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Through Sunday late afternoon, there were another 417 coronavirus cases and six deaths confirmed in Washington, bringing the total number of diagnoses to 71,012, including 1,863 deaths, according to the state Department of Health. At least 6,530 people have been hospitalized in the state due to the virus. The DOH is in the process of changing its methodology for reporting testing numbers and isn't currently reporting the percent of tests in the state that have been positive.

State Icon, Gorton, Passes

Slade Gorton, who rose from the Washington Legislature to state attorney general to U.S. senator, inspired both loyalty and fury with his positions on some environmental issues and tribal fishing rights. Known as an independent thinker, he broke with the GOP in calling for President Nixon to resign and backing impeachment of President Trump. Gorton was 92.

After the abrupt and extreme changes that came this past spring when schools were closed statewide, we all did the best we could at school and home to see out the school year. Winlock School Superintendent Garry Cameron together with the district's new powerhouse administration team Scott Nye, Dracy McCoy, and Nick Birklid and Winlock's new Communications and Distance Learning Director, Megan Evander, in consult with a panel of community and school personnel, spent the summer aggressively planning, preparing and gearing up for returning to school in-person while also meeting the CDC's safety requirements. They were also simultaneously preparing for the potential pivot back to distance learning at any possible moment if a rise in cases of COVID-19 occurred. Unfortunately, that moment came before students could even step foot in the classroom.

On Saturday evening, August 22, Lewis County business owners and residents turned out to support the local FFA (Future Farmers of American) and 4H at the Chehalis Livestock Sale Barn. This is an event that usually occurs at the fair, but due to Covid the fair was cancelled.

Pacific County Health and Human Services would like to inform the public of a correction to the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pacific County. This occurred last week, which temporarily knocked the count back to 58. The individual being removed from Pacific County's case count was reported in early July. The individual was incarcerated in a correctional facility during their COVID-19 illness. Changes to reporting requirements required the case to be reassigned to the county of location.

Additionally, there was one case confirmed, so the total case count will remain at 59 cases. There is only one active case being monitored by public health nurses. The additional case is an individual between 60-70 years old and has been identified as a close contact to previously disclosed positive cases.

On August 20, Thursday evening Pacific County Fire District 3 and Raymond Fire was toned to the 1100 block of Mill Creek road for a fully involved structure fire.

PCFD#3 responded with two engines, two tenders, one brush truck, and a command vehicle. RFD responded with an ALS ambulance and a support vehicle. More response came from South Bend Fire, Pacific County sheriff deputies, Local PUD and Washington DNR.