Sorted by date Results 1 - 20 of 20
RITZVILLE – Ninth Legislative District lawmakers are planning virtual meetings to hear from residents. Republican Reps. Joe Schmick of Colfax and Mary Dye of Pomeroy will host a virtual meeting at today, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, is planning a virtual session for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21. The 9th Legislative District includes Eastern Adams and Franklin, Southern Spokane, Whitman and other counties. The district includes the cities of Cheney and Medical Lake, among others. Reps. S...
TUMWATER – The state Department of Labor and Industries is proposing a 4.9% increase in the workers compensation tax effective Jan. 1. Director Joel Sacks said the tax increase is lower than what the agency expects to pay for 2024 claims. The proposed tax increase is a direct result of higher wages in the state, he said, noting it will cost employers and workers jointly about $65 annually per full-time employee. The proposed tax hike has Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, fire up. “It’s an understatement to say I’m unhappy...
OTHELLO – A local man was arrested Thursday, Aug. 31, after allegedly attempting to light a trailer on fire. Isabel Junior Rocha III, 38, of Othello, was booked into the Franklin County Jail at about 6:53 a.m. Thursday, jail records show. As of press time, he remained behind bars without bail. He is being held on charges of fist-degree arson, harassment and resisting arrest on a contract with Adams County, records show. Rocha was arrested early Thursday morning after deputies dispatched for a disconnected 911 call d...
SPOKANE – The Junior Livestock Show of Spokane has announced its meetings and auctions schedule, and changes being planned. The organization that allows aspiring young farmers to show and sell their animals will host its annual membership meeting on Sunday, Nov. 12. A time and location has yet to be announced. The organization has scheduled its Junior Show Benefit Auction for Feb. 17 and its 89th annual Junior Livestock Show for May 1-4, both at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. The rules for next year’s shows are sti...
CHENEY—Several Free Press Publishing staffers will receive Better Newspaper Contest awards in October. At the Cheney Free Press, graphic artist John Myers, sports journalist Paul Delaney and Owner/Publisher Roger Harnack will be receiving awards. Part-time journalists Byrne Bennett at the Lincoln County Record-Times and Dale Brown at the Ritzville Adams County Journal have also been named as award-winners. The staffers will be receiving awards in reporting, photography and digital efforts. The company’s Whitman County Gaz...
RITZVILLE — The Palouse Chapter of the Ice Age Flood Institute has a new secretary. Cecilia Cochran of Pomeroy was appointed to fill the vacancy, replacing LeeAnn Blankenship. The organization which promotes education on the geology of the Palouse and Eastern Washington also has an opening for memberhship chairman, officials said. Institute officers for 2023 include President Lloyd Stoess, Vice President Jacqui Hair, Treasurer Kara Harder, Secretary Cochran, Program Chairman Chad Pritchard, Publicity Chairwoman Michelle P...
OLYMPIA — As workforce issues continue to garner local, state, and national attention, the state is one step closer to addressing critical shortages in nursing care. Legislation to enact the Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact passed the House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee last week. House Bill 1417 was approved, 11-3. “We are seeing workforce shortages across a broad spectrum of industries and occupations for a variety of reasons,” sponsor Rep. Mike Volz, R-Spokane, said. “However, shortages in the health ca...
POMEROY — A 9th Legislative District representative has been selected to lead Republicans on the House Environment and Energy Committee. Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, represents Whitman, Adams, Lincoln and southern Spokane Counties, among others. As the ranking Republican, she said she will be working on environmental policy, grown management, shoreline protection, air quality, recycling and other topics. The committee considers issues related to energy availability, production and conservation. Dye has been the lead R...
POMEROY — A 9th Legislative District representative has been selected to lead Republicans on the House Environment and Energy Committee. Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, represents Whitman, Adams, Lincoln and southern Spokane Counties, among others. As the ranking Republican, she said she will be working on environmental policy, grown management, shoreline protection, air quality, recycling and other topics. The committee considers issues related to energy availability, production and conservation. Dye has been the lead R...
RITZVILLE – Saddle up. The Iron Legacy Ranch will host a fundraiser Sunday, Oct. 2, to help Miss Rodeo Washington Lexy Hibbs. The event will run from 1-5 p.m. at the ranch, 651 N. Benzel Road. “Lexy is competing for Miss Rodeo America, and in the month of October she has to do an arena pattern on 50 different horses,” the ranch’s Heidi Tracy said in an email Friday. “So, ILR is going to saddle all their rideable horses and get her well on her way to 50 horses.” Tracy and r...
