Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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The office of the Whitman County Gazette on Main Street in Colfax moved last week after how many years? 90? Clockwise from top left, Gazette co-owner Bill Ifft confers with bookkeeper Nancy Ross in the emptying space; the sign comes down from the Masonic building June 29; movers Adam Miller and Samuel Steele from Free-Press Publishing load another truckload for the landfill, while, in the background, Gazette editor Jana Mathia loads her newborn's playtoy into the family Expedition, to go to the...
COLFAX – Wendy Berrett, the operations manager at Whitcom, was chosen June 25 as the new executive director of the regional emergency dispatch agency. Berrett has been with the agency for more than 20 years. “We are delighted that Wendy has chosen to continue her career at Whitcom in this senior leadership position,” said Dean Kinzer, county commissioner and Whitcom executive board chair. “Having served in several roles at Whitcom, including deputy director, she brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and stability to the agency, and we look...
WHITMAN COUNTY – The first report of a patient being hospitalized for the virus was reported June 26 by the Emergency Operating Center. According to the press release, a previous case was hospitalized due to complications associated with COVID-19 infection. Whitman County is now at 39 COVID-19 positive tests after another was added June 30, the ninth since June 17. Although there has been an increase in testing capabilities and frequency from that in March and April, Public Health Director Troy Henderson said these tests are a "true measure" of...
ST. JOHN – Whitman County Commissioners initiated Monday a new rock-crushing project at Glorfield Quarry, off of Rock Lake Road northwest of St. John. The $500,000 for 60,000 tons of rock will go to gravel roads, paid for by the road levy lid lift passed by voters last November. Commissioners also approved a call for bids to be published. The county has already spent $670,000 this year so far in road gravel. Previously, an annual total would be about $650,000, plus internal costs. The almost-doubling of money spent on gravel this year was t...
PULLMAN – Trevor Osborne, 28, was booked into Whitman County Jail after alleged activity on Highway 270 and WSU campus. Whitman County Sheriff's Office received a call Wednesday morning, June 24, from Atlas Concrete that someone had gone through every room in the building. Allegedly, Osborne left his phone, lunch box and boots behind which identified him. According to Deputy Randy Zehm, Osborne took a pair of boots, one Benadryl, a Hot Pocket and other items from the business. There was no sign of forced entry. Osborne was arrested by WSU p...
PALOUSE – The City of Palouse continues its discussion over whether to adopt a flag policy – and what kind – after an estimated 70 people gathered at Hayton Greene Park June 23 for a public forum. Two days later, the city council's policy and administration committee met again. They will present a policy recommendation to the overall council at its next meeting, July 14. The flag issue came up in early June when the Palouse Lions Club prepared to hang flags for Flag Day on Main Street on light...
UNIONTOWN – Two people were booked into Whitman County jail June 28 after it was determined the vehicle they were driving was stolen. The blue Chevrolet truck was stopped by Uniontown Police Officer Joe Handley on Sunday about noon for alleged speeding. According to the police report, the male driver said the vehicle belonged to the female passenger's uncle. Upon further dialogue with the two occupants, Officer Handley became suspicious the vehicle was stolen. When asked if they had permission to use the vehicle, the occupants allegedly told t...
Are you stressed? Well, deal with it. No, seriously, deal with it. For the sake of yourself, your family and your community, people need to acknowledge if they are stressed and find healthy ways to cope and manage that stress. There are some life events that are considered major stressors, no matter how zen you are. They include: a birth or death in the family, new job/major change at work, moving and dealing with serious illness. In the past four months, I've managed to tick off all of those...
Franklin Roosevelt became president in 1933 in the midst of the Great Depression. The highlight of his inaugural address was, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” The same is true today. Panic has disrupted more lives than the virus, and the statewide edict to wear masks in all public places adds to the panic. The governor stated the wearing of masks was, “imperative as economic activity increases.” Wearing of masks, however, will be a detriment to economic activity. My wife and I went to the movie last week in Newport. When Pend Oreille...
On July 4, 1975, America proudly celebrated its Bicentennial as the world’s greatest nation while Poland was a suppressed Soviet satellite state. Poles had no right to free speech, were hungry and impoverished. If you wanted a job, you played ball with Communist Party bosses. If you disagreed with their ideology, you likely were imprisoned. Poland was a rather bleak land which had not recovered from the German Blitzkrieg in 1939. Meanwhile, in Washington, the Business Week program started at C...
Teaching Psychology for 20 years at Spokane Falls Community College was such a learning experience – for me. I hope the students also learned a lot about the “Scientific study of behavior and mental processes.” When teaching the section on Evolutionary Psychology, it was always interesting to ask the classes if anyone knew about the Darwin Awards. Sheepishly, some students, especially boys, would raise their hands, grinning from ear to ear. For those of you who don’t know, every year people are selected for Darwin Awards - the dumbest things...
Oh, how I appreciated Lisa Meyer’s article in last week’s Gazette. If only everyone in the country could read her thoughts, hear her philosophy. Could it be published in some of the larger, urban papers across the country? Thank you for your good, relevant writing. Robin Wylie, Nampa, Idaho...
COLFAX – The Palouse Empire Rodeo Association (PERA) received word earlier this month that it has been approved to host PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association) events. “It’s huge,” said Kay Riebold, PERA treasurer. The local association had been with ProWest, which is an amateur association. PRCA is professional level, with finals held in Las Vegas, Nev. The new affiliation is expected to bring higher quality cowboys and stock to the rodeo hosted during the Palouse Empire Fair. According to...
WHITMAN COUNTY – Hitting a deer while driving on Whitman County Roads is an ever real and present danger; some times of the year more than others. Those periods of increased car versus deer occurrences are right after harvest and our current season, according to Public Works Director Mark Storey. Early summer and after harvest are the times of year when the Whitman County Roads Department receive the most calls for disposal of deer carcasses. What happens to the bodies varies depending on where they are located, Storey said. Many are taken t...
COLFAX – The Department of the Interior disbursed 2020 Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program funding totaling more than $3.8 million for Eastern Washington counties. Whitman County received $60,381 for 21,748 acres of federal lands. PILT are federal payments to local governments that help offset losses in property taxes due to the existence of nontaxable federal lands within their boundaries. PILT payments help local governments carry out such vital services as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads, a...
Although the fair has been nixed for the year, the fair board is still meeting and planning for the fair and other events. Fair Manager Janel Goebel stated at the meeting Monday night there has not been negative feedback about the cancelation. “Everybody has actually been very respectful,” she said. What has caught the office off-guard has been questions about other efforts to host a fair or support fair youth. The office has been “blindsided” by questions for activities it is not in the loop on. Beyond this year, the fair will see a notable...
Graduating seniors earned approximately $81,900 in scholarships. Tim Stamper received the Community Appreciation Award on behalf of the Class of 2020. Scholarship awards are as follows: Matea Birdedean Enzweiler: Walla Walla Community College Foundation Scholarship, LaCrosse Scholarship Foundation Scholarship. Trey Kendall Fleming: LaCrosse High School male athlete of the year, LaCrosse Community Club Scholarship, Kelli Scharpenberg Memorial Scholarship, Jack E. Ferris Memorial Scholarship,...
