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This last Sunday, Toledo School District Superintendent Sharon Bower was given her last dose of chemotherapy to treat a case of breast cancer identified in February of 2012.

In addition to 14 months of chemo, she has undergone 36 doses of radiation therapy and three lumpectomies to treat a form of breast cancer doctors were not able to precisely identify, but were able to tell was very aggressive.

Chehalis, WA – Lewis County Public Health & Social Services in collaboration with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office wishes to obtain the services of one or more taxi companies to offer free transportation within a 15 mile radius between Centralia and Chehalis to those individuals who are too impaired to drive themselves home from local bars. The goal of the "Choose Your Ride, You Drink, We Drive" campaign is to increase awareness of alternative transportation. This campaign will start the evening of July 4 and run through 2 a.m. July 7.

Taxi companies wishing to participate may contact Melody Nelson, Traffic Safety Coordinator, at 740-1450, or email at melody.nelson@lewiscountywa.gov for further details.

The Renegade Rooster is not your typical tourist business. There are no signs showing the regular hours of this unique museum just outside of Downtown Winlock.

"As long as I am here, it is open," says owner and curator Roy Richards. The museum is a one-of-a-kind private collection of Winlock-area historical artifacts. Richards started the collection in 1994 and it has grown to the point where he and his late wife Linda needed to build an entire outbuilding to house the collection.

In light of a more positive financial outlook, Toledo City Hall will again be open on Fridays, restoring full-time employees to a five-day workweek.

Hours of operation had been cut back at the end of last year as spending from the general fund was headed toward a deficit. After keeping hours low, as well as seeing increases due to higher utility tax rates, Mayor Jerry Pratt reported June 3 he expects to reopen on Fridays and will keep an eye on the 2013 budget to see if hours need to be reduced again at the end of this year.

Last Saturday was a gorgeous day and it was great to see folks who enjoyed the drive to the end of SR 506 for the 5th Annual Blues Concert. It was definitely worth it! Some good "old time" Blues started out the show, then cranked it up a bit with "Daddy Treetops", ending with a bluesy, jazzy, rock & roll Jam Session.

The roll-up security window has been installed in Ryderwood’s Post Office (98581), bringing us to the next stage of the new hours transition. Now that the building is open for more hours (11:30 – 3:30), Rose finally gets to appreciate shorter workdays. It really doesn’t bother me too much if I’m picking up yesterday’s mail when I go in the mornings.

WSU declared the greater Toledo community "a good solid sustainable area in which to invest the efforts" of the Rural Communities Development Initiative. The Art Of Branding, presented by Roger Brooks of Destination Development International, is a free half-day seminar open to all, and a must for local business owners who want to help revitalize (re-invent?) Toledo. Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - noon at Morgan Arts Centre. To learn more about Roger Brooks, visit www.rogerbrooksinternational.com/speaking.

Winlock’s United Methodist Church would like to extend their thanks to Vonda McFadden for a great four years. Vonda has been reassigned to the Kelso sect, and the congregation is sad to see her go. Thanks for everything, Vonda! You will do great things.

My congratulations to all the students out there…school is just about out. The last day for Winlock schools is scheduled for Friday. Evaline Elementary will let out early on Thursday. To the parents of these same students, my condolences. You’re in for a long summer.

Neva Yuvonne Learmont, of Vader, died June 4, 2013. Born March 28, 1953, she was 81 years old.

She is survived by husband Charles Learmont, siblings Larry Huie and Bennie Huie, children Mark Eichler, Dianna Montez, Debrah Holton, and Dawn Learmont, 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Arrangements care of Cattermole Funeral Home.

Reino Walter Mannikko, of Winlock, died May 9, 2013. Born March 13, 1926, he was 87 years old.

He was preceded in death by wife Jean Mannikko. He is survived by Douglas (Patty) Mannikko, of Centralia, Sandra (John) Davidson, of Castle Rock, Joan Mathis, of Cathlamet, Tina (Joe) Sickles, of Winlock, Rene Parkison, of Winlock, Jeffrey Mannikko, of Wacolt, and William Mannikko, of Connell; eleven grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren.

As per his request, there were no services. Arrangements care of Cattermole Funeral Home.

The communities of Vader and the surrounding areas want to thank John, Ginnie, and Jason Dailey and all the other volunteers they got to help them at the Vader May Day. Starting about 3 a.m., they were getting ready for the day, getting all the food preparations done, including hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks, along with the condiments to put on them. In addition, we are so grateful for their cotton candy and face painting booths. They were very generous, expecting no money in return. They had a donation jar for anyone who wanted to give, but they didn’t pressure anyone for it. They wanted a chance to help anyone who wanted a nice lunch and to have fun on a day that is hard for families who are struggling. Thanks to them, no one had to go hungry on Vader May Day. We all want to give a great thanks to all that you guys do for the community.

Cadets with the 2013 Police Reserve Academy in Winlock have passed a major hurdle after being evaluated during mock scenes on Sunday, a portion of state testing said to be the most difficult to pass.

Cadets spent Saturday preparing for the test at Winlock Miller Elementary School by going through five different scenarios exercising many of the conflict analysis and resolution skills they have honed throughout the last four months.

Christopher R. Beecroft, 36, was contacted on the 100 block of Hopp Rd. N., east of Toledo, and told he was no longer allowed at the residence due to the order, but reportedly told deputies he was not leaving and told them to go, but was alter taken into custody.