Bulletin: Nov. 23, 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.

GLENWOOD LINE OVER RIVER

Colfax has discovered last spring’s water runoff has left approximately 50 feet of the Glenwood water supply line exposed and hanging out over the North Fork of the Palouse River, Matt Hammer, public works supervisor, told the city council Monday night. He noted the exposed line was a surprise because the city did not believe the line was located that close to the river at that point.

The exposed line is located beneath Palouse River Road at a point opposite the site of the eagles’ nest. Hammer reported the city has already received permits from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake emergency fill work at the site. The line has one joint exposed, but it is not leaking. Hammer said a rupture clamp from a past repair is exposed and it is a little more suspect. Cost of dumping fill over the exposed part of the line has been estimated at $34,000.

STATE CREWS TO PLOW MAIN

State highway snowplow crews this winter have agreed to plow Main Street in Colfax. Public Works Directer Matt Hammer told the city council Monday night that state crews will plow snow to a center berm in the street.

The state also agreed to apply sand at intersections downtown. The role of the state in plowing Main Street has been uncertain in the last few years, with state crews sometimes lifting their plow blades as they approached the city. Hammer said the city will still be responsible for clearing out curbside parking places.

CHECKS SAID GROUP HIT

Colfax Police Chief Rick McNannay told the city council Monday the two women arrested Nov. 15 on alleged charges of attempting to cash bogus checks were part of an organization which moves around the country. He said the two suspects arrested here were part of a group which originated in southern Florida.

The suspects are Melissa Muise, 40, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Charla Santamaria, 47, Hollywood, Calif. They were arrested after they drove off from Washington Federal Bank at Colfax following an unsuccessful attempt to cash a bogus check. According to McNannay, one of the suspects said she could supply police a list of 15 locations where they had cashed bogus checks or where they had attempted to cash the checks.

A search of the car they were driving turned up social security and identification cards from 22 different people who were believed to be victims.

Officers had trouble identifying the car because it did not have the license plates reported on a car which had hit other locations.

McNannay said the plates listed for the car seen at other area sites were found inside the car. He said the plates turned out to be stolen.

Chief McNannay said the investigation indicated the organization included people who produced bogus business and identification cards, check cashers and people who rent vehicles and equipment.

Muise and Santamaria have each been scheduled for a Jan. 16 trial after pleading not guilty to three charges of check theft Friday in superior court. Santamaria has also been charged with identity theft.

TV KNAPPER SENTENCED

Anthony Kelley, 20, Spokane, was sentenced to 30 days in jail Friday after pleading guilty to an amended charge of second degree burglary. Kelley, a former SCC student, was arrested March 4 in Pullman after police responded to a report of a burglary on NE Skyline Drive at 3:30 a.m. Kelley was found in the back seat of a car sitting next to a 41-inch Sceptre television set which was later found to be the one missing from the residence. Beer, a speaker and other items were found in the car.

Kelley was originally charged with residential burglary, theft and illegal possession of alcoholic beverages as a minor.

Other occupants in the car said Kelley was in the process of moving and they assumed the TV and other items came out of his apartment. Kelley, who graduated from Ferris High School in Spokane, said he planned to return to SCC.

Kelley had been scheduled for a June 12 trial, but failed to show up for a pre-trial hearing and an order for his arrest was issued by the court.

He was later arrested on the warrant and booked in jail here Oct. 25.

He was allowed release from jail where, with credit for good time, he had already served 30 days of his sentence.

CONTEMPT HEARING

DEC. 14

A contempt of court hearing for Johannes Moedt, Spokane, was scheduled for Dec. 14 Friday in Whitman County Superior Court. Moedt was arrested last Wednesday and held on $50,000 bail. A bench warrant was issued by the court here Aug. 30 after Moedt failed to appear for a hearing on his failure to make payments ordered as part of a conviction on two charges of child rape.

In a Dec. 21, 2012, hearing, Moedt was determined to be $13,698 behind in payments, fees and interest on the conviction.

Contempt hearings are conducted to determine whether defendants have failed to pay because they are unable to pay or because they intentionally failed to pay.

TWO DEER COLLISIONS

Neil Appel, LaCrosse, was unhurt Friday when he collided with a deer Friday on Highway 26 just west of Colfax. According to the Washington State Patrol report, Appel was driving a 2014 Ford Expedition westbound at 7:08 p.m. when the deer ran into the highway.

--Dakota Sinchak, Oak Harbor, was unhurt when the 2010 Hyundai Sonata he was driving westbound on Highway 26 collided with a deer at mile 101 west of LaCrosse at 5:30 pm.

PULLMAN COUNTS STILL SHORT

The two Pullman bond measures are still short of the required turnout for validation, but they remain on the table under a Pullman contention that the total votes from Pullman and not just the total votes cast for the measures should be counted for the validation.

To reach the validation requirement, 40 percent of the last Pullman general election, 3,853 votes, is required.

