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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TREES SET FOR SIDEWALK JOB

A proposal to add seven trees to the sidewalk project now being constructed along Third and Clay streets on the north end of Colfax was approved by the city council Monday night.

Mike Damery and Eric Heise, who operate businesses in the area, proposed planting seven maple trees along the sidewalk. The trees will go in a buffer strip between the street curb and the new sidewalk.

The city council vote Monday night authorized the city administrator and mayor to approve the proposal.

Damery said the trees will probably be Red Point Maples. He and Heise offered to plant the trees if the city would purchase them.

Total cost to the city, including river rock and freight, was estimated at $1,214.

Treasurer Mark Clinton said the city could have funds left on the public works account for trees, or the cost might be absorbed in the current street project which is being funded mostly by state Transportation Improvement Board funds.

Damery said one technique used to reduce the possibility of eventual tree root damage to streets is to install a water system which goes to the low roots on each tree.

The trees will be along the north side of Third Street which crosses the railroad tracks behind the high school.

Third Street was blocked off Monday after paving was installed on the street and an expansion of the project. Damery and Heise credited the contractor, M.L. Albright & Sons, with moving the job along as cold weather approaches.

ASSENBERG RETURNS

Michael Assenberg again alleged Colfax City Police are discriminating against him through enforcement of parking violations along South Mill. Assenberg at Monday night’s council session said he observed a parking infraction along the street and notified city police. When an officer responded to the scene, Assenberg informed him he had been ticketed for a like infraction, but observed the officer wrote up the violating vehicle with a warning ticket.

Assenberg also said the S. Mill area lacks parking facilities for handicapped residents.

At the Oct. 7 city council session, Assenberg contended officers singled him out for a parking ticket because of animosity stemming from the marijuana charges which were brought against him and eventually dropped. For the subsequent city council session Chief Rick McNannay prepared a listing of all traffic tickets administered in the area. Assenberg had been expected to attend the Oct. 14 session but did not appear.

He indicated Monday night that he didn’t plan to bring any more complaints before the city council but was considering legal action.

ROBBERY SUSPECTS ARRESTED

Two suspects in an alleged armed robbery in Pullman late Monday morning were booked into the county jail at 4:11 a.m. Tuesday by Pullman police. Arrested were Daraaraa A. Waqo, 22, Seattle, and a 17-year-old juvenile, also from Seattle.

They were arrested at Walmart where they were allegedly attempting to use credit cards taken from the residence to buy gift cards.

Waqo was booked into jail on probable charges of first degree robbery, first degree burglary, possession of stolen property and malicious mischief.

The Pullman police report said officers responded to a report of a burglary in progress on the 800 block NE Michigan. The report came from a man who said he had received an email from a friend at the residence.

When officers arrived at the scene the occupant told them the intruders had already departed. She reported she had been using a computer when she heard a crashing noise downstairs and discovered the two males in the house. One of them threatened her with a gun. She described how the suspects went through the residence looking for items. At one point each was observed wearing items of clothing from the house.

During the time they were going through the house she was able to instant message a report to friends who related the report to police. A wallet with credit cards, laptop computer and cell phone were taken.

The suspects had departed the residence by the time police arrived. They found the side door to the residence had been kicked in and tracks had been left in the snow. While checking on the status of credit cards in the wallet police learned the card had already been used at four Pullman businesses. They later learned the cards had been in use at Walmart in an attempt to purchase gift cards.

One suspect was found in Walmart and a second was apprehended after attempting to run.

FIRST SNOW

TAKES TOLL

Winter’s first snow hit Sunday with a burst which moved across the county. Snow remained in the higher areas Monday morning and sub-freezing temperatures made driving conditions hazardous.

Washington State Patrol troopers responded to several accident reports Sunday and Monday. Over the two days they investigated three injury accidents. Two other accidents involved reportable damage and seven involved non-reportable damage. They were unable to locate three of the accidents which had been reported.

Colfax ambulance crews early Monday morning transported patients from two accidents on Highway 26 to Whitman Hospital. One of the accidents was at 6:44 a.m. at Dusty and the second was reported at 6:50 a.m. at mile 125 near the twin bridges.

Injured at the twin bridges accident was Andrew O’Neill, Palouse, who sustained broken ribs and cuts when he lost control of a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer while crossing the bridge. He was driving westbound at 6:50 a.m. and lost control of the Blazer which went off the south side of the highway after crossing the bridge and rolled on its top.

