While reporting on the recent East Lewis County murder of Aron Christensen, it came to the Lewis County News' attention that the Sergeant in charge of the murder investigation, Jeffery Humphrey has an employment history raising competence issues.

In 2012, Detective Humphrey was involved in a major cartel drug distribution investigation while intimately involved with one of the suspects, Maggie Mahoric (aka. Maggie Engel). The United States Attorney's Office (USAO) in Tacoma declined to prosecute the case due in part to Humphrey's "intimate relationship" with Mahoric. The reason for not prosecuting was: "At the end of the conversation, the USAO declined to prosecute due to the inappropriate actions by the Lewis County Detective and the lack of supervision by their then sergeant (now Sheriff Rob Snaza) leaving the investigation in limbo."

Lewis County Fire District 15 (Winlock) participated in the stair climb for Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation at the Bank of America Building in downtown Seattle. This is an event where firefighters climb the 70 floors to raise money.

When it comes to promotional items, there is a new business in Toledo that is here to help promote your business. Kinder Kreations Owner Ruth Kinder is here to embroider on clothing or any other promotional items you need. She has been helping several businesses already.

If you have been around Winlock lately, you will know there are two very special ladies who have been going around the county giving out free food to those who need it. The Eagles Nest Community Kitchen is typically in the Winlock area once a week helping those in need, but it's not only food they offer, they also provide resources people might not know about. Joy and Lakeda are here to help and prevent homelessness by helping those in need now, volunteering their time to help others.

Every now and then you get the opportunity to meet a true hero and Lindsay Chatterton was just that man. He passed on February 27, 2023. He lived in Winlock for nearly 40 years and served as a Fire Commissioner for 18 years. He had a combined service in the fire departments of well over 50 years. It wasn't just his time in the fire departments in Kelso and Winlock that made him a hero, he was also a WWII veteran.

He gave selflessly as a soldier and as a fire commissioner, but he was just as selfless as a neighbor. I didn't know him as a fire commissioner or EMT, I only knew him as our neighbor who would help at the drop hat. For years, you would see Lindsay walking every day down the Winlock Vader Rd. to have coffee with the guys. He kept cows on his property until just a few years ago, always offering a side of beef. Lindsay was always kind, never saying a harsh word about anyone.

Toledo has a new drive up coffee stand serving the customers of South Lewis County. They offer a wide variety of drinks and a few food items for your breakfast or a quick snack. Steamboat Expresso is located right behind the Valley View Clinic in Toledo.

The Lewis County Fire Station 15, Winlock, is participating in the stair climb at the Columbia Towers Club in Seattle. The fire department will be having the Fill The Boot event next Saturday at the IGA in Winlock from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Winlock Fire and Rescue is sending a team to the Firefighter Stair Climb that benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on March 12 in Seattle. They are raising money for the LLS and are required to raise $300 per person. They will be collecting donations to help raise funds.

Toledo has been growing with new businesses and A & J Bookworks is here to help just in time. With tax season right around the corner, Jess Blinebry can help you get your taxes in order. With her experience and education, she is up to date on the current tax code and can explain all the changes that have occurred.

The Winlock School Board met on Wednesday, February 15 at 5:00 p.m. to work with Education Service District (ESD) 113. ESD helps school districts by pooling resources, provides essential services for school districts and in this case, helps identify what could be done in the budget shortfall that is happening.

The Winlock School District is expected to be in the negative at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. Expenditures are estimated to exceed revenues by $1,451,525. There is currently $300,000 in the Debt Service Fund that can be transferred to the Capital Projects fund. If all projects are completed, there could be some funding in Capital Projects that could be transferred back,

During the past year, individuals in Toledo and Winlock have been meeting to discuss biosolids, also known as sewer sludge. The group known as Toledo Citizens Against Biosludge have been working with Senator Jeff Wilson, 19th District Rep., who wrote Senate Bill 5245 to add scrutiny and public information regarding the issue of biosolids and PFAS chemicals. During the past year they have met with specialists in the biosolids and are looking at ways to make it either safer to use or to incinerate it.