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.

HAWKINS FILES RESPONSE

A Hawkins Company response by Seattle Attorney Dale N. Johnson to the suit involving the shopping mall site at the state line was filed Monday in superior court. The response generally denies each and every claim in the injunction suit filed by OVIC against Hawkins and the county. The response asks the court for a judgment of dismissal. It also reserves the option to add counter claims and/or cross claims at a later date.

Johnson’s answer admits Hawkins is not a licensed contractor in the state of Washington, one of the contentions in the OVIC suit, but it contends that does not bar it from doing business in Washington and is not required to license as a contractor.

The suit admits Hawkins last Dec. 19 requested a prompt response to its request to amend the original agreement with the county to $15 million. It also admitted members of the general public were present at the Jan. 3 session of the commissioners and public comment was not received.

OLD-TIME CLASSES AT JONES SCHOOL

Third graders from around the county who participate in Third Grade Day at the Palouse Empire Fair could find themselves back in school next September. Fair manager Bob Reynolds reported to the fair board Monday night that the fair is working with the Whitman County Historical Society on a project to conduct classes in the pioneer mode at the Jones School Building which was moved to the fairground two years ago from Dusty.

Youngsters will get 1895 era lessons in penmanship, geography and arithmetic. Reynolds said visiting third graders will be assigned short class sessions in the school building. Teachers of the session plan to dress in the mode of the day.

Among other items of business Monday night, the fair board also approved a $50 daily fee for renting out the school building which is now being finished out for public use. The fee will be added to the fair’s fee schedule.

Rosalia LIQUOR STORE

VANDALIZED

Three suspects have been identified in connection with a break-in at the state liquor store in Rosalia last Friday night. A large quantity of liquor estimated at $800 was reported missing from the store.

When deputies and the Rosalia town marshall arrived at the scene at approximately 11 p.m. they discovered a window had been broken out to gain access to the store.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Chapman alleged the suspects have admitted involvement of the burglary and the sheriff’s office plans to forward a recommendation that they be charged for their involvement.

SHOP BUILDING BLOCKS PRUNE ORCHARD ROAD

A steel shop building got stuck in the middle of Prune Orchard Road shutting the road down for several hours. The shop was being moved by truck from its manufacturing plant in Lewiston to Bellingham.

Eddie Kennedy of K&K Construction of Advance, Mo., said the semi started across Prune Orchard Road as part of a route designed to avoid going through downtown Colfax. The steel structure is 15-feet wide and 16-feet 11-inches tall, too high to pass through Colfax.

K&K was working as the pilots for the oversized load. Kennedy said the primary problem through Colfax was the low railroad overpass across Highway 26 just west of town.

Kennedy said they scouted the Prune Orchard route earlier in the week. Snow and rain Tuesday through Thursday, though, softened the road bed, and the heavy load bogged down in the unpaved road.

K&K included the Prune Orchard route in its request for an oversized load permit from the state Department of Transportation. The state forwarded the application to the county because Prune Orchard is a county road. County officials suggested the company take Highway 194 out of Pullman and turn on to the Almota Road at Onecho before taking Sommers Road to connect with Highway 26 at the Twin Bridges.

A large wrecker from Rouse Towing in Spokane was called in to extricate the truck and the building.

HIT AND RUN ARREST

Nikki Lynn Peltier, 42, Lewiston, was booked into the county jail early Saturday morning on charges of drunken driving and hit and run after Pullman Police investigated a “T-bone” accident in front of the Thai Ginger Restaurant in the 300 block of S. Grand.

The Pullman Police report said they were called to the scene shortly after 8 p.m. Friday by a report a woman driving a Saturn had pulled out of the parking lot of the restaurant and hit the side of the Toyota which was being driven northbound on Grand. The report said the force of the collision spun the Toyota around approximately 180 degrees.

The report alleges Peltier drove away from the scene but was later stopped. Officers said extensive damage had been sustained by the Saturn she was driving.

The driver of the Toyota pulled into the parking lot at the restaurant and complained of pain when she attempted to get out of the car to talk with officers.

CITY GETS

CHICKEN REQUEST

Brian and Elaine Bodah, who reside in the S. 900 block of Meadow, March 19 asked Colfax City Council members to consider an ordinance change which would allow raising poultry in the city. Brian Bodah said raising food at home is gaining popularity and poultry raising is now allowed in Seattle, Bellevue, Pullman and other cities in the state.

Council member Jeanette Solomine pointed out the city does not have an animal control officer so enforcement of an ordinances could be a problem.

Mayor Todd Vanek said the city staff will review the present ordinance and make a report at the next council session April 2.

FULLERTON RELEASE

SHORT-LIVED

Michael J. Fullerton, 29, who was allowed pre-trial release after pleading not guilty Friday to seven charges involving burglaries and thefts around the county, was booked back in the jail early Sunday on probable charges of tampering with a witness, obstruction and violating a court order. Fullerton was arrested at his parents’ residence on Old Highway 195 north of Rosalia.

According to the new arrest report, Fullerton is suspected of going to Spokane and contacting his 19-year-old live-in girlfriend who had been residing with an aunt. The report said the girlfriend had an appointment to talk with the sheriff and prosecutor Monday about the burglary cases. The report alleges when Fullerton arrived at the aunt’s house to get the girlfriend he was informed of the girlfriend’s appointment to meet with officials Monday, and he told the aunt she wasn’t going to talk to anybody.

The report said the girlfriend and a one-year-old infant were removed from the aunt’s residence.

Fullerton, who was arrested March 19 in connection with a series of burglaries and thefts, pleaded not guilty to seven formal charges Friday morning in superior court. He has been scheduled for trial May 14.