Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 44 of 44
This is not about politics. Yet, it is all about politics. We have had some rough and tumble presidential campaigns in the past. Dirty tricks, sly innuendos and dishonesty have marked previous races for the White House. This campaign has the same disagreeable elements, but it is also different. There is one thing missing in this election that may have defined some others. It is a simple thing. It is something that rarely takes the spotlight, and it is something that is not often discussed. This simple thing is common decency. Kurt Vonnegut,...
Palouse Police Officer Joe Merry has announced plans to retire at the end of 2017. The former marshal in Garfield and longtime officer-in-charge for Palouse – which also covers Garfield in an interlocal agreement – will depart the three-man department, now made up of Merry, Chief Jerry Neumann and Officer Joe Handley. “He is a very respected police officer and an integral part of our department,” Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove said. “Before we began our search and got Jerry, I offered Joe the chief position. He told me no.” When Merry finis...
The deadline is approaching for fruit producers to apply for crop insurance for the 2017 crop year. The Risk Management Agency of the USDA has set the deadline for Nov. 20. The deadline applies to crop insurance policies for apple, blueberry, cranberry, grape, pear, apricots, nectarines, freestone peaches, plums/prunes, sweet and tart cherry and table grape. The deadline also applies to current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage. Crop insurance provides protection against natural disasters such as drought, hail... Full story
Whitman County Commissioners and department representatives met with County Administrator Gary Petrovich last Thursday to discuss ways to approach the 2017 budget plan. Representatives from the assessor's, treasurer's and auditor's offices were present. The current budget projection has the county sitting with a deficit of $143,000 which needs to be resolved before the budget can be approved. Petrovich suggested to those present a way to solve the issue is by better controlling internal efficiencies. “We're running deficits each and every y... Full story
Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove is looking into requests for speed changes on the two state highways entering town. With requests to reduce the speed limit on Highway 27 toward Pullman and Highway 272 toward Potlatch, Echanove is trying to find out what the city's jurisdiction is. “I need to do my investigative work,” the mayor said. A change on Highway 27 at the south edge of Palouse has been denied by Washington State Department of Transportation. A 45-mile per hour segment changes to 55 at... Full story
Oakesdale added two wins to remain undefeated in the SE volleyball race this week, and Pomeroy picked up a win in the Tuesday round to remain a game behind the Nighthawks in the league race. Pomeroy dropped SJE 25-11, 25-5 and 25-11 Tuesday on its home court with Kacey Halbert hitting 11 kills and Hallie Tardif rapping six aces. The Pirates hosted St. John after getting the league bye in the Thursday round. St. John made the trip south after posting a big win over Colton in four games in the Thursday round. The Eagles are now 4-4 in the...
Tekoa/Rosalia volleyball players defeated Asotin in three games in NE Thursday round with a sweep, 25-15, 25-18 and 25-23. Hannah Beach hit nine kills against the Panthers, and Kylee Jenneskens put up 12 assists. Caroline Jeske rapped four aces and had seven digs in the league win. Tuesday, the Timberwolves ran into Liberty, and the Lancers prevailed, 25-15 25-15 and 25-16. Beach hit seven kills against the Lancers, and Jenneskens had eight assists. Christine Denny and Maisie Burnham each hit nine kills for the Lancers, and Abby Karlis had 23... Full story
Garfield/Palouse Vikings will roll south to Touchet Friday for a key league matchup in the SE football race. The Vikings will take a 2-0 league mark south for the afternoon game. "They're always a tough team, and they're well coached,” Viking coach Willie Woltering noted. Touchet is the first of three league rounds remaining for Garfield/Palouse before the crossover playoff round with team in the NE circuit. Friday, the Vikings scored four times in the first quarter on the way to a 68-12 win over the SJE Eagles at St. John. Touchet will host th...
Cross country runners from WIAA's NE and SE districts are scheduled to convene at Colfax Oct. 28 for the cross regional cross country races, the last stop before the state all-B finals race. The race will be at the Colfax Golf Course. The regional, which will mix three SE District 9 teams with the NE District 7 runners, will offer state entries for the top 35 boys and the top 21 girls. Team entries will go to the top five boys teams and the top three girls teams. Qualifiers from the regional will compete in the all-B races at the state finals...
