Bulletin Column: February 27, 2020

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.

SEPA CLEARS PROPOSED MARIJUANA ORDINANCE

The Whitman County Planning Commission has received a Determination of Non-significance (DNS) in a SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) review, for a proposed new zoning ordinance to regulate marijuana production, processing and retailing.

The SEPA office in Olympia issued the ruling Tuesday, stating the proposal will “not have a probable significant impact on the environment.”

The analysis included a completed environmental checklist from Whitman County, along with other information.

Copies of the DNS may be picked up, at no charge, at the Whitman County planning office at the Public Service building (North 310 Main Street in Colfax, second floor).

Written comments on the SEPA decision may be submitted to the planning office between March 12 and March 18.

Also March 18, a public hearing on the ordinance will be held in Colfax.

FROM THE Palouse TO DENVER

The Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport is now in negotiations to add service between Pullman and Denver.

United Airlines or one of its affiliate carriers would be the partner for the potential new flights.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has backed the project with a $780,000 grant from its Small Community Air Service Development Program. The annual grant will run for four years, as profitability insurance for the new connection.

Airport Executive Director Tony Bean said he hopes an agreement would be in place between Pullman and Denver for flights to start by this fall or early 2021.

The grant funds would only be used if the new service loses money.

An estimated $300,000 was pledged by local governments and businesses on the Palouse for the application to USDOT.

In total, 57 applications were submitted for the national USDOT program, with 18 grants approved.

Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport is now only served by Alaska Airlines to Seattle.

DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMEN PRACTICES BEGIN

Preparations are underway for this year’s Distinguished Young Woman of Colfax scholarship program, to award students in the 2021 graduating class.

This spring six Colfax High School juniors will compete in the program, including Annie Cox, Madison Fairbanks, Riane Jones, Kari Largent, Emma Miller and Emalee Phillips.

The theme is “The Incredi-Gals,” with the event held Friday, April 17, in the newly-remodeled auditorium.

Traditionally held on a Saturday, the program was moved this year to accommodate for construction in the auditorium, with the musical being put on in the spring instead of fall.

The girls will begin selling tickets March 20.

Distinguished Young Women is the oldest and largest national scholarship program for high school girls. Founded in 1958, it was originally known as Junior Miss.

WIND BLOWS OFF SIDE OF SIGN

Damage reported from the Sunday afternoon windstorm in Colfax included one side of the Best Western hotel sign being blown off, and a downed tree branch knocking power out to one house.

The one-half of the Best Western sign got loose between 2 and 3 p.m., with a replacement expected to come from the corporate offices this week.

The tree branch fell in the 800 block of South Hillcrest, taking out an electrical wire. Avista was called to restore power.

CHARGED WITH STOLEN PROPERTY

On Feb. 20, Quentin James Zumhofe of Albion, 43, was charged with possessing stolen property in the second degree, for a plate compactor construction tool.

A citizen reported they knew of the location of a stolen plate compactor from a construction site in Pullman. The reporting party said that Zumhofe had the item in his red Mitsubishi Montero SUV.

Whitman County deputies obtained a search warrant for the vehicle, which was parked in a driveway in Albion, to look for a black and yellow Bomag plate compactor, with a serial number supplied by the owner of the missing item.

Sheriff’s deputies Bryce Nebe and Cory Alcantar later searched the Montero and located the property, with the matching serial number. The plate compactor was returned to its owner.

Zumhofe is still being sought and had not been located as of Friday.

AUDITIONS SET FOR THURSDAY

The Regional Theatre of the Palouse will continue to hold open-call auditions today, Feb. 27, for the Broadway musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie” at the RTOP Theatre, 122 North Grand Ave. in Pullman from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

The group seeks singers, dancers and tap dancers of all ethnicities. Singers are asked to arrive with a song from a musical to audition with and provide an accompanist musical track. Dancers should prepare a short dance routine.

For additional information, call RTOP Theatre at 509-334-0750.

LIONEL HAMPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL BEGINS FRIDAY

The annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho will run Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-29. The festival includes performances, world-class jazz artists, workshops and clinics, to culminate Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. with a performance by Joshua Redman and the ‘Still Dreaming’ quartet, featuring Ron Miles, Scott Colley and Dave King. Also for the evening concert. The Lionel Hampton Big Band will feature Jason Marsalis.

