ACTI purchased by Shimtech Industries Ltd.

Angeles Composite Technologies Inc. (ACTI), currently under the ownership of Native American-owned Koniag Inc. of Kodiak, Alaska, has been purchased by a British composite manufacturing company, Shimtech Industries Ltd.

ACTI co-founder Mike Rauch, who will still remain as president-director of the five-person board of directors, said the ownership change will prove “absolutely invisible” to the general public:

“The employees are unchanged.  I'm still running the show.  The only difference is that Shimtech helps position us for future growth better than we were positioned before.”

Jefferson County Healthier than Clallam County

Among Washington's 39 counties, Jefferson is the 15th healthiest; Clallam ranks 27th.  Jefferson County slipped from last year's ranking of #11; Clallam County moved up from its previous position at #30.

These are the results of a study conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation of New Jersey and the University of Wisconsin.  Among their findings:

Jefferson County residents have a better-than-average life expectancy and are less likely to die from obesity, Alzheimer's disease and venereal diseases.  But they're more likely to die of cancer.

Clallam County residents are likelier than average to die from Alzheimer's, cancer, stroke or an “unintentional injury” — a car accident for example; especially one involving alcohol.

A Boy and his Cattle Prod

Clallam County Commissioner Jim McEntire lashed out at the state Department of Ecology and its water management rule for the Dungeness River basin, saying “It’s getting close to cattle-prod time.”

The Olympic Resource Protection Council, a real estate interests / property rights organization, filed a lawsuit against the water management rule on December 31st, and now this organization is asking Clallam County commissioners to join their lawsuit.

There's only X amount of water, and there's a reason for the Sequim area's “rain shadow” designation; not to mention Governor Inslee's drought emergency declaration.  Perhaps this isn't the right time or place for drilling new wells and building new developments, IMHO.

Bikini-Clad Baristas: A Serious Problem?

Today's Peninsula Poll Question is:

Does it matter to you whether the barista serving you coffee drinks is wearing a bikini?

Number of votes cast: 700 


The poll question was based on this article.

Meeting between Clallam County Commission and Port of Port Angeles

On Tuesday, March 24th, Port of Port Angeles commissioners will meet with Clallam County commissioners to discuss  the Port's proposal to become the County's economic development agent.  Actions by the Port of Port Angeles, unlike those of the current Economic Development Council, are subject to transparency and open meeting laws.

To quote from the PDN article:  “The session will precede each group's regular meeting that is set for 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. next Tuesday, respectively.”

(This article was in today's PDN but not on their website.)

Are You Concerned About a Water Shortage This Summer?

Today's Peninsula Poll Question:

How concerned are you about a local water shortage this summer?

Number of votes cast: 581

A Chance to tell the Port Angeles City Council What Matters Most to You

This Tuesday, 5 to 7 p.m. at City Hall, the public is invited to tell the City Council which city services they think are the most and least important.

Regarding the option of continuing to raise fees and rates to continue funding city services, chief financial officer Byron Olson said:

“Whether the citizens can afford them is the critical key.  We don't really think there is much, if any, room to raise those fees and rates other than to cover the most basic cost increases that we've got.” 

He said a 2014 affordability index showed that Port Angeles' fees and utility rates are comparable to those of 15 other Washington cities of similar population, but:

“What it really showed, though, is the income level in Port Angeles is substantially below the average.”

City Manager Dan McKeen said:

“By each department identifying their lowest priority, if they had to make a reduction, hopefully it will help identify those things that are truly lowest-priority items.  Some of the lowest-priority items are fairly high-priority items for the city.” 

Possible targets for reduction include:  a $46,350 cut in health and human services funding; a $153,200 cut in the broadband program; eliminating the domestic violence victim assistance program; eliminating the city's Olympic Peninsula Humane Society services agreement; eliminating the city's $15,000 contribution to the Clallam County Economic Development Council; and eliminating a part-time parking enforcement officer and a patrol officer position.

Possible New Tenant for former Walmart Site

The empty Walmart store, across Hwy. 101 from the current Walmart Supercenter, has been approved to house a cabinet manufacturer that could provide up to 200 jobs.  A conditional use permit has been issued to Wal-Mart Stores Inc.  A Wal-Mart spokesperson said:

“The marketing of the property has a process.  There is a potential sale. We don't have a time frame.”

Bill Greenwood, executive director of the Clallam County Economic Development Council, said the EDC had not been informed of this, but said “this is great news for the county.”

Local vs. Out-of-Town Contractors

Today's Peninsula Poll question is:

Should North Olympic Peninsula governments award contracts to Peninsula construction companies, or should they always pick the lowest bidder regardless of a firm's home location?

Number of votes cast: 634

Fireworks Banned

The Port Angeles City Council has voted 4 to 3 to ban personal fireworks within the Port Angeles city limits.  The new law will not take effect until 2016, so the "Freedom!" crowd still has one more year to ejaculate blow 'em up real good on America's birthday as God intended.

Mark Nichols will be Tuesday's guest at PABA meeting

Prosecuting attorney Mark Nichols will be the guest speaker at this Tuesday's meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association.  The topic will be “justice reinvestment.”