Bulletin Column June 8

Pop of circumstance

Four years of high school culminates Saturday, June 3, for the 45 members of the Colfax High School class of 2017.

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.

CITY WEIGHS CEDAR STREET WATER COSTS

Colfax City Council members Monday night received a report on the estimated costs of installing new water lines under three blocks of Cedar Street which is expected to be rebuilt next year.

Public Works Director Matt Hammer said planning for the project is underway this year, and construction is scheduled to begin early next year.

Work on a new water line under Cedar Street is expected to cost in the range of $247,000. Hammer said the city has pledged to replace the line as part of its application for the state Transportation Improvement Board grant for the street work. The intent is to get the water line up to standard before the improvements are made to the street.

The TIB grant of $950,000 will be used for street work on Cedar from 7th to 10th street and all of Oak Street.

Funds for the water line part of the project will come out of a public works reserve fund which derives from utility bill revenue. The estimated pipe work would consume about 25 percent of the reserve fund.

Hammer received approval to pursue a Department of Health loan from its revolving drinking water fund. Rate of interest on a 20-year loan would be 1.5 percent and add approximately $41,000 to the cost of the project for financing over 20 years.

City council members noted the cost of the loan would offset the need to take all of the $247,000 cost up front and deplete the reserve fund which is facing other large expenses.

The water line along Oak Street does not have to be replaced because it is not located under the street.

Hammer said the city could also face replacement of the sewer line under Cedar at an estimated cost of $275,000. That was not included in the city's grant application for the TIB street loan, but it may have to be done as a prelude to the street project.

The sewer line has a water infiltration problem which had a big impact during the high water runoff this spring. Runoff water entered the sewer system line and overloaded it. The city countered by pumping runoff water over the dike along the river.

Next step for the city will be to contract for a video scan of the sewer line to determine if repairs can be made to the line or segments of the line. The cost of replacing the line, which is made of concrete pipe sections installed in 1947, would have to come out of a separate sewer system reserve fund which now stands at about $900,000.

Hammer said the city could apply for a Department of Ecology loan to finance the sewer project, if needed. Rate on the ecology loan would be about 1.7 percent, compared to the 1.5 percent rate of the state water system loan.

NEXT RIVER FIRE COURT DATE SET

The case involving three suspects who were charged with causing the fire which consumed crops and pasture land on both sides of the Snake River last August has been continued to Aug. 3 in Garfield County District Court at Pomeroy. The continuance was ordered at a court session last Thursday, June 1.

The Aug. 3 date has been set for entry of pleas with possible resolution of the case. Each of the suspects has been charged with reckless burning in the second degree for allegedly starting a fire where they camped overnight along the river on the Garfield County side across from Granite Point. Fires along the river were banned at that time.

Garfield County Prosecutor Matt Newberg filed the charges against Blake Rogers, Isaiah Weber and Jonathan Whitley, all WSU students who camped along the river and allegedly started a fire Aug. 1 after swimming across the river with a raft.

First session in court was set April 13, and a second session was set for last Thursday when Rogers requested a public defense attorney. Gary Carpenter of Clarkston was appointed to represent Rogers.

Mark Blair of Seattle represents Weber, and Anthony Martinez of Spokane represents Whitley.

A determination of the extent of damages from the fires, which was estimated to have covered approximately 11,000 acres, is expected to be presented at the Aug. 3 court session.

ST. IGNATIUS SOLD

Colfax Councilwoman Sarah McKnight reported at the start of Monday night's city council session that the St. Ignatius Hospital building has been sold. McKnight, who is managing director of the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association, said the sale price was a reported $160,000 and the buyer intends to convert the former hospital building into apartments.

Mayor Todd Vanek, who reported at the previous council session that negotiations were underway for the sale of the building, said Monday night it was his understanding the project will be undertaken by local contractors with funds for the purchase provided by a Wisconsin resident.

EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR COLFAX

Colfax City Council members Monday night met in executive session for approximately 20 minutes. The session was initially posted on the city's agenda as a personnel matter, but Mayor Todd Vanek, prior to calling the session, said the topic of the closed door session would be a pending legal suit.

The executive session ended at 8 p.m. without the city reconvening in a public session to take action on an official motion.

