A Toledo educator, Jim Echtle, won the Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction Award. This award is given by The National Society of High School Scholars.
He was nominated by a student and received the news that he was recently selected to win the award. Jim Echtle is the teacher and sitting with him a few minutes, it is easy to see why. This is not the first time he has won the award, he won it 10 years ago as well.

Winlock High School hired a new shop/agriculture teacher and his name is Matt Montoya. Montoya has taught at other schools and he is still learning the ropes in Winlock. He will be the teacher who helps your child learn a trade and trades are just as important as college degrees. It's those trades that keep America going, from plumbers to welders and so much more.

The Winlock Olequa Senior Center has a new site leader, Rachelle Ireton. She is not new to helping seniors and she is definitely not new to the area. Rachelle will bring love and laughter to the center along with programs that seniors want.

Maia Chaney is a 2021 graduate of Winlock High School and during the summer she put on a play called Lorax. She is a go-getter, who wanted to do something to give back to her community and she did in more than just one way.

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of ARTrails, a group of local artists who showcase their work and their art studios. Richard Roth, Grand Prairie Design, has been a part of ARTrails since the inception. Richard is the 3rd generation living on his family farm and showing his work for all to enjoy.

Lewis County has their first forest fire in many years in East Lewis County near Packwood. At press time, the fire was only 2 miles from the city. If there was any doubt in your mind that the fires were impacting Lewis County, all you needed to do was step outside to see all the smoke in the air.

On Friday, September 9, 2022, Fire Chief Lonnie Goble from Lewis County Fire District 10 requested that Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste mobilize state firefighting resources at 9:15 a.m. The area of Goat Rocks was evacuated with a Level 3 Go Now and the City of Packwood remained on Level 2, be ready to evacuate.

The first day of school at Toledo School District was a first for the schools in our area. After delivering all the students to their homes, a school bus caught fire and is a total loss.

Winlock School District students are back to class and there are new staff as well. Tia Frazier is the new middle school counselor and athletic director for the high school. Tia comes to Winlock from Texas and she has the heart to go with her Texas roots.

On Monday, August 22 at 5:30 p.m., Winlock City Council held a hearing regarding the annexation of the Urban Growth Area into the Winlock city limits. The room was packed and overflow went well into the hallway with at least 15 to 20 people standing outside. The city council is not allowing the people to vote, instead they are using a direct petition by those who hold the most value, which means the developers not the residents. There is no vote for the residents in the Urban Growth Area, only the developers have the say at over 60% of the value.

A Place for Mom and Dad is a newer group home for Seniors here in Winlock. Betty Kitchen is the owner and with the help of her family and caregivers, she is taking care of seniors in need in her home and in their homes as well through Caregivers for Mom and Dad. Betty has come to Winlock to help aging seniors and their families.