NEWS BRIEFS: State’s 2nd large-scale drill slated … and other items

SPOKANE — Initial planning for the second Cascadia Rising disaster drill has begun, according to KREM-TV.

Geologists have said it’s only a matter of time before a large-scale earthquake hits the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the West Coast of Washington, Oregon, Northern California and Vancouver Island.

KREM-TV reported the Washington Emergency Management Division has started initial planning for its second drill.

The first Cascadia Rising exercise was held two years ago. Officials said the second will happen in four years.

Cascadia Rising was the region’s largest disaster-scenario exercise, testing how local, state and federal agencies would respond if a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit along the Washington and Oregon coast.

Lit Dudley, the exercise and training section manager at the state Emergency Management Division, said the 2022 exercise will test the response of Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Idaho, as well as British Columbia, FEMA, Public Safety Canada and U.S. Northern Command.

Partial lockdown

CLALLAM BAY — Clallam Bay Corrections Center went into a partial lockdown Tuesday after prison staff received a suspicious package, prison officials said.

The package was examined by a State Patrol bomb squad.

“It turned out to be nothing,” said Jeremy Barclay, communications director for the state Department of Corrections.

The package arrived at about 9:25 a.m., prompting a partial lockdown that had a minimal impact on prison operations, Barclay said.

An all clear signal was given at about 1:30 p.m., Barclay said.

Joint health meet

PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Board of Health and Jefferson Healthcare hospital commissioners will discuss the community health improvement plan in a joint meeting at 3 p.m. Friday.

The meeting will be in the Cotton Building at 607 Water St., Port Townsend.

Public comment is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Action might be taken.

Comp plan review

PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County commissioners will continue deliberations on the 2018 comprehensive plan review and Unified Development Code amendments at 10 a.m. Thursday.

The special meeting will be in commissioners’ chambers in the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

Chain gang cleans county

PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Chain Gang measured the CCSO’s fence at its impound yard for privacy screening during the week of April 23-27.

Crew members also shoveled off guardrails on Whiskey Creek, Joyce-Piedmont, Miller, Nordstrom, Freshwater Bay and

Places rods for a total of 2,882 feet of guardrails shoveled.

From April 30 to May 4, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Chain Gang checked the CCSO’s impound yard fence, with Sheriff Benedict and ordered fencing supplies.

Crew members pulled or sprayed approximately 3,000 Scotch broom plants in the Kirner, and Woods Road pits.

Crew members also found two illegal dumpsites at Slab Camp totalling 4,380 pounds of garbage from the dumpsites.

From May 7-11, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Chain Gang hung a “Law Enforcement Week” banner at the State Patrol building and picked up supplies for chain gang and kitchen workers.

Notable items found along roadways were one culvert, four chokers, 17 tires, 25 needles, and three mattresses.

Crew members found an illegal dumpsite at Olympic Hot Springs Road totalling 540 pounds of garbage from the dumpsite.

Crew members also pulled or sprayed 2,340 Scotch broom plants from Quileute, Mt. Pleasant, and Herrick Road pits.

Crew members also cleared 1,320 feet of guardrails on Place and Ennis Creek roads; and Edgewood Drive.

Crew members also found four dumpsites at Slab Camp totalling 5,320 pounds of garbage from the dumpsites.

From May 21-25, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Chain Gang moved a desk from one office to another for CCSO

chief criminal deputy Brian King.

Notable items found along roadways were a car seat, a 55-gallon plastic garbage can, brake parts, ceramic plant holder and pieces of plywood.

Crew members found three illegal dumpsites on Deer Park Road totalling 320 pounds of garbage from the dumpsites.

Crew members also sprayed noxious weeds and pulled approximately

1,950 Scotch broom at Quillayute pit and Forks County Roads Shop with Jim Knape.

From May 28-31, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Chain Gang cleaned up extra garbage around the Clallam County Courthouse parking lot and worked on tool maintenance.

Notable items found along roadways ere four needles, four refrigerator doors, a recliner, two tires, a wood chair, three 55-gallon steel drums, a baby crib, a DVD player, refrigerator drawers, a safe door, metal bed frame, pressure-treated wood, plywood, a mattress, two plastic garbage cans, parts to a boat, an air compressor, two garden

hoses, sheetrock, 2-by-4 lumber, plastic piping, a refrigerator, tar paper for roofing and some wood stairs.

Crew members found illegal dupsites on Woods, Priest and Taylor Cutt Off roads, totaling 2,090 pounds of garbage from the dumpsites.

Crew members also cleaned three miles of Woods Road and 120 pounds of litter.

Crew members also recycled 11 pounds of copper, 48 pounds of aluminum, and two pounds of brass from multiple jobs, worth $20.46.

Crew members also sprayed approximately 200 noxious weeds with Jim Knape at the Whitcomb-Dimmel pit.

Crew members also weedeated 3,135 feet of guardrails on Old Olympic Highway.

The chain gang has so far this year cleaned 52.25 miles of roadway, picked up 41,510 pounds of dump site litter, picked up 3,580 pounds of roadside litter, recycled 272 pounds of aluminum, removed or sprayed 21,635 Scotch broom plants, weedeated 4,389 feet of guardrail, and brushed 4.75 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 10,650 pounds of dumpsite litter; and removed 15 hazard trees.

Soroptimist Noon Club presents awards

PORT ANGELES — The Soroptimist Noon Club recently awarded its Live Your Dream Award and Ruby Award to three area women.

Dream award

The award assists women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them resources to help improve their education skills and employment prospects.

Eligible applicants must be enrolled in a technical skills training program or an undergraduate degree program and they must demonstrate financial need.

A $1,000 award was given to Nitasha Lewis, a Peninsula College Addiction Studies major.

Lewis plans to continue her education at the college by enrolling in the Bachelor of Applied Management degree.

Ramona Valadez, a single mother of three, plans a career in teaching K-8 on the North Olympic Peninsula.

Valadez completed a bachelor’s in Education from Western Governor’s University this spring.

The $500 award assisted Valadez during her full-time student teaching.

Ruby Award

The award honors women who through their professional and personal efforts are making extraordinary differences in the lives of women and girls.

Summer Evert was selected as this year’s recipient.

Evert has worked with Healthy Families of Clallam County for approximately five years.

As an advocate, she works with victims of sexual assault and domestic violence often providing crisis intervention, as well as court support by assisting them with protection orders or sitting with them as their perpetrator’s case moves through the court system.

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