Malika R. Brownlee, Olympia, sustained minor cuts and bumps and bruises near Dusty at 6:44 a.m. She lost control of a 1999 Ford pickup truck while driving westbound. The pickup went off the south side of the highway and came to a stop on its wheels.

The ambulance crew which had been dispatched to the wreck at Dusty made a stop at the twin bridge’s wreck and picked up O’Neill on the way into Colfax.

Victoria S. Reardon, Walla Walla, sustained bruises when she lost control of a 2004 Toyota pickup driving in snowy conditions at 2:30 p.m. Sunday 1.6 miles north of Colfax on Highway 195. According to the WSP report, she was driving the pickup northbound and it slid into the northbound ditch and rolled.

Kathryn E. Driscoll, Troy, Idaho, was unhurt Sunday, when she lost control of a 2013 Toyota Highlander 24.2 miles north of Colfax on Highway 195. According to the WSP report, she was driving northbound at 7:09 p.m. when the Highlander drifted onto the shoulder of the road and she over-corrected. The Toyota crossed the highway and struck the guardrail on the opposite side.

Daniel Barber, Spokane, lost control of a 2000 Chevrolet Impala on Highway 195 2.7 miles north of Colton at 10:30 p.m. Sunday. He was driving southbound when the Chevrolet crossed the road and went into the ditch on the opposite side of the highway.

Commuters in the Colton area reported approximately two inches of snow fell in their area and driving conditions were very slick Monday morning.

MAIN STREET WRECK

Drivers of two vehicles involved in a collision on S. Main were unhurt Tuesday morning. According to Colfax Officer Chris Olin, a 2002 Toyota Celica driven northbound by Benjamin Demler, 24, Endicott, slid out of control in snowy conditions at the Highway 195 curve entering Main Street. The Toyota slid across the highway and collided with a 2007 Chevrolet pickup driven by Robert Clutter, 45, Mead. Clutter was driving southbound to work on the construction project at Whitman Hospital & Medical Center.

ALLEGE POLICE STRUGGLE

Kade Casper-Nixon, 19, Moscow, was booked into jail early Saturday morning after he was arrested in Pullman on probable charges of third-degree theft, assault and obstructing an officer.

According to the Pullman Police report, officers responded to a report of a theft from Shopko on S. Grand. The report said Casper-Nixon was confronted by the store’s loss prevention officer and the suspect threw the Polaroid internet tablet at the officer. The suspect was later spotted near McDonalds on South Grand and allegedly put up a struggle when the officer attempted to take him into custody.

CHICKEN TOPIC RETURNS

A meeting of the Colfax Planning Commission has been slated for Nov. 14 at city hall. The commission has been called to again consider action, if any, on proposed changes in the animal ordinance and to begin a process of updating the town’s comprehensive plan.

The panel has been asked to come up with a recommendation on changing the animal ordinance to allow raising chickens and other animals in town. They had examined a process which would require a variance to the present code which would be granted by the police department, but that was stalled at their last session when former mayor Norma Becker, who is now a member of the commission, noted variances have to be done by the Board of Adjustment.

HIT & RUN

SUSPECT JAILED

Wade R. Elwood, 40, Orofino, was booked into the county jail Friday on probable charges of hit and run and driving under the influence. According to the arrest report, Elwood was arrested in Clarkston after Clarkston Police and Asotin County deputies responded to a report of an alleged hit and run at the intersection on the north side of the Red Wolf Bridge in Whitman County Oct. 31.

The investigation report said the driver of a Hyundai sedan called police to report the back of her car was struck by a blue Dodge Dakota pickup truck while stopped in traffic on the north side of the bridge. She reported she was following the pickup truck across the bridge where officers stopped both drivers. The Hyundai sustained extensive damage to its bumper and trunk area.

The victim told officers several cars had passed Elwood while he was driving below the speed limit on Highway 128. She said he appeared to be following her after she passed him.

Elwood reportedly told officers he was unable to stop in time to avoid hitting the Hyundai. He was booked into jail here Friday and slated for a first appearance in court Monday.

SPOOKS AGAIN HIT THORN

Colfax trick-or-treaters on Halloween night followed their Thorn Street hill migration trend of the last several years. Residents on the hill reported more than 400 youngsters were along the street to collect Halloween goodies.

Residents in other parts of town, including some just blocks away from Thorn, reported few spook callers.

The Thorn Street route is believed to be popular because it offers a downhill route with houses packed closely together. Officer Perry Tate was on the scene and distributed glow sticks to the youngsters.