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Articles from the April 11, 2019 edition


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  • James Hahn

    Virtual reality at Colfax H.S.

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Apr 11, 2019

    A new virtual-reality program funded by a state grant at the Colfax library made its way to Colfax High School Monday, taking a group of juniors through a demonstration of the path of blood. The library's Nichole Kopp and James Morasch presented it to students in Mr. Clausen's Human Body Systems class. "So what do you think when you hear the term 'virtual reality'?" said Kopp, teen and tech librarian. "A digital playground," said one student. "A gaming experiment you're in," answered another....

  • Derby returns fishing to St. John

    Apr 11, 2019

    The Kids Fishing Derby at Heritage Hardware in St. John is back Saturday for its second year after drawing about 150 youths last year in the age-old conflict of man versus nature; nature being trout stocked in pools in the lot next to the store. “We’re just hoping it doesn’t rain,” said Denny Hinds, co-owner of Heritage Hardware. This year two pools will be stocked with a total of 250 fish. Fishing poles will be available to youngsters up to 12-years-old with volunteers to help bait, reel-in and clean the catch. “We really want (the kids) to...

  • Local districts watch state on levy matter

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Apr 11, 2019

    The question up to 2018 was, 'Will it get fixed?' This year it is, 'Will it get fixed, again?' The statewide issue known as McCleary, which has loomed over school district funding since the 2012 Washington Supreme Court decision that gave it its name, may get changed again in the next two weeks as the legislature finishes its spring 2019 session. The main feature of last June's McCleary fix was a limit put on local levies of $1.50 per thousand dollars in property value. Last week, a bill passed...

  • Dusty rancher receives $33,861 for Alkali Creek project

    Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter|Apr 11, 2019

    The Whitman Conservation District was awarded $33,861 by the Washington Department of Ecology to protect and improve water quality in Alkali Flat Creek. The funds cover the costs associated with fencing cattle from the creek and installing a riparian buffer. "We try and get everything paid for," said Brian Bell, WCD manager. This is the second round of funding for the district to help Dusty rancher Bryan Jones protect and improve Alkali Flat Creek. Jones runs 30 head of cattle on four paddocks,...

  • Regional housing report shows need for affordability

    Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter|Apr 11, 2019

    Some of the first information from the Palouse Regional Housing Needs Assessment was presented at the Inland Northwest Partners meeting March 27, covering housing availability and affordability in Whitman and Latah counties. "It was interesting," said Port of Whitman County Commissioner Tom Kammerzell, who reported on the INP meeting at the port's April 4 meeting. The Palouse Regional Housing Needs Assessment is a regional look at housing needs and is supported by multiple entities including...

  • Matthew Johnson

    Johnson makes partner at law firm

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Apr 11, 2019

    Matthew Johnson has been named a new partner at Carpenter, McGuire & DeWulf law office in Colfax. He joined the firm in 2014 after graduating from St. Louis University Law School that May. Johnson worked in the Davenport office of Carpenter, McGuire & DeWulf until last September, after which he and wife Tayler, originally from Rosalia, moved to Colfax. Johnson, who is the Colfax office manager, works on various estate planning, probate and buying and selling of land matters for what is known...

  • Columbia Straw names manager

    Apr 11, 2019

    Columbia Straw Supply of Starbuck, a company that purchases and sells wheat straw from local suppliers for manufacturing projects, has announced the appointment of David Eller as its new general manager. Columbia Straw has been collecting a supply of straw for the new Columbia Pulp mill which is expected to go into production at Starbuck this year. Eller served in the U.S. Marine Corps before starting a career in paper and manufacturing industries and serving in various roles, from plant engineer to mill superintendent. Most recently, Eller...

  • Weekend wind launches Colfax track pads

    Apr 11, 2019

    Strong winds during Friday night's rain and thunder storm lifted the thick landing pads for the high jump and pole vault at the Colfax High School track. One of the pads traveled the length of the playing field and smashed into the fence which runs along the Schmuck Park entry road. The impact caused extensive damage to the fence. The larger pads from the pole vault landing area came to a stop on the short fence which borders the south end of the running track. One of the standards for the pole...

