Bulletin column - Dec. 9, 2010

************

Two hurt in Dusty accident

Two people were hurt Dec. 3 in a car-truck collision at the intersection of Highway 26 and Dusty Road. According to the Washington State Patrol report, John R. Appel, 60, Pomeroy, was driving a 2007 Chevrolet pickup truck south on Dusty Road and stopped at the sign on the north side of the highway at 12:25 p.m. He then started across Highway 26 as Mario L. Silva, 59, Moses Lake, was driving a 2000 Buick Regal eastbound. They collided in the eastbound lane of the highway.

Silva complained of pain in his arm and head. A passenger in the sedan, Augustina Cardena, 47, Lind, complained of a sore neck and knee.

They were transported by Colfax ambulance to Whitman Hospital & Medical Center.

Pullman car prowl charges

Four charges were filed in superior court Dec. 3 against James Warren Petershick, 28, Spokane, one of the suspects involved in a series of vehicle prowls in Pullman last winter. Petershick has been charged with taking a motor vehicle, malicious mischief, vehicle prowl and theft. He has been summoned to appear in court Jan. 7. The charges involve alleged theft of a 1992 Honda Accord which was recovered in Pullman, damage to a 2007 Chevrolet pickup truck and prowl of a Hyundai Sonata.

According to an investigation report filed with the charge, officers received a break in the case last Feb. 23 when a Spokane County Deputy assisted a woman who was at the wheel of a disabled 1994 Ford Explorer at Plaza. She told the deputy she had driven the suspects to Pullman, and officers later found items in the Explorer that were missing from vehicles in Pullman. Videos at two service stations allegedly linked the suspect with the Explorer, the report said.

Pipe fire at Hickman home

Fire crews Monday responded to a report of a heating stove pipe fire at the Hickman residence on Valleyview atop the Thorn Street hill at 6:44 p.m. A buildup of creosote in the pipe ignited. Chief Bill Hickman, who was a late arrival at the city council session Monday night because of the fire, said the pipe for the pellet stove glowed red. Volunteers sprayed water down the pipe to extinguish the fire.

Stratton arrested for burglary

Jarod S. Stratton, 33, Diamond, was arrested and booked into jail early Sunday morning on probable charges of burglary and possession of marijuana. Tools and other equipment believed to have been taken from Diamond Distributing were allegedly observed in the back of a truck.

According to a report from Deputy Sgt. Don Anderson, the items were reportedly spotted in the back of the truck by an employee of Diamond Distributing who had happened to stop to assist Stratton after his truck had slid off the Endicott Road near Thera.

The employee called his employer who came to the scene of the slide-off and delayed Stratton until officers arrived on the scene. Sgt. Anderson said equipment has been seized as evidence.

According to the arrest report filed in court Monday morning, Stratton told deputies he was transporting items to Rosalia at the request of another individual. He said he was towing a Chevrolet LUV pickup with a Dodge pickup when the Chevrolet broke loose and went off the roadway.

Driver takes out light pole

Jordan M. Byrne, 22, Puyallup, was unhurt early last Friday morning in an accident which knocked over a light pole at the Carouthers (Landfill) Road intersection with Highway 195 8.8 miles south of Colfax.

According to the Washington State Patrol report, Byrne lost control of a 1998 Ford pickup on Highway 195 at 12:20 a.m. while driving southbound in freezing fog. The truck crossed the highway, knocked over the light pole and came to a halt in the northbound ditch.

Dates set for toy box store

The Firemen’s Toy Box shopping dates have been scheduled for Dec. 15, 16 and 17 at the Colfax Fire Station. Donated toys and toys purchased by fire department volunteers with donations to the fund are arranged on tables in the fire station, and families can select the toys from the display.

Letters have been sent out to 400 needy families who qualify for participation. Families are required to return the letters to register for participation at the store.

Thanksgiving fare for 43

Forty-three people were served Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 25 at the United Methodist Church. Nine volunteers prepared the dinner which was offered free to the public. Three turkeys, a ham and 20 pounds of potatoes were among items prepared for the dinner which was served in the Church fellowship hall at 1 p.m.

Funding for the dinners comes from the volunteers and donations, according to Donna Thompson.

Next dinner scheduled to be served by the group will be a holiday dinner Dec. 30.

Cattle seizure halted

An order which stopped seizure of cattle on a Pasco feed lot to collect on a judgment for the Bank of Whitman was filed Dec. 1 in Superior Court. The move to seize the cattle was stopped when Franklin County officials contested a writ of mandamus because of what they contended was insufficient indemnity coverage for Franklin County Sheriff Richard Lathim.

The bank was allowed a $156,152 judgement last August against E. Patrick Lawler of Yakima for failure to meet payment terms on a promissory note. After receiving the judgment the bank obtained a “break and enter” order allowing it to seize Lawler’s cattle which were said to be in a feed lot in Pasco.

The Franklin county sheriff’s office originally requested a $312,304 bond with coverage for 10 years to indemnity them for potential damages in executing the order.

The bank received an alternative writ which allowed it to post $120,000 in cash in lieu of the bond. Franklin County Prosecutor Steve Lowe objected to the alternative writ. He contended Franklin officials were never notified of the court hearing in which the alternative cash posting was approved. Wednesday’s court ruling found in favor of Franklin County’s objection.

Colfax Attorney Will Ferguson, who represents the bank, said they are now considering other options for collecting the judgment. He noted the court did rule a lower indemnity bond sum would be sufficient.