Port Angeles

OMC will seek Cammack replacement
Tuesday, June 3

Olympic Medical Center commissioners could decide how to fill an unexpected vacancy as soon as this week.

OMC leaders were surprised this week when Commissioner Jim Cammack announced he was stepping down from the seat he had filled since he was appointed more than 4-years ago. The Peninsula Daily News was reporting that Cammack had decided to step down for “personal reasons”.

The retired pharmacist has most recently been serving as President of the commission.

The remainder of the commissioners will meet Wednesday night and may discuss the process for filling the vacancy.

Speeding biker caught with heroin and pot
Tuesday, May 27

State troopers now say a speeding motorcyclist they caught over the weekend will be getting more than a ticket for fast driving. He’ll also be charged with carrying a significant quantity of drugs.

WSP says Trooper Ken Ahrens was on a routine patrol in the Elwha Valley Saturday afternoon when he spotted the biker traveling at high speed near Hot Springs Road. When he ran a license check on the 30-year old Port Angeles man, Ahrens discovered Jasper Smith didn’t have a motorcycle endorsement and was wanted on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. (WSP photo)

When he searched Smith, he discovered he was carrying nearly $3000 in cash, nearly 200-grams of marijuana and almost 4-grams of heroin.

He was booked into the Clallam County jail on the warrant and charges of possessing the marijuana with intent to deliver.

Duck derby sets new record
Monday, May 19

The Great Olympic Peninsula Duck Derby shows no signs of slowing down as it nears its 20th anniversary, with more than 36,000 ducks “dumped” for the annual event over the weekend.

The 19th annual derby came off without a hitch Sunday in the tidal channel at the Nippon paper mill, raising thousands of dollars for the Olympic Medical Center Foundation and area charities. This year’s winner was Werner Beier of Port Angeles, who won the first prize of a brand new truck from Wilder Toyota. Second place was claimed by Daly Richardson.

The derby, which was first started in the creek at Carrie Blake Park, moved to the Dungeness River before settling on the tidal channel in 1992, where it has been held ever since.

Annual Dump Day set
Tuesday, April 15

It’s already been a couple of years since “Recycled Man” Dale Miller passed away. But his idea to turn trash into food is still going strong, with the annual Dump Day at the PA Regional Transfer Station this weekend.

More than a decade ago, Miller and Food Bank Director Micki Saunders got their heads together and decided allowing free dumping at the landfill if people would bring a donation of food or cash for the needy. The concept was a resounding success, raising tons of food as people dumped tons of trash during the one-day event.

Miller retired as recycling coordinator and passed away two years ago. But the Benefit Dump Day lives on.

This year the Dump Day will be on Sunday, April 20th, from 9am until 3pm. While the landfill was closed last year, the Regional Transfer Station still allows people to clean up. City and county residents can take advantage of this event to clean up their homes, yards and neighborhoods. Yard waste, tires, large appliances, and other metals will be recycled.

Cash donations of $10.00 per load will be accepted for the Port Angeles Food Bank. Loads are limited to one per household (no commercial loads or vehicles) and can be no greater than a 3/4 ton truck or a 5-foot by 8-foot trailer. Tires, metals, and yard waste must be separated for recycling and there is a limit of up to 4 tires and 4 appliances per household.

Sewer work to cause evening traffic delays
Monday, April 7

Traffic on Highway 101 east could see some minor delays the next couple of weeks as crews install more sewer mains. The work is part of the Eastern Urban Growth Area sewer project that was launched a year ago and is taking longer than expected to complete.

This week through Friday, April 18th, contractors will be working in the area of 101 and Masters Road between 7pm and 7am so the new mains can be installed. The night work won’t happen on weekends.

Residents entering or leaving Masters Road are being asked to use a detour that takes traffic through the old Kmart parking lot and out on Kolonels Way to the highway.

Stabbing trial delayed
Monday, March 24

It’s going to be summer before a Port Angeles woman is tried for fatally stabbing her 73-year old friend last year.

Prosecutors have charged Andrea Freese with the Second Degree murder of Charles “Bill” Boze after the pair got into an argument at his house on the west side of Port Angeles last July. Police said at the time that the two had apparently got into a confrontation and Freese stabbed Boze with a knife.

The trial was to have started this week in Clallam County Superior Court but has been postponed another four months because of delays in getting mental evaluation reports. Freese has been held at Western State Hospital.

Two Clallam sites included on latest cleanup list
Monday, March 24

An historic mill site and the location for a long-time gas station and dry cleaners are being included on the latest list of toxic cleanup sites issued by the state.

The new list from the State Department of Ecology adds the two properties to dozens of more across Washington that need more extensive cleanup to get rid of oil, chemicals and other contaminants left behind in the past.

