Other Headlines

Racial death threats made at EHS
Police investigate bathroom scrawls
ELMA — The Elma School District is still investigating graffiti death threats discovered last week against three African American students at Elma High School.

The threats, written in a marker on a boys bathroom stall in the school’s main building, were found March 2 by a custodian who was cleaning, principal Kevin Acuff said Tuesday, calling the incident “a reprehensible and a cowardly act.”

Though Acuff said he didn’t know the time of day the threats were written, they were discovered about 5 p.m., which could mean it wasn’t a student who penned them, Superintendent Howard King said. Or it could have been a student, King said. Only finding the culprit will tell.

New Monte organization
MONTESANO — The City of Montesano has reorganized its staff leadership. The city council approved the changes 4-2 Tuesday evening, with Councilmen Pat Herrington and Chris Hutchings voting no. The changes take effect March 15.

Forester Loren Hiner will take on additional duties with the management of the city’s parks and trails when he becomes the city’s director of natural resources. Parks management has largely been vacant since the city did away with the Parks Department last year due to budget cuts.

Public Works Director Mike Wincewicz will shift focus to things like zoning, annexations, code interpretation, downtown development as director of community development, planning and facilities. He also will supervise the city’s motor pool.

Mayor ousts Taylor as council’s union liaison
ELMA — When Elma’s Mayor Dave Osgood and the city council met behind closed doors near the end of their March 1 meeting, Osgood said they’d be discussing union contract negotiations. That, according to state law, is perfectly legal.

But some say Osgood may have stepped over the line when he made what two councilmen involved say was a surprise announcement — that one would be replacing the other as a council liaison during contract negotiations with the Teamsters Union regarding the city’s public works and clerical employees.

State law allows a public entity to participate in collective bargaining in executive sessions, since making public what contract terms might be offered would put the entity at a disadvantage.

‘Most Wanted’ nabbed near McCleary
McCLEARY — A man profiled on “Washington’s Most Wanted,” a TV Q13 Fox News show, was arrested Sunday near McCleary by Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s deputies.

Responding to a report of a vehicle prowl on Stillson Road, the deputies and McCleary Police found Jeffrey Burgess, 42, of Yakima in a house under construction on the Elma-Hicklin Road, said Chief Criminal Deputy Dave Pimentel of the Sheriff’s Office.

Burgess had fled from a neighbor of the car’s owner who was armed, Pimentel said. Burgess was released Wednesday to be transported to authorities at the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office.

More Sports

Eagles second at district tourney
LACEY — Standing toe-to-toe with top-ranked River Ridge, Elma utilized a late bucket to force overtime. However, lightning would not strike twice, as a last-ditch Eagle shot to retie before the end of OT fell short (points wise), and the Hawks collected the 2009-10 2A District IV girls basketball championship with a 78-77 victory Friday, March 5, at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey.

Including two regular-season meetings, this marks the third loss to River Ridge (22-1) for fifth-ranked Elma (19-4). Despite the loss, the Eagles will join the Hawks at the 2A state tournament, which is being contested through Saturday at Yakima’s Sun Dome.

Monte boys, girls nab powerlifting titles
WHITE SALMON — Running away with the boys team title and winning the girls team competition by a fair margin, Montesano tallied a pair of team honors at the White Salmon Invitational powerlifting meet Saturday, March 6, at White Salmon. The Bulldogs boys took the team title with 64 points, 44 up on runner-up White Salmon. The Monte girls amassed 64 points to top runner-up Northwest Christian of Lacey by 14.

Hintzes sweep both days of Doo Wop Rally
Enumclaw driver Dave Hintz and co-driver Rick Hintz turned in the fastest cumulative times on both days of the Doo Wop Rally that traversed paved and gravel roads throughout Grays Harbor and Pacific counties last weekend. The Hintzes in their 2002 Subaru WRX clocked in at 33:28 during the rally’s opening stages Saturday. Runs on the first day included Blue Slough Road, the Pico near Wynooche Lake and 13 Corners.