Bulletin Column: Dec. 6, 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.

WSU STUDENTS GIVE Colfax REPORTS

Washington State University students in landscape architecture presented a variety of design concepts for Colfax at Monday night's city council session. The students have been working since the start of the semester on proposals to improve Colfax. Each student gave a brief report on his suggestions for the town with plans projected on a screen.

The city council session followed an extended presentation for the Colfax Park Board meeting which preceded the council session.

Steve Austin, landscape architecture professor, led the class.

Students in the class hosted an open house public session in Colfax at the start of the semester to collect residents' comments on what could be done.

Colfax flood control channels were considered in several of the studies. One student suggested landscaping of the channel and projected a "before" photo of the bleak concrete channel contrasted with a color photo of the South Fork flowing through what appeared to be plantings in the channel.

Another student suggested placing a cover over the channel and using the added space for expansion.

Two students suggested converting Main Street to three lanes with one north, one south and a middle left turn lane.

Other suggestions included enlarging the Colfax trail system. One plan suggested linking the Colfax Trail, which is located on the former Spokane & Inland Railroad right-of-way along the Palouse River northwest of town, with the downtown area. The students pointed out Colfax trails could be linked to trails from other towns.

One sketch illustration featured a hilltop restaurant which would be located at a former city water reservoir site and provide an overview of the city.

None of the reports noted the Department of Transportation traffic circle proposal now under consideration for the intersection of highways 26 and 195 at the north end of town.

ALLEY VACATION DENIED

A petition to vacate a dead end segment of the east side alley between Thorn Street and the Spring Flat flood control channel in south Colfax was formally denied Monday night on a 7-0 vote by the city council. The council at its Nov. 6 session tabled the request after discussion of the petition which was filed by Denis and B.J. Gransbery. They reside in the 100 block of E. Thorn where it intersects with the alley. Denis Gransbery said they sought the vacation because vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the alley often imposes on their property.

Council members spoke in opposition to the petition at the Nov. 8 session, but a motion to accept or reject was never made. Mayor Todd Vanek Monday night called for the council to make a decision one way or the other, and after discussion, Councilwoman Crystn Guenthner moved to reject the petition.

Presence of utility lines and the need for city police and fire access were cited as reasons for keeping the alley public.

Councilman Tom Huntwork suggested the city could block off access to the alley from a Main Street lot which was opened up when remains of a burned house was removed this summer.

Since presenting the petition, the Gransberys have purchased the apartment building next to the new access and will have the option of blocking off the property.

Gransbery said he still believed the city could vacate the alley and provide easements for the city, utilities and other people who need to use the alley.

MANNING GRAIN SPILL

Cleanup operations were made last week at the grain elevator at Manning, where grain was spilled outside the storage elevator for some time over the Thanksgiving holiday. Keith Becker at PNW Growers said they are not sure what happened to cause the grain to spill outside of the elevator.

Crews collected the grain which was tested and placed back in the elevator if approved. He said most of the grain stored at Manning had already been moved out of the elevator since harvest.

The grain spill appeared to be under a load out auger.

ANOTHER OFFICER TO DEPART

Mayor Todd Vanek reported to city council Monday night that Police Officer Jaelene Leeson has resigned to join the police department in Spokane. Officer Leeson has made her home in Spokane and commuted to Colfax to work police shifts.

She is scheduled to conclude service for Colfax at the end of the month. She has been employed with the Colfax department for three years.

Leeson's departure will leave Colfax with just three police officers, Perry Tate, Corey Alcantar and Joe Handley, who joined the department last month.

The department is also operating without Chief Rick McNannay who has been placed on administrative leave by the mayor. Tate is now serving as officer in charge for the department.

Vanek told the council the city will again try to hire a certified officer who can begin service soon after joining the department. That was the route followed when the city hired Handley, who was a member of the Palouse Police Department.

The mayor noted the department could face up to a year with the roster spot open if it follows a previous practice of signing a candidate for the position, who has to wait to get into the state basic's training program and then undergo training to get certification.

Colfax has negotiated an agreement with the county sheriff's office to provide deputies to work city shifts for the department at a cost of $360 per shift.

BOND SET AT $200,000

Bond for pre-trial release of Brian Wignall, the Lewiston resident who was stopped Sunday after a high speed chase which began in Colfax, was set at $200,000 Monday in superior court. Officers had requested a high bail be set. Wignall, 29, was jailed on a probable charge of attempting to elude.

The arrest report filed by Colfax Officer Joe Handley said Wignall admitted after he was stopped that he was also wanted on a warrant but declined to give other details.

Handley's report said Sheriff's Deputy Brian Keller was able to put down a spike strip which brought the chase to a halt near mile marker 52, four miles north of Steptoe.

The report noted Wignall was first stopped by Handley in the rear lot of Zip's on north Main because the black Honda Civic Wignall was driving lacked a front license plate. Handley reported at approximately two minutes and 30 seconds after the stop, while he was in a city patrol car, Wignall put the Civic in reverse, backed into the patrol car and then took off northbound on the highway. He noted Wignall departed the Zip's lot by going the wrong direction in the drive-through lane.

Handley said the Civic traveled at speeds in the 90 mph range, and at times Wignall crossed the double yellow line into the oncoming lane to pass other vehicles. At one point a southbound motorist had to pull onto the shoulder of the highway while Wignall made a pass.

The report said Wignall told officers he drove at a high rate of speed with the expectation officers would cease pursuit because of the danger involved.

KENT MAN ARRESTED

Shawn L. Nelson, 43, Kent, was arrested Friday and booked into jail on probable charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and stolen property. According to the arrest report, Deputy Vince Waltz stopped the sedan Nelson was driving just west of Colfax on Highway 26 after observing the car making a pass around a tractor-trailer in a no-passing zone.

The arrest report alleges a meth pipe was observed in the front seat of the car and a subsequent warrant search of the vehicle led to discovery of a baggie of methamphetamine inside of a cigarette pack found in the vehicle.

The arrest report by Deputy Waltz said the car Nelson was driving had been reported stolen in Renton.

The report said deputies also found a package containing medicine which carried the address of a Moscow resident. When called, the Moscow man allegedly reported the package had been missing.

GIVING TREE DONATION CHANGE

The site for making cash donations to the annual Christmas Giving Tree in Colfax has been changed to Columbia Bank. The donations will be used to purchase clothing for needy children in Colfax.

Residents can also donate by removing a tag from one of the Giving Trees at several locations in Colfax and purchasing a gift of clothing for the youngster described on the tag, and returning the wrapped gift with tag to the respective tree.