Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 15478
COLFAX — Whitman Hospital and Medical will continue to offer obstetrics services while working with the state to meet abortion requirements. In the public Whitman County Hospital District Commission meeting last night, Wednesday, March 20, four commissioners voted to continue obstetric services. Commissioner Kathy Wride abstained from the vote. The meeting took place in the administrative annex at the hospital. Only about 10 people were allowed; many of those seats were occupied by hospital employees, forcing the public outside. A hospital e...
CLARKSTON — A drug task force has arrested a suspected drug dealer and seized a “large number of pills” believed to be fentanyl. Justin W. Hoffman, 38, of Clarkston, was arrested Thursday, March 21, and booked into the Asotin County Jail on a charge of possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl) with intent to deliver. According to Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers, who also serves as commander of the Quad Cities Drug Task Force, Hoffman was arrested following a traffic stop. “Detectives had been actively monitoring the subject...
COLFAX - Seven Colfax High School junior girls went on a mission to determine Colfax's Distinguished Young Woman for 2025 on Friday, March 22, with the title going to Karly Wigen, first alternate Marchele McNeilly, and second alternate Ava Swan. The Colfax Auditorium was packed with friends, and family of the juniors agents #001 McNeilly, #002 Paige Cocking, #003 Karly Wigen, #004 Sunni Ng, #005 Dory Doty, #006 Swan, and #007 Claire Rowland. As Distinguished Young Woman of Colfax for 2025,...
PALOUSE — Harvest Hills Wind Project officials are seeking to communicate with residents on the proposed construction of wind turbines near Kamiak Butte. Project Developer Shane Roche said the goal is to be responsible and work with landowners, and the rest of the community. Roche said that Steelhead Americas has released its finalized Economic Impact Study showing the details of economic impacts that the project is projected to have on Whitman County. The report has four effects the project is expected to have on Whitman County, including s...
COLFAX — Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics will continue to offer obstetrics services while working with the state to meet abortion-related requirements. During the Wednesday, March 20, Whitman County Public Hospital District Commission meeting, four commissioners voted to continue obstetric services. Commissioner Kathy Wride abstained from the vote. The meeting took place in the administrative annex at the hospital. Only about 10 people were allowed; many of those seats were occupied by hospital employees, forcing the public outside. A h...
PULLMAN — A Washington State University police officer is on administrative leave after firing his gun at a suspect March 27. Officials have yet to identify the officer involved. Meanwhile, John Bazan, 20, of Pullman, is being held in the Whitman County Jail on charges of obstructing a law enforcement officer, intimidating a public servant and resisting arrest. The leave and arrest follow an 11:22 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, report of a man with a knife. Police arriving on scene said Bazan had his hands in his sweatshirt pockets and began to m...
UPDATE: PULLMAN - The Whitman County Coroner's Office confirmed the identity of the woman found deceased on 600 N.W. Block of Fisk Street on Tuesday, March 26 in Pullman in a press release on Friday, March 29. Whitman County Coroner Annie Pillars confirmed Jamie Anne Wilson-Spray, 25, of Pullman was the deceased. According to the report, the investigation is ongoing, with no other information available at this time. Wilson-Spray was found in a trailer March 26, at Sevdy’s, a trailer park at 605...
LACROSSE - Public Works Supervisor Don Keeney has been on the job for 40 years. On Thursday, March 14, the Town Council recognized him for his years of service and commitment to LaCrosse. "It's something you have to like to do, or you wouldn't stick with it," Keeney said, of being supervisor. "You have to love the work." Town Clerk and Treasurer Angela Broeckel said Keeney started working March 12, 1984. Keeney said he wouldn't have stayed so long if it weren't for the fact that LaCrosse is his...
