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.

‘CHECK

WASHING’ NETS 60 DAYS

Richard Lander, 21, Colfax, was sentenced to 60 days in jail Friday after pleading guilty to a charge of forgery which was related to the check washing investigation in the county. Lander was charged with forging a check which had been taken from the mail and cashing it for $3,500 at the Bank of America. He was ordered by the court to pay a total of $5,050 in fines and fees which includes restitution to the bank for the $3,500.

Lander was charged with taking a $350 check which had been mailed by Peg Motley to First Step Internet, washing the check, changing the amount and inserting his name as the recipient.

Lander’s father, Walter Lander, 43, Colfax, is also a suspect in the check washing case. He was arrested Friday on fail-to-appear warrants and booked into jail. Bail amount for Walter Lander has been set at $10,000.

COUNCIL OKAYS SKATE PARK PAINT

Colfax City Council members Monday approved spending $250 for paint which will be applied to the Colfax Skateboard Park at Schmuck Park. The Kids’ Ministry of Catalyst Church plans to paint the skate ramps which have been hit by graffiti taggers.

City council members declined to approve spending another $2,000 for an anti-graffiti coating which would have covered the paint. Councilman Al Vorderbrueggen, who is employed with the Spokane Parks department, said they have found anti-graffiti coatings don’t hold up, particularly when it takes a beating from skateboard use.

The project will also include filling cracks between concrete sections which run the length of the park and the addition of trash cans. The city plans to re-locate some trash cans to the skate park after new receptacles arrive for Main and Mill streets.

SCOTTY

ROHWER DIES AT 94

Scott E. (Scotty) Rohwer, retired Rosalia area farmer whose World War II flying career was featured in the book “Palouse Pilot” by Nona Hengen, died last Tuesday, July 9, at Rockwood South Retirement Community in Spokane where he has resided for the past nine years. A graveside service with military honors will be July 27 at the Spangle Cemetery.

Born on the Rohwer homestead in the Spangle area, he was valedictorian of the Spangle High School class of 1936.

He became an Army Air Cadet in 1942, entered active duty in August of 1943 and was assigned to the European Theater as a B-25 pilot.

He flew 67 missions in campaigns in the Balkans, Italy, Southern France and Europe.

Much of Hengen’s book was based on his letters home to his parents in Spangle.

Rohwer was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with seven Oak Leaf Clusters.

After the war, he married Sara (Bobbie) Hunter and they farmed six miles west of Rosalia.

He served for five years on the Rosalia School Board and was a former president of the Whitman County School Directors Association.

Mrs. Rohwer died in 2008. Surviving are three children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

TWIN BRIDGE REPAIR: $70,000 PLUS

Repair costs on the state bridge which links N. Main Street with Highway 26 at the north end of Colfax has been estimated at between $70,000 and $80,000, City Administrator Carl Thompson reported to the city council Monday night. The sidewalk on the west side of the bridge has been blocked off to pedestrian traffic because the support structure is sagging. At the time of the sidewalk closure, state officials said the bridge support structure itself is in safe condition.

Thompson Monday night said he had contacted Harold White, engineer at the DOT regional office in Spokane, about the chances of getting the bridge sidewalk repaired. He said White noted they were attempting to find funding.

Also discussed was traffic controls or a crosswalk which would assist pedestrians in crossing to the sidewalks on the bridge which connects N. Main with Highway 195 at the Corner Chevron.

Signs on the closed sidewalk advise pedestrians to use the sidewalk on the other bridge.

Thompson said the chief concern of state officials is a potential failure of the sidewalk support structure in the event a truck gets up onto the sidewalk. The weight of the truck could cause the sagging sidewalk support structure to fail.

LAZCANO HEARING EXTENDED

Negotiations in the Daniel Lazcano case were extended a week Friday in Whitman County Superior Court. Lazcano was released from jail after his second trial also ended in a hung jury June 10. He was ordered to appear in court June 28 for a status hearing and at that time both sides reported negotiations were underway. Judge David Frazier continued the matter to last Friday and it was extended for another week.

Lazcano at present still faces charges of first degree murder and kidnapping in the death of Marcus Schur, 23, Rosalia. The charges would have to be amended in the event the two sides reach a plea bargain agreement.

Next Friday’s hearing has been entered in the docket as a pre-trial hearing, scheduling or entry of a plea.

