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.

JJ BUILDING SUPPLY TO CLOSE

JJ Building Supply plans to close its Colfax store in the coming weeks. The store Monday announced plans for a going-out-of business sale with a 25 percent discount on most items in the main store.

The business has operated in Colfax for the past eight years under Don and Sharon Judd. Most customers and suppliers at the store know Judd by his last name.

The Judds opened the store as an extension of their Moscow store on Highway 95. They started the Moscow operation in 1996.

Their store succeeded the building supply business operated by Paul Anderson.

Judd said he realizes the building supply store is one of the staple businesses for the town, but lack of customer support and difficulty keeping a staff led to the decision for the closure. He added they have not decided on a specific date.

The Judds have rented the building supply from the estate of the late Frank Rima. The property for the supply is actually owned by the railroad and leased by the Rima family.

The supply was operated as Rima Building Supply which was managed by Gerald Davis of Colfax who retired 13 years ago.

It was operated earlier as Colfax Building Supply and later Rima-Rodgers Building Supply in partnership with Bill Rodgers of Colfax.

Judd said their 25 percent going out of business sale includes most stock items in the store building. Exceptions will be prices on paint and power tools which cannot be stocked with that amount of margin.

Judd said he has been in the building business for almost 40 years.

HOMECOMING OFF MAIN

Schedule for Colfax homecoming events were posted Monday by Heidi Lowe, student body advisor. Homecoming will include most of the traditional events, but the downtown parade and pep rally will be off the schedule.

The rally for this year will be at the football field next Friday. In case of bad weather, the rally will be in the high school gym during sixth and seventh periods.

Last year, Colfax students revived a homecoming parade tradition with a Main Street parade and rally.

The Main Street parade was dropped several years ago, although the students later switched to parades on Mill Street. Last year’s Main Street return was done with coordination by the Colfax Police Department and the state Department of Transportation.

CHS Principal Buck Marsh said the decision to keep the rally on the football field came after school officials realized next Friday’s Main Street parade would happen at a time when heavy traffic was expected because of WSU’s Dad’s Weekend festivities. He said they decided to keep off the street with the expected heavy traffic flow.

Marsh said they hope to resume the Main Street tradition in coming years. He said they expect to pay closer attention to the WSU game schedules when planning Colfax homecoming events.

Colfax homecoming will start next Monday morning with royalty coronation in the CHS auditorium.

Student dress themes for the week are western day on Monday, fake injury day on Tuesday, costume day on Wednesday, extreme weather day on Thursday and Bulldog Blue and Gold on Friday. The Powder Puff game will be Thursday on the football field.

Homecoming football foe will be Orofino, a newcomer in the Colfax grid schedule. The homecoming dance will be Saturday from 8 to 11 p.m.

KENNEWICK DRIVER HURT

Jose Garcia, Kennewick, sustained a shoulder injury Friday night when the 1998 Honda Accord he was driving went out of control and rolled on its top on Highway 26 west of Dusty. According to the Washington State Patrol report, Garcia was driving eastbound at 10:15 p.m. when he failed to negotiate a curve to the left. The Honda slid off the right side of the roadway, rotated and then went over on its top.

Ryan L. Trimble, Lewiston, was unhurt Saturday night when the 2001 Nissan Maxima he was driving struck a deer on Highway 195 6.3 miles north of Colfax. The WSP report said Trimble was driving southbound at 11:30 p.m. and was unable to avoid the deer which crossed the roadway in front of the Nissan.

NEW TRIAL DATE

FOR HARVEY

A Nov. 18 trial date has now been scheduled for James Harvey, 53, Tekoa. Harvey was arrested after deputies went to his residence Sept. 6 with a bench warrant which was issued after he failed to appear at a pre-trial hearing that day.

The deputies’ report said they found Harvey covered with blood, and he explained he had made two unsuccessful attempts to take his own life. The last attempt involved cutting his wrist with a circular saw while he sat in the bathtub.

Harvey, who was originally scheduled for a Sept. 16 trial, was taken by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane. A court order was issued which required the hospital to notify the court four hours prior to Harvey’s release from the hospital so he could be taken into custody here. He was ordered held in jail for safe keeping.

REID APPEAL TALE ON YOUTUBE

Notice of a website to support the appeal of Christopher Jack Reid, the adult film performer who was convicted of second degree rape charges after entering a WSU sorority six years ago, has been sent to area newspapers by family members.

Reid is now serving time in the state’s Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen.

According to the notice sent by a family member, Reid has now produced a series of on-line videos which were filmed in the prison. They have been posted under his film name, Jack Venice on YouTube.

The notice said persons interested in supporting Reid’s appeal can do so by following Paypal instructions on the web site.

MORRIS SENTENCED TO 8 MONTHS

Jaron K. Morris, 20, Spokane, was sentenced Friday to eight months in jail after pleading guilty to a charge of second degree burglary. Two other charges, malicious mischief and theft were dismissed.

Morris was charged with entering a farm shop along the Almota Road and activating the breaker switch to pump fuel from the farm tanks. Deputies at the time of the arrest noted Morris was a former employee at the farm and familiar with the routine to activate the fuel pump switch inside the shop.

He was also ordered to pay $1,734 in fines and fees. He was allowed to pay off the sum with public service work with the exception of $184 in restitution due to the victim, Joe Schmick.

The investigation report noted an estimated 20 gallons of fuel were pumped after the switch was activated. The report said Morris broke out a window in order to enter the shop and activate the breaker switch on the fuel pump.

