Beeson Road local talks road safety

Whitman County commissioners took in comments Monday from a rural county resident regarding the Beeson Cut-Off Road and Estes Road, halfway between Pullman and Palouse, toward the Idaho border.

John Chaplain, a longtime WSU track coach, noted that he has lived on the road since the 1960s and that he first came in to talk to commissioners about this 50 years ago – and on subsequent occasions since – about what he described as a dangerous stretch of gravel road.

“I don't think I can make it another 50 (years), guys, so I'm making my last pitch,” said Chaplain, 82.

The road is used as a commuter...