Bulletin Column Dec. 8

Rear-end wreck on Main Street

Drivers in a rear-end collision on Main Street were unhurt early last Thursday, Dec. 1. According to the city accident report, Colin McPhee, Spokane, had stopped the 1999 Dodge pickup truck he was driving in the inside southbound lane for the traffic light at the Canyon Street intersection. The pickup was struck in the rear by a 2006 Toyota Scion driven by Wyatt Schmidt, 18, Colfax. Extensive damage was sustained to the front of the car.

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.

Colfax VOTE: 73 PERCENT FOR TRUMP

Colfax voters backed Donald Trump with more than 73 percent of the vote Nov. 8. The vote for Trump was part of a heavy return for the GOP in the four Colfax precincts. Tally for the four precincts shows 951 votes for Trump and 345 for Hillary Clinton. A breakout of precinct returns was released last Thursday by the elections office.

The heavy return here for Trump compares with the overall win, 45 percent to 41 percent, posted by Clinton in the overall count for Whitman County. Total county count was 8,146 for Clinton and 7,403 for Trump.

Colfax precinct numbers are 139, 140, 141 and 142, which generally relate to areas in town from the north to the south. When voters cast ballots at the polls in the past, 139 voted at the high school, 140 at city hall, 141 at Plymouth Congregational Church and 142 at the United Methodist Church.

Trump’s 73 percent tally here was the strongest win on the GOP side of the ballot, but Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers received 75 more total votes in Colfax. She finished with a 1,026 to 396 win over Joe Pakootas for 72 percent of the vote.

The strong GOP vote in Colfax extended to the U.S. senate race where GOP challenger Chris Vance posted a 900-511 win over incumbent Patty Murray. Murray, who posted a strong re-election win in the state, carried Whitman County with 54 percent of the vote.

Bill Bryant, the GOP challenger who actually posted a win in Whitman County in his unsuccessful bid to unseat Democrat Jay Inslee in the governor’s race, finished with a 978 to 457 win over Inslee in the four Colfax precincts. The Colfax metro parks proposal, which failed to get 60 percent of the votes with 755 yes and 620 no, came closest to passing with 57 percent in precinct 140.

COLFAX

BUDGET: $3,664,967

Colfax City Council Monday night approved a $3,664,967 budget for the 2017 year. The budget was approved after a short discussion.

At a prior council meeting, City Finance Director Chris Mathis reported to the council the budget needed cuts of approximately $110,000 to be brought into balance. She reported Monday night the final round of cuts was made with departments trimming capital expense requests. The city also used approximately $40,000 out of its reserve fund to bring the budget into balance.

One snag in the budget is a tentative entry for a two percent increase in police pay. The city is now negotiating with members of the police guild on a new contract. The guild’s present contract, which included a three percent per year cost of living increase for each of three years, expires at the end of the year. The city has made an offer of 3.5 percent for 2017 but has not had a response from the guild. When the negotiation concludes, the budget entry will have to be amended.

Police salaries in the budget are now listed at $360,161. Among capital plans which survived the budget cuts was a $40,000 listing for the fire department as part of a 10-year plan to build up a fund to purchase a new engine to replace a 1980 pumper which has failed to meet the pumping capacity required by the state insurance rating service. The truck’s below-standard pump has been noted as one of the factor’s in the city’s change of fire rating which can impact insurance rates.

In an initial discussion of possible budget cuts, Councilman Jim Kackman suggested the fire engine’s pump could be brought up to standard. Fire department officials in a subsequent session detailed the costs needed to repair the truck which was purchased used from Washington State University.

Kackman Monday said he was now in agreement with the 10-year plan to fund the purchase of a new fire engine. He also said when he first suggested the option of repairing the pump, he had a different city fire engine in mind.

The 2017 budget marks an increase of $173,716 over the 2016 budget. Mathis said the city can expect a final amendment to the 2016 budget because the city has had some revenue increases over original projections.

FIRST

BUTTERCUP DEC. 3

Discovery of a first Whitman County buttercup of spring actually happened Saturday, Dec. 3, 17 days before winter solstice. Michelle Van Dyke, a Rosalia teacher who resides outside of Malden, spotted the buttercup while on a walk outside of Malden on the north side of Pine Creek near the gravel pits.

TOY BOX EXTENSION

Registration for youngsters from around the county to receive gifts from this year’s Colfax Firemen’s Toy Box has been extended past the original Nov. 30 deadline. The volunteers plan to make their toy purchase run this week. The toy box will be open at the fire station Dec. 19, 20 and 21. Families who have received certificates will be able to select toys at the fire station.

