Ryderwood Woman Arrested for Shooting Roommate / Main 10 Giving Traditions $1 Bring Joy at Early Week Edition Christmas / Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013 Life 1 Reaching 110,000 Readers in Print and Online — www.chronline.com MWP Falls Short of Title Changes on Highway 12 For Second Straight Year, Morton-White Petition Leads to Safety Improvements Pass Loses Championship / Sports 1 on Highway Near Rochester / Main 5 Centralia Shelter Brings Local Homeless Population Former Pastor’s Out of the Cold Rape Charges Dropped, For Now ‘I DIDN’T DO IT’: Former Winlock Youth Pastor Denies Any Wrongdoing; Prosecutors to File Fresh Charges By Stephanie Schendel [email protected] Prosecutors dismissed the charges of child rape against a former Winlock youth pastor last week, but said they intend to refile them again after further investigation. Michael D. Whitson, 51, was charged in September with four counts of second-degree child Pete Caster / rape for an alleged sexual re- [email protected] lationship that began about 10 Derrick Keyes gives his wife, Bobbi Jo, a kiss on Monday night at the Lewis County Cold Weather Shelter on Tower Avenue in Centralia. The couple moved to Cen- years prior with a Winlock boy. tralia from Westport a couple of months ago and have had trouble inding full-time work. “We have every intention to refile the charges,” Lewis JUST WARMING UP: County Deputy Prosecutor Jo- Centralia Shelter ely O’Rourke told The Chronicle Monday. Celebrates Sixth The dismissal of the charges Anniversary as New last Thursday came as a result of O’Rourke interviewing the vic- Leadership Steps In tim as well as reviewing the 400- By Lisa Broadt please see PASTOR, page Main 13 [email protected] When temperatures dip be- low 36 degrees, Lewis County’s severe weather shelter opens its doors. Warmer Snack foods, 30 cots and a cranked up thermostat await those who need a place to stay. Weather Now in its sixth year, the Centralia shelter is under new management. When Bill Bates, Forecast Destiny Christian Church’s longtime pastor, resigned in Oc- After Cold tober, Destiny and the Chehalis- based Bethel Church agreed to share resources. Snap, Snow please see COLD, page Main 13 Carl Bohlin stands outside the Lewis County cold weather shelter Monday night in Centralia. By The Chronicle The snow covering the low- lands of Lewis County this morning is expected to end this afternoon as temperatures rise Chehalis Council Approves Fire Consolidation and put an end to the recent arc- tic front around the region. ENGAGED: Chehalis Riverside Fire Authority Chris Burke, a meteorolo- Chief Jim Walkowski, who is Agrees to Enter gist for the National Weather “It’s up to the people to vote the also acting chief of the Che- Service in Seattle, said parts of Functional halis Fire Department, said the Lewis County had up to one real merger in.” consolidation will have to be Consolidation with inch of snow Monday night, but approved by the Regional Fire no more snow is in the forecast. Authority Planning Commit- Riverside Fire Authority Bob Spahr “This is it. This is the last gasp Chehalis councilor tee at its next regular meeting of our arctic front,” Burke said. By Kyle Spurr Wednesday, Dec. 18, before the “Temperatures are supposed to [email protected] move is official. rise to the upper 30s this after- tial merger between the Che- The functional consolida- However, having the sup- noon. Tomorrow temperatures Riverside Fire Authority port of the city council is a large halis Fire Department and the tion is the final step before the will be in the low 40s and it will and the Chehalis Fire Depart- step forward, Walkowski said. city council decides to bring become a regular winter day.” ment are about to be engaged. Riverside Fire Authority to “It is momentous from the The Chehalis City Council consolidate services beginning the issue before voters, who approved on Monday a poten- next year. will make the ultimate decision. please see FIRE, page Main 13 please see WEATHER, page Main 13 Holiday Tradition The Chronicle, Serving The Greater Weather Deaths Lewis County Area Since 1889 TONIGHT: Low 32 ‘The Elbert, Lois M., 88, Follow Us on Twitter TOMORROW: High 38 Rochester @chronline Isolated rain Nutcracker’ Bluhm, Arthur W., 82, see details on page Main 2 Hits Napavine Find Us on Facebook Stage This Gudyka, Sydney F., 98, www.facebook.com/ Weather picture by Andrea Pe Ell thecentraliachronicle Halloway, fifth grade, Onalaska Weekend / Main 7 Main 2 The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013 COMMUNITY CALENDAR / WEATHER CalendarCommunity Today WHAT’S HAPPENING? Bingo, Chehalis Moose Lodge, doors open at 4:30 p.m., game starts at 6:30 If you have an event you p.m., food available, (360) 736-9030 would like included in the Health and Hope Medical Outreach, Community Calendar, please free medical clinic, 5:30-8:30 p.m., email your information to Northwest Pediatrics, 1911 