Colville Attorney To Replace Judge Mcgrane

Colville attorney Pamela Payne will replace Stevens County District Court Judge Dave McGrane on May 1.

County commissioners chose Payne this week over five other local attorneys. She was a long-time deputy prosecutor before going into private practice.

McGrane is resigning from the half-time, $45,000-a-year job to devote more time to his law firm. He complained that his judicial workload exceeded the statewide average for full-time judges.