Briefs: February 6, 2020

PARVIN ROAD-195 CRASH ZONE

A total of five different accidents were investigated Monday morning when drivers encountered ice on Highway 195 near the Parvin Road intersection, south of Colfax. All the accidents were logged at 6:12 a.m. None of the drivers or passengers stated they had been injured.

Seven vehicles were involved with one vehicle hit after it had been stopped after a previous collision.

Commuters coming into Colfax Monday for the start of the workweek relayed initial reports of the hazard zone when they arrived at work.

Troopers Shane Widman and Katelyn Baxter investigated and prepared the accident reports.

Marc T. LaVanway, Pullman, was driving northbound when he lost control of the 2000 Honda Civic he was driving on the ice-covered highway. James L. Penman, Pullman, was unable to slow the 2019 Dodge Ram pickup truck he was driving and struck the Honda as it swerved in front of him.

Anthoney C. Staley, Colton, lost control of a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta he was driving and slid across both southbound lanes and struck a 2006 GMC Savana van, which was parked on the shoulder of the highway. The van, driven by Hoyt Hvass of Clarkston, had been involved in an earlier accident at the scene. Hvass had been driving northbound when the Savana went out of control on the icy highway and crossed into the oncoming lane broadside. It struck a 2004 Chevrolet Mailbu which was being driven southbound by Kenneth Arthur, Colfax.

Christaldo Rodriquez, Pullman, was driving a 2005 Subaru Legacy northbound, lost control on the ice, collided with an earth embankment and came to a halt on its passenger’s side in the ditch.

Stanley P. Smith, Spokane, driving a 2002 Hyundai Accent, also traveling northbound, left the roadway to the right, and spun backwards and struck a Department of Transportation sign with the right rear of the car.

Another section of icy highway, located near mile eight on Highway 23 west of Steptoe, was cited as the cause of an accident at 8:28 a.m. Monday, more than two hours after the Parvin Road crashes.

Janice C. Ross, St. John, lost control on the ice while driving a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe eastbound. The Tahoe went off the roadway to the right, went into the ditch and rolled one and one-half times. It came to a halt on its top, facing north, Trooper Baxter reported.

Harbor Freight eyes Shopko site

Harbor Freight has applied for a permit to locate an outlet in the former Shopko Store building along S. Grand. The company has applied for a permit for alterations to locate a store in the building which has been vacant for approximately 10 months. The permit request is now under review by Pullman building officials.

Pullman’s building department has already granted a permit request for dividing up the Shopko floor space for different businesses.

Pullman Shopko was added to a list of Shopko stores targeted for closing January 2019 with a shutdown date set for April 15. Shopko later announced they were filing for bankruptcy.

Harbor Freight now operates two outlets in Spokane, one on N. Nevada, and one at Sprague and Sullivan in Spokane Valley.

Harbor Freight headquarters is in Calabasas, Calif.

PULLMAN HONORS OFFICERS

Officer Brian Chamberlin received the humanitarian award, and Officer Don Heroff was awarded the officer of the year honor at a Pullman Police Department ceremony Jan. 29.

Chief Gary Jenkins cited Chamberlin’s actions a year ago in talking a male subject out of taking his own life. The man called the department, left a message and Chamberlin persisted in making 19 calls to connect with the subject who remained on the phone from a location in Latah County. Chamberlin eventually went to go the location and assisted in taking the subject into custody. The whole telephone episode extended over four hours.

Officer Heroff was credited with leadership while taking the officer-in-charge position as department sergeants have left the department. One example cited was when Heroff coordinated a response last August to a domestic dispute in which the subject threatened members of his own family. This led to a SWAT team call out and coordination among 28 different officers. Heroff has been a member of the department since 1999.

Realtors report on housing sales

Whitman County Association of Realtors Friday issued an annual report of house sales for 2019. A total of 475 houses were sold during the year with the average sale price of $263,311 and a median sale price of $265,000. Rate of sales for the year was 1.3 houses per day.

June was the top month for sales with 68 houses sold for a $271,700 average price. Median price was $282,500.

July marked 56 houses sold with an average of $295,600.

Top monthly median price group was $289,000 for 41 houses sold in October.