Philip Watness

Port Townsend: Production assistant finds Hollywood coming to her town

PORT TOWNSEND -- Page Gehrke escaped La La land a year ago to settle at the remote tip of the Quimper Peninsula. Then Hollywood followed… Continue reading

Shine: State officials get first-hand look at elements that pound Hood Canal Bridge

SHINE -- Rain cascaded off the upper deck of the Hood Canal Bridge and cars swooshed overhead Thursday as a state committee toured underneath the… Continue reading

Horses take center stage during filming of “Ring” on ferry

PORT TOWNSEND -- The rear end of a horse on its way to a starring role in the movie "Ring" was the only glimpse spectators… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Businesses reap boffo economic boon from film crews

PORT TOWNSEND -- Valorie Danielek unloaded 50 pizzas from her delivery van at the Port Townsend ferry dock for the crew of "Ring," the major… Continue reading

Port Townsend: City Council approves code of ethics to handle such complaints close to home

PORT TOWNSEND -- Port Townsend will soon have a code of ethics that far stricter than current state law, but not as strict as some… Continue reading

Port Townsend: City Council approves plan for smaller homes in square blocks

PORT TOWNSEND -- The City Council has unanimously approved an ordinance that will allow more, but smaller, houses. The Cottage Housing Development Ordinance allows developers… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Port, city at odds over 400 seedlings at Kah Tai Lagoon Park

PORT TOWNSEND -- Port commissioners heard an appeal Monday from City Manager David Timmons that they allow the planting of 400 seedlings at Kah Tai… Continue reading

Protection Island: Old buildings to be removed from wildlife refuge

The peace and quiet of Protection Island is being temporarily disturbed as work crews remove several ramshackle buildings from the national wildlife refuge. Work began… Continue reading

Jefferson: Redistricting plan calls for horizontal county divisions

PORT TOWNSEND -- Residents and elected officials are mostly in agreement over a redistricting plan that would divide Jefferson County horizontally. Most of the several… Continue reading

Peninsula: Governor unfreezes funds for historical projects

Several North Olympic Peninsula projects will be funded now that Gov. Gary Locke has lifted a freeze on capital funding. Locke released money for state… Continue reading

Indian Island: Military operations at naval magazine increase

U.S. Navy officials have idled the 206-foot crane installed at Indian Island Naval Magazine to allow for stepped up security and increased ordnance operations. The… Continue reading

Jefferson: Reading study targets local families

PORT TOWNSEND -- University of Washington researcher Colleen Huebner knows parents can use a proven reading method to help develop their toddlers' language skills. What… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Clock ticking for – Noi”i – owner

PORT TOWNSEND -- A 90-day clock had already started against the owner of the 65-foot Noi'i wooden boat found sinking Sunday at Boat Haven. The… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Council members seek strict ethics

PORT TOWNSEND -- City Council members want a code of ethics stricter than a proposed ordinance drafted by City Attorney John Watts. Councilman Allen Frank… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Agency may use law it helped pass to deal with derelict boat

Port of Port Townsend officials may need to apply for state money to get rid of a derelict boat. Port Executive Director Larry Crockett said… Continue reading

Collector appreciates late former Beatle for his musicanship

Chester Prudhomme of Port Townsend collects George Harrison memorabilia, not because of its potential value but because he likes the former Beatle's musicianship. Harrison died… Continue reading

Snow blankets Jefferson County

Snow caught Jefferson County residents by surprise Wednesday morning, causing schools to cancel classes, buses to make U-turns and drivers to slide into ditches. According… Continue reading

Jefferson: Accused killer to undergo mental evaluation – — – again

PORT TOWNSEND -- The man accused in the 1992 stabbing death of 15-year-old Allison Tornensis of Quilcene will have a second mental evaluation, this time… Continue reading

Naomi Watts to star in “Ring”

PORT TOWNSEND -- A British-born actress poised to come into her own and a veteran British actor will be featured in the movie "Ring," set… Continue reading

Jefferson: Commissioners vote for 1 percent property tax increase

Jefferson County commissioners voted Monday to raise property taxes by just 1 percent for 2002 -- although the total proposed county budget will be 11.5… Continue reading