Three months ago meteorologists anticipated that Washington would experience an El Nino phenomenon with above normal temperatures expected meaning mild wet weather through the 2018-2019 winter. Many expected this meant the area would see little to no snow as both Pacific County and the entire state experienced in 2015 when the last El Nino took place.

The Raymond School District is all smiles after being awarded over $80,000 from the LV Raymond Foundation. The grants will be used in many ways and will bring some updated technology to the district.

A log truck lost control as it hit a corner near milepost 74 and Lund Rd on US 101.

The east coast was pummelled for much of the past week and a half with frigid temperatures reaching -60 degrees with several feet of snow dumped on many locations. The polar vortex pushed frigid arctic air south covering most of the middle or eastern states of the United States. The lingering question quickly became, "will the artic air hit the western U.S. too?"

Chief Leschi and North Beach will not be allowed to play in the 2019 Southwest Washington District IV Boys Basketball Tournament after a vote of the Pacific League athletic directors via email Friday as a result of a brawl that took place during last Thursday night's game between the Warriors and the Hyaks at Oyehut.

SOUTH BEND - Neither team could seem to get much of a rhythm before South Bend got into the swing of things, enabling the Lady Indians to finally beat Raymond. It was senior Karley Reidinger, who was in-tune all night long while conducting a mini-clinic on hitting 3-pointers from downtown (thrice) and how to score three points the hard way (twice) during the hard fought 40-27 win over the Lady Seagulls in a game that determined fourth place in the Pacific League, and thus a higher seed and a first round bye in the Southwest District IV Girls Basketball Tournament. An attendance of about 275 witnessed the rivalry last Wednesday at Koplitz Field House.

For the past couple of weeks, numerous homeowners and drivers along SR 105 just outside Raymond have seen a large herd of elk moving around the area. Some reports have counted around 80-90 elks in the heard. Many residents have been startled as the herd stampedes through their properties during the later evening hours. Both drivers and residents are encouraged to keep a lookout as the herd continues to move.

Washington state lawmakers have introduced or reintroduced a number of gun bills in Olympia hoping to strengthen gun laws in the state. Most have made it past the committees and are now on the Senate and House floors. The momentum for the bills comes after voters overwhelming passed Initiative 1639 back in November of 2018. Initiative 1639 changed the laws and regulations surrounding "semi-automatic assault rifles" and also requires more extensive background checks for firearm purchases along with requirements for safe gun storage.

The Raymond Post Office has been the talk of the town after a wacky incident unfolded near Garden Tracts in Raymond. A local postal carrier found herself in a predicament after a crash closed a section of State Route 6. Anyone passing by the area at the time observed that her postal vehicle had its flashers on and was stopped next to two Washington State Patrol vehicles.

Friday, January 14 at around 10:10 a.m. a SUV driven by 64-year-old Vicky L. Johnson of Hoquiam was heading southbound on US 101 at milepost 62 when her vehicle collided with the trailer of a semi heading northbound. Johnson was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer 62-year-old Keith A. Leitz of Toledo, Oregon was uninjured in the crash. The tractor-trailer was on its way to pick up more rock to be transported to the ongoing jetty project in Ilwaco after dropping its previous load off prior to the crash.

Multiple agencies respond

The Pacific County Sheriff's Office, Raymond Police Department, Raymond Fire Department and Washington State Patrol responded to the scene. A deputy from the Sheriff's Office was one of the first to arrive along with the Raymond Fire Department. They immediately began extricating the victim, but after performing CPR they were unable to revive her.

After the Washington State Patrol arrived on scene the roadway was completely closed and remained closed for approximately four hours while an investigation of the cause of the accident was conducted. The tractor-trailer driver complied with the investigation and voluntary consented to drug and alcohol testing. He was then taken to Willapa Harbor Hospital by a WSP trooper.

Traffic was detoured down Smith Creek and Butte Creek roads during the closure. Washington State Patrol wanted to limit the exposure of individuals to the scene and allow investigators more room to work.