Bulletin column - March 4, 2010

These reports are from the previous four issues of the Daily Bulletin in Colfax. They are reprinted here for the benefit of Gazette readers who reside outside of Colfax. Some accounts have been updated.

Mill Street parking gone

Virginia Sanders, who resides in the historic Hollingsworth house in the N. 400 block of Mill Street, told the city council at a city council meeting March 1 the city’s rebuild of that section of the street eliminated parking spaces in front of her house. Sanders said the removal of parking has been a hindrance in her efforts to sell the house which has six apartment units.

The revised alignment of Mill Street developed diagonal parking spaces along the courthouse side for the sheriff’s office and diagonal parking in front of city hall. Adding those parking spaces eliminated spaces on the opposite side of the street, including spaces in front of Sander’s apartment house.

Sanders, who has had to install a new utility line to the apartment, said contractors had to cope with the lack of street space in front of her building and at one point were asked to move their truck because motorists complained of blocked vision.

Councilman Jeremiah Roberts agreed with Sanders’ assessment of the N. Mill project. Roberts, who joined the council after the N. Mill project was finished, said he considered the design “absolutely flawed.”

Trial dates set for Estes

A May 17 trial date was set in superior court Friday for Monte Dale Estes, 53, the first suspect arrested in a sheriff’s investigation of burglaries and drug use in the Oakesdale/Farmington area. Estes Feb. 26 pleaded not guilty to manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and possession of stolen property in the second degree.

Moscow attorney Charles Kovis filed notice with the court that he is now representing Estes.

Estes, who was arrested Feb. 8 after deputies arrived at his residence with a warrant, has been allowed pre-trial release on his own recognizance.

Two apply for city seat

Todd Vanek and Albert Vorderbrueggen have applied for the Colfax City Council seat which was vacated by the resignation of Kathy Wride Feb. 16. A 15-year Navy veteran, Vanek has resided in Colfax for more than eight years and is employed by Decagon in Pullman.

Vorderbrueggen has resided in Colfax for 15 years and is now employed as an assistant operations manager for the Spokane Parks Department.

City Council members plan to decide on an appointment at their next session, March 15. Both candidates filed Monday, deadline date to apply for the open city seat.

Hervey pleads not guilty

A not guilty plea was formally entered in court Feb. 22 for Franklin Hervey, Garfield resident who has been charged with second-degree burglary as the result of a sheriff’s office investigation of area burglaries. Hervey’s plea was presented to the court by Mark Moorer, Moscow attorney who also provided a notice informing the court he will represent Hervey in the case.

Hervey, who has been mentioned in other arrest reports connected with burglaries in the north county area, has been charged with one count of second degree burglary.

Murphy bail set at $50,000

A bail of $50,000 was set for pre-trial release of Gerald W. Murphy, 42, Colfax resident who was arrested early Feb. 27 after fighting with police at his Park Street residence.

Murphy was booked on probable charges of five counts of third degree assault, disarming an officer, felony harassment and obstructing an officer.

A report filed with the arrest alleges Colfax Officer Perry Tate, five deputies, and one state trooper were involved at the arrest scene when Murphy was eventually subdued on the porch of his residence.

Murphy sustained deep lacerations on his arm when he broke out the front window of his residence. He was taken by ambulance to Whitman Hospital for treatment of the cut before he was booked into jail.

The sheriff’s report of the arrest said two Taser shots and a bean bag shotgun blast had to be used to subdue Murphy.

Langley band books Siesta

A total of 55 high school jazz musicians and adults from Langley, B.C., departed Sunday, Feb. 28, after spending three nights in Colfax at the Siesta Motel. The band booked all the rooms and apartment unit at the Siesta more than six months ago to compete in the University of Idaho jazz festival.

The Best Western in Colfax provided lodging for Sequim and Eastlake bands who were also in town for the festival.

