Briefs: Feb. 8, 2018

ARREST NETS POUND PLUS OF MARIJUANA

A 19-year-old Spokane woman was arrested on a probable charge of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver after more than a pound of marijuana was found in the vehicle she was driving on Highway 195 near the Rosalia rest stop late Saturday. The suspect was identified as Jacey Hirschberger, 19, of Spokane.

According to the report from Sheriff Brett Myers, the vehicle she was driving northbound was stopped because of a faulty headlight. After the truck was stopped it was evident marijuana had been smoked in the car. The driver consented to a search and more than 750 grams of packaged marijuana and marijuana oils were allegedly found in the car.

The report said Hirschberger admitted the marijuana belonged to her and that she sells it to friends. The report said the group was driving back to Spokane after attending a concert in Pullman.

A juvenile male passenger in the car was also arrested on probable charges of possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. Three other juveniles were in the car and the parents were contacted.

Colfax UTILITY BILL HIKES

Colfax utility bills for January were mailed out last week with rate hikes included for 2018. Basic rate for sewer service was increased 99 cents to $29.19, and basic water rate was bumped 92 cents to $27.29. With storm water fees and tax, the minimum bill is $62.16.

Fees for additional use over minimum were bumped three cents for each additional cubic foot of water and eight cents for each additional 100 cubic feet for sewer.

The rate hikes were included in the 2018 budget bill.

JANUARY PRECIP JUST TOPS NORM

January precipitation as measured at the Colfax NRCS gauge totaled 2.55 inches which is just more than the 2.48 average for the month. The station Feb. 1 had a half inch total from rainfall which fell overnight, and that will lead off the chart for February.

Top rainfall day last month was .78 of an inch recorded Jan. 12. That capped a five-day run of precipitation which totaled 1.54 inches.

Other big days for the month were .25 Jan. 19 and .24 Jan. 24.

N. RHUBY SENTENCED TO 8 MONTHS

Nicholas Rhuby, 24, Steptoe, was sentenced to eight months in jail Friday morning in superior court after he pleaded guilty to amended charges. Judge Gary Libey ordered the sentence, the maximum Rhuby could receive under the state’s standard range, after noting Rhuby’s prior appearances in court on other charges.

Rhuby pleaded guilty to charges of taking a motor vehicle without permission, theft in the second degree and forgery.

They resulted from Rhuby’s taking a pickup truck from his grandparents’ residence on Imler Road in mid December and using it to drive to Spokane. Checks were also taken from the residence, and the forgery charge related to Rhuby’s role in cashing one of the blank checks taken from the residence.

Rhuby was also ordered to undergo a drug use evaluation and any recommended treatment.

Defense Attorney Mark Munson asked the court to assign the minimum term in the range, three months. He noted Rhuby’s behavior was the result of poor choices he made when he was under the influence of drugs.

Judge Libey pointed out the crimes Rhuby admitted to were “heart breaking” for the victims.

LITTLE GOOSE WORK SLOWS LOCKAGES

Locking of vessels past Little Goose Lock and Dam is expected to take longer than usual during February because of work being done for a trash shear boom installation contract on the upstream end of the lock approach. The contractor is moving materials from the staging area onto a barge to place in the powerhouse forebay. This is being done between lockages.

Navigators are encouraged to call ahead so that the contractor can ensure the area is cleared prior to their arrival. Recreational vessel owners can find information on nearby Corps-managed boat launches in the Walla Walla District at http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/ corpsoutdoors

TACOMA MAN HIT ON MAIN

A 32-year-old Tacoma resident was listed in critical condition at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane late Wednesday, Jan. 31, from injuries sustained when he was hit by a pickup truck on Main Street in Colfax. Duy Nguyen was taken to Sacred Heart by helicopter from Whitman Hospital in Colfax. He had been transported by ambulance to the hospital here from the accident scene on north Main Street.

According to a report from Sheriff Brett Myers, Nguyen was hit at about 3:45 p.m. while he was crossing Main Street on foot. He was hit by a 2009 Dodge Ram pickup truck being driven by Robert Lowe, 49, Colfax. Lowe had turned southbound onto Main Street from Harrison Street.

The sheriff’s report said it was unclear if Nguyen was using the crosswalk at the time.

Colfax Police and Washington State Patrol officers assisted at the scene. Main Street traffic was diverted around the scene of the accident for fours hours during the investigation. Traffic flow had to be alternated in one lane which remained open during the accident investigation.

Myers said his office investigated the scene because they have the equipment for that type of investigation. He said Nguyen had been staying at the Best Western and had apparently crossed the street to get something to eat at Taco Time.

Nguyen underwent surgery at Sacred Heart and was last reported to be in the intensive care section of the hospital.

JUDGE RACE WILL BE

ON PRIMARY BALLOT

Three announced candidates for the district court judge’s seat being vacated by Judge Doug Robinson at the end of his term means the race will go on the ballot in the Aug. 7 state primary. The primary vote will decide the top two candidates to remain on the ballot for the general election. Filing for office will open May 14. John Hart, Dan LeBeau and Robert Rembert, all of Pullman, have announced they intend to run for the office. Judge Robinson Monday said he planned to retire at the end of his fourth term at the end of the year.

IMPERSONATION CHARGE FILED

A charge of criminal impersonation was filed Tuesday in superior court against Colleen K. Rhuby, 64, Steptoe. The charge is related to a December investigation in which two of Rhuby’s children were alleged to have taken a truck from their grandparents’ residence on Imler Road. They also allegedly took checks from the residence. One of the checking accounts allegedly belonged to the Steptoe Community Church because the grandmother of the two suspects, Megan Rhuby, 21, and Nicholas Rhuby, 23, serves as treasurer of the church.

The investigation report alleges the truck was taken and driven to Spokane, where Megan Rhuby and a boyfriend were staying in a motel. The report alleges evidence of drug use was found in the motel room.

The Jan. 30 charge of criminal impersonation against Colleen Rhuby alleges that on Dec. 21 she impersonated the grandmother in a call to Money Tree to facilitate cashing some of the bogus checks written on one of the accounts. The investigation report also includes a report of some of the checks being cashed elsewhere in Spokane.

According to the report, the grandmother was called by the bank serving the church account and advised of unusual attempts to cash checks on the account.

Colleen Rhuby has been summoned to appear in court Feb. 16 on the impersonation charge.