Colonel Hudson's to Add Indoor Dining

Colonel Hudson's, the popular takeout-only restaurant at 536 Marine Drive in Port Angeles (the former location of Smitty's and then Mickey's), will soon have indoor dining available.  The owners, Malik Atwater and his wife, Vivian Wai, are hoping to have their renovations complete by late January.

Possible Ways to Collect PenPly Utility Money

Kent Myers said the City is weighing possible options for collecting $315,272 owed by PenPly. This could include going after the owners of the mill.  Port Executive Director Jeff Robb said the Port is not writing off the debt yet, but is doubtful whether the money can be collected.  He said:

“The only thing you can do is sue the corporation, and they have no assets.”

Port of Port Angeles to Take Control of PenPly Property

The Port of Port Angeles has taken control of the property where PenPly is located.  The Port is planning to tear down the 70-year-old building and replace it with marine-related businesses.  When the mill closed, the company signed an agreement with the Port stipulating that they had fourteen days to either find a new owner or vacate the premises.

Possible Wireless Project for Port Angeles

The Port Angeles City Council will consider approving a $3.7 million project for the construction of almost three miles of new fiber lines and 240 new wireless points. If approved, the City will contribute $1.1 million; the rest of the funding is covered by the federal government.

This project could be in place by the end of 2012.

Twelve Applicants for Port of Port Angeles Position

There are twelve applicants for the vacant commissioner position with the Port of Port Angeles.  This is the position that's being vacated by Jim McEntire, who will soon be sworn in as a new Clallam County commissioner.

"No Net Loss of Working Forests"

This is a new slogan from the Port Angeles Business Association.  The PABA is urging Clallam County commissioners to withdraw their support of any possible expansion plans for Olympic National Park.

Temporary Reprieve for Franklin Elementary School

The Port Angeles School District board will keep Franklin Elementary School open, but only temporarily.  The school will still be closed in the near future.  Board member Lonnie Linn told a group of parents and teachers:

“This is a $2 million Band-Aid you got tonight, but it's going to be ripped off in the next 24 months.”

Port Angeles Fine Arts Center Closing Temporarily

The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center will be closed for the first three weeks of 2012. They're facing a $40,000 shortfall. They're hoping the 3-week closure will give them time to focus on grant-writing and other means for balancing their budget.

The Fine Arts Center is owned by the City but is funded mostly through donations and a trust account.

Log Exports Expected to Drop Next Year

Log exports from the North Olympic Peninsula are expected to total 80 million board feet by the end of this year.  But because of credit restrictions in China plus a backlog of timber, log exports for 2012 are projected to be around 65 million board feet.

Unions File Suit to Block Liquor Privatization

Two unions, United Fruit and Commercial Workers Local 21 and Washington Teamsters Joint Council 28, have filed a suit to block I-1183, the initiative that privatized liquor sales in Washington.  The unions are charging that the full intent of I-1183 was obscured by the millions of dollars spent by Costco to promote the initiative.

John Brewer to Speak at PABA meeting

PDN Editor and Publisher John Brewer will be the guest speaker at this Tuesday's meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association.  He'll be discussing the newspaper's recent change of ownership.

Protecting Clallam County from Wild Olympics Campaign

The chairman of the Clallam County Republican Party has urged county commissioners to withdraw their support of the Wild Olympics Campaign.  County commissioners signed a letter of support for the campaign in February 2010, with the condition that any additional land obtained by Olympic National Park had to be from a landowner who was willing to sell.