Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
After the red velvet cake was served, the presentations began.
On top of the hill in Uniontown last Thursday evening, Sept. 22, Whitman County mayors, elected officials and other community representatives gathered at the Churchyard bed and breakfast for a quarterly roundtable.
They discussed issues ranging from economic development to closed banks, the Department of Ecology and a coyote-killing dog.
It was all in a night’s gathering, as officials heard first from the WSU Rural Community Design Initiative, a studio of architecture and interior design students which focuses on re-purposing and renovation of under-used properties. The group, led by professors Kathleen Ryan and Ole Sleipness, just worked on the Brownsfield pollution cleanup site in Palouse.
Andy Meyer, from the Association of Washington Cities spoke next, followed by Colton Mayor Jerry Weber.
Uniontown Mayor Joyce Mayer announced that the new sewer was about complete and there was an open house scheduled for last Saturday. She noted three new businesses in town, the Green Parrot, the Gathering Place and Uniontown Deli.
Kristie Kirkpatrick of the Whitman County Library talked about how Tekoa approved the re-wiring of their library for new computers. She spoke of plans for the recently-purchased Hamilton Drug building in Colfax which was paid for with donated money.
“We want to build a facility that is self-sufficient,” Kirkpatrick said. She added that the WSU rural design group will be getting a call.
Kimberley DeHart of the Colfax Chamber of Commerce then told the crowd about the annual Hullabaloo Oct. 7-8.
County Commissioner Pat O’Neill submitted a few words.
“We’re all in this together,” he said.
Ted Maxwell of Malden followed, after being introduced by M.C. Dick Watters as the man from the place “with more money than any town in Whitman County.” Watters is the Whitman County director for Southeast Washington Economic Development Association.
Maxwell announced that Malden is putting the old Catholic church up for adoption. It’s available for proposals of what to do with it.
He then reported that his recent detective work of finding “the chicken-killing dog” and the “coyote-killing dog” was completed. The animal was put down.
Endicott Mayor Vern Strader stood up next to speak of their new, fully funded library project. He had just gotten off the combine at 4:00 that afternoon, still harvesting. He noted that the town lost its bank, Bank of Whitman.
“If anyone knows of a bank that wants to come to Endicott, tell them they are wanted,” he said.
Rosalia Mayor Jim Stenhouse then told the crowd about 10 p.m. calls he received regarding an owl on the roof and a neighbor’s cats disappearing.
“I take care of the heavy stuff,” said Stenhouse.
Dan Boone from the Port of Whitman spoke next, followed by Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove.
“I’m probably the only man in the state of Washington that loves the Department of Ecology,” he said. He reported on the Brownsfield site and saluted the contributions of the WSU Rural Design Initiative to the project. Echanove said that they are in the “seventh inning” now.
Palouse Chamber of Commerce president Bev Pearce reported on Palouse Days and its four new events this year, including the Barley Bar Relay.
“I don’t know the details on that,” Pearce said.
“I do,” said Marie Dymkoski of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce. She then filled in the particulars of how participants had to run a stretch, then drink a full beer and hand off the barley baton to their teammate.
Pearce concluded by announcing the Palouse community center was ahead of schedule. The original plan was to open in December, which now looks like it will be November, if not October. Haunted Palouse will mark its tenth year. Last year’s two-weekend event cleared $50,000.
John Sherman, Pullman City Supervisor, stood up next to say that WSU lost $231 million in funding and 500 employees. But there was good news:
“It’s the third game of football season and WSU still has a winning record,” he said. “Who cares about the economy?”
Dymkoski told of the new First-Down Friday events before each home game for the Cougars. The university also gave the Chamber 1,000 flags to give to area businesses with the offer to put them up as well. The flag campaign also includes the students that waved flags at each mile marker from Spokane to Pullman before the UNLV home game.
She looked to Uniontown mayor Mayer and Colton mayor Weber.
“I like that you’re sitting together,” she said.
“It’s all we could do,” said Weber.
Dymkoski noted the closing of the Washington State tourism office, due to budget cuts.
“We’re all here to sell our region,” she concluded.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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