Sheriff’s Office release sketch of home invasion rape suspect

The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation of a home invasion rape that occurred in early October. According to the victim, on October 4th at approximately 11:00 am, a Hispanic male entered her residence in the 3000 block of East Hoquiam Road. The suspect sexually assaulted the female resident inside the home for several hours.

Eventually the victim was able to flee and made it to a neighbor’s home to report the crime.

The victim, a 56 year old East Hoquiam Resident, was transported to Grays Harbor Community Hospital for her injuries at that time.

Chief Criminal Deputy Steve Shumate said that office had looked into multiple leads without locating the man. A sketch artist was brought in to create a composite drawing of the sexual assault suspect.

The Hispanic suspect was described as being 5’5” tall, 140 pounds, last seen wearing a dirty white t-shirt, brown flannel jacket, and dirty blue jeans.

If anyone has information about this incident, please contact the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Department at (360)249-3711 or through the Grays Harbor Communications Center at (360) 533-8765.

Costs continue for Hoquiam K9 Enno, and so does the response

The response to the news of Hoquiam K9 Enno’s cancer treatments continue to grow.

Enno was diagnosed with cancerous tumor behind his left eye and is currently undergoing a series of radiation treatments.

In order to lessen the costs to the Hoquiam Police Department, local residents Troy and Jennifer Osiadacz have created a donation fund for Enno at any timberland Bank branch or an online donation site for those outside of the area at http://www.wepay.com/donations/enno_2

First shown at the recent Volunteer Fair, t-shirts and sweatshirts are also available and can be ordered at Hoquiam Police Department at $15 and $35 respectively.

For updates on the response and cancer treatments, a Facebook page has been set up for Enno at http://www.facebook.com/helpinghoquiamsk9enno

FBI report compares Grays Harbor crime between 2010-2011

In a report released this week by the FBI, violent crime in Grays Harbor was up in 2011 compared to 2010, while property crime went down.

Aberdeen saw a growth not only in population, but saw minor growth in aggravated assault, robbery, and forcible rape. By comparison, Aberdeen property crimes decreased by almost 200 cases, the majority being a decrease in theft cases.

Hoquiam saw an increase in forcible rape from 2 in 2010 to 7 in 2011, as well as double their numbers of aggravated assault from 11 to 22. Arson and motor vehicle theft both dropped significantly for the year.

Cosmopolis crimes remained low overall, but did see a decrease in both theft and burglary within the city.

In East County, both Elma and Montesano saw a decrease in their violent crime and burglary numbers. Montesano saw their theft numbers drop by 20 cases from 68-48 for 2011, while Elma saw their motor vehicle theft triple from 5-16 for 2011.

Along the beaches, crime statistics dropped almost across the board. Violent crime within Ocean Shores dropped from 10 cases in 2010 down to only 6 in 2011, and overall property crime from 189 cases in 2010 to 152 last year. However  theft cases increased slightly from 92-99. Westport also saw a slight increase in theft from 5o-53.

2011 Crime Statistics for Washington by city

2010 Crime Statistics for Washington by city

38 Willapa Valley FCCLA members attend regional meeting

Thirty eight Willapa Valley FCCLA members attended the Region 2 Fall Regional Meeting for 2012.

Along with the Willapa Valley members, Chahayla Barton, the Region 2 State Vice President and Brook Harden, the Region 2 Director of Recognition both attended, planned, helped set up and taught skills of leadership to new and old members.

The Region 2 fall regional meeting was held in Toledo on October 18th 2012. The purpose of this meeting was to teach members about FCCLA, its National Programs and what can be done within the club.

Wishkah resident dies in car accident north of Shelton

The Washington State Patrol says a man and a woman died when a tractor-trailer collided with a car on U.S. Highway 101 north of Shelton.

The State Patrol says the driver of a Honda Accord lost control Tuesday and the car spun, crossing the center line and colliding with an oncoming Kenworth truck hauling two empty flatbeds.

The 57-year-old truck driver was unhurt in the crash near Potlatch State Park.

Mason County Coroner Wes Stockwell has identified the deceased as 51-year-old Mary Irene Johnson of Hoodsport and 52-year-old Richard Lee Bieniek of Wishkah. Both were in the car.

The road was blocked for several hours. The State Patrol is investigating.

Wild Olympics report shows no impact to current timber jobs

A new report, commissioned by the Wild Olympics campaign and researched by Stewardship Forestry, focuses on the impact of the Wild Olympics Plan on the Olympic National Forest timber supply. Over the past 3 years, the report shows that the plan has been adjusted and concludes that “the proposed wilderness within the Wild Olympics legislation will not limit timber supply under the current management policy framework, and thus should not result in reduced harvesting or job losses.”