Colfax POLICE REPORTS

Colfax Police Saturday at 8 p.m. responded to a residence on Tyler Street to remove a 33-year-old woman who had shown up uninvited at a birthday party and refused to leave. The woman, who appeared to be intoxicated, allegedly kicked a Colfax officer when she was asked to exit the residence. She was taken to Whitman Hospital because of her level of intoxication.

--City police were called to investigate a suspected burglary at a residence on Cedar Street Sunday. Residents returned to the house after being gone the previous day and found an Xbox and video games missing from the house.

--Police and an ambulance crew Thursday at 7 p.m. responded to a report of a bicycle-van accident at the intersection of Canyon and Main streets. A 12-year-old boy was riding southbound on a bicycle and collided with the front of a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe van being driven by Ron Conrad. The accident report said Conrad started to go through the intersection after getting a green light, and the youth hit the Tahoe when the brakes failed on the bicycle. He sustained minor injuries.

CLASS OF ‘17 GRADUATES

The 45 members of the Colfax High School class of 2017 received diplomas in a commencement ceremony at the high school gym Saturday.

Class president Sarah Kraut gave the welcome to the crowd of parents, friends and relatives after the processional played by the school band.

Superintendent Jerry Pugh and Principal Carrie Lipe gave short talks.

Co-valedictorians Daniel Robinson and Hope de Avila and salutatorian Alexie Smith were presented with their honor medals by their parents during the ceremony. Each gave a talk before the diplomas were presented by school board members David Nails and Brian Becker.

Robinson has received an athletic scholarship and merit scholarship from Walla Walla Community College, and de Avila has received an honors scholarship and diversity award for the University of Idaho. Smith has received a four-year regent’s scholarship from Washington State University.

Highest honors graduates with a grade average of 3.7 to 3.95 included Christopher Aspenwall, Lauren Claassen, Taylor Garcia, Kraut, Sarah Pugh and Cheyanne Stokes.

High honor graduates with a grade average of 3.5 to 3.75 included Madelyne Avila, Caleb Brown, Callie-Rae Marker, Faith Markley, AJ Miller and Douglas Wilson.

Honors graduates with a grade average of 3.25 to 3.49 included Jayden Burt, Jared Kneale, Hannah Olson, Matthew Sharp and Jared Thompson.

POOL HEATER ON LINE

Installation of a new boiler at the Colfax swim pool has been completed. Public Works Director Matt Hammer said the boiler was installed by a crew from Ackerman Heating and Air Conditioning in Colfax. The pool has been filled with water, and the water temperature has been brought up to 78 degrees.

Installation work still needs to be finished on a separate water heater which will supply the pool building. The project totals a $45,000 investment in the pool, Hammer said.

PLANE LANDS ON HWY. 27

A single passenger plane made an emergency landing Saturday on Highway 27 south of Garfield. Palouse Chief Jerry Neumann said the pilot of the airplane was unhurt and was walking around the plane when he arrived on the scene at 10:45 a.m.

Chief Neumann said the pilot told him he made the emergency landing after the propeller flew off the airplane. He was able to put the airplane down on Highway 27 near the Hemingway Road intersection about a mile south of Garfield. The wing of the airplane struck a guy wire for a utility pole and that caused it to spin off the roadway.

ANOTHER

PULLMAN FIRE

Pullman fire crews were called to another residential fire at 10:30 a.m Sunday at an apartment at NW Terre View Drive after receiving a report that a fire had ignited under the deck of one of the apartment units. A resident attempted to douse a fire with an extinguisher. When fire crews arrived, smoke was still coming from beneath a wooden deck and wall around the stairway.

Fire investigator Tony Nuttman said the fire is believed to have started from a barbecue pan. The resident reported he used the barbecue about a month earlier and set the pan on the wooden deck next to vinyl siding. Nuttman pointed out a variety of fire agents can lie dormant for weeks and then later ignite, and that is what happened at the apartment. He said briquettes should be placed in a bucket of water after use to make sure they are out.

