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.

THREE HORSES DIE IN ACCIDENT

A collision Sunday night between a sedan and several horses which were on the Walla Walla Highway took the lives of three of the horses. The driver of the sedan, Henry R. Zaring, Pullman, sustained cuts to his face and arm. He was taken by ambulance to Whitman Hospital in Colfax.

According to the Washington State Patrol report, Zaring was driving a 2002 Buick Century southbound on the Walla Walla Highway at 11:05 p.m. and collided with a group of horses which were in the southbound lane of the highway about two miles south of the Highway 26 intersection at Dusty. The horses were owned by Walter (Sonny) Riley of Central Ferry.

Two other horses were injured, according to the state patrol report.

Sheriff’s deputies assisted at the scene.

TRIAL DATE

FOR LOWLEY

William H. Lowley, 21, the former Plummer resident who was wanted on an alleged home invasion robbery at Tekoa last September, pleaded not guilty in superior court Friday to formal charges of second degree burglary, residential burglary and possession of oxycodone. His trial date was slated for Oct. 14.

Lowley was booked into jail here Sept. 3. Court records show he has been serving time in the Idaho Corrections facility at Boise.

ROLLOVER ON HUME ROAD

Casey E. Harp, 19, Tekoa, sustained minor injuries Sunday night in a one-car rollover accident on the Hume Road about one mile east of Highway 195.

According to the accident report, Harp was driving eastbound at 9:19 p.m. when the car went off the roadway. He was ejected from the vehicle, a 2005 Ford Escape. The report said Harp told the deputy he was driving home from working at Arby’s in Colfax and fell asleep.

He was taken by Colfax ambulance to Whitman Hospital for treatment.

STALKING

SUSPECT

FROM UK

Alan M. Ahmad, 29, was booked into jail here at 7:44 p.m. Monday after being arrested in Pullman on a probable charge of stalking. According to the arrest report, the alleged victim was a WSU graduate student who told police Ahmad flew to Pullman from the United Kingdom to see her after she ended their dating relationship. The alleged victim is a WSU graduate student from Spain. She told officers she had ended their relationship via a Skype conversation and described the suspect as her ex-boyfriend.

Friday morning she discovered the suspect standing outside of her grad student office at Thompson Hall and she again said she didn’t want to see him. Two other contacts were booked Friday and the suspect was warned by an officer that he would be arrested for stalking if they received another complaint from the grad student. Monday she reported she encountered Ahmad at a campus bus stop on the way to work.

When he was arrested at the Cougar Land Motel, Ahmad told officers the bus stop incident was a chance encounter.

EWING EARNS FAIR HONOR

Becky Ewing of Colfax received this year’s superintendent award at the Palouse Empire Fair’s Parade of Champions ceremony Sunday afternoon. The award was announced by WSU Extension Agent Janet Schmidt, who was emcee for the event. Ewing served as superintendent of the goat barn entries.

A new feature of the fair this year was addition of goats to the Saturday market sale. Six goats were listed for sale at the event.

The volunteer of the year awards went to Walter Riley and Jerry Reeves, long-time helpers in the beef barn.

Schmidt also announced superintendents for two of the animal divisions have decided to depart after a long record of service. Curt and Cindy Kimberling of Garfield have headed the horse barns for several years.

Also planning to depart are Dave and Alice Hopkins of LaCrosse, long-time superintendents of the hog barn.

FOUR MONTHS FOR TAMPERING

Ryan Lamance, 24, Pullman, was sentenced to four months in jail Friday after he pleaded guilty to a charge of tampering with a witness. Lamance was charged after he was identified as making a call from the jail July 30 to the alleged victim on an assault arrest which had led to his initial arrest. He reportedly told the victim to drop the charges against him and “get rid” of a no contact order.

The alleged victim in the case and Lamance have a child in common, according to the arrest reports.

He was first arrested July 19 on a charge of assault in violation of a no contact order. That charge was dropped Friday.

Lamance was listed with an offender score of two for 2012 convictions on charges of malicious mischief and unlawful possession of a firearm. Friday’s sentencing was on the witness tampering conviction. He was also ordered to pay $800 in fines and fees.

RAILROAD

SIDING FIRE

A Colfax fire crew responded to a report of a fire behind buildings in the 400 block of N. Main in Colfax Saturday night. Assistant Chief Jim Krouse said he noticed smoke coming from the railroad sidings in the area back of the Warwick Building at about 7:40 p.m. The smoke was apparently coming from rotted railroad timbers beneath the rails.

Cause of the fire was unknown, although extinguished cigarettes were found near the site of the smoke.

