Bulletin: June 22

­­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.

PNW GIFT MAKES CENTER PACKAGE

A $2,500 donation from Pacific Northwest Farmers Cooperative has completed the funding package for The Center project at Whitman County Library, according to Kristie Kirkpatric, library director. She estimated donations, grants and volunteer time will push the grand total of The Center project to more than $500,000.

The Center was formally named as the Bettie Steiger Community Enrichment Center after the Steiger family donated the building to the library in her memory.

In May, the library received a $100,000 grant from the county's .09 economic development fund. The grant was awarded on a stipulation that the library come up with $34,000 in matching funds. The library reached the required match amount with existing donations to the restroom project at The Center, a $1,000 donation from Inland Northwest Bank, $5,000 from the Grandmothers Club and now $2,500 from PNW.

PNW staffers Bill Newby and Keith Becker said the cooperative considered it a pleasure to contribute funds to a grassroots community project.

Installation of restrooms in The Center will make it so the facility can be operated independently of the library. At present, The Center's operation has to be in conjunction with library hours so restrooms will be available.

HAUSER ZONE CHANGE APPROVED

Colfax City Council members Monday night approved a zone change for Hauser Addition on the east hill of Colfax. Owner Bob Hauser requested property at the north end of the division be changed from a commercial zone to an R-1 residential zone. He said he made the request because he has an opportunity to sell the land to a buyer who intends to construct a house on the site.

The zone change was sent to the city council after being approved by the Colfax City Planning Commission.

Hauser said when he started plans for the addition he applied to convert 48 lots from the previous commercial zone to the R-1 residential zone. The property he owns on the north end remained in a commercial zone.

One of concerns about the proposal was the possible elimination of an informal trail connection which links the north end of Hauser Addition to city property and Upper Park Street.

Hauser Monday night told the council the trail just grew across the property and he has allowed residents to use it. Sale of the property to a new owner might lead to a shutdown of the impromptu trail, but Hauser said Brad and Shirley Cornelius, who reside in the last house at the north end of the property, have agreed to allow use of a lane along their land to access the trail connection at that end.

Irving Trejo, the city's building and community development associate, said the city endorsed the project. Trejo noted one potential concern could surface in the future if a new owner decided to locate more than one residence on the property. The size of the lot approved is 3.29 acres. Trejo noted any future plan to put additional houses on the site would require an application to divide the lot which would have to go before the planning commission and the city council.

HIT AND RUN SEARCH

Colfax Police are searching for the driver of a maroon Ford Sport Trac pickup truck which collided with a parked pickup truck on Main Street June 9 in front of the former Imperial Restaurant.

Police Chief Rick McNannay said the northbound truck hit the back of a parked 2016 Toyota Tacoma on the driver's side. The driver of the Ford pickup circled around the block, returned to the scene to view the damage and then drove away. The owner of the damaged Toyota was here from Puyallup to participate in one of the spring photography sessions.

McNannay described the driver of the Ford Sport Trac as a white male, possibly in his 70s.

ASPHALT REPAIRS

COMING

Colfax Public Works Director Matt Hammer reported to city council members Monday night that asphalt repairs would begin next week. Last year's extended winter took a toll on Colfax streets and the city has a long repair list.

LEGISLATORS ON CALL

Ninth District Rep. Joe Schmick reported in Colfax Tuesday legislators are now on call while a joint state house and senate committee works out a compromise for a solution to school funding to meet the McCleary decision. Schmick said a special committee is now meeting twice a day to iron out a solution to meet the supreme court mandate that the state provide for basic education at the same level for all school districts in the state.

The special committee includes eight legislators, with two members from each party caucus in the house and the senate.

Schmick said he believes they are making progress on a compromise between the version turned out by the Democrats' majority in the House and the version turned out by the Republican majority in the Senate.

He described the progress as "painstakingly slow."

STEPTOE MAN CHARGED

Nicholas Rhuby, 23, Steptoe, has been summoned to appear in court July 14 after being charged with trafficking stolen property. A Colfax city police investigation alleged Rhuby is suspected of taking an Xbox One from an apartment at the River View Arms June 8 and selling it for $80 in the alley behind the apartment.

The alleged victim called police three days after the Xbox was discovered missing. According to the arrest report, the victim's roommate messaged acquaintances to see of anybody knew about the fate of the Xbox, and one of them reported he purchased an Xbox for $80 from the suspect. He also reported he subsequently sold the Xbox, which came with a controller and a Diablo 3 game, on Craigslist for $160.

POTENTIAL

LITIGATION

SESSION

Colfax City Council Monday night again went into executive session to discuss potential litigation. The closed door session lasted 15 minutes. At the conclusion of the session, the council returned to an open session. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Vorderbrueggen, who chaired the council meeting, reported no official action was required after the council's discussion.