SIX-MONTH SENTENCE IN LIMBO

A possible six-month jail term faced by Lindsey Storch, 26, Spokane, after she pleaded guilty to a drug possession charge dating back to August of 2015, has been placed on hold until the court decides whether or not to credit her with time served on an Idaho conviction. Storch told the court Friday she served a term in Idaho and requested 261 days of credit. She said she participated in a six-month rehab program while in custody in Idaho.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Daniel LeBeau told the court it was his understanding that an inmate is required to petition the warden of the jail where they are serving a sentence to go to another county to resolve any charges being held against them there. That was not done by Storch while she was serving time in Idaho.

Judge Gary Libey delayed sentencing until attorneys for both sides submit briefs to resolve the legal question.

Storch faces a lengthy sentence because she has four prior felony convictions. The arrest Aug. 23, 2015, started in the Rosalia area when a deputy detected a speeding vehicle on Highway 195.

The report said a male was driving the car, but a female was behind the wheel of the car after the deputy turned around and stopped the vehicle. Drugs and guns were eventually found in the car. The report said the male driver admitted he and Storch were driving from Spokane to Clarkston to make a $900 drug sale.

FIRE DESTROYS TRACTOR

Garfield, Colfax and Steptoe fire crews responded to a report of a tractor fire on the Van Tine ranch along the Draper-Brown road Saturday at 1:51 p.m. Donald Van Tine reported he was pulling a sprayer with the Versatile tractor when he saw smoke coming out from beneath the cab. He climbed out and discovered flames were showing under the cab, and he decided to get away from the machine.

The tractor was fully engulfed in flames when the Garfield fire crew arrived at the scene.

Van Tine said the the fuel tank on the tractor did not explode and the sprayer rig behind it was not damaged. The fire did take out the sprayer controls.

He was spraying in a field on the west side of the road north of Draper Tractor Parts.

JUDGE STEPS ASIDE IN HALL CASE

Superior Court Judge Gary Libey Friday morning recused himself from hearing the state's case against Eric Hall of Colfax. Hall is one of three suspects charged in the Colfax "Alli" case involving a fictitious 15-year-old girl. An officer posing as "Alli" posted a message online on Craigslist. In the message, "Alli" stated she was 15 but sought a relationship with an older male, according to the police report filed with the case.

The arrest report alleged Hall responded to the posting, but notes he eventually cut off the exchange of messages.

Hall has been charged with communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. Hall was arrested Oct. 12 and allowed pre-trial release. His first appearances in court were made before Judge David Frazier.

Judge Libey Friday said he was acquainted with Hall and members of the Hall family and would not be able to preside over the case.

Appointment of a new judge will now be made through Spokane County, and the next court date was scheduled for June 30.

PERKINS HOUSE TREE REMOVAL

Removal of three trees from the Perkins House yard has been scheduled for today, Thursday. A crew from M & J Tree service has been booked to remove a large black walnut tree in front of the house and a mountain ash and horse chestnut tree.

The tree removal has been scheduled in advance of the Whitman County Historical Society's Ice Cream Social scheduled for June 25.

INMATE FOUND WITH HEROIN

Lisa A. Cerrillo, 38, who was booked into the county jail May 27 on drug charges, has been listed in a separate complaint for alleged possession of heroin in the jail.

The arrest report said a jailer observed a package near the door of a special holding cell shortly after 9 p.m. May 27. It said surveillance tapes in the jail showed the package falling out of the jail pants suit worn by Cerrillo after she had been administered medicine by one of the jailers. Three grams of black tar heroin were found in the package, according to the arrest report.

STOUT PLEADS GUILTY

Jason Stout, 43, Uniontown, pleaded guilty in superior court Friday morning to an amended charge of third-degree assault. The original charge against Stout was second degree assault.

Stout was charged with hitting his stepson with a baseball bat at their residence in the Uniontown area. Investigation in the case began when deputies were notified by Pullman Regional Hospital the youth had arrived there Feb. 28 for treatment of a fractured left elbow and said he had been injured when Stout hit him with a baseball bat.

According to the arrest report, the episode began when the boy returned to the residence with a friend and was greeted at the door by Stout who was swinging a sword and appeared to be intoxicated.

Stout's sentencing was delayed until June 30. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Daniel LeBeau told the court both sides have agreed to recommend a 90-day sentence, the maximum for third degree assault.