The old Carlsborg Mill site is included on the latest list. That’s where a warehouse was built over the former shingle and sawmill when the property was converted to a business park operated by the Port of Port Angeles. Although some contaminated soils were previously removed under the voluntary program, DOE says there’s still more work to be done at some point in the future.

The second new site on the list is in a much more public location. According to DOE the corner of 3rd and Lincoln, right across from the Clallam County courthouse, is still contaminated with oil from an old service station and chemicals from the dry cleaning business that operated there.

The service station operated at the corner for 40-years before the business was closed and converted into the old Alpine Realty office. Jiffy Dry Cleaners operated on the lot immediately to the south for nearly four decades. Both buildings were torn down about 5-years ago when Safeway bought the property and built a new fuel stop. DOE says although several tanks were taken voluntarily from the site, more cleanup work remains.

Police say elderly couple die of natural causes in hot tub
Monday, March 3

Port Angeles police are now saying an elderly couple apparently died of natural causes while they were using their hot tub.

The pair were found by a relative at their Fogarty Avenue home Friday afternoon.

While investigators aren’t sure of the exact cause of death, nor specifically whether the water in tub was at dangerous levels, they have determined 88-year old James Register and his 82-year old wife Lillian died of natural causes. Police say there was no evidence of alcohol,

Investigators have ordered standard toxicology reports in the case.

Killer described as “super nice guy”
Wednesday, February 27

Co-workers of a man who broke into a Port Angeles home and killed himself and his girlfriend say they are in “total disbelief” over the incident.

Police have determined that 41-year old Jeffrey Calvert of Bellingham attacked 35-year old Christian Stock in a tragic attempt to revive their failed relationship. PAPD detectives say Calvert broke into the house at 13th and Oak, shooting Stock and then himself as officers arrived. Stock’s daughters, who had called 911, weren’t injured.

Stock, who was a regular substitute teacher at Jefferson Elementary School and other schools in the Port Angeles district, had recently moved back to PA from Bellingham after her relationship with Calvert had fallen apart about six months after they met over the Internet. Police say Stock had been in the process of filing for a protection order against Calvert.

Calvert had worked as a finance manager for the Bellingham Community Food Co-op, where he was employed full-time. Fellow employees told the Bellingham Herald he “always a super nice guy”.

But authorities say he also had a darker side, having been convicted of stalking in 1995, a case that had just been vacated last week. And police say he was extremely well-armed at the time of the attack, carrying a stun gun, pepper spray, duct tape, binoculars, a knife, GPS unit and a 40-calibur and .357-calibur handguns.

Two dead in PA shooting
Sunday, February 24

Port Angeles police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide at a home in the central part of the city, a shooting that may have stemmed from a domestic dispute.

Police say a man and woman were found dead inside the main part of the home at 13th and Oak on Upper Cherry Hill after they were called to the scene late Sunday afternoon. Officers were called to the scene after the woman’s daughters called for help.

Detectives are still trying to piece together the circumstances, but say it appears the victim’s ex-boyfriend forced his way into the house as the girls ran upstairs to call 9-1-1. Officers say they heard a shot as they arrived on scene, and a second shot before they could get into the house.

The names of the victims hadn’t been released.

Pool group looks at improvements
Monday, February 11

A year after plans to replace William Shore Pool failed to get voters’ support, a new group is meeting to discuss other ideas for keeping the 40-year facility operational.

In 2006, city leaders and pool supporters teamed up on the idea of replacing William Shore with a multi-million dollar aquatics center at a location off Francis Street. But the idea failed to gain traction as voters rejected a bond issue to pay for the project.

Now, the Friends of William Shore Pool have organized to talk about ways to make the existing pool better.

The Friends group was meeting Monday evening, and again Thursday evening at the Vern Burton Center. They plan to meet on a regular basis to discuss “issues and ideas” such as new lap lanes, pool temperature, goals for 2008, changing classes and making other improvements.

That Thursday meeting starts at 11:30am.

PA schools ready to try another tech levy
Monday, February 11

Port Angeles school leaders are ready to ask voters to approve more money to get the district up to current technology speed.

Two years ago, voters rejected a similar Tech Levy request, even though the district argued it needed the money to replace seriously out-of-date computers and other equipment in the schools. The levy failed to get the required 60% “supermajority” for approval.

Now, district leaders are trying a different tact, proposing a smaller levy amount that would spread the cost over a 4-year period. The school board was considering a 4-year levy request at its Monday night meeting that would generate just over one-and-a-half million dollars per year. The levy rate would be 46-cents per $1000 of assessed valuation.

Gateway concrete pour set for Monday
Thursday, January 31

If crews can get a break in the weather, they hope to pour a major section of concrete for the new Gateway Transportation Center on Monday.

The contractor plans to pour about 800 yards of concrete for the pavilion deck for the center, which is combining a bus station and parking garage at the corner of Front and Lincoln. That means about 70-to-80 loads of concrete will be brought to site in a single day.

