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.

STREET TALK AT

CITY MEET

Colfax City Council members Monday night approved the six-year street plan without debate, but discussed other street topics which are not part of the plan.

Council members asked about the possibility of the Department of Transportation repairing the Highway 26 bridge which spans the N. Palouse River at the north end of town. The DOT has blocked off the sidewalk which runs along the west side of the bridge.

City Administrator Carl Thompson said the DOT has been asked to make repairs to the bridge. When the sidewalk was blocked off, DOT officials said the structure of the bridge itself was in sound condition, but the sidewalk segment was separating away from the bridge.

Council members noted the blocked off sidewalk was a hazard for pedestrian traffic and an unsightly welcome to people who enter town from Highway 26. Thompson reported DOT officials expect a repair project to cost more than $200,000.

Councilman Don Henderson asked about city policy replacing street surfaces after cuts are made to install pipes and other lines. Public Works Director Andy Rogers said the city now has a “full kettle” of cut repairs on its list to do when a paving contractor is in the area. Utilities and contractors who need to cut a street surface are required to make a deposit. The deposit fund is tapped when a paving contractor arrives to do the work.

Lone street project on the six-year plan for this year is grinding and paving of Fairview Street from Lake to Hillcrest. Thompson said the city hopes to tag that project onto the county’s Airport Road rebuilding project which is expected to bring an asphalt contractor into the area.

The upper segment of Fairview, which features a concrete base, was trimmed off the last contract for an upgrade of the street because of funding limits.

Colfax FESTIVAL

FORMAT ANNOUNCED

Mayor Todd Vanek reported on the format for a new “Colfax Festival” planned for next year. The topic came up after the city discussed the variety of activities in Colfax over the weekend which included Relay for Life, the Art Walk, chaplaincy breakfast and a city-wide listing of yard sales.

Mayor Vanek said the plan for a Colfax festival includes a special committee made up of representatives from various groups. The committee would take the place of the Chamber of Commerce which was the coordinator of Concrete River Days and other versions of a Colfax summer event in the past. Mayor Vanek said the chamber will be represented in the overall festival committee.

WRANGLER ROLLS ON 26

Kyle V. Kamolz, 23, Pullman, was unhurt early Saturday when the 2001 Jeep Wrangler he was driving went out of control and rolled on Highway 26 near LaCrosse. According to the Washington State Patrol report, Kamolz was driving westbound at 6:40 a.m. when he lost control of the jeep which crossed into the oncoming land and then re-entered the westbound lane and rolled on the westbound side of the highway at mile 103.9. The Wrangler came to a halt on its passenger’s side in a gravel pit.

GAMBLING SAID CAUSE OF THEFTS

Brent Jenkins, 45, former Endicott resident, was sentenced to a year in jail Friday on burglary and theft convictions. Prosecutor Denis Tracy told the court Jenkins also committed thefts at other homes last year in the Endicott area which were not included in the formal charges.

Defense Attorney John Hart said Jenkins took the items from Endicott area homes as the result of a gambling addiction. He said in Jenkins’ mind he was taking the items from the homes of friends and relatives with the intent of retrieving them from Spokane area pawn shops with the eventual expected proceeds from gambling.

Tracy asked the court to sentence Jenkins to a year. He noted the case involved multiple victims. Also, Jenkins violated a trust which had been placed in him by friends and relatives. Tracy also noted Jenkins had been sentenced in Kittitas County in 2009 in similar charges. The convictions in Ellensburg were gross misdemeanors which are not calculated on an offender’s score.

Pam Johnson, one of the victims, said she realized Jenkins had a desperate need for money. The Johnsons rented Jenkins a residence and hired him for farm work. Among alleged victims not listed in the complaint was Jenkins’ 87-year-old grandmother.

Jenkins told the court he was currently seeking help with a program in Yakima where he has been attending sessions three times a week.

Judge David Frazier told Jenkins the nature of his crimes was “about as low as you can go.” He said there was no question that Jenkins needed help, but the court lacked any sort of gambling treatment options such as those programs available to drug and sex offenders.

He added Jenkins showed a lack of respect and loyalty to friends and relatives and took things which had heightened value because of sentimental reasons.

In addition to the year in jail, Jenkins was ordered to pay restitution of $2,141 to David and Pam Johnson and $1,400 to Jim and Pat Britton who are Jenkins mother and step-father. Jim Britton told the court the family still has love and concern for Jenkins but they want to see him address his problem.

SMOKE DUE TO FAULTY BRAKES

A truck and tractor was stopped at the south end of Colfax about 5:45 p.m. Saturday after a motorist reported the northbound truck appeared to be on fire. Officers determined the smoke was caused by brake problems on the truck which reportedly had also blown out three tires, according to Police Chief Rick McNannay.

