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.

BANK PERMIT

SIGNALS CHANGE

A Colfax building permit has been issued to Washington Federal Bank to install a new sign at Bank of America in Colfax. The project will be done by Capital Sign and Awning of Lacey with a cost estimate of $16,480.

The Washington Federal Bank sign will be mounted on the present sign standard in front of the bank. Washington Federal color scheme is two shades of green. Matching signs will also be installed at the drive-through.

The Colfax branch of Bank of America was among those purchased by Washington Federal.

Matt Atkinson, branch manager at Colfax, said the conversion will take place over the first weekend in December. The bank will close at noon on Friday, Dec. 6, and open as Washington Federal Bank on Monday, Dec. 9.

Washington Federal Bank, which has its headquarters in Seattle, has purchased a total of 51 Bank of America branches in four states. Colfax, Pullman and Clarkston branches were among those sold in Washington.

Atkinson said the bank staff will remain the same under the new bank.

VW DRIVERS

IN REAR-ENDER

Drivers of two Volkswagens were involved in a non-injury accident Saturday night on Highway 195 north of Colfax. According to the Washington State Patrol report, the two drivers were traveling together.

Qiunan Lu, Pullman, was driving a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta southbound at 9:15 p.m. on Highway 195 when she slowed for traffic. Ruonan Yu was driving a 2007 Volkwagen Passat behind Lu and was unable to stop in time to avoid hitting the back of the Jetta.

—Raymond D. Kilpatrick, Moses Lake, was unhurt Friday night when the 1997 Plymouth Voyager van he was driving struck a deer on Highway 195 north of Steptoe. According to the WSP report, he was driving northbound at 10:20 p.m. when the deer ran into the roadway at mile 53.3.

YOUTH HIT IN HUNTING

ACCIDENT

A 12-year-old Pullman boy was accidentally shot while hunting in the southwest area of Whitman County. The sheriff’s office was notified at 8:10 a.m. Saturday that the boy was being taken to Whitman Hospital by a private vehicle.

The boy was later transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane for observation. His injuries are believed to be serious but not life threatening.

The report by Sheriff Brett Myers said the shooting was determined to be hunting related and the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife will take the lead on the investigation.

CHARGES FILED AFTER ARREST

Alex J.D. Hinojos, 24, Colfax, has been summoned to appear in court Friday for a first appearance on charges filed Wednesday, Oct. 23, of third degree assault, driving while under the influence and giving false information to an officer.

The charges stem from an Aug. 9 arrest which followed a response by deputies to a report of a hit and run accident in a driveway at Albion.

According to the investigation report an older brown Ford pickup truck matching the description of the hit and run vehicle was located on Highway 195. The report said Hinojos was found in the truck and appeared to have been drinking.

The report alleges Hinojos told officers at the scene the truck ran out of gas and a friend, who had been driving the truck, had left to get gasoline. When officers contacted the friend, he told them Hinojos had called him and asked him to bring fuel. He said he had not been with Hinojos in Albion.

Witness accounts of the accident alleged Hinojos was having trouble with the clutch in the Ford pickup and struck the back of another truck in the driveway.

FAIR MEET NEXT WEEK

The October meeting of the Palouse Empire Fair board has been delayed until Monday, Nov. 4, when it will be combined with the annual meeting of the fair association. Fair board members have to be elected at the annual association meeting.

Board members with expiring terms are Mary Beth Harvey, district 3, position 2, Colfax, and Greg Weber, district 2, position 1, Colfax.

After the election of the fair board members and any other association business, the fair board meeting will convene. The meeting will be in the public service building.

JAILED FOR SIX MONTHS

Garrett E. Finch, 27, who was initially arrested April 25 on Park Street in Colfax, was sentenced to six months in jail and ordered to pay fines and fees of $3,550, Oct. 18 in superior court. Finch, who was allowed pre-trial release, was arrested on a warrant after he failed to appear for a pre-trial readiness hearing Sept. 6.

A prior conviction of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver in October of 2010 in Asotin County was included in the sentencing report. In addition to the six months, he was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine for the drug conviction.

S. MILL: PARKING TICKET HOT ZONE

A summary of Colfax parking citations which listed locations was presented to the Colfax City Council Oct. 21. Chief Rick McNannay in his report said he prepared the summary to refute a claim made by Michael Assenberg, a resident of S. Mill, who said he was being singled out by law enforcement in what he believed was retaliation for the outcome of a marijuana case which was dismissed.

Assenberg had notified city officials that he planned to attend Monday’s meeting and was placed on the agenda, but he did not appear.

McNannay’s report listed a total of 39 citations which had been issued to date for this year with 14 of the tickets going to vehicles parked on S. Mill Street. The 39 citations included 16 for parking in prohibited zones and 23 for parking the wrong way.

Of the 16 tickets for parking in prohibited zones, seven were for vehicles parked on S. Mill, and of the 23 for parking the wrong way, seven were issued for vehicles on S. Mill.

McNannay at the previous meeting noted the parking on S. Mill is a problem area because some signs in the area were posted when parking was needed for St. Ignatius Hospital.

Other multi-ticket streets included Southview with three and Canyon, E. James, Wawawai, Scenic View and N. Mill with two each.

All but two of the parking tickets for the year were issued by McNannay.

COUGAR

SPOTTED

ON S. HILL

Colfax police received a report from Whitman Hospital staffers that a Cougar had been sighted in the field located behind the hospital Wednesday, Oct. 23. Officer Chris Olin went to the scene and was unable to find the animal.

Olin checked with the state game officer who said he had received several reports of a cougar in the area south of town and could be undertaking eradication of the animal.

ORDER ST. JOHN RESTITUTION

Michael McCarthy, 48, St. John resident who was convicted of burglary Oct. 4, was ordered to pay restitution of $815 to Mike Harrison and $1,408 to Dallas Loomis following a hearing in superior court Friday.

The restitution hearing was slated for Friday at the time McCarthy was sentenced. The sheriff’s investigation report noted many of the items reported missing in St. John were found in a motor home parked at a residence where McCarthy had been residing in St. John.

He was sentenced to 52 days in jail with credit for time served.

COUNTY ISSUES PLOW PRIORITY

County plowing priority for snow conditions was outlined in a notice sent out by Phil Meyer, operations manager for public works. First priority after a snow storm will be all paved roads in the county, and the second priority other roads which are part of school bus and mail routes. Gravel roads will be plowed after snow depth reaches six inches or drifting conditions develop. Any decision for weekend work will be made by the district road superintendents.