New Air Monitoring Devices Coming to Port Angeles and Sequim

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) will soon be completing the installation of three new air-quality monitors in Port Angeles and Sequim.  An ORCAA spokesperson said:

“Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks, we can start getting data.” 

Small Cruise Ship Making Several Stops in Port Angeles

American Cruise Lines, based in Guilford, CT, will be making several stops in Port Angeles and Port Townsend later this year. The cruise will be making twelve 7-day trips departing from Seattle between April 27th and October 19th. 

Free Tax Help in Clallam and Jefferson Counties

IRS-certified AARP volunteers are available to help people prepare and electronically file their tax returns.  This program is available for all lower- and middle-income taxpayers regardless of age.  This help is available at seven different sites.  Most of these sites require an appointment.

Unemployment Rate Up in Clallam County

In Clallam County, the unemployment rate went up to 9.9% last month.  It had been 9.1% the previous month.  The state's regional economist for this area said there were about 130 fewer jobs from November to December, and more people are looking for work.  However, December's unemployment rate of 9.9% was a full percentage point lower than December 2011.

The statewide unemployment rate is currently 7.6%.

Water Restrictions under New Dungeness Rule

Some property owners in East Clallam County, when drilling a new well, will need to pay an additional $1,000 if they want to be allowed to water their lawns.  Some will be required to install meters on their wells to measure water usage.  And in some areas, water will be for indoor usage only.

Is this a necessary water conservation measure or just another power grab by crazed environmentalists?  Comments at the linked article are pretty evenly divided.

Webster's Woods to Reopen Next Month

Webster's Woods is expected to reopen on February 1st.  Last month 35 art exhibits were broken or damaged during a vandalism spree.  Damages are estimated at $10,000 or more.  So far there have been no breaks in the case.

Dan McKeen to Speak at PABA meeting

Port Angeles City Manager Dan McKeen will be the guest at this Tuesday's meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association.  He will be discussing state mandates and how to provide the necessary funding for those mandates.

Dupuis Restaurant For Sale

Dupuis Restaurant, on Highway 101 between Port Angeles and Sequim, is for sale by the owner.  The restaurant's owner, due to health issues and a stagnant economy, is looking for a new owner for the 80-year-old restaurant which she's owned for the past fifteen years.  She plans to keep the restaurant open until she finds a buyer.

PDN Owner Buys Seattle Weekly

Sound Publishing Inc., which owns the Peninsula Daily News, has purchased the Seattle Weekly.  The Seattle Weekly is a free arts/politics/culture/nightlife publication which had been previously owned by Village Voice Media Holdings.

Four Elk Shot in Sequim

Hunters, under supervision of wildlife officials, have shot four Roosevelt elk cows who had the nerve to be eating somebody's crops. The Roosevelt herd is now at its smallest number yet.

The PDN article doesn't give the name of the landowner on whose behalf the elk were killed.  According to some of the comments at the end of the article, when this person's identity becomes public, lots of people will not purchase this person's produce.

Here's a helpful hint for the mystery landowner.  If you have crops, and you know the surrounding area is full of wild animals who will try to eat those crops, you might want to build a...

And this brings us to today's vocabulary word:  Fence.

Community Emergency Response Team training Now Available

 The Clallam County Sheriff's Department will be offering Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.  This is a free 20-hour instruction program covering search and rescue, fire suppression, terrorism awareness, disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations and disaster psychology.

The training will be held on three Saturdays:   January 26th, February 2nd and February 9th.

One-Month Hold on Glines Canyon Dam Removal

An already-planned hold on removing the remaining part of Glines Canyon Dam has been extended by at least one month.  This delay will allow workers to complete modifications to a water treatment plant that was clogged with mud and debris from recent heavy rains.