KLOG-AM (Kelso, WA)

(Longview, WA) – A former Mark Morris boys basketball assistant coach has been hired as the interim head coach this upcoming season. Jim Hendrickson, 59,  will take over the program on an interim basis while Ken Kelly remains on paid administrative leave in the aftermath of the alleged sexual assaults involving members of last season’s team. Hendrickson spent 10 seasons in the MM program under retired head coach Bill Bakamus.

The Longview School Board has voted to use district funds to pay the legal defense costs for three board members facing recall efforts. The board voted unanimously last night following a long executive session to cover the legal expenses for President Don Wiitala, Vice President Jennifer Leach and Director Susan Donahue during an upcoming hearing on the recall charges and any appeals.

The Castle Rock School District says that high school staff have received reports of a student threatening to harm other students. Superintendent Chris Fritsch said that, at this point, there is no evidence that a crime has been committed, but that the Castle Rock Police Department and school administrators are investigating. As of now, the district has not revealed the nature of the threats.

The midterm elections are just over a month away, and with that, the Cowlitz County Elections Office is conducting its logic and accuracy tests today. The office tests its Clear Access accessible voting unit and ballot tabulation equipment prior to each election. The purpose of the tests is to ensure that the unit accurately displays and reads the ballots correctly, ensuring that every vote is counted accurately.

A man has been arrested after a SWAT standoff early this morning in Kelso. At around 2:39 a.m., Longview Police officers responded to a domestic violence assault that occurred in Longview. The suspect, later identified as Juan Castillo, had reportedly assaulted his girlfriend and threatened to “shoot up the place.” He also allegedly threatened people at the scene with a knife and then fled to Kelso in a vehicle.

A motorcyclist was life-flighted on Saturday after crashing head-on into a Subaru Crosstrek on Lewis River Road next to Lake Merwin. The Washington State Patrol says that the biker was 32-year-old Edward Aruja of Vancouver; he was flown from the scene to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. Aruja had been traveling northbound at milepost 41 around 5:20 p.m. while traveling at a high rate of speed.

The Rotary Club of Longview has announced more than $1 million in new donations toward the rebuilding of Martin Dock at Lake Sacajawea. During the club’s gala over the weekend, Project Leader Brian Magnuson said the Kirchner family and Wollenberg Foundation have each pledged $300,000, while the Evans family and JH Kelly Construction will donate and build a covered pavilion to be named for the company’s late president, Dan Evans.

Richard Harold (Dick) Cedergren: January 17, 1931 – September 12 2026 LONGVIEW- Richard Harold (Dick) Cedergren passed away peacefully on September 12, 2026, at St. John Medical Center in Longview, Washington. He was born in Longview on January 17, 1931 to Elias and Lucy P. (nee Miller West) Cedergren. Dick was raised in Longview.

Friday: The Northwest Film Festival is on now through October 5th at venues all over the area. Get tickets and more at FilmFest8.com. The Canterbury Gardens off of 3rd Avenue in Longview is holding a Fall Market: Friday, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Local vendors will be indoors and outdoors, and there will be a raffle to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. The Knights of Columbus are doing their Hamburger Feeds before all the home Kelso football games at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

It was the result everyone feared; the missing man from the Toutle area was found dead over in Idaho yesterday. At around 12:20pm, Air Idaho Rescue located a Polaris UTV matching the description of Kelly King’s vehicle in Custer County. The UTV was off the trail on a hillside in sagebrush. Ground crews from Custer County Search and Rescue assessed the vehicle and found a body, later identified as King inside.