Bulletin Column

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.

COUNCIL APPOINTMENT

FEB. 21

Appointment of a new Colfax City Council member has been set for the next city council session, Tuesday, Feb. 21. Colfax city council members Monday night opted to consider the decision at their next meeting.

Councilman Al Vorderbrueggen, who was serving as mayor pro-tem because Mayor Todd Vanek was out of town, said the mayor wanted to be present when the appointment was made.

Both applicants, Thomas Huntwork and Jeff Didier, were present with supporters at Monday’s council session. Both were candidates for the mayor’s job in last fall’s election cycle.

The city council seat was vacated when Jeremiah Roberts resigned at the start of a new term.

City council members decided not to extend the application period. The next council session is on a Tuesday because of Presidents’ Day Feb. 20.

WATER GAIN ON NEW METER

Colfax realized almost a 1.5 million gallon savings in water use last month, but it wasn’t because residents cut down on use; it was because the city installed a new magnetic meter which gives a more accurate reading. Public Works Director Andy Rogers reported the city has installed a new Siemans Flo Mag meter in the water intake line at the pumping plant on North Clay.

During January, the new meter recorded 1,488,088 fewer gallons of water flowing into the city system than for the same month last year.

Rogers said the new magnetic style meter replaced a worn mechanical meter which used an impeller. The drop in total gallons came as a surprise. City crews expected they would see an increase because the worn mechanical meter was suspected of not measuring all the gallons that went through the intake line.

The January total for 2011 was 12,022,344, and the total for January 2012 was 10,534,255.

Cost of the new meter was $2,390, Rogers reported.

CHOIR MEMBERS GET SEVEN WINS

Colfax High School choir members brought home seven of the eight first-place awards from the SE District solo/ensemble competition Saturday at Lincoln Middle School in Pullman. Students who received the first place awards in their respective divisions to qualify for the state event in April are Lindsay Webber, soprano; Erica Eng, mezzo soprano; Katie Largent, alto; Kelsey Nails and Brent Conrad, mixed duet; Webber and Largent, treble duet.

Treble ensemble members were Ali Shirley, Kirbee Barney, Lizzy May, Kindra Kneale, Holly Rimbey and Eng. The mixed ensemble also qualified. Members include Conrad, Kyle McNaughton, Hollis Higginson, Jenny Hansen, Denver Campbell, Nails, Webber and Largent.

GARFIELD MAN SENTENCED TO

20 MONTHS

Robert G. Lawson, 49, Garfield, was sentenced to 20 months in prison Friday after he pleaded guilty to amended charges of second degree burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana. The charges against Lawson evolved out of an arrest for burglarizing farm buildings along the Hume Road Nov. 8 and a subsequent search of Lawson’s residence in Garfield two days later.

Lawson and Frank Hervey of Oakesdale were arrested by deputies after they were identified on a video camera recording which was set up at the shop buildings after the owners detected evidence that an earlier entry attempt had been made.

Hervey was sentenced to 16 months in prison Jan. 6.

Lawson was assigned an offender score of five at Friday’s sentencing because of his prior criminal record which included three prior convictions in Whitman County. He was also ordered to pay fines and fees of $1,350 including restitution to Brad Hodges and Rod Hubner.

TRIAL DATE SET FOR TOUPAL

A March 19 trial was scheduled for Frank R. Toupal, 61, the Tucson, Ariz., resident who was arrested in Spokane after allegedly threatening to shoot his ex-wife at her residence in Steptoe. Toupal Friday pleaded not guilty in superior court to charges of burglary, felony harassment and first degree assault.

Toupal was represented in court Friday by Spokane attorney Bevan Maxey. He earlier had asked to delay arraignment until he had a chance to hire his own attorney. Toupal is being held in the jail under a $1 million bond.

A report from the sheriff’s office alleged Toupal’s ex-wife Feb. 13 found him waiting for her in the living room of her residence when she returned from work that evening. She told deputies Toupal had held a pistol but she managed to talk him out of using it. Toupal, who deputies believe flew here from Tucson, was later arrested at the Wingate Hotel in Spokane.