WATER MAIN BROKEN IN BELFAIR

Water service for the customers of the Belfair Water District are without water service this afternoon due to a water main break. According to officials, a contractor boring test holes for the Belfair Wastewater system broke the Water District’s water main near the intersection of Romance Hill Road and Highway 3. This break has disrupted water service for all Belfair Water District customers. Water District crews are working to fix the break and restore water. The hope is to have water service back on line within a few hours. This incident has also impacted traffic on Highway 3 through Belfair. Motorists traveling through North Mason should be aware of this congestion and choose an alternate route if at all possible. No other details are available at this time. (Posted 12:45pm 11/30)

ROBBINS WINS SOUTHSIDE RECOUNT
Don Robbins has won Position One on the Southside School Board. Election officials in the Mason County Auditor's Office conducted a manual recount Friday morning and the results of that recount show Robbins beat Nicole Cougher by two votes. Robbins retained his seat by receiving 273 votes to Cougher's 271. There were five write-in, one over vote, meaning one person voted for both candidates, and 181 under votes meaning those voters didn't vote for either candidate. The percentage breakdown shows 49.73% voted for Robbins, 49.36% voted for Cougher, and the write-ins made up 0.91%. (Posted 10:45am 11/30)

SNOW STILL POSSIBLE SATURDAY
Snow is still predicted for Saturday. Forecasters with the National Weather Service say a surface low pressure system is expected to form off the north coast Saturday and spread moisture into the relatively cool air mass that is in place over Western Washington. Some light precipitation is possible Saturday morning with most of the precipitation expected later in the afternoon and into the evening. Precipitation will likely start as snow across the lowlands, then change to rain Saturday evening. Snow accumulations with this low are still difficult to predict. At this time, it looks like a trace to a couple of inches of snow is possible before the precipitation changes to rain. There is still a great deal of uncertainty in the forecast. Small changes in the location of where the low develops could result in big changes to the type and amount of precipitation associated with this weather event. Forecasters are also saying that a stronger and wetter system will arrive Sunday with very windy conditions along the coast. An even stronger system will arrive late Sunday into Monday with possible damaging winds along the coast and northwest interior. Keep it tuned to 1030 KMAS for updates. (Posted 7:25am 11/30)

FIRST STREET CLOSED THROUGH NEXT WEEK AT LEAST
A reminder: First Street in downtown Shelton is closed between Railroad Avenue and Cedar Street. This closure is necessary as crews remove gas contaminated soil from the First and Franklin intersection and complete the Sewer Basin Two project. First Street will remain closed through next week. Traffic is being detoured to Front Street and businesses in the closure area remain open. (Updated 7:25am 11/30)

SOUTHSIDE RECOUNT TODAY
Election officials in the Mason County Auditor's Office will be manually recounting ballots from the Southside voting precinct today to determine who will take Position One on the Southside School Board, Don Robbins or Nicole Cougher. When the November 6th General Election was certified Tuesday, Robbins had a one-vote lead over Cougher and a manual recount is required when the difference is this close. The recount begins at 9am and those results will be certified at 4pm. (Updated 7:25am 11/30)

SIGN UP FOR TOYS FOR KIDS AND FOOD BASKETS SATURDAY
The Shelton 40 et 8 will be accepting sign ups for this year's Christmas Food Baskets and Toys For Kids tomorrow (Saturday) from 9am to 2pm at 113 West Cota Street. Families requesting food baskets and Toys For Kids must provide photo identification for the adult picking up the basket and the children participating in the program. The toy-shopping day will be December 15th. Registration and shopping times for participating adults and children will be provided to families who pre-register. Food baskets will be available for pick up at the Shelton Armory on December 22nd for those who have pre-registered. Registration sheet and photo ID will be required at pick up. For more information contact Shelton 40 et 8. (Posted 7:25am 11/30)

SHELTON CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS COMPETITION
Again this year, the Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce is supporting the Shelton Christmas Decorations Competition. There will be two categories for judging: commercial and residential with prizes awarded for first, second and third places in each category. Judging will take place on December 15th. If you or your business would like to participate in this contest, visit the Chamber's website, www.sheltonchamber.org, and fill out the online application or contact the Chamber office at 426-2021. (Posted 7:25am 11/30)

HELP WITH HEATING FROM FIRE DISTRICT TWO
Mason County Fire District Two wants everyone to be warm and safe this winter. With the high cost of fuel, people with limited income may have difficulty keeping their homes warm. According to Fire District Two's Public Educator, Ryan Cloud, there is help available: the National Fuel Funds Network. The National Fuel Funds Network is a broad-based organization dedicated to increasing resources to meet the energy needs of financially struggling residents across the country. It consists of more than 300 non-profit organizations, government agencies and utilities that raise and distribute more than $100 million annually in charitably-donated home energy assistance for families in need. George Coling who directs the National Fuel Funds Organization says that the support of the network comes through private donations. Fuel funds can fill in the gap if a family has used up federal assistance, but faces a shut-off of their electricity. In some cases this assistance can pay a past-due bill or give a client an energy credit that lasts one month, or longer, if that is what is necessary to keep the lights on and the heater running. To find out more about the National Fuel Funds Network, call 1-202-824-0660 or click on their website, www.nationalfuelfund.org. (Posted 7:25am 11/30)

TWO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF BILLS SIGNED AFTER QUICK SESSION
Gov. Chris Gregoire signed two property tax relief bills into law last night, after the Democrat-dominated Legislature reinstated an initiative thrown out by the courts earlier this month. The lawmakers met in a one-day special session called by Gregoire. They lawmakers bowed to the will of voters who originally approved a 1 percent cap on annual property tax increases under Initiative 747. The special session adjourned at about 7:30 p.m., making the whole affair less than 12 hours long. The measures take effect immediately. Legislative leaders promised yesterday's special session wouldn't be the last word in property tax reform. Lawmakers will be back in Olympia for a regular session in early January.(Updated 7:25am 11/30)

SURVEY FINDS NOT RACIAL PROFILING BY STATE PATROL
Two Washington State University surveys have found no evidence of racial profiling in traffic stops by State Patrol troopers. The survey results released Thursday compared traffic stops at night, by radar and by aircraft ... when troopers did not know the driver's race ... with daytime stops when the driver's race might be known. The researchers found little difference. The patrol says the race of those stopped, cited and searched generally fit the makeup of people using the road. There also was no significant difference in the use of force. The surveys by WSU's Division of Governmental Studies and Services indicated that 82 percent of those who received tickets felt they were treated fairly. But the survey found some minorities still believe policing is biased.(Posted 7:25am 11/30)

POLICE IMPERSONATOR ARRESTED IN PIERCE COUNTY
A 25 year-old male from Tacoma was arrested on Thursday by a Washington State Patrol Trooper on suspicion of impersonating a police officer. At approximately 4:22 pm, a witness called 911 and advised a Ford Mustang was traveling northbound on Interstate 5 near Mounts Road with flashing blue lights in the grill. The witness also advised the Mustang had a blue light around the rear bumper and was obviously attempting to get through traffic. The witness provided a license plate of the Ford Mustang. Troopers located the vehicle northbound I-5 at State Route 512 and stopped the vehicle at 72nd Street. The driver, Ronald Cooper of Tacoma, was placed into custody for Impersonating a Police Officer. Cooper advised the lights and siren were just for show. Cooper was booked into Pierce County Jail for Impersonating a Police Officer. Cooper's Mustang was impounded as evidence. (Posted 7:25am 11/30)

FELON FLEES TROOPER AFTER TRAFFIC STOP
The State Patrol is asking for the public's help in locating a felon after he fled from a traffic stop. A trooper stopped two vehicles for speeding southbound I-5 in the Nisqually area. The trooper contacted one of the vehicles, cited and released the driver. He then made contact with the second vehicle. That driver gave a false name. When the trooper asked the driver to step out so he could talk with him about his identity, the man stated “Ok” but hit the gas and sped away. The trooper followed the man as he took the Martin Way exit going westbound but lost sight of the vehicle. As the trooper passed River Ridge Drive several pedestrians pointed him to turn. He turned and found the suspect vehicle. The driver had crashed into a fire hydrant and light standard in the parking lot of River Ridge High School. Witnesses advised the trooper the suspect had taken off on foot in a northeast direction. The passenger in the vehicle stated she was a friend of the suspects and advised the officer it was her car. The passenger identified the suspect as 26-year-old Jeremy Wise. At this time Wise is still at large and may be armed. He is wanted on a misdemeanor and a felony warrant. Anyone with information should call 9-1-1.(Posted 7:25am 11/30)

COURT RULES LONGVIEW FIBRE DISCRIMINATED
The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Longview Fibre illegally discriminated against a woman when it refused to hire her as a clerk and order checker because she was pregnant. In the 9-0 opinion written by by Justice James M. Johnson, the paper company offered to hire Stacy Hegwine in February 2001 pending a physical examination, then rescinded the job offer when it learned she was pregnant, even though the pregnancy would not have interfered with her ability to do the work. Johnson noted that there were no weight-lifting requirements in the job posting, and when Hegwine interviewed for the post, company officials told her she'd have to be able to lift 25 pounds. When her doctor gave her permission to lift that much, the company boosted the requirement to 40 pounds. When the doctor cleared that, the company raised the requirement again, to 60 pounds. Johnson wrote the stated weight-lifting requirements were clearly nothing more than a pretext to avoid hiring a pregnant woman.(Posted 7:25am 11/30)

WASHINGTON HAS HIGHEST INCOME FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
A study indicates Washington state has the tenth largest concentration of illegal immigrants nationwide -- and also the highest average household income. The Center for Immigration Studies estimates the number of illegal immigrants at nearly 38 million (37.9 million) nationwide, including 277-thousand in Washington. The think tank in Washington, D.C., favors strong immigration control. According to the group's report, legal as well as illegal immigrants in both the state and the nation use welfare programs at higher rates than native-born citizens. The study also contents that they are twice as likely as natives to be uninsured and to live in or near poverty, and nearly four times as likely to lack a high-school diploma.(Posted 7:25am 11/30)

UW STUDENT SEEKS RELEASE
A University of Washington student and her Italian ex-boyfriend, who have been held in the death of a British student, are seeking their release today. A judge in Perugia, Italy, is holding a closed hearing on the requests by 20-year-old Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito. They were jailed on November sixth, four days after the fatal stabbing of Knox's roommate, 21-year-old Meredity Kercher. Knox's lawyer, Luciano Ghirga, says she made a brief statement asserting her innocence. The lawyer says it was the first time Knox's point of view has been fully explained in court. Earlier, a judge ruled that there was enough evidence against Knox and her former boyfriend to hold them in custody while the investigation continued. The hearing today is on an appeal of that ruling.(Updated 7:25am 11/30)

CONGRESSMAN DICKS RETURNS FROM IRAQ
Congressman Norm Dicks is back from a trip to Iraq where he met with Gen. David Petreaus and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouria al-Maliki. Dicks says the troop surge has succeeded in reducing violence in the country. He says Democrats in Congress would like to see Iraq turn into a success, but he says the United States can't keep spending $14 billion a month. (Posted 7:25am 11/30)

NEWS BRIEFS FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR 11/30/07
The Crystal Mountain ski resort plans to open tomorrow but close Monday. The Mission Ridge and Mount Baker resorts have opened. The Summit at Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass have not yet announced plans for opening. Snow is forecast this weekend, but warmer weather is expected next week. (Posted 7:25am 11/30)

Pierce County prosecutors want to restrict phone access in jail for the man accused of killing a couple near Graham. They say Daniel Tavares made 17 attempts to call his wife from the jail in violation of a court order. She refused to take the calls. (Posted 7:25am 11/30)

State campaign watchdogs say Republican Dino Rossi did not use a non-profit group to evade rules, as Democrats charged. The staff of the Public Disclosure Commission is recommending that the complaint be dismissed at the commission's Dec. 6 meeting. Before he announced for the governor's race, Rossi had been accused of forming the "Forward Washington Foundation" to evade limits on contributions and rules to report the money. (Posted 7:25am 11/30)

Ruling on a case from Washington, a federal appeals court says collecting DNA evidence from nonviolent drug offenders doesn't violate their civil rights. The DNA is used to create a national database for evidence. The court ruled in the case of a man convicted in Tacoma, Thomas Kriesel. He refused to give a DNA sample after his release from prison. He's now appealing. (Posted 7:25am 11/30)

Microsoft is developing an upgrade for the Windows XP operating system called Service Pack 3. It's due early next year. It could compete with Microsoft's newer Vista software. But Microsoft says it's upgrading Vista next year as well to improve its speed. (Posted 7:25am 11/30)

A big vehicle-carrying ship is making its first call at the Port of Tacoma. The "Fidelio" carries heavy equipment but it has room for as many as 8,000 cars. It's 747 feet long and has 13 decks and looks like a floating parking garage. (Posted 7:25am 11/30)

A heard of goats from Vason Island is helping the Port of Tacoma battle an invasive species of snails. The 80 goats from the "Rent-A-Ruminant" are eating brush and grass on 17 acres of property. Once the vegetation is out of the way the port will put down poison to kill the snails. They leave slime that could threatens grain crops if the snails spread. (Posted 7:25am 11/30)

FIRST STREET CLOSED FOR GAS CONTAMINATION CLEAN UP

First Street in downtown Shelton was closed this morning to allow crews to remove gas contaminated soil from the Franklin Street intersection. According the Shelton City Engineer Mike Michael, the closure is from Railroad Avenue to Cedar Street. Traffic is being detoured to Front Street. This closure will last for up to seven working days. Motorists should be aware of this closure and plan accordingly as traffic in downtown Shelton will likely be more congested while this work is being completed. Again, First Street is closed between Railroad and Cedar in downtown Shelton. Businesses in the area are open. (Posted 7:55am 11/29 - Pictures added 9:50am 11/29)

SNOW POSSIBLE BEGINNING SATURDAY
The National Weather Service is saying that snow is possible beginning Saturday. Forecasters say a northerly flow will drive colder and drier Canadian air south into Western Washington Friday and Friday night. A surface low pressure system is expected to form off the south coast of Vancouver Island on Saturday and spread moisture into the cool air mass in place over Western Washington. Rain and snow showers are expected to develop Saturday afternoon and increase Saturday night. Locations away from the water and especially with a little elevation will have the best chance of some light snow accumulations. Temperatures near the water will be marginal to support all snow with a rain and snow mix. At this time, it is too soon to tell how much snow accumulation will occur. Keep it tuned to 1030 KMAS for updates. (Posted 8:25am 11/29)

P.U.D. 3 VOICES CONCERNS TO B-P-A
Officials with Mason County P.U.D. No. 3 voiced their concerns with the Bonneville Power Administration. Tuesday during the P.U.D. 3 Board of Commissioners' meeting, two account executives from the B-P-A, Kirsten Watts and Lynn Aspass, briefed the P.U.D. on a variety of subjects including the utility's transmission request for Nine Canyon, Bonneville's “Network Open Season”, long-term regional dialogue, tiered rates, and the recent court ruling against the B-P-A relating to payments to investor owned utilities. P.U.D. officials told Watts and Aspass that they do not believe Bonneville is listening to them, that the B-P-A is not following the rules, and they feel that some of what Bonneville is requiring public utilities to sign is blackmail. Watts and Aspass told the P.U.D. they have noted the concerns and will take them back to Bonneville officials. The P.U.D. will need to sign a new contract with B-P-A by December of next year. (Posted 6:45am 11/29)

SCHOOL BOARD HAS NEW MEMBER, NEW CHAIR
The Shelton School Board sworn in one new member and two returning members, and elected a new chair and vice-chair this week. Tuesday, Gene Crater was sworn in to Marty Crow's Director District Two seat, while Peter Boome was sworn in to his Director District Five seat and Sue McCausland was sworn in to another term as Director District One. Holly Sharpe was then elected Chair of the School Board for the next year and Sue McCausland will serve as vice-chair. (Posted 6:45am 11/29)

RING ERICKSON HOLDING COMMUNITY MEETING IN GRAPEVIEW
Mason County Commissioner Lynda Ring Erickson is holding a community meeting in Grapeview tonight. The 7pm meeting will take place at Mason County Fire District Three's fire hall at 4350 Grapeview Loop Road. The Commissioner invites all residents to attend and exchange ideas and concerns in an informal setting. (Updated 6:45am 11/29)

NORTHCLIFF ROAD RIBBON CUTTING TUESDAY
A reminder: The Shelton City Commission is holding a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the Northcliff Road Project at 10am Tuesday. The event will be held at the intersection of Northcliff, North 13th, and "K" Street. Public transportation will leave the Shelton Civic Center at 9:45am. Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to participate in the "Northcliff Walk" along the new sidewalk. A "before and after" display of the project will be on display at the Shelton Civic Center after the ceremony. (Updated 6:45am 11/29)

JOINT COMMISSION MEETING NEXT THURSDAY
The Commissioners from the City of Shelton, Port of Shelton and Mason County are holding a joint meeting at 9am next Thursday. During this quarterly joint meeting, the Commissioners will discuss water and sewer infrastructure for John's Prairie, and the Shelton Urban Growth Area. The meeting will be held at the Shelton Civic Center, again at 9am next Thursday.(Posted 6:45am 11/29)

AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHANGES MEETING DATE
The Sanderson Field Advisory Committee will meet from 4 to 6pm on December 12 instead of December 6. The Committee will meet in the Port of Shelton Commission Chambers at 21 West Sanderson Way. Committee members will be reviewing the draft inventory and forecasts chapters of the update to the Sanderson Field Airport Master Plan. The meeting is open to the public and interested citizens are encouraged to attend. Again, the Sanderson Field Advisory Committee is meeting at 4pm December 12 at the Port of Shelton Administration Building. (Posted 6:45am 11/29)

TWO DIE IN CRASH NEAR MAYTOWN
A Lacey man and a Tumwater man died in a single vehicle crash discovered Wednesday morning near Maytown. According to the State Patrol, Mark W. Garry IV, 26 of Lacey was driving a 1995 Honda Accord northbound on Case Road. The car failed to negotiate a curve, went off the roadway to the left, and struck a tree. The Honda then flipped and landed on its top in a creek bed at the bottom of a small ravine. Both Garry and his passenger, Bart A. Dietz, 38 of Tumwater, died at the scene. Investigators believe the collision happened some time during the night Tuesday. The roadway was closed for approximately four hours during the investigation. Speed was a factor in this collision and alcohol may have been a factor as well. The Washington State Patrol would like to remind motorists not to drink and drive and to follow the posted speed limits. (Posted 6:45am 11/29)

SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION TODAY
Democrats who control the Legislature are expected to stick to Gov. Gregoire's agenda and finish their work today in a one-day special session. They are reinstating the 1 percent annual limit on property tax increases that was recently overturned by the state Supreme Court. The session convenes at 8 a.m. Republican contender for governor Dino Rossi and initiative sponsor Tim Eyman pressured Gregoire into calling the special session to reinstate the property tax cap from I-747, which the high court overturned early this month as misleading. Gregoire and Democratic lawmakers had planned to take up property taxes in the regular January session, but feared some local governments would jack up rates before then. Also on the agenda is a property-tax deferral program, aimed at homeowners who make less than the median state income. (Updated 6:45am 11/29)

PILOT CHARGES WITH SEX ABUSE, DETAINED FOR TRIAL
A 47-year-old pilot charged with molesting boys has told a federal judge he intends to fight the charges and clear his name. Weldon Marc Gilbert, of Lake Tapps, wrote a two-page, handwritten letter to Chief Magistrate Judge J. Kelley Arnold of Tacoma asking to be released to the custody of his mother pending trial. Gilbert wrote that he is trustworthy, that he tried to turn himself in when he learned he was being charged, and that he has no interest in fleeing. He pleaded not guilty to the four federal charges on Wednesday. The judge ordered him detained anyway. Gilbert was already facing nine felony counts of child sex crimes in state court when he was indicted this month in federal court. He's accused of sexually abusing three boys in Pierce County since 2001. Investigators who searched his house said they found dozens of videotapes and DVDs documenting the alleged abuse. (Updated 6:45am 11/29)

GOVERNMENT LISTS WORST NURSING HOMES
Fifty-four nursing homes -- including three in Washington state -- are being told by the government that they're among the worst in their states. The list of underperforming nursing homes is part of an effort to goad them into improving patient care. Lawmakers and advocacy groups have been pushing the Bush administration to make it easier for consumers to identify poorly performing nursing homes. One of the homes on the government's list is Franklin Hills Health & Rehab Center in Spokane. Brian Teed, the facility's administrator, says he doesn't have a problem with Medicare publicizing the list. But he says regional differences play a huge role in how nursing homes are graded. He says he recently helped run a facility in Portland, Ore., and nursing homes were graded much easier there. He took over the Spokane facility in September, and found it to be well run. Teed says the home in Spokane would be nearly deficiency free if it was located in Portland. He says the home was tagged because there was bird poop on an outside bench. (Posted 6:45am 11/29)

AIR FORCE GROUNDS ALL BOEING F-15 FIGHTER JETS
The Air Force has grounded more than 450 Boeing F-15 fighter jets after investigating a crash earlier this month and finding defects in the aircraft's fuselage. It was the second time this month that F-15s were grounded. The entire fleet was grounded following a Nov. 2 Missouri Air National Guard training exercise in which a pilot safely ejected before the aircraft crashed. The Air Force subsequently returned the F-15s to flight status on Nov. 21. The Air Force investigation found there were "possible fleet-wide airworthiness problems" because of defects in metal rails that hold the F-15's fuselage together. The Air Force says 452 of its oldest F-15s, or more than 60 percent of the fleet, will remain grounded until each one is inspected and possibly repaired. A Boeing representative could not be immediately reached for comment. (Posted 6:45am 11/29)

FEW WEST NILE CASES IN WASHINGTON IN 2007
In 2007, eight horses and one dead bird tested positive for West Nile virus in Washington. It wasn't a big year for the virus and state officials are thankful for that. All the 2007 cases were in Yakima County and no humans became ill. Health Department officials say they expected a different picture after 2006 when three people, six horses and 13 dead birds tested positive for West Nile virus in our state.(Updated 6:45am 11/29)

ROBOT MAKER SELLING BIPED RUNING ON MICROSOFT SOFTWARE
A Japanese manufacturer has begun selling a two-legged walking robot that runs on new software from Microsoft. Representatives from Z-M-P Incorporated gave a demonstration of the 14-inch, five-and-a-half pound robot today. It's called "e-nuvo WALK," has six motors in each leg and a boxlike, headless torso, and sells for about $5,300 ($5,345). In the demonstration a Microsoft Xbox 360 remote controller was used to get the robot to take a few steps, lift a leg and kick a small plastic ball. It's being sold only in Japan and over the Internet. Microsoft is a relative latecomer to robotics. Microsoft Robotics Studio, a package of software designed for programming movements and other applications for robots, went on sale last December. Up to now, robots have tended to run on different kinds of software, although open-source robotics platforms already exist.(Posted 6:45am 11/29)

UW STUDENT SAYS SHE WAS "GOING CRAZY" IN ITALIAN JAIL
A University of Washington student has been quoted as saying she was going crazy in her first few days in jail in Italy. The comment by 20-year-old Amanda Marie Knox of Seattle is part of an interview published in the newspaper La Stampa of Turin. Knox has been jailed since November sixth for investigation in the slaying of her British roommate in Perugia. Tomorrow a judge must decide whether she and her former Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, should remain behind bars. Knox has given conflicting statements since her roommate, 21-year-old Meredith Kercher, was found stabbed to death in their apartment on November second. In the newspaper interview, Knox said she would not discuss the night of the killing. She said she would talk about that only with her lawyer and in court.(Updated 6:45am 11/29)

OTHER STORIES FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR 11/29/07:
An officer is being awarded the Silver Star today at Fort Lewis for military valor in combat in Iraq. Major Brent Clemmer of the Third Stryker brigade moved his company to the scene of a helicopter crash last January, defeated insurgent attacks, and forced the surrender of several hundred people and their weapons. (Posted 6:45am 11/29)

The trial is set for March 18 in federal court in Tacoma for five members of the Makah tribe accused of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act for killing a gray whale. The five also face prosecution in tribal court at Neah Bay. (Posted 6:45am 11/29)

A 14-year-old Mount Vernon boy with leukemia who refused a blood transfusion has died at a Seattle hospital. A judge had ruled yesterday that the boy -- a Jehovah's Witness -- had the right to refuse the transfusion.(Updated 6:45am 11/29)

SOUTHSIDE RECOUNT FRIDAY
Election officials in the Mason County Auditor's Office have certified the results to the November 6th General Election. However, one race will need a manual recount. That race is for Southside School Board Position One. Don Robbins has a one vote lead on Nicole Cougher, 272 to 271 or 49.82% to 49.63%. There were three write-ins, one over vote (meaning one person voted for both candidates), and 184 under votes (meaning they didn't vote for either candidate). By state law, if the difference in any race is less than 150 votes and less the one-fourth of one percent, then a manual recount is necessary. That recount will be held at 9am Friday. Those results will be certified at 4pm Friday. The other results from the General Election are now official. For a complete run down on the election, click: http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/WEI/Mason/Elections/electionResults.htm.(Posted 6:55am 11/28)

SHERIFF'S OFFICE GETS GRANT FROM WAL-MART
The Mason County Sheriff's Office was presented with a $1,500 check from Wal-Mart Tuesday. Wal-Mart donated the money to aid the Sheriff's Sex Offender Registration Program, Search and Rescue Program, and the Mason County Search and Rescue Dive Team which is a non profit organization that performs emergency search and rescue dive operations. The dive team intends to use its portion of the money to conduct needed repairs on its dive van which is used to transport divers and equipment to diving emergencies. The Sheriff's sex offender registration program will use its portion to purchase a digital camera to replace the obsolete camera currently used by the sex offender registration detective. The search and rescue program will be purchasing maps for its search and rescue coordinators with its portion. All of the items were not provided for in the current budget and will significantly aid the Sheriff's Office abilities to perform its sex offender registration and search and rescue functions. In a written statement, Sheriff Casey Salisbury said “We cannot adequately express our appreciation to Wal-Mart for its continuing support to the Mason County Sheriff's Office. Wal-Mart's community partnership with the Sheriff's Office contributes significantly to public safety in Mason County.”(Posted 6:55am 11/28)

COUNTY COMMISSION AWARDS TOURISM FUNDS
The Mason County Commission has awarded Lodging Tax Funds for next year. Based on a recommendation from the County's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, the Commissioners Tuesday night awarded $94,822.84 to the Joint Tourism advisory Council for marketing; $30,000 for operating the Shelton Mason County and Hoodsport visitor information centers; $17,000 for operating the North Mason visitor information center; $12,000 for the Hoodsport V.I.C. lease; $10,000 for the Mason County Fair and Rodeo; $5,741 for a full-page ad in the Washington State Visitor Guide; $4,500 for Allyn Days; up to $3,500 for the 2008 Taste of Hood Canal; and $3,500 for Bluegrass from the Forest. (Posted 6:55am 11/28)

ALLYN STREETS ADDED TO TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM; HEARING SET
Mason County's Transportation Improvement Program -Citizens Advisory Panel (TIP-CAP) has added three streets located in Allyn to the 2008-2013 Six Year Transportation Improvement Program. These streets, Wheelwright, Wade and Masterson, were added at the request of the Allyn Community Association and will serve the growing needs of the Allyn Urban Growth Area. The streets have also been identified in the County Comprehensive plan as future county roads. The Mason County Commission will hold a public hearing on the T-I-P at 9:30am next Tuesday. (Posted 6:55am 11/28)

COUNTY COMMENDS APARTMENTS FOR BEING SMOKE FREE
The Mason County Board of Health and Public Health Department has commended the Fir Tree Apartments in Shelton for implementing an anti-smoking policy. Specifically, the County commends Alliance Group, Incorporated Manager Shannon McDonald and tenant Bart Conventry for working to implement the policy that prohibits smoking at all entryways, front porches and stairways of their building. The Board of Health encourages other property owners and landlords to follow the Fir Tree Apartment's lead in providing a safe and healthy environment for their tenants by enacting similar anti-tobacco use policies. Smoking bans help protect rental property from damage and fires, and protect people from the harmful hazards of second hand smoke. Smoking causes an estimated 438,000 deaths each year in the United States. More deaths are caused by tobacco use than by all deaths from H-I-V, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides and murders combined. For more information on providing fresh air housing in multi-unit dwellings, contact Ben or Heidi at Mason County Public Health, (360) 427-9670 or (360) 275-4467, extension 400. (Posted 6:55am 11/28)

THREE CAPTURED AFTER CHASE WITH DOGS
Three people who police say were planning a home invasion robbery in Tumwater were captured after a high-speed chase and the use of police dogs, one with sharp teeth. The three reportedly were driving in the same neighborhood for about 45 minutes, leading someone to call police. Tumwater police say when officers arrived yesterday morning, the trio sped down Capitol Boulevard and onto Interstate 5. Before being caught, they ended up near the Thurston County Jail and the county courthouse. Two of the people were apprehended, but the third escaped into the thick woods. He was caught about one hour later. Detective Jen Kolb says the man was bitten by a police dog. He says the man let out a scream.(Posted 6:55am 11/28)

