Bulletin Column: March 12, 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.

DRIVER FALLS ASLEEP IN COLLISION ON MAIN STREET

Colfax Police Officer Perry Tate responded to an accident on Main Street at 6:45 a.m. Monday, in which a Ford quad cab pickup crashed into a parked, unoccupied Jeep Cherokee near the intersection of Stevens Street – by Purpose Roasters.

The driver of the pickup fell asleep at the wheel.

Kadin Rathburn, 18, of Yakima, was going northbound in the 1994 Ford when he crashed into the 1988 Jeep, pushing it 15 feet crushing it against a tree.

“The cars had to be separated by a tow truck,” said Tate.

Rathburn was cited for negligent driving, second degree, and issued a $550 ticket.

He was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.

“A barely noticeable cut on his nose,” Tate said.

The accident was first called in by a witness in a vehicle going in the opposite direction.

The Jeep is owned by Bramon Yotty of Washtucna.

ALBION ALLEGED THIEF RELEASED

Zacharia Erik Eagen, 23, of Albion, was released upon personal recognizance Monday with conditions.

Eagen was arrested last Saturday for alleged theft in the second degree, for stealing a wallet and keys from Sarah Smith of Albion. Eagen had accused Smith of taking a letter from him, and subsequently took the wallet and keys as a form of ransom.

Officers located Eagen at his residence and asked if he had Smith’s wallet and keys. He pointed to a nearby tree, hanging up in it was a small box that contained the wallet, keys, credit cards and Smith’s identification. Smith claimed that $35 was also in the wallet when it was taken.

Eagan was transported and booked into Whitman County Jail.

The court will review Eagen’s file March 11 at 3 p.m. for possible charges. It is not a hearing. If no charges are filed by that time, his release conditions will be exonerated.

Conditions for the release included: he shall not change his address without informing his attorney, the court and the prosecuting attorney in writing; he shall not leave the State of Washington or Northern Idaho (Nez Perce County and north thereof) without written court approval; he shall not have contact with Sarah Smith.

ROLLOVER ACCIDENT NEAR UNIONTOWN

In foggy weather early Sunday morning at 1:40 a.m., on icy roads three miles south of Uniontown, Joshua R. Wickett of Lewiston was driving a 2002 Subaru Legacy and got in a single vehicle accident. Driving north on Highway 195, Wickett lost control on ice while he rounded a curve to the right. The vehicle left the roadway and went up an embankment and rolled.

The car came to a rest on its wheels in the northbound ditch. Wickett was injured and transported by ambulance from the scene. He was wearing a seatbelt.

CORONER REPORTS ON DEATH

The Whitman County coroner reported Monday on the death of Hussein Mutapha Zbib, 61 of Pullman.

Coroner Annie Pillers determined he died on Feb. 10 at his residence. The cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging by ligature. The manner of death was suicide.

PULLMAN MAN FIRING RIFLE ARRESTED

Pullman Police arrested a man last Friday, March 6, for allegedly firing a rifle in the city.

At around 4 a.m. officers responded to a report of gunfire heard at an apartment complex on College Hill. The building manager told police that a man on the premises had allegedly admitted he fired a rifle.

Officers later arrested Bryce Morrell, 25 - at his home in a different area of Pullman - for misdemeanor unlawful discharge of a firearm and reckless endangerment. Officers confiscated a rifle.

No determination was made as to what Morrell allegedly shot at the apartment complex.

PULLMAN CHAMBER SPAM CALLS

The Pullman Chamber of Commerce has announced that a company called Hometown Productions has been calling businesses in the Pullman and Moscow areas about a map that is endorsed by the Pullman Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber has stated they are not working with this company and do not officially endorse the map.

The announcement said that the chamber does work with Marketing Solutions NW, the company that prints and distributes the Pullman/WSU map.

The Pullman Chamber of Commerce will send out a notification to members before making any sales calls, which usually happens in September.

NEW U-HAUL LOCATION IN PULLMAN

C&S Mini Storage at 520 NW Park Street in Pullman is the new location to pick up a U-Haul. The previous U-Haul dealer in Pullman was at the former Ace Hardware that closed in late 2018.

C&S Mini Storage will offer U-Haul trucks, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pick-up for boxes. The hours for C&S Mini Storage and U-Haul will be Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

COLFAX SCHOOL BOARD MEETING THURSDAY

The regular Monday Colfax School board meeting this week was moved to tonight, to be held at the new Colfax Junior-Senior High School Community Room. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. with a work session, presented by junior-senior high school students. The regular board meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

37th GUY-ALBION PIE SOCIAL SET FOR MARCH 28

The Guy-Albion Historical Society has set its 37th annual Pie Social for Saturday, March 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the Albion Community Building. Its museum rooms will be open with a new display to mark the 40th anniversary of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens. In July, the Guy-Albion Historical Society will also note the 40th year since its founding.

