Departures and Claims of Dysfunction Fired Administrators, Unethical Transactions and Nervous Staff at Morton Hospital
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Dog Perishes Adna Defense Sizzles in Blaze / Main 3 Pirates, Napavine and Onalaska Win Openers of Districts / Sports $1 Early Week Edition Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015 Reaching 110,000 Readers in Print and Online — www.chronline.com Chronicle Investigative Report Departures and Claims of Dysfunction Fired Administrators, Unethical Transactions and Nervous Staff at Morton Hospital By Dameon Pesanti decline of the timber industry, chased the hospital and incor- [email protected] Morton General has become porated it into Lewis County not only a critical access hospi- Public Hospital District 1, which “They didn’t know which expense account to put it Much like its namesake tal for the ill and injured in East is governed by a five-member into because where do you put someone’s car engine?” community, Morton General Lewis County, but also one of board of commissioners. To- Hospital has faced a lot of chal- Morton’s largest employers and day the district’s coverage area lenges over the years. a point of pride for many resi- stretches from White Pass to Eric Carlson, But, while the city has strug- dents. commenting on previous manager’s expenses gled to redefine itself since the In 1978, the county pur- please see HOSPITAL, page Main 9 Pe Ell’s Charlie Albright Comes Home Clerk on Paid Leave After Audit Findings REPORT: Town Considering Cutting Full-time Clerk Position, Replacing With Part-Time By Kaylee Osowski [email protected] The Pe Ell town clerk has been placed on paid administra- tive leave following the findings in an audit report for 2013 that detailed several financial issues in the town’s operations. Pe Ell Mayor Lonnie Wil- ley said clerk Jeanette Schwartz, who was primarily in charge of town business, was presented with a letter at about 11:30 a.m. Monday placing her on leave pending fur- Jesse Smith / For The Chronicle ther investiga- Charlie Albright opens up his performance with Beethoven Sonata No. 14 Saturday evening at Centralia College’s Corbet Theatre. It was the world-renowned pia- tion. nist’s irst performance in Centralia in four years. The event raised more than $14,000 for scholarships and the Charlie Albright Piano Fund. For more photographs “It’s nothing and a full story on the performance, see the February issue of The Blaze inside today’s edition. personal, it’s just a business decision that we needed to do to satisfy the BNSF’s Railroad Improvements Include Tie Lonnie Willey audit,” Willey mayor said. At a spe- cial meeting and Track Replacements in Lewis County Monday, Willey announced to nine members of the public BIG PROJECT: Company that Schwartz had been placed on leave. The town council Investing $189 Million in went into executive session for Projects in State; Work 13 minutes to discuss potential Already in Progress pending litigation. No action was taken and the special meet- By Kaylee Osowski ing was adjourned. [email protected] A meeting will be held with Schwartz, likely later this week, Burlington Northern Santa where her comments will be Fe Railway is investing $189 taken under advisement and a million in projects and mainte- final determination about her nance in Washington state, and employment will follow, Willey some of those dollars will go to- said. ward improvements to tracks in At a Jan. 12 special meeting, Lewis County. the council discussed splitting BNSF’s busiest line in Wash- the full-time clerk’s position ington — which runs between into two part-time positions to Vancouver and Seattle, through provide more oversight of town Centralia and Chehalis — will business as recommended in the see a large percentage of that audit completed by the Wash- money, BNSF spokesman Gus ington State Auditor’s Office. Melonas told The Chronicle. However, Willey said Mon- Natalie Behring / The Columbian He said the company, which day that the current plan is to BNSF Railway workers make improvements to railroad trackage near Stevenson on Thursday. The company plans to invest made the announcement Friday $189 million in rail improvements across Washington this year. Workers are moving north, and should reach Centralia and please see CLERK, page Main 14 Chehalis in the coming months. please see RAILROAD, page Main 14 The Chronicle, Serving The Greater Weather www.chronline.com Deaths Lewis County Area Since 1889 TONIGHT: Low 40 Look for Election Perkins, Bobbie Etta, 66, Follow Us on Twitter TOMORROW: High 57 Centralia @chronline Partly cloudy Special Partridge, Patricia J., 90, see details on page Main 2 Election 2015 Silver Creek Find Us on Facebook Barnes, Donald L., 87, www.facebook.com/ Weather picture by Jaxon Results Just Ryderwood thecentraliachronicle Redmon, Mossyrock After 8 p.m. Tonight Main 2 • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash., Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015 