Remaining Colfax law practices set to merge

The former Glaser’s jewelry store building on Main Street has been sold to the Ritzville law firm of Carpenter, McGuire & DeWulf which plans to remodel the building and enlarge the firm’s practice here. As part of the plan, the Ritzville firm has purchased the practice of Libey, Ensley & Nelson which will close down its office in the Warwick building across from the courthouse.

The consolidation of the practices has been scheduled to start Jan. 9 in conjunction with the departure of Gary Libey, senior member of the Colfax firm who has been elected to succeed David Frazier as superior court judge, according to Rusty McGuire, one of the associates in the Ritzville firm.

Carpenter, McGuire & DeWulf has been represented in Colfax by John Kragt who makes weekly visits to Colfax and practices in the 200 block of North Main where his grandfather, Harvey Kragt, had his chiropractic practice. Kragt also serves as Colfax city attorney.

McGuire said the firm plans an extensive remodeling of the Glaser’s building. He noted they recently remodeled their Davenport office with an emphasis on historic artifacts and area lore.

McGuire said the remodeling will include the back section of the Glaser’s building which will be used to provide office space for the practice.

McGuire said he, Kragt and Matthew Johnson, who was raised in Colfax, will be the firm members who will practice in the remodeled Colfax office. Johnson has been a member of the firm for the past two years after he was sworn into the bar by Judge Frazier here.

McGuire, who was raised in the Rosalia area and is a member of the Rosalia High School class of 1982, conducts part of his practice at the firm’s Rosalia office.

The Glaser’s store site was purchased from Johnson’s parents, Mark and Robyn Johnson, proprietors of Tick Klock Drug. The Johnsons purchased the Glaser’s building from Ed Glaser after he retired and extended their store into the half of the building which adjoins the drug store.

McGuire said Bruce Ensley, associate of the Colfax firm, will continue his practice “in counsel” with the new office. He will continue his practice with present clients but not be expected to take on new clients.

McGuire said Guy Nelson, the third attorney listed in the Colfax firm’s name, and Will Ferguson, who has practiced out of the Colfax office, have not determined what course of action they will follow.

Staff employees at the Colfax office will move to the Glaser’s site.

Carpenter, McGuire & DeWulf also have offices in Odessa, St. John and Fairfield for a total of seven locations.

Ken Carpenter early in his career served on the prosecutor’s staff for a short time. Mark DeWulf is the other attorney included in the firm’s name.

At present, the Libey, Ensley & Nelson office and John Kragt’s part-time office for Carpenter, McGuire & DeWulf are the only two law offices in Colfax. The consolidation will leave one law office in the town which used to be the home of multiple independent practices.