Other Headlines

Mark Reed makes plans for three years
SEATTLE — A new facility to replace the aging and cramped Mark Reed Hospital in McCleary is again being planned. And hopes are that funding for it can be formalized about three years from now, with the source not to be property taxes, those working on the preliminary planning say.

Last October, commissioners of Grays Harbor County Public Hospital District No. 1, of which the hospital is a part, tabled the idea of a new facility, at least temporarily, when a bond election failed.

The hospital was built in 1956; the district, which includes Elma, McCleary, Satsop, Porter, Malone and surrounding areas, was formed in the 1980s, when it appeared a nuclear power plant at Satsop would provide the district with a tax base.

County preps for swine flu pandemic
MONTESANO — County officials are putting the steps in place to be ready for swine flu, also known as H1N1. Commissioners Monday approved a declaration of emergency regarding the pandemic. The declaration gives the county access to $290,000 in federal funds and allows the authorization of paramedics and emergency medical technicians to administer flu vaccine if needed.

“Today’s declaration is about ensuring access to additional resources, should we need them,” county health officer Dr. John Bausher said.

Whiteboards OK, state says
Monte School District off hook
MONTESANO — The Montesano School District isn’t in trouble with the state anymore about last year’s purchase of interactive whiteboards with bond money. The state Auditor’s Office on Monday revised its audit report, removing all references to the purchase of whiteboards and a walk-in freezer and the whiteboard bid process faulted in the original May audit report.

“It was a misunderstanding,” Superintendent Marti Harruff said.

Apparently the Auditor’s Office didn’t understand that the district’s whiteboards are high-tech computer devices, Harruff said. After receiving additional information from the district in July, the Auditor’s Office determined that the money had been spent appropriately so the report was revised, said Kara Klotz, Auditor’s Office spokesperson.

The district spent $80,674 of the $16 million bond on the whiteboards and freezer. The purchases ought to have been allowed under the terms of the bond, Harruff said.

More Sports

T-birds dampen Eagles’ Homecoming
ELMA — In very wet and rainy conditions, the game literally and figuratively slipped through Elma’s hands, where Tumwater picked it up and ran away with a 41-7 2A Evergreen Conference football victory Friday, Oct. 16, at Davis Field on Homecoming night. In the downpour, center-quarterback and quarterback-running back exchanges became very dicey. The tone of the game was set very early when Elma committed two procedure penalties before a third down snap hit the ground and Tumwater recovered at the Eagle 37-yard line.

Montesano soccer trounces Ocosta 9-0 on the road
WESTPORT — Scoring goals in bunches, Montesano used its superior depth to breeze by Ocosta 9-0 in a 1A Evergreen League girls soccer matchup Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Westport. Junior forward Sydney Bullington led the way for the Bulldog offense with four goals.

Jackson, Wheeldon run one, two at Hoquiam meet
HOQUAIM — Elma’s Todd Jackson continued his fine 2009 cross country campaign by besting the course record at a six-school meet Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Hoquiam’s Sea Breeze Oval. Jackson, a junior, finished the course in 15:40. That tops the old record of 15:46 set by Yonatan Yilma of Edmonds-Woodway in 2007.