NEWS BRIEFS: B.C. blasts may be heard this week . . . Naval Magazine Indian Island to practice oil spill response Tuesday . . . and other items

Published 12:01 am Sunday, July 12, 2015

B.C. blasts may be heard this week

ESQUIMALT, B.C. — The Department of National Defence/Royal Canadian Navy’s demolition range at Bentinck Island will be in use from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Monday through Friday.

The explosions may echo and possibly be heard on the North Olympic Peninsula.

Bentinck Island is located near Race Rocks in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, about 15 miles from Port Angeles.

It is used as a terrestrial demolition range by the Canadian armed forces.

Naval Magazine Indian Island to practice oil spill response Tuesday

PORT HADLOCK — Naval Magazine Indian Island personnel will conduct an oil spill response exercise Tuesday.

During the exercise, the Navy will practice responding to a simulated oil spill in Port Townsend Bay at the northern point of Indian Island near the ammunition wharf.

Navy personnel will use small boats and place bright-orange containment boom across the water.

“We regularly practice responding to simulated spills to ensure we are ready to respond to a real spill, even if not caused by the Navy, and help protect the shorelines,” said Bill Kalina, environmental program site manager for the Indian Island facility.

Although the public will not be impacted by this exercise, nearby residents and boaters may see oil spill response activity and equipment in the water that day from late morning to early afternoon, the Navy said.

Response personnel and vehicles also may be seen on the Navy’s ammunition wharf as part of this exercise.

No impact to road or water traffic is anticipated, the Navy said.

PenCom problems

PORT ANGELES — Dispatch services were back to normal Saturday morning after air-conditioning condensation disrupted Clallam County’s emergency dispatch center’s equipment Thursday.

Most of the service had been restored by midmorning Friday as city, county, Peninsula Communications (PenCom) and Richmond’s Radio Services personnel worked to repair the water damage.

During the disruption, radio service for the Port Angeles Fire Department, law enforcement in the central and western sectors of the county, and Fire District Nos. 2, 3 and 4 were affected.

PenCom is a division of the Port Angeles Police Department that manages the 9-1-1 service in Clallam County as well as its emergency and non-emergency fire and law enforcement dispatches.

Drought forum

PORT HADLOCK — A forum on drought is scheduled at Chimacum Creek Primary School, 313 Ness’ Corner Road, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

A panel will discuss what the drought could mean locally.

Various resource providers also will be present for homeowners and businesses. Time for answers to specific questions and concerns is being scheduled.

The forum is organized by the North Olympic Development Council.

Speakers include representatives of WSU Extension Jefferson County, the Jefferson Public Utility District, the city of Port Townsend, Jefferson County, the state Department of Ecology and Local 20/20.

For more information or to have a resource table at the event, phone Kate Dean at 360-301-1750 or email info@noprcd.org.

Free movies slated

PORT HADLOCK — The Jefferson County Library is showing free movies for children, teens and adults this summer.

The films, part of the “Every Hero Has a Story” summer reading program, start with Disneynature’s “Bears” on Monday. The movie, depicting a year in the life of a bear family in Alaska, will screen at 2 p.m.

Next up are Pixar’s original “Toy Story” at 2 p.m. July 20 and “Up,” another animated feature about a 78-year-old who launches himself into the sky via a thousand balloons, at 2 p.m. July 27.

For more about the summer reading program activities and prizes, visit the library at 620 Cedar Ave., phone 360-385-6544 or see www.jclibrary.info.

Senior nutrition

PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles Senior Nutrition Site dinners will be served at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St.

A suggested donation is $5 for those who are 60 or older.

People younger than 60 can attend for $8.

Reservations should be made 24 hours in advance to 360-457-8921.

Menus are subject to change.

■ Tuesday: Green salad, veggie soup, tuna salad sandwich and apricots.

■ Wednesday: Tossed salad, meat lasagna, dill carrots, garlic bread and mixed fruit.

■ Thursday: Cole slaw, barbecue chicken, corn cobbette, steamed greens and cherry cobbler.

■ Friday: Waldorf salad, baked ham, whipped potatoes, Brussels sprouts and carrot cake.