Bulletin Column: Feb. 14, 2019

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.

CITY PLOWS START EARLY

Colfax street crews have been operating three plow trucks to clear city streets after the heavy snows for the first two days of the week. Public Works Director Matt Hammer said two crew members Monday started to clear the streets at 3 a.m., and work Tuesday started at 4 a.m.

Normal start time for city crews is 7 a.m.

Heavy emphasis goes into keeping the South Main and Fairview roads clear for traffic to the hospital and nursing home.

South Mill and Thorn Street are also high priority streets. Bus routes are also on the priority list.

In addition to plowing, crews are putting down salt and traction gravel.

Street conditions improved Tuesday with temperatures moving over the freezing mark. Reading on the PNW Co-Op sign on Main Street hit 40 degrees at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Commuters from Pullman reported melting in Pullman had led to a backup of water on North Grand.

THREE FACE TRAFFICKING CHARGES

Charges of trafficking in stolen property were filed in superior court Thursday. The charges alleged jewelry believed to have been stolen in Pullman and Moscow was sold in Pullman in October of 2017.

Charged were Brandon D. Smith, 27, Moscow; Donna L. Green, 55, Pullman, and Ashley Green-Noel, 25, Pullman.

According to the investigation report by Pullman Officer Scott Patrick, Smith was a suspect in burglaries in Moscow and Pullman between July and October of 2017. Officers from both Pullman and Moscow allegedly located stolen items in the residence where Smith was residing in Genesee at the time.

Police allegedly learned Donna Green and Ashley Green-Noel had been selling jewelry which had been stolen by Smith.

Green is alleged to have sold a diamond wedding ring valued at $6,975, and Green-Noel is alleged to have sold a fraternity pin stolen in Pullman and a sorority pin stolen in Moscow. Values of the pins were estimated at $177 and $150 respectively.

The ring and pins were recovered at Sam Dial Jewelers, and the ring was returned to the owners in Moscow, Patrick reported.

Feb. 1 Green was sentenced in superior court here to seven days in jail after admitting a charge of possession of methamphetamine. The conviction followed a search of her residence in Pullman last June 10, which was eight months after the alleged trafficking.

Smith, Green and Green-Noel have been summoned to make a first court appearance on the trafficking charges Feb. 22.

TRIAL DATE IN FARMINGTON CASE

Both suspects in the Farmington assault case pleaded not guilty Friday to a formal charge of second-degree assault in Whitman County Superior Court. Formal charges were filed Feb. 5 by Deputy Prosecutor Merritt Decker. The suspects are Michael J. Keller, 44, Farmington, and Brandon J. Reece, 34, Garfield.

Both are charged with assaulting the same victim at a shop building on Farmington Road Sunday, Feb. 3.

Court commissioner David Frazier scheduled April 15 trial dates.

Defense attorney Steven Martonick was appointed to represent Keller, and Pullman attorney Michael J. Pettit is representing Reece. Pettit has filed a demand for discovery listing 14 points of potential evidence to be provided for the defense.

NINE HURT IN 3-CAR COLLISION

Nine people were transported by ambulances Sunday following a three-car accident on Highway 195 at the intersection of Old Albion Road.

Among the injured were Brent Webster, 36, and Crystal Webster, 37, both Colfax, and three children between the ages of 1 and 11.

According to the Washington State Patrol report, Shawn M. Whisman, 49, Spokane, was driving a 1996 Chevrolet Van southbound on Highway 195 at 1:15 p.m. near the intersection of Old Albion Road and went into the oncoming lane, colliding head-on with a 2009 Dodge Caravan being driven northbound by Brent Webster.

Mitchell Munn, 47, Spokane, was driving a 2017 Land Rover northbound and collided with the back of the Caravan. Munn was unhurt, but Shawn Munn, 46, also of Spokane, was injured and transported to a hospital.

The van and Caravan came to a stop on the northbound shoulder of the highway and the Land Rover went over the embankment.

Two ambulances from Colfax and one from Albion responded to the scene, along with crews from Pullman and the Pullman rural fire district. Patients were taken to Whitman Hospital, Pullman Regional Hospital and Gritman Hospital in Moscow.

