Bulletin Column: Nov. 22, 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.

REARDAN MAN ARRESTED IN AREA CAR PROWLS CASE

One of two suspects in a string of car prowls reported at Rosalia was arrested late Tuesday. Sheriff Brett Myers reported Hunter H. Haley, 25, Reardan, was arrested and booked into jail here.

The sheriff said they have identified a second suspect and expect to obtain a warrant for his arrest later in the week.

Sheriff Myers noted Lincoln County sheriff's office received nearly 30 reports of car prowls in their area Tuesday morning and believe the suspects in the Rosalia prowls are responsible for the Lincoln County cases. The arrests are believed to have cleared nearly 50 car prowl cases which took place in two counties in the past five days.

Deputies from both counties were present at the arrest scene and a subsequent search of the car Haley was driving turned up many of the items reported missing in prowls along with a handgun allegedly taken from one of the vehicles in Lincoln County.

Haley was booked into jail here and scheduled for a first appearance in court Wednesday afternoon.

Sheriff Wade Magers teamed with Myers and deputies here in the arrest.

NEW LIGHTS FOR WINTERFEST

New LED streetlights are expected to be in place for the Dec. 6 Winterfest celebration and parade. Colfax Public Works Director Matt Hammer reported to the city council at Monday night's city Council session. A total of 64 of the lights are scheduled to be installed along Main Street and south Mill Street.

Greg Harazin of Greg's Electric has vowed to have the lights in place for the big winter night in Colfax. The light conversion is expected to improve lighting in the downtown area. Approximate cost of the project is $48,000.

CITY OKAYS TAX HIKE

Colfax City Council Monday night approved a resolution to increase the city's property tax revenue by the one percent now allowed under state law on next year's tax statements. The move will add another $4,368 to next year's tax bills.

The resolution comes before the city council each year during budget time, and for several years Colfax has added the increase allowed by law.

During the discussion, Colfax Councilman Jim Kackman noted that at one time the state limit for increase in revenue was four percent and that often generated extended discussion. Since the limit was cut to one percent, approval by most local councils has become almost automatic as local entities try to keep up with inflation.

Kackman earlier noted under the city's budget for next year, the city could opt to pass on the one-percent tax hike. Under state rules, a city can "bank" the annual increase and add it in later years.

Councilman Tom Huntwork noted pay increases to employees is a big factor in the city's operation costs from year-to-year.

Property tax revenue, including the one-percent hike, is expected to be $441,176 in total for the city next year.

The city this year is expected to make some gains in its current expense reserves because of reduced costs of staffing. Departure of a paid fire chief and a city administrator has dropped payroll costs, along with unfilled slots in the police department roster.

The city council also added one percent in revenue to the new Metropolitan Parks District. That will add $816 to the tax billings which is expected to bump revenue for the parks district to $82,477 in 2019. The council converted to its Metropolitan Park District Board mode for approximately four minutes to approve the increase.

The district revenue is used for park facilities including the swim pool, which took a big slice of the parks revenue next year.

Interim City Administrator Chris Mathis reported to the council the city is also in line to collect $2,011 more tax revenue off "new build" property which has been added inside the city over the past year. Assessed value of the newly added property is $751,000.

One change expected to be on the tax bills this year is the school district's $18.9 million bond measure which will extend for the next 20 years. The new bond issue replaces a previous issue, and residents are expected to see a drop of about 25 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value in the levy.

Denis Gransbery of Colfax objected to the one-percent hike in tax revenue from the city's property tax. He noted that for owners of multiple properties the extra tax can begin to add up.

AVOIDS COLLISION ON 195

Joshua Golder, Garfield, avoided a head-on accident Sunday on Highway 195 when he veered the 1993 Subaru Legacy he was driving northbound off the roadway to avoid an oncoming vehicle which was passing another vehicle. According to the report of State Trooper Bruce Blood, the Subaru went off the highway and sustained extensive damage when it struck several sections of fence.

Driver of the other car, a 2007 Cadillac, was identified as Xing Yang of Lewiston. According to the report, Yang was driving southbound, went into the oncoming lane to make a pass and did not yield to the car Golder was driving in the northbound lane.

--Logan Terry, Kennewick, was unhurt at 11:45 p.m. Saturday when the 2012 Honda Accord he was driving on Highway 26 near Hooper collided with a deer. He was driving westbound when the deer ran in front of his vehicle.

