCarthyite, and can't be held responsible for the hysteria -- and hopeful expectations of an impeachment-level event -- that has... Full story
Mark the date on your calendar: March 24. It's a Saturday. It'll be a test for the up-and-coming generation. For that matter, it will be a test for the United States of America and a system of government that gets many failing grades because it has corruption baked in. March 24 is the day that student organizers have announced a rally in Washington -- "March for our Lives." Anything short of an enormous turnout will reinforce the craven politicians' belief that they can wait out the outrage that accompanies each regularly occurring mass gun...
#!*! Downtown businesses who don’t clear snow and ice from their sidewalks. It is outrageous and bad for business. Send your pet peeves and okeydokes to Whitman County Gazette P.O Box 770, Colfax, WA 99111 or drop them off at the Gazette office... Full story
Headlines are one of the fun and challenging aspects of the newspaper business. They can be flashy, fun, intense, somber or alarming. Reporters and editors are constantly faced with the question: what should I use as the headline? Sometimes you start with one headline and by the time the article is in print, the headline is something else; usually better or more fitting. There are many potential headlines that are not seen by the public because the news staff changed it before publication. Here's one headline you will not see in this's week's...
VICTIM SAID HYPNOTIZED The Pullman Police investigation report on the arrest of Dr. Dean Funabiki, who was found dead in his Whitman County jail cell Feb. 17, said the alleged victim in the case which led to his arrest was in a hypnotized state at the time she was raped. The hypnotized state was induced as part of the treatment for the victim, the report said. Filing of the lengthy arrest report was delayed after the court ordered the original draft held until the identity of the victim had been redacted. Dr. Funabiki, 68, a longtime Pullman...
Colfax High School science teachers Christopher Clausen and Kathryn Vogler show school board members items made from the district's new 3-D printer. The Colfax school board convened in the high school library Monday night for its regular meeting following a board appreciation presentation from high school students. Matters at hand included personnel changes, eighth-graders practicing with high school spring sports teams, and a question about President Trump’s proposal to arm some teachers in l...
The Waitsburg-Dayton sports merger, which was approved by school boards of both districts at a joint meeting Jan. 29, was rescinded by the Waitsburg School Board at its Feb. 14 meeting, according to a report in last week’s Dayton Chronicle. Waitsburg made the decision two days after a Feb. 12 meeting of a joint advisory board at which some Dayton residents attended and objected to the combine. The report noted Waitsburg school board members were leery of how mergers can collapse after a former Waistburg-Prescott merger dissolved two years a... Full story
Gar/Pal junior Caden Sanderson angles for the baseline against Mt. Rainier Lutheran's Adam Bailey. A 13-point comeback in the third quarter put Garfield/Palouse in a position to advance to Spokane in an elimination game last Saturday, but they could not finish it off, their season ending at Pullman High School at the hands of Mt. Rainier Lutheran. Tying the score at 39-39, the game stayed tight through the fourth quarter to under a minute left when Gar/Pal’s Tanner Anderson came back into the g...
After a delay crossing the state in a morning snowstorm Feb. 24, the Mt. Rainier Lutheran High School band set up in the Pullman High bleachers and struck up that Coldplay song that goes, “When I Ruled the World.” The Colton girls came out and said, “We still do.” Or they might as well have in a dominant state 1B regional win over the Hawks Saturday, 72-17, which started 45 minutes late due to the late arrival of the MRLHS bus. Colton (21-1), which had a string of eight consecutive state c...
Another blast of points, this time at the top of the fourth quarter and 339 miles from Colfax, nailed another big win for the Colfax girls’ and a slot in the quarter-final round of the state 2B tournament which starts today in the Spokane Arena. The Bulldog girls ripped a 14-1 blast in the first half of the last quarter to bag a 62-56 win over Napavine at Chehalis in the state’s regional round. Colfax is one of four teams to win a starting spot in the three-day 2B tourney which starts today. They will be in the 9 a.m. tournament opener aga...
