Other Headlines

Simpson Door lays off two dozen workers
McCLEARY — Businesses, including those in East Grays Harbor County, are still being impacted by the troubled economy. Monday, the Simpson Door Co. in McCleary announced a “work force reduction,” laying off 23 employees as of last Friday.

“We sincerely regret having to take these steps, and we appreciate the hard work everyone has contributed in making Simpson Doors the best in the industry,” said Stacie Conkle, a 20-year Simpson employee who became the plant’s general manager last November. The company has worked with Carpenters Industrial Council, Local 2761, to “arrange for a work transition seminar for those affected” by the layoffs, said Dave McEntee, vice president of Operational Services and External Affairs.

Feds search Baum home after mom moves
McCLEARY — To leave no stone unturned, investigators into the disappearance of Lindsey Baum of McCleary, who disappeared more than eight months ago, are much more visible again this week.

At a press conference Jan. 27 at McCleary City Hall, Grays Harbor Undersheriff Rick Scott and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ron Twersky of the FBI talked about the FBI’s review of the massive investigation since Lindsey, 10, vanished last June 26 while walking home from a friend’s house. Her 11th birthday came and went July 7 without a solid clue to her disappearance, as has every day since then.

As a result of the FBI review and recommendations, activity would be ramped up soon, especially in McCleary, Scott said at the press conference. Since late last week, that’s included searching again the rented home Lindsey and her mother, Melissa, and brother, Josh, now 13, lived in on Mommsen Road and her mother’s car. Melissa and Josh Baum are moving to a cousin’s home in Rainier, Melissa Baum said Wednesday.

Injunction bars release
County workers sue to keep ICC report secret
MONTESANO — The taxpayer-funded review of the county’s Planning and Building Division will remain secret thanks to a court order barring its release.

Judge Gordon Godfrey issued a temporary order Friday, Feb. 26, in response to motions filed by Brian Shea, head of the Planning and Building Division, and the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, the union representing department employees.

Last year, the county hired the International Code Council to conduct a review of the county Planning and Building Division. A draft report was received Nov. 24. Commissioners never publicly discussed the document and released a highly blacked-out copy of the draft report in response to January public records requests.

The Daily World and The Vidette are among those who filed records requests for the documents.

Elma man electrocuted
MONTESANO — An Elma man was fatally electrocuted Friday evening, Feb. 26, after surviving a crash into a utility pole on Black Creek Road unscathed.

Roy Messenger, 50, of Elma was pronounced dead at the scene after paramedics unsuccessfully tried to revive him. Apparently, after losing control of the vehicle about four miles up the rural road and crashing into a power pole, he was able to call family members via cell phone to pick him up, Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Dave Pimentel said Tuesday.

An initial report in The Daily World that the man had been electrocuted while being extricated from the vehicle was incorrect, Fire District No. 2 deputy chief Larry Willis said.

Other media reports attributed Pimentel as saying Messenger was electrocuted while urinating onto a live power line.

That would have been impossible due to the location of the wire and doesn’t match the injuries, Pimentel and Willis said. Pimentel said he was misquoted.

PUD told to pay $4 million
HOQUIAM — Grays Harbor PUD commissioners voted to appeal a jury decision directing the public utility district to pay Spradlin Rock Products, Inc. $4.2 million.

On Feb. 25, after a seven-day trial, a Grays Harbor Superior Court jury determined that the public utility district owed the contractor for construction work provided at the request of the PUD following the severe storm of December 2007.

After paying the company $1.2 million, PUD commissioners stopped making payments the following spring. The company’s total bill was about $5.2 million. Spradlin also sought an additional $1 million in interest, at a 12 percent rate, for the unpaid bill.


Bottler: Tax bad for biz
ELMA — A proposed plastic bottle tax would be disastrous if it becomes law, Harbor Pacific Bottling Company general manager Tim Martin said.

“An excise tax on beverages would seriously depress sales, cost people their jobs and potentially force bottlers out of business,” said Martin, who serves as president of the Washington Beverage Association. “Bottlers already operate on a razor-thin margin in a highly competitive marketplace, which severely restrains our ability to absorb higher taxes.”

The governor’s proposal to impose a 5-cent-per-12-ounces excise tax on carbonated beverages and a 1-cent-per-ounce tax on bottled water would cost Martin’s company $1.2 million per year, many times more than it makes, he said.

More Sports

Montesano boys knocked out one win shy of state berth
KELSO — With only three teams advancing on to the state tournament, Montesano found themselves as one of the odd teams out after dropping a 61-52 consolation bracket matchup with Ilwaco in the 1A District IV boys basketball tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at Kelso.

The first half of the game determined nothing as Ilwaco outscored Monte 11-8 in the opening quarter, and the Bulldogs got the drop on the Fishermen in the second period 15-12 to send the team into the intermission with a 23-23 tie.

Elma boys ousted in district qualifier by Ridgefield
ELMA — Ridgefield set out on a pace that was too much for Elma to keep up with as they opened up a small lead that incrementally grew to a 63-49 victory in the 2A District IV play-in game Tuesday, Feb. 22, at Elma’s high school gymnasium. The Spudders owned the scoring advantage in each quarter, never allowing the Eagles to rally.