COLFAX — Reconstruction of the Bill Chipman Trail Bridge is underway, with a new superstructure slated to arrive Wednesday, March 27. The Chipman Trail Bridge, located a mile-and-a-half on the trail leaving Pullman toward Moscow, was destroyed by fire Aug. 19, 2023. Two boys, ages 13 and 14, both of Moscow, are accused of setting the fire. The state Department of Transportation is detouring traffic along State Highway 272 and barrels have been put out to designate a path for pedestrians and bicyclists on the trail. Whitman County Public W...
COLFAX - A local motorcyclist was airlifted to a Spokane hospital Monday, March 18, after a crash about four miles east of the city. Benjamin Miller, 53, of Colfax, was transported via helicopter from the crash scene near Milepost 34 of U.S. Highway 195. According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred around 1:44 p.m. Miller was southbound on the highway when he lost control of his 2020 Ultra Harley Davidson, left the roadway to the right and crashed off the shoulder, the patrol...
LACROSSE — The town ofhas received a $691,742 state grant to improve the sidewalks along Second and Main Streets. Public Works Supervisor Don Keeney said sidewalk work will begin in about a month, after Avista finishes moving a gas main. “It’s primarily updating some sidewalks, putting in some drains and moving existing utilities to accommodate,” Keeney said of the upcoming project, adding it’s not very big, but expensive. Town Clerk/Treasurer Angela Broeckel said the town applied for the state Transportation Improvement Board grant to improv...
PALOUSE — A railroad company wants to resume services through the city as early as July. The City Council met with Washington Idaho and Montana Railway owners Feb. 13 to discuss resuming railway operations through the city along Whitman Street. Company co-owner and project manager, Maddi Farnsworth, said she, General Manager Jason Hill and Senior Adviser John Howell started the railroad company in Northwestern Idaho. Now, they want to refurbish the railroad tracks here and start service moving lumber for Bennett Lumber Products, a f...
TEKOA -The Miss Tekoa crown was passed to Lulu Taylor during a pageant Saturday afternoon, March 16. Before a crowd of more than 60 residents, family members and visitors, 2023 Queen Carrie Sanchez crowned Taylor at the end of a 90-minute pageant in the historic Empire Theater. It was Sanchez's final act as the 2023-24 Tekoa queen. "I've always wanted to be a queen," Taylor said after the coronation. "When I was younger, I would go to the parades and I always wanted to be like them. "I want to...
GARFIELD - A Palouse High School junior has been named Garfield-Palouse Distinguished Young Woman for the Class of 2025. Hailey Beckner was selected Sunday, March 17, during a pageant at Garfield High School. Iris Turner and Camryn Blankenchip, both Palouse juniors, were runners-up. Beckner will represent both the Garfield and Palouse communities in the statewide Distinguished Young Woman showcase in Pullman in August. The winner of the showcase will be named Distinguished Young Woman of...
COLFAX — Birthing services at Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics will end if abortion services are not offered by Dec. 15. That’s according to hospital officials citing a letter from Washington State Attorney General Robert “Bob” Ferguson dated Nov. 22. The letter requests compliance with the Reproductive Privacy Act. Ferguson, who is the leading Democrat in the gubernatorial race to replace Gov. Jay Inslee, sent a similar letter to 25 other public hospitals across the state. According to Ferguson's letter, the Reproductive Privacy Act req...
By Teresa Simpson Gazette Reporter COLFAX — County residents, farmers and landowners concerned about proposed wind turbines near Kamiak Butte filled Colfax Golf Course Clubhouse Wednesday, March 13, to organized opposition. “What we need to do is get focused and organized,” resident Dan Lenssen said, opening the meeting. The meeting stems from recent efforts by corporations to secure wind turbine leases on farm land surrounding Kamiak Butte, which has been designated a Natural National Landmark. The project, dubbed Harvest Hills Wind, is being...