ADMITS BREAKING 60-INCH TV

Alex Papendick, 20, Colton, was sentenced to 364 days in jail and fined $5,000 after he pleaded guilty in superior court Sept. 27 to charges of criminal trespass and malicious mischief. The jail time and fines for each conviction were suspended, but he was ordered to complete 56 hours of community service.

He was also allowed to work off $1,450 in fines and fees at a rate of $10 per hour.

A bench warrant was issued by the court after he failed to appear Sept. 6 for a pre-trial readiness hearing.

He was charged after deputies investigated a report of entry and damage Dec. 16 at a Colton residence. The victim reported her 60-inch flat screen television set had been broken at the residence. Papendick was suspected because he reportedly was upset about a failed relationship with another woman who lived at the residence.

A restitution hearing had been set for Oct. 18 to determine the sum due the owner of the flat screen television, Afton Spence.

LaCROSSE MAN ARRESTED

Steven R. Wright, 47, LaCrosse, was booked into the county jail Saturday on probable charges of first degree assault and malicious mischief. The arrest report alleges he threatened his spouse with a hammer after he became upset while she was changing batteries on a baby monitor. The report alleged Wright works nights and was attempting to sleep. It said he struck her on the hand with the hammer and later used it to smash the monitor. The deputy said he did not detect injury to the alleged victim’s hand.

HUNTERS BREAKFAST AT WILCOX

Members of Wilcox Grange plan to continue the tradition of offering a hunters breakfast. The breakfast will be served Sunday morning, Oct. 13, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wilcox Hall. Signs will be posted.

Grange member Kevin Kramlich said non-hunters are encouraged to attend.

WHOOPING COUGH ALERT

Two cases of whooping cough (pertussis) have been confirmed in preschool children in Pullman, according to a Whitman County Health Department report Sept. 26. Whooping cough victims spread the disease by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others who breathe in the pertussis bacteria.

The best way to prevent pertussis is to get vaccinated.

Symptoms usually develop within seven to 10 days after being exposed. The disease usually starts with cold-like symptoms.

PHOTO PROGRAM SLATED

Wanda Alderman and Patti Cammack will present Whitman County heritage photos at the fall meeting of the Whitman County Historical Society at Bishop Place Social Room Oct. 26 at 10:30 a.m. The photos will be from the library’s heritage photo collection.

TICK KLOCK PROJECT STARTS

Work has started on the addition to the Tick Klock Drug on Main Street. Thompson & Sons Construction of Chatteroy is the contractor for the remodeling in the space formerly occupied by Main Street Books. The same firm did the remodeling of the present Tick Klock Drug.

A building permit for the project was issued last Thursday with estimated cost for the project at $50,000.

Mark Johnson, Tick Klock proprietor, said the adjoining store space on the north side of the present building will be linked by an arch. Approximately 65 percent of the added space will be used for retail display and the balance will be used for pharmacy. Another arch connection will be constructed for the pharmacy.

Joan Claussen, proprietor of Main Street Books, moved her business into the former Thrifty Grandmothers shop in the 100 block of N. Main last spring.

Palouse HIGHWAY WORK

HLT Construction of Ephrata is the contractor for a rebuild project on the drainage ditch along the Highway 272 grade out of Colfax. The project has been estimated to cost $205,000 and last about 20 days.

Al Gilson, district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, said the work involves restoring the drainage ditch structures and installing a culvert. The work is being done along the grade below the entry road into Hauser Addition.

Gilson said cages of rock, which have been installed in the ditch to stabilize the sides, have deteriorated over the years. Gilson said the present work will involve rebuilding some of the cages along with installing a culvert. Approximately 280 feet of pipe will be installed in the ditch.

Also involved in the Highway 272 project will be replacing the culvert about one-half mile west of the Blair Road intersection which is 12 miles west of Colfax.

BURGLARY CHARGES FILED

William H. Lowley, 30, Plummer, one of two alleged suspects in a home invasion reported last April in Tekoa, has been charged with second degree burglary, residential burglary and possession of a controlled substance.

Deputies responded to a report from a resident in Tekoa who said two men broke into her residence and stole prescription drugs. The two men reportedly were wearing black clothes and white masks.

The other suspect in the case, Keith Greensky, 26, Plummer, was sentenced to 16 months after pleading guilty to charges of residential burglary and possession of a controlled substance Aug. 16.

The sheriff’s investigation report noted they received assistance from Coeur d’Alene Tribal police in locating the suspects.

CITY RECORDS TOPIC AT FORUM

How Colfax city officials should respond to requests for records on specific properties was among questions asked Sept. 25 in a forum on open meetings and records which was hosted by the League of Women Voters of Pullman at the McGregor Training Center in Mockonema.

City Clerk Connie Ellis said one of the time consuming requests for public records for Colfax involved a request for all city records related to the Glenwood wells. She also noted recently home buyers have been requesting records of building permits on their homes they say are required by insurance companies.

Ellis was advised the city can ask for requests to be more specific although Toby Nixon, one of the forum panel members, related the case involving the Seattle monorail records which went all the way to the supreme court. Nixon is a member of the Kirkland City Council and president of the Washington Open Government Coalition. He described court decisions which indicate local governments can review expenses and set a limit on how much of their time and resources should go to responding to public records requests.

Nixon said Kirkland has passed an ordinance which limits spending on public records responses to one quarter of one percent of Kirkland’s budget. That limit is about $400,000.

Nixon said the state records law requires a reasonable effort to respond to records requests. He suggested local governments review their overall list of responsibilities and determine what fraction can reasonably go to responding to records requests. He also noted city record policy should be written out.

Mayor Todd Vanek asked how many years back a city should have to review its records.

Nixon noted one practice a city can follow to limit response expenses is to not retain records over several years.