Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 47 of 47
FARMINGTON — Town voters approved one ballot measure but rejected another in the Nov. 3 general election. Proposition No. 1 authorized the town to collect $8,000 in 2021 for use in 2022 for street repair, maintenance and improvement. It passed with 65.22% approval. Levy’s require a 60% supermajority to pass. Proposition No. 2 went the other way for the town’s 92 voters. It sought to collect $15,000 to finance the current expense fund in 2022. It was supported by 51.09% of voters, but fell short of the supermajority required under state law....
By next fall, if plans turn out for the new owner of the 1927 old Palouse school gym on Main Street, loft apartments will be available for lease. David Birge of Spokane -- an investor/developer whom, along with partners, restored the Spokane building which houses No-Li Brewery -- bought the old gym Oct. 21 for $375,000. Birge's plans are for retail space at the bottom and apartments on the second floor – which was put in by previous owners, who also modified the building to create a two-story ap...
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee unveiled a new cellphone-based coronavirus exposure notification system Monday. During an afternoon press conference, Inslee touted the new “WaNotify” application designed in corroboration with University of Washington, Google and Apple. The cellphone application is voluntary and uses Bluetooth technology to connect to other cellphones with the application. According to the governor, users who are within 6 feet of someone for 15 minutes who has the application and is reporting the viral infection virus will be notif...
PULLMAN — A woman has been sentenced Nov. 20 in Whitman County District Court for shoplifting. For her conviction on third-degree theft, Gratia Doerr received a fourth-month deferred sentence of 30 days in jail, 29 suspended. She was fined $1,000, with $650 suspended. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $47.17, and the court a $43 criminal conviction fee and a $300 probation monitoring fee. She is ordered to be under court supervision for four months and will have to attend a theft prevention course. Doerr is also prohibited from e...
MALDEN — The state Department of Ecology is testing properties for hazardous materials remaining in the wake of the Babb Fire on Labor Day. Under the supervision of the state Emergency Management Division, large-scale clean-up and debris removal continues. The assistance allows the community to plan for rebuilding and renewal, Spokane County Emergency Management spokesman Gerry Bozarth said....
PULLMAN — A homeless Moscow, Idaho, woman was booked into Whitman County Jail on Nov. 21 for charges of theft, burglary and two warrants after she was apprehended for taking items from Walmart without paying. According to the police report filed in Superior Court, Taylor Lydon, 30, was trespassed from all Walmart properties for life in 2015. Lydon entered the store to return a phone case, records show. She then allegedly put crayons, a bra, slippers, a phone, a necklace and a toy phone in a bag and walked out without paying....
ROSALIA — A ballot proposal to collect $95,000 for the town’s street fund fell short of the 60% supermajority required to pass in the Nov. 3 general election. The town needed 196 of the 326 voters to pass, but came up 10 short, garnering 57.06% approval for Proposition No. 1. The ballot measure sought to collect funds to defray the costs of street lights, seal coating, shoulder work, capital improvements, equipment and regular maintenance of city streets....
PULLMAN – The Palouse Conservation District is hosting a free, virtual Conservation Talk Series to encourage conversation on soil and water conservation. The series begins Dec. 3 with “Plant Diseases in the Garden: What They Look Like and How to Control Them Without Chemicals,” presented by Tim Paulitz, USDA-ARS research plant pathologist, WSU adjunct professor and Pullman Community Gardens manager. The online program begins at 6 p.m.; registration is required at www.palousecd.org/conservation-talk-series. Raffle prizes will be awarded to on...
COLFAX — The free 2020 Last Chance Virtual Pesticide Seminar is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. Dec. 8. Topics include: “Control of New and Old Noxious Weeds,” by Dale Whaley of the WSU Extension Office. “Identification and Management of Winter Wheat Diseases,” by Tim Murray of WSU. “Management Options for Gophers, Ground Squirrels and Voles,” by Ken Hart, of the University of Idaho Extension Office. “Herbicide Resistance: Implications for Weed Management in Wheat,” by Drew Lyon of the WSU Extension Office. Participants must register and sign in 8:45-...
County Building Inspector Dan Gladwill reported that the first certificate of occupancy was issued last week in Malden since the Labor Day fire – for a new mobile home. In addition, three more mobile homes have been permitted to be installed, a pole barn to be built, a stick-frame house and a pole-barn house. County commissioners Monday also approved an interlocal agreement with the Town of Malden for the county to handle its building inspections. “This one could go years if we want it to, or they want it to,” said Mark Storey, Public Works...
ROSALIA—U.S. Highway 195 was partially blocked for about three hours yesterday morning five miles north of Rosalia. According to Washington State Trooper Jeff Sevigney, the driver was driving too fast for conditions, slid and jack-knifed, ending with the semi truck’s nose in the ditch. The driver was from California and inexperienced with the local conditions, according to the trooper. The driver, who was cited for driving too fast for conditions, was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the incident. Drugs and alcohol were not involved. A slo...
