Other Headlines
Elma man hurt in ‘vicious’ hammer attack
ELMA — A rural Elma man was found severely beaten early Saturday afternoon, when the man’s sister stopped by his home on Wenzel Slough Road south of town to check on him, Grays Harbor County Undersheriff Rick Scott said Monday. The “vicious assault” with a hammer had happened the night before, he said.

Darron K. Deitrick, 27, of Rochester appeared in Grays Harbor Superior Court on Monday afternoon and was charged with “assault first degree with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily harm or death,” said Grays Harbor Deputy Prosecutor Gordon Wright. Bail was set at $150,000, Wright said.

Allen West, 44, was taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, where he underwent surgery for a fractured skull, Scott said. West was in fair condition Wednesday, hospital public relations coordinator, Jennifer Reynolds-Sanchez, said.

Junk or not junk?
MONTESANO — There were two camps at a packed hearing before county commissioners Monday arguing the merits of a proposed junk vehicle ordinance: those opposed to restrictions on collecting cars and those wanting to curtail unsightly trash cluttering a neighbor’s yard.

“Some people just don’t like to look at another man’s treasures,” said car collector Jeff Nichols of rural Montesano, summarizing the heart of the conflict. He noted that vintage vehicles and the parts industry is a multi-billion business that the proposed law threatens by being too strict.

County budget cuts continue
MONTESANO — Six more county employees fell victim to the budget ax as commissioners continued making cuts to fill a $1.5 million shortfall. The cuts come after three employees were dismissed early last week. More could follow. Commissioners at a special meeting Friday, April 3, authorized department heads to start the layoff process for two sheriff’s deputies, a corrections officer, two custodians and a part-time licensing clerk in the Auditor’s Office. In August, an appraiser in the Assessor’s Office will be laid off and commissioners expect to lose a secretary in their office, who plans to relocate in the coming weeks or months.

Ruling prevents records release
Investigations into an allegation that an Elma teacher had inappropriate relations with a former student will remain secret thanks to a decision by Grays Harbor Superior Court Judge Gordon Godfrey. Godfrey ruled Monday that the Elma Police Department and county Prosecutor’s Office should not release the documents to protect the teacher’s privacy. Godfrey said he would review Elma School District documents to determine what portions should be disclosed to fulfill state public records law requirements, specifically regarding a “letter of direction,” which gives guidance to an employee in such incidents.

Elma student’s death mourned
ELMA — In the wake of the death during spring break of Elma High School student Austin Clark Burrows, the school “took a variety of steps to help its students deal with this tragedy,” Principal Kevin Acuff said this week.

Burrows, 18, was found dead Wednesday, April 1, at his home, said Dan Burns, Grays Harbor County deputy coroner. An autopsy was performed Friday, April 3, and the cause and manner of death are both pending until the return of routine toxicology tests, Burns said. Though school was out for the week, “the night (Burrows’ death) became known, several staff members and a counselor opened the school so that students would have a place to be together and share their grief and emotions,” Acuff said.


More Sports
Eagle girls notch mercy rule victory
ELMA — Behind four innings of lock-down pitching by Rachel Todd, Elma used a late offensive surge to pull ahead of Rochester and complete a five-inning 11-0 non-league fastpitch victory on Monday, April 5, at Eagle Field.

Todd began the game in complete control of the Warrior hitters; she struck out the first eight Rochester batters to come to the plate as the Eagles scratched out an early 3-0 lead.

Elma drops Tumwater baseball
TUMWATER — Elma’s solid pitching continues to present itself in games and the Eagles keep on winning. Elma seniors Jace Shelton and Andrew Burrows combined to hurl a one-run, four-hit, 2A Evergreen Conference baseball victory over Tumwater 4-1, Friday, April 3, at Tumwater. Shelton tossed the first six innings, striking out 11 and allowing only a single run in the fifth inning. Burrows then came on in the seventh to collect the save.

Monte girls sweep Winlock fastpitch
WINLOCK — Using solid pitching, an overwhelming offense and a tight defense, Montesano swept Winlock, 13-0 and 15-0, in a 1A Evergreen League fastpitch doubleheader on Monday, April 5 at Winlock. Monte pitcher Devyn Baker struck out 13 in a no-hit performance in the opener, while also tallying four RBIs. Aubree Pocklington pounded out three hits and two RBIs for the Bulldogs.