Articles written by Jana Mathia


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  • Inmate found dead in Whitman County Jail

    Jana Mathia, Gazette reporter|Updated Dec 30, 2020

    COLFAX — A Pullman man being held in the Whitman County Jail on charges of kidnapping, attempted murder and three counts of assault committed suicide Saturday afternoon, Dec. 26. Jose Chagollan-Flores, 35, was found hanging from a bed sheet attached to the upper bunk of his cell at 5:33 p.m., according to the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office. Correctional officers, deputies and EMTs tried to revive him, performing CPR and attempting other lifesaving measures, officials said. He was transported to Whitman Hospital, where he...

  • Burned vehicles removed from Malden fire area

    JANA MATHIA, Whitman County Gazette|Updated Nov 5, 2020

    MALDEN – More than 150 derelict and burned-out vehicles have been removed from the fire-ravaged area in the month since the Sept. 7 blaze. “The community’s really worked hard to get those cleaned up,” Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers said. The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office ran VIN numbers after the fire to get paperwork necessary to have the vehicles declared as junk and begin the removal process. Myers estimated 150 cars have already been removed and headed to recycling...

  • Manning Fire destroys two homes

    Jana Mathia, Whitman County Gazette|Updated Oct 23, 2020

    COLFAX - A fast-moving brush fire here destroyed two houses and a shop Monday, Sept. 7. Fire crews were dispatched at 10:40 a.m. for a fire on the hill west of the city where flames were reported between Cromwell and West streets. The blaze spread across the hillside and destroyed the Garcia family home on Cromwell street and the Pugh family home on Crestview Drive, officials said. The garage belonged to another family. Much of the hillside was burned, as well. Another fire...

  • Colfax hospital reduces staff hours to weather financial crisis

    Jana Mathia, Whitman County Gazette|Updated Oct 23, 2020

    COLFAX–With Gov. Jay Inslee's order for hospitals to suspend non-essential services, local hospitals are tightening their financial belts in preparation of the shutdown impacting their bottom line. "Just like everybody, we're going to have to take a hit," Whitman Hospital and Medical Center spokeswoman Laurie Gronning said. Rural hospitals are seeing very few coronavirus cases. Elective medical procedures have been shutdown. And rural residents have been told to stay away f...

  • Tractor ignites fire near Shields Road

    Jana Mathia, Whitman County Gazette|Updated Aug 27, 2020

    ST. JOHN – Twelve units responded Tuesday afternoon to a tractor fire that spread to the stubble and windrow straw the tractor had been baling. St. John Fire District responded with three trucks while District 11 supplied nine; three from Colfax, three from Steptoe, two from Diamond and one from Albion. The tractor and baler it was pulling were both a complete loss according to Steptoe Fire Chief Greg Hall. The fire also consumed 60 to 70 acres of stubble and straw. The s...

  • County health officer now recommending students study at home

    Jana Mathia|Updated Aug 9, 2020

    COLFAX — A spike this week in positive COVID-19 cases has prompted the Whitman County Health Department to consider recommending schools in Whitman County keep campuses shuttered. Nine new cases were announced today, Aug. 7, bringing the weekly total to 24, and 114 cases since the start of the pandemic. Whitman County Public Health Director Troy Henderson said 40% of the cases are non-Pullman residents. Henderson is urging the public to reverse the trend by wearing a mask, s...

  • 20-year-old Nails enters gubernatorial race

    Jana Mathia, Whitman County Gazette Editor|Updated Jun 4, 2020

    Stay home orders have prompted people to pursue a variety of activities they may not have otherwise. For Dylan Nails, 20, Colfax, that includes running for Washington state governor. "I think the youth are really underrepresented in politics," said Nails, a 2018 Colfax High School graduate. Nails is running to show that youth have something to bring to the table of politics and to promote youth involvement in government. "I definitely want to be a voice for Eastern Washington...

  • Dylan Nails

    Nails enters gubernatorial position race

    Jana Mathia, Gazette Editor|Updated May 29, 2020

    COLFAX – Stay home orders have prompted people to pursue a variety of activities they may not have otherwise. For Dylan Nails, 20, Colfax, that includes running for Washington State Governor. "I think the youth are really underrepresented in politics," said Nails, a 2018 Colfax High School graduate. Nails is running to show that youth have something to bring to the table of politics and to promote youth involvement in government. "I definitely want to be a voice for Eastern W...

  • Sprint boat race rescheduled to fall

    Jana Mathia, Gazette Editor|Updated May 22, 2020

    ST. JOHN – Sprint boat racing has been postponed until the fall due to the coronavirus quarantine rules. Webb’s Slough announced its June 20 race date has been rescheduled to Sept. 26. The sprint boat race course annually hosts two events and hopes to retain that tradition this year by moving the June 20 date which would have been the first race of the season, organizers said. “We’ll pull off whatever we can,” owner and event organizer Amanda Webb said. Due to the size of crowd the events draw, Webb has already canceled...