NEWS BRIEFS: Jefferson County airport runway is closed today… and other items

PORT TOWNSEND — The runway at Jefferson County International Airport will be closed to air traffic today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The runway closure will allow stormwater infiltration testing to be conducted in support of the Runway Rehabilitation Project.

Landau & Associates, supported by Seton Construction, will carry out the work.

Reconstruction of the runway is scheduled to begin in summer 2019.

Immigration rally

FORKS — A sign-making event for a Wednesday rally by the Folks for Change of Forks will be held today from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Members of the public are invited to drop by the Forks Library at 171 S. Forks Ave. during that time to make a sign.

In a news release, the group described Wednesday’s rally as being against the “cruel and inhumane separation of children from their parents along the U.S. border with Mexico and at other ports of entry into the U.S.”

The rally will be held 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in front of the Forks Transit Center, 551 S. Forks Ave.

The public is invited to participate.

PASD board

PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles School District Board of Directors will approve the oath of office for Superintendent Martin Brewer by Judge Christopher Melly when it convenes at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The board will meet at the Lincoln Center, 905 W. Ninth St.

Also on the agenda is lunch price and May financial reports from Director of Finance David Knechtel.

An executive session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. before the regular meeting.

To access the full agenda, visit www.portangelesschools.org and click the “Board Docs” icon.

Demolition practice set next week

ESQUIMALT, B.C. — The land-based demolition range at Bentinck Island will be in use Monday, June 25 through Friday, June 29, the Royal Canadian Navy announced.

The range will be in use from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily during that time.

Bentinck Island is located near Race Rocks in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and is used as a terrestrial demolition range by the Canadian Armed Forces.

Local residents will likely be unaware of the activities except on days when environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and wind direction affect how far the sound will travel.

Studies conducted on the potential environmental effects of Bentinck Island demolitions have found that blast noise in the marine environment during land-based demolitions is almost undetectable by acoustic equipment above that of other underwater background sounds such as waves and marine life, the Royal Canadian Navy said in a news release.

Election forum

PORT TOWNSEND — The League of Women Voters and the American Association of University will cosponsor a forum for the 24th Legislative district election Wednesday, June 27.

Members of the public are invited to the forum from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Port Townsend Community Center at 620 Tyler St.

For state Representative Position One will feature the incumbent Mike Chapman and Jodi Wilke, and state Representative Position Two will feature the incumbent Steve Tharinger and Jim McEntire.

A short intermission with coffee and cookies will occur.

Rick Shaneyfelt will moderate the forum.

Law day report

PORT ANGELES — Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers hosted more than 60 lawyers and judges at Kokopeli’s Grill for its annual celebration of Law Day on May 1.

The luncheon is designed to recognize area legal professionals who volunteer their time to ensure that those who are unable to afford legal representation have access to legal services.

CJCPBL attorneys provided a total of approximately 800 hours of volunteer time, and were able to aggregate $6,500 in sponsorships during the event.

Keynote speaker Dean Annette Clark, of Seattle University School of Law, addressed the event’s theme “Separation of Powers: a Framework for Freedom.”

Additionally, the Clallam & Jefferson County Bar Associations collaborate with CJCPBL to choose two local attorneys to receive CJCPBL’s Volunteer of the Year award.

This year, the honor goes to attorneys Nat Jacob of Jefferson County and Carl Gay of Clallam County.

Both Jacob and Gay demonstrated tireless dedication to improving access to justice and service low-income and vulnerable clients in need of civil legal aid services, according to a news release.

PT rotary grants

PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Noon Rotary Club announced that it has awarded a total of $15,700 in Community Grants to 10 area nonprofit organizations.

Rotary’s grants support operating expenses or specific projects and are distributed throughout the county to programs in Port Townsend, Chimacum and Quilcene.

The recipients are Bayside Housing & Services, Camp Beausite NW, Dove House Advocacy Services, Ecumenical Christian Helping Hands Organization, Jefferson County 4-H Salish Spirit Equine Assisted Therapy, St. Vincent de Paul, Quilcene Workshop & Learning Center, Jumping Mouse Children’s Center and JC Mash Clinic.

Funds for rotary’s Community Grant Program and other projects are raised during an annual spring auction and a Christmas wreath sale.

For more information, visit www.porttownsendrotary.org.

Chain gang busy

PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Chain Gang sprayed blackberries and other noxious weeds with Bruce Giddens at the Rainshadow Disc Golf Course during the week of June 4-8.

Notable items found along roadways were three mattresses, three couches, a seat to a van, a metal mattress frame, a cellphone, a metal desk, two box springs, a vacuum, a chest freezer, a toilet, a plastic 55-gallon garbage can, two plastic totes, a utility light, four 5-gallon buckets, an air-conditioning unit and a recliner.

Crew members found illegal dumpsites at Crown Z Water Park, and Lairds Corner; Lower Damn, Deer Park and Little River roads totaling 1,840 pounds of garbage from the dumpsites.

Crew members cleaned 6 miles of Deer Park Road and 140 pounds of litter.

Crew members also weed-eated at total of 1,650 feet of guardrails on Old Olympic Highway and North Barr Road.

From June 11-15, the CCSO Chain Gang towed a camper from a county road.

Notable items found along roadways were 10 needles, one camping trailer and its contents.

Crew members found a dumpsite at Mount Pleasant pit totaling 2,920 pounds of garbage.

Crew members weed-eated a total of 3,795 feet of guardrails on Ennis Creek, Baker Dip, Lees Creek, Monroe and Marsden roads.

The chain gang has so far this year cleaned 58.25 miles of roadway, picked up 45,630 pounds of dumpsite litter, picked up 3,840 pounds of roadside litter, recycled 272 pounds of aluminum, removed or sprayed 21,635 Scotch broom plants, weedeated 9,174 feet of guardrail, and brushed 6 miles of county rights of way.

For the forest service, the chain gang has so far this year cleaned 2 miles of forest roads or trails; removed 11,290 pounds of dumpsite litter; and removed 15 hazard trees.

VHOCC orientation

Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County will hold two informal orientations in Carlsborg and Port Angeles on July 5 and July 6.

The Carlsborg meeting will be held from 11 a.m. to noon July 5.

Those interested in attending are requested to call 360-775-7806 for directions.

The Port Angeles meeting will occur from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. July 6 at hospice’s headquarters at 540 E. Eighth St.

Those who are interested in volunteering, or seeking to learn more about hospice are encouraged to attend the free meetings.

Current volunteer opportunities include an evening or weekend janitor and an equipment cleaner at the Port Angeles office. Both offices are in need of weekday morning delivery drives and helpers.

For more information, call 360-452-1511, visit hospice’s website at www.vhocc.org or its Facebook page.

Cremation for pets is now available

Harper-Ridgeview Funeral Chapel has announced it now offers cremation services for pets called “Peninsula Pet Cremation Services.”

The new service is now available at the funeral chapel, 105 W. Fourth St., Port Angeles, and Sequim Valley Funeral Chapel, 108 W. Alder St.

Office hours for both locations are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

The funeral chapel has partnered with several veterinary clinics and encourages customers to inquire with their veterinarian to see if they work with the funeral chapel, according to a news release.

An at-home retrieval service of deceased animals by the funeral chapel is available.

For more information, call 360-417-3848 or email ocg@olypen.com.

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