Bulletin Column: Feb. 28, 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.

HIGHWAY 27 CLOSED AGAIN

The Washington State Patrol again posted a notice for Highway 27 to be closed between Tekoa and the Waverly Road intersection as of 4:40 p.m. Monday.

State crews have been working to clear the highway segment between Latah and Waverly Road which normally sustains the worst drifting.

The state crews have been using a Kodiak snow blower to clear the drifts. The Kodiak is designed to cut an eight-foot swath through drifts and blow the snow away from the highway.

As of Tuesday morning, the blower had cleared one side of the highway, and was working on the other side, according to District Supervisor Kurt Kaufman.

Some drifting was reported to still be underway on 27 Tuesday morning.

Highway 27 between Fairfield and Tekoa was closed Sunday at 1:35 p.m. by drifting snow, according to a State Department of Transportation posting. Drifting caused by blowing snow was cited as the reason for the shutdown.

The highway was opened again for traffic at 6:45 p.m.

AVISTA WORK ON FAIRVIEW

Colfax city crews Sunday afternoon were called to the Fairview Street hill on the south end of town to clear out snow for an Avista crew which had been dispatched to clear tree branches which had been tangled in power lines. The site was just uphill from the city's pump site on the south side of the road. A caution marker was posted on Fairview to alert drivers who were headed down the hill, according to Public Works Director Matt Hammer.

MEETING CALL CITES MARIJUANA TALLY

A call for county residents to attend Monday's short session on the zone change involving a proposed marijuana operation southwest of Pullman said 13 cannabis producer/processors and five retailers are already in operation in the county. The numbers were cited on "Grow Pullman Science," the website which has been launched by Selway Holdings, LLC to support its application to change the zone on its property from agricultural to light industrial so it can undertake processing at its site which is located at the intersection of Flat and Country Club roads.

Prosecutor Denis Tracy Monday advised county commissioners that they could impose a moratorium for six months on the issue of licenses for producing and processing marijuana in the county.

In his report, Tracy noted the moratorium would apply only to new applications and would not impact present operations, and only areas of the county outside of incorporated cities and towns. Tracy pointed out any county moratorium would apply only to rural areas of the county.

The Grow Pullman Science site pointed out the cannabis operations have "brought in jobs, tax revenue and economic growth to the area."

County Planner Alan Thomson said the state Liquor and Cannabis Board lists 10 licenses issued in rural Whitman County. He said the 13 figure might include licenses to producers in incorporated areas.

Thomson said reports of as many as 30 marijuana sites in the county probably derived from a listing of applicants for licenses which are relayed to the county by the state board.

PULLMAN TAGS COURT SPACE COST

A bottom line for installing a district court in the new Pullman City Hall had been estimated at $780,000, according to a city staff report which was slated to be presented to the Pullman City Council Tuesday night.

Pullman's initial plans for relocating city hall to the former Encounter Ministries site on SE Crestview did not include the district court which is now conducted by the county in Pullman City Council chambers at City Hall on Paradise Street.

The report noted it would be possible to relocate district court to the new site, but it would involve disruption of both court and city hall functions in order to establish a secure zone for the court.

Pullman City Administrator Adam Lincoln in his report noted that at no point last year was the City of Pullman asking voters to help pay for the county's district court to be relocated. He added discussions are now underway regarding Pullman-County agreements for court operations and space.

Cost of continued operation of the court in the present Pullman City Hall on Paradise was estimated at $48,202. That figure was reached by reducing the overall annual cost of operating the building down to the space which would be needed by the court to operate in a building which could otherwise be vacant.

The report notes the fate of the current city hall building has not yet been determined. The city could keep the building and rent out space or it could eventually sell the building.

A proposed court space diagram for court location in the Encounter site includes a security checkpoint at the court entrance to the building. The report cites an April 2009 version of Washington State Public Safety Standards which outlines security problems when courts are located in multi-use buildings.

Design West is now doing the design work for the new city hall.

Security checks are not used now for the Pullman court sessions in city hall or for district court and superior court sessions in the courthouse here.