STATE OPENS HIGHWAY 27

Highway 27 from Pullman north to Garfield was opened Monday morning after being closed down during the weekend snowstorm. A segment of Highway 27 from Tekoa to Fairfield, which had been closed, was cleared and opened by the state late Sunday afternoon.

Kurt Kaufman, district supervisor, said the district is now operating 15 plow trucks, two graders and one snow blower to keep the highway system open. The blower was used to clear the drifts on Highway 27.

Drivers are running the equipment on 12-hour shifts, with 2 a.m. and 2 p.m. set for the shift changes. Some operators are now working on their normal days off to keep the highways open.

The district extends from Highway 395 on the west side to the Idaho border and from the Snake River north to Spangle.

Brandon Kruger, operations manager for Whitman County's Road Department, reported county crews plowed all day Saturday and Sunday and were called in at 5:30 to 6 a.m. Monday to resume work after heavy snowfall.

Each driver has a designated route which they aim to clear and then pick it up again the next day.

WSU CLOSES AFTER STORM

Washington State University closed classes and operations Monday due to the weekend storm. Overnight snowfall totaled approximately five inches following approximately eight inches over the weekend.

Classes resumed Tuesday.

EMPIRE DISPOSAL LIMITS COLLECTIONS

Empire Disposal put out a notice Monday that they will do in-town collections only in the wake of the weekend storm. Crews did collections in towns but were not set to do rural collections.

In accordance with company policy, rural residents will not be charged extra container fees when they put out double loads next week.

PULLMANITE ARRESTED AFTER CHASE

Deaneal Mcknight, 44, Pullman, was taken into custody by the Nez Perce Sheriff's office early Sunday morning after he allegedly led Whitman County deputies on a chase which started on Highway 128 in Whitman County. Sgt. Michael Jordan said deputies attempted to stop Mcknight on Highway 128 west of Clarkston. The driver failed to stop, and after covering approximately three miles, he went into Idaho. He was eventually pulled over, but refused to cooperate for approximately 45 minutes before getting out of his vehicle.

He was expected to make a first appearance in court Monday at Lewiston, and will eventually face potential charges of failure to obey an officer and driving under the influence in Whitman County, Jordan said.

JANUARY ALSO COMES UP SHORT

Precipitation recorded by the NRCS at Colfax for January totaled 1.75 inches to continue the trend for under-average precipitation. The January tally is .73 inches below the 2.48 average for the month.

For the past five months actual precipitation total is 7.25 compared to a total of 10.43 for the average over those five months.

TRUCKER LOSES ROAD

A semi trailer rolled off Highway 27 north of Palouse and lost a load of hay bales Thursday, Feb. 7. According to a report by Trooper Rob Aucutt, Douglas Colvin of Colfax was driving a 2006 Kenworth truck northbound at 3:30 p.m. towing two loaded trailers, and the rear trailer rolled over while the truck was rounding a curve.

TOASTER FIRE DAMAGES KITCHEN

Colfax Fire crews at 10:06 a.m. Feb. 6 responded to a report of a fire in the 100 block of Cherry Street on the west hill of Colfax. A counter in the kitchen of the house had caught fire from a toaster. The fire was extinguished, and the resident of the house was checked for smoke inhalation, but not transported to the hospital.

FIRE DESTROYS HOUSE NEAR GARFIELD

A fire destroyed a house on Simmons Road east of Garfield early Wednesday morning, Feb. 6. Garfield Fire Chief Chris McCully said the fire is believed to have started off a chimney. The fire gutted out the center of the residence.

Fire volunteers were on the scene for approximately four hours for the fire response, which was done in sub-freezing temperatures.

An ambulance and rescue truck from the Colfax/Steptoe/Farmington Rural District responded. McCully said fire crews from Farmington and Palouse also assisted Garfield at the scene.

The only occupant of the residence was displaced by the fire, but was able to find a place to stay.

Simmons Road intersects with the Garfield/Farmington Road two miles east of Garfield.