Rochester Couple Rescues ‘Misfit’ $1.75 Alpacas Weekend Edition / B1 Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 Serving our communities since 1889 — www.chronline.com 20th District Race Fire Station Move Ed Orcutt Defends His Seat From Democratic Chehalis Closes on Fire Station Property, Challenger Will Rollet / Main 2 Plans to Move Structures / Main 3 Healthcare Morton Divided — While Some Cheer Chief’s Efforts, Others Professionals Worry About Town’s Association With Fringe Political Group Say Demand By Jackson Gardner ence at Liberty University after [email protected] being personally invited by the for COVID-19 organization’s founder Richard Morton is a small town just Mack. Tests Increasing like any other — odds are good Both the CSPOA and Mack Slightly, its citizens will show their un- have found themselves facing wavering support to its chief of criticism for promoting the Prepare for police and the department. opinion that individual law But a number of current enforcement officers should Rush as Schools and former Morton residents use their discretion to not en- say Morton Police Chief Roger force laws that don’t align with Reopen Morningstar’s affiliation with the group’s interpretation of a fringe political group, among the Constitution, among other other things, is discouraging things. CASES: Lewis County and it has “fueled the flames” of Morningstar said he is not a Still ‘High-Risk,’ Below division in the community. member of the CSPOA and was On Sept. 29, Morningstar invited to the conference on Jared Wenzelburger / [email protected] Average in Testing Rate spoke at the Constitutional short notice, but came to know Sheriffs and Peace Officers As- Morton Police Chief Roger Morningstar talks with citizens at the August ‘Blue By Claudia Yaw sociation (CSPOA) 2020 confer- please see DIVIDED, page Main 14 Lives Matter’ rally in Morton. [email protected] Monday was the first day Lewis County recommended Public Comment Open for Proposed Use of Biosolids in Lewis County elementary school students start attending in-person classes, and more and more schools are bringing students in despite the county’s classification as “high- risk.” In terms of how that will im- pact COVID-19 testing efforts, please see TESTING, page 13 Lewis County Announces 18 New COVID-19 Cases Thursday By The Chronicle After several days of relative- ly low case counts, Lewis County Public Health and Social Ser- vices on Thursday announced 18 new cases of COVID-19 in the county, for a total of 699 since March. Eleven of the new cases are in Lewis County Commissioner District 1, three are in district 2 please see CASES, page Main 14 Jared Wenzelburger / [email protected] Cows graze in a fenced in area near Fire Mountain Farms Inc. on Wednesday. Follow Us on Twitter ‘IT’S NOT POOP’: Treated Jeff Zenk. @chronline “All of Washington residents Sewage Often Used as Find Us on Facebook “All of Washington residents create biosolids create biosolids when we’re www.facebook.com/the- Fertilizer for Wheat, flushing our toilets or bath- centraliachronicle when we’re flushing our toilets or bathing or ing or otherwise using water Corn, Hops around our houses,” Zenk said. Subscriber mailing label below this line otherwise using water around our houses.” By Claudia Yaw But biosolids have drawn Jeff Zenk, their fair share of criticism in [email protected] Ecology regional spokesman the past, and Fire Mountain Members of the public are Farms vice president of opera- invited to comment on Onalas- tions Ryan Thode said opposi- tion is already brewing from ka company Fire Mountain from wastewater treatment fa- ment of Ecology regulates, is Lewis County residents who say Farms’ proposal to apply biosol- cilities — are often applied to used across the state to facilitate the “sewage sludge” could con- ids at five Lewis County loca- crops as a fertilizer similar to the growth of wheat, corn, grass, taminate neighboring land. tions from now until Dec. 2. cow manure. The refined ma- hay and even hops, according to Biosolids — treated sewage terial, which the state Depart- Ecology regional spokesperson please see BIOSOLIDS, page Main 10 Recline Delivery & Financing Available! OAC in Comfort! Each Piece Only $84995 The Chronicle, CHRISTENSEN’S HOME FURNISHINGS Chair Serving the Greater Lewis County $ 95 Area Since 1889 Furniture • Flooring • Appliances • Mattresses 419 Cabinets • Countertops WWW.CHRISTENSENSHOMEFURNISHINGS.COM 16628 Hwy 507-Yelm, WA CH608034rc 360-458-3621 Monday - Friday 10 am - 7 pm • Saturday 10 am - 6 pm • Sunday 10 am - 5 pm Main 2 • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 