Man Involved in Knife Fight in Centralia Dies at Harborview / Main 4 $1 Weekend Edition Huckleberry Saturday, Season / Life 1 Aug. 23, 2014 Reaching 110,000 Readers in Print and Online — www.chronline.com Chehalis Woman Urges Flu Shots Historic Wilson Hotel Buyer Wife of Man Who Died After Contracting the Flu in Centralia Announces Offer of $200,000 January Speaks Out, Advocates Vaccine / Main 3 for Downtown Building / Main 6 Cold Case A ‘Critical Shortage’ Murderer Wants Rape for a Growing Void Trial Moved CHANGE OF VENUE: Rick Number of Foster Homes Diminishing in Lewis County, State Riffe’s Attorney Wants Child Rape Trial in Another County By Stephanie Schendel [email protected] The defense attorney repre- senting convicted murderer Rick Riffe in his upcoming criminal trial for decades-old child rape charges has requested a change of venue for the proceedings, which are set to start in early September. The former Alaska man’s Seat- tle-based attorney, John Crowley, wrote in court documents that he believes Riffe will be unable to find an impartial jury or have a fair trial in Lewis County because of pub- licity surround- ing last year’s murder trial. Rick Riffe “Rick Riffe facing child was a defendant rape charges in one of Lewis County’s most notorious unsolved murder cases, drawing both local and national media purporting that the crime was solved as soon as he was apprehended,” Crowley Dameon Pesanti / [email protected] wrote in a motion filed on Aug. 5. Clarinda Hanson watches Ashley MacDonald play with her sons as Jayden bounces on the trampoline and Tyler watches. Three years ago, Hanson fostered Tyler After a six-week trial in Lewis while MacDonald battled drug addiction. Today, Hanson saya they are "like family." County Superior Court in Octo- ber 2013, a jury convicted Riffe of By Dameon Pesanti ly 105 pounds because her drug multiple counts of robbery, kid- napping, burglary and murder in [email protected] addiction suppressed her ap- LEARN MORE petite and she kept finding her- A free orientation and information session on becom- relation to the deaths of Ed and Ashley MacDonald was self in relationships with violent, ing a foster parent is being offered from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Minnie Maurin. The Maurins spiraling in Kelso when Child abusive men. She loved her son Tuesday at 3401 Galvin Road, Centralia. More information were abducted from their Ethel Protective Services took her dearly; she couldn’t see through on being a foster parent can be found at www.fostering- home a few days before Christmas 5-year-old son Tyler away in the the fog to realize that she was together.org, or by contacting foster parent liaison Niki in 1985. summer of 2011. Favela at (708) 653-8912 or [email protected]. At 23 years old, she was bare- please see SHORTAGE, page Main 16 please see TRIAL, page Main 13 Elections Officials Not Laughing at Whimsical Write-In Votes SORRY, FOLKS: No, Chuck ty’s next treasurer? Could Chuck known names from the past Norris punch his way into office turned up as “candidates” for Norris Isn’t Getting as our 19th Legislative District elected positions in the August Elected to the 20th representative? primary, thanks to the provi- Don’t get your hopes up. The sion to allow voters to write in a Legislative District answer is a resounding no, al- candidate of their choice if they By Christopher Brewer though some intrepid voters choose not to vote for the listed in Lewis County’s most recent [email protected] candidates. primary election wrote those It’s inevitable whenever it The Associated Press / File Photos Is the price right for Bob names in on ballots. Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill Murray were write-in candidates Barker to become Lewis Coun- Several celebrities and well- please see VOTES, page Main 16 in the August primary election, according to the Lewis County Auditor’s Oice. The Chronicle, Serving The Greater Weather A Moving Endorsemenrt Deaths Lewis County Area Since 1889 TONIGHT: Low 52 Columnist Birdwell, James “Cliff,” Follow Us on Twitter TOMORROW: High 79 82, Centralia @chronline Mostly sunny Describes Lincoln, Bernie Mae, see details on page Main 2 Inspiring Tale 84, Pe Ell Find Us on Facebook at Chehalis www.facebook.com/ Weather picture by thecentraliachronicle Fernando Cardenas, Spray Park / Onalaska Main 9 Main 2 The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash., Saturday Aug. 23, 2014 COMMUNITY CALENDAR / WEATHER Community Editor’s Best Bet Fox Theatre Restorations to Show ‘Grease’ Historic Fox Theatre Restorations Calendar will continue its 2014 Movie Series Saturday with showings of “Grease” Today WHAT’S HAPPENING? at the Fox Theatre in