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.

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SPOKANE MC

RIDERS HURT

A Spokane motorcycle rider was injured Sunday morning after he lost control of the cycle he was riding on the Endicott-St. John Road. The rider, Tom Barber, 51, was riding northbound at about 10:49 a.m. and drifted onto the shoulder of the road at a curve. Several riders on the Ride for the Cure event out of Colfax stopped at the scene. Barber, who was participating in the ride, was evacuated by a Medstar helicopter to Spokane for treatment of possible shoulder and back injuries.

–Chris Lunstrum, Spokane, sustained cuts and abrasions in a motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon on Highway 26 11 miles west of Colfax. According to the Washington State Patrol report, he was riding a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle westbound at 4:40 p.m. and lost control after passing another westbound vehicle.

Lunstrum was ejected from the motorcycle as it crashed in the westbound lane. Both he and the cycle came to a stop in the westbound ditch.

Colfax ambulance and rescue crews responded to the scene, and Lunstrum was transported to Whitman Hospital and Medical Center.

MITZEMBERG

PROPOSES AT SHOCK GAME

Craig Mitzemberg proposed to Laura De Young of Colfax Satrudaay night with 4,000 Spokane Shock fans as witnesses. At the end of the first quarter, the Spokane Arena jumbotron video projected the couple on the screen at their seats in section 115. Mitzemberg made his proposal, and Laura said yes.

Both Craig and Laura are avid Shock fans.

FRAT FALL SUIT STARTS

Jury selection began Monday for the civil suit filed by Megan L. Mitchell against two fraternities and others after she was injured in a fall on the WSU campus in 2008. The suit was filed in August of 2011 by Wenatchee attorney Thomas O’Connell. Pre-trial filings on responses and motions have resulted in a multi-folder stack of legal records in the court clerk’s office.

Mitchell seeks damages allegedly sustained when she fell onto a concrete surface after she went through an upper level exit door and stepped through an open hole.

Among defendants in the suit were Theta Xi fraternity which was hosting the party, and Phi Kappa Sigma, said to be owners of the building.

According to the complaint, Mitchell, an Eastmont High School graduate, went to the party with sorority friends after attending a Sept. 28, 2008, WSU football game. The suit alleges she attempted to leave the party through a door which had a green exit sign above it.

DOGS SAID

ABANDONED

Colfax city officials are attempting to find homes for two dogs which were abandoned by tenants of a house on Oak Street. A neighbor to the residence reported the two dogs had been left on chains by the previous occupants of the house.

Chief Rick McNannay said city officers went to the residence and provided the dogs with food and water. He said the dogs were taken into custody last Wednesday when it became obvious the residents were not going to return to get the animals. The two dogs have been declared abandoned and are available for adoption.

One of the dogs is a large, male black Lab mix, and the other dog is a smaller female, black Lab mix. Both dogs are described as very friendly.

A third dog and a cat were also abandoned at the residence. The neighbor took custody of the third dog, and the police are taking care of the cat which remains at the residence. The gray cat is also offered for adoption.

HONDA HITS END OF GUARDRAIL

Yul K. Joo, Pullman, was unhurt early Friday morning when the 2004 Honda Pilot he was driving struck the end of a guardrail on Highway 27. According to the Washingon State Patrol report, Joo was driving eastbound at 5:30 a.m. when the Honda drifted off the roadway into the ditch. He attempted to get the Pilot out of the ditch and struck the end of a guardrail about 31 miles east of Colfax.

TROY MAN

JAILED HERE

Shane G. Groff, 35, Troy, Idaho, was booked into the county jail Saturday after waiving extradition from Idaho. A warrant with a $25,000 bail was issued for Groff’s arrest after he failed to appear in court on a charge of taking a motor vehicle without permission.

The arrest report alleges Groff last September took keys and the car from a Pullman resident. She reported the car missing, and Pullman officers, after being advised Groff planned to return the car, found it at Hall and McKenzie streets near the owner’s residence.

COMMUNITY

GARDEN PLAN

A community garden could be added to the Colfax scene in the next two weeks as part of a plan being developed by Backyard Harvest and Peace Lutheran Church. Pastor Phil Misner said the plan has been developed as part of a church effort to develop a garden and part of an area plan of Backyard Harvest to locate up to 10 community gardens in the area.

Church members have decided to use up to $1,800 from a larger gift to undertake the project. Misner said the plan for this year will call for Backyard Harvest to install the garden and church members to tend it. Produce from the garden will be distributed to public agencies by Backyard Harvest.

After the first year, some of the spaces in the garden will be available to residents in search of garden plots. Church members could also tend part of the garden and the produce would be given to the community food bank.

The garden will be located along West Street in the middle of the block. Misner said the garden plan calls for raised garden sites which will be located on the gravel surface of the lot.

PULLMAN

VANDALISM TIP REWARD

Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson June 6 offered a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for vandalism at a park restroom building on Spring Street in the Reaney Park area of Pullman near the skateboard park. Pullman Parks Superintendent Alan Davis has estimated damage to the building in the range of $2,600.

The restroom was believed to have been vandalized the night of June 5. The door was damaged, partitions were knocked down, and the wall painted. The report said it appeared an attempt had been made to start a fire in the building.

WINONA CHASE SAID 90-PLUS

Justin Taylor, 40, Endicott, was arrested June 4 west of Winona near the Adams County line after deputies pursued him in a chase on the Endicott Road which reached speeds up to 90 miles per hour, according to a report from Sheriff Brett Myers. The report said deputies observed Taylor driving westbound in a 1987 Chevy truck about 5 p.m. Tuesday. Deputies suspected Taylor was driving with a suspended license.

The report said Taylor made no attempts to stop the truck and the chase followed for approximately 10 minutes.

In his arrest report, Deputy Bryce Nebe said he started the pursuit after recognizing Taylor’s blue pickup truck and confirming his suspended license status with Whitcom. Nebe reported he turned his patrol vehicle around, and Taylor continued westbound at a high speed. Nebe said he drove in excess of 100 mph in an attempt to close the distance with the truck.

The chase went through Winona which is posted for 35 mph, and then continued through an area with some sharp curves. Nebe said Taylor finally slowed to turn left into a driveway when the pickup truck spun around. The deputy said he then pursued Taylor on foot to the back of the residence, and ordered Taylor at gun point to get down on the ground. Taylor complied.

Bail on the suspect was set at $10,000 in a first appearance in court June 5. The state asked for the high bail after alleging Taylor had failed-to-appear status or warrants outstanding on no less than 13 prior cases.