GARFIELD WOMAN RELEASED ON BOND

Michelle Elizabeth Loup, 48, of Garfield, was released Monday from Whitman County Jail, posting $2,500 in bail in surety bond.

Loup was arrested last Friday and held without bail for harassment and threat to kill, stemming from an incident at Bishop Place Senior Living in Pullman.

Conditions of her release were to not change her address without notifying her attorney, the court and the prosecuting attorney; Loup shall not possess firearms or other deadly weapons or leave the state of Washington or Northern Idaho (Nez Perce County and north thereof) without written court approval. She is also to have no contact with or go on the premises of Bishop Place Senior Living in Pullman and have no contact with Christine Hallet or Laurie Brown.

The court is scheduled to review the charges on March 11 at 3 p.m. This is not a hearing. If charges are not filed by this time, release conditions will be exonerated.

Officers were called to Bishop Place March 6 after Loup was fired for allegedly making statements to “slice people up” if the building was quarantined because of the coronavirus.

Just before she was fired by her supervisor for the alleged statements, she threatened to “shoot up the place” if she was fired.

LOWER SNAKE RIVER LOCK CLOSURE

Beginning March 7, the annual closure of the locks on the Lower Snake River started. The locks at the four Lower Snake River Dams and the locks on the Lower Columbia River closed on March 7. These navigational systems won’t be completely reopened until April 5.

This closure will allow crews to conduct annual inspections, preventative maintenance and repairs.

All Columbia River and two Snake River navigation locks will return to service March 22. Little Goose and Lower Granite is scheduled to return to service on March 29. Ice Harbor lock is scheduled to reopen April 5.

The additional days at Little Goose, Lower Granite and Ice Harbor allow more time for non-routine work, such as gate structural repairs, concrete repairs and equipment/machinery repair or replacement.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District may temporarily suspend public vehicle crossings at Lower Monumental, Little Goose and/or Lower Granite due to work activity. Crossings are subject to closure at any time, however, the Corps will notify the public in advance of these closures, if possible. Travelers in Washington state are strongly encouraged to call 888-DAM-INFO for dam crossing information before travel.

PREPARE FOR THE CENSUS

From March 12 to March 20 every household will receive, by mail, a notice of the census. The mail notices will have information on how to respond online, by phone or by mail.

If a response hasn’t been received by March 24, another reminder postcard will go out on March 26 and a final reminder will be sent at the end of April, according to the United States Census Bureau.

Census data is used to make decisions about education, healthcare, infrastructure and political representation.

“A thorough and correct census, as required by our Constitution, is essential,” said Bobbie Ryder, president of The League of Women Voters of Pullman, in an email to the Gazette.

The League of Women Voters encourages important local needs for this upcoming census. The first is for households to respond to the notice sent in the mail. The second is to consider helping and being a census worker this year.

“Whitman County has a critical shortage of census workers,” Ryder said. “The work is short-term and well paid. Please consider applying as community service as well as an income opportunity.”To apply to be a census worker visit 2020census.gov/jobs or call 1-855-JOB-2020.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization that encourages voters to be active participants in our nation’s democracy.

QUAIL ALERT IN ALBION

A mama quail with a handful of babies were sighted all last week in Albion. The quails have been spotted crossing the road in the afternoons on Pullman-Albion Road, right before reaching the houses in town if driving from Pullman to Albion. The quails appear to live in the brush on the side of the road.

Quails are short distance flyers, but will only fly if necessary. They prefer to walk and run. Cars should drive slow and be aware of crossing quails in the area, as mama and babies prefer to run across the road instead of flying.

FUNDING TO FIGHT CORONAVIRUS

On March 5, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers met with Vice President Mike Pence and other members of the Washington Congressional Delegation in western Washington to receive an update regarding COVID-19 response efforts in the state.

McMorris Rodgers recently voted in support of supplemental appropriations funding to respond to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States.

In a press release, McMorris Rodgers said that she would encourage everyone to do their part and be extra diligent about washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home if you feel sick.

“This isn’t just about you, it’s about the people who you could come into contact with who may be at higher risk for severe illness,” McMorris Rodgers said in the press release. “Locally, I will be continuing to monitor the situation and will remain in contact with local health officials to ensure they have what they need to keep our communities safe.”

On March 4, it was announced that Washington would receive $1,750,000, for being one of the states who have borne the largest response and preparedness activities to date. This award would be used for the monitoring of travelers, data management, lab equipment, supplies, staffing, shipping, infection control and surge staffing.

Washington is also being awarded an additional $1,000,000 for state and local jurisdictions to begin implementation of coronavirus surveillance across the U.S., building on existing influenza activities and other surveillance systems.

For more information regarding the coronavirus visit cdc.gov/covid19.