SENTENCED FOR COCAINE

Bisrat S. Gebre, a WSU student from the Seattle area, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay fines and fees of $1,800 after he pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of cocaine. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Dan LeBeau told the court Friday Gebre was arrested at Stubblefield’s in Adams Mall on campus. A packet of white powder which was later determined to be cocaine was found on his person.

He was allowed to convert the 30 day sentence to 240 hours of community service. Gebre read a written statement of apology to the court and said the episode served as “an eye opening experience.”

Three other charges were dropped as part of a plea bargain. The arrest report by a Pullman Police officer alleged he spotted Gebre, who was sought on another case, and the defendant gave incorrect information when asked to confirm his identity.

PITTMAN WINS MR. Palouse EMPIRE FAIR

Collin Pittmann of Rosalia won the new Mr. Palouse Empire Fair contest Sept. 4. He and Dylan Heiser of Colfax were named the two finalists and were asked to do their best dance moves in the final round of competition.

Pittmann sang a vocal solo for the talent part of the competition.

The Mr. Palouse Empire Fair entrants were recruited by the six candidates for Miss Palouse Empire Fair who competed Sept. 5 in the Community Building. Pittmann was recruited by Rayna Charles of Rosalia.

Other entrants in the competition were Scott Bumpus, Levi Teare, Jaeyden Norwood and Jason Parker.

Emcee of the program was Diana Frey, Colfax Chamber of Commerce president.

SUSPECT EXPELLED AT WSU

The last chapter in the Pullman robbery case from last November was logged in superior court Friday morning when Joseph H. Cain, 20, pleaded guilty to a revised charge of rendering criminal assistance. Cain had originally been charged with being in possession of a stolen firearm, but Prosecutor Denis Tracy told the court the state was unable to prove that charge.

Cain was charged in connection with the robbery and burglary case charges brought against Teshome G. Malle, 18, and Daraaraa Waquo, 23, both of Seattle.

After Cain entered his plea, Tracy told the court the two suspects stayed at Cain’s apartment. The prosecutor said Cain became aware that Waquo and Malle were in possession of stolen items but might not have been aware that they had traveled to Pullman with the intent of stealing them. He said Cain did provide transportation to take the duo to Walmart where they were apprehended purchasing gift cards with a card stolen from the residence on Michigan Street.

Waquo was convicted of robbery for threatening the victim, the woman who resided on Michigan Street, with a gun and telling her to get down on her knees. He was sentenced to four years in July. Malle was sentenced Aug. 21 to three years in prison for pleading guilty to reduced charges of burglary.

Defense Attorney John Hart Friday described Malle and Waquo as friends of friends who had made a stop at Cain’s apartment. He also reported Cain has since been expelled from Washington State University and told he will be charged with trespassing if he is found on campus. He said Cain is now taking courses in Pullman.

Judge David Frazier sentenced Cain to 364 days in jail with all but two days suspended. He was credited with two days served in jail after his arrest.

The judge cautioned Cain to stay off the WSU campus where he could be apprehended for trespassing and violate the no criminal conduct provision of the 364 days of suspended jail time.

REPORT SJ WINE THEFT

Three juvenile males, ages 13 to 15, have been summoned to appear in juvenile court Sept. 18 on charges related to a suspected theft of four bottles of wine from a residence in St. John. Two of the boys are charged with burglary and one faces charges of burglary and theft.

The arrest report from the sheriff’s office said four bottles of wine were taken from the residence. One of the suspects said they took the wine to a “fort” and drank them. Two of the bottles were recovered, the report said.

Entry was alleged to have been done by one of the youths who knew a lock code at the residence.

PERMIT FEE ON COUNTY JOB

The $350,749 construction project which started last week in the courthouse bolstered the Colfax revenue funds by $3,954. The sum was for the building permit fee which was paid at city hall Sept. 2.

STOLEN CAR IN WISCONSIN

A 2006 Chevrolet Trail Blazer which was stolen Aug. 13 along Main Street in Colfax was located late Sept. 1 in a Walmart parking lot in Watertown, Wis. According to the probable cause report from the officer in Watertown, Shauna Robison of LaCrosse and her brother were found sleeping in the car.

The Trail Blazer, owned by Ken Kelso of LaCrosse, was taken from the HUB Insurance lot on Main Street in Colfax where Kelso is employed.

According to the Watertown report, Robison told the arresting officer she had been driving the Trail Blazer for the last two weeks. She said they had driven to Watertown from Indiana where they had made their last rest stop.

The SUV had attracted attention in the Walmart lot because the rear window kept going up and down.

Robison allegedly told the officer she had purchased the Trail Blazer with $3,000 cash in Spokane.