Trucks will pour concrete from both the east and west sides of the deck, entering from Front Street to Lincoln and then leaving via Railroad Avenue. That means the north end of Lincoln between Railroad and Front will be closed between 6am and 6pm. Railroad will be closed down to a single lane of traffic, but Laurel Street will remain open.

Elwha water plant construction finally getting underway
Sunday, January 27

More than 30-years after the federal government questioned whether it would re-license the Elwha River dams, work is finally getting started on actual construction that will eventually lead to the dams’ removal.

It was 1976 when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission first questioned whether the dams, which both lie within Olympic National Park, should be re-licensed. Over the next decade, the concept of tearing down the dams to restore salmon runs on the river emerged. But it wasn’t until 1992 that Congress signed the Elwha River Restoration Act, setting up the framework for demolition, and paying for local impacts from the project.

Saturday, several dozen people gathered to mark the first construction to be paid for through the Act, building new water treatment plants for the City of Port Angeles. The plants will be constructed over the next couple of years, with the feds now hoping to start dam removal in the next 5-years.

With all the delays, the cost of the project has skyrocketed by tens of millions of dollars. It will cost over $94-million to pay for the new water plans, a majority of the last price estimate for the entire project at $185-million.

PA man facing charges in Craigslist scam
Monday, January 21

King County authorities are preparing formal charges against a Port Angeles man who they say stole thousands of dollars from people using a popular Internet classified ad site.

The man was arrested after police ran a sting operation in Seattle this past week.

Investigators say they became aware of the case after the suspect attempted to rip off a Snoqualmie resident who was trying to sell some jewelry through Craigslist, the popular Internet selling site. Police say the man met with the victim posing as a jewelry buyer, taking the ring but leaving a fake check for $5200. Officers got involved after the victim posted a warning and learned others had also been burned.

The man has been booked in the King County jail on charges of fraud, forgery, theft and writing bad checks.

Braun takes over PA mayor’s post
Tuesday, January 15th

Despite a strong show of support from community and business leaders for Karen Rogers, the newly reconfigured Port Angeles city council is deciding to go in a different direction, electing Gary Braun to serve at the new mayor.

Tuesday’s vote came as the new council members took their seats together for the first time, completing a transition that started at the polls last fall. The new members include Don Perry, Dan Di Guilio and Cherie Kidd.

Veteran Councilman Larry Williams opened the selection by nominating Rogers, who has served as mayor for the past two years. Betsy Wharton seconded the nomination.

But that’s when the new council members flexed their muscles for the first time, with Cherie Kidd nominating Braun, who served as mayor in the late 90s and most recently in another stint as deputy mayor. That set up the vote with Rogers joining with Williams and Wharton in casting a ballot for herself. But the rest of the council sided with Braun, signaling an entirely new direction for the panel.

While Rogers has been known for her aggressive work on state and federal issues effecting the city and pressing forward with major public works projects that had been delayed for years, Braun is expected to serve in more of a role as an ambassador and ceremonial leader for the city.

In the second vote of the evening, Di Guilio nominated Wharton to serve as deputy mayor and that balloting was unanimous.

Williams, who has never aspired to the mayor’s seat, tells PNN “the new council has spoken and we will do our best to go forward from here”. He noted the standing room only crowd that filled the council chambers, many of them Roger’s supporters and says “despite the letters, emails and visual show of support” the new council members “chose their own course”.

Contacted after the meeting, Rogers would merely say that it had “been a privilege to serve” the city over the past two years.

Mayor’s “horse race” coming to a head
Thursday, January 10

Several weeks of intense lobbying and jockeying for position is coming to a head, as the Port Angeles city council votes Tuesday on filling the mayor’s chair for the next two years.

And how the race turns out is anyone’s guess at this point.

Karen Rogers has served in the mayor’s post for the past two years, guiding the city through some difficult times. That includes a resolution to the dispute with the Lower Elwha Tribe and the State of Washington over the Tse-whit-zen village site, hammering out multi-million dollar agreements concerning the Elwha dam removal and getting millions in long-delayed public works projects like the Gateway Transportation Center and the 8th Street bridges underway. She was also in the spotlight in times of mourning too, as the city dealt with the unexpected deaths of former Councilman Jack Pittis and popular firefighter Pat Rose.

But last fall, voters opted for change, electing three new council members and potentially starting a new era on the panel. Cherie Kidd, Dan Di Guilio and Don Perry will all be behind the council table for the first time Tuesday night. Yet through that change, it appears the council may be taking a step into the past as former Mayor Gary Braun competes for a return to the job.

Braun’s term as mayor in the late 90s was marked by a more measured pace for the city, as the council was still emerging from the turbulent years and staff turnover of the 1980s. He helped as the city stabilized under new city managers and began a period of economic growth.

