Port Angeles Police Log

I’m assuming there isn’t one. I did every web search I could think of and nothing turned up. A lot of small-town newspapers have one (including the Port Townsend paper).

Aside from being entertaining, these police logs are informative. I can’t be the only person who sees five handcuffed suspects standing next to three police cars, and wonders “hmmm, what’s going on?”

Unless it’s a murder or a bank robbery, you won’t read anything about it in the Peninsula Daily News. The downtown and waterfront area sure have had a lot of police activity lately. It would be nice to know what some of these incidents are all about.

Anybody know how to access this information, or why the local government is so secretive about it?

Olympic Discovery Trail vs. Four Property Owners

The Olympic Discovery Trail will someday — hopefully — be a non-motorized trail running from La Push to Port Townsend. But for now, the trail is being held up in Sequim.

Four property owners on Spruce Street are objecting to having the trail run too close to their homes.

It’s easy to sympathize with people who don’t want hordes of people near their homes. But it happens. Every time a park is created or a freeway is expanded, somebody loses a little bit of elbow room (or worse).

But, as City Councilman Walt Schubert pointed out: “It’s been proven that property values go up when you’re on the trail.”

A local realtor and parks board member said: “The Olympic Discovery Trail is a very important element in our tourism economy and our retirement economy. Usage grows every year.”

Downtown Resource Officer on Scooter Patrol

The Port Angeles Police Department will be using a Segway Personal Transporter for a 2-week trial period. Basically it’s a $5,500 scooter that runs on a battery, goes 24 miles on one battery charge and goes up to 12.5 miles an hour.

The police department is hoping to be able to buy the Segway after the 2-week trial period. The downtown resource officer will be the first police officer to be trained to use the Segway.

They’re hoping the Segway will provide more effective patrols of the downtown area and the waterfront trail.

Washington State Assisted Suicide Initiative: Pro or Con?

This isn’t exactly a local issue, but it’s getting more and more publicity throughout Washington State. The Peninsula Daily News has had several articles and letters to the editor about it.

The Washington Assisted Suicide Initiative (Initiative 1000) is patterned after Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act which has been in effect since 1997. Oregon is the only other state that has this law. Switzerland, Belgium and Holland also have a similar law.

This article describes the initiative in more detail. Proponents need to obtain 225,000 signatures by July 3rd in order to qualify for the ballot this coming November.

Basically this initiative will allow a terminally ill patient to end his/her life. A physician would administer a lethal overdose of painkilling drugs.

What do you think of this initiative?

Sprint Boat Racing in Port Angeles?

I had never heard of sprint boat racing until this article appeared in the PDN a few days ago. But apparently it’s a popular sport, judging by all the links that come up in this web search.

And now we might get our own sprint boat race course right here in Port Angeles. The deal isn’t final by any means, but that’s the tentative plan for the 113-acre tract near the airport. The Port of Port Angeles owns the property but has agreed to sell it to the Dan Morrison Group, which has proposed building the race course on the property.

If you don’t know anything about sprint boat racing (or haven’t even heard of it), this video will give you an idea.

New Crematorium in Carlsborg: Pro or Con

I don’t have any opinion one way or the other on this, but it seems to be huge topic in the PDN letters to the editor.

What say you?

Reduced Federal Aid to North Olympic Peninsula

I don’t usually write about national politics at this site (that’s for my other blog). But in this case the federal government’s action (or inaction) will have a direct effect on Clallam and Jefferson Counties.

Bush was already planning to veto the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. But the bill never even made it that far. Last Thursday the bill got defeated in the House of Representatives.

This bill would have continued giving federal aid to counties that have lost money because of reduced logging. This program is now discontinued because of the bill’s defeat.

Last year Clallam County received $1.1 million from this program. Jefferson County received $1.3 million.

Now what?

Citizens’ Advisory Group for Sequim

Twenty-two Sequim residents might be forming an advisory group to work with the Sequim City Council. This would theoretically give a voice to “regular” people who aren’t politicians and power brokers.

This advisory group will only be formed if the City Council approves the idea. That’s kind of like the old joke about the housewife who wanted to take assertiveness training but she was afraid her husband wouldn’t let her.

How about a citizens’ advisory group for Port Angeles? Think it would ever happen?

Buying Food Locally

This website was written up in today’s Peninsula Daily News (article not available online). It’s an online food network — a link between local farmers and online shoppers who want to buy locally.

Why buy locally?

Like the bumpersticker says: “If you bought it, a trucker brought it.” With gas prices shooting up, up and further up, everything you purchase is going to cost more because of transportation costs.

Also, if local farmers can make a good living selling their products, their land will become more valuable. Farmers will then be less likely to sell their land to a developer in order to make a profit.

And remember: out of every dollar you spent at a locally-owned business, sixty cents of that dollar stays in the community. When you spend your money at a Big Box store or a national chain, only SIX cents of each dollar stays in the community. You can help yourself and help the local economy at the same time.

This online food network was developed by Laura and Sid Maroney, who live on a farm just north of Sequim. You go to the website, order exactly the food you want (out of what’s available) and then pick up your order at the farm.

Please check out their website. There’s a lot of great information here.