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POMEROY–The Port of Garfield County Board of Commissioners announced at their meeting on August 3 that the United States Department of Revenue is requiring sales tax on the fiber internet, as well as the current leasehold tax. The sales tax is 7.9% of the bill, and will be collected starting with July bills. The Port is fighting this tax legally, as it is double taxation. A bid from Chris's Professional Electric was accepted for replacing flooring in the Forest Service building. The bid is f...
POMEROY – Alyssa's Dance Studio performed their recital at the Seeley Theater on July 29. The students performed ballet, jazz, and tap dance routines. There were 64 dancers, ranging in age from three to 18 years. The community turnout packed the Seeley, from the front row to the balcony. It was the first program the Seeley Theater has put on since closing for lockdown in 2020. "Being back in the Seeley was really special," teacher Alyssa Wolf said. "It's where I did my dancing." Wolf danced d...
POMEROY–The Pomeroy School District Board of Directors (PSD) heard audience input on their decision not to renew the high school baseball coaching contract with Dave Boyer at their meeting on July 27. The decision was made to open up the position for application in order to hear fresh ideas and perspectives on baseball. "It's not a firing," Board Member Jeremy Nelson stated. "We are only opening up application." Boyer is welcome to reapply for the coaching position, and the board is confident t...
POMEROY–Maria Dispenza's music students performed a Spring Recital at the Pataha Flour Mill on May 16, their first recital since shutdown began in March of 2020. Allen and Oscar Dispenza, Sophie Miller, and Merritt Scoggin performed on the violin; Kaleb Miller, and Hollie, Allie, and Nick Van Vogt performed on the piano, and Westelle Scoggin performed vocally. Dispenza expressed her appreciation to her parents Jon and Louise Van Vogt for allowing the use of the Pataha Flour Mill and her s...
POMEROY–The Blue Mountain Artisan Guild (BMAG) unveiled the new addition to the gallery and wears of featured artists during their Fun in the Sun/Wonderful Woods show and grand opening on July 23 where over 80 visitors came to take in the wonder works of local and area artists. Fun in the Sun/Wonderful Woods show featured artists Doug Roe and junior artist Elizabeth Ruchert were present to discuss the intricacies of their craft with the show goers. In addition to the displayed artistic t...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) discussed proceedings with County Prosecutor Matt Newberg to join a multi-county lawsuit against a Washington State police reform statute at their meeting on July 26. Lewis County has filed suit against the legislation on the grounds that its requirement for a Sheriff to get the highest elected official's approval before using tear gas. This violates the balance of power in the county infrastructure and invests the board of county c...
POMEROY–The Port of Garfield Commissioners announced the successful completion of a grant application to the Washington State Department of Commerce at their meeting on July 20. The grant is for $324,000 with an $89,000 match from the Port. Fiber optic internet will be put in through Pataha, as well as covering skips in the coverage in Pomeroy– specifically from the Pomeroy Cemetery to Falling Springs Road, and creating a system for the RV parks. Other missed places will be covered as well. Por...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Health District announced the success of the creative kids program at their meeting on July 26. Program manager Jessica Nelson has been helping children tend the garden beds around the Pomeroy Elementary School. The children meet twice a month to weed the beds. The Health District is happy with the turnout. The last meeting had 10 children in attendance. Three resolutions were passed at the meeting. Resolution 2021-16 changes the dates on the consolidated contract t...
POMEROY–The Pomeroy Ranger District announced closure of all United States Forest Service land, roads and trails in the Umatilla National Forest, as well as several Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife units, including W.T. Wooten, 4-0 Ranch, Grouse Flats, Asotin Creek, and Weatherly units, at a community meeting on July 13. All persons without property in the Forest are urged to stay out of the firefighters' way. The Cloverland cabins have been placed on a level-three evacuation, S...
POMEROY–Plans to upgrade electrical and HVAC systems were terminated and adequate cash-on-hand reserves will fend off any need for a 2021 levy, Hospital Commissioners decided recently. The Garfield County Hospital District Board of Commissioners passed Resolution 2021-02 at their meeting on July 12, essentially abandoning the plan approved in Resolution 2021-01, and upgrade of electrical and HVAC systems in the hospital, as well construction of a CT scanning facility. The decision to t...
POMEROY–Garfield County Transportation Authority (CTA) announced their busses are back to 100% occupancy at their meeting on July 19. The Washington State Department of Transportation grant cycle began on July 1. The CTA is currently in the second year of a four-year-cycle grant from WSDOT, which totals $803,500 for the four years, including a 20% match. Also discussed was the upcoming budget decisions for 2022. An area that needs to be addressed is the payroll. Washington's minimum wage is s...
POMEROY–Garfield County Engineer Grant Morgan presented the 6-year-plan amendment 2021-07 at the Garfield County Commissioners meeting July 19. The amendment reallocates $100,000 that was not used on the Bell Plain Road guardrail project to the Preservation Project, a plan to fix specific paved county roads. Due to rising asphalt prices, the planned overlay will have to become a patching job. The American Rescue Plan provides Garfield County with $435,000 that comes with a requirement to o...