Whitman County commissioners Monday took in formal transmittal of a proposed marijuana ordinance from the planning commission, setting a session to discuss it Monday, Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. The public hearing on the matter – before any vote to adopt or not adopt the proposal – will be Dec. 21. “I know what commissioners will be doing for some time; a lot of reading,” said board of commissioners chairman Michael Largent. The ordinance sets forth specific rules for how and where marijuana growing, processing or retailing may be further allowed...
MALDEN — Innovia Foundation has launched “A Pine Creek Christmas: Celebrating Malden and Pine City” to provide a brighter Christmas for the families of Malden and Pine City displaced by the destructive September wildfires. Innovia Foundation is partnering with individuals, families and businesses to facilitate bringing Christmas to the Pine Creek area by connecting sponsors with families. Sponsors will serve as Santa, bringing wrapped gifts for their assigned family or making a cash contribution for one of Santa’s elves to do the shoppin...
PALOUSE -- A new business is open in Palouse. Starting with a Nov. 28 soft opening, 2 Busy Bees sells a variety of second-hand items from its Palouse Cove Road location. "It's kind of in my backyard, a portable shed set off the road, with a sign," said Torrey Beeson, owner, who grew up in Palouse, the daughter of late mayor Bruce Baldwin. With a parking lot set in front, off her back driveway, the operation will be a thrift store with upcycled – creatively re-used -- projects, gifts and some a...
PULLMAN - Had he touched the ball yet all game? WSU 7'1" center Volodymyr Markovetskyy, who went in during the second half -- hand-raised, arm out -- got no reply until Noah Williams fed him in the final minute for an emphatic dunk, giving the Cougars a game-breaking lead over Eastern Washington on a night WSU trailed for ¾ of it, winning 71-68. Markovetskyy's score came just before EWU's Jacob Davison hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to one and Eastern got the ball back to work for a...
COLFAX - The Port of Whitman County has launched a redesigned website at www.portwhitman.com. While the domain remains the same, the website features an improved design, content and graphics, port officials said. "We are thrilled to launch a modernized website," Executive Director Joe Poire said. "The new design reflects who we are as a port district and gives us tools – such as our new media center – to keep you well-informed of our economic development activities." The new home page gui...
COLFAX — The Port of Whitman County has signed a letter of engagement with consulting group Maul Foster and Alongi, Inc., as a preliminary step in potentially re-opening the former WSU coal plant as a multi-use, value-added agricultural building. “It would be a bridge between the university, the community, the port and the county,” Properties and Development Director Debbie Snell said. “This is just the first step in what I think will be a long process as the port evaluates this building.” The consultant will complete a limited feasibili...
PULLMAN — A homeless man made his first appearance Monday after allegedly breaking into a frat house at Washington State University. Initially, Indiana Ludwick, 27, was being held without bail since his arrest late Saturday, Nov. 28. He was booked into the Whitman County Jail early Sunday morning, Nov. 29. Bail was set at $10,000 surety. He had been living in the frat house for about three days, Whitman County Superior Court records state. Police responded to a call of unsecured premises late Saturday at Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, records show. A...
RITZVILLE - A local lawmaker is stepping down from his leadership position in the state Senate, but he is not retiring. Sen. Mark G. Schoesler, R-Ritzville, confirmed Tuesday morning, Dec. 1, that he won't be seeking re-election as the senate minority leader. "It's real simple," Schoesler said of his decision. "I'd like to turn my cellphone office and my email off for a bit of time." With 65.34% of the vote, Schoesler won re-election to the Legislative District No. 9 senate seat on Nov. 3,...
COLFAX — With the onset of restrictions and health concerns, towns across Whitman County are re-thinking their traditional holiday festivities. Many have canceled events and Santa visits while others are enduring with safety measures in place. Following are events that have been confirmed by the Gazette; events that have been canceled are not listed. ENDICOTT Fireworks launch at 5 p.m. Dec. 5 to kick off the town’s annual Santa visit. After the fireworks show, Santa will arrive at the Endicott Gun Club via firetruck with lights engaged. You...
COLFAX - Despite the coronavirus quarantine, the annual Winterfest fireworks will go ahead as planned, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3. If tradition holds, the fireworks will set off from the big blue water tank on the east side of Colfax, providing viewing from all around town. While the fireworks will still take place, the annual Winterfest parade has been canceled. The cancellation was announced last week. Even though Santa won't be the featured guest in a parade, he will be visiting...
COLFAX - Hospital boards at Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics, Pullman Regional Hospital and Gritman Hospital have made the decision to dissolve Palouse Surgeons LLC, effective Sept. 1, 2021. The partnership was developed to provide general surgery to the three area hospitals and has served them since 2009. The three surgeons in the partnership are Drs. John Visger, Juan Parra and Nancy Panko. "It's worked really well," Whitman Hospital spokeswoman Laurie Gronning said. The struggle has been...
