2021 – Year In Review

Editor's Note: As the year 2021 winds down with this December 30 edition of the East Washingtonian and the last edition of its 139th year, we look back at the events and stories which occurred in the previous 12 months.

Happy New Year!

–Charlotte Baker

Editor and Publisher

JANUARY

7) Inland Cellular began fiber optic installation this week with the Jack Peasley residence on Arlington Street, Monday, all part of the Port of Garfield's initiative to establish a fiber-optic network in the city.

Commissioner Chairman Justin Dixon will continue as chairman in addition to representing Garfield County on the Washington Counties Risk Pool, Wash. Counties Insurance Fund, Blues Intergovernmental Council, Snake River Salmon Recovery Board and the Noxious Weed Board. Commissioners Jim Nelson and Larry Ledgerwood received their assignments.

Inslee aims to pay for fish-barrier removal at expense of highway projects.

14) Wilbur-Ellis expands Central Ferry storage by investing $4.5 million to better serve its northwest customers with three new million-gallon tanks, with an increase in storage capacity to more than 3.5 million gallons.

A $125,000 Drug Free Communities grant was recently awarded to the Pomeroy Partners for Healthy Families. The grant will allow Pomeroy Partners to hire a full-time staff member.

Commissioners approved the Health Saving Account (HSA) contribution payment of $400 per employee per month, which will subsidize the $5,000 deductible.

Inslee has placed Washington State back to Phase 1 as of January 11, 2021. This means in all nine counties, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, Whitman, Asotin and Garfield, the infection numbers will have to meet required minimum before re-opening to Phase 2.

The Mayor Paul Miller and members of the Public Works crew wish appreciation and well wishes upon Retiring Kenny Landkammer.

21) State auditors will likely include a "finding" in their report, Chief James Cleveland informed Garfield County Fire commissioners. Auditors requested additional information, concerning a revolving account with a debit card that had been established at the former Pomeroy US Bank by former chief Kris Darby.

Two projects are underway, the Gazebo Restoration Project at the Coty Park stated on December 29 and the Fifth Street Lift Station repair projects.

Extension in the Blue Mountain region and the Columbia County Weed Board are co-hosting a virtual regional Weed Management and Cereal Grain Conference.

28) On his way through Pomeroy, Ruck for the Fallen "Heart of a Hero" walker First Sgt. Mitch Kriebel stopped at the City Cemetery and placed a coin in remembrance of Jacob Henry Demand, a friend of his who was killed in action in Iraq in 2004.

Rep. Mary Dye said about the Democrat committee passage of low-carbon fuel standard. "It is incredibly disappointing and unconscionable that at a time when Washington families are struggling to pay the rent or their mortgages and put food on the table, democrats are introducing and quickly passing bills that would significantly drive up the cost of living in our state."

Garfield County Hospital District announces vaccinations will be available by appointment only at the Dick Brown Building at the Fairgrounds every Friday beginning January 20, 2021.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) recently rolled out a tentative sports season calendar, designation three shortened seven-week seasons between February 1 and June 11.

FEBRUARY

4) The first day for the vaccine clinic, at the Dick Brown building on January 29, 2021, was moving along smoothly with 100 of the scheduled 230 doses already administered before 12 p.m. for the B1 group (65+ or multigenerational households).

New Garfield County Deputies Zachary Grumbles, Camdon Costello and Tiffany Williamson have been sworn in by Sheriff Drew Hyer.

Steve Kazda, Secretary of the Evening Star Lodge No. 30, presented bikes to the two Bikes for Books winners, Harper Fruh,, daughter of David and Lora Fruh, and Sam Wolf, son of Rick and Selena Wolf.

Senate Bill 5226, under consideration in Olympia, could further erode revenue Garfield County receives from people caught committing criminal activities. Senate bill 5226 would relax rules and fines for license suspension for failure to pay or failure to appear citations.

11) Garfield County Sheriff's Office took in to custody a male suspect, Tristan Charles Evans, 23, who was booked for Assault in the First degree on February 4, 2021.

