2020 – Year in Review

Editor’s Note: Due to space constraints, this annual look back at the year just completed will be made in installments over the next several weeks.

–Charlotte Baker

MARCH

5). The new Garfield County Transportation Authority (GCTA) cutaway bus purchased through a Washington Department of Transportation (WDOT) grant for $73,328 is now ready for service.

The Garfield County Commissioners discussed flood damage estimates of $240,500 from storms and runoff occurring February 6-7, 2020.

Garfield County Commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed subdivision of the Bryan Canyon Estates Subdivision Plat.

Chairman of the Garfield County Hospital District (GCHD) Board of Commissioners, Cindy Wolf, addressed the Garfield/Pomeroy Community Economic Development Form about the upcoming $860,000 levy April 28.

12). After 37 years of service, Garfield County Auditor Donna Deal presented a letter of retirement to the County Commissioners March 2, 2020.

Sara Lunsford of the Garfield County Fair Board asked Commissioners for opinions on the proposed age limits for exhibitors of hogs at the fair.

A special ceremony was held in the Columbia County Courtroom on February 28, in honor of Karl Burnstad, a seven-year-old, who was presented with a Lifesaving award for saving his mother Tracy’s life during a medical emergency last November.

The Pomeroy High School Lady Pirates brought home a third-place trophy from the State Tournament in Spokane last week, their hopes of making a third consecutive appearance in the championship game derailed by an upset loss to league rivals Oakesdale.

19). If You Have a Fever, Stay Home. Martha Lanman, Health District Administrator, announced that there have been no suspected cases of the coronavirus in Garfield County to date. Also, there are no cases that have tested positive in Spokane, Whitman or Asotin Counties. Walla Walla County tested eight potential cases, which all tested negative.

Until further notice, Garfield County Hospital District (District (GCHD) co-CEO Mat Slaybaugh has announced that a no-visitor policy has been instead during the Coronavirus pandemic, effective March 13.

County Commissioners approved the hiring of Shaniece Korrell.

Superintendent Rachel Gwinn met with the County Commissioners, County department heads and Health District Administrator Martha Lanman and reported that the schools will be closed by order of Governor Inslee, for the next six weeks, March 17, 2020 to April 24, 2020. Distribution of breakfast and lunch items will continue for students on free-and-reduced lunches.

26). Long-time Pomeroy resident Joe Dixon and the Thayer family, T.R., Marie, her teenage daughter Bella, and three dogs, who was residing with Dixon in his 1261 Pataha Street residence, were unhurt last Saturday March 21, after fire consumed the residence. Funds have been established to aid Dixon and the Thayer family, whose belongings were lost in the fire.

Evening Star Lodge No. 30 Steve Kazda, Secretary, and Ron Kessler presented two Bikes for Books awards to fifth grader Vinny Vecchio and first grader Emmerson Taylor.

Washingtonians are under a two-week, statewide “stay home” order, announced by Governor Jay Inslee last Monday.

Columbia, Fifth and Sixth Street project sheds cost. Dry wells, which had been part of the Columbia Fifth and Sixth Street project costing upward of $529,000, have been eliminated from the plans and inlets are now designed to tie into the existing storm system.

The Board for the Hospital District voted 3-1 to conduct the Special Levy election as originally scheduled, April 28, with ballots to be mailed out April 10, 2020.

APRIL

2) Garfield County negative for Coronavirus so far; District Administrator Martha Lanman, briefed the Commissioners during their teleconference meeting March 23, stating five COVID-19 test were given in Garfield County, with negative results and two pending.

Superintendent Rachel Gwinn announced at the District meeting March 23, enrollment was up to 307 for the month of March, which was an increase of six new students from February.

The Garfield County Hospital District recently decided to go ahead with the April 28, 2020, election to decide the fate of the special levy.

9). In response to the CoVID-19 pandemic, Garfield County Commissioner Justin Dixon stated Garfield, Columbia and Walla Walla Counties applied for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through the Washington State Department of Commerce and received $53,000 of the $8.1 million fund.

Garfield County, one of two Washington Counties with zero COVID-19 diagnoses. Garfield County Public Health tested ten suspected cases of COVID-19 locally with ten returned negative as of April 6.

An outpouring of community support for the family of 2019 Pomeroy High School graduate Makayla Miller, who was fatally injured in an off-road vehicle accident in Texas March 29, adorns windows of businesses up and down Pomeroy’s Main Street.

The Pioneer Association canceled Spring Tour and Pioneer Day activities.

Honors and recognition of members of the Lady Pirate Girls Basketball team, as would have been presented at an awards banquet, is featured in a tribute from Coach Tai Bye.

The local All Class Reunion Committee has decided to cancel the reunion planned June 12, 2020.