Tuesday the new council will meet as a complete body for the first time, and picking the mayor is one of the first items of business. And from all indications, how that vote will come out is still up in the air. Since mid-December there have been a flurry of meetings and emails as the council members take sides, and in some cases local community and business leaders are entering the fray as they campaign for the outcome.

Whoever wins, the mayor will be faced with some major challenges for the city, with issues such as a worsening economy, little to no growth in important sectors like tourism and retail, and transportation issues such as new passport requirements and even the loss of Peninsula-bound ferry routes on the horizon,

PA man pleads guilty in child porn case
Saturday, January 5

A 39-year old Port Angeles man faces up to 10-years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography.

Mitchell Ian Blackburn was bust by federal agents in August 2006 after he subscribed to a website that had been tagged as a source for kiddy porn. He was one of 250-people arrested across the country that summer as part of an investigation called “Operation Emissary”, targeting people who subscribed to the hard core child porn site between late 2005 and early 2006.

In Blackburn’s case, prosecutors say agents found more than 1,000 images of child porn on his computer with children younger than 12. The feds say at least ten pictures showed the children being subject to violent and sadistic sexual abuse.

Under the plea agreement, Blackburn forfeits his computer equipment and is agreeing to undergo psycho-sexual assessment and sexual deviancy treatment.

He’ll be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle in April.

Scuffle leads to pot bust
Wednesday, January 2

Port Angeles police uncover a marijuana grow operation after overhearing a couple arguing.

In the middle of the night Sunday, PAPD Corporal Kevin Miller was standing in the police department parking lot on 4th Street when he heard a loud argument apparently coming from the alley behind the Safeway store a block away. They couldn’t find the disturbance at first, but a second report called to dispatchers helped them locate the arguing couple and a third man inside a house on East 5th Street.

Officers contacted the homeowner, but he refused to let them inside. However, they caught a whiff of marijuana and came back with a search warrant, discovering a small marijuana growing operation in the attic. They also found $4200 in cash and about 1-pound of packaged marijuana.

The 29-year old man and a 27-year old woman were arrested, along with a second man, 32-year old Benjamin Spaulding, who was arrested on outstanding warrants and possession of some marijuana. The case has been turned over to prosecutors.

County, PA firefighters co-locate operations
Tuesday, January 1

The Port Angeles Fire Department and Clallam County Fire District 2 are taking the latest step to share resources, with CCFD #2 moving administrative operations to the PA fire station this week.

A year ago, the two departments implemented a unique agreement where they share manpower and equipment for fires in the Port Angeles area. That includes fires inside the city limits, and as far west as Lake Sutherland and east to Deer Park.

Now, the two departments have signed an agreement to share space at the PAFD fire station on 5th Street. Starting Wednesday, CCFD #2 will have their fire chief, deputy fire chief and district secretary operating out of office space there, moving from the Dry Creek fire station, which has been the district headquarters for decades. The department leaders say that will allow the two agencies to work even more closely together and gives District 2 administrators a central location between the two “halves” of the fire district.

As part of the agreement, the fire district is giving PA Fire space for non-urgent vehicles and sharing a reserve fire engine at the Lake Sutherland station. Sharing that District 2 engine will allow the city to eliminate its oldest fire truck.

PA threatens to close Skate Park
Sunday, December 23

Port Angeles officials are warning skaters they may have to start closing the popular PA Skate Park if they can’t clean up their act.

The warnings come after several incidents where park workers have been subject to verbal and physical abuse and threats when they were trying to close the park for the evening. Police have even been called to stand by while workers perform their duties.

The city says workers have “encountered unacceptable, rowdy, and disrespectful attitudes including extremely abusive language, spitting,
and threatening behavior”.

PA Police Chief Terry Gallagher and other officers have met with skaters at the park and warned them to straighten up. They’ve also warning that vandalism, graffiti and fighting won’t be tolerated and could force the city to close the park for “one or more consecutive days”.

Conflicts between the city and skaters resulted in the park being closed after a skater was killed in an accident last year.

PA schools mulling second “tech levy” try
Saturday, December 22

They haven’t made any decisions yet, but Port Angeles school leaders are discussing the idea of asking voters a second time to put up the money for improving the district’s aging computers.

Last February, voters rejected a similar tech levy. It got a 52% “yes” vote, but that’s short of the 60% “supermajority” needed for approval.

But the district is still faced with some major technology shortcomings, with the school board saying many of the 2000 computers in the district are obsolete. A recent upgrade to the Windows operating system showed many of the work stations have inadequate memory and processors to even run basic software versions.

The district’s Community Technology Advisory Committee is starting to meet again and is reviewing the district’s three year technology plan. Those meetings are just getting underway and no recommendations have been developed yet for the school board and a possible second tech levy attempt.

