Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 52
After nearly three years, the remodeling of Pullman High School is complete. The changes will be shown off at a public open house April 20. The school only kept two original parts – the old gym, which is now the auxiliary gym, and the metal shop. Everything else is new. A ribbon cutting ceremony and open house has been slated at Pullman High School to show off the new school after nearly a three-year remodeling process. “We broke ground in June of 2014,” said Joe Thornton, executive director of...
The prediction for damage from stripe rust has been set at “severe” for this year, according to a forecast from the WSU Wheat and Small Grains division. Dr. Xianming Chen, USDA-ARS Research Plant Pathologist in Pullman, released his most recent prediction March 6. The forecast was based off six different models based on air temperature. While temperatures did drop below five degrees several times – the threshold for fungus survival – the long-standing snow cover protected the wheat and fungus. Field observations show the stripe rust survive...
A connection I believe most Americans would agree with the opinion Mr. Mark Bordsen expressed last week in a letter to the Whitman County Gazette, regarding Russian Federation President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. He is a bad guy. A very bad guy. But then Mr. Bordsen attempted to establish a connection between Putin and President Trump. However, all of the news stories I have read that “speculate” on some such connection say somewhere deep within the story that there is no evidence yet. Hmmm. However, I do recall that Bill Clinton was paid $5...
A major hurdle for lawmakers in Olympia working to finish the next two-year state budget and adjourn is the so-called “carbon tax.” However, Gov. Jay Inslee wants a first-ever levy on CO2 emissions. While it targets coal and natural gas power plants and manufacturing facilities, everyone will pay more. His proposal is part of a grand plan to raise $5.5 billion in higher taxes. That scheme also includes imposing a new tax on investor’s income and increases existing business and occupation (B&O) tax rates on services. Higher taxes are troub...
It's called a "skinny budget," because it's just a president's blueprint for where the federal money goes, and it doesn't get into details. Those will be fleshed out later. Actually, this one is anorexic, containing the usual bullet points that Donald Trump always prefers rather than getting tangled in the weeds of messy specifics. However, even these budgetary bullet points target the entire notion that the United States has a kindhearted government. The money largely affirms the idea that this is a nation in a defensive crouch. There are...
May I borrow a cup of sugar? A resident squirrel helps himself to a neighboring bird feeder to snag a late season snack during the last days of winter. While the neighborhood watch was able to get pictures of the indiscretion, no word has been received as to whether or not the mammal was charged for the theft in avian courts. These reports are from the previous four issues of the Daily Bulletin in Colfax. They are reprinted here for the benefit of Gazette readers who reside outside of Colfax....
The state champion Colton girls softball team is back at work with four games played so far in the 2017 season. The Wildcats lost 10-7 at Pomeroy Tuesday night, in a game that ended with Colton runners loading the bases. To start the season, the Wildcats beat Asotin and beat Dayton twice in a doubleheader. The team returns seven starters from last year, including senior Kendyl Druffel at shortstop; sophomore Jordyn Moehrle at second base; pitchers Emma Schultheis, senior, and Emily Schultheis,...
The LaCrosse/ Washtucna/Kahlotus tennis team is the Washtucna/Kahlotus team for 2017. With no LaCrosse students on the roster this year, the team returns five players with four new faces. “I've got two freshmen who had never touched a racket and two sophomores who had never touched a racket,” said first-year coach Stacy Gloyn. “And they're doing well.” Returning players on the team – which practices on the two courts at Washtucna – include seniors Garrett Correll and Derek McKeen, juniors Aarron Phelps and Clayton Hartell and sophomore E... Full story
For years, the Congress of the United States has been poorly regarded. It has been ineffectual, obstructionist, overly partisan and prone to ridiculous squabbling. That situation was to end after the Republican sweep in November that gave the party President Donald Trump and control of both houses of Congress. Nothing has changed, however. It might even be worse now. The Republican party is in disarray. After eight years of big promises and strong criticism, the party now seems frozen in indecision and disagreement. The party has even failed...
Donald Trump built a major real estate empire, after inheriting his dad's company. Hillary Clinton was the first female major party presidential nominee. Her husband was president for eight years. Football players now make many one-handed catches, after new glove technology was introduced. Gonzaga is in the Final Four. Their starting five includes three transfers from major conferences. Unfair? All of this is just context. Context is neutral, although whether to include it might not be. While it...
Colfax softball players Tuesday booked a split with Pomeroy in the season opener March 20. Coach Michelle Miller noted the action was the first time the team was able to play on a dirt infield due to the rainy weather. The second game was closed down after five innings when rain again hit the area. Colfax took the seven inning opener 16-9 with 17 hits. Pomeroy pegged a 6-4 lead after four innings, but Colfax rolled out 12 runs in the last three frames with six in the bottom of the last inning. Pitcher Abbie Miller allowed six hits, struck out... Full story
**For pictures, see Weekly Pages: March 30 A wide range of track results went down Saturday with competitors from all over the east side of the state, and some from the west side, testing the new track at Colfax. Teams ranged from the state's 4A division down to the B ranks. Lakeside of Nine Mile took the team honors on both sides with 90.5 points for the girls and 88 for the boys. Host Colfax finished with 44.5 for the girls and 33 for the boys. Anne Hockett led a 40-point team tally for the Oakesdale girls with the lone local event win for a...
