Other Headlines

Night out to encourage crime-free life
MONTESANO — What started out as a block watch has now evolved into a community awareness program in Montesano. The Montesano Police Department, as part of National Night Out, will host Night Out Against Crime from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3, at Fleet Park.

The department decided to host the event in a central location to allow interaction with as many community members as possible and to provide information on various services available and safety issues including emergency preparation, traffic safety and child safety.
The free event isn’t just for children, but is for the whole family and all community members, Kim Lillegard of the department says.

Featured activities include Frisbee tosses for all ages, Jaws of Life demonstration from 6:30-6:45 p.m., West Coast Search Dogs demonstration, hotdogs and ice cream sundaes and the Be Safe Be Seen bee mascot from the Traffic Safety Commission. In addition to these activities, adults can pick up free gunlocks and learn about child gun safety. A disc jockey from Jodesha Broadcasting will also be on hand to give out freebies.

Budget redux nixed
McCLEARY — At a meeting July 22 lasting 16 minutes, at which the McCleary City Council also passed a resolution allowing participation by phone, they failed to approve a proposed budget revision Mayor Gary Dent had worked on since last February.
The council had recessed its regular meeting the week before after Councilman Mike Lant noted Councilman Brent Schiller was absent. Lant said he didn’t want the council to vote on the proposed revision unless all members were present.

To pass, the supplemental budget ordinance, which if successful would have replaced the 2010 budget the previous council approved last December and reduced the budget from about $7.6 million to about $7 million, an average of 28 percent across all funds, required a majority of votes, plus one, city attorney Dan Glenn said. That meant it needed four favorable votes to pass.

Heat on the Street roars into Elma
ELMA — Cool cars and warm weather are on tap this we ekend in downtown Elma.

This weekend more than 200 cars are expected to descend on Main Street for the Second Annual Heat on the Street Custom Car and Motorcycle Show. Activities are scheduled for both Friday and Saturday, July 30-31.

Friday evening kicks off the festivities, as Jason Olsen will host a cruise-in for car show participants at his Edwards Jones office located at 305 W. Waldrip St. Classic rock cover band, The Varmints, are scheduled to put on a concert from 6:30-9 p.m. at Friday’s cruise-in.
On Saturday, car show registration opens at 7 a.m., with vehicles ready for viewing at 9 a.m. A show awards ceremony set for 2 p.m., and the cars will go their separate ways after 3 p.m. There is no charge to attend the show.

More Sports
EGH’s state run ends in top-four finish
CHEHALIS — Had it not been for Kelso, East Grays Harbor’s story at the Washington State 15-year-old Babe Ruth All-Star Tournament might have ended differently.

Kelso, the tourney champions dealt the Montesano-Elma combine a pair of losses — once in pool play and then again in the single elimination portion of the tourney, knocking East Grays Harbor out of the semifinals Saturday, July 24, at Chehalis High School.

The East County crew enjoyed better fortunes against the rest of the tourney field. EGH posted a 2-2 overall record, including the losses to Kelso, which helped earn them a spot in the final four teams.

Battle for Hobby Stock supremacy heats up
ELMA — Defending Hobby Stock champion, Zack Simpson of Hoquiam, has had his way with the Hobby Stock class in recent years. However, Tom Sweatman of Cosmopolis — a long time asphalt driver, has been devoting a full season to the dirt in Elma and is giving Simpson a run for his money.

Sweatman picked up his second win in as many weeks and his third overall for the season, helping him close the gap to less than 100 points behind Simpson for the season lead. Out of eight total weeks of Hobby Stock racing, Sweatman has three wins and Simpson the other five, as the Hoquiam driver leads the Cosi driver 890-812.