Philip Watness

Port Townsend: Analog cable TV rates to rise

PORT TOWNSEND -- Millennium Digital Media plans to increase its rate for basic cable television service by 8 percent effective Jan. 1. The increase only… Continue reading

Jefferson: Tri-Area Planning Group member offers land-use plans

CHIMACUM -- A Tri-Area Planning Group member has come up with two land-use plans for creating an Urban Growth Area encompassing Port Hadlock, Irondale and… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Council faces tax-increase decision

PORT TOWNSEND -- The next City Council will either have to ask residents to approve a property tax hike exceeding 1 percent next fall, or… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Jefferson General Hospital workers get raises

PORT TOWNSEND -- Health care technicians, physical therapists and pharmacists at Jefferson General Hospital will get raises ranging from 4 percent to 20 percent under… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Sailor brings trophy home after 101 years

PORT TOWNSEND -- The Key City Trophy has returned home after more than a century. Stig Osterberg triumphantly carried the 24-inch tall sterling silver cup… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Boxes with gifts headed to children in developing counties

PORT TOWNSEND -- A child in Afghanistan might open a box next month filled with trinkets, toothpaste, chocolate and a teddy bear given by someone… Continue reading

Jefferson: County redistricting plans jolt two commissioners

County redistricting plans under consideration could undermine the power base of one county commissioner and force a second to move to retain his seat. Under… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Authority wants parcel for affordable-housing project

PORT TOWNSEND -- A six-acre tract could be used for affordable housing instead of a park if Jefferson County commissioners deed the parcel to the… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Councilwoman-elect to step down from county planning board

PORT TOWNSEND -- City Council member-elect Michelle Sandoval said Tuesday she will resign from the Jefferson County Planning Commission when she takes office in January.… Continue reading

Jefferson: County departments directed to cut budgets by up to 2.5%

PORT TOWNSEND -- The passage of Initiative 747 is prompting Jefferson County Administrator Charles Saddler to direct county department heads to cut their budgets. Saddler… Continue reading

Port Townsend-Seattle ferry service begins today

PORT TOWNSEND -- The Chilkat Express fast foot ferry has zoomed between Seattle and Port Townsend several times this week, but today marks the first… Continue reading

Port Townsend: “Ring” screenwriter link between Jennifer Lopez movies

PORT TOWNSEND -- If movie buffs played "Seven degrees of Jennifer Lopez", instead of "Seven degrees of Kevin Bacon," they could make the connection between… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Newcomers to council expect no major city policy shifts soon

PORT TOWNSEND -- No dramatic policy shifts are immediately likely when four new City Council members take office in January. Freida Fenn and Kees Kolff… Continue reading

Port Townsend: “Smart-growth” candidates leading in City Council returns

PORT TOWNSEND -- All four "smart-growth" City Council candidates were leading their opponents in Tuesday races. The absentee ballots showed Kees Kolff and Catharine Robinson… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Name similarity to Osama bin Laden spurs hate mail to restaurateur

PORT TOWNSEND -- The name Osamu means "learning" or "mastering" in Japanese. Restaurateur Osamu "Sam" Okamoto is learning that one anonymous person can't distinguish between… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Plan de-emphasizes Glen Cove role

PORT TOWNSEND -- The City Council will take up a proposed comprehensive plan amendment next Monday that de-emphasizes the role of Glen Cove in future… Continue reading

Bag plant workers faces the prospect of pink slips — and what they’ll do next

PORT TOWNSEND -- Single dad Randy Manthe of Port Townsend told his children not to expect much for Christmas. John and Jennifer Galle wondered whether… Continue reading

Port Townsend: Accused killer loses bid to replace lawyer

PORT TOWNSEND -- The man suspected in the 1992 stabbing death of Allison Tornensis of Quilcene cannot change lawyers, Jefferson County Superior Court Judge Tom… Continue reading

Port Townsend bag-making plant to close

PORT TOWNSEND -- About 90 workers in the paper bag-making plant of Port Townsend Paper Corp. will be laid off when the plant is closed… Continue reading

Jefferson: Court officials “shocked” by requested budget cuts

PORT TOWNSEND -- Jefferson County juvenile and criminal justice professionals reacted with shock and dismay last week to a directive to severely cut their budgets.… Continue reading