Cooks Hill [email protected]. Road, Centralia, for those whose income Include a daytime telephone Editor’s Best Bet is less than 200 percent of the poverty number where you can be level, (360) 623-1485 reached. Lighted Tractor Parade Coming to Centralia Fundraiser, medical and Make a Wish expenses for Parker Walsh, 6-9 p.m., There is no charge for these The fourth annual Light- logging and train heritage. Shankz Blacklight Miniature Golf, Yard listings. ed Tractor Parade will fill the In lieu of an entrance fee, the Birds Mall, free popcorn For questions about streets of downtown Centralia Centralia Downtown Associa- Public Agencies calendar items, call Doug Saturday, Dec. 14, with vintage tion is asking participants and Blosser at The Chronicle, (360) and modern tractors, antique spectators to bring canned food Centralia City Council, 7 p.m., City 807-8238. Hall, 118 W. Maple St., Centralia, (360) trucks and construction equip- to be donated to the Salvation 330-7670 ment, all bedecked with daz- Army. Santa’s helpers will be at Napavine City Council, 6 p.m., Libraries zling lights. the parade to take the canned Napavine City Hall, 407 Birch St., (360) The parade, starting at 6 p.m. food. The Centralia Downtown 262-3547, ext. 213 Book Babies, for babies birth-24 and traveling Tower Avenue and Association, sponsors of the pa- Lewis County Planning Commission, months, 11 a.m., Tenino Main Street, celebrates the sea- rade, will deliver the donations 6 p.m., Lewis County Courthouse, intro- Preschool Story Time, for children son and the city’s agricultural, to the Salvation Army. duction to setbacks and development 3-6 years, 10:20 a.m., Tenino regulations, (360) 740-2677 Watercolor and acrylic painting, for Libraries adults, 10:30 a.m., Tenino Toddler Time, for children age 2, 11 Public Agencies Nutcracker” is under the di- Preschool Story Time, for children a.m., Centralia Centralia Planning Commission, 6 rection of Danielle Brosco and 3-6 years, 11 a.m., Centralia LEGO Club, for children, 3 p.m., p.m., council chambers, City Hall, 118 W. Russell Capps. The Dance En- Pizza and Paperbacks, for teens, 3:30 Tenino Maple St., Centralia, (360) 330-7671 semble is made up of more than p.m., Tenino Organizations Centralia College Board of Trustees, 3 100 dancers from the Southwest Teen Writing Group, for teens, 5 p.m., p.m., Hanson Boardrooms, Hanson Ad- Washington Dance Center and Centralia Friendly Neighbors Garden Club, 11 ministration Building, Centralia College, children and adults from the (360) 736-9391, ext. 231 Organizations a.m., call for meeting location, (360) Lewis County area. 748-6189 Support Groups Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2200, Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 10:15 a.m., Local performers with lead 7 p.m., American Legion Hall, 111½ W. Assembly of God church, 702 SE First St., “Up From Grief,” for those grieving the roles are Scott Middleton as Main, Centralia, (360) 736-6852 Winlock loss of a loved one, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Heir Drosselmeier; Mark and Senior Song Birds, 9:30 a.m., Twin Cit- Napavine American Legion Post 71, 7 Morton Community Methodist Church, Sandra Young as Mr. and Mrs. ies Senior Center, Chehalis p.m., Napavine City Hall, (360) 295-3559 Fourth and Main, Morton, (360) 330-2640 Staulbaum; and Trent Vlach as Support Groups Lewis County Beekeepers Associa- Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Mother Ginger. Emma Stehr tion, 7 p.m., Washington Hall, Room 103, (Chehalis Shakers), 1 p.m., Bethel Church, Kirkland Road, Chehalis, go to left and en- and Josey Rosbach share the role Survivors of sexual assault/abuse, Centralia College, (360) 740-1212 5:30-7 p.m., 125 NW Chehalis Ave., Che- ter at rear of church, (360) 740-5556 of Clara. Cowlitz Prairie Grange, potluck din- halis, sponsored by Human Response Overeaters Anonymous, 5:30-6:30 Dancing principal roles ner 6:30 p.m., meeting 7:30 p.m., (360) Network, (360) 748-6601 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church,1209 N. 864-2023 are: Anna Scheibmeir, Victo- NAMI Lewis County Connections Scheuber Road, Centralia, (360) 736-9268 ria Rodriguez, Gideon Newkirk, Support Group, 5:30-7 p.m., Twin Cities Support Groups Madison Hall, Tressa Coultard, Senior Center, (360) 880-8070 or sher- [email protected] Domestic violence support group, Friday, Dec. 13 Marisa Hall, Ciara Kimball, 5:30-7 p.m., 125 NW Chehalis Ave., Che- Tanner Calder, RuthAnn Swart, halis, sponsored by Human Response Julia Dallas, Kaitlin Davis and Wednesday, Dec. 11 Network, (360) 748-6601 ‘The Nutcracker’ Coming Christina Hill. Loss of a Child Support Group, 7-8:30 p.m., Providence Professional Center, to Corbet Theatre Ticket prices are $22 for adults, Bingo, doors open 5 p.m., bingo $15 for seniors (62 and up) and starts 6:30 p.m., Forest Grange, 3397 (360) 748-4347 Southwest Washington Jackson Highway, Chehalis children 18 and under.