Bulletin Column: Feb. 7, 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.

SNOW STORM CLOSES SCHOOLS

St. John and Endicott schools closed down sessions Tuesday because of Monday night's snow storm, with wind causing drifts in the west part of the county.

Depth of snow at St. John from the storm was reported to be approximately four inches, and extensive drifting was reported in the area.

LaCrosse Schools also opted to close Tuesday. They initially opted for a two-hour late start, but then decided to close after learning more roads in the rural area of the district had been clogged by drifts.

Tekoa schools started two hours late.

Colfax, Colton, Rosalia, Oakesdale and Garfield/Palouse schools all started on time.

PULLMAN WOMAN SENTENCED

Donna Green, 55, Pullman, was sentenced to seven days in jail Friday after she pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of methamphetamine. Green was charged after deputies conducted a search last June 9 of a mobile home on S. Grand in Pullman where she resides.

The sheriff's arrest report said deputies went to Green's residence after receiving a report from other drug suspects that they had purchased heroin from a man who resided at Green's residence.

Defense Attorney Roger Sandberg Friday requested Green be allowed to do 240 hours of community service in lieu of serving a 30-day jail sentence. He said Green made the request in order to keep her job.

Judge Gary Libey said the court had dropped the 240-hour option a year ago because it lacks any way of monitoring it. He ordered Green to serve the seven days in jail on weekends so she could continue to show up for work. Green was ordered to get the jail time served by March 3 and also pay $600 in fines and fees.

One of the people residing at Green's house at the time was Jory D. Smith, 25, Pullman. Smith was charged with possession of heroin and methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

Smith has yet to go to trial on the charges related to the June 9 search, and he has since been charged with drug possession resulting from a search after a Jan. 6 traffic stop in Pullman. Next court date for Smith, on both pending drug cases, has been set for Feb. 22.

ALLEY SIGN INQUIRY

Colfax Councilman Mark Mackleit at Monday night's city council session asked a followup question on whether the city had taken any action to post a sign on the last segment of the east side Colfax alley at the Dennis Gransbery residence. Mackleit noted the city council had promised the Gransberys to place some type of sign at the entrance to the dead end alley.

They vowed to post a sign after the council turned down a request by Gransbery to vacate the alley which intersects with Thorn Street and hits a dead end at the Spring Flat Creek flood channel which runs along the north side of the Pullman Highway as it enters Colfax. When making the request, Gransbery noted after drivers discover they have turned into a dead end, they drive onto their property to turn around and exit.

SENTENCED TO 51 MONTHS

Tony Boyer, 48, Colfax, was sentenced to 51 months in state prison after he pleaded guilty Friday in superior court to a charge of violation of a no-contact order in a domestic violence case.

Boyer was assigned an offender score of seven, and faced a state standard sentencing range of 51 to 60 months. Five prior cases were listed on his score, with three in Whitman County and two in Asotin County.

A warrant of commitment filed with the court credited Boyer with 99 days served in jail here awaiting resolution of the charge against him.

Friday's conviction involved a violation of a no-contact order between Dec. 7 and Dec. 14.

Former Colfax officer Jaelene Leeson filed a lengthy investigation report, which alleged Boyer was suspected of placing a long written note at the front door of the woman he had been ordered not to contact.

TWO ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT

Michael J. Keller, 44, Farmington, and Brandon Reese, 33, Garfield, were booked into jail here Sunday after deputies responded to a report of an assault. The report by Deputy James Pelissier said Keller and Reese are suspected of assaulting a man in a shop on Farmington Road.

The report said the two suspects confronted the victim in the shop. The report said they first saw the alleged victim when they were at Grumpy's Tavern in Garfield. The victim left and went to the shop on Farmington Road and the suspects arrived later.

Keller and Reese are alleged to have jumped on top of the victim. An EMS crew was called to the scene, but the alleged victim refused to be transported and was later driven to Whitman Hospital. Emergency room staffers confirmed the victim had sustained a fractured ankle, a broken nose and two lost teeth.

Keller and Reese were allowed release on their own recognizance after a first appearance in court Monday.

PANEL PREPS FOR MCNANNAY APPEAL

A pre-hearing conference on the termination appeal of former Colfax Police Chief Rick McNannay was scheduled for March 5 in a brief session of the Colfax Civil Service Commission Monday at noon in city hall. Leslie Cloaninger, retired Colfax attorney who chairs the civil service board, presided at the short session to iron out some of the preliminary details in advance of the conference.

Board member Rob Aucutt also attended Monday's session, but John Kehne, the third member of the board, is on vacation and did not attend.

The board approved a motion to hire a recording secretary who will be required to record the testimony of the hearing, keep records and prepare a transcript.

Cloaninger said she anticipates City Clerk Lynda Kramlich will be asked to testify at the hearing and cannot serve as secretary for the board. Cloaninger said she will attempt to locate a court reporter to serve as the hearing clerk.

The board also plans to reserve a hearing room at the courthouse to accommodate the spectators for the hearing.

McNannay attended the session with his attorney, Alexandria Drake from the Spokane firm of Dunn and Black. Attorneys for both sides will be required to attend the March 5 conference.

REEVES BOOKS ATTORNEY

Emery Reeves, the Spokane Valley man who was arrested Aug. 14 after a high speed motorcycle chase between Colfax and Cashup Flat, appeared in court Friday and reported he has hired Brendan Kidd of Spokane to represent him in court. Reeves has now been slated for a Feb. 22 court appearance.

He appeared in court Jan. 11 and reported his attempts to hire an attorney had been unsuccessful and he was unable to proceed. Reeves had been represented by Spokane attorney Tracy Collins, who later withdrew from the case.

Reeves at one time had been scheduled for trial Nov. 13 of last year.

During the prior court session, he waived his right to a speedy trial because of the delays. He faces charges of attempting to elude and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended or revoked license.

FAIR GAINED ENTRIES

The 2018 edition of the Palouse Empire Fair marked a participation gain with a total of 4,014 entries. The figure compares with 3,804 entries the previous year, according to a report by Janel Goebel, fair manager. The year-end figures were reported at the Jan. 28 meeting of the fair board.

The fair has paid out $17,296 to date to entrants, which included premium points and special awards. The per-point pay rate was set at nine cents by the board.

The fair received $34,000 this year from the state, and 50 percent of that sum is intended to go to premium pay and the costs of ribbons and other awards for prizes which do not have specific sponsors.

Goebel reported fair expenditures this year totaled $406,000, which was 96 percent of the budget. Revenue came in at 55 percent of the expenditures.

The fair normally operates at a deficit with most of the difference covered by the county budget.

Goebel also reported a heater has been installed in the fair's 4H building. One of the goals for installing a heater in the building was to make it available for rental in the cooler months of the year. The building last year was used for the Route 26 Vintage Market show at the grounds.