Bulleltin 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.

KNOWLEDGE BOWL TEAM GOES TO WHITWORTH

The CHS Knowledge Bowl team travels to Whitworth College in Spokane on Friday for district competition. Members who are attending are Christopher Appel, Justin Williams, Ryan Christopherson, Kurt Moore and Nick Johnson.

SEVERAL MAIL THEFTS REPORTED IN PULLMAN

The Pullman Police Department has received several reports of checks and/or money being stolen from unlocked residential mail boxes during the past week. In some cases, checks placed in residential mail boxes to be mailed to a third party, such as a utility company, have been stolen, altered and cashed.

Pullman police recommend that residents who have mailed a check or money order from an unsecured residential mail box within the past two weeks contact the intended recipient to verify it was received. The department also suggests verifying with your bank that checks posted to your account are for the amounts written. It is recommended to mail checks or money via locking mail receptacles or directly at the post office rather than an unsecured mail receptacle.

Detectives are actively investigating these crimes.

WSP REPORTS ACCIDENT

About 7:30 Monday morning the Washington State Patrol responded to an accident about five miles north of Colfax on State Route 195. Jack M. Valdez of Seattle was traveling in snowy conditions northbound in a 2005 Jeep Liberty when he lost control of the vehicle. The Jeep left the roadway to the right and struck the northbound guardrail. He was not injured.

AMBULANCES RESPOND TO REPORTS

Colfax Ambulance crews responded to two reports of accidents Monday morning.

A minor injury accident occurred when a vehicle rolled over on the Almota Road near the LDS Church.

Crews were unable to locate any accidents on the second call, according to fire department officials.

JURY CONVICTS BARRY

A superior court jury Friday convicted Darin Barry, 42, LaCrosse, of three counts of malicious mischief in LaCrosse. The charges involved graffiti which was painted in LaCrosse last August.

Barry was convicted on one count of malicious mischief in the second degree and two counts of malicious mischief in the third degree.

The arrest report said Barry painted the graffiti because he believed, incorrectly, the residents at the three locations could have been involved in an earlier burglary of his residence.

Prosecutor Dennis Tracy played a recorded interview on which Barry confessed to painting the graffiti at the three residences. Barry is heard telling deputies on the recording he did the painting to “even out the fear factor” in LaCrosse.

Orange construction marking paint was used to write “Dead,” “KKK,” “Thief” and “Get Out” at the three residences. Damage to a window and two doors were included in the evidence. A boat, horse trailer, RV, fence and hay tarp were marked. Much of the testimony in the trial involved the amount of damage sustained. A second-degree charge of malicious mischief involves damages of $750 or more. That charge involved damage to the Thomas Reeves’ residence. Other victims were Jeff Marshall and Steven Heniken.

Barry’s one-day trial started Wednesday and jurors listened to evidence while the jury in the Daniel Lazcano murder trial deliberated in the jury room. The Barry trial jury was assigned to the justice courtroom to do its deliberation, and they returned their verdict before the Lazcano jury completed their deliberations.

Sentencing date for Barry has been scheduled for March 22.

NON INJURY ACCIDENT REPORTED

The Washington State Patrol reported that on Feb. 21 at 10:25 a.m., a half mile north of Colton on State Route 195, Michael W. Brooks of Lewiston was driving a 2007 Pontiac G6 southbound when the car left the roadway to the right, traveled down a steep embankment, struck a farm access road and came to rest in a field on the west side of the roadway.

Brooks was not injured.

ANDERSON BENEFIT MOVED

The spaghetti dinner and auction to benefit the family of Brandon Anderson will be held at a different location.

The benefit now will be at the Moscow Moose Lodge, 210 N. Main Street in Moscow.

Anderson passed away suddenly Jan. 31, 2013.

The event is Friday, March 8, starting at 5 p.m. Cost for the dinner is $7 per person.

All proceeds go to Anderson’s wife and two young children.

FALSE ALARM AT US BANK

Several police vehicles were seen Wednesday morning, Feb. 20, surrounding US Bank.

According to Colfax Police Chief Rick McNannay, it was because of lack of radio service.

“It was just a traffic stop,” he said in an email. “Our radios didn’t work in that location so our ‘status checks’ by our dispatch went unanswered. They knew we were near the bank and assumed something was happening involving the bank, therefore, they sent more cops!”

MAIL THEFTS INCREASING

The Colfax Police Department has noticed an increase in the incidents of mail theft over the past few weeks, possibly related to tax return season, according to Colfax Police Chief Rick McNannay.

He encourages residents to use postal drop boxes for outgoing mail and retrieve delivered mail from mailboxes as soon as possible.

Anyone seeing any suspicious activity regarding mail boxes is asked to contact the police department.

Theft of mail is a violation of both state and federal law.

WSP REPORTS COLLISION

The Washington State Patrol reported that on Feb. 20 at 2:30 p.m., 16.3 miles west of Colfax on State Route 26, two vehicles were involved in a collision.

John J. McCaw of Dayton was in a 2011 Chevrolet pickup stopped on the Dusty Road intersection when he started across SR-26 and didn’t see an oncoming vehicle. Michael L. Robison of Deary, Idaho, was eastbound on SR-26 in a 2002 Ford Ranger pickup, he locked the brakes and struck the McCaw vehicle on the rear passenger side.

Both vehicles came to rest on SR-127.

Robison reported having a sore shoulder, and a passenger, Denice M. Moffat of Deary, reported she was sore. No other injuries were reported.