Bulletin Column: Jan. 17, 2019

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.

FOG, ICE, CRASH FACTORS

Brent R. Adair, Oakesdale, was unhurt Saturday night when he lost control of a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck while driving up the Central Ferry grade on Highway 127. According to the Washington State Patrol report, he was driving northbound in foggy conditions at 8:40 p.m. when the truck drifted across the southbound lane and left the roadway. The truck went down a steep embankment and came to a halt in the ditch facing east.

Kenneth D. Bell, Walla Walla, was unhurt Friday when he lost control of the 2008 Ford F250 pickup truck he was driving in icy conditions on Highway 26 about six miles west of Colfax.

According to the WSP report, he was driving eastbound at 7:45 a.m. and slid off the east side of the roadway. The truck rolled onto its top in the ditch.

DRUG COURT SANCTION MOTION

A hearing to sanction drug court participant Evan Couch, 27, Pullman, has been scheduled for Friday in superior court. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Wendy Lierman filed a motion last Friday to sanction Couch for failing to comply with conditions of the drug court program.

The motion alleges Couch relapsed into drug use over a two-week period and used heroin. He was arrested Nov. 20 in Colfax and allegedly found in possession of the drug. Formal charges have not been filed since that arrest.

The motion also alleged Couch failed to provide a urine analysis for the December monthly test, although he did provide a test sample in January.

Couch was accepted into drug court April 13 of last year. Participants apply for the two-year drug court program after they are charged with a drug violation. They apply for admission to the program on condition that they would admit the initial drug charges filed against them in the event they fail to complete the program.

Couch, then a resident of Oakesdale, was admitted to drug court after he was arrested in January of 2017 and charged with possession of methamphetamine.

In an affidavit filed last week with Lierman's motion, a counselor at Palouse River Counseling said Couch admitted the two-week relapse to heroin Nov. 17. Prior to that, she rated his recovery performance as "stellar."

ALLEGE 21 WAL-MART SCAN HITS

A series of 21 instances of Walmart thefts with the use of switched bar code stickers are alleged in complaints filed against two Pullman residents who have been summoned to court Jan. 25 after formal charges were filed last week. The Pullman Police report said the case derives from a Walmart loss prevention investigation which was completed Dec. 5.

Miriam D. Flores, 20, has been charged with one count each of burglary and theft. Michael B. Munoz, 21, has been charged with two counts each of burglary and theft.

The report alleges the suspects used bar codes from a shot glass and a candle to run through scanners with higher priced items. A list of the alleged bogus scan purchases between Aug. 10 and Nov. 19 included 13 times when the two suspects were together and four times each when they made purchases as individuals.

Among items allegedly purchased with the bogus bar codes were a printer, vacuum and crock pot. Total value of the items was $847. The report notes Flores and Munoz returned items valued at $295 when confronted by the loss prevention staffers. The returned items were considered unsalable by the store.

The defendants were allegedly identified by tracking license numbers on the vehicles they were driving, the arrest report said.

CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING

Prospects for climate change legislation in the new Congress will be the focus of the upcoming meeting of the Citizens' Climate Lobby-Palouse on Thursday, Jan. 17, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Moscow's 1912 Center.

The group plans to work at the local level to extend the impact of Pullman's and Moscow's climate change resolutions to other communities and institutions in the area.

The meeting will be in the senior center, just inside the Van Buren Street entrance of the 1912 building.

COURT DATE FOR MURDER SUSPECT

A Feb. 15 date for a hearing on the status of the Ashley Dawn Myers case was set Friday in Whitman County Superior Court. Myers, 30, remains in jail after she was arrested Sept. 28 on charges of murder and drug possession.

The court two weeks ago issued an order for Myers to undergo extended examination of her mental condition and her ability to understand the charges against her and assist in her defense.

Myers has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges by reason of insanity.

Defense Attorney Martonick in a report Dec. 28 said Dr. Greg Wilson of Pullman, who has been examining Myers, has determined additional issues could be present regarding the defendant's sanity and capacity. Wilson recommended other experts be contacted for additional examination of the defendant, under his supervision, with the costs expected to not exceed $5,000. The court approved the added examination expense up to the $5,000 estimate.

Myers in an earlier court hearing was determined to be indigent and not able to pay for the costs of her defense.

She has been charged with fatally shooting Kenneth L. Allen, Coeur d'Alene, with a pistol Sept. 28 while Allen was seated in a parked car off Airport Road just south of the Highway 26 intersection.

Evidence of methamphetamine possession was allegedly found at the site.

Myers remains in jail here in lieu of posting a $1 million bond which was set for her pre-trial release after her arrest.

Deputy Prosecutor Merritt Decker in past court hearings has noted the state could need time after getting a defense report on Myers' mental condition to conduct an examination of the defendant on behalf of the state.

FSA OFFICE CLOSED

The Colfax Farm Service Agency office has been closed as a result of the federal budget deadlock in Washington, D.C. Employees at the office have been placed on furlough.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service office, located on Vista Drive, remains open. The NRCS has funds in its budget to remain in operation. Two employees remain on duty at the NRCS office.

Callers to the FSA office are advised to leave a voice mail message, although the recording advises callers that the staff will not have access to voice mails or emails while they remain out on furlough.

The staff at the FSA office is normally in the range of six employees.

ATTORNEY EXIT DELAYS TRIAL

Paul A. Papiese, 45, Colfax, waived his right to a speedy trial Friday morning in superior court after reporting his attorney has withdrawn from representing him. Pullman attorney Michael Pettit filed a notice of withdrawal from the case.

Papiese told the court relations with his attorney have broken down.

Papiese faces two charges of vehicular assault. The charges relate to a June 16 accident when Papiese allegedly drove into the back of a car which was stopped for a traffic light at a construction zone near mile 66 on Highway 195 at Rosalia. The charge alleges Papiese was driving under the influence at the time of the accident.

Court Commissioner David Frazier set a Feb. 1 hearing date to schedule new dates for hearings and a trial.

Under the waiver for a speedy trial, the deadline for Papiese to be brought to trial will be May 1.

ZONE CHANGES IN THE WORKS

Colfax planning commission has scheduled a hearing on Jan. 24 at 5:30 p.m. for a proposed change in zoning for portions of Main Street. Steve Bretveld, city building inspector, said portions of north and south Main Street have been designated a commercial zone. Many of the Main Street businesses which are located in the zone don't actually fit the commercial zone designation.

The proposal is to change those areas to a business zone designation.

Parts of Sumner and Clay streets, also now zoned as commercial, have also been proposed to be changed to business. Bretveld noted residences in that area, which have been there for years, actually don't comply with the commercial zone designation.

Action taken by the planning commission will be sent to the Colfax city council for final approval.