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Agencies home in on possible fire authority specifics
Who gets in, getting out, going to voters and accommodating current labor contracts were among the topics explored by the Regional Fire Authority Planning Committee as members shared more information Sept. 19 at the Cosmopolis Fire Hall.

It was the third time representatives of various Grays Harbor cities, fire districts and others had gathered to consider forming an organization of combined forces to meet fire and emergency medical needs of a number of areas of the county together, including Aberdeen, Cosmopolis, Montesano, Elma and outlying portions, such as Central Park, Artic, the Wynooche Valley, Brady, Satsop and rural Elma.

Montesano mulling sale of forest land
Resistance to logging roads and other tree harvesting activities that might interfere with the “viewscape” at Lake Sylvia State Park has prompted the Montesano City Council to start exploring whether to sell part of the city-owned forest to the state.

The issue comes up periodically every time the city proposes to log near the state park. Forester Loren Hiner told council members at their meeting Tuesday that resistance to the city’s original plan for harvesting blow-down from last December’s storm has brought the question to the forefront again.

Election candidate forum Saturday in Aberdeen
Candidates seeking election to state and local offices on Grays Harbor will take part in a forum from 1 to 3:30 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 27, at Aberdeen High School, 410 No. G St., in Aberdeen.

First up from 1 to 2 p.m. are five county officials who will offer status reports on their departments and be available to answer questions from members of the public. These officials, who are not on the ballot this year, include: Auditor Vern Spatz, Prosecutor H. Steward Menefee, Treasurer Ronald Strabbing, Coroner Ed Fleming and Commissioner Al Carter.

Fall brings with it fun activities on the Harbor
For those looking to spice up the first weekend of autumn, there’s a great crop of activities to be harvested Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26 and 27.
The fun, there for the reaping, includes farms, turtles, water — and lots more.

Farms
Montesano’s annual Harvest Celebration will kick off at 7 a.m. Saturday with a $5 pancake breakfast at the Oddfellows Lodge/Silvia Center, 116 W. Marcy St. A light lunch will also be served there from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for $5.

Four farm tour buses making stops at three unique farms and a slough will leave at 8 a.m., 9 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. from the Silvia Center. Cost is $3 per person/ $5 per family. If space is available, cost at the door is $2 additional. Reservations are recommended; call Monte’s Mayor Ron Schillinger at (360) 589-7353. Schillinger noted Wednesday that reservations for two forest tour buses, also part of the Harvest Celebration, have been filled, but there’s “still plenty of room” on the farm buses.

Turtles
The Montesano Lions Club’s annual “Turbo Turtle Trek” will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, with a free hot-dog barbecue and games for the kids. It’s a major fundraiser for the Lions, as well as an opportunity for everyone to head to the Wynooche River at Sterling Landing off Devonshire Road to watch, wait and hope his or her number will match the number on the first bright green plastic turtle to cross the finish line.

More water
The third annual Chehalis Watershed Awareness Week began Sept. 20 and will continue Friday, with activities to include an Urban Stormwater Project trolley tour from Centralia City Hall from 2 to 4 p.m. A social gathering and video, “Sea to Summit: A Journey through the Watershed,” are set for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Westport Winery. For the tour, call (360) 736-1477 or e-mail kashmore@cityofcentralia.com. For details on the evening event, e-mail tombougher@yahoo.com.

Watershed Awareness Week will culminate Saturday with the Watershed Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Morrison Riverfront Park and Rotary Log Pavilion in Aberdeen. There’s no charge to enjoy the hands-on activities and exhibits, dockside tours of the tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, children’s crafts, family storytelling and longboat sailings.

More Sports

Stewart stays perfect at Brownfield Memorial
ELMA — Bixby, Oklahoma’s Shane Stewart remains the only driver to experience the winner’s circle at the Brownfield Memorial Sprint Challenge after wining back-to-back feature races on Friday and Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma. Stewart also swept the inaugural Brownfield Memorial last year, and like last year he took home $10,092 for his efforts.

Montesano volleyball sweeps Forks
Behind a hard-hitting front row, Montesano only needed three games to dispatch Forks, 25-9, 25-18, 25-16, in a 1A Evergreen volleyball match up on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Bo Griffith Memorial Gym. In all three games the Bulldogs made good passes that lead to solid spikes, helping themselves to good-sized leads in each contest and leaving some room for error.

Bulldogs topple Toledo, 40-16, in league opener
Behind a hard-hitting front row, Montesano only needed three games to dispatch Forks, 25-9, 25-18, 25-16, in a 1A Evergreen volleyball match up on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Bo Griffith Memorial Gym.
In all three games the Bulldogs made good passes that lead to solid spikes, helping themselves to good-sized leads in each contest and leaving some room for error.