Bearcats Rally to Win Centralia W.F. West Bests Centralia in First Meeting of the Year / Sports 1 Pilots New 24/7 Sobriety Program / Main 4 $1 Weekend Edition Saturday, Reaching 110,000 Readers in Print and Online — www.chronline.com April 5, 2014 Chehalis, Motherly Royalty RFA React Toledo Mother, Wife Earns Mrs. Lewis County Crown to Chief’s Departure PLAN: Possible Consolidation in Question After Unexpected Resignation of Jim Walkowski By Kyle Spurr [email protected] Following the resignation of Chief Jim Walkowski Wednesday, the Riv- erside Fire Authority and the Chehalis Fire Department are pur- suing different ave- nues in finding a lead- er for their respective departments. The Riverside Fire Authority, which is al- ready planning to lay Jim Walkowski off six employees by resigned as chief August, had discussed Wednesday eliminating an administrative position prior to Walkowski’s departure. Now, the fire authority will instead leave Walkowski’s position unfilled. Instead, the authority will be led by assistant chiefs Mike Kytta and Rick Mack. please see DEPARTURE, page Main 16 INSIDE: • Contract: RFA chief would have been paid lump sum of at least $70,000 if layoff request was honored. County, Port at Odds on Centralia Station Study DECISION DUE APRIL 14: Hearings Examiner Listens to Both Sides in Three-Day Case; Competing Traffic Analyses at Center of Issue By Christopher Brewer [email protected] A small portion of Centralia road- way is at the center of a disagreement between Lewis County leaders and the Port of Centralia when it comes to the Pete Caster / [email protected] pursuit of one of the area’s largest devel- Taryn Ockerman holds her youngest daughter, Bristol, 1, as her daughters, Madison, 5, left, and Elizabeth, 6, strike a pose on Friday afternoon. opments. A decision is due within two weeks TITLE: Taryn Ockerman ly finds time for herself while on a Lewis County challenge to a Port caring for her husband and of Centralia traffic study as it relates to Doesn’t Let Motherhood three daughters, ages 1, 5 and 6. a street adjoining the proposed Centra- Prevent Her From Days go by without makeup “Every wife or woman should feel like lia Station project. or new hairstyles, Ockerman they are doing some good.” Lewis County officials filed an ap- Community Involvement said, so she was excited earlier peal to the Port of Centralia’s Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance is- By Kyle Spurr this year to find out about the Mrs. Lewis County competition, Taryn Ockerman sued Oct. 22, in which the port stated it [email protected] a chapter of the Mrs. United Mrs. Lewis County does not believe the project will have an Taryn Ockerman, a stay-at- home mother from Toledo, rare- please see ROYALTY, page Main 16 please see STUDY, page Main 16 The Chronicle, Serving The Greater Weather Steck Leader Speaks Deaths Lewis County Area Since 1889 TONIGHT: Low 47 Medical Facility Seeks Better Hoyt, Arthur Eugene “Gene,” Follow Us on Twitter TOMORROW: High 60 84, Napavine @chronline Scattered rain Oversight, Independence / Main 5 Hawley, Linda Carol Davis, see details on page Main 2 73, Sumner Find Us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ Weather picture by Megan thecentraliachronicle Grandorff, Oakville Main 2 The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash., Saturday, April 5, 2014 COMMUNITY CALENDAR / WEATHER Community Editor’s Best Bet Celebrate Spring With Walk on Seminary Hill The first free guided public the hill just east of downtown. walk of the year on Centralia’s The walk will depart at 10 a.m. Calendar Seminary Hill Natural Area has from the Barner Drive entrance to been set for today. the natural area, on the eastern end Retired Centralia College pro- of Locust Street. It is free and open Today WHAT’S HAPPENING? fessor Robert Godsey, who has to the public. As the trails could be If you have an event you would like hiked the woods of Seminary wet, attendees should wear hiking Community Garage Sale included in the Community Calendar, Hill for half a century, will lead boots or other sturdy footwear. please email your information to the Spring Walk. He’ll point out The walk is sponsored by the Coming to Fairgrounds [email protected]. Include a trillium, other native wildflowers Friends of the Seminary Hill Nat- The annual Spring Community Ga- daytime telephone number where and many more areas of interest ural Area. To learn more, email rage Sale will be held today at the South- you can be reached. among the 100-year-old trees on [email protected]. west Washington Fairgrounds. There is no charge for these listings. Early-bird shoppers can enter on sale For questions about calendar items, day at 8 a.m. for $5. The general public call Doug Blosser at The Chronicle, Centralia Lions Club, 6:30 p.m., Denny’s Restau- Wednesday, April 9 can enter