News Briefs

JUNE RAINS POST .33 GAIN

Precipitation for June totaled 1.69 inches which was .33 over the 1.36 normal for the month. The month included the .83 reading June 11 after a weekend of heavy rain.

The June gain followed a .25 of an inch gain for May.Other big rainfall days for June included .20 on June 4 and .40 on June 22.

FIRE BAN AT COUNTY PARKS

County Parks Superintendent Dave Mahan reported fire restrictions were posed July 5 for all county parks and trails. Campfires and smoking along trails are now prohibited at Kamiak Butte, Klemgard and Wawawai Parks and on the Bill Chipman Trail. Cooking with charcoal briquettes or gas grills is still allowed. Park visitors are required to keep a bucket filled with water and a shovel on hand while cooking.

AXE SAID USED IN ASSAULT

A charge of second-degree assault was filed July 3 in superior court against William S. Tyler, Jr., 53, LaCrosse. He was booked into jail Saturday morning after deputies responded to a report of an alleged assault with an axe in LaCrosse.

According to the report by Deputy Brian Keller, Tyler was alleged to have used the butt of an axe to hit the elbow of Jeffrey Marshall at Marshall’s residence.

The report said the two men had an argument the night before, and early the next morning Tyler was seen walking to Marshall’s house with the axe.

Marshall told deputies he saw Tyler holding the axe before he went outside, and told them he took a knife outside with him. He said they had an argument the night before, and Tyler left.Tyler was allowed release on his own recognizance after a first appearance in court. He was ordered to have no contact with the alleged vicim and not go on his property as a condition of pre-trial release.

COLFAX FIRE FOLLOWUP REPORT

In his report to the city council July 2, Colfax Public Works Director Matt Hammer said the cause of the June 20 fire that damaged a building at the waste water treatment plant remains undetermined. He reported a fire investigator from the insurance company made an inspection of the scene and was unable to determine a cause. That conclusion matched the one reached by Pullman Fire Investigator Tony Nuttman, who was called to the scene to investigate after the fire. Nuttman said his investigation pointed to two possible causes, but he was unable to determine which of the two might have started the blaze, and that’s why the cause of the fire had to be listed as undetermined.

Hammer Monday noted the most likely cause of the fire was a gas-fired water heater which was located in the building. He said an insurance adjuster has been scheduled to be at the scene this week to determine the extent of damages.

The fire did extensive damage to the interior of the building. Fire crews were able to get the fire under control in within about 20 minutes of when the fire was reported.

CLARKSTON DRIVER HURT

Milissa Long-Kennsington, 47, Clarkston, was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lewiston July 2 after the pickup truck she was driving went off Highway 195 near Colton. According to the report from the Washington State Patrol district office, she was driving a 2005 Toyota Tacoma southbound at 6:41 p.m. when it went off the roadway and rolled near mile marker 11.

The report said alcohol was believed to have been involved in the accident.