Bulletin Column: Nov. 15, 2018

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.

OCTOBER PRECIP ALSO SHORT

Total precipitation for October at the NRCS recording station at Colfax was .78 inches, which is just more than half of the 1.52 inch average precipitation for the month. The low rainfall for October follows a scant .02 total for September, which has a 1.04 inch average total for the month.

Precipitation tally for this month moved out to a good start with .35 booked after the first weekend. Total average precipitation for November is 2.68 inches.

REPORT PULLMAN POLICE CHASE

Ohanny L. Murillo, 21, Moscow, was booked into jail here early Friday morning after being chased by police and allegedly fighting with Pullman Officer Ruben Harris in north Pullman.

According to the arrest report filed by Harris, he and other officers responded at 2:33 a.m. Friday to a report of a fight involving several people at Jack In The Box in Pullman.

The report said two people leaving the scene on the north side of the drive-in were alleged to be instigators of the fight.

Murillo went into the weeds along Missouri Flat Creek, actually crawled across the creek and then crossed Grand in front of Pizza Hut.

Harris said he discharged his taser into Murillo's back but the suspect began to fight before he was finally handcuffed.

The officer reported his glasses were broken, a radio ear piece and an arrest camera were knocked askew in the struggle.

Bail for pretrial release was set at $50,000 surety at Murillo's first appearance in court later Friday.

CABINET FALL KILLS Palouse WOMAN

County Coroner Annie Pillers Friday morning reported her cause of death investigation determined Margaret E. Gregg, 85, Palouse, died Tuesday, Nov. 6, when she was hit by a wall-mounted cabinet which fell. The cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma to the neck with spinal cord injury. Manner of death was determined to be accidental.

FIREFIGHTERS LAUNCH TOY BOX

Colfax volunteer fire fighters have launched the 2018 edition of their annual Toy Box drive which provides Christmas toys to children in needy families in Whitman County. The volunteers have been operating the toy box for more than 30 years.

Donations can be mailed to Vol. Firemen Inc. Toy Box, Box 226, Colfax 99111. Donations can also be left at the fire station.

The firemen use cash donations to purchase toys which are set up in the fire station where families can make their selections. New toys can also be donated at the fire station.

The volunteers plan to make their toy shopping trip Dec. 5 and operate the toy store in the station Dec. 17 through Dec. 20. Families can be certified to shop for toys through the Whitman County Health Department.

SUMP PUMP FIRE AT PULLMAN

Pullman firefighters Nov. 6 responded to a report of smoke and flames coming from underneath a house on Sunnyside hill.

The call came in around 6 p.m. and when firefighters arrived at the house at 910 SW Center Street, they could see the smoke coming from a crawl space.

They were able to extinguish the fire by pouring water through the vent openings underneath the house. They traced the origin of the fire to a sump pump located in the crawl space.

There was no damage to the residence. After the fire department ventilated the home of smoke, the occupants were able to return to their home. The water that was used was underneath the home and the only damage was confined to the electrical connections to the sump pump.

Fire Investigator Tony Nuttman listed the cause as an accidental electrical fire.

POLICE CHIEF ON LEAVE

Colfax Mayor Todd Vanek Thursday confirmed Colfax Police Chief Rick McNannay has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation of department procedures. McNannay has been out of his office for more than two weeks and was absent Monday night when Joe Handley, a new hire for the department, was introduced to the city council and administered an oath of office. Handley was introduced to the city council by Assistant Chief Perry Tate.

Mayor Vanek said McNannay was on vacation for part of the time but is now officially on administrative leave status.

ALLEY VACATION SIDELINED

A request for the city to vacate a segment of the east side alley off Thorn Street stalled out Nov. 5 when it failed to get a formal motion from city council members. Filed by Denis and BJ Gransbery, the petition was discussed at the Oct. 15 city council session and tabled until Monday night's session.

Councilman Jim Kackman said he opposed the petition. Kackman noted a number of easements which would be required for water and sewer lines and Avista lines in the alley. He said in his opinion the easements of that nature tend to get lost over time.

Councilwoman Crystn Guenthner also said she opposed the vacation.

Denis Gransbery at the previous session said he filed the petition because of the number of people who used the small alley segment, which has a dead end, and then use their property to turn around. He told the council he felt he would have better control of who uses the alley if the city vacated it.

At the previous council session, Fire Administrator Tim Tingley and City Attorney John Kragt advised the council not to vacate.

The city council Monday discussed posting the alley with signs to better control its use. Tingley noted a "fire lane" sign could also be posted on the opposite side of the street where the alley intersects with Thorn Street. ­