Your Hometown News Source
Your Hometown News Source
Sorted by date Results 176 - 199 of 199
POMEROY-The Garfield County Hospital District (GCHD) discussed contracting with Allevant Solutions, LLC for consulting services to strengthen the swing bed program, and get help with strategic planning during Board of Commissioners meeting Monday, December 2. Allevant was scheduled to present an audio presentation at the meeting, but experienced technical difficulties which prevented them from making the presentation. It will be rescheduled at a later date, most likely at an open public meeting of the hospital district. Board Chairman, Cindy...
POMEROY-Superintendent Rachel Gwinn reported that the current enrollment is 301 students, at the recent board meeting on November 25. The budget planned for a student enrollment of 290. The school board members have been assisting Gwinn in updating school board policies to meet current required laws for the state of Washington. The question of the one-year term for board chairperson. Bart Gingerich has been serving as chairman beyond the one-year term due to the fact that other members of the board were all new appointees, and had little...
POMEROY-Wrandall Brenes-Morua, Outside Plant Director for Pocket iNet, attended the Port of Garfield Commissioners regular monthly meeting Tuesday, November 19, to discuss the fees that the Port will be charging internet service providers (ISPs) for hook-ups to the broadband system for consumers, and who will be responsible for paying for the construction of the drop to each location of hook-up. The commissioners had decided at the previous week’s meeting on November 14, that the one-time, non-recurring hook-up fee would be set at $40 to the IS...
POMEROY-Director Rachel Anderson and Operations Manager Jeff Ruchert outlined how the passage of Initiative 976 in November will affect the operations and budget of the GCTA for 2020. Any plans or projects not already in place will not be funded, such as the purchase of two new vans, Anderson said. A plan was made for a van pool to benefit commuters making daily trips to the same location, such as the Lyons Ferry Columbia Pulp facility. Two vans had been procured through a grant, but with limited funds, will not be possible. The GCTA stands to... Full story
POMEROY–High School freshman Lane Shawley, in his first year of saddle bronc competitions, went to Ogden, Ut., to qualify for competition in the Junior World Finals (formerly known as the Junior National Finals Rodeo) taking place on December 5 and December 7, 2019. If he makes it to the "short go," he will stay to compete again on December 9. The competitions will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center South Halls. Shawley has been competing in rodeos since he was about four years old, b... Full story
POMEROY-At the recent Garfield County Commissioners meeting on November 18, representatives of the 2020 Census for the United States Census Bureau, Terry Nealey and Juan Sanchez, visited with the commissioners to discuss the importance of getting every citizen in the County to participate. Sanchez is in charge of the activities of the 2020 Census for Walla Walla, Columbia and Garfield Counties. Nealey stated that there is $2,000 per person in federal funding available for rural counties, but to access the maximum amount of funding, each person...
POMEROY-The Garfield County Commissioners are currently working to set budgets for each department for 2020, and most of the meeting on Monday, November 25, 2019, was spent in budget discussions. Grant Morgan, Public Works and County Roads Director, presented his preliminary budget report, with the statement that he is still working on some adjustments and expects to have the final budget ready for the next meeting on December 2. Martha Lanman, Garfield County Health District Administrator, also presented a budget for the Health District, citin... Full story
POMEROY- The Fire District commissioners signed a resolution certifying the new levy amount for 2020, which has increased by 1% over the 2019 amount of $435,996.30. The new levy amount, which also includes an increased collection amount for $691,200 in valuation for new construction at $0.71 per $1,000, will be a total of $440,849.98 for the fire district. Wellens Farwell Inc. site Superintendent Severin, met with the Garfield County Fire District Commissioners November 12, to discuss the progress made on the new fire station facility and poten... Full story
POMEROY-The budget for 2020 was the focus of most of the discussion at the Garfield County Hospital District (GCHD) Board meeting Monday night, November 4, 2019. With the outcome of the special levy approval or disapproval by voters yet to be determined, the co-CEO, Mat Slaybaugh reported the budget amounts set by the finance committee; however, only balance sheet totals were presented and discussed, prompting questions from board members public attendees. Slaybaugh stated that the budget for... Full story
POMEROY-At the first Garfield County Commissioners Meeting for November 4, 2019, most issues discussed centered around budgeting for 2020, including pay increases, and consideration of expenses for the new year. The The County Employees Group for 2020 Wages and Benefits agreement was approved by group representatives and the commissioners at the October 28, 2019 meeting, then signed November 4. Rachel Anderson, Director of Aging and Long-Term Care (ALTC), submitted 2020 budget information, a... Full story
POMEROY-Diana Ruchert, Port of Garfield Director discussed the County’s request to include the Fairgrounds in the first phase of the Port’s Broadband System project during the regular County Commissioners’ meeting on October 28. The Port is utilizing grants funds awarded by the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB), to complete Phase 1. This will allow the extension of the fiber network to the intersection of Gould City Road and Highway 12, which does not include the Fairgrounds. After completing the network design process and recei... Full story
POMEROY-The 2019 fall High School parent-teacher conferences were held at the gymnasium in arena-style for the first time. Tables were arranged around the gym floor for each teacher. Parents were invited to come visit with teachers on Wednesday, October 30, from 2–7 p.m. and on Thursday, October 31 from 12:30–4 p.m. No appointed times were necessary. This gave parents the opportunity to talk to each of the teachers at one location and at one time. High School Principal Amy Miller said that the... Full story
POMEROY-At the regular Pomeroy School District Board Meeting, Thursday evening, October 24, 2019, Tyson Kimble, ASB Class Representative, reported to the board about the upcoming Homecoming activities scheduled for the week of October 27, 2019, starting on Sunday with hallway decorating. Each high school class was assigned a portion of the hallways and chose a U.S. state to use as their theme. The decorations will serve as a competition between the classes. The rest of the week is filled with games and activities, such as Junior Varsity...
