Tentative date set for opening new Othello District Court
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 8 months AGO
Jessica Melo, administrator for the new Othello Municipal Court, gives details on the process of setting up the court to the Othello City Council at its Monday meeting.
CHERYL SCHWEIZER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | December 13, 2022 5:29 PM
OTHELLO — Othello city officials have established Jan. 13 as the tentative date for the first hearings before the new municipal court. Jessica Melo, the court administrator, gave Othello City Council members a timeline for opening the court at the regular meeting Dec. 12.
“Currently, we intend on having court once a week,” Melo said.
Crews are working on remodeling the city council chambers to accommodate the court as well as council meetings.
Carolyn Benzel was hired as the municipal court judge in October. Currently, Benzel also is the judge for the Othello branch of the Adams County District Court.
The city also has hired an interpreter and defense attorney, and on Monday council members approved a contract for Marco Rodriguez, Spokane, to serve as prosecuting attorney.
Melo provided a schedule of proposed court dates, starting with arraignments Jan. 13. The first pretrial hearing, if necessary, would be Feb. 2.
Council members passed an ordinance in September setting up the court, establishing Jan. 1 as the court’s first day of operation. That followed a notice from Adams County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Flyckt that county officials would not renew a contract with the city for municipal court services.
Melo said court personnel have completed many of the procedures involved in setting up a court, getting it connected with state agencies who need to know the outcome of cases, the Washington Department of Licensing being an example. The process requires review and approval of some applications by the Washington State Patrol, Melo said, and that hasn’t been completed yet. Melo said WSP personnel told her Monday that the approval will have to wait until after Jan. 1.
“Because the city ordinance does not start until Jan. 1, Washington State Patrol will not look at our application before then,” she said. “So we have submitted the application, but they will not consider it until Jan. 1.”
That could delay the start of court operations, she said. Council member Jon Erickson asked if it would make a difference if the council amended the start date.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s going to make much of a difference,” Melo said. “Just because of the holidays. People are gone.”
Council members canceled the Dec. 27 and Jan. 3 meetings, but city attorney Kelly Konkright said the council could schedule a special meeting to amend the court ordinance if necessary.
Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Road projects on hold for Labor Day weekend
MOSES LAKE — With Labor Day weekend dead ahead, drivers will be able to move freely about the state. Most road projects are on hold for the holiday weekend. Nobody will be working on the Hansen Road overpass on Interstate 90, but the lane restrictions that are in effect will continue through the end of the project.
Cost estimates for water source alternatives given to Moses Lake City Council
Protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, efforts are ongoing to keep it self-sufficient
MOSES LAKE — It’s going to cost a lot of money to provide alternative water sources for the city of Moses Lake, but some of the possible alternatives will cost more than others. City officials provided the Moses Lake City Council with costs for various alternatives Tuesday.
Dryer vent cleaning is important -- but often overlooked
MOSES LAKE — Not all the maintenance a house needs is visible. Sometimes a potential problem just goes unnoticed until it causes trouble, sometimes serious trouble. But a lot of potential problems give off warning signs. Clothes dryers often do when they need a good cleaning.