Kyle Markstrom, president of the Port of Centralia Commission, released a statement Thursday addressing his March 22 letter to Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer and Sheriff Rob Snaza in which he requested the officials to look into actions of the leaders of a Facebook group that has long been critical of the port.
In a statement posted to the port’s Facebook page, Markstrom wrote that he aimed to address “ongoing misinformation” and put the matter to rest by clarifying the letter, which was first revealed during a May regular meeting. Markstrom made allegations of harassment, stalking and intimidating a public servant, identified as Executive Director Kyle Heaton, in the letter, according to previous Chronicle reporting.
“A Centralia citizen, who operates an active Facebook group focused on the Port of Centralia, became involved in a private matter concerning a member of port staff,” Markstrom wrote in the statement. “That staff member and their family are victims of stalking by a neighbor at their personal residence, which is located in greater Lewis County, not within Centralia city limits. As victims, they were granted a temporary restraining order against their neighbor by a Lewis County judge.”
Markstrom wrote in the statement that a Centralia citizen admitted to law enforcement March 20 that they had collaborated with the offending neighbor to gather information about the port staff member’s private life for publication on the Facebook group. While Markstrom does not explicitly name any citizens or the Facebook group in the statement, he is referring to the Centralia Citizens for an Open and Honest Port group operated by Jan Banevich and Randy Garland. Markstrom named Banevich in his March 22 letter, claiming that members of the Facebook group had made “personal attacks” and “speculative and defamatory statements” in their “pattern of targeted harassment,” as well as “stalking behavior.”
“In a recent public post, Ms. Banevich claimed that ‘multiple people’ observed Mr. Heaton mowing a lawn during work hours,” Markstrom wrote in his March 22 letter. “The property referenced is a private residence at the end of a long, private road in rural Lewis County. This kind of monitoring is deeply concerning and, in my view, demonstrates stalking behavior.”
In Markstrom’s Thursday statement, he cited an incident report from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office that documented the phone interview with the citizen, stating that the information publicly posted about the port staffer had indeed been obtained from the restrained person monitoring the staff member’s property and reporting it back to the citizen. Markstrom stated that the deputy advised the citizen to be “mindful” of these posts as they appeared to defame the port employee.
The Facebook post in question was made by Banevich on March 22. It was a followup to a March 21 post she also made. Both posts are mostly focused on Heaton’s handling of port business, his employment contract and past interactions with Banevich, other Facebook group members and port commissioners.
However, toward the end of the March 22 post, which is evidently the statement Markstrom took issue with, Banevich said, “And there is nothing to account for his time when not in the office but considered on-the-clock. Like several people seeing him mowing his girlfriend’s lawn in Toledo during work hours.”
“Furthermore, this collusion directly contributed to a Lewis County judge granting a lifetime restraining order on June 2, 2025, against the neighbor,” Markstrom wrote. “I wrote my letter to urge an investigation because a member of port staff’s personal victimization was being perpetuated by a private citizen, specifically in connection with their role here at the Port of Centralia.
“Some have alleged that the port has ‘weaponized’ law enforcement to harass citizens critical of the port. This is categorically untrue. Despite public claims to the contrary, the Centralia citizen involved has acknowledged their actions in this matter. The request for law enforcement assistance was made properly through the appropriate agency for the relevant jurisdiction, to protect and support a victim of a crime,” Markstrom continued. “I hope this statement provides the necessary context to keep the public accurately informed and to maintain transparency.”
Banevich regularly attends commissioner meetings, along with other citizens who repeatedly take issue with how the port conducts meetings and other business. Banevich claimed during the June 18 port meeting that Heaton “deliberately misled listeners” by telling them the matter was under criminal investigation and asked him, “Are you doing this for attention or insecurity?” Heaton responded by uttering, “Maybe I’m just attracting idiots.”
Banevich, along with Commissioner Peter Lahmann, requested an apology from Heaton for his comment during the Wednesday, July 2, regular meeting, but Heaton did not comment on the matter. Markstrom told Banevich during the meeting and in his Thursday statement that all public comments must be directed to the commissioners and not port staff.
“Anyone who chooses to be disruptive during the public comment period may have their comments curtailed or may be removed from the meeting,” Markstrom wrote.
During the July 2 meeting, a security guard stood in the main lobby of the port office as attendees entered the building and stood outside the office as they departed. One citizen used his public comment time during the meeting to ask the commissioners if the port had ordered the security guard and what the cost was, adding that “it’s rather intimidating, to say the least.”
Port commissioners did not reply to the comment during the meeting.
For more reporting on the investigation and Markstrom’s letter, visit https://tinyurl.com/m65y28ed.