POMEROY- Danika Gwinn, Clinical Director of Quality Behavioral Health (QBH), serving Asotin and Garfield Counties, informed the Garfield County Commissioners that a new law now allows for suspension of gun rights for six months for mental-health patients that must be detained by law enforcement; and if detained for more than 14 days, the right to own firearms is lost forever. Substance abusers may also have gun rights suspended for six months, if detained to detox for three days. Gwinn gave an update on the services being provided by QBH...
POMEROY–Bids and materials proposals were discussed by Port of Garfield Commissioners with a proposed construction start date of January, 2020, indicated. Kara Riebold, Chief Operating Officer of the Port of Whitman County, met with the Port of Garfield Commissioners on October 15 to discuss bids received for fiber supplies, as well as the timeline to construct the Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Project, which will begin soon. Riebold has been working with the Port of Garfield to assist them in s... Full story
POMEROY-Steve Pozzanghera, Regional 1 Director with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), met with the Garfield County Commissioners on October 15, to discuss the potential purchase of 720 acres in the Grouse Flats Addition in Garfield County to be used for habitat and conservation purposes. The property being considered would be potentially part of the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area. The land is under private ownership currently, which includes two separate owners who are... Full story
POMEROY-Construction progress is being made on the new Fire Station after experiencing delays. In the past month, forms were built and cement poured giving the first glimmer of a building being erected. Fire Commissioners are still facing construction change orders and the task of making more decisions as the need arises. As construction has proceeded, contractor Wellens Farwell informed Commissioners of numerous errors and omissions in the plans. Engineer Dan Wambeke, has not been responsive... Full story
POMEROY–Chairwoman of the Board Cindy Wolf reported that she had spoken again with Jody Corona, the strategic planner working with the district during the Garfield County Hospital District (GCHD) Board meeting Monday, October 7. Corona had sent a planning packet, and Wolf went through it with her over the phone. The result was that they realized that Corona needs to work with Jim Heilsburg, Chief Financial Officer, to get a “clear financial picture.” The only other progress made with the strategic plan is that Wolf said they have narro... Full story
PULLMAN-The generosity of the Harold and Helen Shepherd Foundation was recognized and honored at the Fortieth Annual Recognition Gala held at Beasley Colliseum by the Washington State University (WSU) Foundation, September 21, 2019. About 400 or more people attended the gala where nine Honor Roll Laureates were recognized in appreciation for cumulative lifetime donations to the university in excess of $1,000,000. Gary Houser, Trustee for the Shepherd Foundation, and wife Chris Houser, accepted... Full story
POMEROY-Lillian Heytvelt, Denny Ashby Librarian, met with the commissioners regarding approval of a contract for a $5,000 Digital Heritage Grant she recently received. Previously, Heytvelt had requested that the commissioners approve the extra hours she would need to spend on the project, which would have qualified for overtime pay. The commissioners were unable to give that approval due to County rules prohibiting overtime for County employees. She explained that the grant is a pet project of hers involving the documenting of a collection of... Full story
POMEROY-The Garfield County Pheasant Release Project, spearheaded by Grant Morgan, Director of Public Works for the County, has begun its second year of providing young pheasants to repopulate the county, with the help of the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The first release for this year began September 21, 2019, and included about 450 male and female pheasants. The birds were released in various locations throughout the county, specifically near sites with public acces... Full story
POMEROY-Garfield County Hospital District's (GCHD) Board of Commissioners announced the interim co-CEOs Jayd Keener and Mat Slaybaugh were officially appointed Superintendent/Co-CEOs on Monday, September 30, 2019. Serving in the capacity as interim co-CEOs since April of 2019, they were offered permanent positions last Friday, September 27. The two will continue to work together as they have been for the past five months. the GCHD held a town hall meeting to allow the public to ask questions... Full story
POMEROY-Sam Ledgerwood, Garfield County Rancher representing the Cattleman’s Association, addressed the Garfield County Commissioners regarding the danger of cougar attacks in the county. Ledgerwood stated that the Klickitat County Sheriff has taken on the cougar issue with lethal action where danger to humans and livestock are present. He added that the Klickitat sheriff was working directly with the Chief of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), who had approved his actions. Ledgerwood wanted to know if Garfield County could do t... Full story
POMEROY-Long-time and beloved Band and Art Teacher, Marcus Pederson, presented a notice of retirement to the Pomeroy School District Board of Directors at Monday’s meeting, September 23, 2019. After 35 years of employment with the school district, it was an emotional presentation for Pederson, who had nothing but praise for the staff and administration, as well as the school board. He said he had “outlived about 10 principals and seven superintendents,” but that he “could not have asked for a better teaching position.” He will finish out the 20... Full story