Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 765
RALSTON – A month after vetoing sections affirming local input into development of solar and wind farms, Gov. Jay Inslee tried last week to put a positive spin on his move. The governor spent part of Wednesday, April 20, at Rattlesnake Flats Wind Farm north of Washtucna, in the heart of the 9th Legislative District represented by Sen. Mark Schoesler, and Reps. Mary Dye and Joe Schmick. Inslee’s visit coincided with Earth Week. Rattlesnake Flats includes 57 wind turbines, according to Clearway En...
RALSTON – A month after vetoing sections affirming local input into development of solar and wind farms, Gov. Jay Inslee tried last week to put a positive spin on his move. The governor spent part of Wednesday, April 20, at Rattlesnake Flats Wind Farm north of Washtucna, in the heart of the 9th Legislative District represented by Sen. Mark Schoesler, and Reps. Mary Dye and Joe Schmick. Inslee’s visit coincided with Earth Week. Rattlesnake Flats includes 57 wind turbines, according to Clearway Energy Group, which developed the wind farm. Dye and...
COLFAX - A law limiting police chases to cases only involving a potential violent offender has led to an 88% increase in vehicle thefts. With the number of vehicle thefts skyrocketing statewide, Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers is calling on lawmakers to rescind the law that only went into effect July 25 last year.. House Bill 1054 changed regulations on tactics and equipment used by police officers. Under the law, officers can only engage in a pursuit with probable cause to arrest a person...
COLFAX – A Walla Walla man who led deputies on a chase from Colfax to Washtucna in a stolen car April 6 is being held on $150,000 bail. Brandin Rencken, 29, of Walla Walla, was arrested and booked into the Whitman County Jail for driving under the influence, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and theft of a motor vehicle, records show. The arrest came after a Washington State University police officer reported seeing a stolen black 2012 Mini Cooper heading north on U.S. Highway 195 toward Colfax and turned on emergency lights in a...
COLFAX - The National Weather Service is predicting snowfall is possible throughout the remainder of the week. The forecast comes after two days of late-season snowfall already this week. Early Sunday morning, snow blanketed much of Eastern Washington, from Pullman west to Ritzville and even the Tri-Cities. While some communities plowed roads, much of the snow melted that day. Snow resumed again Monday morning, affecting travel on state Highway 26 from Dusty west to Washtucna, and south of...
WASHTUCNA – The state Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously Jan. 27 to permanently close areas some hiking areas at Palouse Falls State Park. "This closure includes access to rock formation referred to as Castle Rock, the top of the main falls, access to the plunge pool and surrounding canyon walls," Parks Planner Laura Moxham said. "It also incorporates the existing signed area which some people have used to get down to the plunge pool." The closure comes in the wake of four deaths...
COLFAX — Here are the unofficial results following the first count of ballots cast in the Tuesday, Feb. 8, special election: Colfax School District Programs and operation levy Yes 65.38% No 34.62% Colton School District Programs and operation levy Yes 75.18% No 24.82% Endicott School District Programs and operation levy Yes 71.21% No 28.79% Health and safety levy Yes 67.42% No 32.58% Garfield School District Programs and operation levy Yes 69.10% No 30.90% Technology levy Yes 67.22% No 32.78% LaCrosse School District Programs and operation l...
OLYMPIA - The state Supreme Court declined to redraw new legislative and congressional maps. The decision follows an attempt by the Redistrict Commission to reapportion the state in the wake of the 2020 Census. It means that the maps previously submitted will likely be the establishing documents for new legislative and congressional districts. If the maps are retained, Franklin and Adams counties are to be split between legislative districts. Currently, both fall within the 9th Legislative...
Shirley R. Morrison, 81, passed away on Nov. 29, 2021, at her home in Burbank, Wash. Shirley was born on March 9, 1940, to Dan and Helen (Bafus) Lautenslager in St. John, Wash. She grew up and attended school in St. John graduating with the class of 1959. Shortly after graduation she married the love of her life, Dale Morrison, on June 20, 1959, in St. John, Wash. They lived together in St. John until moving to Washtucna in 1968. They made their home in Burbank, Wash., in February of 1992 and...
OLYMPIA - Malden is receiving nearly $1 million for a new fire station from the state Department of Commerce. The state chose 20 rural cities, towns, and counties to receive a total of more than $11.4 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for 2021, according to Penny Thomas, commerce communications spokesperson. Three grants are for towns in Whitman County and one for Washtucna. Malden lost most of its buildings in the devastating 2020 wildland fire, including the fire station....
WASHTUCNA - A Kennewick man was injured when he crashed his car on State Route 26, about 7 miles from Washtucna, on Sept. 5. Mugtaba Y. Kori, 23, of Kennewick, was taken to a Spokane hospital, according to the Washington State Patrol. Kori was driving west in a 2002 Acura MDX, when he lost control. The vehicle left eh road to the right, went down an embankment, and flipped several times, according to the patrol. The vehicle came to rest on the driver's side in a field nearly 50 yards off the...
COLFAX - St. John-Endicott-LaCrosse-Washtucna (SELW ) won the 56th annual Cluckey Cup championship swim meet in Colfax on Aug. 7. They finished the year unbeaten. The team's 496 points added up to the first time SELW has won the summer novice league. At the Colfax pool, with a total of 160 kids competing in 71 events, individual high-point earners included the following swimmers: 15 and over boys: Daniel Kramer, Garfield-Palouse-Oakesdale-Plummer, 42 points 15 and over girls: Annika Johnson,...
