Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 39 of 39
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A proposed federal act’s acronym is named after Malden since it is designed to help rural communities find government aid after a disaster. The Making Aid for Local Disasters Equal Now (MALDEN) Act is designed to speed up disaster assistance. The bill is named after the Town of Malden, which was 80% destroyed by the Babb Road Fire in 2020. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-5th District, introduced the bill on June 15. “The devastation caused by the Babb Road fire took my breath away. The town of Malden was destr...
OLYMPIA — More than $14 million in COVID relief grants from the Washington State Department of Agriculture were awarded to 839 businesses across the state. The four main sectors include agritourism farms, farmers' market organizations, craft beverage producers, and shellfish organizations. "These grants will boost the Washington state agricultural industry, helping prevent business closures and supporting the health and diversity of Washington State's overall economy," WSDA Director Derek S...
COLFAX — Fourth of July events return to nearly normal for 2021. ALBION — The traditional barbecue and parade are not taking place this year due to uncertainty about COVID-19 protocols. Gov. Jay Inslee was announcing an update on June 30. "It's kind of hard to plan a picnic and everything in a couple days," said Albion Fire Chief Jeremy Peterson. "So we'll hold off until 2022." ENDICOTT — An expanded schedule is highlighted by a 7 p.m. full parade and fireworks at dark. On Saturday, July 3, from...
COLFAX — Whitman County's critical areas ordinance is preventing the replacement of trees to discourage beavers from building dams that cause flooding in Ewan. The Ewan beavers matter came before county commissioners again on June 28, as Manager of the Rock Lake Conservation District Andrew Wolfe made a quick case that the county legal argument was wrong. He previously addressed county commissioners in May to talk about the recent increase in flooding of Kamiak Creek, which goes directly through...
COLFAX — The Whitman County Republican Party is nominating three people to be the new Whitman County assessor. On July 6, county commissioners interview the nominees and appoint one as the new assessor, to be sworn in immediately. The candidate replaces the late Robin Jones, who died earlier this month of cancer after serving as assessor since 2017. She worked in the assessor’s office for 27 years. Laurie Miller is now the acting assessor....
COLFAX — A group of railroad "speeder cars" and their owners convened in Whitman County on Saturday, June 19, to ride the rails. The first option began at the railyard in Colfax and went to Thornton and back. The group may put the cars on the rails at Winona later for another ride. "Due to grain train traffic I'm not positive of our schedule at this point," said Roger Farrell, excursion coordinator. "Wherever the railroad tells us we can go, we'll go." Pacific Railcar Operators members come in f...
COLFAX — Whitman County finally broke a record high on Tuesday after a week of triple-digit temperatures setting records across Eastern Washington. Tuesday’s record high was 95 degrees in 2008 and it hit 104 degrees by mid-afternoon and there was potential to climb a little bit higher. The Whitman County Gazette’s deadline was Tuesday. “Today we are seeing the hottest temperatures and we will see a cool down after that,” said National Weather Service Meteorologist Laurie Nisbet on Tuesday....
ROSALIA — Cowboys and cowgirls gathered to rope, wrestle, and ride at the Rosalia Rodeo Grounds for two competitions on June 19-20. Each day was a separate rodeo for competitors of all ages. Parents and kids got the chance to compete. Rodeos are scheduled for two more weekends in 2021. The next rodeos are on July 17-18, and one more series on Aug. 21-22. Rolling Hills Rodeo Association (RHRA) is a non-profit organization promoting "the western traditions and values through educating youth in the...
BASIN CITY — Thousands of rodeo fans turned out June 25-26 to watch the second Freedom Rodeo. Temperatures neared 100 degrees at performance time Friday night and topped 105 degrees at the start of Saturday's rodeo. To keep cool, several fans put on canopies on the rim of the arena, while at least one family brought a toddler wading pool and filled it with water. In addition to regular events, the Freedom Rodeo had a large field of young competitors in mutton bustin', calf riding, a calf s...
CASPER, WYO. — The gates swung open, the calf ran, and the lead horse and rider burst forth on the final tie-down roping run at the College Nationals Finals Rodeo on June 19. Caleb Berquist and his horse Hefty chased the calf to just beyond where they pulled up on other calves three previous nights, setting times that kept them in first place. Berquist lassoed the calf, leaped free, ran across the dirt, and dropped the animal, whipping the rope around its kicking legs as Hefty took two steps f...
COLFAX – A Quincy man was injured when he crashed his 2005 Suzuki GSX-R600 motorcycle on the evening of July 3. Nathan J. Ortiz, 19, of Quincy, was riding west on State Route 26, about 9 miles west of Colfax, when he failed to make a curve and rode off the highway and into a dirt embankment, according to the Washington State patrol. He was seriously injured and flown to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. He was wearing a helmet. The state patrol expects to cite him for driving with his w...
PULLMAN – A Pullman driver left state Route 194 and drove about 300 feet in a ditch before rolling his Chevrolet. Kyle R. Doering, 34, of Pullman, was driving his grey 2003 Chevrolet east and was about 12 miles west of Pullman when he lost control at about 5:37 p.m. on the Fourth of July, according to the Washington State Patrol. He was flown to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. It's unknown if he was wearing a seatbelt. The cause of the wreck is Doering driving with his wheels off t...
COLFAX - A Portland woman's service dog ran from a car crash near Colfax. The woman was visiting her daughter in Lewiston. If you have found this dog or seen it, you are asked to call 503-701-4085 or 503-998-3074....
CLARKSTON — Two area fire chiefs have asked for state assistance battling blazes today, Wednesday, July 7. Asotin County Fire District No. 1 Chief Noel Hardin has asked for help containing the Asotin Complex Fire. And Whitman County Fire District No. 14 Chief Jay Reisenauer has requested assistance with the Wilma Fire. The two chiefs asked for state mobilization within an hour of each other this morning. The Wilma Fire is burning in dry grass and brush in Whitman County, officials said. The blaze was reported at 6 a.m. today and was e...