Bulletin Column: Feb. 21, 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.

BOND SET AT $1 MILLION

Bond for release of Jose Luis Perez Morales, 39, Pullman, was set at $1 million surety Friday in superior court after he made a first appearance on a charge of rape of a minor child. He was booked into jail the previous night and a formal charge was filed against him Friday.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Dan LeBeau asked the court to set the high bail because he considered Morales a flight risk and a possible threat to community safety. LeBeau told the court there is a chance investigation into the case will reveal other victims are involved.

The court also granted a request from the state to issue a sexual assault protection order against the defendant.

The charge against Morales alleges the rape involved an under-age juvenile citing a time span of a year ending in May of 2012.

GAR/PAL BOOKS JAZZ FEST STOP

Garfield/Palouse will make a return Saturday to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival under the direction of Matt Zook. The Gar/Pal musicians will be among an estimated 4,000 high school and college students who will perform for adjudicators at the festival.

Garfield/Palouse is scheduled to play at 11:10 a.m at the LDS Institute on 902 S. Deakin in Moscow. Zook, a former Colfax resident, reported they will play "Moon Dance," "Dream a Little Dream" and "All of Me." Vocals will be included in the last two numbers.

COMPETENCY EXAM SLATED

Jason Davis, Pullman, pleaded not guilty to charges in two separate cases Friday in superior court. Defense Attorney Steve Martonick requested Davis undergo an evaluation for competency and his next court date was slated for March 1 to allow an evaluation to be conducted by a staff member from Eastern State Hospital.

An arrest report by Pullman Officer Doug Anderson said officers responded to a report of a suspected assault in a building at 220 SE Kamiaken at 6:04 p.m Feb. 5. A woman at the residence said she and Davis had been in a relationship which was ending, and when he tried to kiss her she told him “no.” In the ensuing struggle Davis allegedly bit the woman's thumb.

Davis reportedly had left the apartment before the officers arrived. He had been reported to be riding a bicycle, but officers were unable to locate him.

The next morning, one of the proprietors of Seasoned House, which is located next to the apartment on SE Paradise, reported observing a man in their building. She said he appeared to be hammering on a wall. The man, later identified as Davis, was later located in an upstairs apartment in the building.

The report said a stained glass window in the door of the business had been broken and jewelry was allegedly taken from the apartment.

The report noted Davis is suspected of entering Seasoned House after departing the scene of the alleged assault next door the previous evening.

Friday Davis pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and third-degree theft in the first case and residential burglary, malicious mischief and second-degree theft for the alleged entry at Seasoned House.

HIGHEST SNOW PILE

Rosauers takes the Bulletin's unofficial award as the business with the highest snow pile in town. The super pile is located at the north end of the Rosauers lot next to Harrison Street behind Cornerstone Restaurant.

Jeff Lowe is the contractor for clearing the Rosauers lot.

Snow pile spaces are at a premium around town with businesses, churches, city and county crews seeking space to put snow while clearing parking lots.

Colfax crew member Steve Larkin, who has been manning the city's front loader to move snow, Feb. 14 knocked part of the snow berm down along the middle of Main Street to improve vision for motorists.

Main Street traffic in the center lanes distributed the snow from the top of the berm.

PAYMENT STILL DUE

A bench warrant for the arrest of Skylar G. Nobbley, 26, Lewiston, was ordered Feb. 13 in superior court. Nobbley was among former defendants who were ordered to appear in court for a review on their compliance with court orders to pay fines, fees, and restitution which were ordered as part of their convictions.

The Feb. 13 compliance docket included cases going back as far as 2007.

Nobbley was among defendants convicted of theft from Larry Hood at Hood's residence south of Pullman April 22, 2010. He and three other defendants in the case were ordered to pay $2,550 restitution to Hood plus other fines and fees. The restitution was ordered to be paid, joint and several, which means any one of the defendants is responsible for the amount until it is paid.

Bail for release of Nobbley, in the event he was arrested on the warrant, was set at $3,417.

HIGHWAY 27 CLOSED, OPEN

Blowing wind and drifts again closed Highway 27 last Thursday morning. The highway was shut down between Tekoa and Latah in Spokane County. Department of Transportation crews again cut through the drifts and the Highway segment was opened again Friday morning.

The Tekoa-Latah link on 27 includes a segment that goes beneath the south side of Tekoa Mountain.

LEVIES PASS

All special levy measures on the Feb. 12 ballot were approved as of the count Feb. 13 at the elections office. A total of 709 ballots had been counted for a turnout of 32.7 percent of the 2,167 voters in the districts involved.

The count more than doubled the tally for the Lamont School District levy return which had 52.6 percent approval with 10 yes and 9 no votes. School levy proposals require a 50 percent yes vote to pass. Lamont asked for a levy of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation which is the rate now allowed to local districts by the state.

Levy measures for Oakesdale and Colton were approved with 138-81 at Oakesdale for 63.01 percent in favor and 186-88 at Colton for 67.8 percent in favor. Both districts filed levy requests over the state ceiling of $1.50 per $1,000 assessed value in anticipation that the legislature will change the ceiling which has been put in place in an attempt to equalize statewide funding for students under the McCleary ruling. Colton filed a request for a levy of $2.50 per $1,000 starting in 2020, and Oakesdale filed a request for $3.67 per $1,000 for four years starting in 2020.

Other measures getting approval were two Tekoa Parks & Rec proposals, one for $150,000 for swim pool and other operations and maintenance, and the other $50,000 for capital improvements. The first one passed 95-32 for 74.8 percent approval and the second one passed 96-31 for 75.5 percent approval.

A town of Colton request for $30,000 to paint the interior of a water tank passed 58-12 for 82.8 percent approval.