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.

ST. IGNATIUS WELL OPEN

Colfax City Council members Monday night received a report on the condition of the former St. Ignatius Hospital building. Among other faults with the property, Chief Rick McNannay reported the cover had been removed from an unused well which was the scene of a rescue six years ago. Volunteers pulled a Colfax boy out of the well after he fell into it.

The city had installed a plate over the well to prevent another incident, but McNannay reported the plate was missing and the top of the open well was partially hidden by tall grass and weeds. McNannay said it appeared some of the debris which is located around the building had been dumped into the open well.

Council members requested that the top of the well, which is located near the former nuns’ quarters behind the hospital, again be covered and secured.

The abandoned St. Ignatius building returned to the council’s agenda when a neighborhood resident sent the city a letter that pointed out the potential hazards of the aging structure. In his letter Vern Thompson reported young people were going in and out of the building and he urged the city totake action before more severe consequences happen in the future.

McNannay included pictures of the building in his report to the council. He pointed out the overhead walkway, which spans the back access lane on the former hospital, presents a hazard. Some of the walkway planks are missing and other planks are rotted. Also, the second story door to the building at the end of the walkway is wide open.

McNannay also reported the front door of the building is open and some of the panels which were used to seal off the building’s windows were missing.

The building’s use as a hospital ended in 1968 with the completion of Whitman Hospital. It was later used to house developmentally disabled adults.

McNannay has prepared a notice letter which was mailed with the photos to the building’s owner, Anthony Girges of Bellflower, Calif.

City council members at the previous meeting noted condemnation action against the building could eventually lead to a costly demolition project.

PREECE FACES SECOND CHARGE

A second charge of child molestation was filed against Judson Preece, 50, Pullman, Friday in superior court by Prosecutor Denis Tracy. The Pullman Police investigation report on the case alleged Preece molested a second juvenile girl, and he was charged with first degree child molestation.

Preece has been scheduled for a jury trial Jan. 13 after he pleaded not guilty to one count of child molestation in the second degree. He was charged then with molesting a 13-year-old girl after taking her to his residence following a group birthday party at a Pullman restaurant. The police report said other members of the birthday party departed the restaurant to attend a theater performance.

LIFE FLIGHT FOR CRASH VICTIM

Richard Waddell, Colfax, was transported by Life Flight helicopter Saturday to Spokane after being injured in a two-car accident on Highway 26. Waddell, who was a passenger in a 1987 Honda Accord driven by David Timmermans of Colfax, had sustained internal injuries in the accident. Timmermans sustained shoulder and chest injuries.

According to the Washington State Patrol report, Timmermans was driving the Accord eastbound behind a 2003 Cadillac driven by Miriam Hermandez, Quincy. Hermandez pulled the Cadillac onto the shoulder of the eastbound lane and then attempted to make a U turn. It struck the Honda.

Timmermans was taken by ambulance to Whitman Hospital and Medical Center.

BOND SET

AT $10,000

Matthew Moore, 27, Moscow, was ordered held in jail on $10,000 bail Friday after a first appearance in court. Moore was arrested on a bench warrant after he failed to appear initially on a summons. He faces a charge of attempted theft in the first degree.

The arrest report alleges Moore attempted to take a cell phone away from the driver of a vehicle after a confrontation involving blocking traffic on NW Ash Street in Pullman April 8.

APPLICANT LIST AT NINE

One more application for the Colfax City manager’s position was received at city hall Friday afternoon before the deadline. That puts the list of applicants at nine.

The city clerk also received another application Monday, too late for the first round deadline.

The opening was advertised on an “until filled” format, so the tenth applicant could be considered at a later date.

ARREST AT

WALMART

Kade L. Casper-Nixon, 19, Moscow, was booked into the jail here early Monday morning after being arrested in Pullman of probable theft charges. The Pullman Police report said officers responded to Walmart Sunday after receiving a report of a theft.

Casper-Nixon was arrested in the parking lot where he had reportedly returned after the alleged theft.

The arrest report said Casper-Nixon had been observed on a surveillance camera taking a set of security keys off a desk. The security keys are used to remove locks from merchandise in the store. The suspect was later observed leaving the camera display areas of the store.

According to the arrest report, the owner of the car in which the suspect was riding gave permission for officers to search the car, and they recovered the keys and a Canon Camera.

The report alleged one large key was determined to be missing, and Casper-Nixon later told them he threw it in the waste container in a rest room after being advised the key could trigger an alarm system.

LANDER TRIAL

DATES SET

Walter Lander, 43, Colfax resident who faces charges in an alleged check washing scheme, has been scheduled for trial Nov. 18. Lander Oct. 11 entered not-guilty pleas to charges in three separate cases. Each of the cases against him involves a charge of forgery. One of the cases pending also involves a charge of possession of stolen property.

Investigation of the cases has been done by the Pullman and Colfax police departments. Alleged victims of the cases reside in Pullman.

