Budget Cuts and Possible Layoffs for Port Angeles Schools

The Port Angeles School Board is holding a meeting tonight, 7 p.m., at Dry Creek Elementary School, 25 Rife Road. They'll be discussing budget cuts and the possibility of teacher layoffs.

The District is expecting to have $1.6 million less in revenue next year than it did this year.

Unemployment Still Rising on North Olympic Peninsula

Clallam County's unemployment rate, as of March, is 11.6%, up from 11.1% the previous month.

The unemployment rate in Jefferson County rose from 10.7% in February to 11.1% in March.

The state Employment Security Department says the unemployment rate is up because of more people re-entering the labor force.

State Auditor's Report re: Karen Rogers, Kent Myers

According to the State Auditor's report, Karen Rogers violated state law by not disclosing business relationships while she was a City Council member. A city official is required to disclose business relationships with a company if the city is considering hiring that company. These disclosures have to be mentioned in the minutes and the vote of that city official cannot be counted.

Kim Hurley, special investigations manager with the Auditor’s Office, said no legal action is required because the contracts have expired.

Steve Tharinger Won't Seek Re-Election as Clallam County Commissioner

Steve Tharinger, simultaneously serving as a state representative and a Clallam County commissioner, has announced he will not seek a fourth term for his Clallam County position. He said the decision not to run again for the Clallam County post:

“...has been particularly difficult because it is never easy to leave a good team. But I am very much looking forward to continuing to serve the Peninsula in the capacity of state representative.”

Conservatives Are Right: Too Many Frivolous Lawsuits

A mid-western restaurant chain called Wildfire Restaurants has threatened to sue two Peninsula restaurants — Wildfire Grill at 929 W. Eighth St., Port Angeles; and Wildfire Cider of 220 Pocket Lane, Port Townsend — for copyright infringement.

The Port Angeles restaurant is now LD's Woodfire Grill. The Port Townsend restaurant has been changed to Alpenfire Cider. The owner of of the (formerly) Wildfire Cider of Port Townsend said:

“It was very frustrating. We thought it was a joke; we really did at first.”

The owner of the (formerly known as) Wildfire Grill in Port Angeles was approached by a trademark lawyer:

"He said I can try to fight it, but it will cost around $20,000.”

Port Angeles Burglaries Up to Ten Now

Two burglaries of downtown businesses have brought the total to ten. The previous burglaries, all businesses, were along East Eighth Street and on North Francis Street.

The M.O. has been the same for each one: Cutting the power and phone service before breaking in.

North Olympic Crime Stoppers pays up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and filing of felony charges. They accept anonymous tips. Anyone with information about these burglaries can reach them at 800-222-8477, or the Port Angeles Police Department at 360-452-4545.

Another burglary, not included in the above article, occurred this past Monday or early Tuesday at Lynn’s Caboose at Laird's Corner. And two other businesses in that same area were burglarized about two weeks ago.

Saar's Closing

Well this sucks.

Saar's Market Place will be closing. Their corporate general manager said:

“The store is already in the closeout process.”

The closeout sale will last up to 3 or 4 weeks; then the store will close.

Twenty-five employees will lose their jobs.

Possible New Home for the Bubble Building

Port Angeles' inflatable field house might be used by the Sequim High School campus to cover six tennis courts. The idea was proposed by the Peninsula Tennis Club, but first it will have to be approved by the Sequim School Board.