News Briefs: March 14, 2019

HONOR CONCERT AT Colfax

More than 100 student musicians and choir members gathered at Colfax High School Monday for the SE Washington Music Educators' Association honor band and honor choir concert. Two members of the music department from the University of Idaho worked with the students who also conducted a practice session last week.

The event concluded a five-year run of honor concerts here. It will move to Clarkston next year while Colfax schools are undergoing renovation.

The SEWMEA plans a junior high band concert at Palouse next Thursday, March 21, and a high school band concert March 26 at Washtucna.

Friday, a U of I faculty member will work with the CHS jazz band in preparation for the start of jazz band competition. The band is booked to perform in the Columbia Basin College jazz festival April 13.

Bands director Mike Morgan reported the band and choir space at the high school is now in the process of moving to Jennings Elementary. The high school spaces will be used for classrooms after the renovation gets underway during spring break.

FIRE DESTROYS DAIRY TRUCK

Three trucks from Pullman Rural Fire District 12 responded to a report of a fire at WSU's Knott Dairy on Country Club Road at about 6:15 a.m. Saturday. Chief Lester Erwin reported a two-ton International truck which was fitted with a hopper box to distribute chopped feed to cows at the dairy had ignited.

Erwin said a faulty starter was believed to have been the cause of the fire. The starter jammed and threw sparks which ignited hay under the truck. Erwin added the burning truck was in a metal building which heated up from the blazing truck until they doused the fire.

He noted if the truck had been in a wooden building the structure would probably have ignited and spread to hay stored there.

Colton Fire District 14 also sent two trucks to the scene. Erwin said the truck chassis was destroyed by the fire, but the hopper feed box could probably still be useable.

CITES RELIGION AT HEARING

Citing religious reasons, Trevor D. Yocum, 47, Spokane, declined to enter a plea in Whitman County Superior Court Friday. Yocum, who has been in jail here after being arrested on a warrant, has been charged with promotion of prostitution in the second degree.

After Yocum declined to enter a plea, Court Commissioner Howard Neill entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of the defendant, but Yocum objected. He contended Neill was violating his religious beliefs by entering the plea on his behalf.

Defense Attorney Steve Martonick made a motion for the court to extend the arraignment for another week so he could have more time to consult with Yocum.

Yocum then asked the court to reduce his bond, and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Dan Le Beau, who said he learned four arrest warrants were issued against Yocum between 2017 and 2018 in Spokane County, asked the court to increase the bail amount.

Neill opted to leave the bond at $5,000 surety or $500 cash, the amount set after Yocum made his first appearance in court following his arrest on a warrant.

Yocum was arrested by Colfax officers in the early morning hours of Dec. 9. A female in the car admitted she was a prostitute and had a specific date in Colfax. She allegedly told the officers half of the proceeds were to be paid to Yocum for acting as her driver. Yocum was released from jail after charges were not filed against him within 72 hours of his arrest. He was formally charged Jan. 3 and summoned to appear in court. He failed to appear, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was booked into jail March 6.