SPOKANE JUDGE APPOINTED

Spokane Superior Court Judge Maryann C. Moreno has been appointed to hear the third trial of Daniel Lazcano. The appointment was required after Judge David Frazier, who presided at the first two jury trials here earlier this year, recused himself last week from hearing the third trial.

Judge Frazier made the decision to step aside after finding that statements he made July 19 when he rejected a plea bargain agreement for Lazcano could raise a question of impartiality. The defense last week filed a motion for a change of judges.

Prosecutor Denis Tracy said Judge Moreno’s schedule will allow for the Lazcano trial to begin as scheduled Dec. 2. Judge Frazier ordered the trial moved to Spokane County because of anticipated problems in seating an impartial jury here after the two hung jury trials of Daniel Lazcano and the trial that resulted in the conviction of his brother of felony murder.

20,455 BALLOTS HIT MAIL FRIDAY

Elections staffers with the Whitman County Auditor’s office mailed 20,455 ballots Friday for the Nov. 5 general election. The mailing included 10,497 to Pullman which has three city council races on the ballot.

Largest financial measure on the ballot is the St. John School District proposal for a three-year levy at $323,000 each year to improve the heating and ventilation system in the school.

Special levy propositions are also on the ballots for St. John and Tekoa. Levy requests are also listed for six park and recreation districts and three cemetery districts.

In addition to the three contested races for city council seats at Pullman, voters will select among two candidates for one of the Tekoa school board seats, two Garfield seats, one LaCrosse seat and two Palouse council seats.

Postmark deadline for returning the ballots will be the Nov. 5 election date. Voters can also drop their ballots off at the elections office in Colfax during business hours or at the drop box along the alley behind the elections office.

CHARGES ALLEGE POLICE CAR BASHING

Malicious mischief charges involving damage to Pullman Police cars were filed last Friday against Kerry E. Morrison, 26, Pullman. The charges allege Morrison, who was also the object of a police pursuit last February, damaged the police vehicles with a bat.

According to the police report officers late Feb. 17 discovered glass fragments in the parking lot at the police station. Two squad cars, an SUV, a pickup and dog control vehicle had been damaged along with an officer’s personal truck.

The report said a crucifix was found in the lot and later traced to Morrison.

Morrison was arrested the next day after a pursuit chase, and a bat was found in the Malibu he was driving. The report said the bat was examined and determined to have glass fragments imbedded in it.

Also, the report said police checked the property log taken for Morrison’s possessions and discovered a crucifix was among personal items listed when he was jailed in January on another case.

They said they had a DNA check done on the crucifix found at the scene of the alleged car bashing and it was linked to Morrison.

JAIL ON

CHRISTMAS BREAK

Benjamin J. Hayes, 20, the Western Washington University student who was arrested in the college hill area of Pullman with a backpack containing psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana, was sentenced to 30 days in jail Oct. 11 in Whitman County Superior Court.

Hayes admitted amended charges of being in possession of the mushrooms and marijuana. Hayes, who was 19 at the time, was initially arrested when he was found in the middle of a street with a beer can in his hand. He was suspected of being in Pullman with the intent of selling the mushrooms and marijuana in the backpack.

Hayes and his father told the court the arrest in Pullman was a wakeup call. In the subsequent year his academic performance at WWU has improved and he has competed on the rowing team.

Hayes’ father told the court his son’s performance at college declined in the first year. He said he had become aware that Benjamin was smoking marijuana in high school and regretted not doing something about it at that time.

Hayes was sentenced to 90 days in jail with all but 30 suspended. He will be allowed to begin serving the time Dec. 13 during the Christmas break at Bellingham. He was also ordered to pay $1,800 in fines and fees.

GUILTY VERDICT AFTER SPEED CHASE

Stephani Rae Vanderholm, 27, Elk, was convicted of attempting to elude an officer in a one-day jury trial in superior court Oct. 14. Vanderholm was arrested Aug. 17 after she was pursued northbound on Highway 195 north of Colfax.

Trooper James Retzer reported the Dodge Dakota pickup truck she was driving was clocked at 88 miles an hour when it passed his patrol car at mile marker 54. He said he pulled out to pursue the pickup and the speeds went up to 95 mph. He said the driver swerved and crossed the centerline and the fog line during the chase which ended when the pickup truck hit a spike strip on the highway and came to a stop at mile marker 88.

Vanderholm at the time told the trooper she was driving at a high rate of speed because she believed people had been chasing her.

Retzer testified Monday for the state, and Vanderholm and Dr. Debra Brown of Spokane testified for the defense. Dr. Brown was appointed before the trial to examine the defendant.

Vanderholm was sentenced to 65 days in jail with credit from the same amount of time already held in custody.

She was placed on community custody for a year. She was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and follow any ordered treatment. She was also banned from driving.

The court waived fines and fees in the case.

A notice of appeal was filed by Vanderholm’s attorney Oct. 17.