No Invasive Species Found on Dock from Japan

Researchers have found no invasive species in the samples of thirty species of marine life taken from the dock that washed up on a beach south of La Push.  The dock is believed to be some of the debris from the March 2011 earthquake/tsunami in Japan.

Scientists are also testing for possible radioactivity.

Peninsula Poll: Genetically Engineered Salmon

Today's Peninsula Poll question is:  Now that the FDA has given a tentative clearance, would you eat genetically engineered salmon?

 With 805 votes cast, the results are:

No:  75.0%

Yes:  13.3%

Maybe:  9.1%

Undecided:  2.6%

Sudden Resignation of First Federal CEO

Levon L. Mathews, President and CEO of First Federal Savings and Loan, has abruptly resigned his position.  Yesterday's press release also announced the resignation of Gina E. Lowman, First Federal's chief banking officer and senior vice president; but she told the PDN that she had already resigned her position last month in order to spend more time with her family.

 First Federal's plans to convert from a mutual savings bank to a stock savings bank will be delayed until the bank establishes “a cohesive executive team.”

Vandalism at Port Angeles Fine Arts Center

Vandals have destroyed at least 35 sculptures at Port Angeles Fine Arts Center in Websters Woods.  Some sculptures were broken and some were pulled from their stands.  It happened either late last night or early this morning.  Police have no leads so far.

If You Support Obama, You Hate America

Here are some excerpts from a letter to the editor in today’s Peninsula Daily News:

…Someone who does not know how Saul Alinsky ties in to Obama is ignorant of so many things.  Look up Alinsky to see how anti-American he was.  For those who do not know, Alinsky is an Obama mentor.  Supporting Obama is promoting socialism/communism and the destruction of this nation, compared with how the founders intended it as a representative republic.

Support for Obama tells me that a person does not deserve to be in this country and have all the freedoms he or she does, and should move to one of the socialist countries that share that mindset.  Obama is bent on removing our freedoms, which is happening faster and faster.  We have generations of people not recognizing this erosion of freedom, and we are experiencing the result.  The present momentum is in favor of the evil people who are in charge…

I can’t help wondering if this letter-writer had to spend two weeks jumping through Paul Gottlieb’s hoops — re-word this, delete that sentence, etc. — as other letter-writers have been required to do.

Widow of Mountain Goat Goring to Appeal Court Ruling

Susan Chadd, widow of Bob Boardman, who was gored to death by a mountain goat in Olympic National Park in 2010, has already had her negligence lawsuit dismissed by a federal court.  But now she has filed an appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in federal District Court in Tacoma.  Her attorney,
Steve Bulzomi, said:

 “We are appealing because we would like the 9th Circuit to reverse the decision.  What we base the appeal on will be revealed when we file our first brief.”

All righty then...

Port of Port Angeles Executive Director to Receive 12% Pay Raise

Port of Port Angeles commissioners voted yesterday to give executive director Jeff Robb a new 3-year contract which will include a 12 percent salary increase. His current annual salary is $123,165.  Starting next year it will be $138,000.

Discussion of Local Economy at Tomorrow's Chamber Meeting

During tomorrow's luncheon at the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, there will be a discussion of the employment picture on the North Olympic Peninsula.  Panelists will be:  Richard Newman, chief human resources officer of Olympic Medical Center; Cathy Price, human resources manager of Nippon Paper Industries USA; and John Tolliver of Morningside's rehabilitation program.

Peninsula College to Offer Course on Vehicle Fuel Conversion

Peninsula College will be joining forces with Western Washington Clean Cities to provide training on converting vehicles to run on propane.  The 40-hour propane conversion course will begin early next year at the Peninsula College campus.

"Out of the Mist" Playing Tomorrow at Peninsula College

Out of the Mist is a 48-minute film showing the spectacular back country of Olympic National Park.  The film will premier tomorrow night in the Little Theater at Peninsula College, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.

DVDs of the movie will be available at the Little Theater and at this website.

Lodging Operators to Hold Discussion at Monday's Chamber Meeting

Tomorrow's luncheon at the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce will feature a discussion of the state of the hotel/motel industry in Port Angeles.  Panelists will include:  Tammy Oxentenko, sales manager of Western Inns of Washington Inc.; Joseph Mollerus, general manager of the Red Lion Hotel; and Paula Beck, sales and marketing director of Aramark Parks and Destinations.