ROSSI SELECTS SPOKESWOMAN FOR ELECTION BID
Republican Dino Rossi has recruited Mary Lane Strow to serve as communications director and adviser for his challenge of Governor Gregoire. She's a longtime GOP strategist and communications expert. Strow lives at Freeland on Whidbey Island, with her husband, state Representative Chris Strow, and their five-month-old daughter, Abigail. She will mostly handle her campaign chores by working part-time via phone and computer. Strow was a senior adviser to Rossi's narrowly losing 2004 bid. She also has worked as spokeswoman for Senator Slade Gorton, the state Republican Party and the House Republicans. (Posted 6:55am 11/28)

REGULATORS SUSPEND COAL PLANT PERMIT APPLICATION
State energy regulators have stopped the permit application for a coal-fueled power plant in southwest Washington until the builder meets requirements of a new climate change law. In an order issued yesterday, the state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council suspended the application from Energy Northwest until the public power consortium addresses how it will sequester carbon emissions. Energy Northwest's pollution-control plans for the proposed Kalama plant say carbon sequestration ... a process for trapping greenhouse gases in the earth ... remains unworkable in real-world practice. So until it is workable, the utility wants to pay to offset emissions. The council says that plan "fails to meet the minimum requirements of the law."(Posted 6:55am 11/28)

D-O-T CLOSES CHINOOK AND CAYUSE PASSES
The Washington Department of Transportation says two Cascade Mountain passes, Chinook and Cayuse, have been temporarily closed because fresh snow has increased the possibility of avalanches. The passes were closed yesterday evening. Transportation Department officials say 10 inches of new snow, on top of the existing 18-inch base, prompted avalanche forecasters to say the risk was too great to allow continued traffic across 5,430-foot Chinook Pass or nearby 4,694-foot Cayuse. Both are in the shadow of Mount Rainier. More snow is expected today. When there is a break between storms, Transportation and Mount Rainier National Park staff will evaluate the snowpack and decide whether to reopen the passes or consider them closed for the winter season.(Posted 6:55am 11/28)

STORIES FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR 11/28/07
The Seattle Times reports that a former University of Washington AIDS researcher altered imates and fabricated data. University investigators recommended in 2003 that Scott Brodie be banned from future employment at the school. Brodie quit as a research assistant professor that same year, but the investigation report was released only yesterday after his attempt to block release of the findings was rejected in King County Superior Court. (Posted 6:55am 11/28)

A fingerprint and a bit of blood from a University of Washington student reportedly were found in an Italian apartment where her British roommate was killed. Generally, however, the ANSA news agency reports that the apartment of 20-year-old Amanda Knox of Seattle was cleaned before police arrived. Investigators are quoted as saying the blood places Knox in the apartment in Perugia on the night when 21-year-old Meredith Kercher was killed or the next morning. (Posted 6:55am 11/28)

The Grant County sheriff's office says three children died of carbon monoxide poisoning near Royal City. They were overcome by fumes from a gas-powered generator used to power an electrical heater. (Posted 6:55am 11/28)

Colville tribal police have reported an apparent suicide at reservation's jail in Nespelem. Police say guards found 34-year-old Denver Buckman of Keller hanging in his cell in the early morning hours a week ago. Police Commander Mike Kessler says the Bureau of Indian Affairs and FBI are investigating, but an initial investigation found that Buckman was alone in the cell and probably committed suicide. (Posted 6:55am 11/28)

ARREST MADE IN TIMBERLAKES SHOOTING AND STABBING
The Mason County Sheriff's Office has made an arrest in the November 14th shooting and stabbing in Timberlakes. According to a news release, detectives determined Robert D. Lawry, 60 of Shelton, was stabbed multiple times in his bed as he slept. During the assault, Lawry was able to defend himself by shooting the suspect Richard J. Mahaney, 28 of Shelton with a 30 caliber handgun. Mahaney was booked into Mason County Jail on outstanding warrants and investigation of assault in the first degree. He was arrested upon his release from Harborview Medical Center last week. Bail was set at $50,000. Lawry was released from Harborview Medical Center on Thanksgiving Day. He is at home recovering from his injuries. (Updated 6:55am 11/27)

GAS CONTAMINATION CLEAN UP TO BEGIN WEDNESDAY
The clean up of the gas contaminated soil at the intersection of First and Franklin will likely begin Wednesday. Monday, the Shelton City Commission approved a contract with NCR Environmental Services to remove and dispose of some of the contaminated soil. The City needs to complete the Sewer Basin Two Project and will only be removing the soil needed to complete that project. NCR will be disposing that soil. The contract approved by the City Commission is not to exceed $150,798.76. However, that cost is based on removing nearly 1800 tons of soil or the estimated amount from the whole intersection. Since the City is only cleaning up the soil from the trench needed to complete Basin Two, the cost is expected to be significantly less. Work should begin Wednesday and take four to seven working days. The intersection will need to be closed as crews remove the contaminated soil and finish Sewer Basin Two. The work will close First Street between Railroad and Cedar, and Franklin Street from Second to First. (Updated 6:55am 11/27)

CITY TO ANNEX HALF AN ACRE
The City of Shelton is considering annexing a little more than half an acre near Callanan Park. This 0.51 acres is located at the west corner of Madison Street and West “G” Street. This parcel is one of about 30 parcels that make up an island of unincorporated Mason County within the City of Shelton. The Shelton City Commission will be holding a public hearing on this annexation next Monday. (Posted 6:55am 11/27)

CITY TO HOLD HEARINGS ON BUDGET AND WATER
The City will also be holding the final hearing on the City's 2008 Budget Monday. The City's 2008 Preliminary Budget is over $58.5 Million and is 11% higher than the 2007 Budget. The City Commission will also be holding a public hearing on an ordinance that requires water customers within the City's water service area to connect to the City's water system. This ordinance will promote public health and help reduce the risk of aquifer depletion. Existing private wells will be “grandfathered” in under this ordinance and be allowed to continue operating until they fail. Next Monday's Shelton City Commission meeting will be held in the courtroom at the Civic Center at 6pm. (Posted 6:55am 11/27)

EARTHQUAKE SHAKES BRINNON

An earthquake shook the Brinnon area Monday night. The magnitude 4.0 quake was reported at 10:18pm and was centered six miles north of Brinnon at a depth of 34 miles. There were no reports of injuries or damage. (Posted 6:55am 11/27)

FOUR INJURED IN THREE VEHICLE CRASH ON HIGHWAY 3
Four people were injured in a three vehicle crash on Highway 3 between Lake Flora Road and the Bremerton Airport Monday afternoon. According to the State Patrol, a northbound 2004 Toyota Camry crossed the centerline about 3:30pm and struck the driver's side of a southbound 1998 Toyota Camry. The 2004 Camry then left the roadway, spun around and struck a southbound 2001 Mitsubishi head-on in the southbound lane. The roadway was blocked for about two and a half hours. Three Seabeck residents and a Port Orchard man were taken to area hospitals. Cause of this crash is still being investigated. (Posted 6:55am 11/27)

GREGOIRE SAYS 1% CAP IS DONE DEAL
The Democratic governor has defended her call for a special legislative session to reinstate a 1 percent property tax increase cap, amid dissent from local governments and some Democratic lawmakers. Meanwhile, Republican candidate for governor Dino Rossi and anti-tax activist Tim Eyman continued to double-team Chris Gregoire, already declaring the expected outcome of Thursday's special session as not good enough. In Gregoire's first extended comments since calling the special session, she said yesterday that she understands critics who think lawmakers are being too hasty about reinstating Initiative 747. But Gregoire said her travels around the state have shown her Washington residents are worried about being taxed out of their homes. (Posted 6:55am 11/27)

A NEW FERRY COULD BE READY IN ONE YEAR
A Puget Sound shipbuilder has told state ferry officials that within one year they could have a new car-carrying vessel plying the Port Townsend-Keystone route, replacing 80-year-old ferries pulled from service last week due to safety concerns. Matt Nichols, of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders on Whidbey Island, suggested that the state use the same design that Nichols used to build the 54-car, 325-passenger M/V Steilacoom for Pierce County. It would cost about $20 million for each boat if two or three boats were built. The state's four oldest vessels were pulled from service last week because of concerns about corrosion on their hulls. The boats, all Steel-Electric class, are the only ferries in the state's fleet that are capable of navigating the narrow, shallow harbor at Keystone, on Whidbey Island - leaving the Keystone-Port Townsend route without car-ferry service. At the time the boats were pulled from service, only the Klickitat and the Illahee were actually running. The Quinault was taken out of service in July for repairs, and the Nisqually in September for inspection. A passenger-only ferry, the Snohomish, began running the Keystone route during the weekend, but high winds prevented it from running during rush hour yesterday evening. Today, the Snohomish is scheduled to begin running a new schedule to better match up with local bus service. Late yesterday afternoon in Seattle, representatives of the state Department of Transportation, the Coast Guard, several lawmakers, shipbuilders and Washington State Ferries met to discuss their best options for restoring service to the Keystone route.(Posted 6:55am 11/27)

SAILOR KILLED IN MOTORCYCLE CRASH
A 23-year-old Navy sailor assigned to the airraft carrier USS John C. Stennis has been killed in a motorcycle accident. Petty Officer 2nd Class Ricky Stevens worked in the ship's engineering department. He died on Sunday afternoon when his motorcycle hit a light pole in Bremerton. Stevens joined the Navy in July 2003 and was assigned to the Stennis in December. He is survived by his wife. Stevens was the second Stennis crew member to be killed in a traffic accident since the carrier returned from a deployment in the Persian Gulf in late August. In September, a 20-year-old Stennis sailor died when the car in which he was riding crashed into a utility pole and into two large trees.(Posted 6:55am 11/27)

SNOW SNARLS TRAFFIC THROUGH CASCADES
Snow caused a rash of problems overnight for motorists through the Cascade Range and in parts of Eastern Washington. Interstate 90 was closed to eastbound traffic for a time last night because of a series of accidents and spinouts, and Interstate 82 in Yakima was closed in both directions for the same reason. Both freeways are open now. In Spokane city and county, the State Patrol reported 14 crashes on highways and I-90, and local authorities reported about a dozen other crashes and spinouts.(Posted 6:55am 11/27)

MAN SENTENCED FOR MEDICAID FRAUD
A Western Washington pharmacy owner has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison after being convicted of billing Medicaid for drugs and services that he never provided. Alexander D. Milman, of Kirkland, ran A-Z (A-to-Z) pharmacies in Bellevue, Kent and Tacoma, and he secretly held a stake in another pharmacy in Kirkland. Prosecutors say he fraudulently billed Medicaid nearly $1.7 million, an amount that U.S. District Judge James L. Robart ordered him to pay in restitution during the sentencing yesterday. Three other people, including Milman's wife, have already pleaded guilty to involvement in the scheme. (Posted 6:55am 11/27)

OTHER STORIES FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR 11/27/07
One of the first people convicted under a new state drunken driving law was sentenced yesterday in Chehalis to more than four years in prison. Forty-seven-year-old Danny Seppa of Centralia has already filed paperwork for an appeal. His defense lawyer says there are errors in how the Legislature wrote the law. The new law makes a fifth DUI conviction in five years a felon.

A Canadian man with more than 93,000 ectasy tablets in the vehicle he was driving was arrested at Blaine by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers during the weekend. A news release yesterday said the estimated street value of the ectasy is $1.4 million.

The Makah Tribe has charged five members with participating in an unauthorized hunt for killing a gray whale. If convicted they could face up to a year in the tribal jail. The five also are charged in federal court with violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act for the Sept. 8 hunt.

Scientists studying old growth trees in Skamania County say Douglas firs have produced large number of cones this year. Researchers are trying to determine if it's a natural cycle or whether something else is affecting tree reproduction. Scientists are looking at tree tops from a construction crane erected in the Wind River Experimental Forest near Carson, along the Columbia River.

The man accused of killing a neighboring couple at Graham was under surveillance by a state trooper in October. Police in Massachusetts had asked authorities in Washington to watch a home for Daniel Tavares. FBI spokeswoman Robbie Burroughs told The Seattle Times they were not asked to arrest him because
his arrest warrant did not call for sending him back to Massachusetts.

Jimi Hendrix was born on this date in 1942 in Seattle. The rock guitarist died in 1970 and is buried in Seattle. Today also is the birthday for martial arts actor Bruce Lee who was born in 1940 and attended the University of Washington. He died in 1973 and is buried in Seattle. (Posted 6:55am 11/27)

COUNTY CLEARS STATE AUDIT
Mason County has cleared an accountability audit for 2006. According to an audit report by the Washington State Auditor's Office, in most areas, the County complied with state laws and regulations and its own policies and procedures. Its internal controls were adequate to safeguard public assets. However, auditors noted certain issues that were communicated to County management. This audit covers January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006. Mason County is audited annually and three of the last ten audits, years 2002, 2003 and 2004, contained findings regarding inadequate internal controls over cash receipting and accounting for trust funds at the Sheriff's Department. Auditors have noted improvements in these areas during the last two audits.(Posted 7:45am 11/26)

BICYCLIST STRUCK BY MINI VAN
A ten-year-old boy was taken to Mason General Hospital with lacerations to his forehead after he was struck by a minivan while riding a bike in north Shelton Saturday. According to the State Patrol, the boy was riding in a private driveway on East Boardwalk Road, which is just off Shelton Springs Road, about 2pm. The boy pulled out into traffic and a 2004 Toyota Sienna was unable to avoid hitting the bike. The driver of the mini van, Amy D. Goldsby, 33 of Shelton was not injured. The Trooper report indicates the cause of this crash was the bicyclist failing to yield right of way. No charges will be filed.(Updated 7:45am 11/26)

GRAPEVIEW LOOP ROAD CLOSED MONDAY
Mason County is closing Grapeview Loop Road for eight months beginning at 8am today. The closure from milepost 2.45 and milepost 2.55 will last until July 24th. The closure is necessary for crews to replace the McLane Cove Bridge. Earlier this month the County awarded the bridge replacement contract to Five Rivers Construction Incorporated out of Longview. Their low bid was $1,409,500.76. Again, Grapeview Loop Road will be closed for eight months beginning 8am Monday.(Updated 7:45am 11/26)

ROAD WORK NEAR UNION
Ditch maintenance could impact traffic near Union this week. Motorists traveling Highway 106 will see alternating, single-lane traffic control with flaggers in both directions in the vicinity of Merrimount Road (milepost 11) to Alderwood Road (milepost 18) Monday between 8am and 4pm. This ditch maintenance operation will only have minimal impacts to traffic. (Posted 7:45am 11/26)

CITY COMMISSION MEETS MONDAY AT 2PM
The Shelton City Commission meets at two this afternoon. The City Commission is expected to take action on the clean up of the gas contamination at First and Franklin, be briefed on updating the water service code and compliance with the water use efficiency rules, discuss the City's Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan, and be briefed on the Gregory Land Annexation. The Commission will also hear reports from Mason County Historical Society, Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce, and South Mason County Youth Soccer. The Shelton City Commission meets in one of the conference rooms at the Civic Center, again at two this afternoon.(Updated 7:45am 11/26)

RING ERICKSON TO MEET WITH HARSTINE ISLAND COMMUNITY
Mason County Commissioner Lynda Ring Erickson is holding a community meeting on Harstine Island tonight. The 7pm meeting is being held in Mason County Fire District Five's Station Five-nine at 3190 East North Island Drive. The Commissioner invites the public to attend this informal meeting to exchange ideas and concerns. Ring Erickson has also scheduled a community meeting in Grapeview on Thursday. That 7pm meeting will be held in Fire District Three's fire hall at 4350 Grapeview Loop Road. (Posted 7:45am 11/26)

SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING SET FOR TUESDAY
The Shelton City Commission is holding a special meeting Tuesday to receive department updates. This meeting begins at 8am with the Courts, followed by Public Works at 8:30, the Fire Department at 9:30, planning at 10am, finance at 10:45, and administration at 11:05. This special meeting will take place in the Shelton Civic Center Executive Conference Room, again beginning at 8am Tuesday. (Posted 7:45am 11/26)

COUNTY COMMISSION MEETS TUESDAY NIGHT
The Mason County Commission meets Tuesday night at six. There are two news releases and 16 consent agenda items on the County Commission's draft agenda. The news releases relate to fresh air housing and the County's six year Transportation Improvement Program. Among the consent agenda items is awarding Lodging Tax Funds. Those to get the tourism funds include the Mason County Fair, North Mason Rotary, Kristmas Town Kiwanis, the Allyn Community Association, the North Mason Chamber of Commerce, and the Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce. The Mason County Commission meets in their chambers at 411 North Fifth Street in Shelton, again at six Tuesday night. (Posted 7:45am 11/26)

SHELTON SCHOOL BOARD MEETS TUESDAY
The Shelton School Board meets at 6pm Tuesday. Top item on the School Board's draft agenda is a resolution authorizing the district to ask voters to approve a three-year replacement maintenance and operations levy on February 19th. The board will also discuss the District's 2008 Capital Facilities Plan and review the nominations for the Community Partners for Kids Award. The Shelton School Board meets in their boardroom on the second floor of the CHOICE Building, 807 West Pine Street, again at 6pm Tuesday. (Posted 7:45am 11/26)

HOMELESS CAMP MOVING TO ANOTHER CHURCH
A homeless camp known as Camp Quixote is on the move again in Olympia. The congregation of First Christian Church (701 Franklin St. S.E.) has agreed to host the camp beginning Dec. 29. The camp with about two-dozen residents in tents is now at the First United Methodist Church (1224 Legion Way S.E.) in Olympia. Camp Quixote started in February as a protest against an Olympia ordinance that bans people from sitting on portions of downtown sidewalks. Police evicted the camp and it has been moving from church to church.(Posted 7:45am 11/26)

HAZARDOUS TREES TO BE CUT ALONG I-5 SOUTH OF OLYMPIA
Motorists on Interstate 5 about 10 miles south of Olympia will see some unusual logging this week. State transportation officials don't want a repeat of trees falling onto the freeway in windstorms as happened a year ago, so about 15 truckloads of trees are being removed. The logging on the west side of I-5 near Maytown is scheduled for 8 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon Monday through Thursday. A transportation maintenance manager, Don W. Clotfgelter, says most of the trees are Douglas fir that are more than 45 years old. He says it won't be clearcutting, but the change will be noticeable. A transportation landscape architect, Robert B. Barnes, says a new tree line of maple, hazel, juneberry and cedar will be planted in the spring.(Posted 7:45am 11/26)

SNOW WARNING FOR CASCADES
The National Weather Service has issued a heavy snow warning for the central and northern Washington Cascades this afternoon and tonight. Forecasters say a weather front moving into the state is bringing rain to Western Washington today and snow to the mountains and parts of Eastern Washington. There's a snow advisory tonight for the Spokane area. It's well below freezing on the main mountain passes this morning, and the Transportation Department reports light snow but no restrictions on Snoqualmie Pass and frost in places but no restrictions on Stevens Pass.(Posted 7:45am 11/26)

PORT TOWNSEND-KEYSTONE FOOT FERRY STARTS
Washington State Ferries began running a passenger-only ferry between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island yesterday to help make up for the loss of car-ferry service that was halted because of concerns about the system's oldest boats. The first round-trip sailing of the day left Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula at 3:45 p.m.. The 149-passenger ferry Snohomish is scheduled to make 10 round trips today. Car-ferry service on the Port Townsend-Keystone route was halted last Tuesday when the state's four oldest vessels were pulled from service because of concerns about cracks and corrosion on their hulls. The 80-year-old Steel Electric-class boats are the only ferries in the state's fleet that are capable of navigating Keystone's narrow, shallow harbor on Whidbey Island. They predominantly serve Port Townsend, Keystone and the San Juan Islands' inter-island routes. Some state lawmakers are scheduled to meet with state ferry officials today in Seattle to talk about the problems that shut down the Port Townsend-Keystone run. Gov. Gregoire has said that replacing the 80-year-old Steel-Electric class ferries will be a priority for the Legislature. (Updated 7:45am 11/26)

NEW LAHAR WARNING SYSTEM IN THE WORKS
Pierce County is moving to a new centralized lahar warning system to alert Puyallup Valley residents of a catastrophic volcanic debris flow from Mount Rainier. A satellite-based system would cost up to $1 million to install, $60,000 a year to monitor and would parallel the tsunami warning system along Washington's coast. Instead of the jolting wail of sirens, bell chimes could ring for tests under the new system, which officials hope to have in place by the end of next year. The new technology would allow silent in-house testing at any time, plus periodic tests that the outside world could hear, with possible sound effects including Westminster bell chimes. Wailing sirens would be used only in a real event. More than 60,000 people live on the Puyallup Valley floor, where 26 lahar warning sirens are scattered to alert the region if a fast-moving gush of volcanic debris flows down Mount Rainier. (Posted 7:45am 11/26)

OTHER STORIES FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR 11/26/07
State lawmakers will convene on Thursday in Olympia for a special session. Gov. Gregoire called the session to reinstate the 1 percent annual limit on property tax increases. It was struck down by a Nov. 8 state Supreme Court ruling. (Posted 7:45am 11/26)

The Army is transferring the Fourth Stryker brigade from Baghdad to the Diyala province northeast of Baghdad. The Fort Lewis brigade has been in Iraq since April. It's being shifted to increase U.S. forces in the volatile Diyala province as the overall number of troops in Iraq declines following the surge.(Posted 7:45am 11/26)

MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL PARK?
Sen. Maria Cantwell and Congressman Brian Baird have created an advisory group to study whether the Mount St. Helens Volcanic Monument should become a national park. The group will meet next spring and have some conclusion by the summer. The area around the volcano is now under control of the Forest Service, and it says money is tight. It recently closed the Coldwater Ridge visitors center, which was the only year-round visitor center with a view of the crater. Some people think the Park Service could better manage the area. But that would mean changes. For example, hunting is not allowed in national parks and the area around Mount St. Helens is popular for deer and elk hunting. (Posted 7:45am 11/26)

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument staffers are about to move into a new, $1.75 million headquarters at Amboy. It replaces a complex of trailers that have been used since the 1980 eruption of the volcano. The monument has 30 employees. (Posted 7:45am 11/26)

Some landscaping companies are keeping their crews busy this time of year by hanging holiday lights. Country Green Christmas Decor is part of Country Green Turf Farms near Olympia. It avoided seven layoffs by employing workers to decorate homes and lawns with holiday lights.(Posted 7:45am 11/26)

FOREST REVENUE: MONEY SHORT
Bush administration plans to boost logging in Northwest national forests have collided with low timber prices blamed on the housing slump. Government and industry officials say lumber prices are as low as they have been for years, down by about half from the peak in 2004. Thus the U.S. Forest Service earns far less for timber, meaning less money for future logging projects. Peggy Kain of the Forest Service's regional office in Portland says the market hasn't been this bad in a long time. Forest experts say that without federal money, national forest logging will drop off again - hampering efforts to thin crowded and flammable timber. (Posted 7:45am 11/26)

SUSPECT SAYS ITALIAN IS KILLER
The newest suspect in the slaying of a British student in the Italian city of Perugia admits he was in the woman's room the night she died, but says he did not kill her and that an Italian who is trying to frame him did. Rudy Hermann Guede is being held in the stabbing death of 21-year-old Meredith Kercher. Kercher shared an apartment with University of Washington student Amanda Knox, who also is jailed, along with a man Knox was dating at the time of the killing. Guede's lawyer, Walter Biscotti, says Guede saw the killer and knows he's Italian because the killer, before fleeing the apartment, told Guede in Italian that police would blame him for the murder. (Posted 7:45am 11/26)

BICYCLIST STRUCK BY MINI VAN

A ten-year-old boy was taken to Mason General Hospital with lacerations to his forehead after he was struck by a minivan while riding a bike in north Shelton Saturday. According to the State Patrol, the boy was riding in a private driveway on East Boardwalk Road, which is just off Shelton Springs Road, about 2pm. The boy pulled out into traffic and a 2004 Toyota Sienna van was unable to avoid hitting the bike. The driver of the mini van, Amy D. Goldsby, 33 of Shelton was not injured. The Trooper report indicates the cause of this crash was the bicyclist failing to yield right of way. No charges will be filed. (Posted 7:35am 11/25)

ROMNEY WANTS JUDGE TO RESIGN

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has called for the resignation of a judge he appointed because she released a convicted killer without bail. That man, 41-year-old Daniel Tavares, is now accused of killing a couple near Graham, Washington. Romney, a Republican presidential candidate, says in a statement that the judge, Kathe Tuttman, had an inexcusable lapse in judgment. Tuttman declined comment but Joan Kenney, speaking for the court, says the judge is highly competent and qualified, and that her decision to release Tavares was based on the law and the facts of the case. Prosecutors had asked to keep Tavares behind bars for allegedly assaulting guards as he neared the end of a 16-year manslaughter sentence for killing his mother. Tavares moved to Washington to marry a prison pen pal. He was arrested Monday in the shooting deaths of two neighbors, Brian and Beverly Mauck. A memorial service was held for them yesterday. Romney was in Seattle on Monday and had been warned that Tavares was in the area. (Updated 7:35am 11/25)

STUDENT’S BOYFRIEND SAYS SHE’S NOT MURDERER

The boyfriend of a University of Washington student jailed in the death of her roommate in Italy says she is not a murderer. The boyfriend says 20-year-old Amanda Knox of Seattle “lives life as if it is a dream” and “her only thought is a quest for pleasure at any moment.” But in a letter to his father reported in an Italian paper and confirmed by his lawyer, the boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito (sol-EH'-chee-toh), says he can't imagine that Knox would be capable of murder. The two are jailed as suspects in the death of British student Meredith Kercher whose body was found Nov. 2 in the city of Perugia (per-OO'-juh). Police say she was stabbed in the death resisting a sexual assault. Another man was arrested this week in Germany in the case. But a fourth suspect was released for lack of evidence. Lawyers for Knox and the boyfriend say both are innocent. Sollecito also says he is no longer Knox's boyfriend. Updated 7:35am 11/25)

WAVE ENERGY VS. FISHING

Companies targeting space in Oregon's coastal waters to develop wave-generated energy are coming in conflict with fishermen who worry that many of the spaces threaten productive fishing grounds. Even though most of the proposals are aimed at the central and southern Oregon coast, north coast fishermen say they worry about the new players competing for use of the ocean. One of the most vocal groups in the wave energy debate has been Oregon's Dungeness crab fishermen, whose most productive grounds are ideal ocean bottom and depth conditions for wave parks. Dungeness crab is the state's most valuable fishery. Several companies are proposing wave-generation facilities but none has yet received federal approval. (Posted 7:35am 11/25)

CANADA MAN DIES AFTER BEING TASERED

A Canadian man died yesterday in Vancouver, British Columbia _ four days after police used a Taser stun-gun on him because he reportedly was acting erratically in a store. He's the third person to die in recent weeks in Canada after being shocked by the hand-held weapon. Police say 36-year-old Robert Knipstrom died in a hospital after two officers used pepper spray, a Taser and their batons to subdue the British Columbia resident. Police earlier said Knipstrom was agitated, aggressive and combative with officers who responded. The cause of death has yet to be determined. Inspector Brendan Fitzpatrick says a Taser was used against Knipstrom, but it's not immediately clear what role, if any, it played in his death. The case comes as Canadian police face criticism over the death of Robert Dziekanski, a Polish immigrant who died at Vancouver airport last month after officers used a Taser and manhandled him. A Nova Scotia man also died earlier this week, 30 hours after being shocked with the Taser at a jail where he was being held for investigation of assault. (Posted 7:35am 11/25)

CAR JACKER ARRESTED AFTER CHASE

The Lewis County sheriff's office says a 34-year-old man accused of carjacking was arrested in Centralia after a high-speed car chase on Interstate 5 that ended when his car went over a spike strip. The sheriff's office says yesterday's chase reached speeds of more than 110 miles per hour. The sheriff's office says the stolen 1992 Pontiac Bonneville was carjacked from a 62-year-old woman in Tacoma and was disabled by the spike strip on I-5's northbound lanes near milepost 81. A 34-year-old man was taken into custody. No one was injured. (Posted 8:25am 11/24)

GROUP FILE SUIT IN DISABLED EDUCATION

A plan to educate a handful of developmentally disabled students at the state-run center where they live, rather than in public school classrooms, has drawn a lawsuit from an advocacy group. Disability Rights Washington contends the planned change violates state and federal laws against discrimination. The change is due to take effect at the end of this month. This year, the Bremerton School District apparently decided it no longer had the classroom space to accommodate the students, who range in age from 13 to 20. The district reached agreement with the state Department of Social and Health Services to open a classroom on the center's grounds. The department runs the Frances Haddon Morgan Center in Bremerton. The junior high building the students have been using sits next to Mountain View Middle School. (Posted 8:25am 11/24)