Stewardship Forestry’s Derek Churchill, who has worked with ONF staff on designing and reviewing timber sales in the past, concluded that less than 1 percent of the proposed 126,000-acre wilderness is harvestable under the current management policies of the Olympic National Forest. Earlier drafts of the proposal had contained nearly five times that amount. The study showed more than 99 percent of the wilderness proposed in the final legislation is already out of the timber base either because of current Forest Service administrative protections, or other factors. The proposed wilderness designation would make current administrative protections permanent. In addition, the report confirmed that the Wild and Scenic River designations proposed in the legislation will have no impact on ONF timber production.

The report concludes that 190,000 acres of available timber harvest capacity exists on the Olympic National Forest that would be unaffected by the proposed designations in the legislation. Because the current rate of harvest averages only 1,350 acres annually, the report concludes that the Olympic National Forest could significantly accelerate its current rate of harvest for 50 years or more.

The full Stewardhip Forestry report can be downloaded at http://www.wildolympics.org.

Community meetings on marine debris scheduled

The Washington State Marine Debris Task Force is inviting citizens to three community meetings on the coast to gather feedback and answer questions about the state plan for responding to the marine debris that continues to reach our shores from the Japan tsunami.

• Nov. 7 in Port Angeles – 6 p.m., Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. 7th Street (corner of Peabody and 7th streets).
• Nov. 15 in Ocean Shores – 6:30 p.m., Ocean Shores Convention Center, 120 W. Chance A La Mer Ave.
• Dec. 5 in Long Beach – 3 p.m., Peninsula Church Center, 5000 “N” Place, Seaview.

Gov. Chris Gregoire established the task force to monitor and respond to marine debris along the Washington coast. The task force collaborated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop the plan.

The response plan is designed to address both high-impact types of debris, such a large dock or debris containing a hazardous substance such as oil, as well as a potential steady influx of small nonhazardous debris.

Terry Egan, the state’s marine debris task force lead, said: “The plan is meant to be dynamic and evolve over time. Continued coordination with local communities will help ensure our response efforts meet the needs of each community, and that our limited resources get out to the right places at the right times.”

The plan recognizes that incidents involving high-impact debris will be unique and difficult to predict. It is designed to give local, tribal, state and federal responders flexibility in rapidly assessing a debris item, identifying which agencies are needed to respond and what resources will be necessary to protect public health, safety and the environment.

The task force will oversee and continually update the state marine debris response plan. The plan is available at http://marinedebris.wa.gov/docs/responseplan_marinedebris_09182012.pdf

According to NOAA, a portion of that debris has been arriving on U.S. and Canadian shores, including Washington. Predictions are that the debris will show up on Washington’s shores intermittently during the next several years.

Pacific County Emergency Management Director Stephanie Fritts said the public can help by leaving beaches better than they find them. “Citizens and volunteers can help keep our coastal beaches clean by disposing of small nonhazardous items in their household garbage service such as plastic bottles and floats, polystyrene, crates and other small objects wherever possible.”

However, anyone encountering potentially hazardous debris should leave it alone and immediately call the state’s 1-855-WACOAST (1-855-922-6278) number and press “1” to reach an operator who can dispatch responders.

Someone could be an authentic Firefighter tonight for Halloween, too authentic

The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a burglary at another local agency. The sheriff’s department received a call that Grays Harbor County Fire District 16 in Copalis Crossing had been being broken into.

Chief Criminal Deputy Steve Shumate says someone entered the station and stole several oxygen tanks and breathing masks, a full set of Fire gear that included a coat, pants, boots, and gloves, a Fire Department radio, and other items.

If you have any information about this burglary, you’re asked to call the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office at 360-249-3711.

Commissioners ask for departments to find 5% budget cut

The Grays Harbor County Commissioners are sending a letter to the elected officials and department administrators requesting that each department submit a plan for a five percent cut to their 2013 expenditures.

The County Commissioners are hoping to find ways to lower the budget for 2013 and they are asking for plans that would accomplish that result. Commissioner Terry Willis says they are not actually asking for the cut but just looking to see how it would look in each department.

The responses to the requests are due by November 7th.

Arrest made in local counterfeit $100 bills

Multiple Grays Harbor police departments received reports of fake $100.00 bills being passed at various businesses throughout the county during the week of October 15th through the 20th. Locations included businesses in Brady, Montesano, and Aberdeen. In Aberdeen, the bills were not found until deposits were made by businesses at local banks.

Through video surveillance, investigators were able to identify two suspects passing these fake bills. One suspect was identified as a 54 year old transient from Rochester. The other suspect was the man’s girlfriend, a 41 year old woman who was also transient. The man turned himself in to investigators over the weekend and admitted to passing the money. His girlfriend is still at large and a warrant has been requested for her arrest.