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.

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RIDER DIED OF CHEST INJURIES

County Coroner Peter Martin Tuesday reported Thomas E. McCracken, 64, died of massive chest injuries sustained in the April 22 motorcycle accident on the Rock Lake Road. McCracken lost control of the 2003 Harley Davidson cruiser motorcycle on a curve on Rock Lake Road near the Dewey Road intersection.

Martin said McCracken probably sustained the chest injuries when he was thrown from the motorcycle. He died at the scene.

Spokane Valley couple, Gary and April Morris, sustained injuries when Gary Morris lost control of a 2011 Harley Davidson on the same curve. They and McCracken were with a group of riders who were riding southbound on the Rock Lake Road as part of a Sunday tour.

Coroner Martin noted the curve has been the scene of other fatality accidents.

SEEK TO ADD CIVIL RIGHTS CLAIM

A motion to amend the damage suit filed by Brenda Arthur against the county and County Assessor Joe Reynolds was filed Friday in superior court. Spokane Attorney James McPhee filed the motion to add a claim for damages resulting from alleged violation Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

The suit alleges Reynolds made inappropriate comments and grabbed Arthur when she worked in the assessor’s office. McPhee in his motion last week said when the suit was filed last July Arthur had not received a notice from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that she could file a claim under the Civil Rights Act. His petition said she has since received the notice.

A copy of the EEOC notice, filed with the petition, said timing of the report meant the EEOC could not pursue a claim, and that Arthur now has the option to pursue a claim. The EEOC notice, received Feb. 21 at McPhee’s office, pointed out the notice should not be taken to mean the Department of Justice has made a judgment on whether or not Arthur’s case has merit.

BACK TO JAIL FOR HOOD THEFT

Skylar Nobbley, 19, Lewiston, one of the suspects convicted of taking cash from Larry Hood at his residence south of Pullman two years ago, was ordered to serve 60 days in jail Friday for failing to make payments which were ordered when he was convicted last October.

Nobbley was convicted last Oct. 28 after admitting a reduced charge of theft in the second degree for participating in the April 22, 2010, theft of cash from Hood. The state’s case said a group drove up from Lewiston that night and some of them intercepted Hood as he was departing his rural residence south of Pullman.

Nobbley was arrested on a bench warrant issued April 10 for failing to appear in court for a compliance review. Last October he was ordered to pay $3,850 in fines and fees including $2,550 restitution to Hood.

Nobbley testified last December in the jury trial of Michael Thompson of Lewiston who was convicted of pulling Hood out of his pickup truck and robbing him of $2,500. Nobbley testified he served as a lookout while Thompson strong-armed Hood. Thompson was sentenced to 41 months in prison after the jury convicted him of robbery.

UNAUTHORIZED SNACK RUN

A Colfax officer responded Monday to a report of a group of seven teens who loaded into a Ford sedan at the Rosauer’s parking lot yesterday afternoon. An observer reported five teens climbed into the passenger compartment and two others climbed into the trunk of the car. The Ford was later located at the high school where the officers learned the out-of-town teens had used a parent’s car without permission to make the quick trip to the store. The parent advised the officer she would take care of the situation.

BAIL REDUCTION SOUGHT

Daniel Lazcano, one of the brothers facing first degree murder charges, requested a reduction in his pre-trial release bail to an “affordable amount” in a letter sent to the judge. Lazcano said he was making the request to help his girlfriend prepare for the expected birth of a baby in Spokane.

He was notified by the court clerk that motions in any case have to be made in open court with proper notice to all parties.

Daniel Lazcano’s bond for pre-trial release was set at $500,000 after he was arrested in Spokane and later charged with first degree murder of Marcus Schur in Malden Dec. 27.

EX-Colfax MAN CONVICTED

Wayne Scott Martin, 31, was sentenced Friday to 30 days in jail with credit for time served after he pleaded guilty to a charge of second degree theft in Colfax. A former resident of Paul’s Place in Colfax, he was charged with taking a new computer from a residence in Colfax. The Colfax investigation report said Martin had obtained the discarded box and sales receipt from the computer purchase and used those items to return the stolen computer to Wal-Mart and collect the reimbursement money. In addition to the jail time he was ordered to pay fines and fees of $1,125 including $325 restitution to Violet Smith, a staff member at Paul Place who was the victim of the crime.

STATE FAIR

FUNDS CUT

Income from the state fair fund for this year is expected to drop by approximately 12.5 percent for the Palouse Empire Fair. Fair manager Bob Reynolds told the fair board April 23 he expects the state sum to be between $30,000 and $35,000 this year.

Fair officials around the state have been notified to expect the drop in funding as the result of a cutback in the state fund. The state fair fund, which is part of the state Department of Agriculture budget, sustained a $250,000 cut in its funding for fairs and other community events around the state. Total funding was $1,750,000 which is divided among 70 different shows around the state.

Reynolds noted the state fair association’s figures indicate the events in the state generate $25 million in sales tax which goes into the state general fund.

The Palouse Empire fair uses its state funding to underwrite the fair’s premium checks which are sent out to exhibitors after each fair. Fair exhibitors are credited with points for ribbon awards and other special contests. Premium checks are computed from point totals and sent to exhibitors after the fair. Reynolds noted the per point value depends on the overall number of points compiled by exhibitors. Normally the fair pays out at a rate in the range of seven cents per point.

The bulk of fair revenue is generated from admissions, donations, rental fees and other sources during the year. Also, the fair foundation supports the capital development projects, Reynolds pointed out.

FLOOK ARRESTED IN LOS ANGELES

Roger W. Flook, Jr., 30, was booked in to the county jail April 26 after being arrested on a warrant which was issued last Dec. 13. According to court records, Flook was arrested April 3 in Los Angeles.

A warrant was issued for Flook’s arrest after he failed to appear last Dec. 2 for an initial hearing on seven charges involving alleged unauthorized use of a credit card filed Nov. 17 in superior court.

A Pullman Police report filed with the court said they responded to a call from the Safeway store there last May 26 about a suspicious attempted use of a credit card. They reported a man had attempted to purchase $4,000 worth of gift cards with a credit card. The man left the store when he was asked to present some identification.

Flook, a former resident of Colfax who was then residing in Pullman, was later located at another store parking lot in town. Police said they checked with the owner of the card Flook was suspected of using. The registered owner later called back and said he had checked and learned more than $10,000 in unauthorized charges had been made with his card the previous day.

The report said Pullman officers investigated purchases made on the card and recognized Flook in surveillance camera recordings at sites where some of the purchases had been made.

One of the major alleged fraudulent purchases with the card was for a $2,371 ring set made at Sam Dial Jewelers in Pullman.

Flook was allowed release on his own recognizance April 26 and ordered to report back to court May 4.