Above: Cal Gregory of Colfax waits for the sky to clear before putting up a shot at Pullman Saturday. Jackson Kimmel is attempting to block for Crosspoint. Left: Caleb Berquist leaps for a Bulldog bucket after making a steal. After slow start, Colfax boys turned on the gas in the second quarter and powered past the Crosspoint Warriors 78-33 in regional elimination game at Pullman High School Saturday night. The big win advanced the Bulldogs to the last pre-state elimination game. Wednesday... Full story
There is nothing flashy to attract attention to the Colfax Volunteers of America (VOA) office on Mill Street in Colfax. The sign in the window is modest and simple and on the door is only the address. “We have a whole array of services in Spokane,” noted Natashia Ruiz, assistant director for VOA family visitation services. Out of the headquarters in Spokane, the organization focuses a lot on addressing homelessness. But the Colfax office serves a different, specific need. At least for now. “It... Full story
Whitman County Rural Library District Restoration of the regular property levy rate to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for collection in 2019 for library services. Yes 3,159, 74.38% No 1,088, 25.62% LaCrosse School District Levy in the amount of $614,000 at an estimated rate of $3.93 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for collection in 2019-2022 for replacement educational programs and operation. Yes 165, 65.22% No 88, 34.78% Tekoa School District Levy in the amount of $127,000 at an estimated rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed... Full story
Whitman County conducted active shooter response training for courthouse staffers Monday in three sessions, 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11 a.m. in the auditorium of the Public Service Building. Sheriff’s Deputy John Guidice conducted the class sessions. A drill will be conducted at the end of the month....
The first Sunday in March–it is a tradition that began when a Sunday in February got snowed out and Uniontown Sausage Feed organizers had to cancel the event and haul the meat across Highway 195. Storing it in the cold lockers at the old Uniontown grocery store, three weeks later, the men rolled the meat back across the street, made sausage out of it and had a sausage feed. It was the first Sunday in March. The Uniontown Sausage Feed is now in its 65th year, to be held Sunday, March 5. Can c...
Changes to the main entryway for Colfax High School to improve security, tagged as a top priority by the district’s facilities committee leading up to the $18.9 million bond which passed Feb. 13, is expected to allow for school staff to see who is coming into the building. The floor design of the high school building does not allow office staffers to see people who enter until they are well into the foyer. In 2013, the Jennings Elementary office was remodeled to create a single-door entry to the school which went through the office. A v... Full story
Heather Netz What Heather Netz of Malden used to do during her vacation time is now her job. She has been hired as events coordinator for the Palouse Empire Fair. Her job entails coordinating all the events at the county facilities and getting ready for the fair in September. Netz’s first day on the job was Feb. 5. “It’s very exciting for me,” Netz said. “I’m very happy I’m here.” Netz has a long history with fair involvement. She has been the beef superintendent and assistant swine superinte... Full story
The Methodist Church parking lot gets a plowing Tuesday, Feb. 27. Cold temperatures continue after another seven inches of snow fell in Colfax over the weekend. More is expected this week....
The Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO), which oversees COAST and public transit in Whitman, Asotin, Garfield and Columbia counties, is seeking input for public transportation services and to set funding priorities. Along with Council on Aging and COAST, Palouse RTPO hosted an open house Thursday, Feb. 22, as the second of six stops to find needs it can address. At the first stop the prior day in Pomeroy, Garfield County residents expressed a desire for Sunday church... Full story
The John Wayne Pioneer Wagon and Trail Riders have set the dates for their ride across the state on the trail for this year. They plan to start the ride at Easton May 17 and finish at Tekoa June 2. Overnight stops in the county will be at Revere May 28, Ewan May 29, Malden May 30 and 31. The second day in Malden will be a rest stop and members of the Malden OES will serve dinner to the group that night. They will ride to Rosalia June 1, and arrive in Tekoa June 2. Members of the group will have the option of going on to the trail’s end at t... Full story
The Disney movie Queen of Katwe is based on the story of Phiona Mutesi and other children living in the slums of Uganda. Their lives are changed and they lift themselves from their situation by learning and mastering chess. Their skills and drive raise them to be world-class champions. The real-life Mutesi and Benjamin Mukumbya, another of the story’s key characters, will be in Endicott and St. John March 9 to meet with students and the public to share their experiences. “These people are kno...
TNA Electric and Controls is the name of the business building a new shop in Endicott. Last week’s Gazette incorrectly stated it was TNA Electronics....
Teacher Altaira Bogle pulls out some items from the latest Catalyst Church delivery of bagged items to be delivered to school children to have food for the weekend. High school can be a stressful time for teens who have to balance study and work. “Food should be the last thing they should worry about,” said Altaira Bogle, Colfax High School teacher. The reality is there are students who do not have enough food when they get home from school. Bogle is leading a program in which those students rec...
With winter serving a late snow punch around Whitman County, Public Works road crews members logged their 14th full-time days in a row Monday as plowing picked up over the weekend. The road crew consists of 32 to 35 employees, including supervisors. Over the weekend, two sanders were knocked out of service with broken sheer shafts. Two road graders also were knocked out of service and replaced by a backup grader and truck plows. “January was nice but don’t let it fool you,” said Public Works Director Mark Storey. “Winter is still on.” Du... Full story
