Other Headlines

School districts sigh with relief at enrollment
The Montesano, Elma and McCleary school districts are all reporting enrollment numbers that are either close to or above projections for the 2008-09 school year that started last week.
In Montesano, the full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment was 1,273 students as of last Friday, Sept. 5. The district budgeted for an enrollment of 1,195, “so we’re well above our budget,” Superintendent Marti Harruff said of the cushion.
Also, last year in September, the district reported 1,250 students, so the year is starting off with an additional 23 students.

In Elma, the enrollment on Friday was 1,679 — 48 more than the budgeted projection of 1,631 but 29 less than last year’s opener of 1,708. “While we did come in above, I need to say we had projected very conservatively because we’re not in a position to take chances,” Superintendent Howard King said. The district has experienced declining enrollment and budgeted carefully in the hopes of avoiding more cuts, he said. He noted that the district ended the 2007-08 school year with an enrollment of 1,705. “So it would appear the trend is continuing to go down,” King said. “In the past eight or nine years, we’ve probably dropped 370 students,” he added. “It won’t continue to go down forever, but these are financially challenging times.”

In McCleary, Superintendent/Principal Dan Bolender is keeping an eye on the door hoping for a few more faces. The district budgeted for an enrollment of 246 and as of last Friday it was 244.

United Way launches ambitious fundraiser
The United Way of Grays Harbor and Pacific County kicked off its annual fundraising week with luncheon events that began Monday, Sept. 8, and continue until Tuesday, Sept. 16. Even though this year donations may be harder to give due to economical pressures, it’s all the more reason donations are needed, the executive director, Lynsi Polanco, said. Last year, the amount raised was $425,000. Polanco says that the goal this year is even higher at $525,000. Steve Poler of Montesano, chairman of the United Way board, says that “we just want to spread the word,” and that in addition to the fundraising week luncheons, United Way can also visit businesses and talk about pay-roll deductions to benefit United Way.

More Sports

Cole nabs his 7th Sprint Season Championship
ELMA — Shelton’s Jay Cole picked up his seventh 360 Sprint Season Championship, sealing it with a feature win on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma. With this latest season championship, Cole ties George Wixon for the most 360 Sprint Season titles, and makes him the only driver to win eight season championships – including his 1991 Hobby Stock crown.

Monte soccer girls blow out Kalama
With an ultra-aggressive offensive attack and an equally impressive defensive performance, the Montesano Bulldogs blanked the Kalama Chinooks, 11-0, in a non-league girls soccer match up on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at Rottle Field. Picking up a hat-trick in the winning effort was Monte’s Allison Benedict.