OLYMPIA — The state’s supplemental capital budget approved March 6 included funding for several 9th Legislative District projects. Several school districts were allocated funds from the modernization program, including LaCrosse, Palouse, Pomeroy, Steptoe and others. In Pullman, Washington State University also is allocated $10 million for anew digester for the Knott Dairy Center, which makes Cougar Gold cheese. The school will also get $3 million for an energy program. Eastern Washington University in Cheney also received allocations, inc...
**UPDATE - As of 3/14, the new time for the hearing will begin at 2:00 p.m., March 14, in Room 408 with Judge Hazel ** COLFAX — A local family is facing another extension in Spokane Superior Court over the November 18, 2022, death of Shannon Kambitsch. Dean Ayers, 58, of Spokane, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree domestic violence murder following the death of his wife, Shannon Kambitsch. Reports say the arrest came after investigators uncovered inconsistencies in Ayers’ statements and evidence suggesting foul play in Kam...
COLFAX — The Colfax Downtown Association is moving forward with its restaurant incubator project, with an expected completion date in June of this year. The Association is collaborating with architectural firm, Hoist, of Palouse, and Magnum Construction, of Clarkston. “We’re confident this facility will be more than just a collection of restaurants; it’ll be a place where friends and family gather, and entrepreneurs will chase their goals while also promoting economic vitality,” states an association press release from Monday, March 11. An in...
PALOUSE - The City of Palouse met with citizens Thursday, March 7, at the Community Center to discuss updates to the St. Elmo Building project, with the unfortunate news that the building's structure is not salvageable. Haley and Aldrich, an environmental and geotechnical engineering consultant group from Spokane were present at the meeting to give updates on the building's structural integrity. According to Haley and Aldrich's technical memorandum, St. Elmo's building does not have adequate...
ALBION — A local woman pleaded guilty to three narcotic-related felonies in Whitman County Superior Court on Friday, March 8. Lameece Dillsi, 51, of Albion, pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin with intent to deliver. According to court documents, Dillsi was on pretrial release but was returned to the Whitman County jail on Friday for use of fentanyl. Reports say fentanyl has been found in her system twice since she has been out of jail. Judge Gary Libey agreed with the prosecution’s request to keep Dillsi in jai...
OAKESDALE — A McCoy metal grain tank on State Route (SR) 271 spilled early in the morning last Friday, March 8, spreading grain across the roadway, causing a traffic hazard with no injuries to motorists or drivers. Whitman County Deputy Tim Cox reports that he was advised at approximately 8:10 a.m. of a traffic hazard at the McCoy Grain Elevators with further information stating that a grain tank had “crumpled over, was leaning on another grain tank, and was leaking grain out onto the highway.” “I responded, and upon my arrival, several...
PALOUSE - Several Whitman County residents are speaking out against a proposed Harvest Hills Wind Project near Kamiak Butte. Opposition is also building to wind turbine construction plans for nearby Spangle, Fairfield, Reardan, Edwall and Davenport areas. At press time, local residents were planning an organizational meeting for March 13 at Colfax Golf Course. The newspaper went to press before the meeting. Colfax-area resident Dan Lenssen said the meeting was organized to provide information...
SPOKANE — Following the Tuesday, March 12, primary in Washington and other states, its appears that voters will see a rematch in the race for U.S. President. Both former President Republican Donald J. Trump and current Democrat President Joseph R. Biden Jr. secured enough support to become the presumptive nominees for their parties. In Washington, Trump received 442,048 votes statewide, or 73.8% of Republican votes cast. Biden received 559,996 votes, or 85.7% of Democrat votes. In Whitman County, support for both Trump and Biden slipped. T...
OLYMPIA — After voters submitted an initiative rolling back some police pursuit regulations, the Legislature approved the measure. As a result, new rules giving police more leeway to engage in high-speed pursuits become law June 5. “The people of the state are suffering increasing rates of crime, property, crime, violent crime,” said Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen. “When I talked to cops and sheriff's deputies, they told me the one thing more than anything else that we need is the ability to chase bad people.” In 2021, the Legislature restricte...