WORK BEGINS ON PORT TOWNSEND FOOT FERRY

Workers will begin adjusting the Port Townsend ferry dock today so a passenger-only ferry can moor there while car-ferry service is shut down. Car-ferry service on the Port Townsend-Keystone route was halted on Tuesday when the Washington State Ferries' four oldest vessels were pulled from service because of concerns about cracks and corrosion on their hulls. The passenger-only service between Port Townsend and Keystone, on Whidbey Island, isn't expected to begin until Monday. That's how long it's expected to take to reconfigure a slip at Port Townsend to accommodate the passenger-only ferry Snohomish. In the meantime, a third car ferry has been running since Wednesday on the Edmonds-Kingston run, south of the Port Townsend-Keystone route. Ferries spokeswoman Susan Harris says the third ferry will continue to run eight hours a day through tomorrow. Ferry officials have said they don't know how long the Port Townsend-Keystone run will be without car-ferry service. (Posted 8:25am 11/24)

PRINCIPAL REPRIMAND FOR HUGS AND KISSES

Puyallup High School principal Mike Joyner has been reprimanded for his hugs and kisses. Last week's reprimand by the Puyallup School District comes after a district investigation last month that found the 58-year-old Joyner inappropriately kissed three female employees and a student, and ``lightly swatted'' one teacher on the head. A Nov. 16 letter says the district plans to survey the employee climate at Puyallup High School. The letter was written by assistant superintendent Larry Serna of the Puyallup schools' human resources. Serna told Joyner future physical contact with a woman that might be perceived as inappropriate or unwelcome in the future could result in discipline up to and including his firing. Sera's letter noted it was Joyner's second reprimand for similar conduct within a year. In November 2006, the district reprimanded Joyner after a teacher at another Puyallup school said he inappropriately squeezed her shoulders and arms as she tried to move away from him at an athletic coach seminar. (Posted 8:25am 11/24)

DRIVER CRASHES INTO STARBUCKS

A 27-year-old man attempted to turn into a Starbucks parking lot in Vancouver and smashed his car into the back of the building. Police say the impact on Thanksgiving Day afternoon shook up customers and sent the driver and his passenger, both from Vancouver, to the Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver. Police say witnesses say the Subaru Outback was traveling at a high rate of speed. Police say the case will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecutor's Office. (Posted 8:25am 11/24)

BOEING-F-15-BACK IN SERVICE

The Air Force has returned nearly 700 F-15 fighter jets to service after a Nov. 2 crash grounded the fleet. Although the pilot was not killed, the military ordered the fleet of Boeing-made planes grounded one day later on “airworthiness concerns.” After completing safety inspections on more than 500 of the F-15s, the Air Force said the fleet could be returned to service. In a memo this week by Air Force Combat General John Corley, industry experts and the Air Force are working with a federal plane crash investigation board to determine what caused the plane to go down. The F-15 was flown by the Missouri Air National Guard and went down during a training exercise. Corley asked pilots to “remain vigilant” to mitigate any unknown risks as the fleet returns to service. (Posted 8:25am 11/24)

DEMOLITION UNDERWAY FOR FIRE STATION PROJECT

The City of Shelton's project to build a new fire station began Saturday with the demolition of the former Smoke Shop at the corner of First and Franklin. This demolition is part of phase one of the fire station remodel. The plan is to move the department's portables to that lot in order to begin construction of the new station where the portables are currently located. The cost of this demolition is $8,340 and the contract went to Evergreen Environmental out of Aberdeen. (Updated 11:45am 11/23)

GRAPEVIEW LOOP ROAD CLOSED MONDAY

Mason County will close Grapeview Loop Road for eight months beginning Monday. The closure from milepost 2.45 and milepost 2.55 begins at 8am Monday and will last until July 24^th. The closure is necessary for crews to replace the McLane Cove Bridge. Earlier this month the County awarded the bridge replacement contract to Five Rivers Construction Incorporated out of Longview. Their low bid was $1,409,500.76. Again, Grapeview Loop Road will be closed for eight months beginning 8am Monday. (Updated 8:25am 11/23)

CITY COMMISSION MEETS MONDAY AT 2PM

The Shelton City Commission meets at 2pm Monday. The City Commission is expected to take action on the clean up of the gas contamination at First and Franklin, be briefed on updating the water service code and compliance with the water use efficiency rules, discuss the City’s Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan, and be briefed on the Gregory Land Annexation. The Commission will also hear reports from Mason County Historical Society, Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce, and South Mason County Youth Soccer. The Shelton City Commission meets in one of the conference rooms at the Civic Center, again at 2pm Monday. (Posted 8:25am 11/23)

SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING SET FOR TUESDAY

The Shelton City Commission is holding a special meeting Tuesday to receive department updates. This meeting begins at 8am with the Courts, followed by Public Works at 8:30, the Fire Department at 9:30, planning at 10am, finance at 10:45, and administration at 11:05. This special meeting will take place in the Shelton Civic Center Executive Conference Room, again beginning at 8am Tuesday. (Posted 8:25am 11/23)

PORT TOWNSEND KEYSTONE FOOT FERRY SERVICE POSTPONED

Passenger-only service between Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula and Keystone on Whidbey Island won't begin today as planned. Washington State Ferries says it can't find a place to moor the vessel. Ferry system spokeswoman Susan Harris says a foot ferry probably will not be added until Monday. Officials thought a passenger-only ferry could be moored at Port Townsend, but Harris says it can't. The ferry system took the state's four oldest ferries out of service this week after dozens of cracks and widespread hull corrosion raised safety concerns. Only two of the 80-year-old boats have been running in recent months. A replacement ferry has been added to the San Juan Islands inter-island route, but no car-carrying ferry is available to fill in on the Port Townsend-Keystone crossing. (Updated 8:25am 11/23)

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR GAMBLING WITH FAKE MONEY

A 51-year-old Bremerton woman was arrested this week for suspicion of gambling with counterfeit money at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino and possessing methamphetamine. Kitsap County sheriff's deputies were called to the casino on Monday morning after employees say they caught two women on security cameras using fake $20 bills to credit their gaming cards. A deputy found the Bremerton woman with two counterfeit $20s and one fake $10 bill. A drug-sniffing dog searched her van and found methamphetamine in her purse and a scale in the glove box. The other woman was a 30-year-old from Sumner. The Bremerton woman was booked into jail on suspicion of forgery and possessing methamphetamine. Bail was set at $20,000. The woman from Sumner wasn't arrested. (Posted 8:25am 11/23)

$1 MILLION CLAIM FILED AGAINST FIFE SCHOOL DISTRICT

A claim seeking $1 million in damages has been filed against the Fife School District by a 17-year-old Fife High School female student and her mother. They accuse the district of failing to protect the girl from retaliation on campus after she accused a teacher of sending sexually suggestive text messages to her. Their tort claim is a preliminary step to filing a lawsuit. The girl and her parents first reported Fife High business teacher Steven Weidenbach's text messaging to Fife police on Oct. 4. The 27-year-old Weidenbach was placed on administrative leave on Oct. 5. Weidenbach recently pleaded not guilty to seven gross misdemeanor counts. Fife Superintendent Steve McCammon says the district is enforcing its zero tolerance policy against harassment. (Posted 8:25am 11/23)

STORIES FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR 11/23/07 

Tacoma police are looking for a woman they say has scammed more than $36,000 from five elderly people in Pierce County. An arrest warrant has been issued for 41-year-old Kimberly Ann Philips. Police say she works as a caregiver and pressures or tricks people into giving her thousands of dollars. Many of the victims have dementia or memory loss. (Posted 8:25am 11/23)

A suspect in the slaying of a University of Washington student's roommate in Italy is being held in Germany where he was arrested. The German court says authorities suspect the man from the Ivory Coast, Rudy Hermann Guede, and another person of raping and killing Meredith Kercher, whose body was found Nov. 2. UW student Amanda Knox and her boyfriend also are jailed in the case. (Posted 8:25am 11/23)

BAIL SET IN GANG STABBING

Two teenagers have made their first appearances in Clark County Superior Court in Vancouver on suspicion of attempted murder for a July 20 gang-related stabbing. Judge Barbara Johnson set bail at $500,000 apiece for 18-year-old Ovidio Perez and 16-year-old Pedro Marquez. Arraignment is set for Tuesday for Perez and Dec. 5 for Marquez. A third defendant, 17-year-old Luis Rangel, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. Police arrested Perez and Marquez this week and say an arrest warrant has been issued for a fourth suspect. Rangel is accused of stabbing a rival gang member on the night of July 20 in an Albertsons parking lot in Vancouver. He was arrested Oct. 26. Police say Rangel told detectives Perez and Marquez were with him the night of the stabbing. Rangel's trial is set for April 7. Police say the victim ... Francisco Lopez ... was treated at Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver for a stab wound to his heart. Police say Rangel and the victim were members of rival gangs. Clark County Sheriff's Office spokesman Tim Bieber says there has been an upswing of gang activity in the county.(Posted 8:25am 11/23)

SIGNS ALERT DRIVERS TO PAY TOLL

The state Department of Transportation says there's no reason now for motorists not to pay a $3 toll to cross the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge. That's because 16 signs have been put up along eastbound State Highway 16 to better alert drivers they must pay the toll. Tourist Debbie Grover, of Wilbraham, Mass., was with her family on a vacation in Washington and Oregon in late July. She protested about the existing signage after ending up with a $49 ticket, plus a $25 late payment penalty, on her rental car bill for not getting off the highway and paying the toll before crossing the bridge. Department spokeswoman Janet Matkin says a number of motorists who received citations say they were confused about the existing signs and didn't understand they were supposed to exit at the toll plaza. (Posted 8:25am 11/23)

AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY ISSUED FOR EASTERN WA

The Washington Department of Ecology has issued an air stagnation advisory for the valleys on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains. The state is urging people to limit their use of woodstoves and fireplaces from Thanksgiving Day through Sunday. Smoke from burning wood gets trapped in the air during stagnant conditions, especially in low-lying areas. Fine particles in smoke can be inhaled deeply into the lungs, posing health risks for people with asthma, lung or heart problems. (Posted 8:25am 11/23)

BOEING GETS ORDER FROM KLM

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has ordered three of Boeing's single-aisle 737s and two extended-range widebody 777s. KLM also took out options for one additional 737 and two extra 777s. Financial terms were not disclosed. Boeing says the planes are worth $716 million at list prices, though airlines typically negotiate discounts. The order was previously attributed to an unnamed customer. With its most recent order, KLM has six 777-300ERs on order and is scheduled to take delivery of its first one in the first quarter of next year. KLM's current fleet includes 15 777-200ERs, some of them owned, others leased. The airline says the 737-700s will be used to strengthen its short-haul fleet. (Posted 8:25am 11/23)

ALLYN WOMAN INJURED IN CRASH NEAR GORST

An Allyn woman suffered minor injuries in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 3 near Gorst Wednesday afternoon. According to the State Patrol, about 2:30pm, a southbound 1985 Pontiac attempted to pass a pickup on the shoulder near Division Avenue. The driver, Paul L. Goin, 22 of Port Orchard, lost control of the car. The Pontiac crossed into the northbound lane where it struck the side of a 2004 GMC Yukon before striking a 1992 Chevrolet van head-on. Goin was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with leg injuries. The driver of the van, Greg E. Rose, 54 of Bremerton, was taken to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton with respiratory distress. And the driver of the Yukon, Diana L. Phillips, 39 of Allyn, suffered an arm abrasion. The cause of this crash was reckless driving on the part of Goin and he faces charges. Traffic on Highway 3 was diverted to Sunnyslope Road while the collision was clear and troopers investigated. The Highway was reopened to traffic by 5pm. (Posted 8:25am 11/22)

TEEN KILLED IN ROLLOVER NEAR TENINO

The State Patrol reports a teenager was killed just before noon Wednesday when the car he was riding in missed a corner and rolled over southeast of Tenino. Trooper Brandy Kessler says excessive speed was a factor in the crash. The passenger was ejected from the vehicle and died. The 18-year-old driver of the vehicle was transported to Providence St. Peter's Hospital with minor injuries. The identities the driver and passenger weren't immediately released. (Posted 8:25am 11/22)

GRAND JURY INDICTS LAKE TAPPS PILOT

A Lake Tapps pilot already charged with nine felony counts of child sex crimes in state court has been indicted on four federal charges. 47-year-old Weldon Marc Gilbert was charged yesterday with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the production of child pornography and one count of transportation of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. The first three charges allege Gilbert sexually abused three boys in Pierce County and videotaped the abuse between 2001 and this year. The fourth alleges Gilbert took one of the boys to Canada, where he molested him in 2005 and videotaped it. Gilbert was arrested last month after two brothers accused him of abusing them in his home. The U.S. attorney's office says investigators who served a search warrant at the house found dozens of videotapes and DVDs documenting the alleged abuse as well as a room where cameras were installed. FBI agents arrested Gilbert last week after he posted $1.5 million bail on the state charges. He's been held in the federal detention center at SeaTac since then. Gilbert has pleaded not guilty to the state charges, which include second-degree child rape and child molestation. He is to be arraigned on the federal counts next Wednesday in federal court in Tacoma. (Posted 8:25am 11/22)

PHYSICIAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BOMB THREAT

A Tennessee physician who phoned in bomb threats at Sea-Tac Airport in an attempt to hold his plane at the gate has pleaded guilty in federal court in Seattle. The U.S. attorney's office says 31-year-old Kou Wei Chiu (koo way chew) of Nashville faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced Feb. 22 for a felony threat. Court papers say Chiu arrived late for a flight to Memphis on July 25 and made three 911 calls saying there was a bomb on the flight. Chiu says he thought the plane would be held for a search, which would allow him time to board the plane. (Posted 8:25am 11/22)

WESTERN STATE HOSPITAL EMPLOYEE ARRESTED

The State Patrol's Missing & Exploited Children Task Force says it has arrested an employee of Western State Hospital for investigation of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. The patrol says 51-year-old James Von Steuben was booked into the Pierce County Jail in Tacoma after being taken into custody at the hospital. The patrol says the case was referred to the task force by a Florida police agency. Von Steuben is accused of sending pictures of himself to a 14-year-old Florida girl and having sexual online conversations with her for almost a year. (Posted 8:25am 11/22)

HUSBAND PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN WIFE’S DEATH

A Clark County man has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of his wife. 43-year-old Larry F. VanSchaick is in the county jail on $500,000 bail. Superior Court Judge Robert Harris set a trial date for Jan. 7 to accommodate speedy-trial deadlines, but the trial date will be rescheduled. Court-appointed defense lawyer Gerry Wear says he'll ask his client to waive his right to a speedy trial so Wear can have more time to work on the case. The body of 25-year-old Erin D. VanSchaick was discovered Nov. 12 by sheriff's deputies in the home of an acquaintance of her estranged husband. The acquaintance called 911 to report Larry VanSchaick was suicidal. VanSchaick had cut both his wrists and was gone by the time deputies arrived. He turned himself in a day later. The victim was been strangled. (Posted 8:25am 11/22)

COUNSELOR HAS CREDENTIAL REVOKED

The state Department of Health reports the credential of a woman counselor in Pierce County has been revoked for 20 years for having sex with a 10-year-old boy. The department suspended 49-year-old Jennifer L. Rice on Oct. 9. She was a teacher at McKinley Elementary School in Pierce County. The department says Rice admitted to having sex with the boy on at least five occasions and taking the boy on a road trip without his parents' permission. The department says Rice failed to respond to the charges. She has been criminally charged with six counts of first-degree child rape, four counts of first-degree child molestation and two counts of third-degree child rape. (Posted 8:25am 11/22)

SPANAWAY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SHIPPING CHILD PORN

A Spanaway man has pleaded guilty in federal court to shipment of child pornography. 58-year-old Fred Donald Manning appeared in Tacoma today before U.S. District Judge Franklin D. Burgess. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to 10 years in prison. Manning agreed to a plea agreement. Prosecutors say Manning sent an undercover agent an email with pictures of sexually explicit conduct with girls under the age of 12. The case was investigated by the FBI. (Posted 8:25am 11/22)

BOEING ORDERS TOPS IN 2006

Boeing says it has received 1,047 commercial airplane orders this year, beating its 2006 record-setting total of 1,044 orders. Boeing says it has taken orders for 580 of the popular 737 as of Nov. 20, and for 290 of the new midsize 787, whose delivery has been delayed until November or December 2008 because of assembly problems. This is the third consecutive year Boeing's orders have topped 1,000. Boeing spokesman Jim Condelles credits a surge of orders from airlines in Asia, India and Latin America, and the continued rebound of the air travel industry after 9/11. Boeing's top competitor, France's Airbus SAS, had logged 1,021 commercial jet orders as of the end of October. (Posted 8:25am 11/22)

SEX OFFENDER ABSCONDS FROM REGISTERED ADDRESS
The Mason County Sheriff's Office is looking for a sex offender who has absconded from his registered address. According to a sex offender information bulletin, 20-year-old Joshuah Adam Briggs is required to register as a sex offender due to a conviction in 2000 for Rape of a Child First Degree. Earlier this year, Briggs pleaded guilty to failing to register as a sex offender after absconding from his registered address in Yakima County and living at an unregistered address in Mason County. Authorities believe that Briggs may be hiding somewhere in eastern Washington with a new girlfriend, but that has not been confirmed. At this time, Joshuah Briggs is considered missing and his whereabouts are unknown. The Mason County Sheriff's Office has raised his assessment from level one to level three and Briggs is now considered a high risk to re-offend due to him hiding from law enforcement. Joshuah Adam Briggs is a white male, six feet tall, 200 pounds with brown hair and green eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Joshuah Briggs should contact the Mason County Sheriff's Office. (Posted 7:05am 11/21)

FIRE STATION PROJECT BEGINS WITH DEMOLITION FRIDAY
The City of Shelton's project to build a new fire station begins Friday with the demolition of the former Smoke Shop at the corner of First and Franklin. This demolition is part of phase one of the fire station remodel. The plan is to move the department's portables to that lot in order to begin construction of the new station where the portables are currently located. The cost of this demolition is $8,340 and the contract went to Evergreen Environmental out of Aberdeen. (Posted 7:05am 11/21)

COUNTY COMMISSION HOLDING BUDGET BRIEFINGS WEDNESDAY
The Mason County Commission is holding budget briefings today. The Commissioners start at 10:30am with District Court followed by Emergency Services, the Coroner and the Treasurer. The Sheriff Department's budget will be discussed at 1:30pm. The County Clerk is scheduled for 2:30pm. And Commissioners will wrap up their budget briefings with Superior Court at 3pm. These budget briefings are open to the public and will be held in the Commissioners' conference room at 411 North Fifth Street in Shelton. (Posted 7:05am 11/21)

COUNTY COMMISSION REVIEWING SEWAGE PLAN
The Mason County Commission is reviewing the County's On-Site Sewage System Management Plan. This plan, which is required by the State, describes the on-site sewage program in the County, the obstacles and issues facing the County as it implements Marine Recovery Areas in Hood Canal and Oakland Bay, and what improvements will occur over the next five years that will eventually lead to a stronger and more effective Environmental Health Program, improved water quality and more education opportunities for residents and homeowners about their on-site sewage system. The plan needs to be approved by the Commission in order for Mason County Public Health to continue to receive funding from the State Department of Health. County officials are asking for input from residents on the plan and have already amended the plan to include previous comments. The County Commission will likely take action on the plan during their December 4th meeting. To review Mason County's On-Site Sewage Management Plan, click: http://www.co.mason.wa.us/forms/Env_Health/oss_manage_plan.pdf. (Posted 7:05am 11/21)

COUNTY POSTPONES HEARING ON SHELTON UGA
The Mason County Commission has postponed a public hearing on amendments to the Shelton Urban Growth Area Sub Area Plan. The hearing was scheduled for Tuesday morning but County staff asked the Commissioners to reschedule the hearing for January 15th. According to Barbara Robinson, Director of Community Development for the County, there are two reasons for the postponement. One is the 60-day review required by the State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development. The second reason is recently received comments from the Economic Development Council of Mason County relating to re-developable land, under developable land and a land capacity analysis. Staff would like to respond to these comments before going to a public hearing. The hearing is now scheduled for 9:30am January 15th. (Posted 7:05am 11/21)

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES INCREASED
The Mason County Commission has approved increases in the Environmental Health fee schedule for next year. These fees will increase about 10% beginning in January. The fees will automatically increase each January by the percentage increase in the June Consumer Price Index. This annual increase will not exceed 3.5%. These fees have not been increased since 2002 and some have not been increased since 2000. The fee increases approved by the Commission Tuesday will help Environmental Health cover its costs. (Posted 7:05am 11/21)

BUDGET TRANSFER PAYS FOR TWO NEW DEPUTIES
The Mason County Commission has approved supplemental appropriations and a budget transfer that will pay for utility work and pay for two new deputies. The Commission unanimously approved a transfer of $9,500 from the Ending Fund Balance in the Current Expense Fund to the Sheriff's Department to add two new deputies. This funding is for one month in 2007. The two deputies will be in the 2008 Budget. The Commission also approved supplemental appropriations to the 2007 Budget for the Combined Utilities Administration Fund, the Rustlewood Sewer and Water Utility, and the Belfair Wastewater Reclamation Utility. These appropriations total $4,843,153. (Posted 7:05am 11/21)

VACANCY ON CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Mason County is seeking an individual to fill a position on the Mason County Civil Service Commission. This position's term is for six years. To qualify, an individual must be a United States citizen, resident of Mason County and an elector in the County for the past two years. This person cannot be employed by Mason County. The general purpose of the Civil Service Commission is to establish a merit system of employment for county deputy sheriffs and other employees of the Sheriff's Office. Interested residents must fill out an application. Applications are available at the Mason County Commissioners' Office, by calling 427-9670 or 275-4467 extension 419, or on the County's Website: www.co.mason.wa.us. Deadline to apply for the Mason County Civil Service Commission is December 14th.(Posted 7:05am 11/21)

RING ERICKSON ELECTED WSAC VP
Mason County Commissioner Lynda Ring Erickson has been elected vice president of the Washington State Association of Counties. WSAC works with statewide elected officials and members of the Legislature to promote positions that help counties serve their citizens. The Association provides a variety of services to its member counties, including advocacy and liaison with the Legislature and statewide elected and appointed officials, training and workshops, a worker's compensation retrospective rating pool, technical assistance (in areas such as timber, transportation permitting, farm worker housing, and more) and the opportunity to network and share best practices. Ring Erickson will serve as Vice President next year and will likely be President in 2009. (Posted 7:05am 11/21)

INFO ON BURGLARY SUSPECT SOUGHT
The Thurston County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in identifying a burglary suspect. About 5pm November 11, deputies responded to 4900 block of Friendly Grove Road NE after a citizen reported a burglary at a neighbor's home. The woman reported that she walked toward her neighbor's house to investigate a loud noise when an unknown male, walking away the neighbor's house, walked up to her and sprayed her with pepper spray. The suspect continued past the victim and left in an unknown vehicle. Deputies inspected the house and discovered that the window in the front door and rear sliding door were broken. The Thurston County Sheriff's Office is requesting the public's assistance in helping to identify this suspect. The suspect is described as a white male in his 40's, 6 feet tall with a husky build. He was last seen wearing a black, waist-length leather coat, gray T-shirt and light colored blue jeans. Anyone with any information on this crime, or the identity of the suspect is encouraged to telephone the Thurston County Sheriff's Office at 360-786-5500 or 360-704-2740, or Thurston County Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222. (Posted 7:05am 11/21)

SPECIAL SESSION ON PROPERTY TAXES
Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire has officially issued a call for a mini-session of the Legislature to pass a new property tax lid. She says genuine desire for tax relief, not cheap political theatrics, is driving the Democrats' decision to accept Republicans' demand for action. Gregoire and legislative Democrats have been under heavy pressure from GOP challenger Dino Rossi, legislative and state Republicans, and tax rebel Tim Eyman to hold the session. Eyman sponsored Initiative 747, the voter-approved plan that limits annual property tax growth to 1 percent. The state Supreme Court threw it out on Nov. 8 and some local governments have talked about using their new taxing capacity of up to 6 percent. Gregoire says she doesn't want "a three-ring circus" at the special session on Nov. 29.(Posted 7:05am 11/21)

TEEN KILLED IN KITSAP CRASH IDENTIFIED
A 17-year-old boy who died on Monday after a car crash has been identified as Shaun M. Olson by the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. He died at Tacoma General Hospital after crashing his car on a Kitsap County road on Sunday night. The teen was wearing a seat belt. Kitsap County investigators are trying to determine the cause of the accident and whether speed was a factor in the crash. As part of the investigation, the victim will be checked to determine whether alcohol or drugs were in his system.(Updated 7:05am 11/21)

FOUR AGING FERRIES PULLED FROM SERVICE
Washington State Ferries is pulling its four 80-year-old Steel Electric class vessels out of service in order to examine the hulls of the Quinault, Klickitat, Illahee and Nisqually. As of yesterday, the Klickitat and the Illahee were the only ones of the four vessels operating. They were being taken out of service as they completed their last runs of the day. Another ferry will replace the Illahee on the San Juan Islands inter-island route, but no car-carrying vessel will replace the Klickitat on the Port Townsend-Keystone crossing. The decision means the Port Townsend-Keystone car ferry route will be closed beginning today until further notice. State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond says the Quinault has been found to have significant hull pitting along the keel and that likely is a problem with all four. The seaworthiness of the ferries was most recently called into question last weekend when The Herald in Everett reported that the ferry system provided an incomplete picture of the vessels' problems when it briefed state lawmakers last month about detailed inspections of the hulls. Ferry officials told the Legislature's Joint Transportation Committee in a report the Steel Electric boats were "generally considered to be in good condition." But they now acknowledge finding two dozen more cracks in the vessels than lawmakers were told about. Corrosion of hull plates also was more widespread than reported. The ferry service has added a third boat to the Edmonds-Kingston run to handle some of the traffic from the Port Townsend-Keystone route. The service plans to add a passenger-only ferry to the Port Townsend-Keystone route, but that may not happen until Friday. Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond says the state may be able to restore car ferry service on the Port Townsend-Keystone run by end of January. That's when the ferry Quinault, now undergoing hull repairs, should be back in service. She says the Quinault and three other ferries of the same class are 80 years old and need to be replaced. (Posted 7:05am 11/21)

THREE PEOPLE SURVIVE MID-AIR COLLISION IN TACOMA
All three people aboard survived when two small planes collided yesterday afternoon, with one safely landing at a nearby airstrip and the other going down in Commencement Bay. Boaters recovered two people from the water, and neither was seriously injured. They were described as a man and his mother, who was in her 70s. The cause of the collision about 12:30 p.m. is under investigation. Tacoma police say the pilot of the single-engine American Champion that ditched in Commencement Bay flew out of a downward spiral and made a relatively soft landing on the water. The FAA says the other plane was a single-engine Cessna 182 that landed at Thun Field in Puyallup, about 10 miles southeast of Tacoma, with damage to the housing of one of its landing gears. The pilot of that plane, Bud Williams, says he was flying home to the Port Angeles area when the planes clipped. The identities of the mother and son aboard the downed plane were not released by a local hospital, but both reportedly were OK. Tacoma police say the pilot of that plane was taking his mother to nearby Gig Harbor for lunch when the collision occurred over the bay that sits west of Tacoma's port. After landing, the man and woman climbed out of the plane and hung on until it started sinking. They were quickly rescued by a passing boat. Tacoma police say the plane sank in 400 feet of water less than one mile off the shore of Tacoma's Ruston Way. Coast Guard and police boats patrolled the area of Commencement Bay where the plane went down looking for debris. No oil or fuel was found leaking from the plane.(Posted 7:05am 11/21)

GRAHAM SHOOTINGS RESULTED FROM INSULT
Court documents say a man accused of killing his neighbors in Graham told police he shot them after the man insulted him when he tried to collect a $50 debt. 41-year-old Daniel Thomas Tavares Jr. was charged yesterday with two counts of aggravated first-degree murder, a charge that carries a penalty of death or life in prison without parole. Investigators say Tavares fatally shot Brian and Beverly Mauck. Pierce County sheriff's Detective Ed Troyer said the Maucks had "the unfortunate luck of having this guy land next to them." Court papers say the Maucks were found dead on the morning of Nov. 17, in the living room of their home, with three close-range gunshot wounds to each of their heads. Tavares' wife, 37-year-old Jennifer Lynn Tavares, was charged yesterday with rendering criminal assistance. Daniel Tavares also is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. He was forbidden to have a gun as a condition of his parole. He served 16 years in Massachusetts for manslaughter in the stabbing 1991 death of his mother. Court papers say Tavares told police he went to the Maucks' house to collect a $50 debt, 30-year-old Brian Mauck insulted him and "after spending 20 years in prison" he was not going to put up with being called an insulting name. Police say Tavares pulled out a gun and shot Brian Mauck in the back of his head and then stopped 28-year-old Beverly Mauck from running out of the house and shot her in the back of the head.(Updated 7:05am 11/21)

