Woman injured when car spins out on 112
Thursday, June 12

A 41-year old Port Angeles woman was seriously injured when her car spun out on Highway 112.

The accident happened Thursday evening at milepost 55, which is 8-miles west of Port Angeles and just east of Joyce.

Washington State troopers say Lee Ingrid was driving drunk when she lost control of her 1990 Mazda as she was driving toward PA. The car left the road to the right, and when Ingrid overcorrected the car slid across both lanes and smashed into a fence made of railroad ties. Troopers say the car spun around 180-degrees, throwing Ingrid from the car. She wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.

WSP says Ingrid suffered a broken back and ribs, a collapsed lung and a fractured vertebrae and had to be airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Incumbents rule as filing period opens
Tuesday, June 3

It’s been nearly all incumbents so far as the filing period for the 2008 elections opens at the Clallam County courthouse and the state capitol in Olympia.

This fall voters will choose people to serve in positions ranging from 6th District Congressman, to all three Legislative positions, county commissioner and Superior Court judge.

But there were no new names on the lists as filing opened Monday.

For 6th District Congressman, long-time Representative Norm Dicks is going back to the well again, hoping to hold on to the job he’s had since the late 1970s. And once more, it appears the GOP won’t come up with a viable challenger. Republican Doug Cloud has already filed to challenge Dicks for a third time, but the Pierce County attorney has had little party support in two pervious outings, finishing a distant second to the Bremerton Democrat.

Closer to home, 24th District State Senator Jim Hargrove, a well-known conservative Democrat, has filed to once more fill the position he’s held since the 1980s. Incumbent State Representatives Lynn Kessler and Kevin Van de Wege also filed for re-election. Kessler, who could draw a GOP challenger this year, has served since 1992. Van de Wege, a Sequim firefighter, will be making his first re-election bid.

In the Clallam County Superior Court races, incumbent Judges Ken Williams, George Wood and Brooke Taylor have all filed for re-election. Williams and Wood have been on the bench since the early 90s. Taylor easily won election to the new third court seat last fall and must now stand for election to a full 4-year term.

Filing continues through the end of the week.

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.

Three hikers rescued in SW Olympics
Sunday, June 1

Three hikers are recovering after being rescued off the slopes of Mt. Elinor in Mason County Saturday night.

The Mason County Sheriff’s Department says the three were injured in two separate incidents near the summit of the 4,700’ foot peak, which overlooks Lake Cushman in Olympic National Forest.

Rescuers say one woman broke her ankle as she was sliding down an ice chute near the top of the mountain. That chute is a popular spot for climbers to slide down as they are descending after reaching the top.

Another man and woman were hit by a falling an ice chunk that was dislodged as they were descending the chute.

The rescue was dramatic because of the steep terrain and falling darkness, but all three were brought off the mountain safely. The couple were flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

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.