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.

SPOKANE FIRM OFFERS LOW BID

Transtech Engineering, Inc., Spokane, had the apparent low bid for the sidewalk construction project on Third and Clay streets in Colfax. The low bid was $118,996.

Other bidders on the project were M.L. Albright, Lewiston, $132,937, and Ace Elliot, Pullman, $144,977. Engineer Munir Daud of Pullman estimated the cost of the project was $114,380.

The bid sums were reported to the city council Monday night. They will be reviewed by the Transportation Improvement Board and then be officially presented to the city council for acceptance.

The project calls for installation of sidewalks along Third Street from Sumner to Clay Street and then along the east side of Clay Street from Third north to the North Park Street intersection.

The project has been approved for funding by the TIB with the city to pay 10 percent of the cost.

The project was proposed to improve pedestrian safety on the street segments which are used by school students who walk from the residential areas on the Park Street hill area.

YAKIMA DRIVER HURT IN CRASH

Canming Xiao, Yakima, was taken by ambulance to Whitman Hospital Sunday after he sustained facial injuries in a one-car accident on Highway 26 13 miles west of Colfax. According to the Washington State Patrol report, he was driving a 2011 Toyota RAV westbound at 4:10 p.m. and attempted to pass a semi truck. He then saw a vehicle approaching in the eastbound lane and swerved to avoid a collision. The Toyota went through a fence and came to a halt in the ditch on the south side of the highway.

COLFAX

COMPUTER SCAM

Colfax residents report encountering a new variation of a computer scam which can result in home computers being locked up with the insertion of a password requirement. Roy Lord of Palouse Hills Computing in Colfax said he has had to restart the computer of one resident who was a victim of the scam.

Lord said the scam begins with a caller who falsely claims to be with Microsoft Support. He said in general the callers cannot fix anything and instead charge exorbitant fees for doing nothing.

The callers offer to connect remotely to the resident’s computer “events” log and then filter for errors, warnings and critical events. Lord points out even healthy computers will have several error events that can be safely ignored by the user.

He cautions residents to never trust anyone who calls about a supposed problem and never allow them to connect remotely to the resident’s computer.

In the one case noted so far, the local resident actually allowed the bogus service provider to connect. The Colfax resident then became suspicious and decided not to pay the $180 fee requested for payment of service. She then discovered a lockout had been installed on her computer which required a password to start.

Lord said he can counter the lockouts and get the computers operating again, but if local users follow the advice above, they should not have a problem.

BOY HURT

IN FIGHT

A 10-year-old Pomeroy boy was taken by ambulance to Whitman Hospital Sunday for a checkup after police responded to a report of an assault at the skateboard area of Schmuck Park. The assault was reported at 3:45 p.m. during the novice swim league meet.

According to the police report, the 10-year-old boy was taken to the hospital after he had been hit by a 14-year-old. The 14-year-old was reported to be out-of-control and at one point was swinging a stick.

The arrest report said an 11-year-old brother of the younger boy also got involved in the fight.

After checking with county juvenile services, officers released the 14-year-old to the custody of his grandfather who took him home to LaCrosse.

FOURTH DRUG SUSPECT

ARRESTED

Eli Gallegos, 55, Colfax, was arrested Friday and booked into jail on two charges of selling hydrocodone and a charge of resisting arrest. Gallegos was the fourth person arrested on drug charges in Colfax over two days late last week.

According to the arrest report, an informant tipped off an officer of the Quad Cities Drug Task Force that Gallegos had made offers to sell hydrocodone which had been prescribed to him. The arrest report said drug agents arranged for an informant to make controlled purchases from Gallegos in March and in May.

The report alleges when officers went to a residence in the 700 block of S. East Street Friday to arrest Gallegos, he was sitting on the steps of his porch. After he was advised he was under arrest, Gallegos got up and attempted to walk into the residence. An officer attempted to restrain him and at one point they both fell off the porch. The agent managed to get handcuffs on Gallegos and he was taken to jail.

PULLMAN MOVES SUIT TO U.S. COURT

Attorneys for Pullman last week filed notice in superior court here that the civil suit filed against the city by New Cingular Wireless has been removed to U.S. District Court in Eastern Washington in Spokane. The suit was removed to U.S. Court July 22 which was within the 30 days required since Pullman was served a copy of the suit June 25, the notice said.

According to the complaint filed here by Seattle attorney Michael Scott, New Cingular seeks to recover tax revenue the company alleges it erroneously paid to Pullman. The company said it submitted a refund request of $107,242 to Pullman in November of 2010 and the city has not acted on the request.

The suit contends New Cingular incorrectly collected taxes for internet service along with taxes for telephone service. Taxing for internet is prohibited.

The mistake led to a suit by users and eventually a settlement in U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois. The settlement required New Cingular to file claims for remittance of the tax which it paid to cities, the complaint said.

METH ARRESTS

IN COLFAX

Two suspects were arrested in Colfax August 1 and one was arrested early Friday morning on charges involving methamphetamine. Ricky Frye, 37, and Marissa Furry, 38, were booked into the county jail and had a first appearance in court Friday.

The arrest reports alleged members of the Quad Cities Drug Task Force received a tip last April that methamphetamine was being sold at an apartment in the 600 block on South East Street. The report said agents arranged for a confidential informant to make a controlled purchase of the drug. One of the purchases was made during the third week of April.

Furry was booked on two probable charges as a result of the alleged April transaction and another during the first week of May.

Evan James Couch, 22, was arrested early Friday morning and booked into jail. The arrest report for Couch alleges he sold methamphetamine to an QCDTF informant in a controlled buy the first week of May at the same location.

THORNTON MAN FACES CHARGES

A charge of threatening to kill with domestic violence was filed July 31 in superior court against Robert T. Claussen, 66, Thornton. Claussen was arrested July 30 at his residence in Thornton. The arrest report alleges he made threats against his spouse.

In addition to posting bail as a condition of release, Claussen was ordered to take prescribed medication. The arrest report said his wife believed the threats were made against her because Claussen was not taking the medications prescribed to treat dementia. He allegedly threatened to kill his spouse after she refused to heed his demands that she leave the residence.

SCHOOL GETS BUILDING PERMIT

Colfax School District July 31 received a city building permit for remodeling work underway at the office in the Jennings Elementary School. Value of the remodeling project was set at $40,000.

Remodeling the office is part of an effort to improve security measures at the school. It will involve cutting an exterior door to direct visitors to the school through the office. A large office safe separates the office from the present entry doors at the school.

Supt. Michael Morgan is heading the district’s construction at the Jennings office. Goal of the project is to have it completed by Aug. 15. Harrison Electric will do the electrical work and another contractor will install the drywall.

New doors with electronic controls will be installed at the main JES entry. Most of the school security project for JES and the high school has been put on hold for a second round of bids after two bids received in the first round exceeded cost estimates.

District voters in April approved a $250,000 special levy proposal for the project.