CAYUSE PASS TO REOPEN THURSDAY
A section of Cayuse Pass within Mount Rainier National Park that closed for a week
because of rock slides will reopen at noon today. The highway has been closed from the junction of Highways 410 and 123 to Stevens Canyon Road since Nov. 13. Several large rocks fell onto the highway from the hillside above the northbound lane. State Department of Transportation maintenance crews are placing warning signs and traffic cones around the ditch where the rocks fell last week. The rocks will be broken up and removed once Highway 123 closes for the season. The state maintains the highway within park boundaries under an agreement with Mount Rainier National Park. (Updated 7:05am 11/21)

NORTHCLIFF PAVING CANCELED
The City of Shelton will NOT be paving Northcliff Road this week. According to Commissioner Dawn Pannell, the City's contractor determined it has been too cold and damp for paving so Northcliff will not be paved until weather permits. In the meantime, Northcliff will continue to be restricted to local access only. However, the City will be holding a ribbon cutting for the new road next month. At 10am Tuesday, December 4th, the ceremony will be held at the North 13th end of Northcliff. After the ribbon cutting, those who attend will walk down the new sidewalk. (Updated 7:25am 11/20)

CITY SETS PROPERTY TAX LEVY
The City of Shelton has set its property tax levy for next year. According to Cathy Beierly, Director of Financial Services for the City, the rate per thousand for the General Fund is $3.17, 22.5 cents for the Firemen's Pension Fund and 50 cents for the E-M-S Fund. The City's levy for 2008 is $30,035 higher than 2007 which is an increase of 1.88%. The City Commission is expected to approve the ordinance setting the 2008 Ad Valorem tax at its next meeting.(Posted 7:25am 11/20)

GAS CONTAMINATION CLEAN UP CONTRACT IN THE WORKS
The Shelton City Commission is expected to award a contract to clean up a portion of the gas contaminated soil at the First and Franklin intersection. The City plans on only removing the soil that will be needed to connect a sewer pipe at that location in order to finish the Sewer Basin Two project. The cost of this clean up is estimated at less that $150,000. The hope is to start work on the clean up next week. City Commission action is anticipated next Monday.(Posted 7:25am 11/20)

RECOUNT LIKELY FOR SOUTHSIDE SCHOOL BOARD
A recount is likely for Southside School Board. The latest unofficial results from the November 6th General Election show that only two votes separate the race for Southside School Board Position Number One. After the last ballot tally last Thursday, Don Robbins has a two vote lead on Nicole Cougher. According to Mason County Auditor Karen Herr, the percentage difference between the two candidates will require a recount. However, whether the recount will be a machine recount or a hand recount has yet to be determined as there are three ballots from the Southside Precinct that were returned in time but do not have a signature. Those voters have been contacted and will need to sign their ballots before they can be counted. Those ballots will likely change the results. Herr told 1030 KMAS News that the date of any recount will be determined the day the election is certified: November 27th. That recount will likely be the last day of this month or the first week of next month. (Posted 7:25am 11/20)

STATE PATROL GEARS UP FOR HOLIDAY SEASON
The holiday season is one of the deadliest and most dangerous times of the year on the roadways due to an increase in impaired driving. This has local troopers planning ahead to keep roadways safe. According to Lieutenant Steve Smeland, Troopers will focus increased patrols on driving under the influence, speed, and seatbelt violations - behaviors which account for 77 percent of all fatality collisions. For a safer Holiday, Lieutenant Smeland offered these simple reminders: Plan ahead, allow yourself enough time to get where you need to go so you don't need to speed to get there. Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you or one of your friends and family members have been drinking, don't drive, use a designated driver; call a friend, a taxi or a tow truck to get home. If you are on the road and come across someone who you suspect might be under the influence, or is driving dangerously, call 9-1-1 immediately and report it. If an officer is in the area, they will be able to stop the car before it has the chance to cause harm to someone else. And do what you can to ensure your safety; wear your seat belt or use protective gear on your motorcycle. Having that protection could save your life in the event of a collision. (Posted 7:25am 11/20)

SHELTON WOMAN IN JAIL AFTER HIGH SPEED CHASE
A 29-year-old Shelton woman remains in jail after a high speed chase ended in a collision in Lacey over the weekend. According to authorities, Michelle Suzanne Motta is in Thurston County Jail on suspicion of unlawful possession of a controled substance and eluding police. Motta was stopped in the 2600 block of Ruddell Road Saturday because her 1993 Mercury had no tail lights. Motta gave the deputy a false identity before speeding away. The chase reached speeds of 60 to 70 mph through residential streets and ended when Motta ran a stop sign at 14th Avenue SE and College Street in Lacey and the Mercury collided with a minivan. She was taken into custody after being treated for minor injuries. (Posted 7:25am 11/20)

ARTISTS SELECTED FOR CIVIC CENTER ART
The Shelton City Commission has approved the selection of the four artists who will display their art at the Shelton Civic Center. Those artists, selected by the Shelton Arts Commission are Ellen Miffitt, Synnove Petterson, Alan Nielsen and Paul Steensen. These artists' pieces will be the first art to be displayed as part of the Civic Center Rotating Art Gallery. These 11 pieces will be on display from December 3 to February 29. (Posted 7:25am 11/20)

CITY CHANGING B&O TAXES
The City of Shelton, along with other cities in the state, is changing the way it charges Business and Occupation Tax or B&O. The change means businesses will be taxed only where they do business. The changes in the B&O are required to be adopted by January 1st. (Posted 7:25am 11/20)

GREGOIRE CALL FOR SPECIAL SESSION ON PROPERTY TAXES
Gov. Chris Gregoire has called for a one-day special legislative session to reinstate a 1 percent property tax increase cap recently struck down by the state Supreme Court. Gregoire sent a letter to House and Senate leaders last night, telling them the Nov. 29 special session is necessary. The Democrat said she is "very concerned about the effects of the court's decision on the property taxpayers across the state." Lawmakers also will consider a bill that would offer property tax deferrals for families under the state median income level. Gregoire's announcement followed a day of meetings with House Speaker Frank Chopp, a Seattle Democrat, and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, a Spokane Democrat. Lawmakers are already scheduled to be in town for committee hearings next week. Washington voters approved Initiative 747 in 2001 to prevent various levels of government from bumping up property taxes more than 1 percent per year. Before I-747 and a predecessor tax-cap initiative, the limit on annual property tax hikes was 6 percent.(Posted 7:25am 11/20)

NEIGHBOR ACCUSED IN GRAHAM KILLINGS
The Pierce County prosecutor's office says charges could be filed this afternoon against a man accused of killing a couple near Graham. 41-year-old Daniel Thomas Tavares Jr. was jailed early yesterday for investigation of aggravated first-degree murder, according to the Pierce County Jail's Web site. His 37-year-old wife, Jennifer Lynn Tavares, was jailed for investigation of rendering criminal assistance and making false statements. Daniel Tavares was released from prison this summer in Massachusetts after serving time for killing his mother 16 years ago. Pierce County sheriff's Detective Ed Troyer says Tavares moved to Washington to marry a pen pal he had written while in prison. Tavares and his wife lived within sight of the rural home where Brian and Beverly Mauck were found dead on Saturday night after another neighbor noticed their door had been kicked in. Daniel Tavares was released from the state prison in Walpole, Massachusetts, on June 14, where he served a sentence for manslaughter after the 1991 stabbing death of his 46-year-old mother, Ann Tavares. The Boston Globe reported he was 25 at the time of the slaying and lived with his mother. In Pierce County, authorities have not disclosed how the Maucks were killed, saying only that the couple died of "homicidal violence." Troyer says nothing appeared to have been taken from the home, and the motive was unclear.(Posted 7:25am 11/20)

TEEN DIES AFTER CRASH IN KITSAP COUNTY
A 17-year-old boy died yesterday at Tacoma General Hospital after crashing his car on a road in Kitsap County on Sunday night. The Pierce County medical examiner's office has not released the name of the teen. Kitsap County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the accident scene (on the 10400 block of Glenwood Road) about 10:30 p.m. yesterday. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 3:45 yesterday afternoon. Investigators say the boy's 2000 Ford Focus crossed the roadway's center line, hit a trash can and a mailbox on the side of the road, and then went off the road through two fences before hitting a tree. Deputies say the teen was wearing a seat belt.(Posted 7:25am 11/20)

CLEAR AND COLD FOR THANKSGIVING
Unlike the stormy Thanksgivings of some past years in Washington, the National Weather Service says it should be mostly clear and cold across the state on Thursday and through the weekend. In Western Washington forecasters expect some patchy late night and early morning fog with high temperatures in the 40s to 50s with lows 25 to 35. In Eastern Washington forecasters expect patches of freezing fog with highs in the 30s to 40s with lows dropping into the teens.(Posted 7:25am 11/20)

THREE FORT LEWIS SOLDIERS KILLED IN IRAQ
Three Fort Lewis soldiers were killed Sunday by a homemade bomb while they were on patrol in Iraq at Baqubah (bah-KOO'-bah). They were all members of the Fourth Stryker brigade that deployed in April. They are identified by the Defense Department as 23-year-old Private First Class Marius Ferrero of Miami, Fla.; 26-year-old Corporal Jason Lee of Fruitport, Mich.; and 22-year-old Corporal Christopher Nelson of Rochester (Wash.). (Posted 7:25am 11/20)

OTHER STORIES FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR 11/20/07
The FBI reports there were 177 hate crimes last year in Washington, six more than in 2005. Nationally there were more than 7,700 incidents that targeted property or people because of their race, religion, sexual orientation or disability. (Posted 7:25am 11/20)

The body found in Brazil that is believed to be Seattle basketball player Tony Harris is still awaiting official identification. But his wife believes it his him because of the shoes -- Tony's size 13. Police suspect Harris committed suicide. Lori Harris told Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Robert Jamieson that what matters is the tragedy of his death. She's expecting the birth of their child next month. (Posted 7:25am 11/20)

Sea-Tac Airport expects to handle about 100,000 passengers a day on the peak travel days before and after Thanksgiving. That's 6 percent more than a year ago. The state Transportation Department expects nearly 60,000 vehicles will cross Snoqualmie Pass on the Sunday after Thanksgiving -- about the same as last year's traffic. (Posted 7:25am 11/20)

FOURTH PERSON ARRESTED IN SLAYING OF BRITISH STUDENT IN ITALY
An Ivorian man has been arrested in Germany for investigation in the killing of a British college student in central Italy. An investigator in Perugia tells The Associated Press that 21-year-old Rudy Hermann Guede was arrested today in Mainz. He had been traveling by bus from the western German city to southern Germany. Guede is the fourth person to be arrested for investigation in the killing of 21-year-old Meredith Kercher. She was found stabbed to death November second in the apartment she shared in Perugia with Amanda Marie Knox, a University of Washington student. Knox's Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, and a Congolese-born pub owner, Diya ("Patrick") Lumumba, have been in custody since shortly after the killing. Guede was arrested a day after police said he was being sought in the case. According to Italian news reports, a bloody fingerprint on Kercher's pillow and on toilet paper led investigators to Guede. (Updated 7:25am 11/20)

DEMOCRATS FILE COMPLAINT AGAINST REICHERT
Washington state Democrats have filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing second-term Republican Congressman Dave Reichert's campaign of several violations connected with an Aug. 27 fundraiser in Bellevue featuring President Bush. The complaint says much of the money raised at the event was deposited directly in Reichert's campaign account, rather than a joint account set up with the state Republican party for the event. The complaint says Reichert's campaign also failed to refund at least one contribution greater than the $4,600 campaign contribution limit for individual donors. Reichert's chief of staff, Mike Shields, accused Democrats of seizing on an accounting mistake to "grab a headline" from the Bush visit. Shields announced last month that some $47,000 collected at the Bush event was mistakenly deposited in Reichert's campaign account and would be refunded. The error led to widespread news stories this month indicating Reichert raised more money in the third quarter of 2007 than Democratic challenger Darcy Burner. In fact Burner raised more money than Reichert in the three months that ended Sept. 30 as she prepared for a rematch of her close 2006 race with Reichert. Reichert is a former King County sheriff from Auburn, while Burner is a former Microsoft executive who lives near Carnation. (Posted 7:25am 11/20)

SEVERAL WEEKEND CRASHES

Several crashes were reported over the weekend including an S-U-V going over an embankment, killing a Lacey man. Pat O'Connell died Friday when a portion of a forest service road near the Hamma Hamma Campground gave way while he was backing up his sport utility vehicle, plunging it 500 feet. Two 17-year-olds from Shelton were injured Saturday morning when the car they were in struck a tree on Phillips Lake Loop Road. A California man and a Port Orchard man were injured in a two-vehicle head-on crash on Trails End Road Saturday afternoon. And an Olympia woman faces D-U-I charges after a crash on Dayton Airport Road early Saturday morning. Details on each of these crashes are available by clicking the associated link. (Posted 7:55am 11/19)

NORTHCLIFF PAVING TO BEGIN TUESDAY
Paving on Northcliff is expected this week which will impact where some residents park their cars. Weather permitting, Ace Paving will begin paving the final layer of asphalt at 8am Tuesday. Crews will start with the Terrace Boulevard side of Northcliff. Once pavers cross Terrace Boulevard, Terrace View Road and Poplar Street, NO vehicles will be allowed to cross hot asphalt. On Wednesday, the other half of Northcliff will be paved and similar restrictions will be in place. As new asphalt is vehicle sensitive, it may take four to six hours to reopen the road once the hot asphalt has been applied. Those who live in the area will need to make arrangements to have their vehicles accessible during this time. Residents may park on Barnhard or Eighth Street as foot traffic will be allowed to cross fresh pavement. Parking will also be permitted at the bus pullout south of Terrace Boulevard and on Terrace Boulevard but NOT allowed on Northcliff. Those vehicles will be towed. School and Transit buses will have to be met on North 13th. Again, only foot traffic will be allowed to cross hot asphalt. Access to Northcliff remains restricted to local traffic only and the City of Shelton encourages other motorists to avoid the area, especially between 8am and 6pm Tuesday and Wednesday. (Posted 7:55am 11/19)

COUNTY COMMISSION MEETS TUESDAY MORNING
The Mason County Commission meets at 9am Tuesday. The Commission will be holding three public hearings. The first hearing is on the proposed 2008 Environmental Health Fee Schedule. The second hearing is on a supplemental budget appropriation relating to utility funds and a budget transfer for the Sheriff's Department. And the third hearing is to consider the proposed Shelton Urban Growth Area Sub Area Plan. The County Commission will also consider comments on the county's On-site Sewage System Management Plan before affirming action taken by the Board of Health. The Mason County Commission meets in their chambers, at 411 North Fifth Street in Shelton, again at 9am Tuesday. The public hearings are scheduled for 9:30. (Posted 7:55am 11/19)

NO P.U.D. COMMISSION MEETINGS
No Mason County P.U.D. Commission meetings Tuesday. Both P.U.D. 1 and P.U.D. 3 Commissioners have canceled their regularly scheduled Tuesday meeting. (Posted 7:55am 11/19)

M-T-A BUDGET HEARING TUESDAY
The Mason County Transportation Authority Board of Commissioners is holding a public hearing on the M-T-A's 2008 budget at 4:30pm Tuesday. The hearing will be held at Mason Transit's Business Office, 790 East John's Prairie Road. The Board will also take comments on the M-T-A's Ten-Year Comprehensive Transit Plan. Copies of the budget and the Transit Plan are available at the business office or online at www.masontranist.org. And again, the public hearing is 4:30pm Tuesday. (Posted 7:55am 11/19)

ROAD WORK ON STATE HIGHWAY
Guardrail repair work may impact travel on state highways this week. Monday, those traveling Highway 3 into Kitsap County will see a right shoulder closure northbound near Division Avenue West in the Gorst vicinity. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. And those heading north on U.S. Highway 101 into Jefferson County will have to deal with alternating, single-lane traffic control with flaggers in both directions at James Creek (mileposts 306.96 - 307.36) Monday. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. And on Tuesday, motorists will encounter alternating, single-lane traffic control with flaggers in both directions of SR 3 at Grapeview Loop Road near Allyn. Work hours Tuesday are 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Posted 7:55am 11/19)

PORT PROTEST CASES COULD SWAMP OLYMPIA COURT
The Olympia city attorney's office has charged two anti-war demonstrators with misdemeanors for blocking military equipment at the Port of Olympia. The two pleaded not guilty last week to charges of pedestrian interference, resisting arrest or obstructing a peace officer. If convicted they could face up to 90 days in jail. City Attorney Tom Morrill says it remains to be seen whether all the people who were arrested will be charged in Olympia Municipal Court. The court only has two prosecutors and one judge. Demonstrators didn't stop military equipment from Iraq from returning to Fort Lewis. But they say they succeeded in publicizing their message. More than 60 protesters were arrested this month in clashes with police.(Posted 7:55am 11/19)

BODIES FOUND IN GRAHAM HOME IDENTIFIED; ARREST MADE
Authorities in Pierce County say they have arrested a 41-year-old man in the deaths of a married couple whose bodies were found in their home near Graham. The victims were 30-year-old Brian Mauck and 28-year-old Beverley Mauck. Further information about the arrested man was not available late last night, but authorities say he was expected to be booked for investigation of two counts of first-degree murder. The cause of the couple's deaths had still not been officially determined Sunday, but sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer says detectives are treating the case as an apparent double homicide, and that the victims died from "homicidal violence." The bodies were found Saturday by a neighbor who noticed that a door in the home appeared to have been kicked in. Troyer says it's too soon to say whether the dead couple were targeted or victims of a random attack. He says nothing appeared to be missing from the house, and a motive was not immediately known. Friends of the couple say Brian Mauck worked for an Auburn air conditioning company and Beverly Mauck had a job as a clerk at a car dealership in McKenna.(Updated 7:55am 11/19)

RACING MAY BE CAUSE OF FATAL CRASH NEAR PUYALLUP
Investigators say the driver of a car may have been racing just before he was killed in a fatal crash on Highway 512 near Puyallup (pew-AL'-up). Officials say the car crossed through a cable barrier on the median just before five this morning and collided head-on with a semi-truck. The 25-year-old driver of the car was killed. The driver of the truck is shaken up, but uninjured.(Posted 7:55am 11/19)

PAYROLL CHANGES SAVE MILLIONS FOR D-O-T
An audit indicates the state Transportation Department could save millions of dollars through administrative changes. A key target of the audit released last week is the handling of the payroll, including use of the $67 million Human Resources Management System. That's a statewide payroll computer that went into operation last year. One finding of the audit is that different regional offices of the eight-thousand-employee agency use different tools in hiring new staff. Another is that employees in the headquarters office in Olympia are better at using the payroll computer than regional staff. All told the auditors suggested the Transportation Department could save $18 million to $24 million over five years through administrative improvements.(Posted 7:55am 11/19)

OTHER STORIES FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR 11/19/07
STATE LAWMAKERS PRESSED TO LIMIT PROPERTY TAXES
Governor Gregoire's legislative director Marty Brown says she has not ruled out calling a special legislative session on property taxes at the end of the month when lawmakers will be in Olympia for meetings. The Republican contender for governor, Dino Rossi, and anti-tax activist Tim Eyman are calling for lawmakers to re-impose the 1 percent annual limit that was lifted when the state Supreme Court struck down Eyman's I-747. Brown says Gregoire is waiting to see if the attorney general asks the court to reconsider the decision. The governor has asked local governments to hold off on higher property tax increases until the Legislature convenes in January. She's recommending that lawmakers pass the 1 percent annual limit on property tax increases.(Updated 9:25am 11/19)

RESISTANCE TO DISCLOSING SOME RECORDS
It won't be easy to lift the veil of secrecy from some public records. The "sunshine committee" sent a report to lawmakers last week saying it's still working on what it thought would be three of the easier exemptions to lift. The committee found opposition to making public records about infant mortality, state job applications and the ginseng business. The committee was formed to examine more than 300 exemptions that have crept into the open records law. (Updated 9:25am 11/19)

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is visiting Seattle today with mostly private events. (Posted 7:55am 11/19)

Republican Dino Rossi reports he raised more than $463,000 last month for his campaign for governor. Incumbent Democrat Christine Gregoire has raised more than $3.5 million for her re-election campaign.(Posted 7:55am 11/19)

FORMER WSU BASKETBALL STAR'S BODY FOUND IN BRAZIL
Police in Brazil have told the FBI they believe they have found the body of a former Washington State University basketball star who has been missing since early this month. Agent Robbie Burroughs, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Seattle, says the agency was notified yesterday that a police department in Brazil had located a body. Burroughs says the Brazilian police believe it to be Tony Harris, of Kent, because of the physical description of the body and the clothing. She says an FBI agent in Brazil will work with the police to help officially identify the body. Harris left the Seattle area Oct. 31 to play basketball for a Brazilian team. His wife last heard from him on Nov. 4. Harris played for the 1994 WSU team that made it to the east regionals of the NCAA tournament, and before that on state championship teams at Garfield High School in Seattle. His pregnant wife, Lori Harris, has said that in her last communications with him, he told her that he didn't feel safe and feared for his life. After college, Harris played in Asia and South America, including a previous stint in Brazil.(Posted 7:55am 11/19)

CRACKS AND OTHER DAMAGE LEFT OUT OF REPORT ON OLD FERRIES
Washington state ferries officials have acknowledged finding two dozen more cracks in the system's oldest ferries than they told lawmakers about in a recent report. Ferry officials told the Legislature's Joint Transportation Committee in an Oct. 30 report that the state's four Steel Electric-class ferries are --quote-- "generally considered to be in good condition." But hull plate corrosion also is more widespread than reported - enough so that two of the four 80-year-old vessels likely will have to undergo unplanned repairs. Marta Coursey, communications director for the ferry system, says ferry officials didn't selectively choose information, but instead focused on presenting the most pertinent details about ongoing ferry repair efforts. But state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, a Camano Island Democrat who chairs the senate's transportation committee, says she is disturbed about the new information uncovered by The Herald newspaper of Everett, and says she'll be asking questions.(Posted 7:55am 11/19)

TWO FROM WASHINGTON ARE RHODES SCHOLARS
Two college seniors from Washington state are among 32 U.S. men and women who have won this year's Rhodes Scholarships. Jason G. Crabtree of Kingston is a civil engineering major at the United States Military Academy, and Aaron M. Polhamus of Bellingham is a public policy major at Stanford University who spent his first two years of college at Western Washington University. Rhodes Scholars spend two to three years at England's Oxford University. Crabtree, who has helped design NASA parachute systems, plans to study information engineering. And Polhamus, who worked on U.S.-China economic relations as an intern with the U.S. Treasury Department, says he'll pursue a degree in development studies.(Posted 7:55am 11/19)

NEW LEAD IN ITALY STUDENT SLAYING
Lawyers for two suspects jailed in Italy after the slaying of a British exchange student say they're hopeful their clients could be freed after investigators found a bloody fingerprint from someone else on the victim's pillow. But University of Washington student Amanda Marie Knox's attorney says the new lead changes little for his client. Meredith Kercher, Knox's 21-year-old roommate, was found dead in her Perugia apartment Nov. 2. She was sexually assaulted and fatally stabbed. Knox, her Italian boyfriend and a Congolese pub owner are being held as suspects. No charges have been filed. But the Italian judge who upheld the suspects' detentions said there were "serious indications of guilt" that warranted keeping them behind bars.(Updated 7:55am 11/19)

ANOTHER FORT LEWIS SOLDIER KILLED IN IRAQ
A 25-year-old soldier in a Fort Lewis-based Stryker brigade died when a bomb exploded near his vehicle in Mukhisa, Iraq. Sgt. Kenneth R. Booker of Vevay, Indiana, was killed on Wednesday. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. (Posted 7:55am 11/19)

MAN DIES WHEN SUV FALLS DOWN EMBANKMENT

A Lacey man died Friday when his sport utility vehicle fell down a steep embankment on a forest service road near the Hamma Hamma Campground. Pat O’Connell and his fiancée, Katherine Milleson, were taking a drive and stopped to enjoy the view. O’Connell reportedly became worried that SUV was too close to the edge of the road. As he backed up the vehicle, the roadway partially gave way and the S-U-V fell at least 500 feet with him inside. Milleson called 9-1-1 about 4:30 p.m. but didn’t know where she was, and it took rescuers about two hours to locate her. Alcohol might have been a factor in the incident and an investigation is ongoing. (Posted 9:15am 11/18)

TWO TEENS INJURED IN PHILLIPS LAKE CRASH

Two Shelton 17-year-olds were injured Saturday when the car they were in struck a tree on Phillips Lake Loop Road. The State Patrol says a 1994 Mitsubishi was southbound about 11:30am when the driver lost control on the wet road. The car exited the roadway to the right in the 1100 block of Phillips Lake Loop Road. The driver’s front corner struck a tree. The car rotated counterclockwise, coming to rest in the roadway. The driver, Martin A. Felix Manchado, and one passenger, Christian D. Aldrich, were taken to Mason General Hospital with head lacerations. A third passenger in the Mitsubishi, Christopher M. Brown was not injured. The Trooper report indicates the cause of this crash was speed too fast for conditions and driver inexperience. Manchado faces charges of violating his instruction permit. (Posted 9:15am 11/18)

TWO INJURED IN HEAD-ON CRASH ON TRAILS END ROAD

Two people were injured in a head-on crash on Trail End Road Saturday afternoon. According to the State Patrol, a northbound 1990 Toyota pickup crossed the centerline in a curve at milepost two and struck head-on a southbound 2007 Nissan Sentra about 3pm. The driver of the truck, Brad G. King, 51 of Folsom, California, was transported to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton with head and neck injuries. The driver of the Sentra, Michael J. Ulrigg, 25 of Port Orchard, was also transported to Harrison with head, neck and chest injuries. Troopers say the cause of this crash is King driving over the centerline and he faces charges. (Posted 9:15am 11/18)

NO ARREST IN OLYMPIA PROTEST

Several hundred demonstrators turned out yesterday in Olympia to protest shipments of military equipment through the city's port, but this time no arrests were reported. More than 60 arrests had been made since Nov. 6 as protestors tried to block the movement of military equipment used in Iraq back to Fort Lewis. Police used pepper spray and batons to push back protesters. The last arrests were Thursday as police said the truck shipments were ending. But an estimated 350 to 400 demonstrators turned out yesterday to show support for the protesters and make another call for an end to the war in Iraq. One protester, Anna-Marie Murano, says that the demonstrators had accomplished their goal of publicizing their anti-war message. A handful of counter-protesters were also present at the port yesterday, voicing their support for the war. (Posted 9:15am 11/18)

TWO BODIES FOUND IN GRAHAM HOME

Authorities in Pierce County are investigating the discovery of two bodies in a home near the town of Graham. Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer says detectives are treating the case as an apparent double homicide. The bodies are those of a man and a woman, believed to be a married couple in their 20s. They were found yesterday by a neighbor who noticed that a door in the home appeared to have been kicked in. Troyer described the cause of death only as “homicidal violence.” Troyer says it's too soon to say whether the dead couple was targeted or victims of a random attack. He says nothing appeared to be missing from the house, but detectives don’t believe it was a homicide-suicide. No suspects or motive were immediately identified. (Posted 9:15am 11/18)

FISHERMAN WORRY ABOUT LATE START TO CRAB SEASON

A debate over prices, combined with balancing tribal and non-tribal quotas, could delay the season for Washington crab fishermen, even though state officials say crabs from Westport and Long Beach will be ready for harvesting Dec. 1. Uncertainty over the season is in stark contrast to Oregon's crab fishery. Oregon crab fishermen and processors have already agreed on an opening price of $2 per pound, about 35 cents more than last year. Fisherman will be able to drop pots on Dec. 1. Washington fishermen say Oregon's early season and price-setting makes things difficult for them at the negotiating table. Ray Toste, president of the Washington Dungeness Crab Fisherman's Association, says the bulk of the Washington coast won't open until after Christmas and they will be forced to take the Oregon price - even though he calls $2 a pound a “slap in the face.” (Posted 9:15am 11/18)

SOLDIER CHARGED WITH TAKING BRIBES IN IRAQ

An Army captain based at Fort Lewis is facing charges of conspiracy to accept bribes while serving in Iraq. Thirty-year-old Capt. Cedar Lanmon has also been charged in U.S. District Court in Tacoma with importing antiquities and laundering bribe money. He made his first appearance in court on Friday and was released on his own recognizance. Lanmon has not entered a plea and is expected in court Dec. 6 for a preliminary hearing. Court papers say Lanmon accepted as much as $40,000 in bribes to help Iraqi citizens win U.S. government contracts in Iraq and stole an artifact from an archaeological dig in the city of Ur, reputed to be the home of the biblical figure Abraham. The officer also was ordered to stay away from his estranged wife while he awaits the outcome of his case. The case against Lanmon began in September, when his wife contacted Army criminal investigators with information about her husband's alleged bribe-taking in Iraq. (Posted 9:15am 11/18)

