Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
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Palouse Falls has long been one of my favorite places to hike. Over the years, I've hiked the mile or so trek to the top of the main falls on numerous occasions. I've hiked it by myself, with friends and even my daughter when she was very young. I've meandered along the Palouse River to the upper falls and descended the basalt rim to the pool at the base of the falls about 189 feet below. For those of us who grew up in Eastern Washington, hiking Palouse Falls trails has long...
WASHTUCNA – The state Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously Jan. 27 to permanently close areas some hiking areas at Palouse Falls State Park. "This closure includes access to rock formation referred to as Castle Rock, the top of the main falls, access to the plunge pool and surrounding canyon walls," Parks Planner Laura Moxham said. "It also incorporates the existing signed area which some people have used to get down to the plunge pool." The closure comes in the w...
It was heartbreaking when the Nooksack River submerged Whatcom County farming communities, swept livestock away and decimated dairies, farmland and homes. Equally sad was when heavy rains overflowed the Chehalis River and nearby tributaries, sending water through homes and property. Gov. Jay Inslee opened his Dec. 13 climate policy press conference by voicing concerns about the flooding, wildfires that have destroyed forests and filled the skies with smoke, drought that has...
RITZVILLE – The Bronco and athletics communities are coming together to help a local county and his family. As of press time, a donation account for Jason Hilzer had raised more than $7,000 from 60 donations. The funds come as Hilzer readies for a bone marrow transplant. In July 2021, Hilzer – a Lind-Ritzville/Sprague assistant football coach, and head wrestling and baseball coach – was diagnosed with leukemia. Hilzer has been missing from the field and the mat, but is often mentioned by Lind-Ritzville athletes and coach...
RITZVILLE – Dr. Charles M. Sackmann gave the medical staff report at the East Adams Rural Hospital Board meeting, Jan. 25, noting transferring patients to other hospitals in the region is a problem. Hospitals in Spokane and the Tri-cities are near capacity, and may not be taking transfers from rural hospitals, he said. “Unless a patient presents at the ER at Sacred Heart in Spokane, they probably can’t get a bed there” Sackmann said. That leaves local hospital staff calling around the state – to Harbor View, Swedish a...
Trying to find a great sporting event to watch on Sunday was not easy. Sure there were a few college basketball games that were televised but I can’t say there was one team that I hoped would win and to me that is half the reason for watching. The other half wants to watch great athletes play the game. I must have watched less than five minutes of the Pro Bowl which is the NFL version of an All-Star game. This game used to be played the week after the Super Bowl but since s...
As we conclude National School Choice Week 2022, people around Washington state are about to hear a familiar refrain: Public schools need more money. Official reports, however, show that isn’t true. In a world of online misinformation and fact-checking, it’s more important than ever for the public to get an accurate picture. Official figures show public schools in Washington state now receive record levels of funding, even as the system has fewer students. Citations to the...
RITZVILLE – Several area youth completed their hunter education requirements Saturday, Feb. 5, during a class at the Ritzville Gun Club. The 11 students received certificates allowing them to hunt after being evaluated on knowledge of firearms, attitude and handling skills, instructor Phil Peterson said. Students completing the class include Eli Demerest, Darrell Howatt, Natalie Katsel, Cameron Fletcher, Nikkodah Katsel, Edgar Coon, Darren Howatt, Abigail Hofstee, Aiden H...
MONROE – A memorial scholarship is being established in the name of Jackson David Weaver, who passed away from leukemia on Dec. 16, 2006. Jackson's father, Reid Weaver, is a 1979 graduate of Lind High School, a retired police officer from the city of Monroe and a former instructor at the Washington Police Academy. His father was a school principal in Warden and mother worked as a Nurse in Moses Lake. In addition to Jackson, Reid and his first wife, have two other grown c...
OLYMPIA – The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking written comments on a proposed spring black bear special permit rule change from Feb. 2 to March 12. The proposed rule would establish spring black bear special hunting permits for a shortened 2022 season, from May 1 to June 15. The amendment also proposes modifications to the harvest and inspection procedures and makes it unlawful to kill a cub or a female with cubs. “We are seeking feedback on the proposed rule to set a shortened spring black bear special per...
Last year, Gov. Jay Inslee attempted an end run around the legislature by banning natural gas in new homes and commercial buildings via the state’s building codes. It was a bad idea. Now, some fellow Democrats who control the legislature are working on legislation trying to do the same—also a bad idea. Inslee’s proposed regulations forbid the use of fossil fuels for heating and hot water in new structures. Prohibiting natural gas is expensive for home and building owner...
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday, Feb. 9, backed off some of his coronavirus mandates during a press conference. Inslee announced he is ending his call-up of the Washington National Guard, will allow non-emergent surgeries to resume and cut back on mask requirements. “We are lifting our outdoor masking requirements by Feb. 18,” he said. “Today is not the day to lift all of our masking requirements.” The governor said he’ll make a decision on ending all mask mandates and make a related announcement next week. “The...