News Briefs: April 4, 2019

Road restrictions lifted

Weight restrictions on a list of county roads were lifted Monday morning from all roads west of Almota Road and south of Highway 23 which had limits posted over the past three weeks due to softened ground from snowmelt and warmer temperatures.

Roads are expected to be opened Wednesday and Thursday of this week are those south of Highway 194 and Highway 270.

Some roads may be limited longer.

Whitman County Public Works assistant engineer Dean Cornelison said he expects restrictions to remain off until next winter.

Palouse hires new police officer

City of Palouse has hired a new police officer, expected to start Thursday.

Leighton Cox of Wasilla, Alaska, completed the application process last week by passing a polygraph test, psychological evaluation and background checks.

Palouse Chief Jerry Neumann updated the city council March 26, after which the council voted to reimburse Cox $550 for travel expenses after he completes his first day of work.

Cox replaces officer Joe Handley, who moved from the Palouse department to Colfax last year.

Palouse officers also serve Garfield under an agreement between the two towns.

Bank’s shoe drive rated a success

Colfax branch of Columbia Bank reports that their local shoe drive was a success. Through the generosity of its customers, dozens of pairs of new and gently used shoes were donated for those in need.

The shoe drive ran in conjunction with National Shoe The World Day. Donations will be delivered to the Blessings Under The Bridge organization of Spokane.

Speakers sought for TED Spokane

A speaker application process for a Technology, Entertainment and Design event in downtown Spokane at the Bing Crosby Theater Oct 26, 2019, is now underway.

A select group of speakers will be chosen to audition for a small group of TEDxSpokane enthusiasts.

Auditions are set April 9 at Montvale Event Center, April 30 at the downtown Spokane City Library, and May 14 at Montvale, all from 5 to 7 p.m.

Speakers and talks will be considered primarily for having an idea worth sharing, passion and energy and authenticity.

Prospective speakers are invited to apply via the TEDxSpokane website:

https://www.tedxspokane.com/?page_id=2395.

AgForestry leadership accepts applications

Applications are now being accepted for AgForestry Leadership Class 42. Each year up to 24 people are selected for the 18-month program, which consists of 11 seminars throughout Washington State, one week learning about national government in Washington D.C. and two-weeks exploring trade, culture and government in a selected foreign country. The seminars cover communications, group dynamics and public speaking, social services, state government, forestry, agriculture, the Columbia River system, crime and corrections and transportation.

More than 1,100 leaders in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and natural resources have been in program since it began in 1978.

Among graduates are State Senator Mark Schoesler and Rep. Joe Schmick.

The competitive selection process will culminate in October with the first leadership seminar in Pullman at Washington State University.

Applications for class 42 will be accepted through April 30. Applications and nomination forms can be found on the website AgForestry.org.

USDA seeks comments on conservation standards

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is seeking public comment on its existing national conservation practice standards as part of implementing the 2018 Farm Bill. The agency offers 150-plus conservation practices to farmers, ranchers and forest land owners to help them meet their business and natural resource needs on their working lands.

Agricultural producers across the country are taking voluntary steps to improve their operations while benefiting natural resources.

“As part of our process of implementing the 2018 Farm Bill, we are asking agricultural producers, conservation partners and others to provide feedback on our practice standards in an effort to refine and enhance them,” NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr said.

NRCS is requesting public comments on how to improve conservation practice standards that support programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program. The comment period ends April 25, 2019. More information can be found in the Federal Register. offsite link image

These standards provide guidelines for planning, designing, installing, operating and maintaining conservation practices.

Mail or delivery to Public Comments Processing, Attention: National Environmental Engineer, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6130-S, Washington, DC 20250.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby plans 2-day confab at U of I

Idaho and Eastern Washington chapters of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby will host a conference in Moscow on Bridging the Climate Divide April 19 and 20.

The conference is open to anyone interested in action on climate change. There will be a free talk and reception on Friday and speakers, workshops and a panel discussion on Saturday. Register early for discounted fee.

Dr. Steve Ghan will give a keynote address on “The Path Forward on Climate Change: Bipartisan Congressional Legislation” April 19 from 3:30-4:30 in Room 111, Renfrew Hall, on the U of I campus.

The topics covered on Saturday will include climate and sustainable agriculture, health impacts from climate change, environmental justice, outreach across the aisle, and youth outreach and tools for climate action.

For non-students, registration for Saturday’s events is $30 through April 1 and $35 from April 2-12. Student fee will be $10.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a national organization that builds political will for action on climate change and sees climate change as a bridge for elected officials across the political spectrum to come together and enact solutions.

https://2019cclidandewa.eventbrite.com.

Palouse will debut Turkey Leg books

A special Pajama storytime event will be tonight, Thursday, April 4, at 7 p.m. at the Palouse Library for the unveiling of the new 48 books purchased with proceeds from the annual Palouse Turkey Leg fun run. Guest readers include Mayor Michael Echanove, Palouse Police officers and city council members. They will read from the new books. All ages are invited to this fun event and refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact Beverly Pearce, Palouse Branch Manager, at 878-1513 or palouse@whitco.lib.wa.us

April exhibit at the Center

April kicks off with new artwork and photography exhibits in the Libey Gallery in The Center at Colfax Library.

Nancy Rothwell in her “Freedom and Joy,” exhibit of acrylic collage paintings e once again uses symbols to tell a story. The beauty and freedom of female dancers plays against other symbols, like house keys, which represent the opposite of freedom. Again, she wants to leave mystery so the viewer establishes their own interpretations.

Tom Mohr captures the culture of our region through his large, panoramic photographs of local events and celebrations. His newest photos include Palouse Landscape, Main Street Accident, and Cherry Pie at the Uniontown sausage feed)

Nona Hengen of Spangle shares two of her high framed Giclees ready for hanging. “Making Sauerkraut” pays homage to her mother’s 1931-1936 diary entries speaking to the annual fall ritual. The haunting “Summer’s Labor’s Lost,” plays sunlight upon the dust covered jars in an abandoned homestead root cellar.