Bulletin column - Dec. 3, 2009

These reports are from the previous two 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.

Second gun heist reported

Whitman County deputies early Saturday afternoon received a report of another suspected burglary involving guns. The guns were missing from a rural residence in the Winona area where the occupants were not residing.

The theft was discovered Saturday when a relative checked the residence. A sliding basement window was discovered open and could have been the point of entry.

Seven guns were taken from a bedroom location where they were stored. Also missing are ammunition and some Swisher Sweets cigars.

The Winona residence had not been checked for several days so deputies are uncertain of the actual date of the crime.

Saturday’s burglary report follows the theft of a gun safe from a rural residence in the north central part of the county. Guns, coins, bank notes, jewelry and other items were in the John Deere type safe which was removed from the residence the night of Nov. 20-21.

The owner of the safe has offered a $5,000 reward for any information leading to the apprehension of the suspects in that burglary. Any tips should be submitted to the sheriff’s office in Colfax.

Officers report marijuana arrest

A total of 10 pounds of marijuana and $32,500 in cash were found in the warrant search of a Ford F-150 pickup truck which had been driven to Albion by a drug suspect Monday night. Robert R. Richter, 27, Maple Valley, who allegedly had delivered marijuana on a regular basis for the past year or longer, was booked into the county jail early Tuesday morning after an investigation of the incident.

According to an arrest report filed in court Tuesday morning, detectives from the Quad Cities Drug Task Force were tipped off by an informant that Richter allegedly came to the area to supply marijuana. The informant allegedly told officers he made marijuana purchases from the suspect every month or every couple of months. The informant alleged Richter delivered the marijuana out of a black backpack which had compartments. The backpack was fitted with decorative skulls on the zippers.

The report filed Tuesday alleged six pounds of marijuana and the cash were found in a backpack matching the informant’s description and another four pounds were found in an orange colored pack which was also in the truck.

Richter was booked in jail on probable charges of conspiracy to deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. He was scheduled for a first appearance in court Tuesday.

Colfax budget up to bat

Colfax city budget for 2010 has been prepared and a draft posted at city hall. The budget is expected to come up for review at the city council session next Monday.

The Colfax general fund, the fund for most city operations, is now projected at $8,534 in the black with revenue of $1,200,580 and projected expenditures at $1,192,046.

Water and sewer departments are now charted to operate over $24,300 in the black for next year. The city park department has been charted to operate at $17,311 in the red, although that deficit will drop because the city council at its last session approved a one-percent hike in tax revenue for next year and the added revenue, approximately $3,500, will go to the overall park fund.

Sanity review for Eaden

A sanity review was ordered in court Monday for Donald Eaden, 53-year-old Hermiston resident who was arrested in Colfax Nov. 23 after allegedly threatening a Colfax couple. The court ordered the review to be conducted by Eastern State Hospital to determine whether Eaden is competent to undergo trial. The court also ordered the review to determine Eaden’s mental condition between Oct. 12 and Nov. 23 when he was arrested in Colfax.

Eden allegedly threatened to put one of the Colfax residents in a body bag and put the other one “six feet under.”

Prosecutor Denis Tracy has filed two charges of harassment with a threat to kill against the suspect. A bail amount of $50,000 was set for Eaden’s pre-trial release.

Mobile home burns at Pullman

A 12 X 40 mobile home was destroyed by fire Monday morning in the trailer park at 1165 S. Grand in Pullman. Fire Prevention Officer Rich Dragoo said electrical wiring was believed to have caused the fire. Smoke was spotted coming out of the 1970s era mobile home by James Young, an off-duty Pullman firefighter. Dragoo said the owner of the mobile home had just evicted a tenant and then started a load of laundry at 10:30 a.m., locked the trailer and left.

Fireworks permit issued

An official permit was issued Monday to Entertainment Fireworks for the display which will cap off today’s Colfax Christmas parade on Mill Street. The lighted parade is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and the fireworks crew will light off the display after getting a signal from parade organizers at the end of the parade.

Last year’s fireworks display lasted 14 minutes, and this year’s display could last longer. Dave Wingo from Spokane said he plans to arrive with a crew at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday to begin setting up the display. The crew will set up the launch site which is located off an access road below the city’s Big Blue water reservoir on the east hill above Mill Street.

Wingo does several displays a year, including the Pullman Fourth of July show. Last Friday, the crew launched the massive Coeur d’Alene Christmas display from two barges on the lake.

Airport road accident

A Colfax ambulance was dispatched at 8:39 a.m. Monday morning to a report of a one-vehicle accident at the intersection of the Duncan Springs and Airport Roads. The driver had to be extricated from the car after it came to a halt on its top in a wheat field. She was taken to Whitman Hospital for treatment of what was believed to be minor injuries.

Crews had to excavate around the top of the door on the upside down car to get the driver out. Cause of the accident was related to the slick road conditions. A full accident report was not available from the sheriff’s office as of press time.

Plea bargain concludes case

Amanda Wilson, 25, Kennewick, was sentenced to 60 days in jail Nov. 24 as part of a plea bargain agreement on a case which has extended for almost 18 months in superior court. Wilson, who was arrested on a warrant Oct. 8, was credited for the time she has been in jail and allowed immediate release after the Tuesday session.

The warrant was issued after she failed to appear at a scheduled pre-trial hearing last January.

Wilson and two other suspects were initially arrested in June of 2008 in relation to a reported burglary from a farm storage site in the Streevy Road area south of Dusty. She was originally charged with possession of methamphetamine and driving with a suspended license. The charge was amended to a charge of possession of under 40 grams of marijuana.

Wilson’s defense attorney had filed a motion for suppression of evidence which contended the initial search of the truck she was driving was illegal. A hearing on the suppression motion had been set for Dec. 2.

Wilson was also ordered to pay $1,450 in fines and fees.

Lewiston driver rolls Taurus

Alvina McCune, 40, Lewiston, was unhurt early Saturday in a one-car accident on Highway 195 about 8.4 miles north of Colton. According to the Washington State Patrol report, she was driving a 2001 Ford Taurus southbound at 6:40 a.m. when she lost control on the ice covered highway and went off the west side. The Taurus rolled once before coming to a halt on its wheels.