Court rejects appeal of Ressam conspirator
Wednesday, December 19

A federal appeals court is rejecting the appeal of a man tied to Ahmed Ressam and the so-called “Millenium Bombing” plot to attack the Los Angeles Airport.

Mokhtar Haouari was convicted more than 6-years ago and sentenced to 24-years in prison for his role in the scheme, which fell apart when sharp-eyed Customs agents caught Ressam trying to enter the U.S. in Port Angeles. He was accused of providing Ressam with phony identification and helping him to buy the materials for the bomb.

Ressam testified against Haouari, but later recounted his testimony in a letter to federal prosecutors saying he wasn’t “mentally competent” at the time of the trial.

But this week, the 2nd U.S. Court of Appeals in New York ruled that Ressam’s letter was “general, unsworn and conclusory” and not enough to overturn Haouari’s conviction.

Ressam is also appealing his conviction with the case recently placed before the U..S. Supreme Court.

Nippon mill recycling phone books again
Wednesday, December 19

A local mill that led the way in recycling phone books to produce new ones is once again opening its doors for local residents to be a part of the process.

For the past several years, the Nippon Paper Industries mill has accepted used phone books for recycling. The mill has recycled phone books and magazines since it added new equipment in the early 1990s, using the recycled fiber to produce new paper for phone books and newspapers.

New Dex phone books are arriving in Clallam County this week, and Port Angeles recycling Coordinator Helen Freilich says the mill is accepting the books until January 15th. A collection box has been placed at the Port Angeles Wal-Mart. She says it’s especially helpful if motels and other businesses who have lots of old phone directories take advantage of the program, as well as county residents who don’t participate in curbside recycling.

Contractors will have 3-years to finish PA water plant
Monday, December 17

Contractors will have three years to finish a new water system for the City of Port Angeles, completing a major piece for removal of the Elwha River dams.

Last week, the National Park Service announced the $69-million dollar contract was being awarded to a joint venture of DelHur Industries of Port Angeles and Watts Constructors LLC with offices in Washington, California and Hawaii. The joint venture has been charged with building the new water facilities that will replace the existing infrastructure for residential and industrial water supplies for the city.

Tons of sediment will be released down the river as the two power dams are torn down, and that will ruin the city’s existing well system beneath the Elwha. As part of the 1992 Elwha River Restoration Act, the federal government agreed to build new water treatment facilities for the city.

Department of Interior will have paperwork ready so the firms can go ahead by February. And then the companies will have three years to complete construction of the facilities. That means dam demolition won’t happen until 2012 at the earliest. Now, attention will have to focus on funding the actual removal of the dams.

WSP says driver in Cherry St. crash was intoxicated
Saturday, December 15

State troopers say an 18-year old man was under the influence of alcohol and drugs when he lost control of his car, sliding an entire city block, striking several cars and a house.

The accident happened just after midnight Friday on Cherry Street.

WSP says Jeremy Albee of Port Angeles was headed northbound on Cherry when he lost control of his Hyundai at 7th. Troopers say the car went onto the sidewalk where it slid an entire block before hitting a fire hydrant and a utility pole. Then, the car went across 6th where it hit the unoccupied portion of a duplex, and two parked cars. Debris from the crash also damaged two other cars.

Albee suffered a sore back and neck and was taken to the hospital. Another 17-year old boy in the car had similar injuries and was also taken to Olympic Memorial Hospital.

Albee was cited for DUI and reckless driving, and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The 17-year old was also cited for marijuana possession.

Rogers wants study on PA-Coho economic impact
Monday, December 10

Port Angeles Mayor Karen Rogers would like Peninsula College to help draft a report outlining the economic impact the Coho ferry has on this side of the Strait.

Rogers will make the request after a one-day trip to Victoria last week lobbying leaders to keep the Coho docking in the Inner Harbour, and a report suggesting the Black Ball operation was worth at least $100-million a year to the island city’s economy.

Victoria leaders are debating a plan to move the Black Ball dock outside of the Inner Harbour as part of a scheme to re-develop the area. But there are major questions about where the ferry landing would be moved to, and whether Black Ball will be able to afford a re-location.

During last Thursday’s trip, Rogers met with local leaders of the B.C. Parliament and outlined Port Angeles’ concerns during press briefings and meetings with community leaders. Those sessions touched on several major questions, including the future of the arrangement where the Black Ball terminal is owned by the ferry company, but stands on leased land.

Rogers tells PNN there’s “more work to do on the issue, and apparently the Province is going to make an announcement in the future”, but she says “no one knows what it is”. She says the B.C. Premier, provincial leaders nor the city had reacted to the Victoria economic report. Rogers does plan to press the issue with Governor Chris Gregoire during a meeting in January, asking her to take up the question with the B.C. Premier.

Meanwhile, Rogers says she wants to engage PC to do a similar economic study, get more information on the moorage lease for the Coho and moving the deeds to the Harbour Authority. She says Port Angeles will also have to “remain diligent and persistence” with the pending decisions expected soon, and follow up with Victoria city leaders.