NEW FINGERPRINTS FOUND IN ITALY-STUDENT SLAYING

New, bloody fingerprints have reportedly been found on the pillow of a British student found slain in her bedroom in the Italian university town of Perugia earlier this month. A Seattle student _ 20-year-old Amanda Marie Knox _ is one of three people being held in the death of Meredith Kercher, whose body was found Nov. 2 in the home she shared with Knox. A lawyer for Kercher's family says the same person's prints were also found on toilet paper in the house. However, he says the prints do not belong to any of the three suspects now jailed in the probe. In addition to Knox, they are her Italian boyfriend and a 38-year-old man who runs a pub that was frequented by Knox. Kercher reportedly was sexually assaulted and fatally stabbed. All three suspects have denied involvement in the killing. (Posted 9:15am 11/18)

ALCOHOL INVOLVED IN CRASH ON SR102

An Olympia woman faces driving under the influence charges after a single car crash on Highway 102 early Saturday. According to the State Patrol, 21-year-old Robin Paulina Bouvier was driving a 2003 Honda Civic eastbound on Dayton Airport Road (SR102) about 2:45am. Near the intersection with Eell’s Hill Road, the Honda left the roadway to the right, struck an embankment, rolled over, struck a utility pole and came to rest on its top on the eastbound shoulder. Bouvier was ejected from the car and suffered head injuries. Bouvier’s passenger, Ashley Kristina Rose Carr, 21 of Shelton, was entrapped in the Civic and suffered lacerations and contusions. The collision memo does not state whether either woman was taken to a hospital. However, the Trooper report does indicate that the cause of this crash was Bouvier driving under the influence. (Posted 7:45am 11/17)

LEGAL FEES FOR SEX BIAS CASE RISE

Thurston County's legal fees for defending a sex-bias lawsuit have risen by $173,000 this year to almost $6.2 million. According to the Washington Counties Risk Pool, the total — including jury awards and attorneys' fees — in the six-year-old case is the largest amount paid out by the risk pool on behalf of a public agency in recent memory. The lawsuit, Broyles v. Thurston County, involved allegations of sexual discrimination and retaliation brought by three former county prosecutors who worked in the office of Prosecuting Attorney Ed Holm from 1999 to 2002. In November 2006, a Mason County jury awarded Audrey Broyles, Vonda Sargent and Susan Sackett-DanPullo $1.52 million. The trial judge later awarded attorneys fees of $1.45 million to Stephanie Bloomfield and Rick Creatura of the Tacoma law firm Gordon, Thomas, Honeywell, Malanca, Peterson & Daheim. The county, represented by Seattle attorney Mike Patterson of Patterson, Buchanan, Fobes, Leitch, Kalzer & Waechter, is appealing the awards to the state Court of Appeals, saying the trial court erred in several instances. The appeal is likely to be heard in the spring. (Posted 7:45am 11/17)

PROTESTERS FACE CHARGES

The Olympia City Attorney's Office has charged two people with misdemeanors in connection with the recent protests of military-equipment convoys leaving the Port of Olympia. 19-year-old Shyam Khanna is charged with pedestrian interference and resisting arrest. And 20-year-old Jonathan Steiner is charged with pedestrian interference and obstructing a peace officer. Each pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Olympia Municipal Court. Each of the misdemeanor charges is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. (Posted 7:45am 11/17)

STUDENTS WALKOUT TO PROTEST WAR

More than 200 high school and community college students walked out of class Friday to protest the war in Iraq. Dozens of students from South Puget Sound Community College and Olympia High School marched to the Capitol Campus, where they lined Capitol Way for an hour, holding signs and chanting, then participated in a "die-in" on the Capitol steps. Smaller numbers of students from Capital High School, The Evergreen State College and high schools in Lacey and Tumwater also were present. The protest was part of a national call for students to demonstrate. (Posted 7:45am 11/17)

ANTI-WAR PROTEST IN SEATTLE

About 400 anti-war demonstrators ... most of them high school and college students ... marched through downtown Seattle yesterday, carrying signs and chanting slogans such as “This is what democracy looks like!” Many of the students walked out of high school classes in Seattle, Everett, Tukwila and the eastside to take part in the march. From Westlake Center, the marchers made their way to Jackson Street and 23rd Avenue, where they staged a brief sit-in in a parking lot outside of military-recruiting offices. The offices were closed today, apparently because of the protest. Dozens of Seattle police officers escorted the demonstrators while others, armed with long sticks and pepper spray, stood behind fences and police tape outside the recruiting offices for the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps. No one was arrested and the young people continued their march to Judkins Park, their numbers shrinking to about 200 by the time the demonstration wrapped up about 3:30 p.m. The march was organized by local members of Youth Against War and Racism, a student-led group founded by Socialist Alternative, an organization that opposes “the global capitalist system.” A Seattle Public Schools spokesman said the district “does not condone” students walking out of class. Each school will determine whether students would suffer consequences. In August, the Seattle School Board in August approved new restrictions on military recruitment on campuses, allowing recruiters ... as well as nonmilitary businesses and colleges ... two visits per school, per year, among other provisions. Protesters yesterday called for a ban on all recruiting in lieu of an annual, Seattle Districtwide recruiting fair. (Posted 7:45am 11/17)

TAXPAYERS SUBSIDIZED FORMER LAWMAKER TRIP

Taxpayers covered an $800 tab for the trip to Spokane that spawned a sex scandal and the resignation of a state lawmaker. State records show the House of Representatives paid the money on behalf of former Republican Representative Richard Curtis of La Center. The roughly $800 bill covered his mileage, hotel stay and daily expenses during a three-day October planning retreat for Republican state lawmakers. As that retreat was winding down, police reports say Curtis complained that a man he'd had sex with was trying to blackmail him. Curtis resigned soon after those details became public. He had voted against gay-rights bills in the Legislature. He is a married father. The House's chief clerk says she briefly considered not paying Curtis for the trip. But Barbara Baker says she couldn't find justification for that step. Baker says Curtis attended all the meetings he was supposed to. And she says any activity that got him in trouble occurred on his own time. The state received Curtis' expense forms on the same day police say he was complaining about the alleged blackmail attempt. (Posted 7:45am 11/17)

BUSH NAMES HAWS US MARSHAL

President Bush has nominated former Clallam County Sheriff Joe Hawe to be U.S. marshal for Western Washington, replacing Eric Robertson. Robertson retired this year. The White House forwarded Hawe's name to the Senate. If confirmed by the Senate, Hawe would oversee security at federal courthouses in Seattle, Tacoma and other cities and lead efforts to round up fugitives and sex offenders from Vancouver to Bellingham. The Marshals Service provides security for federal judges and federal courthouses, transports federal prisoners to court, serves federal arrest warrants and seizes assets from criminals convicted in U.S. District Court. Hawe was Clallam County sheriff for 13 years before resigning to work for the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. The Olympia-based organization lobbies the Legislature on behalf of law enforcement and certifies police and sheriff's agencies. (Posted 7:45am 11/17)

NORTHWEST SENATORS DIVIDED ON FARM BILL

Northwest senators were divided yesterday as the Senate blocked a $286 billion farm bill. The four Washington and Oregon senators voted in favor of bringing the bill to a vote. Idaho's two Republican senators voted against the measure. Though politically popular, the bill stalled in a dispute between the parties over unrelated amendments Republicans wanted to add. Democrats failed to get the 60 votes needed to cut off debate on the measure. The 55-42 vote was a blow to farm state lawmakers who wanted to give constituents expanded subsidies before next year's elections. Washington Democratic Senator Patty Murray accused Republicans of intentionally blocking the bill. She said the bill would have benefited Washington state farmers, who grow more than 250 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops because it provided about $2.2 billion for grants to specialty crop farmers, as well as marketing assistance, research grants, and pest and disease mitigation. (Posted 7:45am 11/17)

FORT LEWIS CAPTAIN CHARGED

A Fort Lewis captain who completed two tours of duty in Iraq has been charged in federal court with accepting bribes for Army contracts. The U.S. attorney's office in Seattle says 30-year-old Cedar Lanmon of Tacoma accepted more than $30,000 in bribes from contractors for construction work in Iraq. Federal prosecutors say an Albanian contractor gave him $25,000 for a $250,000 contract to build berms at a military base in Ballad, Iraq. In addition, Lanmon has been charged with illegally bringing an artifact, an ancient piece of pottery, back from Iraq. The case is being investigated by the FBI and military investigators. (Posted 7:45am 11/17)

EIGHT YEAR DRUG SENTENCE

A Tacoma man has been sentenced in federal court to 100 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin. 34-year-old Carlos McPhie was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma by Judge Ronald B. Leighton. Prosecutors say McPhie conspired to distribute large quantities of heroin, cocaine and meth. McPhie was arrested June 1, 2006, following a lengthy investigation with court approved wiretaps. The investigation was called “Operation Garage Sale” because McPhie was accused of selling drugs from his garage. He pleaded guilty on Sept. 29, 2006. (Posted 7:45am 11/17)

KATRINA FRAUD SENTENCING

A woman who falsely claimed to be a victim of Hurricane Katrina has been sentenced in federal court in Seattle to 18 months in prison for fraud. The U.S. attorney's office in Seattle says 45-year-old Rosemarie Calvin of Henderson, Nev., was living in Washington at the time of the hurricane and has never been to Louisiana. Calvin filed a claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency saying her home in New Orleans had been damaged by Katrina. She also claimed medical and dental expenses as a result of the hurricane and said her scooter was stolen while she was in the Superdome. She also falsely told aid workers her husband had been killed in Iraq. Federal prosecutors say the Katrina inquiry led investigators to discover that Calvin used false credentials to work as a nurse at a Seattle clinic and to make false or illegal claims for Social Security and disability benefits. As part of her plea agreement for mail and Social Security fraud Calvin agreed to pay $127,000 in restitution. (Posted 7:45am 11/17)

RAZOR CLAMS DIG APPROVED FOR THANKSGIVING

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved the second razor-clam dig of the fall season, starting next weekend on evening tides at four beaches. Evening digs are scheduled at Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis and Mockrocks for Nov. 23-24. Twin Harbor will also be open for evening digs on Nov. 25-26. The department gave its approval yesterday in Olympia after a series of marine toxin tests confirmed the clams were safe to eat. (Posted 7:45am 11/17)

DEATH OF INFANT BEING INVESTIGATED
The Mason County Coroner and Shelton Police Department are investigating the death of a three-month-old boy who died Wednesday night. Mason County Coroner Wes Stockwell reported that the baby, identified as Jesiah W. Bankemper, was pronounced dead at approximately 6:00 p.m. Wednesday in the emergency room of Mason General Hospital where the infant had been transported by medics after being found unresponsive in his bassinette. According to Stockwell, an autopsy was performed on the infant on Thursday and the cause of death is pending while toxicological and tissue samples are examined by a forensic pathologist.(Posted 7:05am 11/16)

CRASH ON HIGHWAY 3 SOUTH OF SHELTON
Speed and heavy rain contributed to a car running off Highway 3 south of Shelton and injuring three people Thursday. According to the State Patrol, a 1989 Subaru station wagon was northbound on Highway 3 about 11:45am. Just north of Mill Creek, the car left the roadway to the right and struck a tree. The driver of the Subaru, Walter S. Charron, 24 of Bremerton, was transported to Mason General Hospital with a ruptured spleen, rib fractures and bruised lungs. An unidentified male in the car was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with a broken femur. And the third person in the Subaru, Jacob A. Honeycutt, 25 of Shelton, was taken to Mason General Hospital with lacerations. The trooper report indicates that the cause of this crash was the speed of the vehicle while heavy rain was falling. Charron faces charges of Speed Too Fast for Conditions. (Posted 7:05am 11/16)

SHELTON MAN INJURED IN BELFAIR CRASH
A Shelton man was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after a two-vehicle collision in front of the Belfair Safeway Thursday afternoon. The State Patrol reports that 62-year-old Fredrick J. Brown was exiting the Safeway parking lot onto Clifton Lane about 3pm when his 2006 Dodge pickup was struck on the driver's door by a 2007 Honda Pilot that was eastbound on Clifton Lane. Brown suffered pelvic and internal injuries requiring him to be airlifted to Harborview. The driver of the Honda, Kathryn A. Bugge, 54 of Belfair, was not injured. Troopers determined that the cause of this crash was Brown failing to yield right of way. (Posted 7:05am 11/16)

MILITARY PROTEST AT PORT OF OLYMPIA CONTINUES
Five anti-war protesters were arrested yesterday after trying to block the movement of military equipment out of the Port of Olympia. Several semi-trucks moved at least a dozen military vehicles, including Stryker vehicles used in Iraq, out of the port and back to Fort Lewis throughout the day without incident. In the afternoon, five protesters sat down in the intersection in front of the port and were pepper sprayed by police before being arrested. A squad of police in riot gear was at the scene in response to the small group of protesters. Yesterday afternoon, Olympia police sent out a press release saying that all truck shipments of equipment were done and riot police left the area. Port spokeswoman Patti Grant said that for security reasons she could not say whether any additional equipment would be unloaded by train. During the past week, more than 60 anti-war demonstrators have been arrested trying to block the movement of the equipment back to the base. Protesters are planning to hold a march and demonstration on Saturday to protest the use of the port to move military equipment.(Posted 7:05am 11/16)

L&I WORKER ARRESTED IN DRUG CASE
A 14-year employee of the State Department of Labor and Industries was arrested on suspicion of illegally distributing prescription narcotics to girls 16 and 18 years old. James L. Sanford was arrested on suspicion of five counts of distributing narcotics to a minor, one count of delivery of illegal narcotics to an adult and one count of invovling a minor in drug distribution. The drugs in question are Oxycontin and Vicodin. Investigators believe Sanford initially provided one underage girl with the narcotics illegally and then began giving the girls the drugs so they would sell them and he could profit.(Posted 7:05am 11/16)

FORMER DSHS EMPLOYEE FACES 15 COUNTS OF THEFT
A former employee of the State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has been charged with 15 counts of second-degree theft. 28-year-old Patricia Jones is accused of stealing more than $24,000 in child support payments while working for DSHS from August 2006 to March 2007. Jones allegedly took the funds to feed her gambling addiction. (Posted 7:05am 11/16)

STATE SUSPENDS DAY CAR LICENSE AFTER CHILD WAS FOUND IN A TRUNK
The state Department of Early Learning has suspended the day care center license of a woman in Kitsap County after sheriff's deputies say she put a 4-year-old boy in her car trunk and drove about a third of a mile. No charges have been filed against 37-year-old Linda Clarke, owner of Grandma Linda's Home Daycare. However, a report was sent to prosecutors. Clarke told a deputy she put Nicholas Wickstrom into the trunk of her 1994 Chrysler Concorde on Tuesday after he bit another child and tried to shut the car door on her hand. She says she drove about five miles an hour for less than half a mile with him in the trunk. She then told the boy's mother, Linda Hooper, who called the sheriff's office. The boy's uncle, Robert Brookbank, says the child had been going to the day care for two years. (Posted 7:05am 11/16)

PASCO MAN FACES LIFE IN PRISON
A Pasco man faces a sentence of up to life in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute because of the large
amount of highly pure meth or "Ice." 27-year-old Francisco Rubio-Perez pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court yesterday in Tacoma. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 8 by U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton. In his plea agreement, Rubio-Perez admits he drove from Pasco to deliver several pounds of methamphetamine to a distributor in the parking lot of a Jack-in-the-Box Restaurant in Tumwater. On March 15, Rubio-Perez was arrested with another man outside the Jack-in-the-Box restaurant in Tumwater. The U.S. attorney's office in Seattle says hidden inside the door panels of the sedan the men were driving was 4 1/2 pounds of highly pure crystal methamphetamine. The U.S. attorney's office says Rubio-Perez was illegally in the United States and Rubio-Perez will likely be deported following his prison term.(Posted 7:05am 11/16)

ROCK SLIDE CLOSES CAYUSE PASS
The state Department of Transportation says a rockslide that closed Cayuse Pass inside Mount Rainier National park may keep the pass closed through Thanksgiving. The rockside occurred on Tuesday. Park superintendent Dave Uberuaga says federal geotechnical experts may not be able to get to the area to assess the danger until Monday. He says if the experts determine the slope above State Route 123 is too unstable, a contractor would have to remove the hazardous rocks and that's not likely to occur Thanksgiving week. The DOT reports two large rocks are perched above the highway and the ground supporting the rocks is saturated. No one was hurt when several rocks fell onto the highway on Tuesday morning.(Posted 7:05am 11/16)

PROMETA FUNDING SUSPENSION APPROVED
The Pierce County executive has approved a measure passed by the county council last month that suspends current funding for the Prometa drug-treatment program. But John Landenburg said yesterday he still hopes to reach a compromise with the council that would allow the program to get $400,000 in funding in the county's 2008 budget. Landenburg is a Prometa supporter. The council will finalize a budget on Tuesday. Ladenburg says his staff will work during the weekend on a measure he hopes can gain the approval of a council majority. Prometa uses three generic drugs and counseling to reduce cravings in addicts. Earlier this year, the council agreed to spend $400,000 to use the treatment program in county drug court. But the council voted Oct. 23 to suspend funding after county auditors found little evidence Prometa is effective.(Posted 7:05am 11/16)

OTHER STORIES FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR 11/16/07:
A Makah tribe report on the unauthorized killing of a gray whale in September says it took nearly 10 hours for the animal to die. The tribe says the hunters who harpooned it
four times and shot it 16 times failed to quickly deliver a lethal shot humanely. (Posted 7:05am 11/16)

The state Liquor Board has denied a request from Tacoma police to pull the liquor license for McCabes, a downtown nightspot where three people were wounded last month in a gang shooting. The liquor board says there was no evidence that the bar itself was responsible for the violence. (Posted 7:05am 11/16)

How are Washington public schools? State school Superintendent Terry Bergeson will tell us today in her annual State of Education address in Seattle. (Posted 7:05am 11/16)

LATEST UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS

The latest unofficial results from the November 6^th General Election show the leader has changed for Southside School Board while the rest of the races remain the same. Election officials in the Mason County Auditor’s Office counted 82 more ballots this morning (Thursday) and now Don Robbins has a two vote lead on Nicole Cougher for Southside School Board Position Number One. Robbins picked up three votes and leads 272 to 270. The percentage breakdown is 49.91% for Robbins and 49.54% for Cougher. There are also three write-ins, one over vote (person voted for both candidates) and 184 under votes (didn’t vote for either candidate) in this race. The percentage difference between the two candidates will require a machine recount.

The other race that could have been impacted by today’s count was for Mason County Fire District Six Commission. However, Steve Levette has increased his lead on Robert Close to 20 votes. Levette now has 339 votes (51.13%) to Close’s 319 (48.11%). There were five under votes and 75 over votes.

No change in the other races:

In the race for Shelton City Commissioner of Finance, each candidate picked up three votes so Mike Byrne’s lead on Chase Gallagher remains at 48. Byrne now has 836 votes (50.85%) to Gallagher’s 788 (47.93%). There were 20 write-ins and 314 under votes.

For Shelton Mayor John Tarrant still leads Gary Cronce now by 105 votes. Tarrant has 989 votes (52.13%) to Cronce’s 884 (46.6%) with 24 write-ins and 61 under votes.

The City of Shelton’s property tax levy lid lift to fund street maintenance is still failing now with 61.07% against. That’s 1,172 voting “no” and 747 voting “yes” with 39 under votes.

No change for Mason County’s sales tax increase for emergency communications. The measure is still passing with almost a 70% approval rate (69.56%). That’s 12,539 voting in favor and 5,487 voting against.

In the race for Port of Shelton Commission, District No. 3 Commissioner, the seat currently held by Marlene Taylor, Jay Hupp is still the leader with 3,738 votes (68.43%) to Rahn Redman’s 1,724 (31.56%).

The two contested races for Shelton School Board have not changed. Incumbent Sue McCausland still leads Steve DeMiero now 2,567 (59.85%) to 1,722 (40.15%) for Direct District One. Gene Crater is still leading Marty Best 2,578 (64.21%) to 1,437 (35.79%) for Director District Two, the seat currently held by Marty Crow.

The latest numbers for the Hood Canal School Board: Deborah Peterson over Sheryl Kroneman 982 votes (55.98%) to 772 votes (44.01%) for Director District Three. And Bob Sund ahead of Sara Endicott 1,087 votes (55.2%) to 882 votes (44.79%) for Director District Five.

The latest unofficial results for North Mason School Board: Director District One incumbent Art Wightman over Dave Kinnee now 63.41% (2,643 votes) to 36.58% (1,525 votes). In Director District Three, Laura Boad over incumbent Ken VanBuskirk 3,011 votes (68.01%) to 1,416 (31.98%). And in the Director District Four race, John Campbell over incumbent Glenn Landram 2,996 votes (68.06%) to 1,406 (31.94%).

Also in the North Mason area, voters overwhelmingly approved the formation of Mason County Public Hospital District Number Two 84.3% to 15.7%. That's 2,716 voting for the new hospital district and 506 voting against. Voters also decided on the five member commission to govern the new hospital district. The only contested race was for Position Three and Peggy VanBuskirk is the top vote getter with 1,361 (49.72%), followed by Ryan Cloud with 1,000 (36.53%) and Harry Martin with 376 (13.73%). The other hospital district commissioners are Kaye Massie, Herb Gerhardt, Bev Wendell, and Ray Stutz.

In the other fire District Commission races: Shelby Blackwell over Chris Ladner 1,100 votes (52.68%) to 961 (46.02%) for Fire District Two Commission. Pat McGanney over Del Griffey 1,898 (50.83%) to 1,770 (47.4%) for Fire District Five Commission. In Fire District 16, Jake Frey’s lead on Dick Andrews is 45 votes. Frey has 213 votes (55.04%) to Andrew’s 168 (43.41%). Jim Mitchell maintains his lead on Terry Brazil: 327 votes (63.62%) to 178 (34.63%) for Fire District 18 Commission. And Fire District Eight's Emergency Medical Services levy is still passing now with 66.37% in favor. That’s 227 in favor and 115 against the measure imposes a 25 cent per thousand of assessed value for six years to fund E-M-S in the Tahuya area.

The Elections Division in the Mason County Auditor's Office has now counted 18,447 ballots from this election bringing the turnout up to just over 61% (61.25%). The election will be certified on November 27^th. (Updated 10:50am 11/15)

SHOOTING AND STABBING IN TIMBERLAKES
The Mason County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate a shooting and a stabbing in Timberlakes Wednesday night. According to a news release, about 11:45pm, deputies and Mason County Fire District Five medics responded to a request for assistance in the 500 block of East Timberlake Drive East. Upon arrival, they found a 28-year-old Shelton man suffering from gunshot wounds and a 60-year-old Shelton man suffering from stab wounds. Both men were transported to Mason General Hospital and then flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The 60-year-old stabbing victim is listed in critical condition after surgery and the 28-yar-old shooting victim is listed in serious but stable condition. It is still not clear what took place at the residence, however investigators have determined the two victims know each other and that there was some sort of altercation between them. More information will be made available as the investigation progresses. Anyone having information on this case is encouraged to call the Mason County Sheriff's Office at (360) 427-9670 Ext 313 or call 9-1-1. (Updated 9:55am 11/15)
 

HOSPITAL DISTRICT ADOPTS 2008 BUDGET
The Commissioners for Mason County Public Hospital District Number One have adopted the District's 2008 budget. The budget covers Mason General Hospital, Oakland Bay Pediatrics, Mason County Eye Clinic and North Mason Medical Clinic. According to Eric Moll, Chief Financial Officer, the Public Hospital District is targeting a net income of $3.5 million next year. The budget for M-G-H is about $58.4 Million ($58,371,009) in operating revenues, over $55.3 Million ($55,307,305) in operating expenses, and $1.4 Million ($1,417,844) in non-operating expenses. This leaves nearly $4.5 Million ($4,481,548) in net income at the Hospital. However, the other clinics governed by the Public Hospital District operate at a loss. Mason County Eye Clinic is projected to lose $113,041 (revenues are projected to be $421,155 with expenses projected at $534,196). Oakland Bay Pediatrics is projected to lose $359,802 (projected revenues: $937,671; projected expenses: $1,297,473). And North Mason Medical Clinic is expected to lose over $500,000 ($512,054) in its last year of operation. (The six Belfair voting precincts, Dewatto and Tahuya areas were removed from the Public Hospital District Number One this year. That area formed Mason County Public Hospital District Number Two and will be contracting with Harrison Medical Center for urgent care in 2009.) This leaves a net income for Public Hospital District One of $3,496,651. The budget also includes a 6% weighted average increase in charges at Mason General Hospital, an increase of 5.25 full time equivalent positions, 3% cost-of-living inflation wage increases, and a 34 cent per thousand of assessed value property tax levy. (Posted 7:25am 11/15)

SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVY WOULD REDUCE TAXES
The Shelton School District will ask voters next February to approve a three-year replacement maintenance and operations levy. The levy amounts are $5.7 Million in 2009, $5.9 Million in 2010, and $6.1 Million in 2011. The rate per thousand of assessed value is projected to be $3.37. That is 52 cents less than the current rate. This reduction is due to anticipated increases in property tax assessments next year as the Mason County Assessor's Office will be revaluing the District. Officials were told to expect an increase in total valuation of 35%. This revaluing will also reduce the rate per thousand on the School District's construction bond. That rate is currently $1.90 and is projected to go down to $1.45 in 2009, $1.43 in 2010, and $1.41 in 2011. The total property tax for the Shelton School District would drop from $5.79 per thousand to between $4.78 and $4.82. These numbers could be even less after the revaluation is completed. The Shelton School Board will be passing a resolution to place the M&O Levy on the February 19th Ballot some time before the end of December. (Posted 7:25am 11/15)

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOWN SLIGHTLY
The unemployment rate in Mason County was down slightly in October. According to preliminary figures from the State Employment Security Department, the unemployment rate in the county last month was 5.2%. That's down one tenth of a percentage point from September's revised rate but up three tenths of a percent from October 2006. Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged in October from September's 4.8% rate. Washington's seasonally adjusted non-agricultural jobs increased by 7,200 in October after a drop in September. A portion of the October gain was due to a large reversal in the government sector after a plunge in September. Other south sound areas saw similar changes in unemployment. The unemployment rate in Thurston and Kitsap counties dropped one-ten of a percent while Pierce County's rate stayed the same. Thurston County's October unemployment rate was 4.1%. Kitsap County had a rate of 4.2%. And Pierce County remained at 4.6%. (Posted 7:25am 11/15)

BACKERS OF SIMPLE MAJORITY DECLARE VICTORY
More than one week after the election, education forces have declared victory for a constitutional amendment to allow simple-majority approval of local school levies, rather than a 60 percent supermajority. Late tallies, including a surge in "yes" votes from King County, gave HJR4204 an 11,000-vote lead, with an estimated 43,000 ballots left to count, roughly half from King. Campaign director Bill Monto said it felt good to be on the positive side of 50 percent and Washington Education Association president Mary Lindquist said it's a real celebration. Lindquist said the apparent victory was doubly sweet, given the strong anti-tax mood of the electorate. Anti-tax leader Tim Eyman said the inevitable result of a lower approval threshold will be higher property taxes. The measure trailed on election night Nov. 6, but today led by 11,003 votes out of more than 1.5 million cast. The vote, 50.36 percent in favor and 49.64 percent opposed, was too close for election officials to call. Sponsors, though, held a news conference to declare victory. The margin should continue to grow as final absentee ballots are counted, particularly in King County, where the measure had a winning margin of over 73,471 votes, or nearly 59 percent, as of yesterday. He said yesterday's King County batch was 63 percent in favor.(Posted 7:25am 11/15)

TOBACCO QUIT LINE RECEIVES 100,000TH CALL
The state Department of Health reports the Washington State Tobacco Quit Line recently received its 100,000th call for help. The line was opened for business seven years ago. The department says its toll-free quit line has been crucial in the state's tobacco prevention and control efforts. The department says the efforts have contributed to a 24 percent drop in adult smoking in Washington since 2000. In 2000, the state used tobacco settlement money to launch a comprehensive tobacco prevention and control program. Since then, the state's adult smoking rate has fallen from 20th to the fifth lowest in the nation. The quit line numbers are: 1-800-QUIT-NOW and 1-877-2NO-FUME in Spanish.(Posted 7:25am 11/15)

STATE SURPLUS SHOULD BY FOR FAMILY LEAVE
A state task force has tentatively suggested that Washington's new paid family leave law should be financed by the state government's tax surplus for the first four
years. The 13-member committee has been studying the pricetag and potential ways to pay for the new program, which will give parents five weeks of paid time off to be with a new child. The panel faces a Jan. 1 deadline for sending recommendations to the Legislature. Yesterday, committee members rejected several tax ideas, including taxing carbonated beverages or workers' pay. The panel - with Republican members abstaining - instead took a preliminary vote to use the surplus from the state's general fund for the next two biennia. A final vote won't be taken until next month, but yesterday's move was the first suggestion on how to pay for the program since the law passed earlier this year. Under the measure the Legislature passed earlier this year, starting in October, 2009, workers would get $250 a week for up to five weeks to care for a newborn or a newly adopted child.(Posted 7:25am 11/15)

