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POMEROY–Local School District (PSD) Superintendent Rachel Gwinn reported at the Board of Directors September 23 meeting that the teachers and students in grades four-12 are preparing to take state tests this fall, in addition to the spring testing that has been the custom before Covid-19 changes. In the fall testing, students will take the test designed for their previous grade. The directors approved Resolutions 302 and 303, both inter-fund transfers. Resolution 302 is a $15,000 transfer to t...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Health District board of directors hired Daniel Kaminsky, M.D. of Walla Walla as the District health officer. Dr. Kaminsky is a retired OBGYN. The Health District also hired Lewis Neace, D.O. as a back-up health officer. Dr. Neace is Columbia County’s health officer. The Health District also passed Resolution 2021-23 establishing the 2021-22 Tobacco Prevention Contract with the Benton Franklin Health District, as well as Resolution 2021-22 which creates an ame...
POMEROY–After months of negotiation, the Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) signed a commercial lease agreement with the Richardson Family at its meeting on September 27. The agreement continues the arrangement that the county has had with the Richardson Family to use their radio tower for county radio needs. The Pavement Preservation Project bids that were opened at the September 21 meeting have been reviewed and the project awarded to Poe Asphalt and Pavement. Their bid was $...
POMEROY–The Port of Garfield County Commissioners signed a franchise agreement with Garfield County to ensure that any damage caused to property of the county by the Port’s Pataha fiber internet project will be covered by Port insurance. The action was taken at their meeting on September 21. The agreement is similar to the one the Port made with the City of Pomeroy during its project to bring fiber internet to Pomeroy. The Pataha internet project has all pre-contract paperwork taken care of,...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Transportation Authority (CTA) made the decision during the September 20 meeting, to design building options for the new bus garage, wash racks and office. The CTA continued their ongoing discussion about building options at their meeting on September 20. After circling through several options that didn’t meet with satisfaction, they decided that the board will design building options and present them at the next meeting. Up to now, CTA manager Rachel Anderson and...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Board of Commissions (BOCC) signed inter-local agreement and Resolution that cemented the insurance change that has been underway for several months at their meeting on September 20. Garfield County will now use the Washington Rural Counties Insurance Risk Pool. They signed an inter-local agreement that sets the contract in writing, and Resolution 2021-16 to adopt the insurance pool’s bylaws. Obenland and Low will be the agency that the county will deal with directly,...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Fire District (GCFD) approved a resolution to modify the 2021 budget to include an Assistance to Firefighters Grant for $89,000 at their meeting on September 14. The grant will be used to replace old hoses, some of which are decades old. A second grant, Staffing to Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, will go into effect starting in 2022. It is for $65,312.38, with a $3,500 match from the GCFD. The Lick Creek Fire is 100% contained, and the Green Ridge Fire is no l...
POMEROY–The Port of Garfield County Commissioners discussed the United States Forest Service's restriction on building entry at their meeting on September 7. Workers entering the Forest Service building must be vaccinated, including Port employees and contractors. The port has notified their contractors, and some business may be lost. The installment of blinds and flooring in the Forest Service building may be delayed. Several people are still signing up for broadband and the port has e...
POMEROY – The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) discussed Washington State Governor Jay Inslee's mandate at their meeting on September 13. Governor Inslee has mandated that all events with an attendance higher than 500 people require masks to be worn indoors and out. The board discussed how the mandate would affect the Garfield County Fair and decided to post signage encouraging mask-wearing, and make an announcement if the daily number of fair attendees reaches 500. Attendees w...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Fire District board of commissioners discussed the Washington State proclamation requiring state workers to be vaccinated against Covid-19 at their meeting on August 10. The deadline for vaccinating is October 14. The commissioners also discussed moving $15,029.51 from the cash pool to investment. The move will keep the cash pool at its customary $100,000. The meeting was adjourned when a trauma call interrupted....
POMEROY–The Pomeroy School District (PSD) board of directors discussed curriculum for the state required comprehensive sexual health program at their meeting on August 31. Sherry Johnson, parent of PSD students, brought the California curriculum of Check the Facts to the board's attention. Anticipating a spring application of the curriculum, the board decided to wait before making a decision on the course. "The thing I don't want to do is rush it." Board member Jeremy Nelson said. "I think we s...