Police looking for mural vandals
Monday, December 10

Port Angeles police are reviewing surveillance video in hopes of catching the vandals who damaged an historic mural on the city pier over the weekend.

The mural, which depicts Klallam villages on the waterfront is on the wall outside the Art Fiero Marine Lab and is a popular spot for tourists to take pictures. It was painted by artist Cory Ench as part of the Nor’wester Rotary Club’s effort to bring murals to the downtown in the late 1990s.

But sometime Thursday night, vandals attacked the mural with spray paint, writing racial slurs and what police have described as obscene graffiti all over the painting. There was no immediate word on the amount of damage, or what might have to be done to repair the mural.

City officials tell PNN they’re trying to determine if the paint can be cleared off the mural without damaging the picture further. In the meantime, the mural will remain covered with tarps.

New council won’t be seated until mid-January
Monday, December 10

It will be mid-January before the new Port Angeles city council meets for the first time. And that means at least two more weeks for council members to decide who will serve as mayor for the next two years.

The council is going through one its most comprehensive changeovers in several years, starting with two council appointments last year and then the election of three new council members in November. Two of the new council members have already taken office this month, with Don Perry and Dan Di Guilio taking over the appointed council seats last week.

But council schedules mean Councilwoman-elect Cherie Kidd will likely have to wait until January 15th before she can sit with the rest of the council. Both Mayor Karen Rogers and Councilwoman Betsy Wharton will be traveling the first week in January, and with the first Tuesday falling on New Year’s Day, it looks like the first council meeting of 2008 won’t happen until the middle of the month. Kidd will be sworn-in on January 2nd.

That delay means the council won’t be voting on the mayor’s appointment until mid-January, giving the council an additional two weeks of lobbying behind-the-scenes to decide how to fill the post. At this point, it’s expected the choice could come down to re-appointing Karen Rogers, who has served as major the past two years, or possibly former Mayor Gary Braun, who has also served as as deputy mayor.

Delaying the first meeting of a new year is unusual, but not unprecedented in Port Angeles. In the past storms, and illness have forced the council to delay the re-organization, which takes place in January.

Report says Coho worth more than $100-million to Victoria
Wednesday, December 5

A new report suggests the ferry M.V. Coho is worth millions in taxes and income to the Victoria economy, money that would be lost if the ferry is moved out of the Inner Harbour.

The study, commissioned by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority and Tourism Victoria, analyzes the Black Ball ferry operation as developers and some community leaders push a plan to move the ferry out of the city’s center.

The report found the Coho had a total economic impact to the Greater Victoria economy of more than $123-million NET GDP in 2006, supporting more than 3500-equivalent jobs and generating more than $12-million in taxes. Further, the report suggests the loss of the Coho visitors and the money spent by Black Ball Transportation operations at nearly $49-million, more than 1200-equivalent jobs and over $4-million in taxes.

Rogers to visit Victoria on Coho issue
Wednesday, December 5

Port Angeles Mayor Karen Rogers is headed back to Victoria to talk with B.C. Parliament leaders in hopes of convincing them of the economic importance of the Coho and its passengers.

Rogers and Deputy PA Mayor Larry Williams will sail to Victoria Thursday morning for a day full of meetings and press briefings.

Rogers and Williams are scheduled to meet with Rob Fleming, MLA Victoria-Hillside and Carole James, MLA Victoria-Beacon Hill and Leader New Democrat Official Opposition leader. They’ll also take part in a press briefing with Victoria leaders and then have more meetings before returning in the afternoon.

Rogers sees the future of the ferry service as critical to both Port Angeles and Victoria and is aiming to get that message across to people backing the plan to move the Coho from its traditional landing spot.

It’s the second trip to Victoria on the Coho issue this fall for Rogers, who also hosted a delegation of Victoria leaders in PA a couple of months ago on the same concerns.

Workers wrapping up downtown water main install
Wednesday, December 5

Crews are back at work on the downtown Port Angeles watermain project, with hopes of wrapping up the big project this coming month.

Work was suspended earlier this week because of the heavy rain. But construction resumed Wednesday. The project is replacing water mains in the third phase of a project that started in the mid-90s, and also replacing some of the last remaining sidewalks not rebuilt previously.

The city says water mains under the street have been installed, except for two crossings of Oak Street at First Street. The sidewalk on the west side of Laurel Street between Railroad and Front Streets has been filled. Crews still have to install curbs, tree wells the sidewalk “pavers” and electrical connections for street lights.

Work will be suspended December 24th through New Years. Water customers who are outside of the construction zone will be contacted directly by the contractor about any interuptions in service while their properties are connected.

Bad weather halts construction projects
Monday, December 3

The bad weather is forcing construction crews to halt work on several big projects, including the new 8th Street bridges.