  • Observers serve as eyes, ears at gov't meetings

    Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter|Apr 11, 2019

    While most public government meetings don’t usually draw a big crowd of spectators, there is a group of people who shoulder the responsibility of keeping government open, sitting through meetings as possibly the only representative of the citizenry and reporting back on the happenings of the elected officials in Whitman County and Pullman. These people are the Observers Corps of the League of Women Voters. “The League is all about open government,” said Judy Stone, the League of Women Voter...

  • Colfax board meets following break

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Apr 11, 2019

    The Colfax School board met Monday night for its regular bi- weekly meeting and took in updated policies to consider, listened to a speech by an FFA state competitor and heard the student ASB report from representative Kylie Kackman. Superintendent Jerry Pugh opened the meeting with comments on school construction, which completed its first week over spring break. “The library is almost completely gutted, Mrs. Bogle’s kitchen is gutted,” Pugh said. “The hallways are a little bit narrow up ther...

  • 15th litter pickup slated in Pullman

    Apr 11, 2019

    City of Pullman Stormwater Services and the Palouse Conservation District will celebrate Earth Day with the 15th annual Pullman stream clean-up on Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers will check-in at Spring Street Park, next to the skate park, to get their stream assignments. This event will take place rain or shine. Closed-toed shoes, sun protection, rain gear and water are recommended. Refreshments and lunch provided by community sponsors. Last year, 250 participants cleared 10 cubic yards of trash and recyclables from...

  • Animal C & C week observance

    Apr 11, 2019

    Animal Care & Control Association during the week of April 7-13 celebrates and promotes professionalism amongst animal care and control professionals nationwide. Pullman Police Department gives special recognition to Code Enforcement Officers Elizabeth Oje, Sam Sore and Arri Ponds. In addition to their parking and code enforcement duties, they handle animal control for the City of Pullman. In 2018, Pullman officers responded to approximately 740 calls for animal-related services. The department also recognizes the staff and volunteers of the...

  • Blake Bodey

    Bulldogs win Cascade Cup with two wins at Kittitas

    Apr 11, 2019

    Colfax baseball team booked two wins Saturday to bring home the Cascade Cup from the four-team invitational at Kittitas. Colfax blanked Toledo 10-0 in the first game and then stopped Kittitas 16-5 in the second game. Both of the games ended under the 10-run rule after five innings. In fact, all four games at Kittitas ended in the 10 run rule. Sophomore pitcher Layne Gingerich held Toledo to just three hits in the first-round shutout. Colfax rapped seven hits off three Toledo pitchers. Gingerich...

  • Oakesdale girls, Colfax boys top big SE meet at Pomeroy

    Apr 11, 2019

    Oakesdale girls rolled up 153.5 points to dominate a SE district meet at Pomeroy Tuesday. Asotin girls booked 147, SJEL 88.5, Colfax 69, Garfield/Palouse 19 and Tekoa/Rosalia 12. Colfax boys totaled 147.16 for a win on their side of the meet with a 13-point margin over Liberty. Tekoa/Rosalia booked 69, SJEL 64.5, Oakesdale 25 and Garfield/Palouse 8. Amber Jones won the 400, and Elizabeth Perry won the 800 for Oakesdale. Aliya Rutledge topped the javelin, Bree Rawls took the high jump, and Logan Reed won the triple. Other county winners on the...

  • Eagles baseball drops 2 to Pirates

    Apr 11, 2019

    The St. John/Endicott/LaCrosse baseball team played a doubleheader at Pomeroy Saturday, April 6, losing 23-2 and 18-1. In game one, Eagles hits came from Dylan Campbell and Conr Hergert. In the second, Campbell and Doug Stach each got hits. The first game went four innings and the second three innings due to Southeast 1B league 15-run rule. Pomeroy freshman Trent Gwinn posted five RBIs over the two games to lead the Pirates (5-2, 3-0)....

  • Asotin teams top Clarkston meet

    Apr 11, 2019

    Both Asotin teams booked wins in the SE District opener March 20 at Clarkston. The Panther boys rolled up 152.33 points for a big edge over number-two Colfax at 101.5. Other county teams on the boys side were Tekoa/Rosalia with 40 and Oakesdale with 24. Asotin girls won with 144, and Colfax placed third with 84. Oakesdale girls booked 63, Garfield/Palouse 13 and Tekoa/Rosalia 6. Winners and county finishers in top 15. BOYS EVENTS 100 meters: 1. Carson Fish-Lib 11.7, 6. Cameron Hiatt-Cx 12 01. 200 meters: 1. Tim Scheel-DeSales, 23.9, 14. Jacob...

