SOUTH BEND - National news media sources released information that multiple murderer Michelle L. Knotek was scheduled to be released this past weekend from the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCFW) in Gig Harbor. Furthermore, local law enforcement was under the impression that she was scheduled to be released this past weekend to the jurisdiction of the Pacific County Sheriff's Office.

However, the Herald learned Monday morning that Knotek is not going to be released at this time.

The Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce officially welcomed Third Street Bakery and Bistro to the community by holding a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 16.
Bistro Owner Connie Becerra and Manager Kevin McCollum have actually been serving up delicious dishes and treats at this location since they opened the doors in January of this year. If you haven't gotten to try their food yet, you are truly missing out!

Avast there, and blow me down! Pirate Daze is upon us again.

This year the pirate will take over Westport for their free festival Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze from Friday, June 24 to Sunday, June 26.

The festival opens at noon on Friday and lasts until 7:00 p.m. Look for the action in the Westport Marina area.

It has been a labor-intensive, time-consuming process to get the local golf course (formerly known as Willapa Harbor Golf Course) restored and primed for linksters to shoot par on. However, owner Heather Hamilton is optimistic that at least three holes of the newly titled Riverwoods Golf and RV will be in play for the public sometime in September.

"The property is owned by our LLC, Willapa Harbor Golf LLC, but we are changing the operating entity to Riverwoods Park LLC, DBA (doing business as), Riverwoods Golf and RV," Hamilton told the Herald. "We took ownership of the course July 9, 2021." Riverwoods is a 9-hole golf course.

Pacific County Sheriff's Deputy Jesse Eastham was terminated from his position effective April 4, 2022, as the result of an independent investigator's report where Eastham violated multiple policies within the Sheriff's Department.

Since the middle of October 2021, Eastham had been on paid administrative leave. This action was the result of an investigation into Eastham's actions and conduct while on duty.

Eastham was issued a lengthy Brady Letter by former Pacific County Prosecutor Benjamin Haslam on January 13, 2021, before his administrative leave. A Brady Letter means that the testimony of the officer is under suspicion and that the officer was caught being less than truthful in the past. There are pending cases that are under scrutiny currently because they are based mainly on Eastman's testimony.

Raymond School District teacher Robert Swogger, who was arrested for assault in the second degree, a felony, for an incident that took place in a classroom, has a pre-trial court appearance scheduled for Friday, July 1 at 1:30 p.m. in Pacific County Superior Court, according to the Pacific County Prosecutor's Office.

Swogger, 43, who is also the RHS Head Volleyball Coach, has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation, according to information from the Raymond Police Department (RPD) report on the incident.

The Herald asked Pacific County Criminal Chief Deputy Prosecutor Daniel Crawford a few questions, including: Do you expect there to be a plea bargain in the case? Will your office ask for the stiffest sentence? Since many people know Mr. Swogger, do you think there's a good chance the case will be moved to another area?

Crawford's only response was, "The case is still on the newer side and will need to be evaluated after we have received the entire investigation to determine the most just path forward."

The Willapa Harbor Herald heartfully congratulates all of the student-athletes that competed at the Class 2B State Fastpitch, and Track and Field Championships this spring. The Pe Ell-Willapa Valley Titans captured their second state title and Raymond HS senior Kyra Gardner set a school record with four first-place medals to lead the Lady Seagulls to a third-place trophy. Willapa Valley HS junior Lauryn McGough set a state record in the pole vault and also garnered first place in the javelin.

South Bend will be hosting the Labor Day weekend celebration on September 1-4.

The Grand Parade is scheduled for Sunday, September 4 and the theme this year is Mythical Sea Creatures.

The Pe Ell-Willapa Valley Titans captured their second state fastpitch championship under the guidance of head coach Ken Olson at the 1B state tournament conducted at the Yakima Gateway Sports Complex over the weekend. The Titans also claimed the state title in 2017.

SOUTH BEND - The Community & Family Resource & Health Event turned out to be a gala and beneficial day that offered support for immigrants in north Pacific County. A few hundred people stopped by the Willapa Harbor Community Center in South Bend on May 14 to learn more about how to better adapt to a new community.