The Asotin County Commission is seeking volunteers to serve on the Fleshman Way Interchange Project Advisory Committee. Asotin County Public Works Director Joel Ristau says selected residents will have an opportunity to contribute to the redesigning of one of the region’s more dangerous intersections on the west end of the Southway Bridge.

Asotin County Public Works Director Joel Ristau comments

Interested residents are encouraged to contact the Asotin County Public Works Department.

Ristau continues

For more information call the Public Works Department at (509) 243-2074. Additionally, a project website has been developed at www.fleshmanwayinterchange.com.

A Tumwater, Wash., man awaiting trial for alleged sexual misconduct with boys at a Latah County Boy Scout camp now faces charges in Asotin County.

Timothy Kellis, a former Clarkston assistant band director and scoutmaster, is charged in Asotin County with second-degree rape of a child for reportedly having sexual contact with a boy between the age of 12 and 14 on from October 2003 through August 2005. He is expected to be transported to Washington state after the Idaho chase is resolved.

Kellis, 38, pleaded innocent in Moscow’s 2nd District Court to ten counts of lewd conduct with a minor younger than 16 and two counts of sexual abuse of a child younger than 16 for alleged incidents last year as a counselor at Camp Grizzly near Harvard. A trial is scheduled for Sept. 15.  He’s being held in the Latah County Jail on $200,000 bond.

Kellis, a band leader at A.G. West Black High School in Tumwater, worked as a teacher at Highland High School in Craigmont from 2001 to 2006, and was an assistant director for the Clarkston High School marching band from 1995 to 2006.

Because of extreme fire danger in the region, Asotin County officials have placed an emergency ban on campfires. County Fire Marshal Karst Riggers says the combination of high temperatures and low humidity have made conditions ripe for wildfires.

County Fire Marshal Karst Riggers comments

Asotin County Fire District Assistant Chief Mike Holman says while campfires are still permitted inside Chief Timothy Park, the beaches located nearby will also fall under the campfire ban.

Asotin County Fire District Assistant Chief Mike Holman comments

Propane barbecues are allowed, however charcoal grills are not due to the open flame required to light briquettes. For more information contact the Asotin County Fire Marshal’s Office at (509) 243-2020 or the Asotin County Fire District Office at (509) 758-5181.