downtown Cen- If you have an event you would tralia. Threshing Bee Celebrating like included in the Community The iconic movie featuring John Calendar, please email your Travolta and Olivia Newton-John will 50th Anniversary information to calendar@chronline. be on the screen at 2 and 7 p.m. Or- The 50th annual Cowlitz Prairie com. Include a daytime telephone ganist Fred Beeks will be performing Grange Threshing Bee, from 8 a.m. to 6 number where you can be reached. before each screening. p.m today and Sunday, will continue the There is no charge for these listings. Admission is $8 per person, $7 tradition of celebrating old-time engines For questions about calendar items, for members and $20 per family and farming methods at Robert Herren call Doug Blosser at The Chronicle, (three or four persons.) farm, 3½ miles north of Toledo on the (360) 807-8238. Pre-sale tickets are available at Jackson Highway. Book ‘n’ Brush in Chehalis, and Admission is $5 for adults; children 12 Debbie’s Boutique, Holley’s Place, and under are free. people can purchase 12th Bird T-shirts, a HUBBUB and Santa Lucia Cof- The festival will include threshing play off of the 12th Man fans for the Se- fee in Centralia. Frozen yogurt is available grain at the top of every hour with an attle Seahawks, and other merchandise to next to the theater at Holley’s antique separator as well as a tractor pull support the Yard Bird. Place. Other goodies, includ- featuring 150 pulls. Other nonprofits will be featured at ing popcorn, nachos, hot dogs, The weekend event will also include the fourth-annual Birdfest, including pretzels and drinks, are served 110 antique, craft and snack vendors. Pope’s Kids Place, The Cat’s Meow of at the new Fox Theatre con- A tractor parade from Toledo High Lewis County and the Centralia Ballet cession stand. School to the event will take place Academy. Local police and fire depart- For more information, call the around 6 p.m. Friday evening to kick off ment vehicles will be on hand. theater at (360) 623-1103. the weekend festivities. The Toledo Se- This year, there will be a free raffle nior Center will host a breakfast, $5 per for the children for prizes such as free person, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday haircuts by Lavender Door Hair Designs, and Sunday. toys from Yard Birds Swap Meet vendors, and four Seattle Mariners tickets provid- Hub City Car Show, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., downtown Reunion, W.F. West High School Class of 1979, The Backfire Band is scheduled to Centralia, sponsored by Lewis County Quarter Jeremy’s, Chehalis, happy hour 5 p.m., dinner and perform Saturday night after the first day ed by Darigold. Milers, car giveaway, vendors, dash plaques, raffle, music to follow, for more information, call Lola of activities. New attractions this year include a full- www.chamberway.com Smith Toloba, (360) 219-7978 The festival has events for people of all size replica R2-D2 from Star Wars that was Garlic Fest, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., north end of South- American Legion Band, Department of Wash- ages. For children, there will be a money built by Centralia native Steve Spurgeon. west Washington Fairgrounds, $5 adults, $4 se- ington, 7 p.m., George Washington Park, down- dive at 2 p.m. each day. Children will dive In addition, the Eastside Big Tom’s restau- niors, (360) 748-6836, for camping information town Centralia, (360) 736-3755 into the straw left over from the thresh- rant in Olympia is bringing a replica of The call (360) 740-1495 or email gale.sobolesky@lew- “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” 7 p.m., Roxy The- T.A.R.D.I.S., a time machine from the Brit- iscountywa.gov ater, Morton, rated PG, $8 adults, $7 children, stu- ing to gather up to $100. Club Mom Children’s Clothing Bank and Ex- dents, seniors, (360) 496-5599 Miniature trains will also offer chil- ish science fiction show, “Dr. Who.” change, 1-3 p.m., Chehalis First Christian Church, dren free rides around the fields. About five car owners from around the 111 NW Prindle St., (360) 269-0587 or (360) 748-3702 Two Grange members — Lou Rohrig region will bring their decorated vehicles Chehalis-Centralia Railroad, coach trains, excur- Sunday, Aug. 24 for an art car show. Mattson said some car sion to Milburn, 1 and 3 p.m., adults $14, seniors $13, and Pauline Inma-Pierce — will be rec- Cowlitz Prairie Grange Threshing Bee, 8 a.m.- ognized this weekend for attending all 50 owners have sculptures and string attached children 4-15 $11, 3 and under free, 1101 Sylvenus St., Chehalis, (360) 748-9593, www.steamtrainride.com 6 p.m., Robert Herren farm, 3½ miles north of To- Threshing Bee events.