Other Headlines

Four businesses cited for selling liquor to minors
Four businesses sold liquor to minors Saturday, June 7, during a joint enforcement effort by the Washington State Liquor Control Board and the Montesano and Elma police departments.

Tony’s Short Stop at 326 Main St. in Montesano received its third citation within the past two years for furnishing alcohol to a minor. The establishment faces a 30-day suspension of its liquor license, according to the state Liquor Control Board.

It was the first citation within the past two years for the other three businesses, which include the Montesano Quick Stop, 405 S. Main St.; Charlie’s at 313 S. Main St., both in Montesano, and DJ’s Alibi Sports Bar at 314 W. Main St. in Elma. Those three establishments face either a five-day suspension of their liquor licenses or a $500 fine in lieu of suspension.

Businesses that did not sell alcohol to a minor June 7 include Pick-Rite Thriftway, Monte Square Enterprise, C & T Food Mart, the Moose Lodge and the Beehive Restaurant, all in Montesano, the Brady Food Mart and the Del-Cris Grocery, Elma Lanes, Toad’s Express Mart and Deli and Schujack’s Bar and Grill, all in Elma.

Ban on guns in Monte parks shot down
Montesano Mayor Ron Schillinger has vetoed an ordinance establishing rules and regulations for the city parks because he wants the City Council to repeal its ban on guns.

“I don’t think we can do it and I’m passing it back for further consideration,” Schillinger said. City Attorney Dan Glenn said the mayor is right, and he’s chagrined that the issue got all the way to a council vote.

“The issue is that it was missed,” Glenn added. “I should have caught it.” The ordinance, adopted on a 6-1 vote at the council’s June 10 meeting, is a sweeping, 14-page set of rules that also bans weapons, dogs, horses, booze, fires, fireworks, camping, skateboarding and personal “sound amplifying devices.”

Candidate forum is July 2
A public forum for candidates seeking election to the Grays Harbor County Commission in District 1 is set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, at the Elma High School commons, 1011 W. Main St. Whitney’s Inc. of Montesano will sponsor the forum, organized by the Grays Harbor County Auditor’s Office.

Halibut season closed offshore
The offshore halibut fishing season in Marine Area 2 off of Westport has closed, but the nearshore waters of that marine area between Grays Harbor and the Queets River remain open on Fridays and Saturdays until further notice, state Fish & Wildlife officials announced last Friday.

Since the fishery opened May 1, anglers have made steady progress toward harvesting this year’s quota of 40,230 pounds for the offshore area, said Heather Reed, coastal policy coordinator. But enough of the 4,470-pound quota remains in the nearshore area to allow anglers two days of fishing a week until the quota is met, she said.

Although halibut fishing is closed in Marine Area 2, fishing for other bottomfish will remain open. Elsewhere, sport halibut fishing will be open June 21 in Marine Areas 3 and 4 (La Push and Neah Bay) at all depths. Coordinates and other regulations are included in the 2008-09 Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet.

Other Sports

Simpson, Hurd/Crawford, West Jr. and VanDam nab checkers at Raceway
ELMA – The victors in the Hobby Stock and Ford Focus Midget feature races were never really in doubt, however not all of the finishes in the other feature races were as decisive, setting up some exciting finishes at Grays Harbor Raceway, on Saturday, June 14, in Elma.

After only a single lap, Hoquiam’s Zack Simpson took over the lead in the Cut Rate Auto Parts Hobby Stock 25-lap feature, and then never looked back as he easily took the checkered flag. Shelton’s Dan West Jr. also grabbed the lead on the first-lap of the Ford Focus Midgets 20-lap feature and was never seriously challenged as he went on to take the win.

The driving team of Elma’s Aaron Hurd and Brian Crawford only led one of the 20 laps in the Cruiser feature, but it was the one that mattered the most - the final lap, as they took first. Henry VanDam of Enumclaw took over the lead in the 25-lap time-shortened Whitney’s Auto Group 360 Sprint feature after a restart on lap-13, then held on for the win.

Matthews steps down as coach of MHS Soccer
Following three consecutive girls state soccer tournament berths, Montesano coach, Ken Matthews, stepped down from the helm of the girls program last week. Matthews, who is a lender in the Anchor Bank business banking department, turned in his resignation to the school on Wednesday, June 11. During his three seasons at Montesano, Matthews amassed a 46-7-1 record, including two Evergreen League championships, a District IV 1A title and three trips to the state tournament. In 2006, the Bulldogs advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history.