MANY ATTEND CITY SESSION

Approximately 30 residents turned out at Colfax City Hall Sunday for a presentation of historic photos and a program on Colfax’s Past, Present and Future. Mayor Todd Vanek, Chief Rick McNannay for the police department and Jenny Jordan for the fire department participated in the program. Steve Larkin was scheduled to represent public works, but he was called out for cleanup of the Clay Street flooding.

City Administrator Carl Thompson said the staff appreciated the turnout of local residents.

FULLERTON

SENTENCED TO

10 YEARS

Michael J. Fullerton, 29, Rosalia resident who pleaded guilty to taking a gun safe from a residence in Pine City in November of 2009 and six other charges, was formally sentenced to 10 years in prison July 12 in superior court. Fullerton was ordered to begin serving jail time after he entered his pleas June 14. The 10-year sentence, which was part of the plea bargain agreement, was formally ordered by the court July 12.

In addition to the prison time, Fullerton was ordered to pay total restitution of $129,782 to his victims. That sum included $113,483 due Don and Virginia Crites of Pine City who were owners of the gun safe which was taken from their home.

At the time of the arraignment five weeks ago, Deputy Prosecutor Dan Le Beau said valuation on the Crites’ loss was one of the remaining items in the case yet to be resolved.

Crites, who posted flyers around the area, helped resolve the case when the purchaser of guns at a Cheney show recognized that some of them matched descriptions on Crites’ flyer.

In addition to the safe burglary, Fullerton also admitted to two charges of selling guns taken in the burglary.

Other charges of trafficking and theft related to investigation of a series of March theft reports involving tractor batteries and tires from rural locations in the county.

Many of the missing items were located when deputies conducted warrant searches of Fullerton’s residence and a barn on Old Highway 195 north of Rosalia.

The 10-year sentence, which was agreed to on the plea bargain, exceeds what he would have received under the state’s standard range.

Under the state’s standard range, Fullerton was rated with a 16 offender score which would have carried a maximum of 84 months. However, the 10-year term became part of the plea agreement on condition that the county ask the U.S. Attorney not to file federal charges.

SENTENCE FOLLOWS DRUG COURT REMOVAL

Ryoma McKenna, now 22, was sentenced to 60 days in jail on a charge for possession of more than 40 grams of marijuana in April of 2009. McKenna was sentenced after he was ordered removed from the county’s drug court program at a hearing last week. Among other conditions, defendants who enroll in the drug court are subject to sentencing on the original charge if they are ordered out of the drug program following a hearing.

Deputy Prosecutor Dan Le Beau petitioned the court to order McKenna removed from the drug court program.

The court found McKenna had failed to appear June 15 when he was scheduled to graduate from the drug court. McKenna later informed the court he failed to appear because he had been jailed out of state for driving with a suspended license. The court later learned a urine sample test results showed residue of marijuana use.

JUDGE REJECTS REID PETITION

A court petition by Christopher R Reid, former porn actor who was convicted of rape and burglary after entering WSU sororities at the start of the 2007 school term was ordered dismissed Wednesday in superior court.

Reid, who is now serving time in the state prison at Aberdeen, had contended the city of Pullman failed to fully comply with a public records request he had made in conjunction with his conviction.

Judge David Frazier ruled Pullman had fully complied with the public records request by sending Reid all the files connected with its police investigation of the case. Reid had contended Pullman Police had “silently withheld” some of the material they compiled while investigating the case.

The court noted two four-inch binders and one three-inch binder were provided by the city for review.

Reid had contended the Pullman records lacked material he had discovered was sent to Pullman from the Washington State Patrol criminal history and history section. The court found police officers did not keep material which they determined did not apply to the case so it was not in the record.

The court also ruled Pullman Officer William Orsborn did not make a record of officers who received copies of a photo lineup that he had prepared. Reid had sought the lineup records.

Also, the court determined a recording Reid contended was made of the Sept. 13. 2007, interview of the victim, had never been made. Instead, the officer had dictated a summary of the interview.

The court denied all of Reid’s motions and quashed his motion for sanctions.

PULLMAN DRIVER HITS DEER

Murray G. Norton, 52, Pullman, was unhurt early July 11 when the 2010 Toyota pickup truck he was driving on Highway 26 collided with a deer west of LaCrosse. According to the Washington State Patrol report, Norton was driving westbound at 6:05 p.m. when the deer ran onto the highway and struck the front of the pickup at mile 97.2.

PULLMAN PLANS ROAD WORK

Work has been scheduled on Bishop Boulevard in Pullman. Construction of a deceleration lane in front of Safeway and a bus pullout on King Drive began this week. An asphalt grinder is expected to start work on the project July 23. Sections slated for grinding on Bishop are from Les Schwab to Fairmount Drive and Klemgard Ave. to Footloose Drive which is located across from Pullman Regional Hospital.

Bishop Blvd. will remain open for traffic with some delays anticipated. Drivers are asked to limit their speed and the number of times they have to use Bishop.