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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DUST ABATEMENT

Dust abatement treatment for unsurfaced Colfax alleys on the North Flat was slated to be done Wednesday by the contractor Roadwise Inc. Streets listed for application were Moller Road, Lake Street along Eells Park, the alley between Morton and Sumner and the E. 300 block of Wawawai.

The dust abatement treatment had been slated two weeks ago, but the project was postponed because city crews were called out to clean up the flood debris on Park and Clay Streets after the July 15 deluge of water and mud.

Total length of the city’s unsurfaced roads in the project was 7,487 feet. The project was estimated to consume 27 tons mixture with the price set at $115 per ton.

LAWRENCE

CONVICTION AFFIRMED

Decisions in the trial and sentencing of Lewis Lawrence, Moscow resident who was convicted by a jury of three counts of attempted murder two years ago, has been affirmed by the Division III appeals court in Spokane.

Lawrence’s competency to stand trial and his decision to represent himself in court were among items brought up in Lawrence’s appeal.

A mandate of the Division III court’s ruling was filed Friday in superior court here. The decision written by Judge Kevin Korsmo was filed last February, and the decision to terminate the appeals review was filed July 10.

Lawrence was charged after he stuck a shotgun through the doorway of a Pullman apartment and pulled the trigger. The blast derived from an argument Lawrence had with occupants of the apartment, Michael and Juteson Fuaau.

In his opinion Judge Korsmo went over the pre-trial rulings which sent Lawrence through two different rounds of evaluation and treatment to establish competency. He was found competent Feb. 5, 2010, to undergo trial after a second round of evaluation and treatment at Eastern State Hospital.

The review noted Lawrence filed an affidavit of prejudice against Judge Frazier a week before his trial, and Judge William Acey of Asotin was appointed to preside.

The ruling also said the court did not abuse its discretion in granting Lawrence’s request to represent himself in court and not including an alternate, lesser charge, for the jury to consider.

Judge Acey sentenced Lawrence to three consecutive jail terms for attempted murder.

Lawrence last month filed a petition with the court to withdraw his pleas of not guilty to the three charges.

BOND LIFTED

ON BROTHERS

An order exonerating conditions of release, including the posting of $1,000 bonds, was filed Monday in Whitman County Superior Court involving the case of brothers John and Parker Stephens. They were booked into jail early Friday after Pullman Police responded to a report of a possible assault at about 6:25 p.m. July 26 at SW Clarkston Court in Pullman.

John F. Stephens, 28, was booked on probable cause of two assault charges, and Parker L. Stephens, 25, was booked on one probable assault charge.

According to the Pullman Police report, an argument had ensued over an alleged failure to clean up a milk spill. Parker Stephens initially reported to police that his brother was hitting him with a vacuum cleaner.

The bond sums were set Friday during a first appearance by both suspects. Conditions of release are exonerated when the state fails to file a formal charge in court within 72 hours of arrest.

ROOF REPAIR AT SCHOOL

A Colfax building permit for repairing the gym roof at the Jennings Elementary was issued to the Colfax School District Monday. Cost of the project was estimated at $48,000.

Contractor on the job is All Surface Roofing in Spokane.

FAWN PUT DOWN

Colfax police Tuesday morning responded to a report of a wounded fawn which had been injured, probably by a collision with a vehicle, on Canyon Street. The fawn had sustained broken front legs and had to be put down.

The injured fawn was located in the highway drainage ditch where it apparently had attempted to flea after being startled by another vehicle. A resident had climbed down in the ditch and was attempting to comfort the wounded animal.

CALL TO CAR FANS

A call for car and truck enthusiasts to gather and show their iron has been issued. A gathering is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at the Taco Time lot. For more information contact Fire Chief Ralph Walter.

TARGET BLAST INJURES

SPOKANITE

Deputies and ambulance crews Saturday afternoon responded to a report of a man who was wounded by shrapnel while target practicing on Blackwell Road about a half mile south of Steptoe.

The victim was identified as Ronald Kiima, 50, Spokane. He was hit in his right shoulder.

Kiima was treated by EMTs on the scene and transported by Med Star helicopter to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

He was believed to have been hit by shrapnel from a metal box which had been placed in front of an exploding target. He was one of several people who were target practicing at the scene, according to the report by Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Chapman.

They were shooting at what is known as Star Targets which are designed to explode when hit by a 40 grain bullet traveling at 2,200 feet per second. A metal box had been placed in front of the target and when the target exploded the force ripped the box apart and sent shrapnel in all directions.

Sgt. Chapman said that in addition to placing the box next to the exploding target, the shooters were believed to have been standing too close to the exploding target.

Sgt. Chapman said the office has seen an increase in the use of the exploding targets, and he urged shooters to follow instructions on the recommended distances.

JAZZ AT SCHMUCK PARK

Colfax pianist Michael Scholz, now a graduate student in music at the University of Idaho, will be featured with a jazz ensemble in a family night concert Aug. 12 at Schmuck Park. Admission will be by donation, and proceeds will go to the Buffy’s Brigade Relay for Life team.

The concert will be from 6 to 9, and the Colfax pool will be open for a late swim from 6 to 8 with a $3 admission cost. Volleyball and croquet will also be offered.

The jazz combo will play on a stage in the middle of the park. Residents are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.

Scholz, who again returned this year for summer duty with the swim pool staff, received his undergraduate degree in piano performance in 2011. He presented his senior concert at UI and also presented a concert at the CHS auditorium. The Colfax grad has also played with combo groups at the UI’s Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

The Buffy’s team members will offer packets at the donation table to make S’Mores at the fire pit near the concert site.

CLASSICALLY TRENDY TO CLOSE

Terri Guenthner, proprietor of the Classically Trendy consignment shop in the 200 block of N. Main, last week announced plans to shut down the business. In a notice to the Chamber of Commerce, Guenthner said she has decided to go back to teaching piano lessons full time. She studied music education in college and serves as pianist and organist for their church in Pullman.

The Guenthners started Classically Trendy at the retail site after closing down their Toccata Blues restaurant. They started the restaurant business after an extensive remodeling of the building which for years served as a print shop for the Whitman County Gazette.

While operating Toccata Blues, the Guenthners mixed in her interest in music by featuring musicians during dinner sessions at the restaurant.

Guenthner plans to be at the store in the afternoon Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for consignors who wish to retrieve items they have placed in the store. She plans to conduct a 50 percent off closeout of items for the first three weeks of August.