ON THE WAY TO COURT

A WSU student who was traveling to Colfax Friday morning to make a first appearance after being charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver was stopped after he entered Colfax on a probable charge of possession of marijuana.

Xavier EJ Jonas, 18, was stopped by Colfax officer Joe Handley after he noted the front license plate was missing from the vehicle Jonas was driving and the rear plate was partially covered. Handley's arrest report said the car smelled of marijuana and Jonas appeared be under the age of 21.

Jonas at the time told Handley he was on his way to court to make an appearance on a marijuana charge which had already been filed against him in superior court.

Handley said during a search after Friday's stop he located a bag containing .62 pounds of marijuana in the suspect's backpack. The search also allegedly led to discovery of a bong, several Mason jars containing leafy material and a scale.

During the criminal court docket session Friday morning in superior court, Jonas’ name was called, and when nobody responded a warrant was requested for his failure to appear.

Jonas was transported to jail and later made an appearance in court on the case which was listed on the morning docket.

Jonas was charged Oct. 30 with possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver. That charge was filed after an officer investigated a report of a woman resident on the fourth floor of Rogers Hall who complained that her roommate was smoking marijuana. The roommate explained she had purchased marijuana from X who lived on the sixth floor of Rogers Hall.

The investigation report alleged they found a room with an X on its door on the sixth floor and that turned out to be Jonas’ room.

TWO COMPLETE DRUG COURT

Charges against two women who were arrested in Colfax two years ago on drug charges have been dismissed after they completed the court's two year drug court program.

Tiffani Emehiser, 40, Dayton, received her drug court diploma and congratulations Friday morning. Judge Gary Libey stepped down from the bench to congratulate Emehiser for completing the program and family members and others in the courtroom applauded.

A former Colfax resident, Emehiser was arrested March 6, 2016, on Main Street in Colfax and charged with being in possession of methamphetamine. She was admitted to drug court Nov. 18 of that year. The program requires participants to undergo counseling, monthly tests to confirm they have remained off drugs and monthly court checks on their progress. The arrest report for Emehiser said she readily admitted she used methamphetamine and allowed a search of the vehicle she was driving.

Emehiser went through the drug court program with Cherie Schmick, 33, Endicott. Schmick graduated from the October session of drug court and also received congratulations from the judge and those attending the court session.

Schmick was arrested in Colfax March 26, 2016, after a deputy who was seated in Taco Time on N. Main observed what he believed to be an exchange of a drug pill, later identified as oxycodone, between Schmick and a Colfax resident. The arrest report said Schmick at the time admitted she was a drug user and needed treatment.

Both Emehiser and Schmick during their two years in the drug court program reported their lives have totally changed after they were able to shake their drug habits.

The drug court provides for charges against defendants to be dropped if they successfully complete the program over two years.

GUILTY PLEA IN ZEPPOZ CASE

Loren E. Maxey, the former dealer at Zeppoz in Pullman who was arrested for stealing from the casino, pleaded guilty in superior court Friday morning to four counts of burglary and one count of second-degree theft.

Deputy Prosecutor Merritt Decker told the court the guilty pleas followed extended negotiations to resolve the case.

Maxey, 34, Moscow, was initially charged with theft and money laundering in the case which dates back to last year. He was originally arrested Feb. 3 by agents of the Washington State Gambling Commission who removed him from the gambling pit of the casino and placed him in handcuffs.

Decker told the court Friday morning most of the thefts by Maxey took place at the casino during 2017. He said the count for 2017 totaled 32 different instances, and more thefts continued into this year.

The four burglary charges were for May 23, June 5, July 15 and July 26.

Maxey was booked into jail here Sept. 26 after a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear for a previous court date.

Decker noted Maxey was an employee of the casino, but the burglary charges were valid because Maxey had remained at the casino after hours when he wasn't supposed to be there.

The arrest report from the gambling commission investigation noted Maxey entered the counting room and removed counted chips from the gambling tables and then removed an equal value of the chips from the cash proceeds. The report noted he did this with the knowledge that one of the other dealers at the casino never actually followed up on a policy of counting out the chips in his tray at the end of a shift.

Amount of restitution listed due the casino for its loss was reported to be $78,876.

Maxey is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 30. One of his employers was present in court Friday for the arraignment and is expected to return on the sentencing date.