Sunday morning, musicians, singers and leaders from Sitka, Alaska, made a breakfast stop at Rosauers in Colfax. Sitka, which brought more than 50 musicians to the festival, competes every-other year. They were enroute to Spokane for a flight to Seattle where they were booked on a direct flight home. The festival trip culminates two years of fund raising for the trip which costs approximately $2,000 per student.

Banner ballot sites open

Ballots for the people’s choice contest for the third annual Colfax Arts Council contest have been posted at Cottage Gate, Ace Hardware, Flowers and More..., Tick Klock, Top Notch, City Hall, Grange Supply, Cougar Mart, Tocatta Blues and the Quilted Moose. A donation jar for the prize to winning artists in the youth and adult divisions is located at city hall. The contest will conclude tonight, Thursday, with a reception for the artists at the family room of First Baptist Church.

Pipe said used in assault

Jared Stratton, 32, Diamond, was booked into the county jail Feb. 26 on probable charges of felony assault by Colfax Assistant Chief David Szambelan. Stratton allegedly struck the victim with a length of pipe outside of the Corner Chevron.

Szambelan said Stratton initially appeared at the police office at about 8:15 a.m. Feb. 26 with a bloodied face and reported he had been assaulted outside of the Chevron Station.

Szambelan said he went to the lot later and learned from independent witnesses that Stratton had initiated a fight which stemmed from a prior disagreement between the parties. Witnesses said Stratton started the fight and the victim struck him in the face in self defense. Stratton then allegedly took a length of pipe out of the back of his truck and hit the alleged victim in the leg.

Two deputies assisted in arresting Stratton who had returned to the lot. Szambelan said the fight apparently erupted when the two parties encountered each other by chance outside of the station.

Stratton has been released from jail on his own recognizance.

Dog license renewals

Annual renewal of dog licenses began March 1 at city hall and continue through March. License fee is $5 for spayed dogs and $12 for unspayed dogs.

Colfax issues dog license renewals in March to separate the process from other end-of-year tasks which hit city hall in January. Dog license sales for the prior year totaled 374.

Drug arrests at Colfax

Three suspects were arrested along Highway 26 at Colfax last Wednesday morning, Feb. 24, on probable charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. The trio was stopped after officers received information that the trio was bringing drugs here for distribution in the Pullman/Colfax area.

Arrested were Shad J. Miller, 36, Moscow; Derek Bonato, 28, Pullman, and a 16 year-old girl.

Miller and Bonato were booked into jail. The juvenile, who officers allege hid narcotics in her bra, was transported to Martin Hall.

According to a report filed in court with the arrests, officers received tips from informants that Bonato planned to make a trip to Moses Lake and bring back a supply of methamphetamine. The car was stopped at a parking lot along the Walla Walla Highway entry into Colfax. The task force had obtained a warrant in advance of making the stop and subsequent search.

Bond for pre-trial release was set at $50,000 for Bonato in a first appearance in court Wednesday. Martin was allowed release on his own recognizance.

Driver hits guardrail

Dennis J. Cohoon, 60, Endicott, was unhurt Feb. 23 when the pickup truck he was driving went out of control and hit the guardrail along Highway 23 about 2.3 miles east of St. John. The Washington State Patrol report said Cohoon was driving a 1990 Ford F 250 southbound at 2 a.m. and drifted off the right side of the highway and struck the guardrail.

Lawrence trial delayed

The trial of Lewis Lawrence, Moscow resident who has been charged with three counts of attempted murder, has been moved back to April 5. Lawrence, who last week waived his right to an attorney and told the court he wanted to represent himself at the trial, had been scheduled for trial Feb. 22.

He was provided with copies of reports and other evidence the state plans to use at trial, Feb. 19. Parties agreed to the one-month delay after Lawrence declined to waive his right to a speedy trail.

Lawrence was arrested last March after he allegedly stuck a shotgun through the door of a Pullman apartment and fired it, wounding one of three occupants.