‘You Can’t Take it With You’ Debuts at Centralia $1.75 College Mid-Week Edition / Life 1 Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019 Serving our communities since 1889 — www.chronline.com Ready to Rumble IWW Remembers 2B State Football Previews / Sports Union Members Honor Wesley Everest With Event at Gravesite /Main 4 Expenditures One Dead, One Injured in Centralia Stabbing Surpass Revenues by $2.56 Million in Chehalis’ 2020 Budget By Celene Fitzgerald [email protected] The proposed 2020 budget for the City of Chehalis was ap- proved on first reading by the council at Tuesday night’s meet- ing, using $2.6 million in re- serves to balance the budget. The revenues total $23,961,352 and the expendi- tures $26,527,123. Included in the expenditures are $18.4 mil- lion for operating costs, $2.6 million for debt service and $5 million in capital projects. The city’s financial direc- tor, Chun Saul, reported that the budget is not structurally balanced, meaning the expen- ditures are more than the rev- enues. “One-time reductions of rev- enue will fill the gap in 2020; Jared Wenzelburger / [email protected] however, a significant infusion A Centralia Police Department vehicle is shown at the scene of a stabbing Tuesday night in the south end of the city. of revenues or a significant re- duction in expenses will be needed in 2021 and beyond,” Centralia Man Arrested, Murder, Assault Charges Expected she reported. The general fund’s proposed By The Chronicle Street in Centralia, according is County Superior Court a second injured. No other sus- revenue is $9,977,976 and 87.5 One suspect is in custody to the Centralia Police Depart- Wednesday afternoon, after pects are wanted in the case, percent of that comes from on suspicion of first-degree ment. The Chronicle’s press deadline. according to a news release Joshua L. Fleck, 29, of According to thepolice de- from the police department. taxes, most of which is sales tax murder and first-degree as- (51.6 percent). The proposed Centralia, was arrested and partment, officers responded An investigation is ongoing. general fund expenditure bud- sault in “an apparent attack booked into the Lewis County at 5:36 p.m. Tuesday to the No further information was get is $10,324,818. Of the general with a knife” that reportedly Jail at 10:44 p.m. Tuesday. address in the 1100 block of immediately available. fund budget, 56 percent is dedi- occurred Tuesday evening in He is scheduled to make South Pearl Street. Check chronline.com for cated to police and fire. Salaries the 1100 block of South Pearl his first appearance in Lew- One person was killed and updated information. and benefits compose nearly 73 percent of the total general fund budget. WDFW Announces Willapa, South Puget Sound Salmon Seasons Shuttered Some of the expenses in the 2020 general fund include: facil- By The Chronicle partment of Fish and Wildlife return of coho has so far come open the possibility of reopen- ity maintenance of Stan Hedwall Recreational salmon fish- earlier this month in order to in at rates that are “significantly ing the fishery later, noting that, Park, Little League fields and ing came to an unexpected end address the future of Chinook lower than preseason predic- “Managers will continue to as- landscaping on National Av- on Willapa Bay and many of its smolt releases in the face of in- tions.” That preseason forecast sess coho returns and re-open if enue ($45K), computer software tributaries this week. The im- sufficient broodstock reserves. called for 157,467 coho to re- warranted.” please see BUDGET, page 15 promptu closure came on the The sudden wave of closures turn through Willapa Bay. Locations now closed to same day that a public meeting announced on Tuesday is in- By closing all salmon fish- salmon fishing include Marine took place in Raymond regard- tended to address the current ing, the WDFW hopes to be Area 2-1 (Willapa Bay), Bear ing poor returns of Chinook dearth of returning coho in the able to meet assorted escape- River, Forks Creek, Naselle Follow Us on Twitter salmon. system. ment goals. Although the clo- River, Nemah River (Middle, @chronline The public meeting was In a press release, the sure is slated to last indefinitely, called by the Washington De- WDFW noted that this season’s the WDFW press release left please see SALMON, page 15 Find Us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ thecentraliachronicle Sheriff Discusses 911 Harassment Nutcracker Returns Deaths Subscriber mailing label below this line McCarty, Mary Ann, 87, Sheriff’s Southwest Lacey Hepler, Raymond, L., 77, Office Asks Washington Castle Rock for Law Dance Center Roetter, Donna J., 73, Criminalizing Brings Classic Winlock Ross, Marianne B., 77, Behavior Back to Winlock / Main 2 Centralia