Week of December 19, 2024
Week of December 19, 2024
POMEROY–The Garfield County Public Health District approved several resolutions, discussed the health officer position, and discussed GCPHD programs at their meeting on Dec. 16. Dr. Daniel Kaminsky, who has served as Garfield County's health officer for several years, attended his last meeting with the GCPHD. Dr. Kaminsky extended great appreciation for the opportunity to serve and wished the department well in future endeavors. Garfield County will receive health officer services from Dr....
WALLA WALLA–Pomeroy’s Quality Behavioral Health is one of a number of nonprofits which received grants awarded by the Blue Mountain Community Foundation recently. Some $223,200 in grants were awarded to local nonprofits based in and serving the communities of Umatilla, Walla Walla, Columbia and Garfield Counties. Quality Behavioral Health received $18,000 to support operations. This focus is one way that the board and staff of BMCF are embracing Trust-Based Philanthropy – a grantmaking...
With Christmas Day just around the corner, Santa and Frosty the Snowman give welcoming waves to Daytonites and passersby...on the lush green of Flour Mill Park. Question is: will Dayton have a White Christmas, like the one Bing Crosby croons about at this time of year? According to weather forecasters with The Old Farmer's Almanac, we here in God's Country of southeastern Washington, have a "chance" of a white Christmas. East of the Cascade crest through Washington, there's that "chance," but...
PATAHA–The Annual Christmas Buffet & Concert is planned at the Pataha Flour Mill on Saturday, December 21 at 7 p.m. "Joy to the World." The community is invited to this annual event which will include dinner from 5-7 p.m., then a concert at 7 p.m. To make a dinner reservation please call 509-843-3799. "O Come, Let Us Adore Him...Christ Jesus the Lord." -Charlotte...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) held a public hearing regarding the 2025 budget, the six-year transportation improvement plan and discussed planning commission meetings at their meeting on Dec. 16. A public hearing was held regarding the 2025 budget. No public comment was brought forward. There was also no public comment regarding the six-year transportation improvement plan public hearing. Both matters will be addressed at the next BOCC meeting. The commissioners...
OLYMPIA–Sen. Mark Schoesler will return to the Senate committee that addresses agricultural issues when the Legislature's 2025 session begins next month. The 9th District senator learned he has been appointed to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee this week. Schoesler, a fifth-generation farmer who grows wheat, barley and fall peas and raises cattle, is pleased about coming back to the ag panel. For many years, his Senate leadership responsibilities prevented him from...
POMEROY–Due to Christmas and New Year’s Day falling on Wednesday this year, deadlines for the December 26 and January 2 editions of the East Washingtonian will be early. The temporary deadline for both weeks will be 5 p.m. Friday prior to each edition. For the December 26 newspaper, the deadline will be Friday, December 20. For the January 2, 2025, edition, the deadline will be Friday, December 27. Merry...
The end of a calendar year is a time of celebration. From Halloween to New Year's Day, people attend an array of parties, dinners and other gatherings. Although alcohol is not a vital component of these occasions, quite frequently adult beverages are part of the equation. And when everyone is toasting for one reason or another, it can be easy for people to lose track of their alcohol consumption. When everyone is laughing and reminiscing with drinks in hand, it can be challenging to determine...
Julie Claassen October 27, 1953–December 11, 2024 It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved wife and mother, Julie Claassen, who passed away on December 11, 2024, at the age of 71. Julie was born on October 27, 1953, in Pomeroy, Wash., to Kenny and Jeanne Price. She later moved to Spokane, where she graduated as a registered nurse from Deaconess College of Nursing. In 1975, Julie married Curt, and they moved to Tekoa, Wash., for three years, where Curt worked on the...
Every December, a familiar debate resurfaces: Are Christmas traditions rooted in paganism or pure Christian celebration? This year, it's time to set the record straight and reclaim the profound spiritual meaning behind our most beloved holiday. Contrary to popular misconceptions, Christmas is not a stolen pagan festival, but a powerful testament to Christianity's ability to transform cultural expressions into a celebration of divine love. Early Christian missionaries didn't simply replace...
Ten Years Ago December 17, 2014 Blue Mountain Artisan Guild recently hosted a "Girls Night Out" at the art center in Pomeroy. A dozen participants painted two watercolor pictures with Christmas themes, and enjoyed refreshments. The snowman paintings are now on display in the BMAG window. Twenty-Five Years Ago December 22, 1999 "What Christmas Means to Me"-Pomeroy Elementary School Third Graders-Tye Knebel: "What Christmas means to me. Christmas is about Jesus's birthday. Mary and Joseph had...
Very large ships aren't designed to go backwards. They are built as efficiently as possible to go forward, even to the detriment of not being able to easily go backward. Though some ships can go backwards, it takes expert navigating and precise use of the controls. Most require the help of tug boats. Believers have something in common with big ships. The Lord has designed us to go forward, not backward. He warned us we would face all kinds of obstacles and challenges, yet we are always moving...
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48. South wind around 6 mph. Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Saturday: Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Saturday Night: Rain likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Sunday: A chance of rain...
“A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from from one held dear, Best wishes for the coming year. These make a merry Christmas!” – John Greenleaf...
POMEROY––Three Lady Pirates scored in double figures to lead the team to a resounding 56-30 win over the Liberty Christian Lady Patriots here Tuesday, and the team edged Asotin the night before, 27-20. The Pirates are 1-0 in league and 3-1 overall. This weekend's games are at Gar-Pal on Friday with a home game Saturday versus the Nighthawks of Oakesdale. Pomeroy jumped to a 14-6 first-quarter lead and grew it to 30-16 at the break. The team continued with double-digit scoring in the second...
It's always gratifying when a major news organization cuts through the political spin and informs readers of what is really happening with government budgets. Amid loud claims of a supposed state budget deficit, a Seattle Times editorial on Sunday correctly notes that "...tax collections for public services are up." Only in the public sector is a slowdown in the rise of expected tax revenue called a "shortfall." For most of us a rise in household income of say, 8%, instead of an expected 10%,...
