Midweek Edition Thursday, May 16, 2013 $1 Reaching 110,000 Readers in Print and Online — www.chronline.com Veterans Become Tournament Time Pot Growers / Main 6 Fastpitch District Tourney Roundup / Sports Lifeguard Arrested for Allegedly Raping Teen GREAT WOLF LODGE: Great Wolf County Sheriff’s Office. While in the car, Salazar Salazar, who is from the Lodge was ar- The victim told police she allegedly raped the girl, and Ground Mound and Centra- A 19-Year-Old rested Tuesday had befriended the lifeguard, she sustained minor injuries lia area, was arrested at 2:15 Centralia-Area Man after he alleg- identified by police as Alex E. from the sexual assault, said Lt. p.m. Tuesday when deputies Booked into Jail for edly raped a Salazar, at the pool and volun- Greg Elwin, spokesman for the approached him at Rochester 14-year-old girl tarily met with him once his sheriff’s office. Afterward, he High School, which he attends. Third-Degree Rape who was stay- shift was complete, according to dropped the girl back off at the When Salazar saw police at the ing at the hotel a press release from the sheriff’s hotel and she told her family high school, Elwin said, Salazar By Stephanie Schendel made an impromptu statement with her fam- office. At about midnight Tues- what happened. [email protected] Alex E. Salazar of “I messed up.” ily, according accused of rape of day, she got into his car and they The teen told police she did A 19-year-old lifeguard at to the Thurston 14-year-old girl left the property. not consent to the sex. please see RAPE, page Main 9 Winlock School Spotted Owl Court Battle County Commission Gives Official Approval to Proceed District With Legal Action Against Spotted Owl Habitat Expansion to Cut 10 By Lisa Broadt [email protected] The Lewis County Commis- Educators sion earlier this month unani- mously approved retaining lo- DECLINING ENROLLMENT: cal counsel to assist in its fight Loss of Students Leads to against a federally mandated change that, they say, violates Less Funding for Small the Endangered Species Act — Districts; Legislators’ and in doing so, stifles local eco- nomic growth. Indecision Adds to Lewis County will join Budget Crisis Klickitat and Skamania coun- ties in taking to Washington, By Amy Nile D.C., their case against the U.S. [email protected] Fish and Wildlife's expansion of designated critical habitat for The Winlock School District the northern spotted owl. is eliminating the positions of That expansion, which went 10 educators next year due to into effect in January, applies declining enrollment and unde- to just under 3 million acres in termined funding from the state. Washington state and another Superintendent Shannon 4.6 million in Oregon and 2.1 Criss said she is looking to save million in California. the district $500,000. According to Lewis County The district is cutting nine and its neighbors, previous criti- certificated teaching positions cal habitat designations have failed and Criss will take over Win- to bolster the spotted owls' dwin- lock Miller Elementary School dling numbers, and the new ex- Principal Jim Swan’s job, in ad- pansion is based on faulty science. dition to maintaining her own. "Studies indicate the barred owl The district is struggling continue to outcompete the spot- with the budget because Win- ted owl," Prosecuting Attorney lock has been losing more than Glen Carter said during last week's 20 students each year since 2009, County Commission meeting. according to the state Office of "We are concerned that with the Superintendent of Public In- this designation we are taking struction. Fewer students means lands out of the availability of less funding from Olympia. Criss said the district took a logging and other activities, that hit because it budgeted for 700 at this point only support the students but has only about 644. barred owl," he said. That’s nearly 100 fewer students Thousands of Lewis County than in May 2012, according to acres — primarily federal and Don Ryan / The Associated Press OSPI. some private lands — are af- In this May 8, 2003, ile photo, a northern spotted owl named Obsidian by U.S. Forest Service employees sits in a tree in the Tough economic conditions fected. Private land restrictions Deschutes National Forest near Camp Sherman, Ore. paired with rising gas prices, affect livelihoods and economic growth; both the private and not be included." "We take the position that it been cut back by 90 percent. Criss said, have left some rural The White Pass Ski Area and is not based on the best available Even so, the spotted owl has residents unable to afford travel- federal restrictions will affect ski lifts and the Cispus Learning science," Carter said. seen a 40 percent decline during ing to work in more