Other Headlines

Monte school board eyes student cell phone use
The Montesano School Board wants to hold a series of meetings in March with parents and students before it crafts a policy regulating student use of cell phones during the school day. The board chairman, Ray Sowers, broached the idea at the board’s meeting last Thursday, Feb. 21.

“I think it’s very important that we get input from the parents, and students as well, before we do anything,” Sowers said. The district’s cell phone policy — or lack thereof — has been highlighted in recent weeks by the conviction of a former assistant football coach on telephone harassment charges. Some say district officials should not be surprised students have been sharing inappropriate pictures on their cell phones.

They cite a game the football team was playing in the fall of 2006 in which they were sending pictures of their private parts back and forth between buses while traveling to away games as part of a game to see who was the biggest. That activity was banned by school officials when they learned about it, but it does not appear parents, board members or law enforcement learned about some of the players’ illegal cell phone activity until long afterward.

Elma sets EMS fee
The Elma City Council adopted an ordinance implementing an emergency medical services utility fee at their meeting last Monday. With Harry Henneck absent, the other four council members approved the ordinance unanimously.
They then passed a resolution by 3-1 to set the rate at $11.17 per month. Elma’s utility bills are issued bi-monthly, meaning the charge on each billing will be $22.34.

McCleary School receives donations, prepares for modernization
Approval of the design for the McCleary School modernization project will be on the school board’s agenda for the March 20 meeting. John Crook of Longview, architect for the approximately $9.7 million project, met with board members and others before and during the board’s Feb. 21 meeting. The school’s extreme makeover will include redesigning the front entrance for better public access to the office, while providing closer monitoring of persons entering the building; additional parking; remodeling and expanding the kitchen and serving areas; modernizing the plumbing and electrical systems and earthquake infrastructure upgrades.

More Sports

Monte’s Pocklington tagged as all-league
Montesano junior Aubree Pocklington earned a slot on the 1A Evergreen All-League team following a vote by league coaches for the post-season honor. Onalaska junior Amber Durand was the league’s most valuable player, with Toledo’s Mandie Olson, Rainier’s Dave Wasankari and Winlock’s Jim Swain shared coach of the year honors.

Monte’s Ford earns honorable mention
Coaches from around the league recently submitted votes for post-season honors, and Montesano senior Bryson Ford was given an honorable mention to the 1A Evergreen All-League boys basketball squad. Toledo senior Talon Rakoz and Winlock junior Jordan Davis Jr. split most valuable player honors, while Rainier’s Josh Frunz was tagged as coach of the year.

Spring razor clam dig tentatively set for early March
OLYMPIA – Due to low participation in the razor clam dig earlier this month the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recently announced in a press release that a six-day clam dig tentatively scheduled for March 7-12 at one ocean beach and March 8-9 at another. The proposed razor clam dig will open on evening tides March 7 and 8, then switch to morning tides March 9-12.
The scheduled dates are: • March 7, Friday, 6:21 p.m., +0.3 Twin Harbors only • March 8, Saturday, 6:58 p.m., +0.5 Twin Harbors and Long Beach only • March 9, Sunday, 8:28 a.m., +0.3 Twin Harbors and Long Beach only (switch to morning tides) • March 10, Monday, 9:12 a.m., 0.0 Twin Harbors only • March 11, Tuesday, 9:59 a.m., -0.1 Twin Harbors only • March 12, Wednesday, 10:51 a.m., 0.0 Twin Harbors only