CLARKSTON MAN SENTENCED

Tristan Evans, 21, Clarkston, was sentenced to 90 days in jail with 84 suspended after he pleaded guilty in superior court Friday to a reduced charge of fourth degree assault. Evans was credited with six days served in jail after his arrest.

He was placed on 12 months of probation.

Evans was charged with hitting a man in the head and knocking him down last Nov. 24. Police were called to the scene in the 600 block of NE Ruby Street at 2:26 a.m. The victim was knocked to the ground and later taken to Pullman Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries which included possible damage to an eye socket, according to the arrest report.

FIRST APPEARANCES ON TRAFFICKING

Issuance of a warrant for the arrest of Ashley Green-Noel, 25, Pullman, was ordered Friday morning in superior court after she failed to appear in response to a summons.

Green-Noel is one of three suspects charged in a jewelry trafficking case which was filed Feb. 7. She has been charged with selling three rings.

Donna Green, 55, Pullman, appeared for the preliminary hearing and Pullman Attorney Sandy Lockett was appointed to represent her. Green has been charged with selling a stolen wedding ring which was valued at more than $6,900, according to an investigation report filed by Pullman Officer Scott Patrick.

Brandon D. Smith, 27, Moscow, appeared and entered a not-guilty plea after Defense Attorney Steve Martonick was appointed to represent him. Smith told the court he believed he had a conflict of interest in being represented by Martonick who then stepped aside, and Smith's plea was rescinded. Pullman attorney Roger Sandberg was appointed to represent him.

The investigation report alleges Smith stole the items in burglaries between July and October of 2017. Moscow and Pullman police officers allegedly located some of the stolen items at a residence in Genesee where Smith was residing at the time, and they later learned some of the stolen items had been sold, according to the report.

TRIAL SET ON THEFT CHARGE

Genevieve Jay Bode-Robbins, 38, Pullman, pleaded not guilty Friday in superior court to a charge of first-degree theft. She appeared in court on a summons, and was scheduled for a May 13 trial on the charge.

Bode-Robbins was charged with taking funds when she was employed by All Fabrications and Supply operated by William and Cathy Christian. The business is located on Pullman Airport Road. The first-degree theft charge alleges Bode-Robbins took funds exceeding $5,000 while working for the firm during 2017.

An 18-page affidavit filed by the Sheriff's office with the charge alleged unauthorized holiday pay, paid leave and pay bonuses were included in paychecks which were prepared by Bode-Robbins. The affidavit of the alleged embezzlement from January of 2015 to June 30, 2016, determined $19,987 was taken by Bode-Robbins in bogus pay allowances.

The formal charges against Bode-Robbins was filed by Senior Deputy Prosecutor Merritt Decker Feb. 8. Decker said he limited the scope of the charge to 2017, although the investigation spanned several years.

Bode-Robbins joined the company as part-time bookkeeper in 2012, and was fired by the firm's owners July 31, 2018, according to the report.

The Sheriff's office received a first report of the alleged theft Aug. 16 of last year.

CENTER GETS PORTABLE STAGE

Friends of Whitman County Library have announced an anonymous donation of $3,000 has funded the project to provide a portable stage for use at The Center next to the library. Library Director Kristie Kirkpatrick said the stage has been ordered and is expected to be in use for the "Map of Our Kingdom" play which will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The stage can be assembled in sections which lock together for various sizes. Kirkpatrick noted the size of the stage can be varied, and it can be placed at different locations around The Center. Kirkpatrick said she announced the need for a stage at a Friend's of the Library meeting, and the fund drive essentially ended at the end of the session when the anonymous donation was pledged.

Kirkpatrick said the need for a stage became evident because many speakers tended to be lost in front of an audience, particularly with a large turnout.

Tickets are still available for "Map of Our Kingdom."

PORT LOT SALE CONSIDERS

The Port of Whitman has slated a public hearing for March 7 at 11 a.m. on the proposed sale of a lot in the Pullman Industrial Park. The lot is number eight in subdivision two. Proposed use of the property would be a commercial business, according to Debbie Snell, properties and development manager for the Port.