News Briefs

HAUSER SEEKS ZONE CHANGE

A hearing on a proposed zone change for 14 lots has been scheduled for Aug. 9 at 5:30 p.m. before the Colfax Planning Commission in the city hall chambers. Zoning on the property is now commercial and Bob Hauser has petitioned to change the zoning to an R-2 residential zone.

The property includes 14 lots in an area off the south end of Mill Street north of the river. Nixon Street extends off Mill to the general area which is officially known as Brickner/Nixon addition.

Hauser, the originator of Hauser's addition on the east hill of Colfax, has the Nixon Street property listed for sale. He said the site totals approximately nine acres which could be developed into a residential addition.

Hauser said he really doesn't know how the property in the Nixon Street area was designated a commercial zone. He has been working to clear the site of debris which has been left there by others.

The Hauser addition project added approximately 40 new homes to Colfax. Hauser said two lots are still available in the addition and he has another 3.5 acres adjoining the addition which could be developed with access available through Hauser's addition.

CHARGES FILED IN LAMONT CASE

Prosecutor Denis Tracy Thursday filed two charges of second-degree burglary against Travis Walters, 23, former Lamont resident who was arrested July 25 at his mother's residence in Spokane. Bail for pre-trial release for Walters was set at $25,000.

According to an investigation report, a credit card which was allegedly taken from the Lamont town hall helped deputies develop a case against Walters. The card was reported to have been used at the CFN station in Sprague, and deputies obtained surveillance video which allegedly showed a purchase being made by Walters with the card.

Walters was a passenger in the car, and Lincoln County deputies assisted in locating the car and its driver.

According to the arrest report, deputies responded at 2:15 p.m. Saturday to a report that a door had been pried open at the town hall building. In addition to the card, a locked container which contained keys to town buildings was missing.

Sunday at 9:40 a.m. the sheriff's office received a report that a door had been pried open at Lamont Community Church. An envelope containing approximately $100 in cash, an electronic projector and a guitar were reportedly taken from the church.

The investigation report said Walters had been living in a trailer located across the street from the buildings in Lamont. Sheriff Brett Myers was able to get ahold of Walters by telephone and ordered him to report to the sheriff's office by 6:30 p.m. After he failed to appear, the sheriff's office obtained a warrant and arrested Walters in Spokane.

PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICE CHANGES

The county's response to floor support problems in the Public Service Building has involved changes in the health department. One of the impacted offices has been occupied by the Environmental Health officers. Their offices are located on the right as people enter the building from the front door.

Health Director Troy Henderson said two office spaces are located in that area, and half of one of the offices has been taped off.

Plywood panels have been installed at the front of the Public Service Building to block off an alcove area next the the entrance floors. Floors are also sagging under the alcove.

That area adjoins the office space formerly used by the environmental health officers.

Also, one of the offices in the main Health Department complex, located on the first floor in the northeast corner of the building, has been blocked off. Henderson said the department's fiscal officer was moved from that office space to another.

Henderson said the floor sag has been present in the fiscal office for several years, and county officials have been aware of the problem.

County commissioners July 23 approved emergency funding to replace supports in the space below the first floor of the building. The motion was approved after commissioners received a report from a consulting engineer who detailed problems with the support system beneath the floor.

The report from the engineer listed water infiltration in the support space under the floor as the key reason for the problems. Infiltration into the space is heaviest during the winter months.

JURY RETURNS SPLIT VERDICT

Evan D. Schroder, 26, Tekoa, was remanded to jail and ordered to report in by 5 p.m. July 25 after a superior court jury convicted him July 23 of a charge of driving under the influence following a one-day trial. The jury found Schroder not guilty of a second charge of attempting to elude.

His sentencing date has been scheduled for Aug. 10.

Schroder was apprehended after three deputies responded to a report of yelling and gunshots in the Lindsey Street area of Tekoa in the early morning hours of Oct. 28, 2017.

A man was seen leaving the scene in a Ford Expedition and recognized later by one of the deputies. According to the arrest report by Deputy Tim Cox, the Expedition was located and driving at high speeds and running through stop signs in Tekoa before it was stopped. Schroder was ordered to get down on the ground after the Expedition was stopped.

The arrest report alleged a blood alcohol tests conducted on Schroder returned a readings in excess of .08 which is the level set for being legally intoxicated.

Witnesses at the trial included Deputies Chris Olin and Cox, Sgt. Dan Brown and Trooper John McKee.

CLARKSTON RESIDENTS CHARGED

Three Clarkston residents were formally charged July 25 in connection with an alleged shoplifting case at the Pullman Walmart May 20. They have been summoned to appear in court Aug. 17.

According to the report by Pullman Officer Nathan Padtra, officers responded to Walmart after being contacted by a Walmart loss prevention officer. One of the suspects was being detained by the loss officer along with a cart full of items which were allegedly taken from store displays.

Two others were arrested in a vehicle in the store parking lot by a Pullman officer.

The report said officers were shown Walmart surveillance recordings which showed the suspects taking items. The report noted one of the suspects was observed removing "spider wire" security devices from the merchandise before placing items in the cart.

It also showed a fourth man pointing out items which were allegedly subsequently loaded into the cart. The man who pointed out the items was not present when the other suspects took the items off the shelves, the report said.

The loss officer presented police with a tabulation of the items which totaled more than $924.

Charged were Andrew Thornberry and Nathaniel Holloway, both 19, and Travis Murillo. 18. The report said Murillo turned over a tool that he was alleged to have used to remove the spider security wires from products. One side of the tool had a "lockpicks" inscription on it.

The three suspects were taken to the Pullman Police Station and placed in holding cells and later released.

Walmart requested the suspects be ordered not to be on store property.