Whitman County Gazette - Serving Whitman County since 1877

Having lived in three developing countries for 17 years, I met very fine Americans as well as arrogant, and ignorant Americans. Representatives from the U.S. Embassy, USAID, Peace Corp, U.S. Military, UNICEfF, UNESCO, and missionaries are among those...

I was touched reading Bill Stevenson’s opinion piece published in the Aug. 12 issue of the Gazette. What came through in Mr. Stevenson’s story was his humanity. He tells of meeting, for the first time, a person who had become infected with the...

After 10 years of reporting for the Colfax Gazette, Garth Meyer headed south for a new adventure. Garth took a job for the Easy Reader in Torrance, CA, a city south of Los Angeles. I wanted to thank Garth for his many years of excellent reporting...

In the free and open society of a constitutional republic, when you say something or do something, it is sometimes cheered or cursed, sometimes laughed at or applauded. But mostly and most beautifully folks just go their own way and mind their own...

Is it time yet to confront climate change? The weather we’ve experienced this summer foreshadows what we will experience more and more frequently in coming years. The situation isn’t hopeless: there’s still time to avert the most damaging...

If there are any Americans out there who are still loyal to Donald Trump, listen up! Don’t be sidelined by “Trumpian talking heads.” Stay focused on Trump! He and Melania are both vaccinated, and Trump said, “I would recommend it and I would...

The controversy in the Southern Baptist Convention over systemic racism (critical race theory) points to the politicized nature of Christianity from the beginning. The earliest issue was whether or not to fellowship with heathens. By the time of the...

Something exceptional has happened these past few days. It is not the three days of record-breaking temperatures hitting our state. We’ve been warned by forecasters for days that this was likely to happen. It was not exceptional that temperatures...

What if you worked for a local company that requires you to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and hazmat endorsement on your driver’s license? Job requirements – handle all kinds of hazardous chemicals, do any mechanical that comes up,...

As I’ve been listening to the discussions around gay pride month, the argument I’ve heard that troubles me the most is the notion that we need to celebrate the LGBTQ lifestyle as a way to show love and inclusion to those who practice that lifesty...

Where did the mainstream media report the major atrocities taking place in Israel and occupied Gaza? Of course, we heard about the bombing and destruction of the building housing Associated Press and Al-Jazeera and the numbers killed, but we...

I give a special thanks to all those who maintain Colfax Cemetery, and do such remarkable work in preparing it for celebrating Memorial Day. We honor not only those who served in uniform on that day, but also our family and friends who have preceded...

The decline of American culture can be seen clearly in the self-absorbed characters in daytime soap operas and the outlandishly excitable contestants in daytime game shows. The 50-60 year runs of shows like “General Hospital,” “Days of Our...

Former President Donald Trump’s Operation Warp Speed succeeded. He brought us today’s miracle vaccines. He wants you all to get it. He said, “I hope everyone remembers when they’re getting the COVID-19 vaccine, that if I wasn’t president,...

The prostitution opinion article missed one “small” detail. What about design? As an example, dad bought this really nice Case IH Quadtrac. The engine is designed to run on diesel, though, it will run on gasoline. I’d get serious acceleration...

What is the right answer on the climate solutions quiz, the great test of our time? Top-down directives for green infrastructure? Not if we want to keep American jobs secure, energy reliable and affordable, and technological ingenuity strong, argues...

As if the black and brown lives that have been snuffed out by police without justification isn’t enough, there are other recent events that reveal the inadequate training and/or integrity of some police and law enforcement personnel. A 73-year-old...

A well-orchestrated plan, or an unimaginable set of events that just fell into place with the United States front and center... You tell me! Scare people with a virus, force them to wear masks then place them in quarantine. Count the number of dead...

My guide dog needs to stay focused when we are walking to be able to keep us safe. She loves her work. What bothers her is when other dogs run up to us. I did not think this was going to be a problem, since we have a leash law here in Colfax. I...

I’m by no means a mathematician but when the public works director and county commissioner come out and say they gave out $150,000 in additional rock budget and spent $300,000 on crushing that adds up to $450,000. Where is the other $1 million...

My letter is in response to Bill Forhan, of Leavenworth, in last week’s paper. At last, a brave individual is willing to come forward to intelligently address the actual need to keep the dams exactly where they stand. All of us benefit. Get a...

Declining salmon runs, just like global warming/climate change is just another misunderstood problem that could be solved without removing any dams or spending small fortunes employing lawyers and environmentalists that do not understand the...

Today I received three phone calls. When I returned the calls according to my caller ID app on my telephone each one was fraudulent. The numbers they gave me were ‘no longer in service,’ according to the message by the phone company. A...

Appreciation for union leadership and workplace improvements cannot mean that every business must therefore subscribe to the union. While willingness to raise standards, offer education and training, and ensure onsite safety are excellent qualities...