The city council June 5 ended in a similar executive session. The topic of that session had been initially listed on the agenda as a personnel matter, but Mayor Todd Vanek before the session said the subject would be classified as potential litigation.

Under the state's Open Meetings Act, officials are required to name one of the subjects that are allowed to be discussed in closed door sessions. The topics are listed as exemptions to the state's open meeting act.

FIRE DAMAGES THORNTON SHOP

Rosalia, Colfax and Steptoe fire crews responded early Sunday morning to a report of a shop fire on Fourth Street in Thornton. The Thornton fire truck, which is part of the Rosalia district, was first on the scene and managed to knock down the flames. Extensive damage was sustained to the interior of the metal shop building which was reported to be burning at 3:54 a.m.

FRYE DONE WITH DRUG COURT

Ricky Frye, 42, Colfax, graduated Friday from drug court after two years of successful participation in the program. Judge Gary Libey presented Frye with a certificate of completion.

Frye was admitted to drug court June 12, 2015, after he had been charged with possession of methamphetamine and driving under the influence in Colfax.

The case began Sept. 21, 2014, when a Whitman County deputy reportedly had to jump out of the way of a vehicle driven by Frye in the parking lot of the Colfax Subway restaurant. The arrest report said a packet of methamphetamine was found in Frye's wallet when he was searched after being arrested for driving under the influence.

Frye was convicted of a reduced charge of negligent driving and sentenced to 90 days in jail, all suspended. He opted to enter drug court on the pending drug possession charge.

As a condition of entering the program, suspects agree to admit the state's case investigation report in the event they fail to complete the two-year treatment program which requires attending treatment sessions, monthly reviews by the court and passing tests to determine absence of drug use.

Frye started in drug court under the supervision of Judge David Frazier, now retired. Judge Libey promised to notify Frazier that Frye had graduated.

HIMES

ARRESTED FOR

TRAFFICKING

Kenneth Himes, 37, was charged with trafficking in stolen property Friday in superior court. The charge follows investigation of a report by a Latah resident who said a trailer loaded with a mower and spray equipment had been stolen. Value of the missing mower and trailer was estimated at $2,880.

The report alleged the victim learned from an acquaintance that Himes was attempting to sell spray equipment which had been on the trailer the day after it was discovered missing.

Deputies received a report that a Troy-Bilt riding mower was discovered June 12 by a jogger who spotted it near a railroad trestle on Seabury Road. The mower turned out to be the one reported missing from Latah, and it was returned to the owner.

Also, the report said the mower had shown up in a video taken at a residence where Himes has been residing on Railroad Ave., in Tekoa six days earlier when a deputy went there to investigate a separate report of a missing chain hoist and compressor. The chain hoist and compressor were not located, but a video of the premises showed the mower at that time parked in an open shed.

Himes, who has a record of Tekoa-area burglary convictions, was arrested on a probable charge of trafficking last Wednesday, June 14, and released on his own recognizance the next day. He was ordered to appear in court June 30.

MORE CAR PROWL REPORTS

Colfax police Friday received reports of five car prowls. One location was on West Street and four were along Bellinger. Nothing appeared to be missing from the vehicle on West Street. Police are in the process of determining if items were taken from the vehicles which were entered along Bellinger, according to Police Chief Rick McNannay.

GALLER ADMITS Tekoa ARSON

Diane R. Galler, 51, Spokane, pleaded guilty to second degree arson Friday morning in superior court under terms of a plea bargain agreement. Galler's sentencing has been scheduled for June 29.

Under terms of the agreement, the charge against her was reduced from first degree arson to second degree.

Prosecutor Denis Tracy informed the court Friday Galler would pay $141,000 toward restitution to State Farm Insurance.

Fire crews responded to a report of the house burning on Truax Street in Tekoa in the early morning hours of Sept. 18 last year. The case against Galler began after deputies received a tip Jan. 9 that the cause of the fire had been arson.

According to the probable charge report, the idea of burning the house down was brought up after Galler and others had been working at the house to prepare it for rental use.

Galler arranged for two brothers, Darien and Raymond Rhoades, to return to the house in the early morning hours and set it on fire. The report said the Rhoades brothers used gasoline to ignite the fire.

Tracy told the court Galler paid each of the Rhoades brothers $1,000 to carry out the task.

Darien Rhoades, 21, who was reported to be the brother who entered the house with the fuel and ignited it, pleaded guilty in court May 19 to a reduced charge of second degree arson and was sentenced to four months in jail with work release.

Raymond Rhoades, 24, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless burning and was sentenced to 60 days in jail. The Rhoades brothers were sentenced by Court Commissioner Howard Neill.

In court papers filed Friday in conjunction with the guilty plea Tracy said he intends to seek a jail sentence for Galler of nine months, the maximum listed in the state's standard range, for the conviction.