CENTRALIA NURSING SUES TO PREVENT MEDICARE, MEDICAID CUT OFF
A Centralia nursing home has asked a federal judge to prevent its Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements from being cut off, a development that would force its 43 residents to relocate. The Evergreen Centralia Health and Rehabilitation Center filed for a temporary restraining order yesterday against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as an organization that inspects nursing homes for Medicare and Medicaid Compliance. Evergreen says its involvement in the Medicare and Medicaid programs are due to be cut off today, and that it has not been given a chance to make its case for remaining in the programs. It says the process has been unfair and violates its constitutional rights.(Posted 7:25am 11/15)

ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS BRIEFS FOR 11/15/07
The Kitsap County sheriff's office investigated a day care operator who put a 4-year-old boy in the trunk of her car because he was acting up. She drove about a third of a mile with the boy in the trunk and later told the mother about the incident. No one was injured. (Posted 7:25am 11/15)

Two Fort Lewis soldiers were killed Tuesday by a homemade bomb in combat in Iraq. Twenty-three-year-old Christopher Kruse of Emporia, Kansas, and 30-year-old Peter Schmidt of Eureka, California, were members of the Fourth Stryker brigade. The brigade has lost 29 members since it arrived in Iraq in May. (Posted 7:25am 11/15)

It was relatively quiet overnight at the Port of Olympia. In the past week 60 anti-war demonstrators have been arrested trying to block military equipment from Iraq being
returned to Fort Lewis. (Posted 7:25am 11/15)

The state Revenue Forecast Council releases its quarterly report today in Olympia. The report on expected tax revenue is an indicator of the strength of Washington's economy. It also tells lawmakers how much money they'll have to spend. (Posted 7:25am 11/15)

SHERIFF'S OFFICE KICKS OFF DRUG PROGRAM WITH ARRESTS
The Mason County Sheriff's Office started its drug program by making two arrests and more arrests are expected. Earlier this month, (November 6), Sheriff's Detectives and SERT team members executed a search warrant at 480 NE Beitzel Drive in the Belfair and arrested Marlys B. Samoy, 47 of Belfair, on charges of possession of controlled substances (meth) with the intent to deliver and arrested Bradley J. Tarrant, 47 of Port Orchard, on an unrelated warrant. During the search, officers found suspected methamphetamine, cash and other items. The search and subsequent arrests are the result of a month long investigation in a cooperative effort between the Department of Corrections Fugitive Apprehension Detail and the Mason County Sheriff's Office. Investigators expect more arrests as a result of this investigation. As of this date both suspects have been released and are free pending court action. In a written statement, Sheriff Casey Salisbury said “When I ran for the Office of Sheriff, I promised the people of Mason County drug investigations would be made a priority. This investigation is just the beginning of our effort to make that promise a reality. We are putting drug dealers on notice. We will vigorously and diligently pursue the drug dealers who choose to ply their trade in Mason County.”(Posted 7:55am 11/14)

HIT AND RUN ON HILLCREST
The Shelton Police Department is seeking the public's help with a hit-and-run that occurred Tuesday in the 1000 block of Cascade Avenue. According to a news release, a truck struck an unattended vehicle and a utility pole and left the scene. The victim vehicle was totaled. The suspect truck is a red 1973 to 1978 model Chevrolet with damage to the driver's side. Anyone with information should contact the Shelton Police Department at (360) 426-4441. (Case number is 07-11159)(Posted 7:55am 11/14)

COMMISSION ASKED TO HELP GET MEDICAL MARIJUANA BACK
The Shelton City Commission has been asked to help a resident get his medical marijuana back. Earlier this month, the Shelton Police Department, acting on a tip from a landlord, discovered what officers call a “small marijuana growing operation” in an apartment in the 900 Block of Fairmont Avenue. Although the apartment's residents, Alexander and Kim Morris, told officers the marijuana was to help Alexander deal with his medical condition, all plants and equipment were seized. During Tuesday's Shelton City Commission meeting, the Morris' and several of their supporters asked the Commission to help with recovering the medical marijuana saying the Police Department violated Revised Code of Washington 69.51A which allows the use of medical marijuana by “some patients with terminal or debilitating illnesses, under their physician's care…” These patients are allowed to grow their own marijuana. According to the Shelton Police Department, the case has been turned over to the Mason County Prosecutor's Office which is investigating whether Morris is a legitimate medical marijuana user. A patient taking medical marijuana is supposed to post a form at their residence explaining their use of this type of medication. Police officials told 1030 KMAS News there was no such posting. The Shelton City Commission said they will look into the issue. (Posted 7:55am 11/14)

NO FUNDS FOR GAS CONTAMINATION CLEAN UP
The City of Shelton does not have the funds to fully clean up the gas contamination at the intersection of First and Franklin. At this time, the City is not able to fund clearing out all contaminated soil in the right-of-way. So, the City plans on just removing the soil in the trench needed to complete the Sewer Basin Two project. The intersection will then be added to the State Department of Ecology's list of contaminated sites and may be required to clean up the site some time in the future. The contamination at First and Franklin was discovered during the Basin Two project along with contamination at Fourth and Franklin. The Fourth Street location has since been cleaned up. Connection of the pipe at First and Franklin will complete Basin Two and the City will add the cost of contamination clean up to that project. City staff will bring a contract for the clean up of the trench soil to the Shelton City Commission next Monday. (Posted 7:55am 11/14)

G-I-S DAY IS TODAY
The Mason County Geographic Information Systems Department, also known as G-I-S, is presenting G-I-S Day along with other local agencies. G-I-S Day is today. The G-I-S department will be highlighting how G-I-S is being used displaying maps and posters of Mason County at the Shelton Civic Center from 10am to 7pm. Those who attend can use a computerized map, learn about mapping projects and purchase maps among other things. Again, G-I-S Day is today at the Shelton Civic Center. (Updated 7:55am 11/14)

DOZENS OF ARREST MADE IN MILITARY SHIPMENT PROTESTS
Police say they have arrested about 50 people who were protesting shipments of military cargo from the Port of Olympia to Fort Lewis. Police wearing riot gear shot pepper-spray bullets into a crowd of more than 150 protesters who attempted to block military convoys late Tuesday night. Several convoys eventually moved out. There also were reports of unrest in downtown where windows at a bank were shattered. Police Lt. Jim Costa says about 50 people were arrested. He added a police cruiser had its window broken by several rocks and one officer was hit in the knee with a rock. Protests at the port began last week, after the USNS Brittin arrived and began unloading equipment that had been used in Iraq by the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis. Three Iraq war protesters went to yesterday's Port of Olympia commission meeting and asked commissioners to end military shipments. They said the port should not make money on the Iraq war. The commissioners say the port is not changing its policy and they faulted demonstrators for breaking the law.(Posted 7:55am 11/14)

BC TEACHER LOSES LICENSE OVER TUMWATER SHOWER VIDEO
A British Columbia teacher has lost his teaching certificate for shooting video in the locker room at a high school wrestling tournament in Tumwater. The man, Chi Yung Luu, was a high school drama teacher from Delta. He was caught in December of 2005 with a camera wrapped in a towel, shooting video of the shower. He pleaded guilty in Thurston County and was sentenced to time served and deported.(Posted 7:55am 11/14)

WITNESSES OF I-5 CRASH SOUGHT
The Washington State Patrol Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is investigating a serious injury crash that occurred in Thurston County on I-5 at milepost 86 on November 7 at 8:24 a.m. Detectives are seeking additional witnesses to the crash or the events leading up to it. If you saw the collision or know someone that may have you are requested to call Detective Sergeant Jerry Cooper (360) 805-1192, or Detective Curt Ladines at (360) 805-1160.(Posted 7:55am 11/14)

YES VOTES TAKE LEAD ON SIMPLE MAJORITY
More than a week after Election Day, an effort to make it easier to pass school levies has swung into the yes column, and it appears to be headed for passage. The latest statewide tally on the proposed constitutional amendment, HJR4204, was posted Tuesday evening on the secretary of state's Web site. It shows the count at 756,963 to 750,011, or 50.23 percent to 49.77 percent. HJR4204 would allow passage of school levies by a simple majority, rather than requiring 60 percent voter approval. In the last previous count Monday, the measure was trailing by nearly 2,600 votes. Now it's ahead by more than 6,900. There are still 68,726 ballots left to count, but backers note that voter support has increased each day since the election.(Posted 7:55am 11/14)

STATE UNVEILS PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY CANDIDATES
Secretary of State Sam Reed has unveiled the preliminary list of presidential primary candidates. Democrats on the ballot are Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson. Republicans are Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo and Fred Thompson. Candidates must turn in 1,000 signatures from registered voters to stay on the ballot. The final list will be announced Dec. 31. The primary is Feb. 19. State Republicans will allocate 51 percent of their national convention delegates based on the primary. Democrats won't use the primary, instead allocating delegates based on precinct caucuses.(Posted 7:55am 11/14)

FIRE IN BAINBRIDGE ISLAND RETIREMENT HOME
Six residents of the Madison Avenue Retirement Center on Bainbridge Island have been found new places to stay after sprinklers doused a room fire. The cause of the fire late last night has been ruled accidental. No injuries were reported. The fire was contained to a fourth-floor room, and residents were being evacuated when firefighters arrived. The fire and water caused damage to retirement home's other units. (Posted 7:55am 11/14)

TWO ARRESTED IN ONLINE SEX INVESTIGATION
The State Patrol reports it has arrested two men who investigators say used the Internet to engage in sex-related crimes. One case involved a 47-year-old Pierce County man who the State Patrol said sent nude photos of himself to an undercover detective posing in an online chat room as a 13-year-old girl. A search warrant was served at the man's home and he was arrested last week on suspicion of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. The other case involved a Kitsap County woman who told authorities she believed her 50-year-old estranged husband had child pornography. A search warrant was served on the man and he was arrested on suspicion of possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Evidence obtained has been submitted to the State Patrol's Computer Crime Unit for forensic analysis. (Posted 7:55am 11/14)

SUMMARY OF MONDAY'S WIND STORM
Winds gusting at hurricane force in some places yesterday left more than 125,000 customers without electricity across the Pacific Northwest and blew the roof off an Oregon firehouse. Winds higher than 70 mph blew trees and branches onto power lines and cut electricity to roughly 85,000 customers in Washington, mostly in the western part of the state. However, Mason County faired well with spot outages, mostly in Mason County P.U.D. No. 1's service territory along Hood Canal. A trained weather spotter in the Lake Lawrence area of Thurston County reported an 84 mph wind gust. About 20,000 Puget Sound Energy customers in Thurston County were without power yesterday. At last report some 2,000 of them are still without power but P-S-E expects those customers to have service restored later today. More than two inches of rain fell in Mason County over a 24-hour period Monday. That rainfall pushed the Skokomish River to near flood stage last night, however the River crested below 16 feet at 15.65 feet about 7pm. No flooding has been reported. The Skokomish River's level, at last report, was about 14 and a half feet. (Click http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/uv/?site_no=12061500&PARAmeter_cd=00060,00065 for the latest level.) Forecasters predict the River will stay around 14 feet for the rest of this week. According to the National Weather Service, high pressure will build over the region today resulting in more settle conditions later today. Dry weather will prevail across much of the area tonight and Wednesday. However, another storm system will bring increasing precipitation Wednesday night. Forecasters expect steady rain to become showery Thursday afternoon. (Posted 6:50am 11/13)

VAN ROLLS OVER ON HIGHWAY 3
Three people suffered minor injuries after the van they were in rolled over on Highway 3 near the Mason/Kitsap County line. According to South Kitsap Fire & Rescue officials, the van was northbound about 2pm. Near Sunnyslope Road, the van left the roadway, went into a gully and rolled coming to rest on its top. The three unidentified people inside were able to get out on their own. They were taken to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton with minor injuries. Three crews from South Kitsap and one from Mason County responded to the crash. (Posted 6:50am 11/13)

STORIES FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR 11/13/08
After a break for Veteran's Day, counties can finish counting about 178,000 votes remaining from last week's election. At least one issue is too close to call. The measure to make it easier for schools to pass property tax levies is failing by 2,600 votes. A re-count is possible. (Posted 6:50am 11/13)

The state Transportation Department is paying an Olympia company to remove about 160 trees along a half-mile stretch of I-5 south of Tumwater. In a windstorm trees could topple into the southbound lanes of the freeway. (Posted 6:50am 11/13)

Lakewood Police Chief Larry Saunders is a former soldier who has applied for a job with the Army. He says he feels he should be contributing after training for 28 years. When he retired in 1998 he was a colonel in charge of military police special investigations. The 58-year-old has been Lakewood chief for nine years. (Posted 6:50am 11/13)

A Lake Tapps man accused of molesting boys in Pierce County also is facing a federal child pornography charge. The FBI says 47-year-old Weldon Marc Gilbert is due to appear in federal court today in Tacoma. The FBI also is investigating whether he molested boys out of state, which could result in additional charges. (Posted 6:50am 11/13)

Governor Chris Gregoire says that delay on the State Route 520 Bridge replacement project is unacceptable. Speaking at a new building opening at Microsoft's Redmond campus yesterday, Gregoire described the 520 Bridge as one of the region's top safety priorities. (Posted 6:50am 11/13)

Microsoft's campus expansion is expanding. It will add a total of 5.5 million square feet of office space to its Puget Sound-area headquarters, with space to accommodate 19,000 employees. (Posted 6:50am 11/13)

The state Employment Security Department says fruit growers hired more than 1,100 foreign farm workers under the federal H-2A program. That's twice as many as were hired last year in the guest worker program. Growers must pay $9.77 an hour and provide housing and transportation for the workers. Many come from Mexico. (Posted 6:50am 11/13)

The Boeing Company has announced the finalization of an order for seven 737-800s from transavia.com. The deal with the Dutch airline is worth about $523 million at list prices, although buyers typically negotiate substantial discounts for multiple orders. The order allows conversion rights to other models, and transavia also is taking options on three additional airplanes. The company's current fleet consists of 29 Boeing 737s. (Posted 6:50am 11/13)

MARTIN SEEKS TREASURER'S POST
Republican Allan Martin has announced his bid for Washington state treasurer and he has the backing of the outgoing Democratic incumbent, Mike Murphy. The former Chelan County treasurer has been a top Murphy deputy since 1998 and holds the post of assistant state treasurer. Martin says Murphy's endorsement is a huge benefit, but says political affiliation doesn't much matter in the running of the office. Martin says he's also backed by many of the county treasurers around the state, Democrat and Republican alike. He says if elected, he'll ask the Legislature to make state treasurer a nonpartisan office. Democratic Rep. Jim McIntire, an economist and university professor from Seattle, is running.(Posted 6:50am 11/13)

PUD 3 TO TRIM TREES IN BELFAIR
Mason County PUD No. 3 will be conducting a tree trimming project along Highway 3 in the Belfair area beginning Tuesday. PUD crews will be operating along Highway 3 from the Belfair Substation to Mitchell's Lumber and includes surrounding roadways. The work will begin Tuesday and will involve tree trimming and removal. The trimming is expected to last approximately six weeks. Motorists may experience some traffic delays from time to time during these efforts. Tree trimming and vegetation management are tasks that minimize the loss of power and speed up restoration of electricity during outages.(Posted 6:50am 11/12)

MORE ARRESTS IN OLYMPIA PROTEST
At least three more protesters were arrested yesterday as demonstrations continued against shipments of military cargo through the Port of Olympia. Others were sprayed with pepper spray by police as they tried to block trucks hauling equipment to Fort Lewis after it was unloaded from a ship carrying the gear back from Iraq. Protests at the port began Tuesday, after the USNS Brittin arrived and began unloading equipment that had been used in Iraq by the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis. On Saturday, 12 people were arrested. The protestors were greeted by critics who accused them of being disrespectful of veterans. Port officials said they could not comment on how much military equipment might remain at the port, waiting to be moved.(Updated 6:50am 11/12)

MAN NOT SUSPECT IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSAULT
The Thurston County's Sheriff's Office has eliminated a Colorado resident as a suspect in a domestic violence assault south of Lacey Saturday. According to a Sheriff's Office news release, the victim's estranged husband, Lynn Orven Moon, was NOT involved in the assault that was reported about 8:10pm Saturday in the 5200 block of Atchison Drive SE. The condition of the 55-year-old female victim has been upgraded from “very serious” to “good”. The investigation continues and detectives are saying this is not a random crime. Anyone with information on this crime is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office at 360-786-5500 or 360-704-2740 or Thurston County Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222.(Updated 6:50am 11/12)

DUPONT POLICE CHIEF HOSPITALIZED AFTER FIGHT
DuPont Police Chief Michael A. Pohl has been injured in a fight at a home, and investigators say it's hard to determine what happened because so many witnesses were drunk. The 49-year-old Pohl was taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia by ambulance after the fight early Friday morning. Authorities say his face was swollen from being hit. Thurston County sheriff's Lieutenant Christopher Mealy says it's unclear whether Pohl was a victim. Mealy says investigators have been hampered by "the level of intoxication of a number of witnesses." Pohl is a 22-year veteran of the DuPont police force. Municipal Administrator Bill McDonald says he's on paid administrative leave pending an investigation and Sergeant Mike Cummings is acting chief.(Posted 6:50am 11/12)

LAWMAKERS WANT HEALTH OFFICIALS TO TRACK MRSA
State Representative Tom Campbell of Roy is urging Gov. Chris Gregoire to use her emergency executive powers to force health officials to begin tracking cases of an increasingly common bacterial skin infection that's resistant to antibiotics. Health departments are not currently required to report cases of MRSA (pronounced MER'-suh). A Federal Way man recently died of MRSA, and several non-fatal cases have been reported in schools from Port Townsend to Edmonds. In October, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that 19,000 people die each year from MRSA. (Posted 6:50am 11/12)

WEST NILE VIRUS WAS MILD THIS SEASON
Public health officials and researchers don't know why West Nile virus failed to hit Washington state hard this summer, defying some predictions. The virus turned up in only one bird and eight horses, all in Yakima County. Kitsap County Public Health officer Scott Lindquist speculated that Washington may have an environment that impedes West Nile transmission. West Nile virus, which is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes, was first found in the United States in New York in 1999. Since then, it has steadily spread westward. Washington saw its first human cases last year, in Pierce and Clark counties. Meanwhile, there were nearly 1,000 human infections in neighboring Idaho. Had Washington followed the general pattern, 2007 would have been its turn for a big year, but it wasn't.(Posted 6:50am 11/12)

ORDERS ON FIRS DAY OF AIR SHOW
Airbus won a coup over Boeing at the opening of the Dubai Air Show yesterday, announcing that Emirates has ordered 70 A350s - the midsize, long-haul jet that will compete with Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. Emirates' order includes options for 50 more A350s. Emirates also ordered eight superjumbo A380s. And Saudi low-cost carrier National Air Services ordered 20 A320s, plus options for another 18 Airbus aircraft. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways ordered 30 Boeing 787s, with options for 30 more, plus five 777 cargo planes. Emirates ordered 12 Boeing 777-300ERs - an extended-range model of Boeing's twin-engine long-haul jet. The orders aren't new. Boeing had previously attributed them to unidentified customers. All told, Gulf carriers ordered 140 planes worth nearly $40 billion from Airbus and Boeing.(Posted 6:50am 11/12)

STORIES FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR 11/12/07
The measure that would allow school property tax levies to pass on a simple majority is still failing, but the margin is very close. As votes from last week's election continue to be counted, the secretary of state's office reports it's failing by 2,600 votes (49.9-to-50.1 percent). Counties resume counting votes tomorrow.

Congressman Norm Dicks says the $672 million for Army, Navy and Air Force bases in Washington is the largest amount he can remember in a military construction bill. Of that, $378 million will pay for new barracks and facilities at Fort Lewis. About 26,000 soldiers are stationed there now. That's expected to rise to more than 30,000 in four years.

Governor Gregoire and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are all powerful Democrats who believe in electing women, but none have endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. Murray says she's not taking sides. Cantwell says she wants to see which
candidate best supports Washington's interests. Gregoire says it's too soon for endorsements.

COSMOPOLIS WOMAN SELLING SOY CANDLES
A Cosmopolis woman is making and selling candles made with soybean oil instead of paraffin or beeswax. Cari Burk says the soy candles burn longer and cleaner than regular candles. She adds essential oils for the scents, which she considers aromatherapy. Burk sells the soy candles at farmer's markets, arts festivals and online: www.outofthebarnsoycandles.com. (Posted 9:45am 11/12)

UW'S EMMERT 3RD-HIGHEST-PAID PUBLIC COLLEGE PRESIDENT
The University of Washington's Mark Emmert is the third-highest-paid public college president, according to a survey by the Chronicle of Higher Education. It reports his salary last year at $752,700 or about half what football coach Tyrone Willingham makes. The chronicle reports that presidents at a dozen private universities earn $1 million or more including benefits. (Posted 9:45am 11/12)

ROAD WORK ON AREA HIGHWAYS

Guardrail repair, culvert inspections, ditch maintenance and tree work will impact traffic on area highways this week. Motorists can expect alternating, single-lane traffic control with flaggers in both directions of Highway 3 at Grapeview Loop Road near the community of Allyn (milepost 20.3) Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and in both directions of SR 3 at the railroad overpass near the Shelton city limits (milepost 3.4) Wednesday for guardrail repair. Motorists can expect alternating, single-lane traffic control with flaggers in both directions of Highway 3 at Deer Creek Road, approximately five miles north of the Shelton city limits (milepost 8.8) Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and at Judy Lane in the community of Belfair (milepost 24.0) Thursday from 12 to 4 p.m., for culvert inspections. Alternating, single-lane traffic control with flaggers will occur in both directions of Highway 106 between Creekside Drive and East Cedar Street (mileposts 14.0 – 18.0) Tuesday through Thursday for ditch maintenance. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. And alternating, single-lane traffic control with flaggers will occur in both directions of SR 108 between Elma Hicklin Road and the Grays Harbor/Mason county line (mileposts 3.0 – 4.0) Tuesday through Friday for tree felling. Traffic will be stopped in both directions when trees are dropped that have a potential to reach the highway. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists may experience short delays in all areas. (Posted 8:30am 11/11)

SUSPECT SOUGHT IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSAULT

At approximately 8:15 p.m. Saturday deputies were dispatched to an address in the 5200 block of Atchinson Drive SE, south of Lacey in unincorporated Thurston County.  Upon arrival, deputies discovered the resident, a 55-year-old female, inside of the residence suffering from a laceration to the neck. The victim was airlifted to Harborview Hospital in Seattle where she was listed as "very serious". The investigation by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has identified a suspect.  The suspect is the victim's estranged husband, Lynn Orven Moon. Lynn Orven Moon, a Colorado resident, is described as a white male, six-foot and 260 pounds.  He has gray hair, blue eyes and wears glasses. Anyone with any information concerning the current whereabouts of Lynn Orven Moon is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office at 360-786-5500 or 360-704-2740 or Thurston County Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222. (Posted 8:30am 11/11)

ARREST MADE IN LACEY HIT AND RUN CASE

An Olympia man has been arrested in the hit-and-run crash that injured a bicyclist Nov. 2 on Sleater-Kinney Road in Lacey.Leland Arthur Wlazlak, 48, will face charges of felony hit-and-run, obstruction and tampering with evidence. According to the State Patrol, Wlazlak turned himself in at 5 p.m. Saturday and was booked at the Thurston County jail. Detectives had determined that a Nissan Altima was involved in the crash and found Wlazlak by combing through a database of 109 Altimas in the area, then contacting the owner who best fit the description that witnesses gave. (Posted 8:30am 11/11)

FATAL CRASH IN THURSTON COUNTY

A 20-year-old Olympia woman died in a three vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and Moon Road Friday night. According to the State Patrol, Lesha D. Ruymann was a passenger in a 1997 Pontiac that ran a stop sign on southbound Moon Road and was struck by a 1994 Ford that was eastbound on Highway 12. The Pontiac was then pushed into a 1998 Dodge that was stopped at the stop sign on northbound Moon Road. Cause of this crash was failure to stop by the driver of the Pontiac. (Posted 8:30am 11/11)

PROTESTERS ARRESTED TRYING TO BLOCK MILITARY GEAR

At least a dozen people were arrested in Olympia yesterday as demonstrators rallied to protest military-cargo shipments at the port in Washington's state capital. The arrests by police came one day after protesters were able to halt two trucks from removing military equipment that had been unloaded from a ship coming from Iraq. The equipment was bound for Fort Lewis, an Army base about 15 miles northeast of Olympia that is home to Stryker combat brigades. Protesters on foot blocked traffic downtown about noon today by jumping in front of large trucks towing cargo containers carrying military equipment. Olympia police in riot gear moved in quickly, spraying pepper spray in the faces of the protesters, pushing them with their batons and dragging them away from the road. At least three people were arrested at that location, and at least nine more were arrested when they tried to block an entrance to Interstate 5 as scores of protesters deployed to several different locations. The demonstrators have been protesting the use of the port by the USNS Brittin, which landed at the port Monday to unload equipment that was used in Iraq by the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team). (Posted 8:30am 11/11)

MOTHER VISITS DAUGHTER JAILED IN ITALY MURDER

The mother of a student from Seattle who is being held in the slaying of her apartment mate in Italy visited her daughter in jail yesterday. Twenty-year-old Amanda Marie Knox is being held in the Italian town of Perugia while authorities investigate the slaying of a British student with whom she shared living quarters. Also in jail are Knox's Italian boyfriend and the Congolese owner of a bar she frequented in Perugia, where she attended university. All three have denied involvement in the slaying. Authorities say 21-year-old Meredith Kercher was stabbed in the neck in her bed as she resisted a sexual assault. The prison chaplain in Perugia visited Knox yesterday, and says her mother, Edda Mellas, also visited. The Rev. Saulo Scarabattoli says Knox has been writing down her thoughts. He says Knox and her mother would have sat face-to-face in the visitor's room at the jail. Inmates usually are allowed hour-long visits about four times a month. (Posted 8:30am 11/11)

STRANDED CRUISE SHIP FROM SEATTLE RE-FLOATED

A small cruise ship that ran aground to keep it from sinking in Virginia was re-floated yesterday and escorted to a shipyard. The captain of the 207-foot Spirit of Nantucket, which belongs to a Seattle company, ran the ship aground Thursday after it suffered a foot-long gash in its hull and began to take on water. All 66 people on board were rescued safely with no injuries reported. The Coast Guard and a Virginia Beach Police Department boat were escorting the boat to the Colonna Shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia, for repairs. The boat was on a 10-day cruise from Alexandria to Charleston, South Carolina. It is owned by Cruise West, a cruise line based in Seattle. (Posted 8:30am 11/11)

CASHES SOLD BY GIRL SCOUTS RECALLED

Girl Scouts of Western Washington is recalling 10 ounce cans of Ashdon Farms cashews after small pieces of metal were found in some cans. Girls Scouts in Pierce, Lewis, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Cowlitz, Washkiakum and Pacific counties have been selling the nuts as part of a fundraiser. Scouting officials say no injuries or illnesses have been reported in connection with the recall. Ashdon Farms is investigating how the metal pieces fell into the cans. The company has worked with Girl Scouts for more than a decade. (Posted 8:30am 11/11)

WOMAN AWARDED $4.4 MILLION IN HARASSMENT SUIT

A Seattle woman has been awarded $4.4 million in her harassment suit against Goodyear. Melissa Sheffield says she was antagonized and harassed because of her sexual orientation at the Goodyear store where she worked in Seattle and says she was demoted after she complained. Her attorney, Daniel F. Johnson, says the jury award sends a message to employers in Washington that discrimination and retaliation will not be tolerated. Sheffield began working for Goodyear in 1994 and worked her way up to manager of a store near Northgate Mall. Goodyear says the harassment began in 2003 when new managers were appointed to supervise her. One made sure she knew he didn't like gays. She complained and eventually that manager was fired. At the same time, she was demoted and her pay was cut. The company says her demotion stemmed from her own misconduct. (Posted 8:30am 11/11)

TRIAL OF MAKAN WHALE SHOOTERS POSTPONED

Defense attorneys for Makah tribal members accused of illegally hunting a gray whale want to postpone their trial until at least March. The attorneys say they need more time to prepare their case. The five whalers were indicted for alleged violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act by a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Seattle in October. The misdemeanor charges could mean up to a year in jail and a $100,000 fine. No new date has been set for a trial, which was originally set for Nov. 27, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Oesterle says the defense request for a delay means early March or even April. The men are accused of harpooning and shooting the whale in the Strait of Juan de Fuca on Sept. 8 without tribal permission and without a necessary waiver to hunt a whale under the Makah treaty with the United States. (Posted 8:30am 11/11)

