extra! (pgs. A5,6 - Aug. 6, 2009)

Corps gives green light to bike ramp

Colfax City Administrator Carl Thompson reported to the Colfax council Monday night that the Army Corps of Engineers has signed off on plans to rebuild the sidewalk approaches on the S. Main Street bridge. Corps approval was required for the project because the bridge spans the flood control channel for the S. Fork of the Palouse River beneath the bridge.

Thompson said corps engineers determined the proposed changes to the bridge approach ramp will not have any impact on the flood channel. The corps oversees upkeep of the channel through annual inspections.

Roy O’Neill, Colfax resident who rides his motorized wheelchair around town, has conducted a campaign to have the ramp replaced. The present ramp along the northbound lanes of the bridge are too steep. The ramp was made by cutting back the sidewalk along the bridge.

The curb drop remains on the north end of the sidewalk which runs along the southbound side of the bridge. The curb drop presents a barrier to bike riders and parents pushing strollers.

O’Neill has told the city council that he has to negotiate the ramp on the northbound side by putting his chair in reverse and backing up it. O’Neill in one instance actually tipped his chair onto the Main Street traffic lanes when he went off the ramp backwards. That accident took place while he was en route to city hall to again lobby for the ramp changes.

Thompson said Monday night the ramp revision plan will now go back to the state Department of Transportation for final approval. He added the city hopes the state will provide funding to rebuild the ramp approach. The project carries a large price tag, and the city has asked the state to help cover the expense because Main Street also doubles as the Highway 195 arterial.

O’Neill’s drive for better access along Main Street has led to grinding down sidewalks to form ramps at the intersection of Main and North Streets on the north side of the courthouse. The sidewalk curbs at that intersection were not replaced during the rebuilding of Main Street 10 years ago.

Ramps were installed at other sidewalks along Main at that time, but the sidewalks at North Street were left at full height because state designers were concerned about the integrity of the North Street Bridge at the intersection. A state boring crew determined the sidewalks could be ground down without hurting the bridge.

A state crew earlier this year used grinders to remove a portion of the sidewalk and create ramps. The changes at North Street leave the South Main Bridge crossing as the lone barrier for handicap and bicycle access along the length of Main Street in Colfax.

Women’s Golf Results for Wednesday, July 29

Lady Hackers played par golf format with Carol Evans, first; Trudi Allenbach, second; Karen Aeschliman & Sue Glaser, tied for third. Guest golfers were Steve and Cody Evans.

Women’s Golf Association: Teri Heilsberg had low gross in the A division and Dixie Brannon low gross in the B division. Velma Ulrich had low net for the Bs.

Horseshoe winners:

Results of the third annual Colfax Horseshoe Tournament: Gross: 1. Tom Levi, 2. Shawn Olson, 3. Ron Levi. Net: 1. Earl Brown, 2. Dick Olson.

Bronco AD resigns

Dwight Pflugrath has resigned as athletic director and high school boys basketball coach for the Lind/Ritzville Broncos. Pflugrath also resigned as school counselor and assistant track coach for the Broncos, according to a report last week in the Ritzville Journal.

Lind school board members also accepted the resignations of Pflugrath and that of assistant football coach Dustan Arlt under provisions of the Lind-Ritzville athletic cooperative.