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.

RELEASE

LAZCANO EXHIBITS

An order releasing evidence exhibits used in the Frank Lazcano trial from court custody to the prosecutor’s office was filed Friday in superior court. The prosecutor’s office petitioned for release of the evidence for use in the upcoming second trial of Daniel Lazcano. Evidence includes the alleged murder weapon, an AK -47 rifle, bullet fragments, a license plate, web belt and shirt.

Frank Lazano was sentenced April 12 to 300 months in prison for first degree murder of Marcus Schur at Malden Dec. 27, 2011.

Daniel Lazcano is scheduled for a second trial starting May 28 after the jury in his trial was unable to reach a verdict on murder and kidnapping charges filed against him.

FAIR GETS STATE CHECK

The Palouse Empire Fair has received a $35,125 state allotment sum for next year’s fair. The payment is used by the fair to make premium point payments to exhibitors at the fair. Fair Manager Bob Reynolds said this year’s check was close to the same amount as last year.

The state funding for many years derived from proceeds from the state’s horse racing income. For approximately the past 10 years the payments have come out of the state general fund after the horse racing industry declined. Part of the reason for the decline was attributed to new modes of gambling which have been introduced into the state.

Reynolds told the fair board Monday night fair administrators have been advised that the legislature could come up with another source of funding during this session. One of the alternate sources could be the state lottery proceeds.

Reynolds reported the $35,125 amounts to 91 percent of the amount placed in this year’s fair budget. He said the budget figure was a rough estimate because of the uncertainty of the funding over the last few years.

Fair exhibitors receive checks based on the number of premium points their entries win at the fair.

BARRY FILES APPEAL

LaCrosse resident Darin Barry has filed notice of appeal of his malicious mischief conviction Friday in Whitman County Superior Court. Barry, 42, was sentenced to 10 days in jail March 22 after a jury convicted him of painting graffiti in LaCrosse. The state case said he painted the graffiti on property occupied by people he believed, incorrectly, had burglarized his house.

WSP ACCIDENT REPORTS

Zachary D. Robertson, Clarkston, was unhurt early Sunday morning when the 1990 Honda Civic he was driving went out of control on the Moscow-Pullman Highway and rolled into the ditch. According to the Washington State Patrol report, Robertson was driving eastbound at 3:27 a.m. when the Honda went onto the shoulder of the highway. He over-corrected and the car slid across all four lanes of Highway 270 and rolled into the ditch on the opposite side.

—Joel M. Roberts, Kirkland, was unhurt Saturday when the 1995 Ford pickup he was driving hit two deer on Highway 195 3.9 miles south of Pullman. He was driving northbound at 10:50 p.m. when three deer ran onto the highway.

—Paige D. Warfield, Everett, was unhurt Saturday when the 2005 BMW X5 she was driving on Highway 26 went out of control and rolled on its top in the ditch about 12.3 miles west of Colfax. She was driving west at 4:55 p.m. and lost control of the car after it went onto the shoulder of the highway.

Tekoa HOME INVASION

ROBBERY

Three Plummer residents have been identified as suspects in a home invasion robbery early Friday morning at Tekoa. According to a report from Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers, the two residents of the home were threatened with hand guns and a stun gun.

Myers said the investigation led officers to obtain a search warrant for a residence in the 900 block of D Street in Plummer where William H. Lowley, 29, Plummer, was taken into custody. Benewah County deputies and Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police assisted in the investigation.

Lowley was taken to Coeur d’Alene where he was booked into the Kootenai County jail for a probation violation which was unrelated to the Tekoa case.

Sheriff Myers said he will seek to have Lowley extradited to Whitman County on probable charges of robbery and burglary.

Other suspects in the Tekoa case are Keith R. Greensky, 25, and Christina L. Abramson, 25, both of Plummer.

Greensky was booked early Tuesday morning at the jail here after he waived extradition from Idaho after being advised in Benewah County.

SEAL RECORDS ON EVALUATION

A defense motion to seal the records of the psychological evaluation of Kerry Morrison, the jail inmate who was charged with custodial assault, was granted under court orders in Whitman County Superior Court Thursday, April 18, Morrison, 26, is charged with assaulting a corrections officer who was pouring orange juice for inmates at meal time.

Morrison was initially arrested Feb. 19 on a charge of attempting to elude officers on Highway 195 between Pullman and Shawnee.