from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adult ad- (360) 807-8238. rant, Centralia, (360) 736-8766 mission is $1; ages 12 and under are free. Lewis County Community Network Board, 3:30-5 p.m., second floor conference room, Lewis Parking is free in the fairgrounds County Public Health & Social Services Building, DSHS Bringing Mobile Office parking lots. Organizations 360 NW North St., Chehalis to Morton, Packwood Breakfast will be available from 8 Disabled American Veterans, 1 p.m., Ameri- Centralia Bridge Club, noon, Unity Church, a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Snacks and lunch can Legion building, 111 W. Main St., Centralia, 800 S. Pearl St., Centralia, (360) 748-1753, The state Department of Social and are available until 4 p.m. from Coumbs (360) 245-3357 or (360) 262-9360 [email protected] Health Services Mobile Community Ser- Concessions. A giant carnival slide ride Writer’s Forum, 7-9 p.m., 4162 Jackson High- vice Office is coming to on Morton on will also be open for a small charge. way, Chehalis, (360) 262-0525 Wednesday and Packwood on Thursday. The popularity of the event has led Sunday, April 6 The DSHS will be doing application in- to both summer and fall dates for ad- Tuesday, April 8 terviews for food and cash as well as yearly ditional sales. For more information on Rain Festival Coming reviews, and will answer any questions on the April 5 Spring Community Garage Bingo, Chehalis Moose Lodge, doors open at active cases or about any of its services. Sale, call the fair office at (360) 740-1495 to Morton 4:30 p.m., game starts at 6:30 p.m., food available, (360) 736-9030 If you need any further information or or go to www.southwestwashingtonfair. The 3rd Annual Rain Festival will have any questions please don’t hesitate to net. Health and Hope Medical Outreach, free medi- be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Morton’s Roxy cal clinic, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Northwest Pediatrics, contact me. Theater. Enjoy vocal and dance per- 1911 Cooks Hill Road, Centralia, for those whose in- For more information, call Ezra formances, large screen sing-alongs, a come is less than 200 percent of the poverty level, Miss Yard Bird Prom rain fashion show, armchair aerobics, a (360) 623-1485 Paskus, (360) 280-6508. and Pageant Nears Mossyrock Drama preview, door prizes Public Agencies and mud puddle cookies. Lyceum Speaker to Talk The Miss Yard Bird 2014 Prom and Also, there will be a showing of “Red Centralia City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 118 W. Pageant will be at 8 p.m. tonight at the River,” starring John Wayne and Mont- Maple St., Centralia, (360) 330-7670 About Service Animals Yard Birds Mall. gomery Clift. Open seating admission Napavine City Council, 6 p.m., Napavine City Prizes will be awarded for the most is $7 for adults, and $5 for seniors and Hall, 407 Birch St., (360) 262-3547, ext. 213 John George, the Washington Depart- kids. Tickets are available at BCJ Gallery, Lewis County Planning Commission, 6 p.m., ment of Veterans Affairs Service Dog Pro- unique prom dress and cutest couple. Lewis County Courthouse, (360) 740-1284 Also, there will be a twist contest. at the door or at mortonroxy.org. gram coordinator, will be talking about The event will be hosted by Vincent Bingo, doors open 5 p.m., bingo starts 6:30 Libraries service animals at the 1 p.m. Wednesday p.m., Forest Grange, 3397 Jackson Highway, Preschool Story Time, for children 3-6 years, Lyceum program at Centralia College. Drambuie and deejay will be DJ 7Eight. Chehalis 11 a.m., Centralia Geroge served eight years in the U.S. Admission is $10. Proceeds will be Dancing, Jack & the Roadrunners, 1:30-4:30 split between the Yard Birds mainte- Pizza and Paperbacks, for teens, 3:30 p.m., Air Force, with multiple deployments to p.m., Swede Hall, Rochester, (360) 807-1761, Tenino nance fund and The Cat’s Meow. (360) 520-6518 combat zones within Iraq and bordering Dancing, Country Four, 7-10 p.m., South Teen Writing Group, for teens, 5 p.m., Centralia Community meal, 1-3 p.m., Rotary Riverside countries. He separated from the military Union Grange, 10030 Tilley Road S., Olympia, Park, Centralia, free, sponsored by Jesus Name Organizations and was diagnosed with post traumatic (360) 352-2135 Pentecostal Church, Chehalis, (360) 623-9438 stress disorder. He spent many years re- Games Day, traditional and modern board Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2200, 7 p.m., games, card games, 1 p.m., Matrix Coffeehouse, Organizations American Legion Hall, 111½ W. Main, Centralia, searching different approaches to manag- Chehalis, (360) 740-0492 (360) 736-6852 ing his symptoms of PTSD, and decided a Men’s Fraternity, 6-7:30 p.m., Dayspring Baptist Senior Song Birds, 9:30 a.m., Twin Cities Senior service dog was the best option.