16). City Planning summer Projects. Michelle Bly of TD&H Engineering provided a report on the Sixth Street Bridge Project through email and joined meeting by phone answering questions concerning the report and stated that the project as-built diagrams, are ninety percent complete. The remaining item left to perform is paving, which will be coordinated with the Columbia Fifth to Sixth Street project.

The community turned out to recognize and support the Pomeroy High School Class of 2020–social-distancing style! The call went out over social media for a tail-gater “flash mob” at Lybecker Field, where members of the senior class were parked and received the adulation of community members as they drove by with horns honking , lights flashing and plenty of spirited support to go along with it.

School District plans for extended shutdown. Governor Inslee and the State Superintendent of Schools, Chris Reykdal, Monday, April 6, 2020, announced that all Washington school districts will not reopen for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, an extension from the previous date of May 4, 2020.

Lawn service business essential or not? County Commissioners favorably consider lawn service as an essential service to the community and social distancing can be maintained through advanced preparations.

Hospital District co-CEO Jayd Keener stated the clinic now has a screening process to ask incoming patients several questions at the door before entering the reception area.

Wrestlers recognized for season’s accomplishments. Will Winona competed in the 182-lb division and was honored with the Coach’s Award, Braedyn White was honored as Most Valuable, Most Inspirational and team captain, Team Captain Carlos Norris, a co-op wrestler from Dayton-Waitsburg, in the 138-class, finished fourth in State.

23). County Commissioners received a letter from Garfield County Interim Fire Chief Kyle Person, dated April 5, 2020, in response to an official complaint made by Commissioner Justin Dixon on March 28, 2020, that an unpublicized special meeting had been conducted after the governor’s order prohibited face-to-face meetings by governmental entities.

The last payment of $94,176.33 to Wellens Farwell was made for the construction of the new fire station and the work has been finished.

A celebration of Easter, despite restrictions issued by the governor, was held over the holiday weekend with two parades.

Hospital District Co-CEO Mat Slaybaugh briefed commissioners on several grant and loan opportunities that are in the works April 6. The $250,000 legislative grant has already been awarded to the GCHD for upgrades to the HVAC system at the hospital, but has been delayed.

30). Port of Garfield Director Diana Ruchert announced construction for the installation of broadband network has been shut down temporarily because of the Gov. Jay Inslee’s business closures until broadband construction was deemed essential.

Rachel Anderson, director of the Transportation Authority, announced precautions taken and service schedules changes due to the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, which included the governor mandated modifications to the public meetings. Ridership has diminished requiring a reduction in personnel and hours.

Each member of Pomeroy High’s Class of 2020 is represented with a sign on the Garfield County Courthouse lawn, courtesy of the school district, to recognize each of the graduates whose final few months of high school was taken from them by the virus shutdown.

McKenzie Lueck was unanimously appointed County Auditor by the County Commissioners on April 20 and will begin May 1, 2020. Retiring Auditor, Donna Deal referred Lueck as her replacement when she officially announced her retirement on March 2, 2020.

MAY

7). The second time was a charm for the Garfield County Hospital District. Voters in Garfield County gave the Special Election a 72.68% “thumbs up” in the April 28 count. There were 1,015 ballots counted as of Election Night with 64% voter turnout, with 7,367 voters marked “approved” and 277 rejected the measure.

School District refinanced an Unlimited Tax General Obligation Refunding Bond, saving taxpayers $113,286 over the next four years.

Commissioner Justin Dixon discussed a letter received from the Stevens County Commissioners, asking Governor Inslee and Secretary Eastman to consider allowing northeastern Washington counties to begin re-opening businesses that have been shut down due to the “Stay at Home ” requirements relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public Works Director Grant Morgan requested $12,000 to retain legal counsel to resolve a contract issue with Scarsella Brothers Construction at the Commissioners meeting April 26.

Superintendent Rachel Gwinn updated the School Board on the latest directions coming from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and the current practices put into place for Pomeroy schools.

14). Customers received notice in March the local U.S. Bank, housed in the Old National Bank location, a mainstay on Main Street, will closer June 16, 2020.

County Auditor Donna Deal officially retires after 37 years of service on April 30, 2020.

McKenzie Uto Lueck has been appointed and sworn in as County Auditor on Monday, May 4, 2020.

Superintendent Rachel Gwinn introduced an instructional plan which maintains the number of staff employed for the 2020-21 school year and a new transitional Kindergarten (TK) program.

Construction budgeted $530,000 for Fifth and Sixth Streets project. Antonich reported five bids for the 5th to 6th Street Project were received and came in and recommended Nelson Construction’s bid of $288,777.11.

County enters Phase 2. Garfield County Commisioner Justin Dixon updated the East Washingtonian about the May 8 approval letter from Secretary of Health John Leseman which informed Garfield County that it is among the five out of ten counties to re-open in Phase 2.