Abbie Miller goes down to her knees to dig out a ball in Saturday's volleyball match against Reardan. Colfax senior Sarah Kraut is behind Miller. The Colfax volleyball team will travel to Ritzville to play one of two NE league matches remaining on the schedule before the league playoffs. Final round of the league run will be against the Tekoa/Rosalia Timberwolves next Tuesday at Rosalia. The Bulldogs start their final road swing with an 8-0 record after defeating league foes Liberty in three... Full story
Davenport's Gavin Boggs gets stopped by Gunnar Aune (top) and Hunter Claassen late in Friday's homecoming game at Colfax. Blake Holman (84) is in the background for the Bulldogs. After trading scores with Davenport in the first quarter of their homecoming game Friday night, Colfax football players locked down the Gorillas' offense and scored three more times in the first half. The two teams battled again in the second half, but Colfax booked the last score early in the final quarter for a 34-8... Full story
Three suspects were booked into the county jail Oct. 12 on probable charges of communication with a minor for immoral purposes. The arrests followed a week-long investigation by Colfax Police Officer Joe Handley, according to a report by Chief Rick McNannay. Suspects booked were Eric J. Hall, 56, Michael Talcott, 32, both of Colfax, and Stephen C. Hoffman, 26, Moscow. Hoffman also faces a probable charge of attempted rape of a child in the third degree. Probable cause affidavits filed with the arrest allege the suspects responded to a posting... Full story
The two Clarkston women who are suspected of committing a chain of burglaries in north Whitman County Sept. 24 are now believed to be in northern California, according to Sheriff Brett Myers. The sheriff said the arrest warrants issued here for the suspects, Christina Erlewine, 23, and Justina Buffington, 31, have been posted nationally, and the department could be required to go to California to get the suspects. They are wanted here in connection with break-ins in Endicott, St. John and Lamont. They are also suspected of burglaries in...
A Halloween activity is slated to be at The Gathering Place in LaCrosse on Halloween. The fest has been going on for several years in the town and will include a chili feed and costume contest. “The LaCrosse Business Association has a free chili feed for anybody that would like to take advantage of it,” said Carol Cauley, board member with LaCrosse Community Pride. Jasper Trucking is also sponsoring a costume contest. The contest is split into five age groups, including infant-2 year-olds, 3-5-year-olds, 6-8-year-olds, 9-11-year-olds and 12-adu...
Foundation has been laid for a steel communications tower on Steptoe Butte. Work to erect a communications tower at the top of Steptoe Butte has hit a snag with weather. “The entire time to complete the tower is about three weeks, but there is also the issue of winter coming in,” said Toni Droscher, state parks spokesperson. Bob Schwent, electronic services division commander with the Washington State Patrol, said the tower is being constructed to replace a 50-year-old WSP tower which is dam...
-Carol Fleener photo Stunning, serene scenery like this autumn sunrise enmbracing Kamiak Butte is one of the attractions of the Palouse area. Palouse Scenic Byway and Whitman County Chambers of Commerce are to conduct their quarterly joint meeting Monday, Oct. 24, at noon at The Center at the Colfax Library. This meeting provides an opportunity to discuss issues and events that are happening across the region as well as to learn about the latest information from the Palouse Scenic Byway’ p... Full story
A contract has been awarded for the Rosalia sidewalk project. The town council met Tuesday night, Oct. 11, and awarded the contract to Cameron-Reilly Concrete, Spokane Valley. The contract was awarded at $105,477. “That came in 32 percent below, so that’s good,” said Trevor Skelton, project manager with J-U-B Engineers out of Spokane. “Our estimate was $156,000. We’re just excited to get it going.” A pre-construction meeting with town representatives, J-U-B and Cameron-Reilly is slated for today, Thursday, and a more definitive schedule fo... Full story
The Palouse solar farm is taking shape, under construction since August, for a project that will power the city’s well No. 3. After groundbreaking, the site work has been completed and underground wiring installed. What remains to be done is installation of steel framing, the solar panels and invertors which convert solar energy to electricity. “It’s going according to schedule and should be up and going by the middle of November,” said Mike Fuentes, energy division manager at Apollo Solutio...
Whitman County Commissioners Monday conducted hearings on the second amendment to this year’s budget and the 2017 budget. The county weed department was present to request the budget amendment, totaling $5,238 for overtime work. Peggy Wright, county weed coordinator, explained to the commissioners her duties which have contributed to the overtime she has worked. Among these were pulling weeds on county road sides, bio collection, overseeing spray jobs for trails, working with the Corps of Engineers at Almota and checking product at nurseries f... Full story