CRACK SEALING ON 271, 272

An update from the Eastern Region of the Department of Transportation for June 1-11 advises motorists crack sealing will be underway in preparation for chip sealing on Highway 271 from Rosalia to Oakesdale and Highway 272 from Colfax to Palouse.

Motorists are advised to be alert for flaggers and some delays in areas where the work is underway.

The 272 project includes the segment from Palouse over to the Idaho border.

HIGH BID STALLS BRIDGE JOB

Plans for extensive repair work on the two highway bridges at the north end of Main Street have been suspended because the lone bid for the project exceeded the estimate for the job by 39 percent.

The bid was approximately $2.7 million for the repair work. Al Gilson, spokesman for the Department of Transportation district, said the district's budget cannot absorb the extra cost which would be needed to cover the unanticipated costs which would be involved in accepting the bid.

He also noted the bid cost for repairing the bridge is close to the cost of replacing it.

Most of the project called for work on the Highway 195 bridge. The project included the piers, rails and sidewalk on the bridge. Some work was also scheduled for the Highway 26 bridge where extensive work was done to stabilize the sidewalk crossing and rail along the southbound lane of the bridge.

Preliminary plans called for all traffic at the intersection to be diverted to one bridge while work started on the other bridge and then reverse the pattern to work on the other bridge.

Colfax city officials have been informed that long-range plans for the intersection of highways 26 and 195 could involve replacing the two bridges with one structure and re-configuring the intersection.

The bridge project was one of the items on the agenda for a Department of Transportation open house which is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. today in the Public Service Building.

The open house is also scheduled to show plans for work this year on the Highway 195 passing lanes which will be installed between Colfax and Spangle. Real estate purchases by the state DOT have already been made in the Steptoe area for the lanes.

Bids on the passing lane project were slated to be opened June 7.

BOATER EDUCATION CLASSES

Three boater education classes will be offered by the Whitman County Sheriff's Office this summer. The class was developed to help boaters meet the requirement for the state law which require boaters born after Jan. 1, 1955, to carry a boater education card for operating a boat with a motor of 15 horsepower or greater. Deputy John Giudice will conduct the class.

Classes will be June 20 and 21 at the Public Service Building in Colfax from 6 to 9:30 p.m. and again Aug. 8 and 9 from 6 to 9:30. The classes are free, but the certification card costs $10 and is good for a lifetime.

Classes will also be in Pullman at the Pioneer Center on Dexter Street July 5-6 and Sept. 5-6 from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

PULLMAN FIRE DISPLACES SEVEN

An upper unit of a Pullman duplex on NW Sunrise Drive was destroyed by a fire May 31. The fire also damaged the lower unit of the duplex, and a total of seven people were displaced by the blaze. All residents were evacuated without injury.

Pullman and District 12 fire crews responded to the scene at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. A neighbor called 9-1-1 and reported he could see flames and smoke coming from the upper unit of the duplex. Neighbors alerted occupants who were in the lower unit of the duplex.

When firefighters entered the upper unit they found a Great Dane dog trapped on the upper deck and managed to rescue the dog with a ladder.

The upper unit sustained extensive fire, smoke and water damage.

The downstairs unit was occupied by two adults and three children. They told firefighters they would not need emergency housing. The lower unit sustained water damage.

TRUCK CRASH BLOCKS 194

A Colton man was injured and Highway 194 was blocked May 31 afternoon when a truck and trailer unit rolled and blocked both lanes.

Ryan Ware, Colton, a passenger in the truck was injured in the accident, according to the Washington State Patrol report.

Wayne C. Peterson, also of Colton, was driving 1996 Kenworth eastbound at 2:30 p.m. when the truck went onto the eastbound shoulder of the highway. The trailer rolled and caused both the truck and trailer to roll on their sides and block both lanes of the roadway seven miles southwest of Pullman.

THORNTON DEATH RULED SUICIDE

After investigating the unattended death May 27 of Neal J. Schmidt, 73, Thornton, Coroner Peter Martin Tuesday reported the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound and the manner of death was suicide. The coroner said Mr. Schmidt had a history of anxiety and worsening health problems.