Briefs: May 3, 2018

SQUEALING TIRES ARREST

Kolby Wheeler, 20, Tacoma, pleaded not guilty in superior court Friday morning to charges of criminal impersonation, driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. Wheeler was booked into jail here after he was arrested in Pullman early Saturday morning.

The arrest report by Pullman Officer Wade Winegardner said he began pursuing a Volkswagen after he heard the squealing tires of a car coming from the area of North Grand and Olsen streets in Pullman. His report said he heard additional squealing of tires until the Volkswagen stopped on Kamiaken Street. The report said after the car stopped, the driver was seen switching to the passenger seat in the car.

The officer’s report said he asked Wheeler why he was squealing the tires on the car, and Wheeler replied he was having trouble operating a five-speed transmission.

The arrest report said Wheeler identified himself as Miles Powell. A check of the Volkswagen’s contents led officers to believe the car had been operated by Wheeler, and a check of the state driver’s license photo matched the appearance of the suspect. The state check also revealed Wheeler’s license was suspended.

Wheeler’s bail was set at $50,000 surety in a first appearance in court Monday. He was denied a request for a reduction of bail and his trial date was set for June 18.

WSU

COLLECTION SUITS TOSSED

The latest ruling in a court action which derailed WSU collection suits against five former students was logged April 20 in superior court. The university earlier had been granted default judgments in four collection suits which were later vacated by the court and dismissed.

The dismissals were granted because none of the defendants in the suits resided in Whitman County. Then, after granting default judgments to WSU, the court learned the defendants resided in South Carolina, Washington D.C., Minnesota and Texas.

Jason Woehler, Bellevue attorney who filed the collection suits, was ordered to return to court and show cause why the default judgments should not be vacated and the suits dismissed. He did not appear, and the judgments were vacated and dismissed Feb. 16.

Judge Gary Libey pointed out the collection action was inherently harsh and unfair because the defendants would have had to return here to present a defense if they opted to do so. The suits generally involved small student loans which were issued for tuition and allegedly not paid.

Total of sums due the university in the four cases, which were combined for the Friday ruling, was listed at $7,391. The amount allowed in the four judgments which were later dismissed was $15,385. Interest on the unpaid loans, costs of collection and attorney fees were added to the principles due.

Friday’s decision involved a followup request from Woehler that the court drop award of attorney fees to the former students listed in the cases. He pointed out the court record shows that no responses of other defense actions were ever taken on behalf of the defendants. The court agreed to drop the award of fees.

A fifth pending collection suit filed against a former student in California was also dismissed with reference to the ruling in the decisions in the four cases with the vacated judgments.

INTERIM WHMC DIRECTOR DIES IN CRASH

Gary Peck, former administrator of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chewelah who served as interim hospital administrator here four years ago, died early last April 18 in a one-car accident south of Colville. He was 71.

Peck served here from April to October of 2014, before Hank Hanigan was hired as hospital administrator.

He served at St. Joseph’s in Chewelah from 1993 until he retired in 2011. He also served a term as interim director at the hospital in Ritzville when a search for a new director was underway there.

The Washington State Patrol report said Peck was driving a 2010 Subaru northbound on Highway 395 April 18 when it went off the highway and rolled into a creek.

Peck was raised in Chewelah and was a member of the 1964 class at Jenkins High there. He received a master’s degree in hospital administration from Whitworth and was employed at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane for 20 years before going to St. Joseph’s, according to a report in Chewelah Independent.

Summer fun

is coming!

Be sure to watch the Whitman County Gazette to stay

informed on when and where town festivals will be and what’s happening!