Briefs: April 5, 2018

PHS EDIBLES CASE PART II

Kyle Zakarison, 19, Pullman, was sentenced to 90 days in jail with all but 10 days suspended Friday morning in Superior Court after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of possession of marijuana.

Zakarison was the other defendant charged in connection with the case that started May 19 last year when Pullman High School officials reported a possible drug transaction had occurred at the school.

The case involved a bag of marijuana edibles which had been delivered to the school in a grocery bag and was later confiscated.

Brayan Diaz Dedios was convicted March 16 of bringing the edibles to the school. He told school officials and Pullman Police that he had purchased the edibles from Zakarison for $16.

Zakarison was initially charged with delivery of marijuana, but the charge was reduced to possession as part of a plea bargain agreement.

He told the court Friday morning the edibles case resulted in his being kicked out of high school two weeks before the end of the term and that he subsequently obtained a GED degree.

According to the probable charge report, investigation into the case began after a school cook reported she saw what appeared to be a trade of a grocery bag of items for a pair of gym shoes. Pullman school officials investigated the cook's report and notified the police department.

In his investigation report, Pullman Officer Shane Emerson said the bag contained candy but was suspected of being marijuana edibles. It was sent to the state crime lab and determined to contain components of marijuana.

The report alleged Zakarison provided the edibles for the $16 and that amount was allegedly found on his person by Pullman School officials.

Both suspects were 18 at the time of the school investigation.

Court Commissioner David Frazier pronounced the sentence. He reminded Zakarison it is illegal to possess marijuana until he is 21 years of age.

Zakarison told the court he had a job offer which was pending on the outcome of the case.

Diaz Dedios was also sentenced after the charge against him was also reduced to possession of marijuana from an original charge of delivery. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

PERKINS TOURS FOR THREE DAYS

The Perkins House will be open in Colfax for three days this week in conjunction with WSU's Mom's Weekend Friday through Sunday, April 6-8. The house in Colfax will be open all three days, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. At least one docent will be available each of those days to lead tours of the 1886 house and 1870 Perkins cabin, the oldest structure in Colfax.

Admission to the tours will be by donation according to Theresa Dale, Perkins House coordinator.

PROGRAM ON FREEMAN SHOOTING

A presentation on the Freeman High School shooting last fall has been scheduled in Colfax May 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Public Serving Building. Titled "Lessons Learned," the presentation will be by members of Spokane County Fire District Eight.

The Freeman High School shooting Sept. 13 took the life of one student and left three injured.

The program will be sponsored by Whitman County Emergency Management.

FAIR CAMPER SPACE CRUNCH

A demand for camping space at the Palouse Empire Fair was among topics discussed at the March 26 fair board session.

Heather Netz, the fair's events coordinator, reported she now has a waiting list of approximately 40 people who would like to locate a camper at the fairground when space is available.

Families with livestock entries seek the camper slots which allow them to stay on the fairground for the four-day run and tend to their animals.

The fair's RV parking spaces along the road on the west side of the grounds are in high demand because they are close to the animal barns and provide services.

Families who previously reserved a site in the RV area have first option at reserving them for the following year. Netz reported only three spaces in the RV area became open this year.

The fair also provides "dry" camping spaces around the grounds.

Fair board members Monday commented the fair has reached a point where it cannot provide more camper spaces without reducing the number of parking spaces around the grounds.

In other topics, Fair Manager Janel Goebel said the restrooms at the former gun club will be open for the Labor Day threshing bee.

Closing of the restrooms last year led to an objection from board member Stan Riebold who pointed out participants in the threshing bee, who locate their horses and mules in that part of the fairground, had no running water to wash up with the former gun club facility closed.

Goebel said the restrooms will not have hot water service because they have never had hot water service.

The board also learned the Jones School building will need a paint job this year. Eric Appel, who headed the project to move the school building from Dusty to the fairground, said he anticipated the building will need to be painted every five years.

Fair board members also discussed the need for insurance coverage for people who rent fair buildings for private occasions. Renters will now be required to arrange for their own insurance coverage for their events. Goebel noted the staff has determined coverage can be obtained for less than the $150 cited at the previous meeting. One factor in coverage costs is whether alcohol will be served at the event.

WSU STUDENTS MAKE PERKINS STOP

WSU students belonging to Circle K International, a Kiwanis service group, and two of their advisors came to the Perkins House March 25. They cleaned and washed windows and polished silver, according to Frank White of Colfax.

'WE'RE JUST BUDS' CIVIL SUIT

A civil suit alleging defamation filed Monday in Superior Court revolves around the "We're Just Buds" marijuana store in Pullman. Harlan Seachris alleges Pullman accountant Carmen Minogue, who does the books for the store, put out a defamatory report which alleged he was an embezzler.

Seachris alleges the report subsequently led to his termination as an employee and stopped his attempt to purchase an interest in the business under an option he signed in 2013 with Leonard Breuer, who was subsequently issued a state license to operate the store as Silver Sand Distributors, LLC.

The civil suit alleges Seachris had not been aware of Minogue's report until it was presented in a deposition in Spokane April 17, 2017.

The suit contends Seachris in November of 2013 negotiated for an option to purchase an interest in the store license and later signed an agreement to be a consultant in setting up the business which opened in July of 2015.

He alleged after he was terminated as an employee he gave notice to exercise the option in March of 2016, but the owners refused to recognize it because of Minogue's alleged Dec. 10, 2015, report.

The state last week announced the We're Just Buds store would close down as of Saturday following the death of Mr. Breuer, the licensee of the store, in Spokane at age 85.