Donations for the toy fund can be sent to Vol. Firemen Inc.’s Toy Box, Box 226, Colfax, 99111. Donations of toys and funds can also be left at the fire station. Questions: 509-553-2398

ADMIN SEARCH SUSPENDED

Mayor Todd Vanek reported at Monday night’s city council session that the search for a new city administrator will be suspended until after the first of the year. Eight applications have been reviewed by the selection committee but none of the applicants appeared to be qualified for the position which has been vacant for approximately a month.

“We need a good candidate pool,” Vanek told the council. He said the committee could re-announce the opening when the search resumes after the holiday break.

City administrator duties are temporarily being shared by the mayor, Finance Director Chris Mathis and Public Works Director Matt Hammer.

STATE

PLOW CREWS

TOTAL 13

State of Washington snow plow crews can put 13 plows in action around the county. That includes plows operating out of the shops at Hubbard, Washtucna, Oakesdale and Pullman.

The state crews converted to winter shift on Nov. 28. One crew works from 4 a.m until 12:30 p.m. and the second crew works from 2 until 10:30 p.m. During heavy storms, each shift can extend for two hours to provide 24 hours of plowing service.

THREE CITY PLOW

TRUCKS IN ACTION

Colfax public works director reported at Monday’s city council session that three Colfax plow trucks have been fitted with blades and are ready for winter action. Monday night’s first snow storm, which left approximately four inches on the ground, started around 10 p.m.

City crews Monday were already applying de-icer after temperatures dropped into the 20s in the morning.

ICE CAUSES SUNDAY

ACCIDENTS

Drivers were unhurt Sunday morning in two one-vehicle accidents on Highway 195. Jimmie Butler, Spokane, was unhurt when he lost control of a 1999 Toyota Tacoma pickup at 7:55 a.m. while driving on 195 south of the Rosalia rest stop.

He was driving southbound when the pickup slid on ice, crossed the oncoming lane, went into the ditch on the northbound side of the highway and rolled on its top just north of mile marker 57.

Alex L. Kohlii, Spokane, was unhurt when he lost control of a 2002 Toyota pickup at the south end of Cashup Flat. He was driving northbound at 6:15 a.m. when the pickup slid on ice, crossed the highway and struck the guardrail on the opposite side. The pickup then came back across the highway and came to a stop in the northbound lane.

ROTARY

AUCTION NETS $3,736

Colfax Rotary Club members generated $3,736 for Christmas causes at their annual gift exchange and auction during Thursday’s meeting. Members exchange gifts and then attempt to buy out other members’ gifts through competitive bidding.

The club plans to donate $2,241 of the proceeds to the Firemen’s Toy Box drive and $1,495 to the Giving Tree project, which provides clothing gifts for needy children.

HEROIN IN A SOCK

Skyeler Nelson, 24, Burlington, was sentenced to 20 days in jail after he pleaded guilty in superior court Friday to possession of heroin and negligent driving. He was given credit for the time he had spent in jail awaiting resolution of the case after he was arrested in Skagit County on a bench warrant.

Nelson was arrested March 6 by Palouse officer Joe Handley who noticed Nelson driving in an erratic manner. Nelson was originally arrested for driving under the influence, and a small packet of heroin was found in his sock during a search.

He was ordered Friday to pay a $1,000 drug fine plus fees and costs.

TRIAL SET IN LACROSSE CASE

Joshua Lewandowski, 36, Spokane, was scheduled for a Jan. 23 trial after he pleaded not guilty in superior court Friday to a charge of rape of a child. Lewandowski was charged with raping a four-year-old boy at LaCrosse where he had previously resided. Deputies began the investigation after being notified by the Sacred Heart emergency pediatric unit of a patient who appeared to be a sexual assault victim.

Bond for pre-trial release was set at $100,000 in a first appearance after his arrest.

CORONER INVESTIGATES STUDENT DEATH

Whitman County coroner’s office is investigating the unattended death of Nader Yaser Shihadeh, a 21-year-old WSU student from Wilmette, Ill., who was found unresponsive at his apartment in Pullman Nov. 27. Coroner Peter Martin said there were no signs of trauma at the scene. Autopsy and toxicology test results will be reviewed before the office issues a cause of death finding, he said.

SCAFFOLDING EXITS COURT ROOM

A crew from Safeway Construction was at work Monday morning removing scaffolding from the superior court room. The scaffolding had been installed to provide an elevated platform for crews who worked to remove asbestos material, lower the ceiling and install new lights in the courtroom.

Benches from the court, which were placed along the second-floor hallway of the courthouse, are expected to be moved back into the courtroom this week.

Friday’s law and motion docket has been scheduled in the remodeled courtroom.

STUFFED TOY SETS OFF ALARM

A Colfax fire crew responded at 6:38 a.m. Friday to a report of smoke in a residence on Oak Street. The smoke was determined to have been caused by a stuffed animal which had been placed on top of a chandelier. The stuffed animal started smoking when the lights were turned on in the house for the day.