Officers at the time reported he was driving northbound at speeds between 80 and 90 mph and making illegal passes. Morrison turned his car off Highway 195 at Shawnee Road with officers in pursuit and the chase eventually ended when the car he was driving became stuck on the Mick Parvin Road which had been closed for the winter season.

Last week’s order sealing the evaluation report also applies to the eluding charges. Morrison has waived speedy trial rights.

The court ordered Morrison now undergo an evaluation by Eastern State Hospital to determine competency to stand trial. The evaluation was ordered at the jail or at the hospital in the event the examiner opts for that location.

SHRED DAY SET MAY 10

Shred day for Colfax residents has been set for May 10 by the Colfax Chamber of Commerce from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Rosauers parking lot. Residents can have their papers shredded for a fee of $5 for individuals and $25 for businesses. The event is sponsored by Rosauers, HUB Insurance, WC Recycling and Waste Management. For more information call the chamber office.

ROOF REPAIR

AT FORMER GRANNIES SITE

Karen Shaw, Colfax, applied for a building permit to repair the roof on a commercial building at 119 N. Main. The building formerly housed the Colfax Thrifty Grandmothers shop and then a computer repair business. It will be the future site for Main Street Books which is moving from its present location in the 100 block of S. Main. Proprietor Joan Claussen has been painting and preparing the former shop site for the move.

ROLLOVER IN STORM

Elizabeth Wilkins, Spokane, was unhurt Sunday when she lost control of a 2006 BMW 325 D while driving northbound on Highway 195 south of Rosalia. According to the Washington State Patrol report, she was driving northbound at 4:58 p.m. when she encountered hail and water on the highway. The car spun off the roadway, struck an embankment and rolled once before coming to a stop on its wheels near mile marker 59.

JUNIOR HIGH MARIJUANA CASE

An investigation into reports of two students smoking marijuana last December in the locker room of Lincoln Middle School has led to charges being filed against Jordan W. Ternes, 20, Pullman. He has been summoned to appear in court April 26 after a charge of providing a controlled substance, marijuana, to minors Dec. 5.

The Pullman police report said officers responded to a Dec. 6 report from the LMS principal’s office about the smoking incident. The report said eight items were confiscated from one student and a baggie containing 1.2 grams of marijuana was among the items. The student also had a metal smoking pipe. The report describes the marijuana as a very potent strain.

A second student was also apprehended with marijuana. The junior high students reported they purchased the marijuana for $20 that was taken from grandparents or parents.

Colfax OFFERS TO FILL RR GAPS

Colfax city officials approved filling and surfacing road gaps that would be left in the event the state Department of Transportation removes five unused railroad crossings in the southeast section of Colfax.

Bob Westby, manager of the state PCC railroad system for the Department of Transportation, sent an inquiry to Colfax to determine whether or not the city would fill and surface the gaps in the event the DOT pulled out the railroad crossings.

The railroad crossings are located on East Cooper, Lower A Street, the S. 600 block of Mill Street and Cooper Street.

The railroad has been out of use since the 2006 range fire destroyed the trestle west of Risbeck. Some railroad cars have been stored on the Colfax end, but the railroad segment was isolated from the Colfax rail connection when the South Main crossing was removed during last year’s Highway 195 construction project.

City Administrator Carl Thompson said they are now awaiting word from the DOT on whether or not they will proceed with pulling out the crossings.

ROBBERY CHARGES FILED

Formal charges of first degree robbery have been filed against the three suspects arrested for the alleged strong-armed robbery of Larry Hood April 12 at his residence on Highway 195 south of Pullman. The three suspects have also each been charged with first degree burglary and second degree theft.

The investigation report said the trio entered Hood’s residence and forced him to hand over cash from his wallet.

Matthew Lee Evans, 24, Lewiston, has also been charged with possession of methamphetamine. The arrest report alleges a warrant search of Evans’ 2004 Dodge Neon, which had been taken to the jail basement after the three suspects were arrested in Pullman, led to discovery of plastic baggies of the drug that had been placed under the transmission cover inside of the car. Deputies reported they also found a wad of cash next to the baggies. The cash totaled 11 $100 bills and one $20 bill.

Hood had told officers during the initial investigation that he was forced to turn over 37 $100 bills and some $20 bills from his wallet.

Evans is also identified in the investigation report as the male who was carrying a folding baton which was allegedly used to threaten Hood.

Pre-trial release bond for Evans was set at $30,000. Bond for the other two suspects, Justin J. Jaquith, 24, Lewiston, and Andrea Sarvabui, 24, Clarkston, was set at $20,000.