Southeast Washington chapters of the Philanthropic Educational Organization held their annual group meeting Saturday, March 25, in Palouse. Gathering at the Federated Church, members from 11 area chapters of the organization met and gave updates. The theme of the meeting was Forever Sisters: Timeless Treasures. The Palouse chapter, with 30 members, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. In attendance were groups from Tekoa, Colfax, Pomeroy, Garfield, Palouse, Pullman (four chapters) and Clarkston (two chapters). PEO, founded in 1869,...
The former Fireside building in Pullman was purchased recently, selling for $1,850,000 to Paragon Northwest LLC out of Yakima. Paragon Northwest is serving as the contractor for the building, which will be converted to a dental office by Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. “We're working on putting a dental facility there,” said Joe Sevigny, contractor with Paragon Northwest. Gina Popovic, vice president of external affairs with Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, said the organization has more than 20 sites in Oregon and Washington. The cli...
Master's Touch Auto Repair in Colfax, owned by Jake and Kandace Olson and Garth and Christina Mader, has been in business for about 20 years and plans to expand into towing. The addition of towing has come based on input received from customers. “Our expansion into towing is really just a response to our customer’s needs. We believe there's opportunity, and many of our customers have asked us to provide a towing service,” said Garth Mader. “We like to provide great customer service.” With the towing business also comes an impound yard on State... Full story
--Paige Collins photo Ryan Avery, director of transportation at COAST, tries out the driver’s seat on the new COAST bus, expected to go into operation here on Monday. The bus was funded through a WSDOT grant and a grant from the Empire Health Foundation. COAST Transportation will add a new bus to its fleet this week. It will be the sixth bus in the fleet. Paige Collins, executive director at the Council on Aging in Colfax, said the bus was ordered in September after a grant was received from t... Full story
The Port of Whitman County is preparing to appoint a new commissioner to fill the remainder of Commissioner Dan Boone's term, which expires at the end of this year. Boone passed away March 2. The Port announced that interviews have been scheduled for the appointment during the regular Port meeting on April 20. The regular meeting is at 10 a.m., though the exact time for interviews during the meeting has yet to be determined. Candidates must come from District 2, which covers the southeastern portion of the county, including southern Pullman,...
Public Works Supervisor Matt Hammer reported to the city council March 20 on high water problems on the North Flat. The high water flow on the North Fork of the Palouse River has caused the city to shut off a drain valve in the dike which runs between the river and houses in the flat. Shutting down the dike valve led to collection of water from heavy rains behind the dike on the residential side. The city has been operating two portable pumps to move the collected rain water up and over the dike with a hose. Also a pump was installed to the...
The first senior meal at the LaCrosse Café had 26 diners, with the LHS freshmen taking orders and serving. FFA creed team members Lauren Stubbs, T.J. Harder and Trey Fleming recited the FFA creed for the lunch crowd. Metea Enzweiler and Jasmine Watson, the other two members of the freshmen class, also assisted. The next senior meal at LaCrosse will be April 4. The Council on Aging (COA) and LaCrosse Café have partnered to bring a senior community meal to LaCrosse, the first ever COA senior m... Full story
It is about time to get out the old horses, mules and vintage farming equipment once again. Spring Farming Days and the plowing bee are coming up in Pomeroy and Colfax. The annual event takes farming back to its roots by highlighting the horse and mule farming operations that were the common farming practice before automatic machinery was available. Spring Farming Days will be in Pomeroy this weekend, April 1-2, at the Garfield County Fairground. It will be is hosted by the Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum, and the event is booked for 9... Full story
The Garfield/Palouse FFA biennial dinner and auction March 10 raised more than $12,000. The total includes live and silent auctions and students’ labor time pledged at four hours each. A total of 192 people attended with 56 FFA members participating by cooking, serving dinner and running the daycare. The money raised will be used by Gar/Pal FFA boosters and alumni to help build a greenhouse, support the VIKotics robotics team, scholarships, state FFA convention costs, travel to national events and other activities. The auction included 70 d...
An official cutting of the ribbon marked the start of opening ceremonies for the new track in the remodeled Colfax athletic field. From the left are Matt Hammer, Colfax public works director; Colfax Mayor Todd Vanek; Mark Brown, Colfax school facilities superintendent; Coach Jason Cooper, and Mark Mackleit who headed the C-town fund drive for the track.... Full story
Relay for Life makes its return to the Palouse this weekend with the annual American Cancer Society benefit slated in Pullman on Saturday starting at noon. The 12-hour event, themed “Carnival for a Cure,” will be held at Grimes Play Field on the WSU campus. Relay for Life is marking a shift this year by incorporating the former Whitman County Relay, held annually in June in Colfax, into the Pullman teams. Washington State University and Pullman combined relays last year, and now Whitman County is combining with that combo to make the WSU & Whi... Full story
Sen. Schoesler points to priorities A legislative move by State Sen. Mark Schoesler to exclude the John Wayne Trail from a $500 million state parks funding measure last week brought a sharp response from proponents of the trail who have worked the past 18 months to get funds to repair and improve the trail. Schoesler (R-Ritzville) and others drafted an amendment to the bonding bill which excludes the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, the Milwaukee Road, Iron Horse Trail and certain parts of the Columbia Plateau Trail from the bonding proposal. The...
The City of Palouse was set to open bids March 29 for its long-awaited West Whitman Street project. The deadline was 4 p.m. Wednesday. “On deals like this, I’ve learned, don’t get nervous until the last day,” said Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove. Washington State Department of Transportation completed its railroad engineering in February and approved the overall street revitalization plan to include replacing a 550-foot section of street and railroad tracks – with a new drainage system – as well...
