Ahead of Schedule Local Flavors Toledo Wastewater Plant Construction Advances / Main 3 Have Wide Appeal / Life $1 Early Week Edition Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 Reaching 110,000 Readers in Print and Online — www.chronline.com Pot Risk Cited for Fisher Booze Thieves Busted Wildlife Officials Fear Effects of Centralia Police Cuff Two Men After Poison at Marijuana Grows / Main 11 Pair of Distillery Burglaries / Main 4 Parents Seek Justice For Son Found Dead Near Centralia Christopher Brewer / [email protected] Darris McDaniel, owner of Shop’n Kart, smiles as he walks past store employees and friends who surprised him by gather- ing at the Yard Birds location on Monday. Shop’n Kart Boss Receives Industry Accolade EXCELLENCE IN OPERATIONS: 71-Year-Old Darris McDaniel Honored for Commitment to Stores, Community in Surprise Pete Caster / [email protected] Presentation Monday Scott Soden, 24, Puyallup, left, a friend of Chris Virdell, along with Virdell's parents, Paul, center, and Melanie, stand outside their van on Friday near the site where Chris's remains were found in February along the 2800 block of Little Hanaford Road. Chris Virdell, 18, of Spanaway, went missing nearly two years ago. By Christopher Brewer [email protected] TO THE SCENE: Parents a.m. shift at Safeway and did not At 71 years old, Darris McDan- pick up his cellphone when his iel shows no signs of retiring from of Chris Virdell Visit family called him later that day. the grocery industry anytime Remote Site Where His mother, soon. Melanie Vird- In fact, he’s still going at his Remains Were Found ell, knew right daily business with as much vigor By Stephanie Schendel away some- as ever. For that, McDaniel, owner thing bad hap- of Shop’n Kart locations in Cen- [email protected] pened to her tralia and Chehalis, and the 13th Since the day Paul Virdell’s son. She and Street Market in Chehalis, was son disappeared more than two her husband honored for his work and commit- years ago, the Spanaway man suspected foul ment to the communities his store has spent every weekend search- Chris Virdell play, but the serves by the Washington Food believed to be Pierce County Industry Association Monday. ing for the missing 18-year-old. murdered A wall in the living room of Sheriff’s De- Representatives from the his home filled up with maps of partment suggested he ran away. Olympia-based association, which is comprised of independent gro- areas to search, photos of his son After all, almost everyone cery store owners, awarded Mc- and even letters from psychics reported missing to police later turns up. Daniel their 2014 Excellence in advising the family of what may Operations Award during a sur- have happened to him. “Nobody wanted to believe us,” Melanie said. prise ceremony at the Yard Birds Chris Virdell was last seen location Monday. Employees from at a bus stop near his home in A few months later, however, On Friday, Melanie and Paul Virdell placed a small ceramic vase illed with low- cellphone records and bank the two Shop’n Kart stores he Spanaway, waiting to go to work. ers to mark the location where the remains of their son, Chris, 18, were found owns gathered to applaud him as He never made it to his 11:30 please see PARENTS, page Main 14 in February along the 2800 block of Little Hanaford Road near Centralia. he walked in not knowing what was going to happen. “I thought I was going to jail,” McDaniel joked to those present. Jan Gee, president and CEO Sheriff’s Office Investigates Child’s Death in Vader of the Washington Food Industry FEW DETAILS: Officials Stacy Brown, spokeswoman 5:15 p.m. from the 400 block of Circumstances beyond that Association, said McDaniel’s peers for the Lewis County Sheriff’s Main Street Sunday. remain unclear. in the independent grocery indus- Await Autospy, Cite Office, said the investigation is A 911 operator reported that Lewis County Coroner try across the state voted him in ‘Suspicious Circumstances still pending but wouldn’t com- the child was having difficulty Warren McLeod said an auto- for the award. The group’s board ment further. breathing and someone was spy will be done today. of directors approved the vote, By The Chronicle “We responded. There are performing CPR. Lewis County Prosecutor and McDaniel was greeted by sev- The Lewis County Sheriff’s suspicious circumstances,” she Once they arrived, first re- Jonathan Meyer said his office eral representatives, suppliers and Office is investigating the death said. sponders continued CPR and is working closely with law en- fellow employees with congratula- of a 3-year-old child in Vader. Emergency crews including other life-saving procedures forcement, but declined to fur- tory messages. The death occurred Sunday firefighters, deputies and EMTs before transporting the child to ther comment as the investiga- night. responded to a call around the hospital. tion unfolds. please see ACCOLADE, page Main 14 The Chronicle, Serving The Greater