populated the county's timber tax revenue. Center are among the lands for Since 1990, when the spotted the past 25 years, according to areas, while keeping food on the "With respect to that des- which critical habitat expansion owl was first listed as a threat- Fish and Wildlife officials. table. ignation," Carter said at the commissioners' meeting, "it in- is inappropriate, according to ened species, logging on nation- please see WINLOCK, page Main 9 cludes areas that clearly should the commission. al forests in the Northwest has please see OWL, page Main 9 The Chronicle, Serving The Greater Weather Justice Delayed Deaths Lewis County Area Since 1889 TONIGHT: Low 48 Hearing Blankenship, Kareen Follow Us on Twitter TOMORROW: High 63 Mae, 75, Baker City, @chronline Few Showers Rescheduled for Ore. see details on page Main 2 Man Convicted Quaintance, Esther Find Us on Facebook Marie, 82, Centralia www.facebook.com/ Weather picture by Talon in Gang Waring Jr., Richard thecentraliachronicle Betts, Grand Mound Shooting Early, 63, Chehalis Elementary, Third Grade / Main 14 Briggs, Lewis E., 80, Onalaska CH496244cz.ke Main 2 The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash., Thursday, May 16, 2013 COMMUNITY CALENDAR / WEATHER Community Editor’s Best Bet Relay for Life to Be Held at Fairgrounds After holding fundraisers all thanks for survivors, remem- year long in the battle against ber the ones who have lost their Calendar cancer, teams from Lewis Coun- fight against cancer and encour- Today ty will gather at the north end of age the ones still fighting. WHAT’S HAPPENING? the Southwest Washington Fair- New to Lewis County this grounds Friday for the Relay for year is the “Fight Back Cer- Film Showing to Benefit If you have an event you Life. emony.” At 5 a.m. Saturday, 250 Farmers Market would like included in the This year, there will be en- Chinese floating lanterns will Community Calendar, please tertainment for the entire family be released to give hope and The Community Farmers email your information to around the clock. encouragement to cancer pa- Market, Chehalis, is preparing for [email protected]. The walk starts at 4 p.m. The tients who continue to fight back its 2013 season with a showing of Include a daytime telephone opening ceremony is at 6 p.m., against cancer. The lanterns can “Small Farm Rising” at Centralia’s number where you can be reached. followed by the Survivor Cer- be personalized with a hope Fox Theatre tonight. emony, which officially begins for a cure and are available for Filmed in New York’s Cham- For questions about calendar items, call Doug the relay. Luminaria takes place purchase for $5 at re:Design in plain valley, “Small Farm Rising” at 11 p.m., where people give downtown Chehalis. follows a generation of farmers Blosser at The Chronicle, (360) 807-8238. who are redefining agriculture in America. A family owned and operated farm produces award- sion of “Confessions of a Sunday winning goat milk cheeses; a School Psychic,” which achieved by calling 736-9391, ext. 525 or Hotel, 117 W. Magnolia St., Centralia, farm powered solely by horses No. 1 Amazon Kindle Bestselling at the college box office. sponsored by Lewis County Tea Party, provides members with a full Book in two categories. She has 262-9343 or lewiscountyteaparty.org For more information, call diet year-round; and two youth- worked with hundreds of writ- Brian Tyrrell, at the above num- Support Groups ful entrepreneurs run an organic ers as a creative writing teacher, ber or email him at btyrrell@ vegetable farm. writer and editor. Her knowledge “Up From Grief,” for those grieving centralia.edu. the loss of a loved one, 1-2:30 p.m., As- Movie tickets are $12 and will of publishing is firsthand; she sured Home Hospice, second floor, 1821 include appetizers to be served at was a co-owner of a publishing Open mic, 6:30 p.m., Matrix Coffee- Cooks Hill Road, (360) 330-2640 a social hour beginning at 6 p.m. company and executive director house, Chehalis, (360) 740-0492 Overeaters Anonymous, 5:30-6:30 hosted by Santa Lucia Coffee. Lo- of another publishing house. Business After Hours, TwinStar Credit p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church,1209 cal chefs will create an array of As a speaker, Linda has been Union, 6 p.m., (360) 7458-8885 N. Scheuber Road, Centralia, (360) finger foods, taking advantage of the guest on numerous radio Reading by Robert Michael Pyle, au- 736-9268 farm-fresh ingredients provided programs, both nationally and thor of “The Tangled Book,” 7 p.m., Roxy by market vendors. internationally, and has been the Theater, Morton, books available for The film presentation will signing and purchase, (360) 496-0541 Friday, May 17 featured speaker at many events.