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.

CITY

RE-SUBMITS SEWER LOSS CLAIM

Colfax has re-submitted a claim to its insurance agent for losses sustained when a sewer system spill hit the Earl Leland residence in the 800 block of Meadow Street. Leland appeared at the May 6 city council session and requested a review of the city’s coverage after an initial claim for damages was rejected by the city’s insurer, Canfield & Associates.

City council members May 20 received a written report from Matt Hammer who said the city crew believes the spill into the Leland house was caused by blockage of a main near the residence. Hammer and Public Works Director Andy Rogers last night gave an extended report on the sewer line failure.

Hammer said the sewer main separated just uphill from a manhole on Meadow. They suspect sewage leaked out of the main and eventually leaked back along the line and worked its way up to Leland’s yard and leaked into his basement through a crawl space.

Rogers said a stick jammed in the line and rags backed up behind the stick to block the flow. He said they suspect the pressure buildup separated the clay sewer line to cause the leak. Hammer said he was able to use a shovel to close the gap in the main.

Mayor Todd Vanek reported since Leland’s appearance the city received an offer from its insurer to cover half of the claim. He said a revised claim has been sent to Canfield after the city received it. The amount of the claim is now $10,071.

SWIM POOL OPENS TODAY

Colfax swim pool will open today (Thursday) at 1 p.m. with free swimming for the first day. The pool opening is again slated to start after the school year ends Thursday morning and summer vacation starts.

Pool Manager Connie Ellis reported the water in the pool at present has remained cold because a boiler in the heating system needs to be repaired.

Season pass swim rates have been increased this year to $50 for an individual and $105 for a family of four. The individual rate was increased by $2 and the family rate by $5 for the season.

The daily swim rate has been set at $3 which has been reduced by 50 cents from last year.

GUARDRAILS HIT ON 27

Nathan A. Neale, Pullman, was unhurt early Tuesday morning when he lost control of a 2002 BMW 745 three miles south of Palouse on Highway 27. According to the Washington State Patrol report, Neale was driving southbound at 1:05 a.m. when the car went off the highway to the right, struck the guardrail, went back across the highway and struck the guardrail on the opposite side.

LINER SET FOR TODDLERS POOL

Insertion of a pipe liner in the drain line of the Colfax toddlers pool has been scheduled by the Colfax Public Works Department. Public Works Director Andy Rogers said they have contacted Mr. Rooter of Spokane to insert the liner in the line.

The three-inch drain line from the toddlers’ pool is suspected of being one of the major causes of water loss at the swim pool. Rogers said two large holes were discovered in the line which links the circulation system of the toddlers pool to the overall circulation system at the pool. Water drains off the top gutters of the pools and circulates back through the treatment system. Water circulation off the top of the toddlers pool dropped down to the three-inch drain line where it leaked out of the system through the two holes in the bottom of the line.

The toddlers pool was closed two years ago when the city crew suspected it to be the major cause of water loss. Last summer the city operated the toddlers pool but the loss of water and treatment chemicals in the water increased overall operating costs.

Rogers said the Mr. Rooter crew plans to insert a plastic liner sleeve in the drain line and then inflate the liner which will harden and act as a sleeve in the defective drain pipe.

Pool Manager Connie Ellis reported to the city council Monday night that the pool has been filled. She said the pool has been sustaining water loss which is normal for the first few days of the season until the area around the pool becomes saturated. The toddlers pool will be off line until the liner project is completed next week.

HYDE OUT REHAB BEGINS

The Hyde Out in Colfax will be closed for two weeks while the new owners, Dale and Elizabeth Mann, prepare to begin their new operation.

The Manns said they plan some menu revisions and other changes to the operation. One of the plans calls for a weekly steak night.

The Manns purchased the Hyde Out from Brad Persons who did business as KNB’s Hyde Out, Inc. They previously worked for Dave Peterson at Boyer Marina where they resided. They plan to reside in Colfax.

