Lincoln Theater Closing

The Lincoln Theater in downtown Port Angeles will be closing this Sunday. Brian Cook, general manager of the Wenatchee company that owns and operates the Lincoln Theater, said it would be too expensive to convert from 35mm film to digital projection:

“It's [an] expensive conversion. We just don't think it's justified.  It's been a process for a few years, making this decision.  It's been a tough one.  We've operated it since 1971, and we appreciate the community support of it.”

Interim Port of Port Angeles director appointed to Permanent Directorship

Ken O'Hollaren, interim executive director for the Port of Port Angeles, has been named as the port commissioners' choice to be the Port's permanent executive director.  His salary will be $145,000 a year.

The contract will still need to be approved at the port commissioners' March 11th meeting.

City Contractors Might be Required to Use Apprentices

At tonight's meeting, the Port Angeles City Council will be debating a law that would require city contractors to hire apprentices.  For a company whose contract with the City is worth more than $1 million, at least fifteen percent of the labor would have to be performed by workers in a state-approved apprenticeship program.

People in favor of this proposed law say it would provide local jobs and encourage development of a skilled work force.  Opponents say it could increase the cost of the contracts and it might be difficult to fill the apprenticeship hours with local people.

Jim Hallett to Speak at PABA meeting

Jim Hallett, president of the Port of Port Angeles Board of Commissioners, will be the guest at Tuesday's meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association.

Clallam County Commissioners Divided over Dungeness Water Rule

Jim McEntire and Mike Chapman have both signed a letter to the state Department of Ecology, expressing their concern that property rights are being jeopardized by the Dungeness Water Rule.  Mike Doherty disagreed with the other two commissioners, saying we need to be realistic about the diminishing water supply from the reduced Olympic Mountain snowpack.  He said:

“Just philosophically, we know there's going to be a shortage.  Personally, I just don't want to dabble in these little efficiencies of the rule to help certain people in certain areas when the bigger problem is, are we going to have water 20, 30, 40 years from now?”

Glines Canyon Dam Removal Expected to be Completed by May 1st

Officials from Barnard Construction Inc. of Bozeman, Mont. are expecting to have the last upright section of Glines Canyon Dam completely demolished by May 1st.

Blasting was shut down last November in order to accommodate fish migration.

Port Angeles' Problems with Smart Meters (cont'd)

Last night the Port Angeles City Council heard a 2-hour assessment of the problems with the smart meter rollout.  The City has a dispute with Meuller Systems, the contractor hired to install the smart meters.

The City hired West Monroe Partners a few months ago to study the problems associated with Meuller Systems' installation.  The report by West Monroe Partners said that, with changes, the smart meter rollout could still be completed; possibly with additional expenses involved.