By PATRICK L. MYERS
The holiday season is here and it's time to choose your Christmas tree. For some families, this is a serious tradition, while for others any old tree will do. One fact remains:
The 65th Annual Santa Parade in Downtown Chehalis netted a trophy for the Winlock Royal Egg Day Court as they rode in the regionally-popular Egg Days Carriage. Pictured, left to right, are Nikisha Silvestre, Kylee Smith, Ayreli Luna-Sanchez and Yaretsi Silvestre. Photo submitted by Russell Smith.
Saturday saw a record turnout of close to 2,000 spectators for Castle Rock's annual Festival of Lights.
Begun in 2010 by organizer Stephanie Misner, she said this year's turnout dwarfs the 150-or-so spectators during the first year of the event, and said the growing popularity is in large part thanks to support from local businesses and festival committee members.
The Toledo School District has selected a consultant to lead the search for a new superintendent after Superintendent Sharon Bower submitted a letter of resignation last month.
Northwest Leadership Associates (NLA), based in Liberty Lake, was chosen out of three firms vying for the task and, though their estimate had been the most expensive at $8,200, members of the School Board said they felt the services offered by NLA, including online publication of the vacancy as well as surveys for the community, more than made up for the higher rate.
Tyler Loveless-"I don't know. A dog, a poodle dog. Trucks, um, garbage trucks."
Joe Gordon-"I want a monster truck." Even I wanted a big monster truck dog, a robot one."
Ryder Donahue-"Um.... a snake and a drum set. The game of Life. Um Christmas is snowy."
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go! There are some beautiful light displays at various homes and the community buildings are all decked out with lights, wreaths and garlands. Fortunately, last week's high winds weren't too bad here and didn't blow too many things away.
Many Elves will be busy this week with the Cheer Bag project. Gifts will be wrapped and the 25 bags filled on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Community Hall. Then on Saturday, Carolers will gather at Community Hall at 3 p.m. for warm beverages before the hayride to spread good cheer. The hayride will end in time to enjoy a nice warm meal at the Town Potluck at 5 p.m.
Don says: Pat Caldwell was guest speaker at October's Historical Society meeting. A new History Room, established in the Community Library, displays artifacts, documents and pictures. Caldwells (and others) painted the walls and floor, graciously donated wall and floor display cases plus a microfilm reader and desk to join the microfilm cabinet. Marie Oberg donated a 4-drawer file cabinet, brought artifacts and documents, retrieved more from behind City Hall, then spent hours helping arrange them.
The Country Cruisers Car Club is selling pre-cut Christmas trees at Mt. St. Helens Grocery on SR 506. Be sure to stop by and help support this local fundraiser.
On your way, take time to admire the Christmas display at Andy Wilson's house (you can't miss it). Andy and his family worked hard in recent weeks to set up the display as a means of celebrating both the holiday and the community.
Christmas time is here and I have yet to decorate for Christmas, I am definitely behind the time. The windstorm last week did not knock out my power so I have absolutely no excuse except I think I have gotten lazy! The cold weather always seems to slow me down, it was warm and now it's cold, I wish it would make up its mind, I prefer warm!
By GARY L. JOHNSON
The Sponsor of this restoration project Pacific County Anglers would like to thank Key Environmental Services and the volunteers from FFA.
Vader officials are celebrating a recent audit of City Hall that reported no findings, stating the results are one more step toward fulfilling requirements to regain their water system from Lewis County.
Shared with officials on Dec. 10, the results of the audit, conducted by the State Auditor's Office during the last several weeks, show there were no findings in either Vader's fiscal or policy practices during 2012 and 2013, which had been the first such finding-free report for the city since 2006, according to the Auditor's Office.
The Winlock City Council has begun discussing the possibility of temporarily eliminating their utility hookup fees as a way to encourage growth within the city.
Proposed by Council Member Sarah Gifford during the council's Dec. 8 meeting, Gifford said she has researched instances of other cities who reduced or suspended their hookup fees as an incentive for developers, then revisited the idea in the future to determine if such policies were still needed for growth.
Raymond 60, Willapa Valley 58
This was one contest that will be hard to beat early in the girl's basketball season. With the treat of a pending heavy rainstorm along the coast, the Lady Vikings made it down the road to face-off against local rivals the Raymond Seagulls.
Raymond High School recently held its Fall Awards Banquet and listed below are the winners for each sport.
Six local basketball teams started seasons over the last couple of weeks to begin a long trip towards "March Madness."
Two of the six teams have the capability to see rarified air of the Spokane Coliseum or the Yakima Sundome, and a third has a lot of potential if the pieces fall into place. The Castle Rock boys and girls now compete in a much smaller Trico League while Toledo has dropped to the 2B Central where the competition is among smaller schools, but far more tenacious.
Winlock High school Senior Evan Mitchell (center, left) has been given the 2014 Otis Roundtree Award for his inspiration and leadership on the high school football team. Awarded every year by the Winlock Lions Club, the recipient is selected by his teammates, and Mitchell said he feels the award represents the trust his fellow players place in him.
Authorities are seeking help solving a burglary taking place in Vader this summer.
Sometime between Aug. 31 and Sept. 7, an unknown number of suspects entered a residence on the 700 block of Park Rd. and stole a Black & Decker jigsaw (red, model JS-515), two black belts sanders (one model BE318-2, and the other model 3227 4x32), a black airless sprayer and a jointer/planer. The estimated loss is more than $860.
"Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" is the message that the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and other local law enforcement agencies around Cowlitz County are sending. By the end of November 2014, Cowlitz County law enforcement agencies investigated 3 fatality collisions involving impaired drivers. Impaired driving continues to be a leading factor in Washington traffic deaths.
A Vader couple accused of killing a 3-year-old boy pleaded not guilty during arraigned Thursday and are scheduled for trial next month.
Brenda Wing, 27, and Danny Wing, 26, are accused of homicide by abuse in the death of Jasper Henderling-Warner, over whom the Wings had legal guardianship at the time of his death.
The Pacific County Senior Center is located at 324 Jackson Street in Raymond. Meals are served at 11:45 for those 60 and over for a suggested donation of $4. This week's menu includes:
Wednesday - December 17
Raymond
American Legion Potluck
The American Legion Raymond Post # 150 meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 7 p.m. A potluck dinner, beginning at 6:15 p.m. precedes the first meeting. The legion auxiliary also meets at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month.
A local family has opened a restaurant they hope will fill the need for breakfast and lunch options in Downtown Toledo.
Java Café and Moore, located at the corner of Kellog Way and Ramsey Way, is owned and operated by husband and wife team Tom Moore and Dana Moore, of Silver Lake, who began the venture after spending too many commutes through Toledo without a place to grab coffee in the morning.
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