Ryderwood Woman Arrested for Shooting Roommate / Main 10 Giving Traditions $1 Bring Joy at Early Week Edition Christmas / Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013 Life 1 Reaching 110,000 Readers in Print and Online — www.chronline.com MWP Falls Short of Title Changes on Highway 12 For Second Straight Year, Morton-White Petition Leads to Safety Improvements Pass Loses Championship / Sports 1 on Highway Near Rochester / Main 5 Centralia Shelter Brings Local Homeless Population Former Pastor’s Out of the Cold Rape Charges Dropped, For Now ‘I DIDN’T DO IT’: Former Winlock Youth Pastor Denies Any Wrongdoing; Prosecutors to File Fresh Charges By Stephanie Schendel
[email protected] Prosecutors dismissed the charges of child rape against a former Winlock youth pastor last week, but said they intend to refile them again after further investigation. Michael D. Whitson, 51, was charged in September with four counts of second-degree child Pete Caster / rape for an alleged sexual re-
[email protected] lationship that began about 10 Derrick Keyes gives his wife, Bobbi Jo, a kiss on Monday night at the Lewis County Cold Weather Shelter on Tower Avenue in Centralia. The couple moved to Cen- years prior with a Winlock boy. tralia from Westport a couple of months ago and have had trouble inding full-time work. “We have every intention to refile the charges,” Lewis JUST WARMING UP: County Deputy Prosecutor Jo- Centralia Shelter ely O’Rourke told The Chronicle Monday. Celebrates Sixth The dismissal of the charges Anniversary as New last Thursday came as a result of O’Rourke interviewing the vic- Leadership Steps In tim as well as reviewing the 400- By Lisa Broadt please see PASTOR, page Main 13
[email protected] When temperatures dip be- low 36 degrees, Lewis County’s severe weather shelter opens its doors.