Port Angeles officials announced Monday that the high winds and heavy rains were forcing crews to stop work until conditions could improve.

That includes the 8th Street bridges, where work was stopped Monday morning because of the high wind warnings. Traffic was being allowed through on the Tumwater Truck Route while construction is stopped. Workers were also idled on the city’s other big public works projects. The downtown water main replacement and the Gateway Transportation Center construction was also called off because of the heavy rain.

Truck Route closed through end of the week
Wednesday, November 28

The Tumwater Truck Route will remain closed to all traffic through the end of the week, giving crews more room to work on the 8th Street bridge replacement.

The bridge over Tumwater Creek is one of two spans that are being demolished and replaced on 8th Street.

This latest closure started Wednesday and will last through Friday, with traffic being stopped just south of Marine Drive and at the intersection with Lauridsen Boulevard on the south end. A similar closure will take place next week, starting on December 3rd. The closure gives construction equipment more room to operate.

“Bubble” boosters waiting for word
Saturday, November 24

Boosters of a plan to bring an inflatable “bubble building” to Port Angeles for indoor tennis, hope to hear whether the local application has been approved in the next few days.

The Peninsula Tennis Club is one of two groups still competing for the inflatable “dome”, which is being removed from George Washington University in Washington D.C.

The building, which is more than 40-feet high, is nearly 3-hundred feet long. The city has already endorsed the idea of putting the bubble adjacent to Erickson Playfield and the Clallam County YMCA in Francis Street. It would give tennis players a place to play year around.

Leaders of the PTC have told the Peninsula Daily News they hope to hear whether their application for the bubble has been approved in the next week or two.

New council members to take office right away
Friday, November 23

Two of the new Port Angeles city council members who were elected earlier this month will jump right into their public service.

That’s because the pair are filling council seats that had earlier been filled by appointment.

Don Perry and Dan Di Guilio won their council races November 6th. Perry, a local insurance salesman, was competing for the seat originally held by the late Jack Pittis. That seat was filled when former mayor Rich Headrick was appointed. Di Guilio defeated businesswoman Edna Peterson, who was appointed when Lauren Erickson had to step down because of health reasons.

City Attorney Bill Bloor decided that the two new council members should fill the openings as soon as possible, to comply with state law that says the appointees would only serve until after the “next election”. That means both Perry and Di Guilio will take their oaths of office at the December 4th council meeting.

Councilwoman-elect Cherie Kidd, who defeated Grant Munro in his bid for a second term, will take office under the normal procedures at the first council meeting in January.

Crews making progress on water main work
Saturday, November 17

Workers are finished installing most of the new water mains in downtown Port Angeles, but crews are still busy replacing sidewalks that are part of the project.

The construction now underway in downtown PA is the third, and expected to be final phase, of a project to replace aging water lines and sidewalks that started a decade ago.

Engineers say all the water mains under the streets have been finished except for two crossings at First and Oak and Front and Oak. The contractor is scheduled to do pressure testing on those new lines and installing fire hydrants this coming week. Crews will be contacting individual businesses to tell them when their water service will be shut off while new connections are made.

Meanwhile, crews continue to fill the sidewalk along the west side of Laurel Street. That’s the same section where work was delayed until the city could design a “vaulted” sidewalk to save one of the last remaining sections of the historic Port Angeles Underground. Demolition will start soon on the remaining sidewalk on Laurel just south of Railroad.

Sidewalk has also been torn out on the south side of First in the 300 block and filling of those areas will take place this week.

Kidd holds on to win
Wednesday, November 14

If you keep trying you will get elected.

That could be the motto for Cherie Kidd as the repeat city council candidate finally made “the show” Wednesday with a final ballot count confirming her victory in the race for Position 7 on the Port Angeles city council.

A run for several thousand remaining ballots from across Clallam County didn’t change the last count from Friday. Kidd maintains her 229 vote lead over one-term incumbent Grant Munro. Kidd finishes with 52.1% of the vote with Munro falling short at 47.9% in his re-election bid.

Kidd, who is a motivational speaker professionally, hadn’t been able to convert those skills into votes on several previous council attempts. However, she had been getting stronger with each succeeding campaign, narrowly losing to three-term Councilman Larry Williams two years ago. This time, Kidd managed to secure just enough votes to send Munro to the sidelines.

Munro, a retired manager with Rayonier, was torpedoed at a critical point in the campaign when newspaper stories recycled a year-old domestic violence case. That, coupled with a general sentiment that turned against incumbents in Port Angeles and Sequim, kept him from claiming a second term in January.