After Thursday's count, the proposition for a levy for $10.5 million for a 20-year bond issue finished with 3,724 votes.

The request for $2.5 million for a 10-year bond issue finished with 3,695 votes. Both measures exceeded the required 60 percent yes vote for approval.

The overall Pullman ballot return topped the 40 percent requirement with 3,946 votes as of Nov. 16.

The elections office has about 100 ballots remaining to be counted, but most are ballots which must clear the county's election canvass board Nov. 27. Normally, a large number of the challenged ballots are those that were mailed too late for the Nov. 7 postmark requirement for the Nov. 7 general election.

In Tekoa, incumbent Alyssa Heagy and challenger Jason Fletcher finished in a tie with 130 votes each after Heagy picked up three votes on the last count.

The tie at Albion was moved off the books when Crystal Morgan received three more votes on the last count and opponent Bruce Kenoyer received no additional votes.

Long-time Rosalia incumbent Bob Hill, who posted an early lead and then lost it in a subsequent count, then recovered it in the next count, appears to be the winner with 119. Challenger Janet Meier Stroll finished with 111.

CHARLES SLIGER SENTENCED FOR FOUR MONTHS

Charles Sliger, 52, Pullman, was sentenced to four months in jail Friday morning in Whitman County Superior Court after he pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal possession of a firearm. Sliger was found to be in possession of a pistol when Pullman Police responded to a report of a shooting on S. Grand Nov. 2. He was found to be in possession of the gun as a convicted felon.

Sliger told the court he was not aware that he was still restricted from owning a gun because the felony on his record happened so long ago.

Pullman Police responded to the Sliger residence that night after getting reports that Sliger's brother, Robert, had been threatening him with a knife. They later received a report from Robert that Charles had shot at his brother through a door.

Charles Sliger told the court that he shot at the floor of the residence in order to make a noise and keep his brother from harassing him. He told the court his brother had been drinking moonshine and was acting up at the residence. He said his brother pays rent to reside there.

BURGLARIES SUSPECT ARRESTED

Kirk D. Lee, 27, Albion, was booked into jail here just after midnight Nov. 16 on probable charges of second-degree theft and being in possession of stolen property. Deputies Nov. 15 received a report of a theft from two homeowners living outside Colfax on State Route 26. Cash, electronic items, computer equipment and several other items were reported missing.

Deputies already had probable cause to arrest Lee for a theft case from Nov. 6, and they had been looking for Lee since. Lee was suspected of stealing several tools and pieces of equipment belonging to the Town of Albion worth approximately $1,500.

Lee was an employee of the Town of Albion until Aug. 15.

Following Lee's arrest at a residence on Park Street in Colfax Wednesday, deputies observed several items in his vehicle that matched the description of items reported missing Nov. 15. They served a search warrant on the vehicle and recovered those items. The victims arrived and found several more missing items which belonged to them, but they had not yet noticed them missing. Those items were also seized. Several glass pipes with drug residue and a small bag of methamphetamine were seized from the vehicle.

SCOUTS FOOD TOTAL 1,978 LBS.

A total of 1,978 pounds of food were collected by Colfax Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in the two weekends of Scouting for Food Drive in Colfax. The food donations were weighed in at the Food Pantry in Colfax and added to the inventory.

FINDING ON PULLMAN DEATH

In a report issued Nov. 15, Coroner Pete Martin said Nicolas J. Shirley, 22, died Nov. 8, 2017, at his residence in Pullman of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The manner of death was determined to be suicide. Martin said Shirley had a medical history of dealing with chronic pain.

GIVING TREE APPLICATIONS

Residents in the Colfax area who would like to receive gifts of clothing for youngsters 18 and younger from the Colfax Giving Tree program are urged to submit applications. Families who receive assistance from the Department of Social and Health Services, Community Action Center or Whitman County Health Department are eligible to apply.

Application forms can be obtained from DSHS, the health department, Colfax Pantry or the Eagles Club. They can also be obtained by calling or emailing Gail Webster in Colfax, 509-592-3101 or mgailwebster@msn.com

FUND DRIVE FOR FIRE VICTIMS

A fund has been started to help the Wicks family, who lost all of their possessions when their house at Steptoe was destroyed by fire early Nov. 10. The house on Water Street was occupied by Amber Wicks and her four children. Three of the children, two boys and a girl, are triplets. The fourth child is a younger daughter. They were living at the residence while their husband and father is overseas.

Funding arrangements have been made by Jackie Wines, Mrs. Wicks' mother, who resides in Oakesdale.

The children were staying at the home of another relative the night of the fire. Mrs. Wicks reportedly arrived at the house, smelled smoke and left. She stayed at a neighbors residence while firefighters battled the blaze.

Donations to the family can also be made through the Catalyst Church in Colfax.

The young family is now residing at a residence in Colfax which had been unoccupied.