BAIL SET IN CHILD SEX ABUSE CASE

A pilot accused of child sex crimes has pleaded not guilty in Tacoma to nine felony counts, including second-degree child rape and child molestation. A Pierce County judge yesterday set bail at $1.5 million for 47-year-old Weldon Marc Gilbert, of nearby Lake Tapps. Prosecutors had requested $5 million bail, saying Gilbert is a wealthy man with the means to flee if he's released. Prosecutors allege Gilbert sexually abused two brothers in his Lake Tapps home. Sheriff's investigators are reviewing more than 100 videotapes and DVDs taken from Gilbert's home last week and say they've identified at least 20 victims of sex crimes. They've also been contacted by more than 10 possible victims or family members of victims. Police have said they believe Gilbert used a helicopter to give rides to young boys, who ranged in age from 12 to 17. Afterward, investigators allege Gilbert would take the boys to his house, get them intoxicated, tie them down, beat them and perform sexual acts on them while the abuse was being taped. Gilbert is a pilot for United Parcel Service. He was arrested last week in Atlanta and arrived in Tacoma last night under police escort. (Posted 11:40am 11/10)

THREE ARRESTED IN IMMIGRATION PROTEST

Tacoma police arrested three people on suspicion of disorderly conduct and failure to obey a police officer yesterday in a protest against the U.S. government's immigration policy. Police spokesman Mark Fulghum two men and a woman were arrested. The protest was largely directed at the Northwest Detention Center, a 1,000-bed facility that is privately owned and houses detainees of the Immigration of Customs Enforcement. About 50 people marched on Pacific Avenue. Many wore masks to hide their identities and identified themselves as anarchists. (Posted 11:40am 11/10)

CRIME LAB MANAGER CLEARED

The King County prosecutor's office has declined to file perjury charges against a state toxicology lab manager who falsely certified quality-assurance samples used in drunken driving breath tests. The prosecutor's office found that Anne Marie Gordon did sign forms stating she had ``examined and tested'' solutions when in fact the work was done by a subordinate, but that she did not knowingly swear a false statement. Gordon argued that she believed signing the forms was simply a function of her oversight of the testing. She resigned in July. (Posted 11:40am 11/10)

TEENS SENTENCED IN HAMMER KILLING

Two former Mount Tahoma High School students have been sentenced in Tacoma to more than 10 years in prison each for their roles in an attack that left a former college professor dead. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Thomas Larkin sentenced Jarrell M. Marshall yesterday to 15 years, 9 months in prison and Daniel D. Harris to 10 years, 9 months. Marshall is now 17 and Harris 19. They were arrested in the April 2006 death of Dien Kien Huynh, who prosecutors say was attacked and beaten as part of a robbery. Marshall pleaded guilty in August to one count of second-degree murder in Huynh's death and two counts of robbery for an earlier attack on a couple out for a walk. Harris pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and two counts of robbery. Another former Mount Tahoma High School student, Cyril Walrond, pleaded guilty to beating Huynh to death with a Sheetrock hammer and was sentenced to more than 35 years in prison last month. (Posted 11:40am 11/10)

VOTERS APPROVE ANTI-TAX INITIATIVE

Washington voters have approved Initiative 960, making it harder for the Legislature to pass tax increases. With about 58 percent of the vote counted last night, the measure that appeared on Tuesday's ballot had garnered about a 52 percent yes vote. It won in all but five of the 39 counties. I-960 reasserts a two-thirds approval requirement for tax hikes and requires legislative approval of state fees. Taxes passed with only a simple majority would have to go to the ballot for ratification. It also requires a flood of information on tax bills, and requires a nonbinding public vote on taxes passed in Olympia with an emergency clause a tactic that precludes a referendum campaign to overturn the tax. (Posted 11:40am 11/10)

GREGOIRE WILL SEEK ONE PERCENT PROPERTY TAX CAP

Governor Gregoire is pleding to push the Legislature for a 1 percent yearly cap on property tax increases which would reinstate a voter-approved initiative that was just thrown out by the state Supreme Court. Bowing to voters who rejected billions in new taxes at the polls Tuesday, Gregoire said she would work with Democratic legislative leaders to ensure the property tax cap gets passed. Gregoire, a Democrat, did not rule out a special session to make the change, a step called for earlier yesterday by Dino Rossi, her Republican opponent for re-election in 2008. Gregoire also reiterated her call to local officials not to raise taxes above the 1 percent cap, saying the Legislature must have time to act. If that directive is ignored, Gregoire told The Associated Press she would consider calling a special session. If no special session is called, lawmakers would begin working on the measure just after the new year. It figures to be at the top of the Democratic majority's agenda, and likely will be on a fast track for approval. (Posted 11:40am 11/10)

TAX BILL INCLUDES SALES TAX DEDUCTION

A tax bill approved yesterday by the U.S. House extends a law allowing residents of Washington and other states without an income tax to deduct state sales taxes from their federal income tax returns. The law allowing the deduction is set to expire Dec. 31, but the House bill would extend it for another year. The law is estimated to save a typical Washington state family as much as $500 a year. The bill now goes to the Senate. (Posted 11:40am 11/10)

MORE BALLOTS COUNTED - NO REAL CHANGES ALTHOUGH SOME RACES ARE CLOSER
Not much change in the unofficial election results from Tuesday's General Election as election officials in the Mason County Auditor’s office counted over 6,000 ballots (6,137) this morning (Friday). Most candidates who were leading Tuesday night are still front runners. The closest race is in the Southside School District where one vote now separates the candidates for School Board Position Number One. Nicole Cougher leads Don Robbins 270 votes to 269 votes with three write-ins and 184 under votes meaning those people did not vote for either candidate, and one over vote meaning that person voted for both. The percentage breakdown in this race is 49.82% for Cougher to 49.63% for Robbins. An automatic recount is triggered when there is a half of a percentage point between the candidates.

The other tight race is for Mason County Fire District Six Commission where Steve Levette leads Robert Close by 15 votes. Levette now has 333 votes or 50.76% to Close’s 318 or 48.48%. There are five write-ins and 74 under votes in this race.

Not much change to report in the other races.

Mason County Proposition No. 1, the sales tax increase to fund emergency communications, is still passing now with 69.56% voting “yes”. That's 12,485 in favor and 5,463 against.

In the race for Shelton City Commissioner of Finance, incumbent Mike Byrne has increased his lead on Chase Gallagher to 48 votes. Byrne now has 833 votes (50.58%) to Gallagher's 785 (47.92%). There are 20 write-ins and 314 under votes in this race.

In the race for Shelton Mayor, incumbent John Tarrant has increased his lead over Gary Cronce to 103 votes. Tarrant now has 985 votes (52.09%) to Cronce's 882 (46.64%). There are 24 write-ins and 61 under votes in this race.

The City of Shelton's property tax levy lid lift to fund street maintenance, Proposition No. 1, is still failing now with over 61% (61.16%) voting against. That's 1,170 voting "no" and 743 voting "yes". There are 39 under votes on this measure.

In the race for Port of Shelton Commission, District No. 3 Commissioner, the seat currently held by Marlene Taylor, Jay Hupp has increased his lead on Rahn Redman. Hupp now has 68% of the vote (3,727 votes) to Redman's 31.24% (1,712). There were 42 write-ins, 184 under votes and one over vote.

The two contested races for Shelton School Board have incumbent Sue McCausland still leading Steve DeMiero now 2,554 votes (59.34%) to 1,714 (39.82%) for Director District One. There were 36 write-ins and 1,179 under votes. Gene Crater still leads Marty Best 2,566 votes (63.66%) to 1,428 votes (35.43%) for Director District Two, the seat currently held by Marty Crow. There were 37 write-ins and 1,452 under votes.  

Two incumbents on the Hood Canal School Board still appear to be out. Deborah Peterson has increased her lead on Sheryl Kroneman 974 votes (55.44%) to 768 votes (43.71%) for Director District Three. There are 15 write-ins and 570 under votes. And Bob Sund is still ahead of Sara Endicott 1,079 votes (54.94%) to 878 votes (44.7%) for Director District Five. There are seven write-ins and 363 under votes.

Still new faces on the North Mason School Board. However, Art Wightman, the incumbent for Director District One, is still leading Dave Kinnee now 63.07% (2,633 votes) to 36.38% (1,519 votes). There are 23 write-ins and 769 under votes. For Director District Three, Laura Boad still leads incumbent Ken VanBuskirk 2,998 votes (67.8%) to 1,411 (31.91%). There were 13 write-ins and 522 under votes. And in the Director District Four race, John Campbell still leads incumbent Glenn Landram now 2,984 votes (67.76%) to 1,401 (31.81%). There were 19 write-ins and 540 under votes.

Also in the North Mason area, voters are still overwhelmingly approving the formation of Mason County Public Hospital District Number Two now by 84.27% to 15.73%. That's 2,706 voting for the new hospital district and 505 voting against with 170 under votes. Voters also decided on the five member commission to govern the new hospital district. The only contested race was for Position Three and Peggy VanBuskirk is still the top vote getter with 1,355 (49.31%), followed by Ryan Cloud with 998 (36.32%) and Harry Martin with 376 (13.68%). The other hospital district commissioners are Kaye Massie, Herb Gerhardt, Bev Wendell, and Ray Stutz.

In the fire District Commission races: Shelby Blackwell still leads Chris Ladner but now 1,099 votes (52.74%) to 958 (45.97%) for Fire District Two Commission. Pat McGanney is still ahead of Del Griffey but now 1,893 (50.85%) to 1,764 (47.38%) for Fire District Five Commission. In Fire District 16, Jake Frey has increased his lead on Dick Andrews to 44 votes. Frey now has 211 votes (54.95%) to Andrew’s 167 (43.49%). Jim Mitchell has added to his lead on Terry Brazil: 323 votes (63.46%) to 177 (34.77%) for Fire District 18 Commission. And Fire District Eight's Emergency Medical Services levy is still passing now with 66.47% in favor. That’s 226 in favor and 114 against the measure imposes a 25 cent per thousand of assessed value for six years to fund E-M-S in the Tahuya area.

The Elections Division in the Mason County Auditor's Office has now counted 18,365 ballots from this election bringing the turnout up to just under 61% (60.98%). Election officials have less than 100 ballots that need to be reviewed by the Canvassing Board. Those ballots and any additional ballots that come in will be counted on November 26, the day before the Election is certified. For more specific election results: http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/WEI/Mason/Elections/electionResults.htm. (Updated 11:10am 11/9)

TRUMAN GLICK PARK GETS MORE THAN $72,000
Mason County's Truman Glick Park is the beneficiary of more than $72,000. According to John Keates, Director of Parks and Trails for the County, the $72,288.27 came from the Estate of Jonathon P. Henderson with the purpose of “developing and maintaining Truman Glick Park” near Matlock. Mr. Henderson and his family frequently visited the Park and decide to dedicate a portion of his estate to the Park's development and maintenance. Mason County has a number of potential capital improvement projects scheduled for Truman Glick Park including ADA improvements, lawn irrigation, children's play equipment, and a small tent camping area. Truman Glick Park is more than 35 acres at 1291 West Ford Road. The Park is open March to September. (Posted 6:55am 11/9)

COUNTY GETTING FUNDS FOR TRAILS AND BOATING
The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board awarded grants worth more than $540,000 to improve trails and boating facilities in Mason County. Mason County was awarded $363,750 to acquire Land for Boat Launch Parking at Latimers Landing. The County will use this grant to buy 2.34 acres adjacent to Latimers Landing. The county is looking at the property for additional parking and other services for boaters, such as a restroom and small picnic area. The County is also getting $50,000 for architectural design, construction drawings, engineering services and permits to renovate the boat launch, ramp and dock and to expand the entry road and parking at the Mason Lake boat launch. Another $50,000 will go to the County for planning the Camp Govey Backcountry Trail. Mason County will use this grant to create a master plan for a trail on Green Diamond Resource Company forest land. And the Washington Department of Natural Resources is receiving $76,300 for planning the Sand Hill Off-Road Vehicle Trail Head. DNR will use this grant to plan the relocation of an offroad vehicle trail head in the Tahuya State Forest. The department wants to relocate an off-road vehicle trail head from the Sand Hill Gravel Pit to a nearby, more suitable location. (Posted 6:55am 11/9)

MURRAY SECURES FUNDS FOR MASON COUNTY
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that she has secured more than $153 million for transportation, housing, and economic development projects in Washington State including nearly $1.3 Million for the Skokomish Tribe and Mason Transit. The announcement came after members of both the Senate and House of Representatives approved a Conference Report on the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill. As Chair of the Senate THUD Appropriations Subcommittee, Murray led negotiations in the Conference Committee. In the THUD Bill is $1 Million to help the Skokomish Tribe realign U.S. Highway 101, improve the line of sight, create a safe entrance onto the access road leading to the tribe's new housing development, and improve overall safety conditions along the road. Also in the bill is $280,000 to allow Mason Transit to purchase new vehicles to support rural mobility needs. President Bush, however, is threatening to veto the bill.(Posted 6:55am 11/9)

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
The Shelton School District Board of Directors is looking for nominations for its “Community Partners for Kids Award”. According to Superintendent Joan Zook, the Shelton School Board established the award earlier this year to recognize and show appreciation to individuals, groups, or businesses that have made exemplary contributions to public education. Awards are given twice a school year and the School Board is looking for nominations from the general community, community organizations, businesses, Shelton School District employees and students. Nomination forms and criteria are available at the District's Administration Services Building at 700 South First Street or by calling 426-1687. (Posted 6:55am 11/9)

G-I-S DAY IS WEDNESDAY
The Mason County Geographic Information Systems Department, also known as G-I-S, is presenting G-I-S Day along with other local agencies. G-I-S Day is Wednesday, during the National Geographic Society's Geography Awareness Week, which is next week. The G-I-S department will be highlighting how G-I-S is being used displaying maps and posters of Mason County at the Shelton Civic Center from 10am to 7pm. Those who attend can use a computerized map, learn about mapping projects and purchase maps among other things. Again, G-I-S Day is Wednesday at the Shelton Civic Center. (Posted 6:55am 11/9)

JUDGE TEMPORARILY BLOCKS WAR OBJECTOR'S COURT MARTIAL
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Army from conducting a second court-martial of an Iraq war objector based at Fort Lewis. The judge says it's likely the second trial would violate the soldier's constitutional rights. U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle granted an emergency motion for a stay yesterday in Tacoma. Yet no court martial will be held for 1st Lieutenant Ehren Watada pending the outcome of his claim that it would violate his Fifth Amendment rights by trying him twice for the same charges. Watada's first court-martial ended in a mistrial in February. Settle wrote that the military judge likely abused his discretion in declaring the mistrial. Watada is charged with missing his unit's deployment to Iraq in June 2006 and with conduct unbecoming an officer for denouncing President Bush and the war. If convicted, he could be sentenced to six years in prison and be dishonorably discharged. Watada contends the war is illegal and that he would be party to war crimes if he served in Iraq. The Army refused his request to be posted in Afghanistan or elsewhere. One of Watada's lawyers ... Kenneth Kagan ... called Settle's decision "an enormous victory," but emphasized "it is not yet over." Settle did not indicate what the next steps would be. Fort Lewis spokesman Joseph Piek said the judge acted "so that he may hear further evidence on the double jeopardy issue." Piek says the Army looks forward to the opportunity to file additional briefs to further explain to the District Court judge the full extent of the protections and safeguards" afforded under the military justice system at the trial court and appellate levels. On October 5, Settle ruled that his court had jurisdiction on the request for an emergency stay and that Watada's claim was "not frivolous." That ruling effectively blocked the scheduled October 9 start of the second court-martial. The judge then asked for additional briefs, leading to yesterday's ruling. Watada's term of service in the military ended in December, but the legal proceedings have prevented his discharge. He lives in Olympia and continues to perform administrative duties at Fort Lewis, south of Seattle.(Posted 6:55am 11/9)

WASHINGTON MAN COMPLETES 5,000-MILE CANER WALK
A Washington State man has completed a nearly 5,000-mile walk that raised $11,000 for cancer research. Matt Gregory, of Bellingham, raised the funds in memory of his late mother, who died from the disease. Gregory yesterday ended his trek by touching a buoy-like monument in Key West that delineates the spot as the southernmost point in continental America. He then jumped into the Atlantic Ocean. Gregory began his walk September 1st, 2006, after quitting his job as a beverage distributor. Money raised from the walk will go to Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where Gregory's mother had a bone marrow transplant in 1979. She died in 1999.(Posted 6:55am 11/9)

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK SUPER TO RETIRE
The Olympic National Park superintendent is retiring. Bill Laitner says he'll step down January 3 after working 34 years with the National Park Service. The 60-year-old Laitner took on the superintendent's post in 2003. After his retirement, an interim director will be named and a national search for a new director will begin. During his park career, Laitner has worked at Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, Death Valley, Guadalupe Mountains, Everglades and North Cascades national parks, plus Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Amistad National Recreation and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. (Posted 6:55am 11/9)

NEWS BRIEFS FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR 11/9/07:

It's unclear how soon local governments can raise property taxes because of the state Supreme Court decision lifting the 1 percent annual limit. The state Revenue Department says local governments face a Nov. 30 deadline for announcing what their taxes will be for 2008.

The National Weather Service says the cold front blowing through Washington today will bring snow at times this weekend in the highway mountain passes.

The Fort Lewis lieutenant who refuses to fight in Iraq may escape court martial. A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily stopped the Army from conducting a second court martial of Ehren Watada. The first one ended in a mistrial, and his lawyers say he can't be tried twice for the same offense.

Some state lawmakers say they'll write a law requiring pharmacists to fill prescriptions for the "morning after" pill. A federal judge ruled yesterday that druggists could refuse to fill the prescription if they opposed emergency contraception on moral grounds.

Protesters unhappy with federal immigration policy say they'll demonstrate today and tomorrow in Tacoma at the Northwest Detention Center, which holds as many as 1,000 people.

A pilot accused of sexually abusing children at his Lake Tapps home is scheduled to appear in court today in Tacoma. He was returned yesterday from Atlanta where he was arrested. Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer says detectives believe sex crimes also may have occurred in Chelan County.

PORT ADOPTS 2008 BUDGETS
The Port of Shelton Commission has adopted its budgets for 2008. The Port's Capital Budget totals over $2.5 Million ($2,545,198). The two largest projects next year are improvements to Oakland Bay Marina and new hangars at Sanderson Field. The projects at the marina include a new bulkhead (estimated to cost $534,030 but $350,000 is being requested in 2008), a floating restroom (estimated to cost $108,925), and parking lot paving (total cost: $103,174; $76,000 requested in 2008). Construction of the hangars at the Airport is estimated to cost nearly $800,000 ($793,273). The Port's 2008 Operating Budget has expenses of $1,591,000 and revenues of $1,830,000 resulting in an operating cash flow of $239,000. Among the Port's revenues is a property tax levy of just over $615,000. The property tax levy in 2008 is a continuation of 2007 levels. The Commission approved three resolutions Tuesday. One adopting the budget; one setting the property tax levy; and the third adopting amendments to the Port's Comprehensive Plan. (Posted 8:05am 11/8)

PORT PURCHASES BUILDING
The Port of Shelton Commission has approved the purchase of a building owned by Benchmark Knife and Saw. The 5,000 square foot building is located at 261 West Business Park Road. The purchase price is $165,000. This building was build about ten years ago by Shelton Saw on land leased from the Port. If the Port were to construct a building of this size, the cost would be well above the purchase price. Port officials say the building will pay for itself quickly as there is already a potential tenant for it. (Posted 8:05am 11/8)

CITY TO AWARD PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION
The City of Shelton has an apparent low bidder for constructing the wastewater and reclaimed water lines that will serve the Washington Corrections Center and the State Patrol Academy. Tuesday, Dennis McDonald, Regional Project Manager, updated the Port of Shelton Commission on the project to construct a satellite water reclamation plant and associated water and sewer lines. The pipelines will be constructed across Port property. That portion of the project will go to Pape and Sons Construction if bid review determines they are the lowest responsible bidder. Construction will begin in February with completion of the lines and the treatment plant scheduled for fall of 2010. The City will be seeking bids for the reclamation plant in December. (Posted 8:05am 11/8)

COUNTY REFINING 2008 BUDGET
The Mason County Commission has asked department heads and elected officials to take another look at their budget requests for 2008. When the County's Preliminary Budget for next year was released in September, there was a $4.8 Million difference between budget requests and the expected revenues. The Commissioners have been reviewing those requests and have asked for revisions from each department and office. Those revisions are due to the Commissioners Friday so the County can draft a balanced budget for next year. That budget is expected later this month. The Preliminary 2008 Budget totaled over $125.4 Million. This included nearly $33.8 Million in General Fund requests with projected General Fund revenues at $28.9 Million. The Mason County Commission must adopt a balanced budget for next year before the end of this year. Public hearings on the budget will be scheduled. (Posted 8:05am 11/8)

RUSTLEWOOD WATER RATE INCREASE CONSIDERED
Mason County is considering increasing the water rate for the customers of the Rustlewood Water System by $10. This increase is needed to help pay for upgrades to the system. The increase would make the monthly water rate $30 and bring Rustlewood residents' total monthly bill for water and sewer to $100. During a public hearing on the rate increase, the President of the Rustlewood Community Association, Gene Bush, asked the County for more information about the problems with the systems. Bush also requested the Commission delay action until a community meeting can be held on the rate increase. The Commissioners decided to delay action until December 11th, giving staff time to meet with Rustlewood's residents. Recently, the County has been focusing its efforts on the community's sewer system and has not raised the water rate since 1992. (Posted 8:05am 11/8)

MC LANE COVE BRIDGE WORK TO BEGIN THIS MONTH
Work to replace McLane Cove Bridge is scheduled to begin later this month. Mason County awarded the construction contract for the project to Five Rivers Construction Incorporated out of Longview. Their low bid was $1,409,500.76. The project will require Grapeview Loop Road to be closed for eight months. The road will be closed between milepost 2.45 and milepost 2.55 starting at 8am November 26th. The road will be reopened on July 24th. (Posted 8:05am 11/8)

ONE ARRESTED IN WAR PROTEST AT PORT OF OLYMPIA
Police have used batons to clear roads around the Port of Olympia during an anti-war protest. One person was arrested last night as demonstrators tried to prevent combat vehicles from leaving the port. The protests follow the arrival of a military ship with gear for a Stryker brigade that recently returned to Fort Lewis from Iraq. The demonstrations drew more than 100 people and began relatively calm. As the night wore on, though, some protesters began chasing the military convoys to try to stand in front and block them. Others dumped garbage on the road to try to stop the convoys. Police Commander Tor Bjornstad says some officers were spat on by the demonstrators. Nonetheless, he says police tried to use a minimum level of force. The protests also drew a counter-demonstration by about two dozen military supporters.(Posted 8:05am 11/8)

A judge in Italy has delayed a decision until tomorrow on how long to keep a University of Washington student in jail as police investigate the death of her roommate. The defense lawyer for 20-year-old Amanda Knox of Seattle says she is innocent. (Posted 8:05am 11/8)

COURT RULES I-747 UNCONSTITUTIONAL
The state Supreme Court has ruled that Initiative 747, a Tim Eyman property-tax limit, is unconstitutional. Voters approved the measure in 2001 to cap property tax increases at one percent a year. Opponents say voters were misled. A King County Superior Court judge ruled last year that the measure was unconstitutional. The case was argued before the state Supreme Court in May. (Updated 9:25am 11/8)

LAKE TAPPS MAN FACING CHILD SEX ABUSE CHARGES
The Lake Tapps man who accused of sexually abusing boys in his home is being returned today from Atlanta where he was arrested on a business trip. The Pierce County sheriff's office says 47-year-old Weldon Marc Gilbert also is suspected of molesting children in Chelan County. Sheriff's deputies are bringing him back for a court appearance on tomorrow in Pierce County Superior Court. Investigators believe Gilbert raped boys at his home over a six-year period and he videotaped much of the abuse. (Updated 9:25am 11/8)

CRASH RENEWS FOCUS ON CABLE BARRIERS
A crash on Interstate 5 is renewing questions about the usefulness of cable barriers along highways. A 17-year-old boy was flown to Harborview Medical Center after his Honda Civic passed under a cable barrier near Centralia yesterday and struck a pickup in the opposite lanes. The state Transportation Department says it was the first crossover accident since the barriers were installed there in 2004. Last February, Gov. Christine Gregoire ordered a review of freeway cable barriers after several serious accidents on I-5 near Marysville. The D-O-T says 96 percent of the vehicles that struck cable median barriers between 1999 and 2005 were contained entirely by the barrier system. Still, 18 vehicles passed through the cables between Arlington and Marysville from 1999 to 2005.(Posted 8:05am 11/8)

MURRAY OPPOSES MUKASEY NOMINATION
If federal judge Michael Mukasey is to become the new U.S. attorney general, he'll do it without the support of Washington state's senior senator. Sen. Patty Murray says she had hoped to vote for him, but after meeting with him she was not convinced Mukasey would stand up to President Bush if he crossed the boundaries of his authority. Murray says that's a crucial quality for whoever will take over following the disastrous tenure of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. (Posted 8:05am 11/8)

UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS
The unofficial election results from Tuesday's General Election have Mason County's sales tax measure to fund emergency communications passing, the City of Shelton's property tax levy lid lift to fund residential street maintenance failing, close races for Shelton Commissioner of Finance and Shelton Mayor, and some changes for some school boards.

Mason County Proposition No. 1, the sales tax increase to fund emergency communications, is passing 68.74% to 31.26%. That's 8,249 in favor and 3,751 against.

A tight race for Shelton City Commissioner of Finance, incumbent Mike Byrne leads Chase Gallagher by 16 votes. Byrne has 581 votes (50.13%) to Gallagher's 565 (48.71%).

In the race for Shelton Mayor, incumbent John Tarrant has a 65 vote lead on Gary Cronce. Tarrant has 670 votes (51.94%) to Cronce's 605 (46.9%).

The City of Shelton's property tax levy lid lift, Proposition No. 1, is failing with nearly 60% (59.89%) voting against. That's 781 voting "no" and 523 voting "yes".

In the race for Port of Shelton Commission, District No. 3 Commissioner, the seat currently held by Marlene Taylor, Jay Hupp is the leader with 67.53% (2,421 votes) to Rahn Redman's 31.74% (1,138).

The two contested races for Shelton School Board have incumbent Sue McCausland leading Steve DeMiero 1,689 votes (60.82%) to 1,062 (38.24%) for Director District One. Gene Crater leads Marty Best 1,622 votes (62.36%) to 954 votes (36.68%) for Director District Two, the seat currently held by Marty Crow.

Two incumbents on the Hood Canal School Board appear to be out. Deborah Peterson is leading Sheryl Kroneman 689 votes (54.9%) to 554 votes (44.14%) for Director District Three. And Bob Sund is ahead of Sara Endicott 768 votes (55.74%) to 606 votes (43.98%) for Director District Five.

In the Southside School District, Nicole Cougher leads Don Robbins 52.71% to 47.29% or 175 votes to 157 votes for Position One.

The North Mason School Board will have some new faces. Art Wightman, the incumbent for Director District One, is leading Dave Kinnee 63.13% (1,897 votes) to 36.31% (1,091 votes). For Director District Three, Laura Boad leads incumbent Ken VanBuskirk 2,182 votes (68.72%) to 985 (31.02%). And in the Director District Four race, John Campbell leads incumbent Glenn Landram 2,176 votes (68.75%) to 975 (30.81%).

Also in the North Mason area, voters overwhelmingly approved the formation of Mason County Public Hospital District Number Two by 84.29% to 15.71%. That's 1,905 voting for the new hospital district and 355 voting against. Voters also decided on the five member commission to govern the new hospital district. The only contested race was for Position Three and Peggy VanBuskirk is the top vote getter with 988 (50.46%), followed by Ryan Cloud with 706 (36.06%) and Harry Martin with 251 (12.82%). The other hospital district commissioners are Kaye Massie, Herb Gerhardt, Bev Wendell, and Ray Stutz.

In the fire District Commission races: Shelby Blackwell leads Chris Ladner 794 votes (52.83%) to 694 (46.17%) for Fire District Two Commission. Pat McGanney is ahead of Del Griffey 1,346 (51.99%) to 1,200 (46.35%) for Fire District Five Commission. Steve Levette leads Robert Close 243 (51.16%) to 227 (47.79%) for Fire District Six Commission. Jake Frey is ahead of Dick Andrews 113 votes (51.36%) to 106 (48.18%) for Fire District 16 Commission. Jim Mitchell leads Terry Brazil 262 votes (65.83%) to 130 (32.66%) for Fire District 18 Commission. And Fire District Eight's Emergency Medical Services levy is passing with 64.57% in favor and 35.43% against (164 voting yes, 90 voting no). This measure imposes a 25 cent per thousand of assessed value for six years to fund E-M-S in the Tahuya area.