COMMUNITY CALENDAR / WEATHER Courtesy photo Community Calendar Editor’s Best Bet Today WHAT’S HAPPENING? CC Professor to Talk About Bingo, Chehalis Moose Lodge, doors open at Negative Messages in Disney Films 4:30 p.m., game starts at 6:30 p.m., food available, If you have an event you would like included in the Community Calendar, (360) 736-9030 Most people consider tralia College. Health and Hope Medical Outreach, free medi- please email your information to cal clinic, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Northwest Pediatrics, 1911 [email protected]. Include a animated Disney films to The lecture will not Cooks Hill Road, Centralia, for those whose income daytime telephone number where you be the perfect entertainment cover whether kids see or is less than 200 percent of the poverty level, (360) can be reached. for children through their are affected by these mes- 623-1485 There is no charge for these listings. memorable characters, fun sage. That will be up to For questions about calendar items, stories and overt positive personal interpretation. Public Agencies call Doug Blosser at The Chronicle, messages. However, Theresa Lyceum is free, and (360) 807-8238. Centralia City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 118 W. Waliezer, assistant professor may also be taken as Hu- Maple St., Centralia, (360) 330-7670 of English at Centralia College will manities 286, 1 credit. The class will Napavine City Council, 6 p.m., Napavine City point out negative and problematic be held in WAH 103. Hall, 407 Birch St., (360) 262-3547, ext. 213 Support Groups unspoken messages that exist in For more information, call Jody Lewis County Planning Commission, 6 p.m., these films. Petereson, (360) 736-9391, ext. 209, Lewis County Courthouse, (360) 740-1284, http:// Survivors of sexual assault/abuse, for people goo.gl/1a1Zb who speak Spanish, 5:30-7 p.m., 125 NW Chehalis She will giving a Lyceum presen- or email her at jpeterson@centralia. Lewis County PUD Commission, 9 a.m., 124 Ave., Chehalis, sponsored by Human Response tation at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Cen- edu. Habein Road, Chehalis, (360) 748-9261 or (800) Network, (360) 748-6601 562-5612 NAMI Lewis County Connections Support Grays Harbor Fire District 1, 7 p.m., Oakville Fire Group, 5:30-7 p.m., Twin Cities Senior Center, (360) Hall, (360) 273-6541 880-8070 or [email protected] Al-Anon, Fellowship in Unity, 6 p.m., Unity Cen- Libraries Support Groups ter, 800 S. Pearl St., Centralia, (360) 736-8104 or Family Story Time, for children 2-6, 10:15 a.m., Widows and Widowers Lunch, 11 a.m., The Res- Libraries (360) 736-6439 Tenino taurant, 1757 N. National Ave., Chehalis, presented Teen Book Club: Steampunk, for teens, 5 p.m, Life Recovery Group, 6-7 p.m., Dayspring Bap- Toddler Story Time, for children age 2, 10:30 by Sticklin Funeral Chapel and Brown Mortuary Centralia tist Church, 2088 Jackson Highway, Chehalis, (360) a.m., Centralia Service, (360) 736-1388 748-3401 Hungry for Change, for adults and teens, eating Watercolor & Acrylic Painting, for all ages, 10:30 NAMI daytime family support group, for fam- whole foods, by Kate Moore, 6 p.m, Chehalis a.m., Oakville ily members of those suffering from mental illness, Teen Writing Group, for teens, 6 p.m., Centralia LEGO Club, for children, 3 p.m., Tenino noon-1 p.m., upstairs, Fiddlers Coffee, 1220 Mellen Wednesday, Feb. 11 St., Centralia, (253) 273-6035 Organizations Bingo, doors open 5 p.m., bingo starts 6:30 p.m., Organizations Forest Grange, 3397 Jackson Highway, Chehalis Thursday, Feb. 12 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2200, 7 p.m., Young Professionals Lewis County Networking Friendly Neighbors Garden Club, 11 a.m., call for American Legion Hall, 111½ W. Main, Centralia, Social, 5-8 p.m., Riverside Golf Club Roof Top Bar, meeting location, (360) 278-3377 (360) 736-6852 Chehalis, (206) 293-6126 Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 10:15 a.m., Assembly Chocolatier to Teach Senior Song Birds, 9:50 a.m., Twin Cities Se- Open mic, 6-10 p.m., Jeremy’s Farm to Table, 476 of God church, 702 SE First St., Winlock nior Center, 2545 National Ave., Chehalis, (360) W. Main St., Chehalis, (360) 748-4417 Napavine American Legion Post 71, 7 p.m., Class at Morgan Arts Centre 740-4199 Composting Basics, 6 p.m., WSU Lewis County Napavine City Hall, (360) 295-3559 Chocolatier Linda Aitchison will be Rainy Daze Quilt Guild, 7 p.m., Cooks Hill Com- Extension Office, sponsored by WSU Lewis Coun- Lewis County Beekeepers Association, 7 p.m., teaching her once-a-year class at the Mor- munity Church, Centralia, (360) 262-3877 Washington Hall, Room 103, Centralia College, thy Master Recycler Composters, (360) 740-1216 or gan Arts Centre at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Centralia Bridge Club, 6:30 p.m., Unity Church, email [email protected] (360) 740-1212 800 S.