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Category: Local News

Parties still dispute retaliation, tampering allegations from $70,000 county settlement

Posted on May 27, 2019May 27, 2019 by Jacob Jones

Former county employee contends “frustration and fear” drove her from a job she loved while officials dispute any wrongdoing. “Going to court would have been millions [of dollars] win or lose,” Former Auditor Eunice Coker said. “Settling was in the best interest of the county and myself.”

Colfax Arts Council presents final designs for downtown murals to appear this summer

Posted on May 23, 2019May 23, 2019 by Jacob Jones

The community art project will include the four murals as well as a youth project in which local students paint fish silhouettes for display on chainlink fences along Lake Street. The projects have received a combined $33,000 with the Colfax City Council approving a $15,000 lodging tax grant and another $18,000 in donations.

Citizen commission recommends 3 percent raises for all county elected officials in 2020

Posted on May 15, 2019July 11, 2019 by Jacob Jones

Based on last year’s rates, those salaries would increase to about $74,420 for commissioners as well as $78,115 for assessor, auditor, clerk and treasurer. The coroner would receive $79,178 and the sheriff’s pay would increase to $107,408. The prosecutor’s salary could go up to $150,390 a year, which includes some pay from the state.

County deputies to again answer some Colfax police calls after officer resigns

Posted on May 8, 2019May 9, 2019 by Jacob Jones

Colfax Police Officer Joe Handley resigned late last month, leaving the five-person department with two full-time officers and one temporary officer now working full-time. Handley confirmed he had “resigned in good standing.”

Candidate filing approaches as election data shows 80 percent of local races uncontested

Posted on May 7, 2019May 7, 2019 by Jacob Jones

With candidate filing opening next week, the Auditor’s Office lists 210 positions up for election in November — ranging from Port of Whitman County commissioner to the St. John cemetery board. Here’s a look at races with high uncontested rates and how you can file for local office.

Pullman police files show neglect of duty, sexual harassment among other misconduct

Posted on April 17, 2019April 22, 2019 by Jacob Jones

Officers reportedly propositioned female coworkers, snubbed a rape victim, accessed confidential case records for personal use and filed inaccurate police reports among other documented violations from 2014 through 2018. See a complete log of complaints and outcomes.

Historic flooding strikes Palouse region, overruns Pullman streets amid spring deluge

Posted on April 10, 2019April 10, 2019 by Jacob Jones

The South Fork of the Palouse River through downtown Pullman crested at 7.02 feet, just above flood stage and the highest mark since the devastating 1996 and 1997 floods. Only seven dates had higher crests.

Third-party report, Civil Service appeal letter detail Colfax police chief termination dispute

Posted on March 29, 2019March 29, 2019 by Jacob Jones

Emails show the mayor tried to remove Police Chief Rick McNannay last May. Attorneys for McNannay released a 12-page Feb. 6 appeal letter challenging the city’s investigation and alleging the mayor ultimately terminated the chief for political reasons. City officials also released a nine-page Dec. 19 investigation report.

Colfax officials set to rezone downtown Tuesday night to expand ‘business’ areas

Posted on February 18, 2019February 18, 2019 by Jacob Jones

“This is largely a clean-up measure,” Councilman Jim Kackman said, adding, “There were businesses operating in zones that were non-conforming and it just didn’t make sense.” The proposed changes would convert about two dozen parcels from commercial zones to business zones, plus at least one parcel from manufacturing to a business zone.

Records detail Hargraves’ policy violations stemming from alleged sexual misconduct

Posted on February 10, 2019September 10, 2019 by Jacob Jones

Internal records provide new details on the allegations of sexual misconduct against former Pullman Police Sgt. Dan Hargraves, including numerous department policy violations, private lie detector test results and the role of the WSU Police in the incident.

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