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.

DOG SHOT, HOUSE HIT NEAR REVERE

A black lab dog was shot and killed and a house was hit by bullets in the Revere area south of Lamont Saturday evening. Sheriff Brett Myers reported deputies responded to a call from the residence after the owners returned to their home on Davis Road and noticed their house had been struck by several bullets.

They realized their dog, a mature black lab, was missing and found him dead with gunshot wounds near the house Sunday morning.

Sheriff Myers said at this point they believe the incident was an isolated random event, possibly related to opening day of hunting season. He added he is “very concerned about the cruel intentions of anyone who would, without provocation, shoot and kill someone’s pet.”

Anyone who might have additional information is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s office.

US FLAGS GET DESIGNATED DAYS

Colfax City Council members Monday night rejected a motion to fly the US flag on downtown streetlight standards for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The council did approve a revised motion to allow only the US flags to fly on national observance days designated by the US government. The revised ordinance also gives the mayor authority to determine which flags will be allowed on other days.

The flags motion has been on the council table since the Sept. 17 meeting when Councilman Don Henderson moved to fly the US flag 24-7. Henderson reported he had received comments from veterans and others after the WSU flags were posted along Main Street at the start of the semester and prior to home football game dates.

Henderson’s motion was tabled at the Sept. 17 session and left on the table at the Oct. 1 meeting when Mayor Todd Vanek was unable to attend.

Monday, Henderson cast the lone vote in favor of his motion. The vote came after other council members said they received positive comments on the posting of the WSU flags.

Councilman Al Vorderbrueggen said he believed the WSU flags were awesome and brought a little vibrancy to the town.

Councilman David Nails reported he has received no negative responses to the WSU flags. He said the flags show a little allegiance to WSU. He pointed out game day crowds made a big impact when he and his wife operated the Top Notch in Colfax.

Councilwoman Jeanette Solimine, who seconded Henderson’s motion Sept. 17, suggested the city allow only U.S. flags to be posted on the national observance days. Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Veterans Day, 9/11, Dec. 7 and Martin Luther King Day were suggested.

Councilman Jim Kackman proposed an amendment to also authorize the mayor, as chief executive officer, to determine what flags can be displayed on the light standards on other days.

Both Nails and Vorderbrueggen said they believe the city would be creating a “slippery slope” policy if the mayor had the authority to determine what flags would be allowed on the city’s light standards. They noted the policy could put a lot of pressure on one person.

The revised motion passed on a 4-3 vote with Henderson, Nails and Vorderbrueggen casting the no votes.

The city’s new policy does not call for the city to post the flags. Mayor Todd Vanek reported he and Steve Larkin, city parks supervisor, have been posting the flags as volunteers. A city truck has been outfitted with a platform to accomplish the task.

Henderson volunteered to provide the city with a list of national observance days.

UNIONTOWN

DRIVER HURT

Jason Reisenauer, 37, Uniontown, sustained scrapes to his head Sunday evening when the 1997 Chevrolet K-1 pickup he was driving went off Highway 195 and struck a large metal sign a mile south of Pullman. According to the Washington State Patrol report, Reisenauer was southbound at 6:52 p.m. when the pickup went off the roadway to the right, struck the sign and rolled. It came to a stop on its wheels.

DAYLIGHT

DEER HIT

IN COLFAX

Christie Muir, Colfax, was unhurt Monday morning when the 2005 Dodge Caravan she was driving collided with a deer on Highway 26 in front of the Les Schwab Tires store. According to Police Chief Rick McNannay, Muir was driving westbound at about 8 a.m. when the deer bolted across the highway from the parking lot and struck the driver’s side door of the van. Muir pulled over to the side of the highway. The deer was later seen running across the field on the north side of the highway.

ALLEGE ESCAPE ATTEMPT

A new probable charge arrest for attempted escape and custodial assault were filed in superior court Tuesday morning against Amanda L. Tobin, 23, Lewiston. She allegedly assaulted a jail staffer and attempted to exit the jail via a work release exit. The report said Tobin, who had been signed into the jail Saturday on a three-day commitment order, became upset when her request for jail staffers to contact a probation officer about early release was denied. The report said when the officer attempted to show her the commitment order, she pushed him aside with her forearm, stated she was leaving and headed in the direction of the work release exit. She was stopped by the officer.

CONCRETE PANEL FORMS

Twelve residents attended the Oct. 11 meeting at the library in the possible return of the Concrete River Days celebration in mid summer at Colfax. The former Concrete River Days celebration was discontinued by the Chamber of Commerce in lieu of the fall Hullabaloo celebration which marked its seventh edition Oct. 5-6.

A seven member committee was formed with Lori Brown selected as chair for the event. The group hopes to attract more interested residents for the project.

The organizational meeting was called by Mayor Todd Vanek as part of his goal to boost the Colfax business scene.

ARREST CITES TUBA CAPER

Josiah L. Hartum, 20, was booked into the county jail at 1:57 a.m. Sunday on probable charges of theft in the first degree, being a minor intoxicated in public and making false statements to a law officer.

According to the arrest report from campus police, witnesses said the suspect grabbed a tuba from the band section at Saturday nights WSU-California football game. The report said Hartum put the tuba on and attempted to walk away. One of the witnesses at the scene grabbed him and a Crowd Management Services employee was called. The CMS staffer turned the suspect over to a campus officer.

The report alleges Hartum, a WSU student, gave officers false identification information after he was apprehended.

He was allowed pre-trial release on his own recognizance after a first appearance was slated Monday.

BOMB THREAT ARREST

A $10,000 bond for release from custody was set in court Friday morning for John E. McNett, 36, Pullman, who was booked into jail Oct. 11 on charges of making threats against others. McNett was arrested on a warrant after officers investigated a report that he had threatened to blow up Honors Hall on the WSU Campus.

The arrest report said McNett handed a piece of paper to a custodian Wednesday, Oct. 10, in front of the hall and appeared to be upset at the admissions policy for the honors program. He told the custodian he felt he should blow up the honors building.

Assistant Prosecutor Byron Bedirian asked the court to set a bond out of concern for public safety and possible failure of the suspect to appear in court again if allowed pre-trial release.