Articles written by olivia harnack


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  • Man pleads in St. Ignatius vandalism case

    Olivia Harnack, Whitman|Updated Jun 6, 2022

    COLFAX — A Spokane Valley man pleaded guilty and was sentenced for charges stemming from the burglary and vandalism of St. Ignatius Hospital. Louis Hibbs, 20, of Spokane Valley, entered his guilty plea in Whitman County Superior Court during a hearing Friday, May 6. Following his plea, Judge Gary Libey sentenced Hibbs to 10 days in jail and a $1,000 restitution charge for his involvement in the February incident. He was given a 1-day credit for time served after being arrested and held for 36 hours. Hibbs was originally charg...

  • Lancers upset Colfax to win 2B District 7 title

    Olivia Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated May 25, 2022

    YAKIMA - The Liberty Lancers are taking their District 7 title into the state 2B girls fastpitch softball tournament Friday and Saturday at Gateway Park. Despite upsetting Colfax to win the district title Saturday, May 21, the girls from Spangle, Waverly and Fairfield are seeded No. 7. They will open state play against No. 10-ranked Rainier at 10 a.m. on Field 2. Meanwhile, the Colfax Bulldogs are seeded No. 5 into the state tournament. Colfax opens against No. 12-ranked Golde...

  • Fairchild 'fueled' my excitement for the military

    Olivia Harnack|Updated May 19, 2022

    As a young lady in her infancy of writing news, and in the process of enlisting in the U.S. Army, my experience while flying with the Thunderbirds last Thursday in advance of Skyfest was unimaginable. A caravan of press arrived at Fairchild Air Force Base on Thursday, May 12. The 0700 — that’s 7 a.m. in military time — arrival riddled me with excitement, despite the lack of coffee fueling my usual caffeine addiction. I shook with excitement and chill as the wind blew past...

  • COLD CASE: 50 years later, student's death remains unsolved

    Olivia Harnack, Whitman County Gazette|Updated Apr 29, 2022

    PASCO — Joyce Margaret LePage was born Dec. 4., 1949, into a farming family that lived just outside the city. As an athletic and intelligent student, her decision to attend Washington State University was not a surprise to the LePage family. The family had several ties to the university in Whitman County. But Joyce would not graduate. In fact, Joyce would never grow beyond the age of 21 years old. In the summer of 1971, the WSU junior disappeared without a trace. Nine m...

  • Fuel price increase hitting farmers

    Olivia Harnack, Cheney Free Press|Updated Apr 11, 2022

    RIZVILLE – “We’re north of a dollar more in diesel than where we were before the invasion,” Sen. Mark Schoesler began in a recent interview. Schoesler, a farmer himself, represents the 9th Legislative District, including Adams, Whitman and Franklin counties. His comments came during an interview on the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on diesel fuel and farming. Fuel prices continue to rise leaving farmers forced to save and to hope for prices to drop, he said. “I still consid...

  • Rosalia to celebrate 150th anniversary

    Olivia Harnack, Gazette reporter|Updated Mar 17, 2022

    ROSALIA – Rosalia is celebrating its 150th anniversary with the return of Battle Days and the All Class Reunion after a two-year absence. Lori Furman moved to Rosalia three years ago and immediately joined the Battle Days committee. She dedicated much of her time to the event. Furman took on the roles of secretary and treasurer for the board of directors. Battle Days have been a long-running event and is marking its 51st annual event in 2022 on June 4. “We are finally goi...

  • Kennewick woman killed in crash

    Olivia Harnack, Special to The Free Press|Updated Jan 6, 2022

    FOUR LAKES - A fatal New Year's Eve crash on Friday, Dec. 31, blocked traffic in the high-speed lanes of Interstate 90 Angela Kondratyuk, 28, of Kennewick, died of injuries she sustained in the crash near Milepost 274, the Washington State Patrol reported. Kondratyuk lost control of her eastbound 2004 Toyota Avalon and was struck by a 2021 Freightliner truck and trailer, the patrol said, noting the truck was also eastbound. Kondratyuk's car spun 360 degrees and the driver of t...

  • Frigid New Year's weekend on tap

    Olivia Harnack, Special to the Free Press|Updated Jan 5, 2022

    CHENEY – The National Weather Service is warning residents and travelers that an Arctic air mass will continue to bring frigid temperatures to the regional through the first half of the New Year's weekend. "Dangerously cold temperatures will impact Eastern Washington and North Idaho through the remainder of the workweek," the agency reported in a special weather statement released Tuesday. "High temperatures will only warm into the single digits and teens." Overnight lows are...

  • Whitman County roads closed due to snowdrifts

    Olivia Harnack, Special to The Gazette|Updated Jan 5, 2022

    COLFAX - Serveral rural roads are currently blocked due to drifting snow. State Highways 26, 127 and 194, were among those blocked due to snowdrifts on the highway. Many other rural roads were closed, too, including some where vehicles were stuck in drifts on the roadway, officials said. A Tekoa School District vehicle was among those reportedly stuck and abandoned on Warner Road. A fire truck was also stuck on Mullen Road, which connects Dry Creek Road to Hume Road. Plow crews are working on clearing the drifts, officials sa...

  • Two Blackhawks bring home bronze

    Olivia Harnack, Special to the Free Press|Updated Dec 30, 2021

    SPOKANE VALLEY -- Two Blackhawks boys brought home bronze medals Dec. 23 from the Tri-County Classic wrestling tournament. Trevor Caldwell at 113 and Black Gross at 170 were Cheney's only medalists at the tournament that attracted more than 400 grapplers. Caldwell, wrestling at 113lbs, won 7-4 and scored a total of 20.0 team points for the Blackhawks. Caldwell won his first two matches, topping Gavin McCloy (Pullman) by a 6-4 decision and pinning Diego Esparza (Gonzaga Prep)...

  • Expect delays while traveling this holiday

    Olivia Harnack, Special to the Free Press|Updated Dec 30, 2021

    CHENEY – The widespread and ever changing pandemic has Americans eager to leave home. For Christmas and New Year’s Day, AAA estimates that 109 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles or more to celebrate holidays. Facilitating travel plans and organizing itineraries for the upcoming New Year’s weekend may be stressful and with the recent strong winds and freezing temperatures, travelers can expect more flight cancellations and closed interstates, the organ...