Other Headlines

Nude intruders interrupted
Ex Monte chief’s ex arrested for sex escapade
ELMA — Two suspects caught “in the act” Monday morning in a house near Elma by a neighbor weren’t the only ones in for a surprise.

The estranged wife of former Montesano Police Chief Ray Sowers, Marla Sowers, 39, is accused of making a sex tape using a stolen video camera with a 31-year-old Elma man in a home they allegedly broke into. She was arrested Monday at a Montesano home and charged in district court with criminal trespass and possession of stolen property.

Hiding in some attic insulation in a McCleary home, alleged partner-in-crime Jeremy Keith was arrested Tuesday night on an unrelated prior felony warrant involving identity theft and second-degree degree theft, Grays Harbor County Undersheriff Rick Scott said. He was to be “seen in court on that, along with arraigned for criminal trespass and charges associated with the break-in to the home on Stamper Road” at 1 p.m. Wednesday, he said.

Oakville mayor quits
OAKVILLE — Brandon Atoch, elected Oakville’s mayor last November, abruptly resigned last week.

Atoch, 28, called The Vidette Wednesday, Aug. 18, saying he had quit as mayor, but the phone connection was filled with static, and after a short time the connection was broken.

A call to Atoch’s cell phone later showed the number to be out of service. Atoch’s home telephone has been disconnected, and he turned his city cell phone in to city hall, Clerk-treasurer, Amy Durga, said Friday.

Because the telephone at Oakville Hardware & Supply, where Atoch was manager and co-owner from the time it opened last fall until it closed in the spring this year, is also non-working, as is an Oakville phone number for his father, Joe Atoch, The Vidette was unable to contact the former mayor.

Atoch personally delivered a letter of resignation to city hall Aug. 18 that simply said, “I Brandon Atoch herby (sic) resign as of today. From the position of Mayor for the city of Oakville.”
The letter contains no other information, including any reasons for Atoch’s resignation.

An Aug. 19 story in the Centralia Chronicle quotes Atoch as saying he “wanted to bring better ideas to move Oakville forward, and I didn’t receive a level of support I felt I should receive.”

The Centralia newspaper also referred to Atoch’s having said he was tired of “councilmen’s mind games” and “me-first attitudes” and that, “It’s a hornet’s nest down at city hall, and there are people who would rather make people happy instead of try to make Oakville a better place to live.”

Referring to the Chronicle story, Durga said Friday Atoch’s comments were “antagonistic and not true.”

Prosecutor punched
MONTESANO — Being a deputy prosecutor can be downright painful, in more ways than one.

Monday morning, Gerald Fuller, chief criminal deputy for the Grays Harbor County Prosecutor’s Office, took a blow to the neck at a pre-trial hearing in superior court.

Corrections officers were in the process of bringing the defendant in a first-degree murder case, Roderick T. Reed II, to the podium in the courtroom, court papers say.

Bridge stays closed
HOQUIAM — The state Department of Transportation said Monday that Hoquiam’s Simpson Avenue Bridge will reopen most likely in November, instead of September, after permanent repairs are made to the foundation of the 83-year-old structure.

The department had hoped temporary repairs would allow the bridge to reopen next month, a news release said. But after analyzing soil data from a recent test, engineers concluded the bridge would remain too unstable to reopen it to vehicles.


More Sports

Fall prep sports season set to take center stage
The back-to-school sales have seemingly been ongoing since school got out last June. However, it might be time to take advantage of those now that August is coming to a close.

As with most seasons, fall sports are the first school-related activity of the year, and 2010-11 is no different.

Kicking-off the fall season as usual are the football jamborees.
Montesano will host a jamboree 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30, at Rottle Field. Ilwaco and Eatonville be in attendance at Monte. The cost is $2 or free with an ASB card.

Elma will also host a jamboree 6 p.m. Aug. 30, at Davis Field. Hoquiam and Orting will compete at Elma. The cost is $3 for all, no ASB cards will be accepted.

Monte boy places at youth racing nationals
RIO LINDA, Calif. — For this incoming Beacon Elementary School third-grader third, seems an appropriate number.

Montesano’s Aaron Lano recently took third place at the Quarter Midget Association’s Dirt Grand Nationals that concluded Aug. 14, at Rio Linda, Calif. The competition included divisions for children 5-16 years of age.

Lano, 7, competed in the Junior Honda division, which run four-horsepower, restrictor plate GX120 Honda engines mounted on miniature versions of wingless sprint cars. The vehicles feature full body harnesses and roll cages just like their full-size counterparts.

Sponsors for Lano’s car locally include KD&S Environmental and The Buzz and Hotshots Espresso.

Youth fastpitch tryouts planned
The 12U Dragin’ Magic fastpitch team will be holding tryouts for the 2011 season at 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, at Crait Field.
For more information call 249-3737.

Monte Sting earns second at tourney
PUYALLUP — The Montesano Sting youth baseball team recently placed second in a tournament held in Puyallup. Team members include: Kyler Doll, Sawyer Rhoden, Michael Tagman and Tyler Izatt; Tyson Johnson, Taylor Zillyette, Kylar Prante, Nick Chapman and Aavin Howell. Noah Quinn isustained an injury during the tourney. The Sting is coached by Pat Tagman, Larry Quinn and Brad Rhoden.