Othello civic leader killed in hit-and-run

Key member of Coulee Corridor project killed in hit-and-run

OTHELLO — Lester "Les" Clemons, longtime public servant, former city councilman and the 2004 Othello Citizen of the Year, was killed Tuesday morning in a hit-and-run accident outside his home.

Clemons, known as a force behind the Coulee Corridor Interpretive Center project, left his home and crossed West Bench Road around 7 a.m. Tuesday to get his newspaper. On his way back, he was struck by a westbound vehicle that fled the scene, according to an Adams County Sheriff's Office press release.

After being struck by the car, described as a maroon or burgundy Nissan, probably a Maxima or Stanza from the years 1989 to 1992, another vehicle arrived and found Clemons lying on the roadway. The driver of this car called the sheriff's office.

While the driver was at the scene with Clemons, a white van struck Clemons' body, fleeing the scene immediately. Seconds later, a third vehicle drove through and may have struck the body as well, the release stated. This last vehicle stopped and assisted at the scene.

Sheriff Douglas Barger said that Clemons had already died when the deputies arrived at the scene. The cause of death was determined to be massive trauma, probably caused by the impact of the first car.

Barger said late Wednesday morning that the first car has been found and an arrest has been made. He declined to disclose more information.

Darkness and fog may have played a factor in the accident, the release stated. Bench Road is a street located outside of Othello, in a mostly rural area.

Clemons had been a resident of Othello for 22 years and was a strong supporter of city improvement projects, a man whose optimism and enthusiasm was boosted by his visions of the city's future.

"I never lived in a city with as much potential in the area of tourism," he said in a 2004 interview. "This is a small city with many things going for it and unusually caring people."

One of Clemons' last efforts was the creation of a interpretive and visitors center for Othello and the Coulee Corridor. His view of Othello as the gateway of the corridor drove him to work toward the building of a holistic "interpretive" center for those visiting the area.

"We could be a Mecca of tourism," he said in Feb. 2004, when his efforts earned him the Othello Citizen of the Year award. "(The center) will be a benefit for the whole corridor."

Famous for his love of Othello as he was for his strong will and persevering nature, Clemons refused to give up on his dream, even as the price for it seemed too high for a small town. "I have blinders on," he said in 2004, putting his hands around his eyes like a racehorse. "I can't see the opposition. The interpretive center is going to happen."

Friends and acquaintances of Clemons' praised the man who spent five decades in the alfalfa and grass seeding business and then almost two decades planting the seeds of the Othello of the future.

Othello Mayor Jeannie Sanders called Clemons "an awesome volunteer.

"He was a great person towards the community," she added. "He had volunteer blood pumping through his veins."

Sanders said that Clemons' efforts had the city listed on the U.S. House Committee of Transportation and Infrastructure Projects, which could mean up to $2 million for the corridor project.

Peggy Klingeman, Clemons' next-door neighbor, called him a pillar of strength people could always depend on.

Clemons' daughter Eileen Wilmot said that her father's goal, wherever he went, was to make that town a better place.

"It's all very shocking right now," she said of the news of her father's passing, which comes nearly a month after the death of Dot, Les Clemons' wife of 64 years.

A service has been planned for Friday at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Othello. A second service is set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Shadle Park Presbyterian Church in Spokane. Wilmot said she hoped to see a good turnout from Othello citizens.

"He was a man who loved life," said Rev. P. Wayne Townsend from Clemons' church. "He never gave up on life and was at the same time very strong-willed and gentle, with a good sense of humor."

Townsend described the grief among those who knew Clemons as "tremendous.

"We expected him to live for many years and looked forward to his strong presence in the congregation," Townsend said. "He will be greatly missed."