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Articles from the November 16, 2016 edition


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  • Bob Franken: President-Elect Trump

    Nov 16, 2016

    There are two ways of looking at this: Donald Trump's astonishing victory was a devastating repudiation of the status quo, an angry demand for change in a system that average Americans fervently believe is "rigged" in favor of the wealthy and corrupt establishment. But Trump's strength came primarily from the resentment of white American men, less-educated ones. So, the other way of looking at the startling result is that it was an acceptance of bigotry, misogyny, religious intolerance and the leadership of a cruel man who has conducted his...

  • Rich Lowry: President Obama’s Stinging Rebuke

    Nov 16, 2016

    In the course of about six hours, what was supposed to be a Republican existential crisis turned into a Republican wave. What was supposed to be a victory of the coalition of the ascendant became a dispiriting rout of the coalition that didn't show up. What was supposed to be the crowning political achievement of Barack Obama's presidency set the predicate for the unraveling of his legacy. Since before he was elected president, Obama put down as a marker the transformational example of Ronald Reagan. That entailed moving the political center...

  • Accepting the results

    Nov 16, 2016

    “Not my president” has been chanted across America. Thousands have protested the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States. Outbursts of concern and fear accompanying his election have been widespread. Most of the protests have been peaceful, but some arrests have been made and some violence has occurred. A week after the election, the protests continue. President Obama and others have called for calm, saying that Trump must be given a chance. The need for restraint is evident. The protests could grow in violence. Ind...

  • Bulletin Column Nov. 17

    Nov 16, 2016

    Exclusively Yours was hit by a truck Friday when the driver of a 1998 Dodge pickup lost his brakes. He chose to hit the building rather than another vehicle stopped at the intersection of Canyon and Main streets. See story below. 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. HILLARY LEAD NOW AT 59 VOTES A count of 4,153 more ballots Tuesday...

  • Oakesdale repeats

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Nov 16, 2016

    The moment of victory in the Yakima SunDome last Saturday night: Jacey Johnson landed the last kill to sweep Pomeroy. With an enrollment of 38 high school students, Oakesdale is the back-to-back state 1B champion. They both swept to the final. But Oakesdale had swept them in the regular season and then swept them in the final. The Nighthawks are repeat 1B state champions, beating Pomeroy in three games Saturday night at the Yakima Valley SunDome. When the last Jacey Johnson kill bounced off a...

  • Bulldog netters finish fifth in state

    Nov 16, 2016

    Colfax collects the fifth-place trophy after again defeating Wilbur/Creston at the SunDome in Yakima. Seniors in the front row from left are Taylor Garcia, Lexie Smith, Parker Warwick and Sarah Kraut. After the quest for a fourth straight state volleyball title was derailed Friday night at Yakima by a feisty Mossyrock Viking team, Colfax Bulldogs came back to win the last two matches to finish up in fifth place. The last two foes were NE league entrants Davenport and Wilbur/Creston. Coach Sue...

  • State auditor slates exit report

    Nov 16, 2016

    The state auditor's department has been in Colfax conducting its annual audit of the county, and a representative with the department has slated an exit report for next week. “Eunice (Coker) is drafting the county response,” said Commissioner Michael Largent. The state auditor's office performs audits and prepares reports of the results each year for more than 2,000 entities statewide. The purpose of the audits is to hold state and local governments accountable for the use of public resources. The time period audited this time around was 201... Full story

  • New rule for 8th-graders in high school sports: Colfax board fields sports, other topics

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Nov 16, 2016

    The Colfax School Board met Monday night with topics discussed including sports cooperatives and combines, the athletic complex and more. Superintendent Jerry Pugh opened the meeting with comments of appreciation for the newly-completed track, followed by a note on Colfax volleyball's fifth-place finish at state. “Successful run, not what we're used to in volleyball,” he said. “But the next day, they ran right through their two opponents ... it shows a lot of character.” He noted that wrestli... Full story

  • Palouse Cares food drive set Dec. 3

    Kara McMurray, Gazette Reporter|Nov 16, 2016

    The Palouse Cares food drive and auction are Dec. 3. The 11th annual event will bring together volunteers to collect food for local food pantries. “What we do is we go to each town and get volunteers to go door-to-door to collect food,” said Rick Minard, who organizes the event. “In the smaller towns, it's a little bit more of a challenge. We lean on church groups and people in the community we have known for a long time.” Minard said all the food raised in the communities will stay within that community. The drive will be in several Whitman...

  • Council issues call for mural design

    Nov 16, 2016

    Palouse Arts Council is seeking submissions for proposals for a painted mural at Tony Kettel Skate Gardens, now under construction along Whitman Street in downtown Palouse. Artists from around the Inland Northwest are invited to apply. A commission of $650 for the selected artist will be provided by the council. The selected artist will be responsible for the purchase of their supplies. The council will be responsible for priming the surface of the mural. Execution of the mural project is to begin next spring and be finished by late summer....