Simpson, Roberta “Bob- / Main 7 bie,” 75 Celebrating 10 Years in Chehalis... We love being your bank! CHEHALIS 714 W. Main Street (off I-5 at Exit 77) The Chronicle, 360.740.0770 Serving the Greater Lewis VisitONLINE, Us County Area Since 1889 Also TOLEDO, TOO! WINLOCK, TUMWATER Keith Macy Matt DeBord Pam Gonia Tim Collins & OLYMPIA NMLS# 539574 CH595502bw.do Main 2 • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash., Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019 LOCAL Sheriff’s Office Proposes Ordinance Cracking Down On 911 Misuse ENFORCEMENT: Sheriff Asks for Law to Make Fake, Harassing 911 Calls a Criminal Offense By Ralph Mancini [email protected] Sheriff Rob Snaza is looking to draw the line on 911 nuisance calls by proposing a new ordi- nance that would make misus- ing the 911 line a criminal of- fense — a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in county jail or a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Snaza announced his plan during a meeting between Sheriff’s Office command staff and the Lewis County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. He told the commissioners that his department doesn’t currently have the authorization to arrest someone who misuses 911 un- less they communicate direct threats over the phone. “I was made aware of an in- cident that had occurred about an individual who calls 911. He was intoxicated. He’s not being threatening, (but) he says, ‘You need to get a cop here right now. There’s a situation next door,’” Jared Wenzelburger / [email protected] described Snaza to Lewis Coun- Sheriff Rob Snaza talks to commissioners during a public meeting Tuesday afternoon at the Historic Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis. ty Commissioners and staff in attendance. to the fact that he threatened ecutor Jonathan Meyer to assist added Snaza. tempt to improve Lewis County The suspect, according to another person he reportedly him in looking over several leg- He also noted that the same 911 Communications Division Snaza, repeatedly called 911 to dialed, Snaza mentioned that islative drafts of the proposed types of ordinances have been services in “finding ways to af- voice the same complaint, which he is in the process of compos- ordinance before it’s officially approved in Okanogan County firmatively promote and pre- resulted in the department’s ing a law that would cover any presented to the Board of Coun- in Eastern Washington and in serve trust, confidence and a deputies tracking down and loopholes preventing county au- ty Commissioners for final ap- nearby Toledo in the effort of feeling of safety, security and confronting the individual. thorities of arresting individuals proval. curtailing callers who routinely quality service for all members Although the Sheriff’s Of- who are “taking up 911 time.” “It’s just a little fix. I think we harass 911 operators. of our community,” as stated in fice did ultimately record an ar- He further stated that he can get it through and hopefully Snaza’s recommendation is the unit’s online mission state- rest of the caller in question due has asked Lewis County Pros- it will be in front of you shortly,” the Sheriff’s Office’s latest at- ment. News in Brief Rural Chehalis Fire Guns and Thousands of had several weapons, had held sheriff’s office command staff, supervised clean-ups at the Fair- her at gun point prior to this in- Snaza acknowledged instances grounds and other public sites, District Schedules Live Rounds of Ammunition cident, and that he had told her where detainees may hook up but stated that each of those in- that he would not be going back with a county agency or private dividuals are required to under- Fire Training Found After Domestic to prison,” the Sheriff’s Office entity to spruce up local park ar- go extensive “measures” before By The Chronicle Violence Incident said via social media on Monday. eas, but the same couldn’t be said they’re assigned. about his law enforcement team. “It’s a huge undertaking for us Lewis County Fire District 6 By Rolf Boone has scheduled a live-fire train- Sheriff’s Office: Inmate “Right now, as much as I to figure out if we actually have ing exercise for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Olympian would like to have a sheriff’s of- enough inmates to support that,” Dec. 7 in the 200 block of Fay A 55-year-old man was ar- Litter Crews Not fice vehicle out there along the said Sweet. Road west of Adna. rested over the weekend for mul- Feasible highway with inmates picking County Commissioner Bob- The district is warning resi- tiple offenses, including domestic up, we simply do not have the by Jackson lauded a number of dents of the exercise — which violence and unlawful firearm By The Chronicle staffing for that.