Weather Initiative Debate Deaths Lewis County Area Since 1889 TONIGHT: Low 51 Some Oppose Upcoming Kaut, Rankin T., 77, Follow Us on Twitter TOMORROW: High 70 / Main 7 Wednesday @chronline Partly cloudy Class Size Measure Deem, Richard C., 78, see details on page Napavine Find Us on Facebook Main 2 Schonack, Patricia Ruby, www.facebook.com/ 87, Centralia Weather picture by thecentraliachronicle Melanie Pickus, Boistfort Main 2 • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash., Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 COMMUNITY CALENDAR / WEATHER Community Calendar Editor’s Best Bet Mushroom Expert to Give Talk at Courthouse Would you like to enhance Lewis County Extension Con- Society and the website www. Colorado. your mushroom knowledge? ference Room, located on the fungaljungal.org. He’s also fea- Evans’ passion for fungi The Southwest Washington lower level of the Lewis County tured in the fungi documentary has him traveling the world Mycological Society is sponsor- Courthouse. “Know Your Mushrooms,” lead- in search of the next ultimate ing a talk by Larry Evans, “The Evans, of Missoula, Mon- ing people on the hunt for wild mushroom adventure. Indiana Jones of Mushrooms,” tana, is co-founder of the mushrooms and mystical expe- For more information, call at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the WSU Western Montana Mycological riences surrounding Telluride, (360) 740-1212. Today Organizations Wednesday, Oct. 8 Bingo, Chehalis WHAT’S HAPPENING? Senior Song Birds, Moose Lodge, doors 9:50 a.m., Twin Cities Se- Lyceum Talk to New Mental Health Treatment open at 4:30 p.m., If you have an event you would like nior Center, 2545 Nation- game starts at 6:30 included in the Community Calendar, al Ave., Chehalis, (360) Focus on Hinduism p.m.; food available, please email your information to 740-4199 Program Is Subject of Talk (360) 736-9030 Cultural scholar Ratna Roy will lead a [email protected]. Include a Southwest Washing- Dr. Richard Stride, CEO of Cascade Health and Hope daytime telephone number where you discussion on Hinduism at the Wednes- Medical Outreach, ton Mycological Soci- Mental Health Care in Centralia, will can be reached. day Lyceum program at Centralia College. free medical clinic, ety, 6 p.m., WSU Lewis Roy will discuss some of the tenets and be speaking at the NAMI Lewis County 5:30-8:30 p.m., North- There is no charge for these listings. County Extension confer- monthly Community Educational Pro- For questions about calendar items, ence room, Lewis Coun- history of Hinduism, the world’s third west Pediatrics, 1911 largest religion, and explore its presence gram on Tuesday. Cooks Hill Road, call Doug Blosser at The Chronicle, ty Courthouse, (360) 740-1212 and impact in Washington. She will talk Stride will describe the new Modified Centralia, for those (360) 807-8238. whose income is less Centralia Bridge Club, about two of the pan-Indian deities that Assertive Community Team program than 200 percent 6:30 p.m., Unity Church, are worshiped both in India and in Wash- being offered at Cascade Mental Health of the poverty level, 800 S. Pearl St., Centralia, ington, Shiva and Krishna, and discuss Care in Centralia. This outpatient pro- (360) 623-1485 (360) 748-1753, hraj@lo- the powerful female divinities, including gram will benefit individuals diagnosed Community Farm- calaccess.com Shakti Goddesses Durga and Kali. with serious mental illness who may have ers Market, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Boistfort Street, down- Writer’s Forum, 1-3 p.m., 4162 Jackson Highway, Roy will present the cultural history of town Chehalis, (360) 740-1295 or email info@com- Chehalis, (360) 262-0525 coexisting problems such as homeless- munityfarmersmarket.net Hinduism, explaining how South Asian Two Town Tuners, 7 p.m., Lewis and Clark Hotel, ness, substance abuse problems, or in- Soils workshop, 6-9 p.m., Olequa Senior Center, people with diverse beliefs, from Vedism 117 W. Magnolia St., Centralia, (360) 269-8146 or 119 SW Kerron Ave., Winlock, sponsored by WSU to Brahmanism to Buddhism, came to be volvement with the judicial system. The (360) 748-3531 program features a multidisciplinary Lewis County Master Recycler Composters, prereg- known as Hindus. istration required, (360) 740-1212 or email debbie. The audience will learn how Hindu staffing approach that promotes a holis- [email protected] tic approach to treatment. Support Groups beliefs are passed on to younger genera- Lewis County candidates forum, commissioner, tions, looking into dance, music, drama The meeting is open to the commu- assessor, auditor and sheriff, 7-8 p.m., Onalaska El- Support for mothers, 9:15-11:15 a.m., Bethel and graphic novels. nity, and anyone interested in mental ementary gym, (360) 978-5272 or (360) 978-4018 Church, for mothers with children pregnancy through 6 years old, sponsored by Chehalis MOPS Finally, there will be a discussion on health care is encouraged to attend.