Bulletin Column

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.

CHICKEN TOPIC RETURNS

The legal status of keeping chickens inside the city limits surfaced again Monday at the city council meeting.

Donna Huntwork asked the council about the chances of again placing the proposal on the agenda. She said it was her understanding that the chicken topic had been tabled while the city resolved its dog ordinance and whether or not the city received complaints from residents about chickens which are now being raised in town.

She asked how and when the city will decide it has resolved its dog problems. Mayor Todd Vanek said he felt the city’s dog problems would be ongoing.

Councilwoman Jeanette Solimine said it was her understanding that the council was waiting to see what the town’s new police chief, Rick McNannay, thought about the enforcing of such an ordinance. She noted the former chief, Bill Hickman, was adamantly opposed to adding enforcement of a chicken keeping ordinance to the department’s assigned duties.

Chamber luncheon scheduled

The next Colfax Chamber of Commerce luncheon is Tuesday, Feb. 19, at noon at the Best Western - Wheatland Inn. Mayor Todd Vanek will be the guest speaker and will talk about the state of the city.

Lunch will be provided by The Top Notch and the price is $8 per person.

Call or email the chamber office for reservations.

Cottage Gate to close

According to the Colfax Chamber of Commerce, Chris Mathis at Cottage Gate announced that the store is closing.

The store is having a 50 percent off sale until Feb. 20 with everything in the store for sale, the chamber said.

Non injury accident

Washington State Patrol reported that on Feb. 2 at 4:25 a.m. almost two miles north of Colfax on State Route 195, Satyanarayana Surapaneni of Pullman was driving a 2009 Nissan Altima southbound when the back end of his vehicle began to fish tail. He overcorrected, lost control of the vehicle and it came to rest in the southbound ditch on its driver’s side. The weather was clear and the road conditions were bare and dry. He was not injured.

High school art exhibit at library

Visit the Colfax Library today (Thursday, Feb. 7) at 7 p.m. when six area high school artists, including CHS senior Rachel Robinson, make presentations for the community. The art exhibit runs through Feb. 14.

YOUTH LEAGUE MEET

Colfax Youth League’s first coaches/parents meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 5:15 p.m. in the Public Service Building auditorium for all softball and baseball leagues.

REPORT BIEDEL FAMILY DEATHS

Friends here have been informed of the deaths of Suzette Biedel Lowe, 62, of Albuquerque , N.M., Jan. 20 and Bobette Biedel, 65, of Pasco, Nov. 21, 2012. They were daughters of the late Bob and Evelyn Wagner Biedel who were raised in Colfax. Bob Biedel was a participant in the 1988 Codger Bowl game which was billed as a 50-year rematch of the 1938 Colfax-St. John football game. Two other surviving Biedel offspring are Anthony Biedel and Jeanette Biedel Fiore, both of Pasco.

CHEM LAB FIRE INJURES WSU STUDENT

Pullman and District 12 firefighters responded to Fullmer Hall on the WSU campus at 2:22 p.m. Friday after a fire involving injuries was reported on the fifth floor. One male WSU student was transported to Pullman Regional Hospital for treatment of third degree burns on his left leg. A female student fell backward when the fire erupted, but did not appear to be hurt, according to the Pullman FD report.

Witnesses told WSU police and firefighters they had been conducting an experiment with hexane for most of the day and as the experiment progressed they doubled the chemical and amount of electricity used in the experiment. Students at the scene attempted to douse the fire with an extinguisher and close a vent hood. Students were allowed back in Fullmer in about 40 minutes.

FATHER-SON ARREST

Walter J. Lander, 42, and his son, Richard Lander, 20, were arrested early Friday morning on probable drug charges by Whitman County deputies. The two were arrested on Dry Creek Road near the turnoff from Highway 195 at about 2 a.m., according to an arrest report filed with the court.

They appeared in court Friday morning and were allowed release on their own recognizance. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Bill Druffel reported both have had several contacts with officers which include records of failure to appear for court sessions.

The deputy’s arrest report said he initially stopped the vehicle because of a faulty taillight. He alleged deputies later discovered a baggy of what appeared to be methamphetamine in the vehicle, a pipe, and a plastic container near the arrest scene. Methamphetamine, marijuana and a scale were found in the container, the report alleged.

Formal charges had not been filed as of Friday. They were allowed release by Judge David Frazier who told them any additional violations would result in a return to jail to await resolution of any charges.

BOOK FAIR AT JES NEXT WEEK

Colfax PTO will host the scholastic book fair at JES, Feb. 11 - 15 from 10 a.m. to noon. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, the fair will go from 6 to 8 p.m.

WSP collision report

On Jan. 29 at 5:35 a.m., about four miles north of Colton on State Route 195, Connie Stephens of LaCrosse was northbound in a 2012 International Washington state snow plow, removing snow from the northbound shoulder. The vehicle traveled onto a soft shoulder and was pulled into the ditch where it rolled onto its passenger side. Stephens was not injured.

