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Remember the Barefoot Bandit, Colton Harris-Moore. Well, he might not know it but he's done a good deed for HAVA (Harbor Association of Volunteers for Animals).

By SCOT PEARSON

The Raymond City Council, meeting on March 3, quickly ran through the business of the city and with it approved the 16th change order for the ongoing repair work at the Willapa Waste Water Treatment plant.

Eastpoint Seafood & Dungeness Development Associates in South Bend has been forced to suspend operations effective February 20^th, 2014. The business has relocated to 350 Blake Street in Raymond (behind Dennis Company) and is the process of having operations transferred to Tokeland. Currently only canned seafood is available in Raymond. The business was open for 17 years and dozens of jobs have been put on hold in South Bend. The business owes $80,000 in back rent on the current account and also from past leases. $65,000 of the rent is from previous leases. The company also has a $50,000 past due water bill to the city of South Bend, which has placed a lien on the property. The business was established in South Bend in 1942.

The HAVA auction link was temporarily pulled by Ebay Monday night at 7:30 

By SCOT PEARSON

Western Wildlife artist and Raymond resident, Ken Hurley is busy packing up these days.

“Just getting ready for the Great Falls show,” said Hurley during a conversation at his home studio.

By SCOT PEARSON

At the March 4th Pacific County Public Utility District Commissioners meeting, among the service extensions for port customers, the group heard a presentation that outlines the current $15 million bond proposal that will finance PUD projects through 2017.

The Willapa Hills Audubon Society would like to invite local residents for a field trip to Woodland Bottoms for nature viewing this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The focus of this trip is cranes and nesting herons, owls, and eagles. Space is limited, so contact John Green at (360) 575-9238 or jgreen2317@aol.com to reserve a spot. The intent is to select a meeting place in Longview and depart from there in the morning and return that afternoon.

A good 400 participants turned out in the cold and wet to get even colder and wetter for the S&M (Sand & Misery) Challenge Saturday in Castle Rock.

Organized by Cowlitz Valley Runners (CVR), this five-kilometer obstacle course is in its fourth year and has seen participation continue to grow, according to CVR President Dave Vorse.

A number of eager young hands joined those volunteering to help cleanup Winlock Saturday during the second ongoing Clean Up the Coop event.

The volume of children joining their families was not without notice, including those who helped tackle a large patch of briars on Kerron St. across from the Community Building, as well as those picking up garbage along the railroad tracks.

At Raymond Elementary

By SCOT PEARSON

For the students at Raymond Elementary, March 4, was not just a normal day. For the past 15 years, third through sixth grade students display science experiments and hold a special day for visiting grandparents.

We are Becky Standal and Barb Lewis and we love books! You might even say we have a passion for reading and we really enjoy sharing our thoughts on what we think other might enjoy.

I, Becky, recently read All the Truth That’s In Me, by Julie Berry, an intricately told young adult novel that’s great for both teen and adult readers.

Before you dash out into the garden, I hope you stroll around DOWNTOWN and UPTOWN and take a look at all the exciting developments happening in CASTLE ROCK. There are lots of new businesses opening, and we will be reporting weekly on those, so watch for our announcements.

Now for events: last weekend we had the S & M CHALLENGE and it was another big success! Let’s give a special thanks to our city officials and our volunteers who gave many hours for our enjoyment. CASTLE ROCK has many more wonderful family events planned this year, so let’s get out and support and enjoy.

This is a big week for the ladies with the Women’s Club Salad Luncheon on Wednesday at noon and a Red Hats Gathering on Thursday at 2 p.m. Both take place at Pioneer Hall and all ladies are invited to join in the fun.

Thursday evening at 7 p.m. the joint Fire Commissioners meeting will take place at the Vader Fire Hall. All members of the Fire District are invited to attend these monthly meetings on the second Thursday of the month.

Mr Huffman says: This is the second year in a row that Kathy Welch, Toledo High School’s band and choir teacher, volunteered our band to help out another school during playoffs to boost their spirits. Just an example of the wonderful stuff she does and how our music program can affect other area schools as well.

Tuesday: Valley View Health Clinic hosts open enrollment for health insurance, followed by Open House 4 - 6 p.m. at 117 Ramsey Way, Toledo. Call (360) 864-4400.

I had the pleasure of talking with Shannon Criss, the Superintendent for Winlock School District regarding the split of the athletic programs between Winlock and Toledo. I was pleased to hear the athletic programs will not be affected, our kids need there extra curricular activities. If there are individuals who would like to get involved, she can be reached at the District Office 360-785-3582. Let’s continue to support our schools, show the students we care and we want them to succeed.

Continuing with the idea of helping our young people, I thought it would be a good idea to interview Oskar Musgrove from the Winlock Martial Arts (360-304-9151). He offers programs from Tae Kwon Do, kick boxing, Wrestling, MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), Muay Thai (form of kick boxing from Thailand) and Women’s self defense. He was in the semi pro world opening up for Denny the Jet and Bill Wallace. Winlock is lucky to have a man who is willing to put the time and effort in to helping the kids of our community.

Projects in the works

By DICK WOODS

As winter slips away, the Willapa Harbor Lions are working on several annual projects. The first project for the New Year is getting ready for the Kid’s Fishing Derby at Case’s Pond. Each year the trail around the pond has to be checked for any dangerous spots and the fish have to be ordered for the big day on Saturday, April 26^th.

The Toledo Indian basketball team returned from WIAA State Basketball Championships in Yakima with a 6th place trophy after dropping a 54-39 contest to Cedar Park Christian of Bothell on Saturday morning.

"We know we can compete with anyone out there and that when they play us they are going to get our best shot," said student Grant McEwen. "The young guys have stepped up tremendously and I couldn't be more proud of them."

The Winlock Winter Sports Cheerleading team had been recognized for their scholastic achievement by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA).

The team received an Outstanding Team Award because they have a collective grade point average of 3.7 out of a possible 4.0.

A Longview man is safe despite almost drowning during a vehicle collision Saturday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

The 22-year-old driver of a Volkswagen Rabbit had been traveling near Milepost 2 on Winlock-Vader Rd. at around 10 p.m. when he lost control after encountering standing water on the roadway and drove into a water-filled ditch.

Local business owner Nicholas Delin has formally challenged a finding of arson as the reason his warehouse burned down in Toledo more than two years ago on the basis of a lack of tangible evidence.

Delin has told Town Crier an investigation of his own into the Aug. 25, 2011, fire at 117 Ramsey Way has shown the real cause had been accidental and the result of an electrical failure, and he has petitioned both his insurance carrier, Lloyd’s of London, and the Toledo Police Department to change their findings.

Local EMS and fire calls between March 2 and March 9.

One sentence and two warrants were issued by Interim-Judge Jason Fugate during Winlock Municipal Court on Thursday.

The Washington State Patrol is reminding drivers that state law requires them to slow down, and move left if safe, when passing emergency vehicles stopped beside the roadway.

Emergency vehicles include police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks and highway maintenance vehicles with emergency lights activated.

The announcement today by the Obama administration to allow non-compliant or previously cancelled health plans to continue for another two years does not apply to Washington state.

ARTIC – Motorists traveling on US 101 in Grays Harbor County near Artic will encounter alternating, one-way traffic over the next several days while crews repair a 200-foot section of highway. Over the weekend, heavy rains and earth movement caused cracks to develop in the northbound lane, causing a section of roadway to slump about six inches. Last week the speed limit was reduced to 25 mph at the site when previous movement was detected.