Annalynne (Van Vogt) Gonzales graduated from Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah, with a Master's Degree in Nurse of Anesthesia (CRNA) November 23, 2020 and was honored with the Pursuit of Excellence award, a staff-nominated honor.

Captain America, a.k.a. Allen Mullins, passed through Pomeroy, January 26, on a walk to benefit military veteran Gary Jorgens. This summer, his trek will take him to 48 state capitals.

Students of the Month are Emma Severs, who is sponsored by LCCU represented by Bank Manager Ashely Dixon. Nayely Larios, who nominated receive the January Student of the Month award by Odette McGreevy and presented by sponsor McGregor Risk Management representative Curtis Evanenko.

18) Gov. Jay Inslee approved the East Region move to Phase 2 of the Washington State Road Map to Recovery February 12, 2021, which includes the Pomeroy area.

The Pomeroy School District has made a game and meet schedule for cross country, volleyball and football games will be allowed per WIAA regulations.

The City Council was informed several community entities were working on a letter to Governor Inslee regarding moving the county into Phase 2 and the status of counties in southeastern Washington, expressing the opinion that "one size does not fit all."

Findings on a State Audit that is in process were answered with additional information provided by Garfield County Fire District No. 1.

25) Melody Darby was named Youth & Family coordinator for the Quality Behavioral Health and the Pomeroy Partners coalition.

Columbia Pulp LLC will fully re-start the Lyons Ferry Pulp Plant in Columbia County sometime in early May. COVID-19 concerns in April, 2020, caused the plant shut down, leaving only essential personnel to support the facility.

The Port of Garfield County will complete its fiber-to-home project this month, capping a decade-long effort to bring high-speed internet here. Nearly 700 homes and businesses in the immediate area will have high-speed fiber services available.

Four active COVID cases were reported in Garfield County, Martha Lanman, Garfield County Health District Administrator, informed County Commissioners.

MARCH

4) Pomeroy Schools student-athletes are back, playing cross-country, football and volleyball, after an approximately 18-month absence from prep sports.

Blue Mountain Artisan Guild presented a new show featuring adult artist Crystal Winslow and junior artists from Maureen Scoggin's Elementary School art class students.

Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum officials said they are still considering holding a Spring Farming Days event during the weekend of April 2-4.

11) Sen. Mark Schoesler (R-9-Ritzville) blasted the Senate for passing a state income-tax proposal. The proposed Bill 5096 would impose a 7% state income tax on capital gains.

Proposing a $33 billion plan to breach the Lower Snake River dams–with no guarantee that salmon populations will benefit–is a drastic, fiscally irresponsible leap to take, and efforts to scare communities into thinking a judge can breach any federal dam with the stroke of a pen are just plain wrong, say members of Congress Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03) and Russ Fulcher (ID-01).

18) Fire District No. 1 will take delivery of its new ambulance, a 2021 North Star on a 2020 Ford F-450 chassis, on March 22.

City Council committed to participate in the survey with Evergreen Rural Water of Washington for the low-to-moderate (LMI) survey.

Washington is entering Phase 3 on March 22 but should be opening faster. State House and Senate Republicans announced their "Open Safe and Open Now" plan earlier this month.

Lady Pirate Cross Country runner Maya Kowatsch was Pomeroy's sole finisher last week. Kowatsch finished in 14th place with a time of 31:16.

25) A new reporter, Naomi Scoggin, has joined the East Washingtonian staff and will handle meetings and events in the community. Scoggin is the daughter of Marvin and Sarah Scoggin.

Brian Lewis is the newest member of the Pomeroy City Crew Department.

City Council has authorized a Low-and-Moderate Income (LMI) independent income survey for community residents, which will determine eligibility for state and federal grants to be used for infrastructure improvements, housing and business development.

National Ag Day Proclamation! Editor's Note: Here at the East Washingtonian, we salute our local and national producers in their efforts to continually sustain the health and wellbeing of national and the world markets, managing our most valuable commodities for today and generations to come. Hat's off for a job well done. Charlotte Baker