Target date for opening will be June 15. They plan to have a grand opening celebration during the Concrete River Festival two weeks later.

CROSSING FLAGS STREWN

Four of the crosswalk crossing flags were removed from their Main Street receptacles and strewn along Main Street. One of the flags was jammed in the handle of a garbage container and another was stuck in a flower box of a main street business. Two others were thrown along the street.

Since they were posted by the Colfax Public Works department, the bright flags have gained popularity for pedestrians who use the flags to alert motorists when they are in the crosswalks.

INJURED

STUDENT AIR-LIFTED TO SPOKANE

Jamie Ohl, 21, Richland, sustained possible internal, back and head injuries early last Thursday morning in a one-car accident on Highway 26 about 16 miles west of Colfax. She was driving a 2002 Ford Escape eastbound at 7:13 a.m. when it went off the highway to the right, and she over-corrected. The car went back across the roadway and rolled several times before it came to a halt on its top.

Extrication by a crew took approximately 30 minutes, and she was taken from the scene by helicopter to Providence Sacred Heart in Spokane. Ohl is a student at Washington State University.

The local detachment has been advised that she is responding to treatment at the hospital.

GET YO’ BAG

A Thrifty Grandmothers fashion show has been slated for next Saturday, June 8, at 10 a.m. in the shop. Ten to 15 volunteer models, including children, will participate in the show which will feature some of the clothing in the shop. Also featured will be the first ever Thrifty Grandmothers Music promotional video, “Get Yo’ Bag.”

All shop proceeds from the day will go to support the kids carnival part of the Concrete River Festival in July. The show is being organized by Diana Frey and Suzy Krahn.

RANDY PERKINS RETIRES

Former Colfax bus driver and supervisor Randy Perkins will retire this year after concluding his career for the Garfield/Palouse School District. Perkins has been with Gar/Pal for the last eight years after retiring at Colfax. He has compiled a total of 27 years of service between the two districts.

Colfax EMPHASIS PATROL

Patrol cars from four different agencies were in action May 28 in downtown Colfax as part of a state emphasis patrol on seatbelt use. Officers from Colfax, Pullman, WSU and the sheriff’s office participated in the five-hour emphasis patrol.

Colfax Chief Rick McNannay said joint emphasis patrols are conducted at different locations around the country. The next one was scheduled for May 31 in Pullman. The patrols are funded by the state traffic commission which reimburses the local agencies for manpower time.

WHITCOM GUILD THEFT CHARGES

Emily M. Kirk, 31, Pullman, has been summoned to appear in superior court June 21 after charges of forgery, theft and money laundering were filed against her Friday in Whitman County Superior Court. The charges were filed by Scott Marlow, assistant state attorney general at Seattle. They followed an investigation into reports of funds missing from the Whitcom Employee Guild bank account at the Washington State Employees Credit Union in Pullman.

The investigation report filed with the charges said Kirk was treasurer of the Whitcom Guild at the time the funds were discovered to be missing. She has since been dismissed from that position.

According to the report, Walter Brinken, who has served as guild president since 2009, noticed funds missing in guild accounts last August and directed WSECU two days later, Aug. 10, 2012, to revoke Kirk’s access to the account. Under guild rules only the president and treasurer had access to the account.

The investigation report alleges 10 unauthorized checks were drawn on the account with Brinken’s name forged on the checks. It also alleges other withdrawals were made from the account for a total of $13,901 in missing funds.

COLLIDES WITH 195 GUARDRAIL

Huin Che, Moscow, was unhurt May 27 when she lost control of a 2002 Honda Civic and slid into the guardrail along Highway 195 north of Steptoe. According to the Washington State Patrol report, she was driving southbound at 3:30 p.m. when the Honda drifted onto the southbound shoulder of the highway. She lost control of the car which slid across the highway and hit the guardrail head-on a half mile north of mile marker 56.