WENATCHEE – Amid a record return of sockeye salmon to the Columbia River, sockeye fishing in Lake Wenatchee and the Wenatchee River is opening. As of July 22, more than 23,000 sockeye passed over Tumwater Dam on the Wenatchee River, state Department of Fish and Wildlife North-Central Fish Program Manager Chad Jackson said. Fishing in Lake Wenatchee will be open from July 28 through Aug. 31, with a daily limit of four sockeye (minimum size 12 inches). Anglers must release a...
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Wheat growers is surveying farmers to develop priorities to address in the next Farm Bill. The survey is designed to gather feedback from growers about what policies are most important to farmers and identify practical policy recommendations that would benefit the grower community, association officials said. The association uses the data to provide input in Congress. The current Farm Bill Survey asks farmers to describe their experiences on a wide variety of programs set to e...
RALSTON – Two Washington State Parks representatives will be in Ralston on Tuesday, March 15, to discuss opening a new trailhead for the Palouse to Cascade Trail. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., ranger Travis Gabriel and manager Audra Sims will be at Ralston Grange No. 943, on state Highway 261, to discuss development of the trailhead. Trailhead areas typically provide parking, signage and access to the trail, officials said. Development of a new trailhead would come as the state wraps up other improvements along the John Wayne Pione...
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee is considering a measure that would make it illegal to sell, manufacture and distribution so-called “high-capacity” magazines for firearms in Washington state. Senate Bill 5078 passed the House, 55-42, last Friday, March 5, advancing the measure to the governor’s desk. The bill makes it a gross misdemeanor in the state to sell, distribute or manufacture magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. It does not make it illegal to own such magazines. “This policy will save lives and make...
OLYMPIA – The Super Bowl’s most valuable player, an Eastern Washington native, was celebrated in a Senate resolution this week. Cooper Kupp, a Yakima native and former Eastern Washington University football standout, was celebrated in a resolution for his career, work ethic and humility. The resolution recognizing Kupp was sponsored by 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, and 14th District Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima. “Let’s talk about being a role model,” Sen. Holy said during a floor speech on the resolution. “Cooper K...
OLYMPIA – The white sturgeon fishery opens Jan. 1 for some the lower Columbia River. Fishing for legal-size white sturgeon opens New Year’s Day in Bonneville Pool between Bonneville and The Dalles dams, The Dalles Pool between The Dalles and John Day dams, and the John Day Pool between John Day and McNary dams. While Bonneville Pool and John Day Pool will be open daily, The Dalles Pool only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, officials said. The Dalles Pool closed to sturgeon retention just a few days after opening...
OLYMPIA — The state Fish and Wildlife Commission may implement new firearms restrictions and hunting closures when it meets virtually Oct. 21-22. In addition, commissioners will discuss a new rule on importing and retaining dead non-resident wildife, and a non-native game fish policy, in addition to accepting public comment on the 2022 spring black bear hunting season. Public comment will be taken Friday morning. And on Friday, Oct. 22, the board will consider transfering a 0.37-acre parcel on the west back of the S...
OTHELLO – The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public input on a draft management plan for the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area in Adams and Grant counties. Comments will be accepted through Nov. 17. The plan will guide management of the wildlife area, including fishing, hunting, boating and water sports, horseback riding, rock and ice climbing, biking and wildlife viewing opportunities. The last plan update for the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area occurred in 2017. The proposal is available online at h...
OLYMPIA – State Department of Fish and Wildlife officials say they need to spend nearly $4 million in the next two years to protect pygmy rabbits and sage grouse from over development and wildfires in Eastern Washington. To that end, the agency is moving ahead with plans to spend $2.35 million to restore and protect shrubsteppe habitat and an additional $1.5 million, to rebuild “wild life-friendly” fences. Fish and Wildlife officials said they will work with other natural resource agencies and “diverse stakeho...
RITZVILLE — Flags will be put up to honor veterans in observance of Memorial Day at 10 a.m. Friday at the Ritzville Memorial Cemetery, followed by placement of flags at the Lutheran Cemetery, according to Jeff Kissler of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Kissler said Monday morning, the flag will be flown at half-staff until noon, when the flag will be raised to full-staff until sunset, in accordance with the tradition of honoring the nation's battle heroes. Kissler will play t...