  • Pullman, county plan shared session

    Nov 16, 2016

    Whitman County and the City of Pullman have scheduled a joint meeting next week to discuss matters of mutual concern. County Commissioner Michael Largent said items on the agenda include discussing the joint tax-sharing plan between the county and Pullman, the Pullman-Moscow runway realignment project, marijuana sales, recycling, paths and trails, an emergency management plan and a Pullman highway bypass. The county has invited several department heads to attend along with the commissioners in order to discuss topics relevant to their... Full story

  • Colfax water tanks receive paint job

    Kara McMurray, Gazette Reporter|Nov 16, 2016

    “Big Blue” recently received a fresh paint job, which Colfax Public Works Director Matt Hammer said should last about 20 years. The Fairview water tower also received a new coating. The City of Colfax recently took on the job of painting two water towers. “Big Blue” and the Fairview tower both recently received paint jobs. “They are both painted now,” said Matt Hammer, city public works director. The Fairview water tower received its paint job in September, while Big Blue underwent a paint job...

  • 12th turkey run at Palouse

    Nov 16, 2016

    The 12th annual Palouse Turkey Leg Fun Run on Thanksgiving, Nov. 24, will begin at 7:45 a.m. Participants can meet up at the Green Frog Café, walk a few laps with friends, family and pets and enjoy donuts, cocoa and apple cider. Sponsor sheets can be obtained from Palouse Library and the Green Frog. Donations will also be accepted at the café on Thanksgiving morning. Proceeds will be used to help support the Palouse Library. This event is made possible through sponsors McLeod’s Palouse Market, the Green Frog Café and the Palouse Libr... Full story

  • Schmick, Schoesler share how they use campaign finance dollars

    Kara McMurray, Gazette Reporter|Nov 16, 2016

    Ninth District Representative Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, and Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, both spoke with the Gazette this week to share how their campaign finances were used in a year when both candidates ran unopposed on the ballot. Schmick in 2016 spent $83,394.20 in campaign funds out of a total $125,936.84 raised. Schoesler’s spending totaled $220,562.96 out of $418,029.88 raised. Both representatives said a majority of their dollars went toward other candidates. “A good chunk of my money went to the caucus,” said Schmi...

  • County discusses forming guardian monitoring program

    Kara McMurray, Gazette Reporter|Nov 16, 2016

    At a workshop meeting Monday morning, Whitman County commissioners discussed the possibility of forming a guardianship monitoring program. The program would aid in establishing guardians for individuals who are unable to manage their own affairs. County Commissioner Art Swannack brought the topic up in the workshop meeting and said he felt it would be something worth looking at. “We do need this monitoring process to make sure it’s done correctly,” said Swannack. Swannack attended a state Council on Aging meeting earlier this year where he le...

  • General Election: Six local levies still failing

    Kara McMurray, Gazette Reporter|Nov 16, 2016

    With 6,600 more ballots counted as of Tuesday afternoon, six Whitman County levies are now falling below the 60 percent passing threshold. The City of Tekoa $50,000 street levy has fallen to 58 percent approval with 146 yes votes and 105 no votes. On election night, the levy was passing at 62 percent. The Tekoa levy is the lone levy that went from passing to failing in the last week. Another failing proposal is the City of Colfax Metropolitan Park District, which would form a parks district within the city limits for the purpose of supporting... Full story

  • Accidents spur effort to reduce speed

    Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter|Nov 16, 2016

    Palouse City Council will consider a revised ordinance at its Nov. 22 meeting as part of an effort to reduce speed limits coming into the town. The effort follows two accidents this fall on Highway 27 south of Palouse. At the Nov. 8 council meeting, representatives authorized a revision of a 1983 ordinance which set speeds for highways 27 and 272. The revision would call for a uniform highway speed of 25 miles per hour within city limits. Ultimately the change would need to be approved by Washin...

  • 2017 budget nearly balanced

    Kara McMurray, Gazette Reporter|Nov 16, 2016

    Whitman County is getting closer to a balanced budget for 2017. Whitman County commissioners and County Administrator Gary Petrovich met Monday morning to discuss where the budget stands. “I thought I would start with some good news,” Petrovich said at the beginning of the meeting. He reported that through Nov. 7 the county was sitting with a revenue surplus of $1,109,472 in the 2016 budget. However, he added that the figure does not include operating expenses for November and December, so the number is misleading. “We’re tracking right w... Full story

  • Nighthawks soar to #1

    Nov 16, 2016

    -Don Marshall photo Oakesdale players and coaches react with exuberance after posing with the 1B state volleyball trophy last Saturday night in the Yakima Valley SunDome. The Nighthawks claimed first place for the second consecutive year after topping the Pomeroy Pirates 25-15 25-18 25-16. For more coverage see Sports A5 and A7.... Full story

  • Colton to play in state quarterfinals

    Nov 16, 2016

    –Jerry Morse photo Brady Chadwick and Cameron Bean on the stop Nov. 11. –Jerry Morse photo Grant Kinzer pulls in one of his 10 catches. A rematch beckons for Colton in the 1B state football quarterfinals. After a dominant win over Inchellium last week at Kettle Falls, the Wildcats travel to Grandview Friday to meet Sunnyside Christian, a league foe which beat them 42-36 Oct. 14. The Knights remain unbeaten. Gametime is 7 p.m. on the Grandview High School turf field. The winner will be one of jus...