‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ Is Well-Deserved

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Some people are always there when you need them. A Centralia couple, however, goes way beyond that.

Charles and Shirley Rhoades were recently given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission for their tireless work around the region, particularly at Rainbow Falls State Park after the 2007 flood.

If you’ve visited Rainbow Falls in the past decade, you’ve probably seen them.

Charles, 77, and Shirley, 75, have volunteered as camp hosts at the west county park every summer since 2003 and have contributed a combined total of 13,000 volunteer service hours to the park. They don’t just camp out. They work, even selling wood to raise money for the park.

Charles has also done work at every state park in the region.

They’ve previously received awards from the governor and even President George W. Bush.

“We have volunteered all our lives,” Shirley told The Chronicle.

The Rhoades deserve their award from the state and a hearty thanks from the thousands of people who have enjoyed the parks that they helped enhance.

Neighborhood Watch Is Worth a Look

The Rhoades exemplify a life of service, but everyone can give back to their community and gain from the effort.

One example is through a neighborhood watch program.



The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office will be holding a class to help establish such a program in Vader next week, on Thursday, April 12, at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

Sheriff’s Office staff will be there to lend a hand as neighbors learn ways to prevent crime and generally get to know one another.

We encourage citizens of Vader to stop by and build neighborliness as they make their streets a little safer.

Others in the county interested in neighborhood watch should contact Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Coordinator Melody Nelson at 740-1450.

When ‘Made in America’ Isn’t So Good

Most of us remember when meth labs were rampant in Lewis County and around the region. The toxic chemicals used to make the mind-altering stimulant were as much of a blight as the life-destroying drug.

Now meth labs are a relative rarity here as drug addicts use cheap meth imported from Mexico and other areas.

So news last week that a house in Centralia was a suspected meth lab was unusual.

The suspect, who has been less than forthcoming about his true identity, claims he was growing coral with the chemicals brought out of the house by men in hazmat suits.

And people say nobody makes anything in America anymore.