  • Vikings baseball starts off at 3-0

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Apr 11, 2019

    Back for 2019, amidst snow-outs followed by rainouts, of eight games on its original schedule, the Garfield/Palouse baseball team has gotten in a doubleheader against Touchet and a game against St. John/Endicott/LaCrosse at LaCrosse. They are 3-for-8 in games played. Last week, their revised schedule put them at Pomeroy Thursday followed by a home doubleheader against Colton Saturday. Both dates were canceled. “We had the field just about ready, then the rains came,” said second-year coach Mik...

  • Rains take toll on multiple sports events for county schools

    Apr 11, 2019

    A Colfax golf team outing to Colville Tuesday and a non-league softball game with Freeman Wednesday were cancelled, according to schedule updates Tuesday from Colfax Athletic Director Nathan Holbrook. The district golf round at Colville would have been only the second outing for the team. They played a pickup round at Lewiston’s Bryden Canyon March 28 after the first three meets on their schedule, including a seven-team meet March 26 hosted by Colfax, were scratched. A Colfax baseball team trip Wednesday to Spokane’s Avista Field to play Fre...

  • Good Old Days: April 11, 2019

    Apr 11, 2019

    8 years ago The Commoner, April 6, 1894 There was excitement in the town of Tekoa for several hours last Tuesday, and if a cyclone had struck the Commercial State Savings Bank of that place, and carried the building, along with the bank officers, a few miles into the country, President H. L. Moody and Cashier O. D. Moody would hardly have been more astonished than they were when Deputy Sheriff John McMahon suddenly stepped into the bank at noon and informed Mr. Moody that judge Sullivan had appointed a receiver for the institution, in the...

  • Bulletin Column: April 11, 2019

    Apr 11, 2019

    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. Some accounts have been updated. ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED A suspect in an armed robbery at the Bud Hut marijuana store on the Moscow-Pullman Highway was arrested Monday at about 9 p.m. at a residence in Moscow where Whitman County Deputies and Moscow Police executed a search warrant. The suspect was booked into the Latah County...

  • Climate change: Inslee could help boost awareness

    Gordon Forgey, Publisher|Apr 11, 2019

    Governor Jay Inslee is running for the presidency of the United States. He is one of the now 20 candidates from the Democratic party seeking the job. So far, his candidacy is lost in the crowd of other hopefuls. His main reason for running for the job is to bring awareness and changes to the arguments and policies on climate change. He is not a one issue candidate but his main focus is on climate change and global warming. Many agree with him, although a political divide about the issue splits the country. President Trump is a fervent denier...

  • Pet Peeves & Okeydokes: April 11, 2019

    Apr 11, 2019

    Pet Peeves The bridge by the sewer plant is horrible. Fix it....

  • Redacted Report Card

    Apr 11, 2019

  • Offense to Defense

    Bob Franken, Syndicated Columnist|Apr 11, 2019

    Donald Trump's enemies are in agony after Bob Mueller's probe did not uncover sufficient evidence that candidate Trump and his people had colluded with the Russians. Meanwhile, he and his supporters are in a vengeful bliss. But not so fast: There is ample evidence of collusion, all right -- of President Trump colluding with the Democrats. That could be the explanation for what possessed the Trump Department of Justice to file a legal brief in support of doing away entirely with Obamacare. Actually, what Justice did was to abandon its position...

  • Pelosi is Driving the Border Crisis

    Rich Lowry, Syndicated Columnist|Apr 11, 2019

    When historians look back to this era, they will wonder why we insisted on outsourcing our border control to a foreign country. President Donald Trump's threat to close down the southern border with Mexico isn't a sign of strength, but of frustration fading into desperation. He is reacting with understandable alarm at a spiraling migrant crisis on the border, and is looking to Mexico to address it because we are unwilling to do it on our own -- not unable, unwilling. There were more than 100,000 apprehensions at the border in March, an...

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