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

SEPTEMBER

3). The County Commissioners approved the County Health District’s plan for this year’s “restructured” Garfield County Fair as submitted by the Fair Board with one exception: RV camping.

The Fair’s Livestock Show & Sale is a go with COVID restrictions. Attendance will be limited to pre-registered exhibitors and household members, Garfield County Fair Board members, Garfield County Market Sale Association members and support staff, but not be open to the general public.

Scout Troop 262 Pack 119 and Girl Scout Troop 4952 participated in a ceremony to remove an old flag and commemorated the new Fire Station with a new flag.

The School District opened to in-person instruction August 31, under a Health District-approved plan.

Breezy weekend tests Rattlesnake Fire containment lines. The Rattlesnake Fire is burning in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness on the Pomeroy Ranger District, approximately twenty miles south of Pomeroy and thirteen miles southeast of Dayton.

Garfield County Museum will now be open to the public each Friday beginning September 4.

10). Garfield County Hospital District is experiencing a Certified Nursing Assistants shortage, an outcome of the education shutdown due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Board has been informed the Columbia County Health District in Dayton has been holding training classes and may be open to accepting some trainees from Pomeroy.

Kyler Lovgren selected as Plant Manager at Lyons Ferry for Columbia Pulp, Lovgren, a three-year company employee, started with the company as Manager of the Maintenance department, overseeing the construction of the Pomeroy Pilot Plant.

Rattlesnake Fire Wraps up Sept. 1. Fire lines were deemed completed and the majority of crews were working their way out of the 486-acre Rattlesnake Fire

17). New Fire Chief James Cleveland started work the week of August 31, 2020, following a lengthy process of long-distance interviews, an in-person visit to Pomeroy, and moving his family of 10 across the country.

Garfield County has received notice of an additional $50,000 coming from the State as part of extended COVID-19 relief funds, bringing the total to $300,000.

Bridge and Street project completed.

Garfield County Fair adapts to COVID-19 by holding Youth Livestock Show and Sale, which is not open to the public, will take place this coming weekend September 17-19.

Grant Morgan, Public Works Director, announced that the federally funded project of the Gould City-Mayview Road is nearing completion.

24). The 2020 Garfield County Fair Youth Livestock Show and Sale was well attended by local livestock-raising youth, who were able to participate in market classes and Fitting and Showing. Logan Ledgerwood, was awarded the Grand Champion Junior-Senior Showman.

County Commissioners appointed Tina Meier as Garfield County Emergency Management Director.

Matt Herres was appointed and sworn in as the new Port of Garfield Commissioner at the September 15, 2020 meeting, filling the seat vacated by Cody Bye.

OCTOBER

1). The 2020 Garfield County Youth Show and Sale provided an opportunity for local youth to show their projects, win awards and market their livestock.

The Pacific Power Foundation donated $1,000 check for the City Park Gazebo Restoration Project. Jack Peasley, SEWDA Managing Director for Garfield County, was presented the check by Bill Clemens, Regional Business Manager.

Inland Cellular and Emerge Technologies kicks off new store with a grand opening event here Friday, September 25.

A Community Development Block Grant Agreement in the amount of $17,552, was approved and signed by the County Commissioners at the regular meeting September 28, 2020.

Columbia Pulp, LLC, has named Dustin Swartz as Safety Coordinator at the Lyons Ferry plant, who has been with Columbia Pulp for over a year as a Production Operator and Power Utility Operator.

15). Ashlyn Deatherage, Customer Representative with the Bank of Eastern Washington, received a $5,000 donation from Susie Bowles and daughters Heather and Erika Bowles for the renovation of the City Park Gazebo.

Wanted Felon, Michael Coronado, 47, was stopped in Garfield County around 8:30 p.m., Tuesday. Coronado eluded Garfield Sheriff’s deputies following a routine traffic stop on Highway 12, eventually being apprehended in Lewiston October 8, 2020.

Hospital District Co-CEO Mat Slaybaugh informed the Hospital Commissioners the Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning upgrade and CT scanner housing project budget is estimated at $3,055,000 and expected to reach approximately $3.5 million with the purchase of the CT scanner.