LOCAL 20th District State Rep Candidates Orcutt and Rollet Talk Budget, COVID, Sex-Ed Bill By Celene Fitzgerald “I continued is ‘I’ll work to was a morbid running joke that be enacted. He said that the state [email protected] to see other make less’ but you could get pulled over for has seen increases in STD infec- families in that would be driving while Black and it did tions and education could be a In Washington State’s 20th that struggle. the direction seem to have some validity to it.” viable way to reduce the spread District, Will Rollet, a Democrat The fights for I would want When asked about the state’s of STDs and decrease the associ- from Castle Rock, is challenging healthcare and to go. I think response to COVID-19, Orcutt ated public health costs. longtime incumbent Ed Orcutt, education. Out we’re at a point said that he felt Gov. Jay Inslee “Where it tends to be politi- R-Kalama for the position 2 seat. of the five of where the leg- ordered shutdowns too quickly cized is that people make it ap- Orcutt, 57, has been a mem- my siblings, I’m Ed Orcutt islative salaries Will Rollet and opened things up too slowly. pear that it will be something ber of the House of Representa- the first one to R-Kalama are pretty out D-Toutle “Also, I don’t think Inslee pre- that is forced and every student tives in Washington since 2002, even attempt of touch with pared the unemployment secu- will have to go through it but it first for the 18th Legislative going to college the constituent rity department for the flood of specifically provides an exclu- District and has represented the because the funds just weren’t base,” Rollet said. unemployment claims that were sion for students whose parents 20th district since 2012. Orcutt there for us,” Rollet said. “I have Both candidates provided filed. He did a very poor job don’t agree with it,” said Rollet. has his degree in forest man- the desire to help everyone have their thoughts on the issue of with that,” said Orcutt. Orcutt said he wants voters agement, has worked as a forest the same chance of success.” systemic racism within the po- Rollet said that he felt the to know that he is a strong de- consultant and has owned his Rollet said his main priority lice force. state did a good job when re- fender of their constitutional own consulting company since is “taking clear action to sustain Orcutt said there have al- sponding to the COVID-19 pan- rights. 2009. what we have” in light of budget ready been some reforms within demic. “I stand up for the taxpayers Orcutt said his main priority shortfalls due to the COVID-19 law enforcement and he antici- “I think in certain areas and I believe in balancing bud- as a state representative would pandemic. pates there will be additional re- things could have been more lax gets with the existing revenue,” be to balance the budget without “I think my biggest push forms in the future. He said that and contact tracing could have he said. “I also am working on raising taxes. Other priorities would be to maintain the public if a police officer shows a pattern been more effective,” said Rol- the broadband issue and it’s included creating the necessary services that we have now — the of using excessive force then that let. “Overall, I think that given ever more important that we infrastructure to create jobs by healthcare and education — and individual should be assessed to the short notice that we had for get broadband out to the rural bringing businesses into the make sure we don’t slip back- determine if they should contin- such a massive pandemic we did areas.” area and continuing to work on ward on that,” he said. ue in law enforcement. a pretty good job.” Rollet said he would like vot- forest management to combat On the topic of the state bud- “I think we need to be care- Orcutt said he wears a mask ers to know that he is a lot like future wildfires. get, Orcutt said that some of the ful that we don’t go to the point when he goes out and feels them and does not make more “I helped get the money for most important things that need of defunding the police. I think that people in the 20th district than the median salary in the Nicholson Parkway at Benaroya to be funded are education and it’s important that we maintain should wear them as a precau- 20th district. industrial Park. That’s the kind nursing homes and care facili- a strong police force that will tion. “I work an hourly job and I’m of thing I want to continue to do ties. maintain law and order,” said Rollet also wears a mask and attempting to go to school and is to continue to work with other “The budget went up by $8.5 Orcutt.