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The Winlock and Vader Food Bank acquired a new director at the beginning of November as volunteers began preparing for the annual Walk ‘n Knock food drive this Saturday.

Chuck Sonner has taken over for former director Stan Taloff after Taloff had led the food bank (third-largest in Lewis County) for 27 years.

After a series of unsuccessful attempts to acquire other local cities as clients, wastewater treatment company Blue Array is looking to Vader for financial stability in the order of $14,000 per month, including back payments for services rendered since July.

The startup company has been testing their portable wastewater treatment system in Vader for the last year, with Blue Array claiming their system would be a significantly cheaper alternative to replacing Vader’s aging lagoon plant with a more conventional multi-million dollar oxidation ditch.

An increase in utility rates and a reduction in Public Works staffing were part of the 2014 budget passed on first reading by the Castle Rock City Council during their Nov. 25 meeting.

In anticipation of higher loan payments for recent infrastructure projects, the base rate and per-usage rate for water/sewer services was increased by 3.5 percent while the storm-water rate was increased two percent.

The Vader City Council has chosen to pursue an ordinance allowing recreational marijuana in industrial zones after being advised a moratorium would likely result in litigation.

It was decided unanimously Nov. 26 the council will prepare an ordinance adding recreational marijuana to the allowed uses of industrial property, with an intention of passing an interim ordinance during their next meeting Dec. 3.

All three area schools sent basketball teams to state in 2013. They saw a state championship, a runner-up to the state champion team and a Cinderella squad that shocked the region with timely victories. Gone are players like Brennon Rakoz, Austin Trafelet, Tierney Uhlenkott and Enrique Hernandez. Other names will have to be written into those shoes if any of this year's hoop squads expect to duplicate any of last year's success.

A Winlock man has been charged with negligent driving after rolling his truck near Winlock Nov. 27, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s office.

Michael Lion, 22, had been traveling on the 1400 block of King Rd., west of Winlock, when he attempted to pass another vehicle while on a sharp corner. His 2004 Nissan pickup spun out, then rolled into the ditch.

For those who believe THC has no harmful effects on the human body, please read on.

I was fortunate to go on a ride-along with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Thursday night. They had begun emphasis patrols in light of holiday travel and were out in force to combat dangerous driving.

A group of local business leaders met in Castle Rock last Saturday as part of the Buy Castle Rock 2014 initiative, a community-led buy-local program with the goal of doubling local sales during the next year.

Taking place at Parker's Steakhouse, the meeting saw businesses such as Rusty's Resale, Pastime Saloon, PT Northwest, The Tea Cup, Kim's Unique Boutique, as well as Parker's, joining to discuss how clients and customers from each store could be encouraged to visit others in the area, through cross-promotions such as gift certificates and mutual advertisements.