POMEROY–Ladies' Night Out was held at the Church of the Nazarene on August 20. The organizer, Alia Scoggin, gathered 45 women and girls in the fellowship hall to listen to Jessica Kellogg preach. Kellogg and her husband are pastors at Awaken Church in Wenatchee Wash., and began their ministry in Pomeroy as the Church of the Nazarene youth pastors in 2003. Jessica Marchand and Ketura Richmond led several songs of worship before the message, when Kellogg spoke about releasing weights to Jesus. H...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) approved a Master Street Addressing Guide contract to employ a MSAG operative at a flat payment of $1,516.80 a month at their meeting on August 30. The money will be paid through a 911 grant. The BOCC also approved a letter of support for the Appaloosa Solar Project, based on the project's agreement with the County's vision for the future. Ackman Heating and Cooling has provided a quote for the heat pump for the Public Works Office at $...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) announced expected raised medical insurance rates at their meeting on August 23. Premera, the Washington Counties Insurance Fund vendor who has been providing medical, life, vision, and dental insurance for Garfield County, will be increasing its medical rates dramatically. The estimated 54% increase was caused by higher claims than anticipated, as well as the company underbidding the county’s needs. Life, vision, and dental rates are...
POMEROY–Concerned parents and grandparents of local children attended an Unmask Pomeroy Kids meeting at the City Park on August 18. The concern was about Washington State mandates that require children to wear masks in schools. Margo Morgan, organizer of the meeting, handed out scientific evidence of the harm that wearing masks does to children. "The goal of the meeting is to get a number of residents who want to take this farther, to get the masks off these kids," Morgan said. Unmask Our K...
POMEROY–The Port of Garfield County Commissioners discussed the status of the grants they have applied for at their meeting on August 17. The pre-contract requirements for the Washington State Department of Commerce grant to extend the fiber optic internet to Pataha are finished, including a State Environmental Protection Agency report. A National Telecommunications and Information Administration grant that the Port applied for to bring the fiber out into Garfield County was not granted, but t...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Health District announced mandatory testing for unvaccinated Pirate basketball players at a meeting on August 23. All unvaccinated basketball players will be tested twice a week, 24 hours before a competition, and three days after a competition. Volleyball will not require testing because it is classed as a 'moderate' activity, and football will not require it either because it is played outside. The Health District passed three resolutions at its meeting as well. R...
POMEROY–Pirate Football coach Kyle Kimble prepares this group of young players for a regular football. After an altered sports schedule last year, schools, parents, students and supporters are ready to return to a more traditional season. The season kicks off at home against Waterville on September 3. –EW photo by Naomi Scoggin...
POMEROY–Congressional Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, WA-5, and State Representatives Joe Schmick, R-9, Colfax, and Mary Dye, R-9, Pomeroy, discussed the current forest fire situation with local agency heads at the Pioneer Park on August 10. The representatives came to Pomeroy to hear from the local citizens on how the Lick Creek and Green Ridge fires have been handled. Several people including Garfield County Commissioner Jim Nelson and a Anatone, Wash., farmer Jay Holzmiller, stated t...
POMEROY–Pirate Ponies Equestrian Centre, operated by Tracy Burnstad and Lauren Setzer, is the newest local business to open recently, offering riding lessons for all ages. Pirate Ponies Equestrian Centre (Pirate Ponies), located at 857 Main Street in Pomeroy, is a riding enterprise run by Burnstad and her co-planner Setzer, along with Burnstad's children Karl, Evelyn, Katie, and Kevin, all of whom are involved. The business started this spring and has shown an increase in interest and c...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) agreed to allow the side-by-side obstacle course at the Garfield County Fair at their meeting on August 16. The course was brought to them for approval several weeks ago and has been under consideration. The commissioners stated that the level of risk inherently involved was not enough to prevent the activity, provided that agreed-upon standards of safety and supervision are upheld. The BOCC discussed a possible demolition and r...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Transportation Authority board discussed plans for a building remodel for their facility on Main Street. The bidding process has been difficult because the contractors are very busy. Another option on the table is to combine the CTA office with the Public Works office and use the same building. County Commissioner and board member Justin Dixon encouraged the managers Rachel Anderson and Jeff Ruchert to draw up a proposal that includes the features that they need a...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) met with local farmer Don Richardson to discuss the terms of a renewed lease for his family's radio tower at their meeting on August 9. The Richardson family has leased the tower to Garfield County for the Sheriff's and Road Crew radio. Richardson came to request an increase in compensation for Pacific Power's sublease on the grounds that it is a private industry, as well as a section to address weed issues on the enclosed grounds. The B...
POMEROY–Garfield County's National Night Out event was held at the Pomeroy City Park on August 3. It was aimed at familiarizing the community with its law enforcement personnel, and saw a full, steady turnout. The Garfield County Sheriff's Department was present, as well as the County Fire District and officers from the Washington State Patrol. "We were asked to come support the community." Jake Grandstaff of the State Patrol said. "We are glad to serve the communities we work in." A GCFD f...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Hospital District board of directors heard discussion on a policy to require staff to receive Covid-19 vaccinations at their meeting on August 2. The Washington State Hospital Association has advised hospitals throughout the state to create this policy. The policy is still in drafting stages, with no specific wording decided yet. An exemption process is planned for the employees who choose not to get a vaccine. "It's everybody's personal decision," Co-CEO Jayd K...