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POMEROY–Local FFA member Kendall Dixon was chosen as a National FFA finalist for her Agri-Science fair project; while others honed livestock evaluation skills placing as first-place team. The FFA Agri-Science fair event recognizes student researchers studying the application of agriculture scientific principles. Dixon chose to evaluate the hair growth in show steers given the application of two different hair growth sprays commonly used on show steers. She completed this project throughout t...
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...
GARFIELD COUNTY–The Green Ridge Fire within the Wenaha-Tucannon wilderness remains at 61% contained over a 43,694-acre area. The July 7, 2021 lightning-caused fire continues to be minimal, particularly with recent cooler temperatures and some light precipitation. The interior smokes remain visible as unburned fuels are consumed, primarily on the southwest corner of the fire near Godman Guard Station and to the south and southeast within the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. Firefighters continue to patrol and mop up all containment lines on the west,...
OLYMPIA–Washington State Parks has rescheduled its public meeting to share recommendations for long-term recreation and land use for three state parks in southeastern Washington. The meeting, originally scheduled for Oct. 5, will take place virtually on Tuesday, Oct. 19. Additionally, two in-person meetings will be held next month in two southeastern Washington towns. The parks, Palouse Falls, Lyons Ferry and Lewis and Clark Trail, are located in Franklin, Whitman and Columbia counties. State park planners and area field staff will host m...
GARFIELD COUNTY–Medicare Part D open enrollment begins October 15, ending December 7. This is the time to come into Aging and Disability Resource Center and look into your options for part D. It is also an idea to check any prescription cost or deductible changes. To set an appointment for a review, make appointments at 509-843-3563. The office is located at 695 Main St. in Pomeroy, Wash....
PORTLAND, Ore.–The National Forests of Oregon and Washington in Region 6 of the USDA Forest Service are transitioning their firewood program to become a free use firewood program to the public. Those who receive free use firewood permits may use firewood for cutting, manufacturing, handling, or other processing, but not for resale. Charge permits are available for individuals who wish to resell firewood. The regional minimum rate for firewood charge permits remains unchanged at $5 per cord. “We are pleased to be able to offer free personal-use...
POMEROY––A Pomeroy volleyball player has tested positive for covid and the Saturday October 9 volleyball match against Tekoa-Rosalia has been canceled, according to Toddette McGreevy, Athletic Director. School officials sought guidance from the Garfield County Public Health Department on Friday and, according to the Health District's Martha Lanman, those players who are fully vaccinated may return to school and practice on Monday, Oct. 11, masking and watching carefully for symptoms. Those who...
POMEROY–The City of Pomeroy’s water supply may present a problem to future expansion of residential inventory, the City Council heard at the conclusion of a continued meeting on September 20. In other business, the Council unanimously approved allowing retailer Dollar General to connect to city water and sewer. Nearly one-third of the city does not meet requirements for future growth, reported Jack Peasley, of Southeastern Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA), who recently attended the Department of Commerce annual meeting. Imp...
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,...
DAYTON–Yesterday, Sunday, September 26, the fire continued to have minimal fire behavior, with a few interior smokes observed on the southwest corner of the fire near Godman Guard Station. Firefighters continued to patrol and mop up all containment lines. Where containment lines are secured, firefighters also completed suppression repair (such as constructing water bars to help reduce erosion potential and mastication to improve roadways used for containment lines) based on identified rehabilitation needs. Crews also continued backhauling (...
WASHINGTON D.C.–The 2020 Census used the required two separate questions (one for Hispanic or Latino origin and one for race) to collect the races and ethnicities of the U.S. population following the standards set by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in 1997. Building upon our research over the past decade, we improved the two separate questions design and updated our data processing and coding procedures for the 2020 Census. This work began in 2015 with research and testing c...
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 2021 Hall of Fame Honoree, Sandy Barr, was presented a plaque by Suzanne Grove during the Cowboy Breakfast at the Spinners Maple Hall last Saturday, September 18. Barr served as Garfield County Fair volunteer since arriving to Pomeroy in 1994, first in the flower barn, then the Home Economics department as baking superintendent then back to the flower barn as superintendent. "Sandy is a true and faithful supporter of our Garfield County Fair," said Linda McKeirnan. "I love the G...
OLYMPIA–Washington State University’s Division of Governmental Studies and Services (DGSS) has recently concluded an exhaustive study of Washington State Patrol (WSP) traffic contacts from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2019. The complete study will be released to the public later this month, once internal distribution is complete. DGSS examined enforcement decisions, searches, and citation and arrest rates, as well as the “hit rate” of found contraband substances for over 7M WSP contacts during the years studied. This included over 3....
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...
STARBUCK–Columbia Pulp LLC and Ag Energy Solutions, Inc have announced an agreement to partner in the processing of wheat straw from the Columbia Pulp facility through the Ag Energy Solutions biomass processing platform. The output from this processing is a form of high-quality biochar, branded Carbon Logic, to be utilized as a soil amendment proven to increase crop yields in some varietals by up to 60% as well as for carbon sequestering initiatives. “Sustainably utilizing residual wheat straw in the production of innovative, natural pro...
WASHINGTON D.C.–The 2020 Census showed that the adult (age 18 and older) population group grew 10.1% to 258.3 million people over the decade. "More than three-quarters, 77.9%, of the U.S. population were age 18 and over," said Andrew Roberts, chief of the Sex and Age Statistics Branch in the Census Bureau's Population Division. "The adult population grew faster than the nation as a whole. By comparison, the population under age 18 was 73.1 million in 2020, a decline of 1.4% from the 2010 Census." Changes to the adult and under-age-18 population...
POMEROY–It's "Country Fun in 21" at the Garfield County Fairgrounds this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 17–19 at 10 a.m.–5 p.m. The public is invited to come experience the return of the Garfield County Fair after a COVID-restricted event last year. In the usual way, there will be livestock and kids, food, music, good times and laughter. To add variety, Izzy the Camel from Prescott, Wash., and Smiley the Clown, among other entertainments, will be there to enhance the festive atmos...
POMEROY–The Hall of Fame Fair Honoree 2021 Sandy Barr will be recognized at the Chamber of Commerce annual Cowboy Breakfast at Spinner's Maple Hall on Saturday, September 18 at 6:30–9 a.m. The Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce's annual tradition of honoring a long-time Garfield County Fair volunteer will be held at the Spinner's Maple Hall on Saturday, September 18. This year's honoree, Sandy Barr, will be recognized as this year's 2021 Hall of Fame Fair Honoree. The Cowboy Breakfast includes a ful...
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 Snake River Pistolers held a mounted shooting event at the Garfield County Fairgrounds rodeo arena on September 11. Twenty shooters ran through four stages of competition, each with a different pattern of target balloons. Tara Gokey of Ellensburg, Wash., was the winner. The mounted shooters used black powder blank loads to burst the balloons, Snake River Pistolers president Debbie Bishop explained. The course was set with two colors of balloons. The five white balloons were set in v...