Other Headlines
‘Most Wanted’ man nabbed
Suspected Oklahoma abductor arrested on Harbor; teen girl rescued
Across the bottom of a picture of blonde-haired Deborah “Kalai” Fourzan, 14, on the “America’s Most Wanted” Web site this week is one word: “FOUND.”Similarly, one word crosses the bottom of a picture of 41-year-old James Reimer: “CAPTURED.”

Thanks to numerous law enforcement personnel — including Trooper Joshua Mullins of the Washington State Patrol, who found Kalai in Grays Harbor County last Saturday — those two words mean an Oklahoma family is no longer agonizing about whether they’ll ever see the young teen alive again. Those words also mean that the 41-year-old man allegedly responsible for Kalai’s disappearance nearly six weeks before is in custody and facing charges that, if James Reimer is ultimately proven guilty, will prevent him from causing such heartache to another child and family any time soon.

County facing shortfall
County commissioners are asking for ideas to combat a $1.5 million shortfall in this year’s budget. New budget forecasts estimate a decrease in timber revenue and interest earnings and a decline in tax collections not anticipated in initial calculations last fall.
“That’s going to be a moving target,” Commissioner Mike Wilson said of the projected deficit. “I think it may be more.”
The $1.5 million projected shortfall represents about 6 percent of the general fund, the main county budget account.
At a meeting attended by more than 100 county employees, commissioners laid out the pending budget shortfall and proposed several possible solutions.
“The reason most of us are here is to save jobs,” said Senior Clerk Kevin James, union chapter chair for courthouse employees.
Union members planned to meet several times this week with each other and commissioners.
Wilson said the proposals are suggestions and those involving staff pay need union approval before implementing.
They include:
• Laying off employees. For departments requiring 24-hour, 7-day-a-week staffing, such as the jail, juvenile detention facility and sheriff’s office, lay-offs may be the only solution.
• Furlough or reduced work week. Having all county employees except departments having to work around the clock and elected officials (whose salaries by law cannot be cut) take the equivalent of one or two days a month off. If the program begins in April, the county would save nearly $1.1 million.
• Reduce operating hours and staff hours by one-half hour per day. Method can’t be used for 24/7 operations. Applied to all other employees, the county would save $495,000 if the program begins in April.
• Encourage voluntary retirement for qualified employees.
• Reduce by program as grant funding disappears. For example, if Washington State University closes its Grays Harbor County Extension program as proposed, the county would save nearly $200,000 for the whole year (pro-rated to the time of closure).
• Extend the service life of county vehicles and eliminate non-essential vehicles.
• Restrict all non-essential purchases.
• Elected officials could donate salaries to the general fund and take a federal tax deduction.
• Elected officials could pay family or employee medical costs and take a tax deduction.
• Immediately increase fees for county services and establish fees where none are currently charged.

Montesano schools may cut up to $1 million
A meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 23, in the Junior-Senior High commons.

The Montesano School District will have to cut $500,000 to $1 million from its 2009-2010 budget to start digging out of its hole and prepare for impending state cuts, Superintendent Marti Harruff said. That’s the amount she anticipates the state may slash funding to the district for the district’s 2009-2010 budget, Harruff said. However, “we don’t know exactly how deep we have to go,” she said.

The likely state cuts add to an already dismal financial picture that’s seen the district run up a nearly $50,000 deficit last school year and anticipates a $225,000 deficit at the end of the current $11.6 million budget. District leaders are working with the state under the supervision of Education Service District 113 to improve the district’s finances. On Thursday, March 12, the district hosted the first of two public forums to discuss possible solutions. The main reason the district is in such a bind is twofold: The district over-estimated how much money it would have available for several years and is overstaffed, Harruff said.

No deal yet on FD5 pact
Elma, McCleary and Grays Harbor Fire Districts 5 and 12 could be close to approving an ambulance service contract through 2013. But it will remain up in the air until at least early next month. A contract between the four expired Dec. 31, but they agreed to extend it through April 30. Besides its own area, which includes Porter, Satsop, Bush Creek and rural Elma, District 5, which is struggling financially, has been providing services to the other three entities since taking over the Medic One service from McCleary-based Hospital District No. 1 in 2005.

Satsop seeks $60,000 school levy
The Satsop School District will ask voters to give them nearly twice as much in their next levy as they get from the expiring two-year levy.

“After looking at the shortfall we had, I think we’re going to need $50,000, so we should go for $60,000 so we can build up our reserve,” School Board member Jason Olsen said.

The board unanimously approved a levy Monday evening, March 16, seeking $60,000 in both 2010 and 2011. The anticipated levy rate is nearly $1.72 per $1,000 of assessed value. The current levy collects $35,000 per year at a rate of nearly $1.03 per $1,000.

The levy is slated to be on the ballots for a May 19 special election.


More Sports
10U Eagle Fastpitch tryouts planned
The Eagle Fastpitch competitive softball team will be holding tryouts for its 10 and under squad at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 21, at the Elma High School Gymnasium. Tryouts are open to all interested girls in the age group. To participate, bring appropriate fastpitch gear – mitt, helmets, tennis shoes (not cleats), etc. – to the gym at 9:45 a.m. A parent or guardian is required to be present during the entire tryout.
If you have questions call Scotty Scott (360) 482-3881.

Elma girl earns spot at Dance/Drill state
Elma’s Jessica Matthews qualified for the 2A State Dance/Drill Competition. Matthews earned a berth in the Drill-Down event and will compete at Yakima’s SunDome on Friday, March 27.