The court file also showed total restitution due State Farm Insurance was $161,898.

The plea bargain agreement lists the balance now due, $20,898, will be posted as "joint and several" with the other two defendants, the Rhoades brothers.

ST. IGNATIUS SALE

RECORDED

Record of the sale of the former St. Ignatius building was filed June 8 in a transfer tax affidavit filed in the Whitman County Treasurer's office. Anthony Girges and Mariann Salib of Downey, Calif., were listed as sellers of the former hospital building to a group listed as St. Ignatius Manor LLC for $160,000, according the affidavit. Dawn McClenahan was listed as the agent for St. Ignatius Manor.

Sale of the hospital building was first reported at the start of the June 5 city council session by Councilwoman Sarah McKnight.

PORT-A-POTTY SPONSORSHIP?

Among items listed in the appeal for support of Pullman's Fourth of July celebration, the Chamber of Commerce noted they are accepting sponsorship of port-a-potties which will be stationed at Sunnyside Park. Sponsorship levels range from $55 to $75 and the sponsor will be identified by signs.

Pullman plans the Sunnyside celebration with music, a variety of food vendors and the big fireworks show. Donation cans for support have been left at businesses in Pullman. The Chamber is also seeking donations of pies and other desserts which are served at the main shelter in the park. 509-334-3565

MOSCOW WOMAN DIES IN CRASH

Linda Hammerly, 64, Moscow, died of injuries sustained in a two-car collision at 5:55 p.m. Wednesday, June 14 on Highway 26 at mile marker 119 just east of Dusty. She died at the scene of the accident.

Two Mount Vernon residents were injured in the collision. Shannon M. Carmody, 32, was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane by Lifeflight helicopter, and Colin Curwen-Adams, 32, was taken by ambulance to Whitman Hospital and Medical Center.

According to the Washington State Patrol report, Hammerly was driving a 1995 Toyota Camry eastbound and drove onto the shoulder of the highway, over-corrected, crossed the highway and collided with a 2009 Chevrolet Impala which was being driven westbound by Carmondy.

Inattention was listed as the cause of the accident. Two Colfax ambulances and a rescue truck responded to the scene along with a Diamond firetruck.

Extrication extended for approximately an hour to get the injured occupants out of the Chevrolet.

The accident site was at the weigh station turnout just west of Dusty. Traffic on the highway was diverted over the weigh station lanes while the accident investigation was underway.

County Coroner Pete Martin June 15 issued a cause of death report which said Hammerly sustained massive chest and internal injuries. Manner of death was accidental.

TWO BIDS FOR PASSING LANES

Two bids were opened June 14 by the Department of Transportation for phase one of the Highway 195 passing lane project slated for this summer. Sellend Construction Company of Wenatchee was the apparent low bidder for the project. The other bidder was West Company of Medical Lake.

Amount of the bid has not been reported because the bids are still under consideration, according to Al Gilson, district DOT spokesman.

Phase one of the project involves the passing lanes along the highway north and south of Steptoe.

Project engineers at a Department of Transportation open house here June 1 noted work on the two other proposed passing lane sites next year could be extended or shortened depending on the cost involved in completing the lanes in the Steptoe area this year.

JURY RULES NOT GUILTY

A superior court jury June 14 found Tyler E. Hanson, 21, Pasco, not guilty of the burglary charge which was filed against him after Pullman Police investigated an alleged rape report early Oct. 31, 2015, on Spaulding Street in Pullman. The jury deliberated for approximately one hour June 14 after testimony and arguments concluded in the trial which began June 12 with selection of the jury.

The alleged victim in the case said she was in bed at her boyfriend's apartment and waiting for him to return when a male entered the room and had intercourse with her. She said she didn't realize the male in the bed was not her boyfriend until her boyfriend arrived home and turned on the light. Hanson reportedly fled the room and left his clothes behind.

Hanson was charged with burglary for allegedly entering the residence and assaulting the alleged victim. The alleged victim, boyfriend, other witnesses and Pullman Police testified at the trial.

The trial began June 12 after the court rejected a motion by Hanson's attorney, J. Brendan Kidd of Spokane, to dismiss the charge. Kidd argued the state failed to show any assault was involved on the part of the defendant. Police initially arrested Hanson on a probable charge of second degree rape, but that was dropped because forcible compulsion was not involved in the sexual intercourse.

Kidd argued that the Hanson fled the scene after the boyfriend arrived home and turned on the lights. He contended the alleged victim and her boyfriend hit Hanson, but he responded by leaving.

Kidd in his motion noted Washington state, unlike California, does not have rape by deception or rape by fraud on its books.

The court log shows the jury received the case for deliberation at 10:58 a.m. June 12 and returned with a verdict at 12:01 p.m.