Commissioners pass controlled substance possession ordinance
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 8 months AGO
EPHRATA — Grant County Commissioners passed an ordinance Tuesday keeping it “unlawful for any person to knowingly possess a controlled substance.”
Violation is considered a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of $5,000.
The ordinance follows a 5-4 ruling by the Washington Supreme Court Feb. 25 striking down the “strict liability” statute, which made it a felony to possess illegal controlled substances, regardless of the person in possession’s knowledge or intent.
Grant County already was designated a high-density drug trafficking area, which can overwhelm county resources, according to an advisory from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
“This ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety and citizens of the Country and takes effect immediately upon passage by the Board of County Commissioners,” the advisory stated from the ordinance.
“The State Supreme Court made a decision that was not in the best interest of Washington State or individual counties. With the legislature failing to act, I am proud of our Grant County Commissioners for seeing the importance to still make possession of narcotics illegal by the passing of a county ordinance,” Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones stated. “I will inform our staff of the county ordinance and we will continue to battle the narcotics epidemic.”
The ordinance would become void if the Washington Legislature passed a law preempting it, according to the advisory.
ARTICLES BY STAFF REPORT
Connell woman killed in Booker Road crash
CONNELL — Charges are pending against a Kennewick man following a collision about 12 miles south of Othello that killed a Connell woman and injured three other people Tuesday evening. A Washington State Patrol press memo said intoxicating substances were a factor. Jessica Zarate, 37, Connell, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near the intersection of SR 17 and South Booker Road, the WSP memo said. She was driving south on Booker Road approaching the intersection when her car was hit by a pickup driven by John Reiss, 62, Kennewick. Edgar Garcia Quirino, 28, Othello, was driving north on SR 17 and ran into Zarate's car, the WSP memo said. The crash occurred at about 6:40 p.m.
Wheeler Road closed because of traffic collision
UPDATE: The road was reopened as of noon, according to a GCSO media release. MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office has announced there is a road closure between Road 3-NE and Road S-NE. There was a serious traffic collision. GCSO is asking for drivers to avoid the area and find alternative routes. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Doors opening: The Currents will provide homeownership for more local workers
About 104 homes are planned at the former Atlas sawmill site
Teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers who keep Coeur d’Alene running will soon have more places to buy a home in the community where they work. About 104 homes are being planned to be built at Atlas Waterfront, on roughly 10 acres that are part of a swath of land that was once home to the Atlas sawmill and is being redeveloped. Ignite CDA, the city of Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal agency, is leading this effort.