Garfield News

Secret societies of early Whitman County are the topic of an exhibit now on display in the Colfax Library.

A Washington State University student reported missing last week has been found in the Snake River.

Two people have been killed in a one car accident in the 2600 block of Glenwood Road off Highway 272 near Garfield. via KXLY-TV Spokane

“Most of you will be gone, so what we're trying to do is get WSU students to donate any nonperishable food items”

As the spring semester ends and students begin to move, extra food can be donated to the Pullman Food Bank. via Daily Evergreen

“I had asked for the interlocal agreement [to be] in place by May 1”

About 40 citizens arrived at the Garfield Community Center the evening of April 3 in response to an invitation from the Mayor and Town Council to discuss police service options. Both Palouse police officers Joe Merry and Jerry Neumann were in attendance to explain an agreement proposed between the two towns of Palouse and Garfield.

Mayor Jarrod Pfaff and Councilman Larry Hunt presented some of the issues at hand to the audience. Pfaff added that the costs for better services available through this agreement will generally remain the same, as opposed to hiring a new Town Marshal. Read more

Marshal Joe Merry was sworn in at the February 26 City Council meeting. Merry is already on duty as Palouse's second officer, although his transition from Garfield is not complete. The City Council members were very enthusiastic about having Merry, and Mayor Michael Echanove said he would be an excellent addition to the community.

The Palouse Police Department has run into some trouble lately. The Dodge Intrepid developed a problem with its transmission, and is stuck in reverse.

Chief Jerry Neumann also discovered Palouse is lacking a serious "junk car" ordinance. A car is considered junk if it is three years old, extensively damaged, and has the market value of scrap metal. However, these vehicles fall under Palouse's nuisance ordinance, which makes it difficult for the city to deal with them. Read more

The multicolored building that houses .anti_space may look like a LifeSavers roll on crack, but that's only because it provides a sweet selection of artistic efforts scattered among its seven different ... via New Times

Spokane Public Schools and 15 other Eastern Washington school districts have received approval from the state to waive school days missed this year because of snow. via The Spokesman-Review

“Harvest is the time that the buyers know they can get a fire-sale price”

Garfield farmer Bruce Nelson, right, checking with harvest driver Charles Schug, takes current wheat prices with a grain of salt. via The Seattle Times

“This was not an easy decision”

Commentary from a free market conservative viewpoint on current events in Pullman, the Palouse and Washington State from the avid Wal-Mart groupie, the Forbicites who support sprawl that stretches the length of ... via Palousitics

“It is 6% across the board here.”

Many towns in Whitman County have utility taxes paid to the city and Garfield Town Council members want Garfield to join the group proposing 4% be added to telephone and electric/gas bills and 6% added to water, sewer and garbage bills.

The utility tax was proposed at a December meeting, but the vote on the measure has been postponed until the January 23 meeting to allow council members time to obtain more community input for a clear idea on the impact for their citizens. Anyone with comments about the tax should email pfaff93@earthlink.net or Garfield-town@completebbs.com or call any of the council members. Read more

New Census Bureau figures show the number of Washington residents living in poverty is up sharply since 2001, with increases in every county except Garfield. via KNDO - Yakima

“Most pay less than $13 per hour”

The number of Washington residents living in poverty is up sharply since 2001, with increases in every county except Garfield, according to new figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. via KING-TV Seattle

Two of Washington's public high schools are among the top 100 in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report. via Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“In this type of work there is a long energy drain that takes place and there may be times where he asks 'What did I get myself into?'”

A Colfax farmer will take over as the Whitman County representative for the 9th District Legislative seat. via Daily Evergreen

“I live and breathe economic development”

Sunday, November 11, 2007 "Republicans narrow down District 9 choices; Several county commissioners will pick replacement Nov. via Palousitics

“I guess the initial assessment is that the farther east you go, the more drastic the drought has been”

Gov. Chris Gregoire has requested that 10 Eastern Washington counties be declared disaster areas after recent drought and wildfires damaged crops. via The Spokesman-Review

“All of the affected landowners lost fencing, some upwards of 14 miles, as well as winter pasture”

Gov. Chris Gregoire has asked that 10 counties be declared federal disaster areas because of crop damage from drought and wildfires started by lightning. via KING-TV Seattle