CARLON REVIEW

POSTPONED

A review hearing on the charge pending against Travis Carlon, Pine City, was postponed Friday morning in superior court. Carlon has been charged with rendering assistance to Frank and Daniel Lazcano when they went to his residence with the body of Marcus Schur on the night of Dec. 27, 2011. The Lazcanos both have admitted placing Schur’s body in the creek from Bonnie Lake at Hole-in-the-Ground

Carlon’s attorney, Roger Sandberg, requested a two week extension on the court date. Carlon has testified in all three of the Lazcano trials. Negotiations are now reported to be underway on resolving the charges against Daniel Lazcano after juries in two of his murder trials have failed to render a verdict. Frank Lazcano was convicted of felony murder.

REDTAIL RIDGE PROJECT

Tom and Cherril Hockett of Kennewick applied Monday for a city building permit to construct a pole building and horse shelter on Lot 12 in Redtail Ridge. Tom Hockett said the two structures will be part of a residence they have long planned to locate in the development which has so far had one residence constructed on the 36 lots on the site.

Hockett, who is a member of the Redtail association board, said they have planned to build on the ridge for approximately two years, but the plan was contingent on their selling their house during that time. They were finally able to close a sale on their house and activate plans for their retirement house here. He added other owners of ridge lots have also indicated they are advancing plans to develop their lots.

Estimated cost of the two structures on Monday’s permit are $55,000 for the pole barn and $4,275 for the horse shelter. Mike’s Pole Barn is contractor for the two structures.

DIESEL

ADDITIVE TANK

Busch CFN Cardlock Monday applied for a building permit to install a 1,000 gallon tank for storage of exhaust fluid which is used to treat exhaust emissions from diesel engines. The tank will contain a mixture of urea and demineralized water.

Cost of the tank installation was listed at $73,931. The tank will be buried in the back of the Busch service lot between the present pumping stations and the equipment building.

TREE FIRE RESPONSE

Three Colfax fire crews responded to a report of a tree fire along Prune Orchard Road at about 1:15 p.m. July 11. The tree is believed to have caught fire off embers from a field burning operation earlier in the week and became evident when winds kicked up Thursday, July 11.

Fire crews, also extinguished a fence and field fire which had apparently ignited from embers coming from the cottonwood tree.

ZIMMERMAN PLEADS GUILTY

Carla A. Zimmerman, 26, Colfax, pleaded guilty in superior court Friday morning to charges of reckless driving and taking a motor vehicle without permission. Her sentencing has been scheduled for Aug. 15.

The charges evolved from a Pullman Police response to a report of an accident last Feb. 22 on Davis Way near Olson Street. Zimmerman was reported to be driving a Honda Accord which was involved in an accident with a Subaru Outback.

The investigation report said Zimmerman at the scene appeared to be under the influence of a stimulant. She was originally charged with driving under the influence, but that charge was reduced to reckless driving.

Judge David Frazier advised Zimmerman she would be facing extensive restitution payments as part of the sentence. Prosecutor Bill Druffel said the state will ask the court to order Zimmerman to pay restitution to the family that owns the Honda and the other person involved in the accident who was injured and taken to Pullman Regional Hospital after the accident.

DUCK DASH RETURNS

Colfax Chamber of Commerce plans to sponsor a duck dash Saturday, July 27, as part of the Concrete River Festival. Fifty percent of the proceeds will go to Relay for Life.

The prize for the winner will be $500 in Chamber Bucks which can be spent at participating Chamber of Commerce businesses.

Residents can purchase duck entries at Cougar Graphics, the Chamber office, Main Street Books, Council On Aging and Palouse River Quilts.

Time and location of the launch will be announced at a later date, according to Kathy Clark, chamber secretary.

RICHARDSON SAID IN ASOTIN JAIL

Cody Richardson, who faces bench warrants on three cases pending in Whitman County, was reported to be in jail in Asotin County. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Bill Druffel told the court he has been informed that Richardson could face several additional felony charges in Asotin county.

Bench warrants were issued here for his failure to appear on designated dates for the three pending cases.

RATE HIKE

PROPOSAL

Empire Disposal of Colfax has mailed out notices of a rate increase application which has been submitted to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. The notice said the application has been made to cover increased costs of operation. The last general rate increase for the company was Nov. 1, 2010.

Proposed rate increases are in the nine percent plus range. The monthly residential rate increase for weekly collection for a standard 32-gallon garbage can would go up $1.46 from $15.44 to $16.90 under the proposal. The weekly rate in a two yard commercial container would increase $2.53 from $26.71 to $29.24.

The WUTC hearing on the proposal is slated for July 26.