POMEROY–The Board of Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) announced at their meeting on July 12 that the County Road crew and public works will be assisting with water hauling to the Asotin Creek Fire in the Umatilla National Forest. Commissioner Justin Dixon and County Engineer Grant Morgan attended a meeting to discuss the logistics directly following the Commissioners meeting. The Garfield County Fairgrounds hay crop totaled 15.55 tons. The price was $90 a ton, equaling $1,399.50 for the e...
POMEROY–Fiber optic internet in Pomeroy, classified as Phase 1, has been hooked up to most of the homes, Port of Garfield County Manager Diana Ruchert announced at the Port Commissioner meeting on July 6. A deadline has been established for drop payment by the Port, set for the end of the year. Beginning in 2022, drop costs in Pomeroy will be charged to the customer. Manager Ruchert will be traveling to Lacey Wash., to testify for a Department of Commerce grant to extend fiber internet to P...
POMEROY–The Pomeroy School District (PSD) board voted to change students’ community service requirements at their meeting on June 28. Students are now required to accumulate 40 hours of service between their freshman and senior years, with a minimum of five and a maximum of 15 hours per year. The earlier requirements were 60 hours, with 10 required their freshman and sophomore years and 20 required their junior and senior years. The PSD board also set parameters for qualifying work, to avo...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Fire District No. 1 Commissioners approved a budget addendum resolution for $22,000 at a special meeting on June 29. The Fire District has so far received $22,000 in grant funds this year, and the budget addendum is to shuffle the grant money into budget line items depleted by non-planned expenses. These expenses include a three-year audit, purchase of new power cot and two stair chairs, and the purchase of a LUCAS device for the back-up ambulance. The budget a...
POMEROY–Rachel Gwinn, Pomeroy School District Superintendent, presented Community Leadership awards from the Washington Association of School Administrators to the Garfield County Hospital and Health districts at the Garfield County Commissioners meeting June 28. She expressed her sincere thanks for the Hospital and Health districts' leadership in keeping the elementary and Jr./Sr. high schools open during the past school year. The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) approved a State E...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Health District board approved resolutions at its meeting on June 28. Resolution 2021-13 is a data-sharing agreement with the Washington State Department of Health, allowing counties to view the COVID-19 data of other counties to prevent duplication of treatment and administrative efforts. The data will only be shared in a secure State database with other Washington counties and will be strictly related to COVID-19. Garfield County Commissioner Justin Dixon e...
POMEROY–Pomeroy Assist: Garfield County Humanitarian Services awarded Roger Pedersen a plaque expressing their deep appreciation for his generous and long-time service to Pomeroy during the board meeting on June 17. Pedersen was born and raised in Seattle and received undergraduate schooling from Edmonds Christian College in Edmonds, Wash., located just north of Seattle. He received his Doctorate and Master's degrees from Emanuel Christian Seminary in Johnson City, Tenn. After graduating the S...
POMEROY–Garfield County Sheriff Drew Hyer announced Tina Meier as a Certified Public Safety Executive at the Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) meeting June 21. Tina Meier has achieved the honor of being the first member of the Garfield County Sheriff's Department to become a Certified Public Safety Executive. Meier received her certification at a training in Florida through the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials. The BOCC also discussed a payroll tax opt out o...
POMEROY–The Port of Garfield County Commissioners passed the Pataha Creek RV Park rate schedule Resolution 2021-4 at their meeting on June 15. This resolution implements the rate schedule change for the Pataha Creek RV Park made by the Port commissioners on May 18. It removes the monthly rate to leave only daily and weekly rates and states a maximum stay of 30 days. The rate change will be effective on July 15, at which date counting toward maximum days will also begin. The resolution emphasizes...
POMEROY–Hailstones from the storm that occurred on the night of June 14 were brought to the East Washingtonian office by George Scoggin. Of these stones, some are the size of a quarter. Rain, hail, and lightning were reported around Garfield County. Near Umatilla National Forest seven hundredths of an inch was reported....
POMEROY–Garfield County Memorial Hospital Co-CEO Mat Slaybaugh introduced the new Chief Financial Officer Lance Spindler at the monthly meeting on June 7. Presently, Spindler is here for the remainder of June, then return to his hometown of Soldotna, Alaska, and work remotely. Soldotna lies 150 miles south of Anchorage, situated on a river. "It's the best salmon fishing in the world." Spindler said. He will return to Pomeroy to work in-house a few days each month. "The hospital is now open f...
POMEROY–The Pomeroy City Council announced their plan for painting the gazebo at the Pomeroy City Park starting this week at their meeting on June 8. They will be using paint especially engineered for cement and Garfield County Engineer Grant Morgan has offered the use of the county's paint sprayer. Results for the recent Low to Moderate Income survey were revealed by Jack Peasley of South East Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA). He stated the survey that was conducted on f...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) signed a bi-annual Voluntary Stewardship Program contract for 2021-2023 at their meeting on June 14. Contract K2210 between Garfield County and the Washington State Conservation Commission will provide $50,000 to producers and $35,000 for program management. The commissioners also signed a Critical Area Ordinance that was approved by the planning commission on May 17. It is intended to protect areas designated as critical by the p...