Rochester Woman’s Death Under Investigation / Main 9 $1 Early Week Edition Tuesday, Reaching 110,000 Readers in Print and Online — www.chronline.com April 2, 2013 Blazers Split Toledo’s Brennan Rakoz Centralia College Wins One, Loses One is Class 1A MVP / Sports 1 Against Grays Harbor College / Sports 1 Winlock Neighborhood Worked Together to Save Riffe Trial Poisoned Eagles That Fed on Euthanized Horses Delayed Until Returning to the Wild October DELAYED: Authorities Find Cigarette and Toothpick in Old Evidence Bag; Evidence Sent to Lab for DNA Testing By Stephanie Schendel [email protected] The trial for Rick Riffe, the man accused of murdering an elderly Ethel couple 27 years ago, has once again been delayed af- ter authorities recently discov- ered new evidence. The trial, which was set to start in early May, was re- scheduled for October after a court hearing in Lewis Coun- ty Superior Court Monday. Rick Riffe The trial will accused of likely include murder the testimony of more than 100 witnesses and last about a month. While it was Riffe’s Seattle- based defense attorney, John Crowley, who filed the motion to delay the trial in light of the Pete Caster / [email protected] new evidence, the prosecution Stephanie Estrella, of Raindancer Wild Bird Rescue in Olympia, releases the irst of six eagles back into the wild near Winlock on Saturday afternoon. Last week seven was not opposed to the delay, eagles were poisoned after feeding on two euthanized horse carcasses left in a ield near Winlock. With the help of West Sound Wildlife and the Audubon Society of said Will Halstead, the Lewis Portland, all seven eagles were nursed back to health and released back into their natural habitats. Estrella was one of the caregivers who were initially given the birds County deputy prosecutor han- from Winlock residents Sharon Thomas and her neighbor, Darlene Osborn, who irst spotted the sick animals. dling the case. The two new pieces of evi- By Amy Nile and Kyle Spurr dence — a cigarette butt and a toothpick — have been sent to [email protected] / [email protected] the state crime laboratory for WINLOCK — Six bald eagles soared back into the wild near please see DELAYED, Main 9 Winlock Saturday after being res- cued from the brink of death. The birds got a second Space Heater chance to take wing after feed- ing on euthanized horse car- cases left them in critical con- Eyed as Cause dition. They were nursed back to health after being saved by of Glenoma a neighborhood of concerned residents and helped by a Wash- Shop Fire ington wildlife center. More than 75 people gath- By The Chronicle ered in a field on Harkins Road A space heater is believed to witness the six eagles — five to have caused the fire that de- juveniles and one adult — re- stroyed a Lewis County main- turn to the wild. Some in at- tenance building and several tendance, including members pieces of heavy equipment and of the Cowlitz and Hopi Indian tools March 22 in Glenoma. tribes, said they saw the event as The total loss was “well over an uplifting, culturally signifi- $2 million” including structural cant experience. damage and equipment that was “A lot of people are like me, destroyed in the blaze, said Risk just mesmerized by eagles,” said Stephanie Estrella, of Raindancer Wild Bird Rescue in Olympia, reacts after getting nipped by an eagle as she was releasing Management Administrator Sharon Thomas, the Winlock the bird back into its natural habitat near Winlock on Saturday. Paulette Young. resident who started the neigh- The space heater was mount- borhood effort to save the birds. ed on a wall inside the building The irst of six eagles released back into “It’s exciting to know they’re go- and was usually left on. Though their natural habitats near Winlock on ing to fly off and make more it is suspected of sparking the Saturday soars through the air after it ‘‘It’s exciting to know eagles.” fire, investigators have stopped had been nurtured back to health over The six eagles took flight, they’re going to fly short of officially declaring the the past week. Last week, seven eagles falling just short of breaking the space heater as the cause. were found poisoned near the Winlock off and make more United States record of seven re- It is not known yet what part area after feeding on two euthanized leased at one time, according to of the heater might have been horse carcasses left in a ield. eagles.’’ specialists who saved the feder- responsible for the fire. Young ally protected birds at the West said it was not caused by any- Sound Wildlife Shelter. Sharon Thomas started effort to save eagles thing being left in front of it. please see RETURNING, Main 9 please see FIRE, Main 9 The Chronicle, Serving The Greater Weather Life of Service Deaths Lewis County Area Since 1889 TONIGHT: Low 43 Centralia Man Honored After 18 Andersen, Terry Lee, Follow Us on Twitter TOMORROW: High 65 51, Winlock @chronline Mostly Cloudy Years With Food Bank / Life Blatt, Marietta see details on page Main 2 “Mary” I. (Baker), Find Us on Facebook 67, Pe Ell www.facebook.com/ Weather picture by Joseph Pillette, Elaine, 75, thecentraliachronicle Miess, Onalaska Elementary, Centralia Fourth Grade Melvin F. Moore, 77, Dryad Main 2 The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash., Tuesday, April 2, 2013 COMMUNITY CALENDAR / WEATHER Community Editor’s Best Bet Centralia College President to Speak at AAUW Meeting James Walton, president of ral Outdoor Learning Lab at Cen- Calendar Centralia College, will be guest tralia College is a living tribute to Today speaker at the Thursday meet- Rufus Kiser and Russ Mohney, WHAT’S HAPPENING? ing of the Lewis County branch two Centralians who brought a of the American Association of love of nature to the community. NAMI Plans If you have an event you University Women. The KNOLL was constructed to would like included in the The meeting will be at 6:45 illustrate all of the major habitats Presentation at Community Calendar, please p.m. at The Gathering Place, in the state of Washington. Chehalis Library email your information to [email protected]. Stillwaters Estates, 2899 Cooks Guests are welcome to attend NAMI Lewis County, the lo- Include a daytime telephone Hill Road, Centralia. the talk. For more information, cal affiliate of the National Alli- number where you can be Walton’s topic will be “Re- call Lynn Rash, (360) 807-4199, ance on Mental Illness, is host- reached. claiming an Ecosystem, the or Margo Richert, (360) 748- ing a presentation of “Bridges of For questions about KNOLL Project.” The Kiser Natu- 6378. Hope” 6-7:30 p.m. tonight in the calendar items, call Doug Hamilton Room of the Vernetta Blosser at The Chronicle, (360) Smith Chehalis Timberland 807-8238. Toddler Story Time, for children age 2, Toledo Senior Center, (360) 864-2112 Public Library. 11 a.m., Centralia Exercise class, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Presenter of the PowerPoint Senior Centers Paint Like Eric Carle!, for children, 1 Nutrition lunch, noon, suggested program will be Roberta Bryan, p.m., Winlock Twin Cities Senior Center, (360) donation $3 for 60 and over, under 60, local NAMI volunteer. Lego Club, for children, 3 p.m., 748-0061 $6.74 Bridges of Hope has been Tenino Open pool, 9:30 a.m. Lunch, noon, $3 suggested donation developed by NAMI Faithnet to Pool tournament, 1 p.m. Organizations help faith communities become NAMI-Connection meeting, 5:30-7 Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 10:15 a.m., Thursday, April 4 an important part of the mental p.m. Assembly of God church, 702 SE First St., illness recovery process through Morton Senior Center, (360) 496-3230 Winlock Open mic, 6:30 p.m., Matrix Coffee- education, support and by help- Open recreation, pool 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Seniors’ Bible study, 10 a.m., Calvary house, Chehalis, (360) 740-0492 ing individuals and families feel “Taco Tuesday” enrichment lunch, Assembly of God, Centralia, (360) 736- Libraries part of the caring community. noon, $3 donation 6769 or (360) 324-9050 The event is free; light re- Olequa (Winlock) Senior Center, (360) Soroptimist International of Lewis Book Babies, for babies 12-24 months, freshments will be served. 785-4325 County, 5:30 p.m., contact for location, 10 a.m., Chehalis Garden club, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (360) 748-7860, [email protected] Book Babies, for babies birth-24 Bingo, Chehalis Moose Lodge, doors Karate, 6-7 p.m. Support Groups months, 11 a.m., Centralia open at 4:30 p.m., game starts at 6:30 Packwood Senior Center, (360) Family Story Time, for children 3-6 Survivors of sexual assault/abuse, p.m.; food available, (360) 736-9030 494-6331 years, grades 1-3, 11:45 a.m., Randle 5:30-7 p.m., call for location, sponsored Bingo, 12:30 p.m. Page Turners book discussion, for Public Agencies by Human Response Network, (360) adults, “Wickett’s Remedy,” by Myla Zumba, 6 p.m. 748-6601 Goldberg, noon, Chehalis Chemical Dependency-Mental Toledo Senior Center, (360) 864-2112 Health-Therapeutic Court Sales Tax Ad- Senior Centers Paint Like Eric Carle!, for children, 1 visory Committee, 3 p.m., conference Pinochle, noon, $1 p.m., Winlock Twin Cities Senior Center, (360) room, Lewis County Public Health & So- Zumba, 6-7 p.m. 748-0061 Junior Page Turners, for children cial Services Department, (360) 740-1148 Sweet Treats, 9 a.m.