Other Headlines
Replacing hospital now on back burner
At the suggestion of a member of its Community Advisory Committee, Mark Reed Hospital and Health Care District commissioners announced Tuesday that the idea of constructing a new hospital was being taken “off the table.” At least temporarily.

“I have one recommendation that would help us a lot, and that is for you gentlemen to come out and publicly say that the issue of building a new facility is off the table right now,” Ray Dudenbostel, an Elma attorney, told the board. “We want to make this hospital viable and a value asset before we look at a new facility,”

Elma fined $10,000 for lack of permit, violations
Mayor Dave Osgood of Elma says he and the city’s building official, Steve Petitt, were trying to do a good turn last April when they removed some tile containing asbestos from the kitchen of a vacant house the city owned.

The city had purchased the derelict house and was about to have it demolished to make way for an upgrade of the Elma Senior Center and space to house the East County Food Bank. It was a Saturday, their day off, Osgood noted last week, and the two thought they could do the job quickly and save hundreds of dollars that would have come from funds that had been raised for the senior center project.

But their good intentions and a lack of accurate information led the two men astray. The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency and the state Department of Labor & Industries fined the city more than $10,000 combined, saying the work was done without required prior written approval and not according to approved procedures. The Clean Air Agency dinged the city for $2,800 for not having the required permit and notified Labor and Industries, which then levied $7,250 in fines for 10 violations. Osgood and Petitt appealed the Clean Air Agency violation, and all but $700 was suspended, with certain conditions. The L & I violations were appealed earlier this month, and the city is waiting for a hearing notice.

Meet the candidates for county commissioner
Between the national banking disaster and the state’s revenue shortfall in a recessionary economy, one might ask why anyone would want to be an elected official in times like these. Nevertheless, the four candidates seeking election to the Grays Harbor County Commission each believe they have the leadership skills that will be needed during the inevitable tough times ahead. Voters countywide will pick two commissioners on Nov. 4.

The race for District 1 pits Democrat Terry Willis of Brady against Republican Ken Estes of Montesano. They emerged as the top-two vote-getters in a primary election that featured seven candidates. In the race for District 2, the incumbent, Democrat Mike Wilson of Aberdeen, faces a challenge from Republican Frank Moses of the Wishkah Valley.

More Sports

Montesano sending trio of golfers to state
TUMWATER – Finishing runner-up to defending state champion Ilwaco, Montesano was able to advance three players to the state tournament from the District IV 1A Golf tournament on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Tumwater Valley Golf Course.
The top-10 players earned a spot in the state tourney next spring, and they were paced by the district’s individual champion, Ryan Kukula of Ilwaco who fired a 144 for the two-day tournament. In fact, the Fishermen took the top-four spots, with LaCenter’s Tanner Roggenkamp taking the fifth spot with a 157.

Eagles surge past Chehalis in five games
ELMA – After being pushed around by Chehalis in the first game, Elma regrouped and answered with a hard-fought win of their own in game two. From there both teams played evenly, with the Bearcats taking game three by seven points, and then the Eagles nabbing game-four by the same margin. In the final game, it was even through a 5-5 mark, and then Elma went on a 10-3 tear to take the third game, as well as the, 14-25, 25-16, 18-25, 25-18, 15-8, 2A Evergreen Conference volleyball match up on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Elma’s High School Gymnasium.

Elma’s Voltage brings home title from Wenatchee
The U13 Elma girls soccer team, the Voltage, traveled to Wenatchee for Oct. 11-12 to take part in the Wenatchee Apple Cup. The Voltage took first place. Team members are as follows: Alyssa Sutherby, Maddie Miller, Sydney Smythe, Alyx Marsh, Katie Sund, Robbi Arrington, Hannah Heelan and Michaela VanFossen, Coach Chris Schumacher, Lexie Whipple, Savana Horton, Brooke Goldsmith, Ciara Templeton, Haley Ulakovich, Colby Trusty, Eliza Kinnaman and Assistant Coach Tammy Sund.