Other Headlines

Proponents pack commission tax hearing
MONTESANO — Their meeting room packed Aug. 31, Grays Harbor County Commissioners heard testimony from two dozen proponents of a tax increase to finance programs for mentally ill persons and those with drug and alcohol addictions.

If the commissioners agree, the retail sales tax in the county will increase 1/10th of a percent, as allowed by the Omnibus Mental and Substance Abuse Disorders Act of 2005.

Though unable to attend the hearing, Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, a sponsor of the bill that became the act, said in a letter that he’s “convinced” adding the tax and the treatment programs it could fund will save money by reducing criminal justice costs now spent on mentally ill and “drug-affected” offenders.

Man shot at Wynooche Lake dies
MONTESANO — A 25-year-old Olympia man, Westin Wolff, died early Saturday, Aug. 29, after a shooting at a campsite at Wynooche Lake.

“Preliminary indications” were that the shooting was “an act of self defense,” Grays Harbor County Undersheriff Rick Scott said Monday. No one else was injured, and no arrests had been made, he said.

Based on the preliminary investigation, including statements from “all those persons involved, as well as physical evidence at the scene, the preliminary indications are that this was an act of self defense that resulted in the shooting and the (resulting) death of Mr. Wolff,” the undersheriff said.

Raymond man arrested following collision
MONTESANO — A 51-year-old Raymond man was taken into custordy following a one-car accident at the on-ramp from Highway 107 to Highway 12 in Montesano on Friday, Aug. 28, according the Washington State Patrol.

The driver was reported as a possible DUI traveling north on Highway 107 approaching Montesano. The responding trooper intercepted the 1998 Lincoln Towncar near mile post-3 and as the trooper attempted to overtake the Towncar it entered the on-ramp and struck a guard rail, the state patrol said.

More Sports

Muller benefits from late mishap to take Modifieds
ELMA — With opportunities to pick up points for this season all but gone, Modified points leader, Josh Muller of Montesano, took advantage of a bit of bad luck from points runner-up, Scott Miller of Shelton, to make a late pass and win the feature at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma on Saturday, Aug. 29. The win extends his points lead to 29 points with just the season’s championships looming on the horizon, Sept. 12.

Outlaws coming to Elma this weekend
ELMA — Hang on to your Stetson — those perennial Outlaws are about to burst into Elma once again.

They show up about this time each year — but they’re not really bad guys. They’re just fond of fun, fast rides and fierce fights to the finish line.

Yep, pardner, the World of Outlaws will be racing again Monday — Labor Day — Sept. 7, at the Grays Harbor Raceway, near the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds, just east of Elma. Gates will open at 4:30 p.m., with the racing to start at 7 p.m.