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By SCOT PEARSON

For the Port of Willapa Harbor, business is looking up, but it has not come easy over the past few years.

Rebecca Chaffee, Port Manager, in the position since 2004, has been working to ensure that the port survives along with the industries and communities that are integrated into its wide breadth of locations and facilities.

Pioneer Grocery was honored as Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce
Business of the Year at the annual Chamber Banquet on Feb. 8th. Pictured from left are owners Rick and Tracy Manlow, Chamber presenter Scott McDougall, and owners Mike and Tia Johnson.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) urged the Army Corps of Engineers to include dredging investments for key Washington state small ports in their Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Work Plan. In a letter to the Army Corps, Cantwell said that projects at Baker Bay, Chinook Channel, Kenmore Navigation Channel and the Quillayute River should be prioritized.

Editor's Note: Below is a note from RHS Athletic Direcstor Jason Koski, followed by Rob Clements' Letter of Resignation.

Media-

It is with great disappointment that I am reporting that Rob Clements has resigned his position of Head Football Coach at Raymond High School.

"Rob has demonstrated a high character leadership model for our kids and has given them the lifelong tools to be successful in their future lives.  We appreciate his tenure at Raymond and wish him nothing but the utmost success as he ventures down the road he has chosen to follow."

To make the transition as smooth as possible for our student /athletes, school and community we have opened the position in-house and look to fill the position as soon as possible so the new staff can prepare for future successes.

I have included his letter of resignation, with his consent, because we feel it truly explains the 'why's' and 'what's' he wants to accomplish, as well as his thoughts about his experiences at RHS.

Respectfully,

Jason Koski
Athletic Director

Raymond High School

By GEORGE KUNKE

Tom Betrozoff, veteran and legendary coach for Willapa Valley, and more recently, South Bend, has resigned from his heading coaching position.

Betrozoff coached the Willapa Valley girls for more than 20 years,

Running a three-day operation that ended in more than 100 arrests dubbed “Operation Safe Harbors”, a joint effort of law enforcement was aimed at locating wanted felons and checking the status of registered sex offenders across three counties, including Pacific, Mason and Grays Harbor county deputies, led by the U.S. Marshal Service, was praised by county sheriff’s.

The Ostrea lurida is one step closer to becoming the official oyster of Washington state.

The small oyster would earn the designation under Senate Bill 6145, sponsored by Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond.

Clam diggers looking forward to the next razor clam dig on Washington beaches now have two more months of possible options to consider.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has released a list of proposed digs in March and April, adding to one previously announced for Feb. 26-28.

By SCOT PEARSON

Willapa Bay Hardwoods has been up and running for the past 10 months and looks to be taking the next step in increasing their production.

The Willapa Valley Class of 2018 Garage Sale is scheduled for this Saturday between the hours of 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Willapa Elementary gym. Come on over and support the young Vikings.

Willapa Valley FCCLA STAR Events participants traveled to Toledo last Thursday. The three teams that competed all received gold ratings and are on their way to the state leadership meeting this March 26-28 in Wenatchee. 

The 61 members of Willapa Valley celebrated FCCLA week, February 10-14 by focusing on this year’s theme “Exceeding Expectations”. 

To the Editor:

Diana Thompson, chairperson for the PUD continues her refusal to release requested information for the totally unnecessary Tokeland extension. Service is already provided this area by the Grays Harbor PUD to the satisfaction of rate payers in that area and by the provider.  

Drivers on State Route 6 at the Willapa River Bridge, outside of Menlo, will encounter 10 weeks of around-the-clock single-lane traffic starting on Feb. 17.

A recent meeting of the Pacific County RC Flyers was used as forum to honor our departed charter club member George Fenstemacher.

County Clerk Kathy Brack has announced her bid for re-election and says she is hoping to continue running an effective staff and preserving the record of Lewis County Superior Court.

"The purpose of the Clerk's Office is to serve the public and the Superior Court," she said. "I have always believed these were of equal importance and that the people coming to the Clerk's Office deserve capable and helpful attention. An office is only as good as its staff. I believe the public finds my workers prompt, friendly, and responsive. Those are the qualities I have sought to instill.

Willapa Harbor Baseball Tryouts

By GEORGE KUNKE

Willapa Valley utilized its defense to thwart Adna's short-lived upset bid, 44-30, at the District IV Girls' Basketball Tournament Saturday evening at Montesano. The Vikings held Adna to 9 points in the second half.

By GEORGE KUNKE

Willapa Valley opened District IV tournament action with an exhilarating 55-51 overtime victory over Toutle Lake Saturday afternoon at Montesano. Matt Konigsberger drilled 20 points and grabbed a dozen caroms, and Stephen Camenzind was down for 17 points and 14 rebounds.

A wrongful death suit against a former Lewis County Sheriff’s deputy has been dismissed in US District Court based on a judge’s determination the defendant was protected by qualified immunity.

Former deputy Matt McKnight, as well as the Sheriff’s Office, were being sued for an estimated $10 million by the survivors of Steven Petersen, a Napavine man shot and killed by McKnight on June 20, 2011.

Washington State Patrol (WSP) wants to warn people that there is a phone scam occurring in Washington State requesting people to give their Social Security Number when they call an (813) Florida area code phone number as part of an identity theft investigation. 

WASHINGTON STATE PATROL
*                                   PRESS MEMO
DATE: 20140217    TIME: 1312    INV UNIT: 1110 - TROOPER J BLAKE
LOCATION:E12 DEVONSHIRE - ONE MILE WEST OF MONTESANO
COUNTY:GRAYS HARBOR    COLLISION REPORT NUMBER:3489261   CASE FILE:
NBR VEH: 01    CARS: 01    TRUCKS: 00    MOTORCYCLES: 00   PEDESTRIANS: 00
NBR INJ: 00    DECEASED: 00              DRUGS OR ALCOHOL INVOLVED: NO

WASHINGTON STATE PATROL
*                                   PRESS MEMO
DATE: 20140217    TIME: 1346    INV UNIT: 340 - TROOPER B TOLON
LOCATION:E12 MP9 - ONE MILE WEST OF MONTESANO
COUNTY:GRAYS HARBOR    COLLISION REPORT NUMBER:SECTOR   CASE FILE:
NBR VEH: 02    CARS: 01    TRUCKS: 01    MOTORCYCLES: 00   PEDESTRIANS: 00
NBR INJ: 01    DECEASED: 00              DRUGS OR ALCOHOL INVOLVED: NO

South Bend resident Jerry Bowman snapped this pic after the recent snow storm. Bowman said he is a collector of old signs and has this one on his property. If you're passing through South Bend, don't forget to stop in one of the fine restaurants or shops.

By VIVIAN EDERSHEIM

Things happened, and Sunday Afternoon Live’s scheduled performer asked to cancel his appearance for Feb. 23 at 2 p.m.

That’s the bad news.