SWAT ASSISTS IN PULLMAN

The Whitman County Regional SWAT team was called in by Pullman Police the afternoon of Feb. 20 to assist in an arrest where a domestic violence incident had allegedly occurred, according to a Pullman Police news release. SWAT was deployed at approximately 1:30 p.m. and closed off about a two-block area of Robert Street to deal with the issue. The press release stated that police determined that the potential level of resistance conveyed by the suspect warranted SWAT involvement to mitigate the chances of injury to officers and involved parties.

The suspect, Daniel Spears, 34, of Pullman, surrendered peacefully to officers at 3:58 p.m., following talks with crisis negotiators. Spears was taken into custody for fourth degree domestic violence assault and transported to Whitman County jail.

COLFAX BUSINESSES TO CLOSE DOORS

Two Colfax Main Street businesses have announced plans to close their doors. Purpose Roasters and Bunyard Automotive announced earlier last week via Facebook that their businesses will close within a month’s time.

Citing personal health reasons, Purpose Roasters owners Travis and Janelle Harrison stated their café operation will close Saturday, March 14. The coffee roasting side would continue with retail bags of coffee for sale. It was later added that the café manager would be taking over the roasting program and would be the new owner of Purpose Roasters solely as a roaster with sales to go through a website and location which has not yet been announced.

Purpose Roasters opened Sept. 2018 in the former Arby’s building. The business donated five percent of retail coffee bean profits to a charity each month.

Bunyard Automotive announced its last day of business will be Feb. 28. Owner Jacob Bunyard stated the building with shop and upstairs apartment are for sale as is all the equipment, although much of the equipment has already been spoken for. Bunyard said he will be going to the North Slope of Alaska for work after the business has closed.

Bunyard Automotive opened in July 2018 in the former location of Lube Plus. In November 2019 it was one of five businesses to receive an award from the National Association of Secretaries of State Corporations for Communities award program for outstanding work to improve lives in Washington communities. Bunyard Automotive was cited for dedicating time each week to repair vehicles at little to no cost in order to provide families in need safe and reliable transportation.

MAN LEAVES JAIL, FAILS TO RETURN

Local authorities are seeking a man who did not return to the Whitman County Jail Feb. 18 after getting a release for a drug evaluation in Pullman.

Jason Bright, 39, of Moscow, was furloughed by the court with an order to return by noon.

He was in jail on a drug possession charge and a warrant from the state.

Anyone with information on the location of Bright is asked to contact the Whitman County Sheriff’s office at 509-397-6266.

LOCALLY-INSPIRED BILL DIES IN COMMITTEE

Following Pullman firefighters being fined $2,700 by Washington Department of Labor and Industry after use of a front-end loader in rescuing 22 people from flooding on Grand Avenue April 9, Rep. Joe Schmick introduced a bill that would grant the director of L&I the power to waive or modify penalties when action is taken to avoid imminent danger of loss of life or serious injury. Said bill, HB 2585, died in committee earlier this month. According to news reports, Schmick stated the bill was killed by Committee Chair Mike Sells of Everett because the City of Pullman did not appeal the fine.

The total fine was the result of L&I citing Pullman with three violations in the course of rescuing people last spring when high water runoff from the Missouri Flat Creek drainage flooded businesses in Pullman.

Each of the three fines were for the amount of $900. Citations were given for a fire department commander allowing a maintenance employee to operate a front-end loader with three firefighters in the bucket at four locations; fire department personnel in fire bunker gear and rubber boots riding unsecured in the bucket of a loader and without a personal flotation device and a helmet appropriate for water rescue, and the city not furnishing and requiring the use of appropriate safety devices and safeguards.

During the evening flash flood which lasted about five hours, fire department personnel with the loader managed to rescue 22 people, including an infant, and brought them all to safe locations.

Fire Chief Mike Heston at the time said fire crews, using the front-end loader, were able to relocate eight people to safety from the Mobile station including one with a diabetic emergency.

Schmick stated to a news agency he intends to pitch the bill again at the next legislative session.