Kidd’s victory, coupled with the election of out-spoken insurance salesman Don Perry, could create some tension on the new council, where Mayor Karen Rogers and her supporters have enjoyed a working majority for the past couple of years.
Voters also turned out appointed Councilwoman Edna Peterson, a long-time local businesswoman who generally agreed with Rogers and the others on most issues, replacing her with former Clallam Transit General Manager Dan Di Guilio. That puts three new members on the council and sets up a potential power struggle with the panel scheduled to consider the mayoral appointment in January.

Deputies still looking for armed robber
Tuesday, November 13

Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies remain on the lookout for the man who robbed an east side business at pistol point.

Investigators say the holdup occurred Monday evening at a business in the 100 block of North Gales Street on the east side of Port Angeles. Two employees say the robber, described as a man in his mid-30s and wearing a hooded sweatshirt and hockey mask came in about 7:30 demanding cash. He ordered the workers to open the cash register, taking money and then running away.

Deputies and Port Angeles Police officers searched the area without success.

The suspect, who was armed with a pistol, is described as being 5-feet, 8-inches tall with a medium build and possibly having blond hair. Deputies are hoping anyone with information that could help the case will call detectives at 417-2576.

PA Police dog dies
Tuesday, November 13

Port Angeles police say the city’s first police dog was put down Friday because of heart problems after he suffered a stroke last month. Corporal Kevin Miller with Arco

Arco had been the city’s K-9 unit for 11-years before he was retired last month.

The German Shepard went down in October while working with his handler, Corporal Kevin Miller as they were searching for thieves in the 100 block of West 7th Street. Arco collapsed and it was later determined he’d suffered a stroke. He was taken for treatment and appeared to have recovered, but was still have problems several days later. A further exam showed he had an enlarged heart and the decision was made to retire him from active service.

His condition worsened and the decision was made to put him to rest Friday, just 16-days from completing 11-years of service for the city.

Arco sustained numerous injuries over the years. The most significant was the loss of two canine teeth and a fractured rib from various confrontations with suspects. During the course of his career, Arco caught more than 300-felons, helping with police searches throughout the area. He even helped to catch a murder suspect several years ago.

Ballot count confirms PA council victories
Saturday, November 10

The Port Angeles city council will have three new members after January 1st as the latest ballot count confirms the upset of two incumbents.

Friday, staff at the Clallam County Auditor’s office counted more ballots from Tuesday’s General election, leaving just 4,000 votes to tabulate for all the countywide races.

The latest results show challenger Dan Di Guilio defeating incumbent Edna Peterson, with just short of 57% of the vote. Di Guilio, the former General Manager for Clallam Transit, had been one of several people to apply for the vacancy seat on the council that Peterson had been appointed to last year.

And with the latest count, it appears incumbent Councilman Grant Munro has also been pushed to the sidelines. Cherie Kidd now leads the one-term councilman and retired Rayonier executive by 229 votes, with 52.1% of the ballots. It doesn’t look like there are enough remaining ballots for Munro to overcome that lead. Two years ago, Kidd had nearly beat incumbent Councilman Larry Williams, but fell short as the final votes were tallied.

The third council seat will go to insurance salesman Don Perry, who got over 63% of the votes over newcomer Paul Sawyer.

Council incumbents pounded in PA and Sequim
Wednesday, November 7

2007 turns out to be a poor year to run as an incumbent city councilman in Port Angeles and Sequim, with most of the sitting council members being ousted in this weeks’ voting.

In Port Angeles, former Clallam Transit General Manager Dan Di Guilio upset Edna Peterson’s bid for a full term on council with nearly 56% of the vote. Peterson trails by almost 400 votes and would need to capture a vast majority of the remaining ballots in order to claim victory. Di Guilio had applied for the council appointment that went to Peterson last year.

And it appears the third time might finally be the charm for Cherie Kidd, who has a solid lead over incumbent Grant Munro in the race for Position 7. She leads by more than 100 votes after the initial ballot count Tuesday night. Kidd has come close before, eventually losing to incumbent Larry Williams 2-years ago after additional votes were counted after election day.

In the race for an open seat, insurance salesman Don Perry swept to an easy win over newcomer Paul Sawyer with almost 63% of the ballots.

In Sequim, Susan Lorenzen trounced incumbent Don Hall’s bid for a second term, capturing over 71% of the votes. Bob Anundson’s time on the council will be short after managing just 38% of the vote against Erik Erichsen. Both Lorensen and Erichsen had competed for the appointment that was given to Anundsen earlier this year.

Voters also turned out incumbent Ron Farquhar, who could managed only 26% of the ballots against newcomer Laura Dubios. And architect Ken Hays prevailed in the race for Council Position 7, overcoming a vociferous write-in bid by Margaret Williams.

The results appear to be a major referendum on the Sequim council’s handling of growth issues since all of the candidates had been critical of the incumbents handling of the city’s rapid development in the past couple of years. It will present a challenge for Mayor Walt Schubert and the remainder of the previous council to incorporate those viewpoints, now that a majority of the seats will be held by new members.