The Elections Division in the Mason County Auditor's Office has counted 12,228 ballots from this election making the turnout 40.6%. Election officials expect as many as 4,000 more ballots by the next tally which is Friday morning. The Election will be certified on November 27th. For more specific election results: http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/WEI/Mason/Elections/electionResults.htm. (Updated 7:45am 11/7)

Other Election News:
Tim Eyman has declared victory for his anti-tax Initiative 960. It has a 52-to-48 percent lead in votes reported so far from yesterday's election. The initiative would make it harder for lawmakers to raise taxes and require the process to be more open.
Voters apparently don't want to make it easier for school districts to raise property taxes. The constitutional amendment that would lower the required vote from 60 percent to a simple majority is failing, 52-48 percent.
Washington voters have approved a constitutional amendment to create a rainy day fund, 68-32 percent. Voters favor an amendment to allow contract work for state prisoners, 60-40 percent. Voters also favor an amendment to allow colleges to invest permanent funds in the stock market, 53-47 percent.
The insurance industry spent more than $11 million trying to kill Referendum 67 -- and lost. Voters sided with trial lawyers who say customers should be allowed triple damages if an insurance company unreasonably denies a claim.Voters in Seattle, Tacoma and Everett are turning down a regional transportation tax package. It would have raised sales and car taxes in the region to pay for $18 billion in spending on roads and light rail.
In King County, interim King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg is leading in the race to win the job on his own. In Spokane, appointed Mayor Dennis Hession is trailing his challenger, City Councilwoman Mary Verner. Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon is easily winning re-election.For specific numbers on the statewide measures: http://vote.wa.gov/elections/WEI/Results.aspx?ElectionID=0&RaceID=0&RaceTypeCode=M. (Posted 7:45am 11/7)

CITY COMMISSION HOLDS HEARING ON 2008 BUDGET
The Shelton City Commission held the first hearing on the City's 2008 Preliminary Budget. At more than $54.8 Million ($54,858,283) the budget for next year is 11% higher than this year's budget. The main reason for the increase is an increase in projects in 2008. Among those projects are the construction of the Satellite Wastewater Treatment Plant, upgrades to the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant, and construction of a new Fire Station as well as an increase in street maintenance if the City's Property Tax Levy Lid Lift passes. The 2008 Budget has similar staffing level as 2007 but there will be five additional employees from the consolidation of the Emergency Communications Center and a new halftime employee in the Financial Services Department. One of the major challenges for the City is its General Fund, which has been dwindling over the past few years. To view a copy of the City of Shelton's 2008 Preliminary Budget, log onto the City's website: www.ci.shelton.wa.us, or go to the Shelton Civic Center. A final hearing on the City's 2008 Budget is scheduled for December 3rd. (Posted 7:05am 11/6)

GAS CLEANUP DECLARED EMERGENCY
The Shelton City Commission has declared an emergency in order to get the gasoline contaminated soil under the First and Franklin intersection cleaned up. By declaring the clean up an emergency, the City waived the competitive bidding process in order to expedite work. City staff is expected to bring a contract with the clean up firm to the City Commission next Tuesday. Work will require the intersection to be closed for about two weeks. (Posted 7:05am 11/6)

CITY RECYCLING BIN SURPLUS
The Shelton City Commission has declared 2000 old recycling bins surplus. The City has gone to a new dual stream recycling system and is not using the old 14-gallon bins. With the surplus, resident can keep the bins for other uses or return them to the City. The City will then give them to Mason County Garbage for use by County residents. The only stipulation is that Mason County Garbage can not sell the bins. (Posted 7:05am 11/6)

CONTRACTOR SELECTED FOR SEWER BASIN 5 DESIGN
The City of Shelton has selected a contractor to design Sewer Basin 5. This project will reduce Inflow and Infiltration, which is also known as I&I, from the sewer system in the Hillcrest area. The City will contract with Roth Hill Engineering Partners, LLC for design engineering, environmental permitting, and surveying of Basin 5. The contract amount is $824,000. Shelton City Commission is expected to approve the contract at its next meeting. (Posted 7:05am 11/6)

YOST VACATION APPROVED
The Shelton City Commission has approved the vacation of a portion of Birch Street. Michael and Joshua Yost requested the vacation that split their parcel at 112 East Birch Street. The Yost's would like to rebuild a single family home on that parcel. (Posted 7:05am 11/6)

COUNTY COMMISSION MEETS TUESDAY WITH A FULL AGENDA
The Mason County Commission has a full agenda for their regular meeting at nine this morning. There are 20 consent agenda items, two public hearings and staff recognitions on the County Commissioners' draft agenda. The hearings are on changes to the Hearing Examiner fees and revised rates for the Rustlewood Water System. The hearings are scheduled to begin at 9:30am. At 10am, the County Commission meets as the Skokomish Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors. During that meeting, the Commissioners will consider contribution of $20,000 for the Skokomish River Restoration efforts and consider spending $130,000 for the Skokomish River General Investigation Study by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. The Mason County Commission meets in their chambers at 411 North Fifth Street in Shelton, again at nine this morning. (Updated 7:05am 11/6)

BREMERTON SOLDIER KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN
An Army adviser from Washington state who was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, has been killed in an attack in Afghanistan. 41-year-old Sergeant 1st Class Johnny C. Walls died on Friday after being attacked by small arms fire. Walls was a cannon crew member serving on a transition team assigned to the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley. Transition teams serve as advisers to the Afghanistan military and police. Walls entered the Army in September 1985 and deployed with his transition team in April, his second tour related to the U.S. war on terrorism.(Posted 7:05am 11/6)

GRAHAM REVIVAL AT TACOMA DOME
Evangelist Franklin Graham's three-day festival at the Tacoma Dome had an attendance of 25,988 for four events. A spokeswoman says the largest crowd was Saturday night's turnout of 9,345, followed by 8,325 Friday night. A Saturday morning children's event drew 3,608 and Sunday afternoon's final meeting attracted 4,710. The Tacoma festival had at least 1,500 volunteers and a $1.2 million budget. More than 200 churches worked together to put on the festival. Graham is the son of evangelist Billy Graham. (Posted 7:05am 11/6)

GOV HOLDS TOWN MEETING IN TACOMA
The town hall meeting Governor Gregoire held last night in Tacoma with 700 people was the last of six she held across the state this fall. Gregoire says she'll use the information she has learned in establishing priorities for state government.(Posted 7:05am 11/6)

ROY MAYOR REMOVED
The mayor of the Pierce County town of Roy has been removed from office for an investigation whether she broke the law by registering to vote and being elected to office as a convicted felon. Kim Eldridge reportedly pleaded guilty to theft 20 years ago, and it's unknown whether she legally regained her right to vote.(Posted 7:05am 11/6)

MORE REPORTS OF ABUSE BY LAKE TAPPS MAN
The Pierce County sheriff's office says it has had 10 reports in the past several days of child sexual abuse involving a Lake Tapps man. Weldon Marc Gilbert is already facing charges involving two brothers. Detectives are reviewing video seized from his home. Gilbert was arrested Thursday in Atlanta.(Posted 7:05am 11/6)

FORMER PRISONER SUING D-O-C
A former state prison inmate whose penis and other tissue were removed because of flesh-eating disease is suing the state Department of Corrections. Sixty-year-old Charlie Manning says the doctor at the Stafford Creek Correctional Center near Aberdeen misdiagnosed an infection and left him in constant pain.(Posted 8:25am 11/5)

ROAD WORK ON STATE HIGHWAY
Slope stabilization and sweeping will impact travel this week. The emergency slope stabilization project continues on U.S. Highway 101 at Sunnyside Road. Work near milepost 338 (approximately six miles north of Shelton in the Skokomish Valley) began Oct. 22 and should be complete next week. This week, motorists can expect intermittent alternating, single-lane traffic control with flaggers and occasional shoulder closures Monday through Friday. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those who drive into Kitsap County should watch out for a moving operation on northbound Highway 3 between the Highway 16 interchange and Loxie Eagans Boulevard (mileposts 34.3 - 37.0) Tuesday for sweeping along the Jersey barrier wall. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This work is weather dependent.(Posted 8:25am 11/5)

ANOTHER STAPH INFECTION CONFIRMED IN PORT TOWNSEND
The Port Townsend School District has canceled a preschool class at one of its elementary schools after confirming a second case of a drug-resistant staph infection. An adult in Grant Street Elementary School's preschool has been treated for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA (pronounced MER-suh), and is no longer considered contagious. But Principal Steve Finch says the preschool will be closed today and tomorrow so crews can disinfect the classroom. The rest of the school will hold classes as usual. Last week, a football player at Port Townsend High School was diagnosed with MRSA, prompting school officials close down the school gym and weight room and cancel the final football game of the year. Since then, a second Port Townsend football player and student from Prairie Elementary School in Yelm, about 80 miles south in Thurston County, also have been tested for MRSA. (Posted 8:25am 11/5)

TRAIN DERAILMENT IN MONTESANO
Officials say it could take a week or more to clear the scene where a freight train derailed yesterday in Grays Harbor County. Authorities say no one was injured when five cars carrying soybeans ran off the tracks in Montesano around 1 a.m.. The cars belong to Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad. The Washington State Patrol closed some roads near the scene of the derailment for about an hour and a half. The cause of the derailment was under investigation. (Updated 8:25am 11/5)

ELECTION PREVIEW – VOTERS HAVE A FULL BALLOT

With no statewide candidates on the ballot, six issues - an initiative, a referendum and four constitutional amendments - dominate Tuesday's election. Voters in the heavily populated areas of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties are deciding the largest transportation tax package ever placed on a Washington ballot. They are being asked to raise sales and car taxes to put billions into road projects and Sound Transit. Tim Eyman's Initiative 960 calls for more information and votes on tax and fee increases. Referendum 67 is a public vote on a new state law that allows consumers to collect triple damages if their insurer unreasonably denies a claim. The four constitutional amendments deal with creating a “rainy day” state reserve fund, allowing prison inmate contract labor, investing university funds and passing school levies on a simple-majority rather than 60 percent. About half the voters are expected to cast ballots. And about 90 percent of those are being cast by mail. Only King, Pierce and Kittitas counties still open polling stations. Many locales have city, county, port and school board races, as well as local ballot proposals. In Mason County, voters will decide on two position in Shelton (City Commissioner of Finance and Mayor), Port of Shelton Commission, School Board Positions (in Shelton, Southside, Hood Canal, Pioneer, and North Mason school districts), and Fire District Commissions (Districts 2, 5, 6, 16, & 18). There are three ballot measures on the County’s ballot: City of Shelton’s Property Tax Levy Lid Lift to fund street maintenance; Mason County’s Sales Tax increase to help fund improvements to the County’s Emergency Communications Systems; and voters in North Mason will decide whether to allow the formation of Mason County Public Hospital District Number Two as well as elect a five member hospital comission. Mason County is an all vote by mail county and ballots should be returned to the Mason County Auditor’s Office by 8pm Tuesday. There are ballot drop boxes located in from of the County’s Building One, 411 North Fifth Street in Shelton; at the North Mason Chamber of Commerce Office in Belfair; and at the Hood Canal Visitor Information Center in Hoodsport. If mailing in your ballot, it must have a postmark no later than November 6^th. 1030 KMAS and Mason County Daily News will have election results as soon as they are released after 8pm Tuesday. (Posted 10:25am 11/4)

FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILS IN MONTESANO

A freight train has derailed in Grays Harbor County. Authorities say no one was injured when five cars carrying soybeans ran off the tracks in Montesano around 1 a.m. Sunday. The cars belong to Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad. Washington State Patrol closed some roads near the scene of the derailment for about an hour and a half. Officials say it could take a week or more to clear the scene. The cause of the derailment is under investigation. (Posted 10:25am 11/4) 

UPS PILOT ARRESTED ON RAPE CHARGES

A pilot from Washington State was arrested in Atlanta on charges he sexually assaulted at least 20 boys at his home over a six-year period and videotaped much of the abuse. Police and FBI agents arrested 47-year-old Weldon Marc Gilbert on Thursday and charged him with nine sex crimes, including child rape, child molestation and sexual exploitation of a minor. Gilbert, a resident of Lake Tapps, is a pilot for United Parcel Service. Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer says more charges are likely. He says police are reviewing more than 100 videotapes and DVDs found at Gilbert's home, many of which contain what Troyer calls “very disturbing graphic images.” Troyer says police believe Gilbert used a helicopter to give rides to some of the young boys, who range in age from 12 to 17. Afterward, Gilbert allegedly would take them to his house, get them intoxicated, tie them down, beat them and perform sexual acts on them with a tape recorder rolling. Investigators began looking into Gilbert on Tuesday after two men reported they suspected their younger brothers were being molested by Gilbert. One alleged victim, now 18, told police he was molested by Gilbert beginning in 2001 after his father died. The teen also gave police a videotape this week allegedly showing Gilbert abusing the alleged victim's 12-year-old brother. (Posted 10:25am 11/4)

MURRAY GIVES DEMOCRATIC RADIO ADDRESS

Sen. Patty Murray is accusing President Bush of “hollow talk” in support of U.S. troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and says the Bush administration has not done nearly enough to provide veterans with the care they need. The Washington state Democrat delivered the weekly Democratic radio address yesterday. She said it was “outrageous” that Bush scolded Democrats for combining spending bills for defense and veterans programs with one for labor, health and education matters. Republicans consider the bill bloated. Bush, in a speech Thursday, also lamented that his emergency spending request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan still languishes. But Murray accused Bush of underfunding the Department of Veterans Affairs and said thousands of troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are “stuck in a bureaucratic nightmare” and aren't getting the health care they need. Murray also said the administration lost the personal data of millions of veterans and failed to correct shoddy outpatient treatment and poor living conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. (Posted 10:25am 11/4)

BENEFIT GARAGE SALE SATURDAY

The employees of Olympic Panel Products are holding a garage sale today (Saturday) to benefit the son of Stacy Allen. Allen died in an on-the-job accident on October 11. The benefit garage sale runs 9am to 3pm at the Union Hall W-38, 1801 West Railroad Avenue in Shelton. (Updated 10:05am 11/3)

SALMON CREEK TRAIL OPENS SATURDAY

The Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail, located between Olympia and Shelton, will be open for visitors on weekends beginning today (Saturday) through the first weekend of December. The trail gives local residents an opportunity to see salmon spawning in their natural environment. The Salmon Trail is located off U.S. Highway 101 on Old Olympic Highway. Go three-quarters of a miles west to a gravel road signed "Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail". The trail parking lot is a half mile from Old Olympic Highway. For more information call (360) 412-0808 or go to www.spsseg.org. (Updated 10:05am 11/3)
 

HIT AND RUN SENDS BICYCLIST TO HARBORVIEW

A 53 year-old Olympia man was critically injured on Sleater-Kinney Road in Thurston County Friday morning after being struck by a car in the northbound lane. According to the State Patrol, about 6:44am the driver of a light green (teal) colored sedan was traveling southbound on Sleater-Kinney Road and passed a vehicle using the northbound lane.  Gregory J. Skinner of Olympia was riding his bicycle on the northbound shoulder in front of South Bay Elementary School and was struck by the sedan. A witness stated the driver of the sedan stopped and checked on the bicyclist and then got back in his car, fleeing the scene. Skinner was transported to St. Peter Hospital for serious injuries and was later transported to Harborview with critical injuries. The State Patrol is requesting the public’s help in the locating the running vehicle.  The sedan, believed to be a 2001 to 2004 Nissan Ultima, will have damage to the left front quarter panel and headlight, and will be missing the driver side mirror.  If you have any information on the running vehicle and/or driver please contact the Washington State Patrol. (Posted 10:05am 11/3)

FOUR NEW VICTIMS OF PASTOR

The Kitsap County sheriff's office reports it has received accounts from four more females who say a former pastor committed sexual abuse against them while they were minors.  It identifies them as are three women and one girl. The sheriff's office says the detectives' latest interviews were with females aged 24, 20, 20 and 16. 60-year-old Robbin Leeroy Harper was charged yesterday by prosecutors with eight felonies in connection with accusations of molestation or rape by five women or girls, all members of The Church in South Colby that Harper previously served as pastor. Harper pleaded not guilty to the charges. Harper remains in the Kitsap County jail in Port Orchard on $500,000 bail. His next appearance in Kitsap County Superior Court will be November 29. (Posted 10:05am 11/3)

PRISON CHIEF RESIGNS

Washington prison chief Harold Clarke is leaving to become the top prison official in Massachusetts. Clarke was acclaimed as one of America's top corrections officials, but a lightning rod in the state. In an interview, Clarke said he was time for him to move on. He acknowledged the controversy that has swirled around him since Governor Chris Gregoire brought him in as a “change agent” to shake up the Department of Corrections. In the past year, ex-convicts, some released early, were implicated in the deaths of three police officers and scores of parole violators were dumped on the streets. Clarke and Gregoire caught the blame for that, and Clarke also was criticized by some of his own staff as he tried to implement a variety of prison reforms, including new community re-entry programs. (Posted 10:05am 11/3)

RUSSELL TRIAL DRAWING TO A CLOSE IN KELSO

The Frederick Russell vehicular homicide trial could go to the jury on Monday in Kelso. Russell is accused of causing the crash that killed three Washington State University students six years ago on the Moscow-Pullman Highway. Court adjourned yesterday before lawyers could get to their closing arguments. After a rebuttal witness for the prosecution on Monday, lawyers are scheduled to deliver their closing comments. One of the final defense witnesses was Russell's mother, who said her son felt threatened when he fled the country in 2001. He was one of the U.S. marshals most-wanted fugitives when he was caught two years ago in Ireland. Prosecutors say Russell was drunk and speeding when his car collided with another car, killing the three WSU students and injuring three others. Defense lawyers have disputed alcohol test results and details of the crash investigation. (Posted 10:05am 11/3)

TACOMA MALL SHOOTER GETS 163 YEARS

A gunman who told 911 dispatchers to "follow the screams" before wounding seven people in a 2005 Tacoma Mall shooting rampage has sentenced to just more than 163 years prison. 22-year-old Dominick S. Maldonado was convicted October 2 of 15 crimes, including attempted murder, assault and kidnapping. Sixty-one years of Maldonado's sentence were imposed as a special sentence for gun crimes. That portion can't be reduced for good behavior, and Maldonado must serve it before the rest of his prison term can begin. Superior Court Judge Linda Lee yesterday handed down the sentence after a hearing that featured statements from Maldonado and two of his victims. Maldonado said he'd been treated unfairly by the justice system, but also said he owed victims and others at the mall that day an apology. The shooting erupted at the mall just days before Thanksgiving in 2005. Four people were taken hostage during the melee, which lasted for several hours. The most seriously wounded victim was left partially paralyzed. During trial, Maldonado's defense argued he was in the throes of a mental disorder and shouldn't have been held responsible for the assault. (Posted 10:05am 11/3)

PRISON GUARD ARRESTED FOR IMPERSONATING A POLICE

The State Patrol reports a state corrections officer at McNeil Island has been arrested on suspicion of impersonating a police officer after he pulled over a woman along Highway 512. The patrol says 31-year-old Mark Ditty, of Auburn, was arrested on Thursday night in Steilacoom as he returned from his job at the prison. Investigators found police scanners and red and blue lights in Ditty's truck. Corrections officials told investigators Ditty did not have the authority to make traffic stops. The patrol says Ditty denied pulled the woman over on Thursday morning. Detectives are concerned there might be additional victims. They say Ditty drives a white 2006 Toyota Tacoma pickup, license number B96820A. There is currently a silver tool box across the truck bed. Anyone who might have been stopped by Ditty is asked to call the State Patrol at 253-536-4376. (Posted 10:05am 11/3)

STUDY RESULTS OF WEBB HILL BIOSOLIDS RECYCLING EXPLAINED

The Webb Hill Biosolids Recycling Facility is having some impact on water quality on its site but more testing will be done. Officials from Mason County, the State Department of Ecology, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Water Resource Inventory Area 16 explained the results of a recently completed study of the Webb Hill site Thursday. Bio Recycling Corporation has operated the Webb Hill facility for the past 15 years and over the past several years, area residents have raised questions about the impacts the facility is having on groundwater, the Skokomish River and Hood Canal. With grant funds, officials hired a consultant, drilled four groundwater monitoring wells, and analyzed samples. Those results showed elevated nitrate levels above the standard in one well located in the center of the facility. A second well had a nitrate level just below the standard. And the other two returned samples with very low or no trace of nitrates. The study also determined that the groundwater is moving in a southwest direction away from Hood Canal. And it was calculated that the groundwater moves very slowly and will take 25 years to move 2,000 feet. As a result of this study, some actions are being taken. Bio Recycling is making adjustments in the facility operations to reduce the application of treated biosolids by 50%, will fund the drilling of additional wells and pay for sample testing. Ecology is evaluating the facility's biosolids permit and could modify it to lower the application rate at Webb Hill. And Mason County Public Health will evaluate drinking water wells in the area. Individual owners who live within 3000 feet down hill from the facility's boundary will be contacted. This further testing will help officials determine what is happening in the groundwater and enable responsible agencies to respond to water quality changes. Another public meeting on the Webb Hill Biosolids Recycling Facility will be held in about a year. To view the entire “Webb Hill Biosolids Facility Hydrogeologic Investigation - Phase 1”, click: http://www.co.mason.wa.us/forms/Community_Dev/webbhill_biosolids.pdf. (Posted 8:05am 11/2)

CITY HOLDING HEARINGS MONDAY

The Shelton City Commission is holding four public hearings Monday night. Top hearing is on the City's $54.8 Million Preliminary 2008 budget. The City Commission will also take testimony on the proposed vacation of a portion of Birch Street, a construction grant for the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the surplus of recycle tubs. The Commission is also expected to take action on a contract to clean up gasoline contaminated soil at First and Franklin, and be briefed on the design contract for Sewer Basin 5. The Shelton City Commission meets in the courtroom at the Civic Center at six Monday night. (Posted 8:05am 11/2)

PORT HOLDING BUDGET HEARING TUESDAY

The Port of Shelton Commission is holding a public hearing Tuesday on its budgets for next year. The Port's 2008 Capital Budget totals over $2.5 Million ($2,545,198). The two largest projects next year are improvements to Oakland Bay Marina and new hangars at Sanderson Field. The projects at the marina include a new bulkhead (estimated to cost $534,030 but $350,000 is being requested in 2008), a floating restroom (estimated to cost $108,925), and parking lot paving (total cost: $103,174; $76,000 requested in 2008). Construction of the hangars at the Airport is estimated to cost nearly $800,000 ($793,273). The Port's 2008 Operating Budget has expenses of $1,591,000 and revenues of $1,830,000 resulting in operating cash flow of $239,000. Among the Port's revenues is property tax levy of just over $615,000. The property tax levy in 2008 is a continuation of 2007 levels. Copies of the Port of Shelton's 2008 Budgets are available by contacting the Port's Administrative Office, 426-1151. The public hearing before the Port Commission is scheduled for 2pm Tuesday in the Commission's Chambers at 21 West Sanderson Way. (Posted 8:05am 11/2)

PT PLAYER GETS MRSA
Port Townsend High School canceled a football game tomorrow because a player has contracted MRSA (MER'-suh), the staph infection that resists antibiotics. The gym is closed today, and parents were told they cold keep children home. They were also told to check children for skin infections or boils. The district plans to have cleaning crews disinfect the school over the weekend. Superintendent Tom Opstad says the district is taking the precautions to be on the safe side. (Posted 8:05am 11/2)

GOV ON MAGAZINE COVER

Governor Chris Gregoire is on Governing magazine's November cover, honored by the insiders' national publication as one of the nation's top public officials. Gregoire is the only governor on the list of nine officials. She's cited for her work on government accountability and her "negotiator-in-chief" style of dealing with tough problems. The magazine calls her a "deft and inclusive dealmaker" and says Gregoire runs one of the most open state governments in the country. The magazine touted her Government Management Accountability and Performance Program, which tracks agencies' progress on public safety, child abuse and other issues. Gregoire will attend an award ceremony next Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Gregoire, a Democrat, is running for re-election next year. Jill Strait, a spokeswoman for Republican challenger Dino Rossi, was critical of Gregoire. Strait said: "Governor Gregoire refuses to make traffic congestion a priority, is failing to protect children in state care, and has put off making decisions on vital issues such as education funding and the state's most dangerous transportation infrastructure." (Posted 8:05am 11/2)

PASTOR PLEADS NOT GUILTY

A former Kitsap County pastor accused of sexual abuse by former church members has been charged with eight felony counts of child rape and child molestation. 60-year-old Robbin Leeroy Harper appeared in Kitsap County Superior Court in Port Orchard today and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The charges stem from incidents that prosecutors say involved five victims between 1994 and 2006. Harper previously served as the pastor of The Church in South Colby, a small, nondenominational congregation. Current church members say he stepped down as pastor more than three years ago. Seven women and girls have accused him of molesting or raping them while he served as pastor. (Updated 8:05am 11/2)

NEW UNIT AT FORT LEWIS

The newest unit at Fort Lewis operates truck-mounted rockets, called the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. They're currently being tested at the Yakima Training Center. Eventually two battalions at Fort Lewis will have a total of 36 launchers. The rocket delivers hundreds of bomblets to a target as far as 40 miles away. (Posted 8:05am 11/2)

AIR QUALITY DROPPING

The Washington Department of Ecology urges Washington residents to voluntarily limit their use of woodstoves and fireplaces for the next several days because of deteriorating air quality conditions. Stagnant air conditions are expected through the weekend. Although conditions may improve temporarily during daylight hours on Thursday, they are expected to worsen again Thursday night. Forecasts show conditions improving Monday. Smoke from burning wood accumulates during stagnant conditions, especially in low-lying areas. Fine particles in smoke can be inhaled deeply into lungs and damage delicate tissues. The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults age 65 and older. During periods of reduced air quality, Ecology also recommends that people reduce air pollution by limiting vehicle trips, combining errands, or using public transportation. (Posted 8:05am 11/1)

REPORT DRAWS CONNECTIONS WITH OXYGEN PROBLEMS

A new Ecology Department report draws a connection between winds, water circulation and low dissolved oxygen in South Puget Sound. The report says that winds coming from the north are better for Budd Inlet's dissolved oxygen, and worse for dissolved oxygen in Case and Carr inlets. Nutrients from sewage treatment plants, home septic systems and lawn fertilizers can worsen dissolved oxygen levels. Low dissolved oxygen is primarily caused by bacterial decomposition of plant and animal matter, which requires oxygen. Excess nutrients added to the water can fuel the problem. Nutrients feed phytoplankton causing algae blooms, and as the tiny organisms die and sink, they decompose, using up vital oxygen in the process. If dissolved oxygen gets too low, fish and other marine animals may suffocate. Anything that discourages mixing of surface-to-deeper water can worsen dissolved oxygen levels. The report finds that wind patterns determine the net direction of water circulation around Harstine Island. It finds also that circulation patterns influence levels of dissolved oxygen near the bottom of the water. Ecology says people can make a difference if they cut back on fertilizers, maintain home septic systems, properly dispose of boat sewage, pick up pet waste, and control stormwater runoff from their property. (Posted 8:05am 11/1)

CLOCK TOWER TO GET CHIMES

The Shelton Clock Tower Committee has been reformed and is beginning a campaign to give the focal point in downtown a voice. The Committee plans on completing the clock tower by adding chimes. According to a news release, the Verdin clock factory can retrofit the tower's clock to "create the sound for Railroad Avenue." The cost of the retrofit is $9,000 and the Committee is selling another 300 personalized bricks to be added to the base of the tower. A brick can be purchased for $50. Brick order forms are available at the Shelton Civic Center, Lynch Creek Floral and Sage Book Store as well as on the City's website: www.ci.shelton.wa.us. Orders for the personalized bricks will be taken until March or until all bricks are sold. (Posted 8:05am 11/1)

TWO REMAIN IN SERIOUS CONDITION AFTER LACEY CRASH

Two Olympia High School sophomores who were injured in a two-vehicle crash in Lacey are in serious condition in intensive care at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center. An Olympia High junior also injured in the accident on Tuesday is in satisfactory condition at Harborview. The male junior and two female sophomores were airlifted to Harborview. Principal Matt Grant says with the students at Harborview, there are a lot of unknowns and there's a lot of anxiety. Two other Olympia High students sustained less serious injuries in the crash. One female junior was released from a hospital last night. She is the sister of one of the more seriously injured sophomores at Harborview. Another female junior is in stable condition at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma. (Updated 8:05am 11/1)

BUS DRIVER SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORN

A former Bremerton School District bus driver and supervisor has been sentenced to 34 months in prison for voyeurism and possessing child pornography. 56-year-old Richard S. Moore was sentenced yesterday in Port Orchard by Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Theodore Spearman. In August, Moore pleaded guilty to charges filed by prosecutors. Moore was an employee for the Bremerton School District from 1974 to 2004 and was a bus driver and warehouse worker until 1989. He became the district's transportation director until his retirement. (Posted 8:05am 11/1)

D-O-C TO PAY

The Department of Corrections will pay $65,000 to settle a lawsuit over its refusal to provide electronic versions of benefit records. The case involves a document request by a Tacoma man seeking health care information from state agencies. The Corrections Department has supplied the electronic records. (Posted 8:05am 11/1)

STUDDED TIRES LEGAL

The winter driving season has begun on Washington highways. Starting today studded tires are legal again, even though the Transportation Department doesn't like them because they wear ruts in highways. The studded tires will have to come off again by April 1. (Posted 8:05am 11/1)