Colfax police log

On Jan. 24 a little after 2 p.m., a person reported a vehicle was hit in the parking lot of Arby’s between noon and 2 p.m. The driver of the suspect vehicle failed to notify the owner of the other vehicle. The suspect vehicle is possibly an older white truck or van.

On Jan. 24 about 3:30 p.m., a male reported that he had been “black listed” from on-line purchases due to a fraud involving his credit card.

On Jan. 24 a little before 6 p.m., on the 600 block of South East Street, a person was arrested on a warrant.

On Jan. 24 a little after 7 p.m. on the 300 block of North Mill Street, a person reported that their son was refusing to leave, but was now leaving.

On Jan. 25 at 3:10 a.m., a person came to the police department claiming that another person had threatened him. The person refused to provide additional information to officers.

On Jan. 25 a little before 8 a.m., officers responded to a report of a gray car swerving and not maintaining speed. Washington State Patrol contacted the suspected vehicle.

On Jan. 25 at 10:13 a.m., a person asked to talk to an officer about another person high on methamphetamine in the area of the 900 block of South Mill Street. Officers responded and spoke to the concerned citizen.

On Jan. 25 about 3:30 p.m., police received a report that a window was broken out of a 1983 Chevrolet Blazer which was parked in the 200 block of East Thorn Street.

On Jan. 25 at a little after 4 p.m., a caller reported that kids were throwing rocks on the roof of his house. An officer contacted the grade school-aged boys involved and counseled them on their actions.

On Jan. 26 about 7:30 a.m., an abandoned rollover crash was reported in the equipment lot of Jones Truck at about 7 a.m. Officers responded to the scene and found a 2008 Dodge pickup in the lot below Green Hollow Road. The driver eventually told officers that he had lost control of his truck at about 2:30 a.m. that morning on the snow-covered road. He reported that his truck went over the embankment and rolled, coming to rest in the lot. None of the four occupants were injured. The driver is facing several charges including obstruction, perjury, leaving the scene of an accident as well as DUI.

On Jan. 26 at about 9:45 p.m., a person was cited and released for second degree driving while license suspended.

On Jan. 27, at 9:44 a.m., on the 200 block of West Walla Walla Highway, an officer responded to a report of an injured deer that had just been struck by a vehicle.

On Jan. 27 at a little after 2 p.m., a person advised a stray dog was behind the Courtyard barking and was not friendly. An officer responded.

On Jan. 27 at almost 4 p.m., a citizen reported a vehicle that had been parked on the back side of Schmuck Park for the past couple of days.

On Jan. 28 at 11 a.m., a person reported that the tenants behind her had stuck their dog out in the freezing weather and it had been “screaming.”

On Jan. 28, a little after 11 a.m., a person reported that his dog was attacked by another dog the day before.

On Jan. 28 at almost 1 p.m., a citizen advised that he would like an officer for a civil standby at his address. He needed to get his things out.

On Jan. 28 at about 3:30 p.m., a person reported that there was a dog behind the person’s house that was whining. The person did not believe that the dog was being taken care of properly.

On Jan. 28 at about 4:30 p.m., a person advised that 1009 South Mill Street is boarded up and he doesn’t think anyone should be in there. He advised when he was walking his dog, he heard voices and moving around like people were in there. An officer responded but was unable to locate anyone.

On Jan. 28 at about 5 p.m., an officer responded to a report of a traffic offense at 126 South Main Street and East Canyon Street.

On Jan. 28 at 6:45 p.m., officers witnessed a vehicle slide off of the roadway into the eastbound ditch of Canyon Street near Hauser. The vehicle was able to get out under its own power. There was minor damage to the vehicle.

On Jan. 29 at almost 10 a.m., a woman told police that she took her computer to a Main Street business to get it fixed and when she went to pick it up, the business was completely closed, empty and they had disconnected their phones.

On Jan. 29 at 1:43 p.m., a citizen reported that there was a Toyota Prius in the alley on the 200 block of South Main Street and it was blocking. An officer responded and attempted to contact the registered owner.

On Jan. 29 at a little after 2 p.m., a citizen reported that a neighbor’s dog is allowed to use Hamilton Park and the neighbor does not clean up after the dog as required. The dog‘s owner was contacted and warned.

On Jan. 29 at 3:34 p.m., a citizen reported an ongoing issue with a barking dog in the 1000 block of South Mill Street.

Jan. 30, a little after 4 p.m., an officer received a report of two pitbulls loose on Summit Road. Officer was unable to locate the dogs.

Jan. 31 at 10:22 a.m., officers responded to a report of a dog barking for five days.

Jan. 31 at 10:46 a.m., another report on two pitbulls out. Officer contacted the owner of the dogs.

Jan. 31 a little after noon, a resident came to the police department and reported theft of items from a mailbox on Oak Street.