COLFAX - Tri-County League youth swimming heads toward the 56th annual Jerry Cluckey Memorial championship meet on Aug. 7. St. John-Endicott-LaCrosse-Washtucna (SELW) is at the top of the standings (4-0). Pullman holds second at 3-1, followed by Colfax in third (2-2), Pomeroy (1-3), and Garfield-Palouse-Oakesdale-Plummer (GPOP) is in last (0-4). On July 27, SELW beat GPOP at Endicott. Kids with an individual first-place finish in a race include, for SELW, Ryan Anderson, Eliora Armstrong,...
COLFAX — Sixteen-year-old Corbin Burt won six swim races at the Tri-County Swim League meet on July 22 against Pullman. Burt races in the boys age 15-18 category. His first-place finishes included the 100 meter-freestyle, 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter butterfly, 100-meter individual medley, 50-meter breaststroke, and 50-meter backstroke. Haven Inman, 8, took first in two races for Colfax. She won the girls 8-under 25-meter butterfly and 8-under 25-meter breaststroke. Other Colfax finishers to w...
Edwin Burnace White, long time resident of Washtucna and beloved father and husband, passed away on July 11, 2021, at the Whitman Hospital in Colfax. He was 87. Edwin was born in Nunn, Colorado, on September 17, 1933, to Oscar and Rose White. He grew up there and attended school in Evans, Colorado. He later met the love of his life, Erla, at a Greyhound bus depot. They were married on October 9, 1958, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They made their home in Washtucna in 1981 and created a beautiful...
COLFAX - The Colfax High School girls basketball team won two blowouts last weekend to go to 4-1 on the short season. They beat Jenkins High School 72-21 and St. George's 50-19. Asher Cai led at Jenkins with 27 points and 8 rebounds. Jaisha Gibb added 17 points and freshman Hailey Demler got 10 points and 8 rebounds. Against St. George's, Cai scored 14 points with 8 rebounds and Gibb had 14 points and 5 steals. The Bulldogs' one loss was against Kettle Falls on May 18 at home. Cai did not play,...
ST. JOHN — The season started with mixed results for the St. John-Endicott-LaCrosse boys basketball team, winning one and losing one. The season opener went to Oakesdale 42-33 in Washtucna on May 17. They bounced back the next day to beat Wilbur-Creston 48-33. The Nighthawks came on strong to make it a defensive game for the Eagles, said St. John Coach Mike Stubbs. The team had little time to prepare for their first game with the constant changes in schedules from COVID precautions. “There was adrenaline. There was first game anxiety,” said...
PALOUSE — Garfield-Palouse Vikings boys basketball Coach Steve Swinney prepared for the start of the 2020-21 basketball season to have his 12 returning players. Two days before the first practice he found out it would be eight. When he walked into the gym it was seven. A few veterans did not come out, including senior post player Jacob Anderson. A promising sophomore transferred to Pullman after spring break. “Kids said they didn’t want to wear masks,” said Swinney. “For the ones that came out, I was kind of shocked to see them at first. They w...
PALOUSE — Garfield-Palouse Vikings boys basketball Coach Steve Swinney prepared for the start of the 2020-21 basketball season to have his 12 returning players. Two days before the first practice he found out it would be eight. When he walked into the gym it was seven. A few veterans did not come out, including senior post player Jacob Anderson. A promising sophomore transferred to Pullman after spring break. “Kids said they didn’t want to wear masks,” said Swinney. “For the ones that came out, I was kind of shocked to see them at first. They w...
OAKESDALE — The SUV made its way to Moscow to play Logos School last summer. Inside, Coach Carl Crider drove Oakesdale veteran basketball players Kit Hockett, Simon Anderson, Tyler Bober, and Gavin Shrope. “I hope this isn’t our senior night,” said Hockett. Laughter followed. A month later Crider started to wonder what exactly the prospects were for a 2020-21 basketball season for his team coming off back-to-back sixth and fourth-place finishes at state – with four starters returning. When the school year began, with so many schools still in...
COLFAX — The online filing period for political candidates begins May 17 for Whitman County. Applications to run for office are due by 4 p.m. on May 21 to be on the ballot for the November election, according to the Whitman County Auditor’s Office. People have until May 24 to change their mind and withdraw candidacy. If any offices have no declared candidates, a three-day special filing period is from May 25-27. Offices open for election in November include: • Albion – 2 councilmembers • Colfax – 2 councilmembers • Colton – 2 councilmembers...
COLFAX — The filing period begins Monday for political candidates in Whitman County to be on the ballot for the November election. A series of deadlines take effect for people wanting to run for election or re-election. Candidates may file by mail from May 3-21 or in-person at the county elections office. Online filing runs from May 17-21. If any offices have no declared candidates, a three-day special filing period is from May 25-27. Offices open for election in November include: • Albion – 2 councilmembers • Colfax – 2 councilme...
COLFAX - Bulldogs softball has a nice problem to have. "We're not getting a lot of innings in (though) we're getting games in," said Colfax Coach Tracy Imler. The problem persisted last Friday on Senior Day at McDonald Park playing against the Lind-Ritzville-Sprague-Washtucna-Kahlotus Broncos. Colfax built a 15-0 lead off of a solo home run from Helina Hahn to get the game called in the fourth inning under the mercy rule. In the second game, a 12-0 lead also ended in the fourth inning....
Borders resigns from Jennings grade school COLFAX — Jennings Elementary School principal Andrew Borders submitted his resignation, effective June 30. It was accepted by the school board April 12. Borders has been in the job since July 2020. The school district is advertising the position with a closing date of May 4. Superintendent Jerry Pugh will organize interviews to include staff, community members and perhaps students. He said he hopes to have a recommendation for the school board by the end of May. Efforts to reach Borders for comment wer...
