Peninsula Daily News photo (at right) by Charlie Bermant
Special Olympics runner Brandy Doty, center, is the first to cross the finish line Wednesday evening at the east end of the Hood Canal Bridge, followed closely by Travis Nollette, carrying the Special Olympics Torch.
Also pictured are runners Matt Krysinski, far left, and Katie Nole, right.
A variety of North Olympic Peninsula law enforcement officials — including Jefferson County Sheriff Tony Hernandez — conducted a 12-hour torch relay that began in Port Angeles in support of Special Olympics of Washington Games that open Saturday at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, south of Tacoma.
SEE EARLIER STORY, below
Special Olympics torch to wend its way across North Peninsula
Peninsula Daily News
North Olympic Peninsula law enforcement will carry the torch for Special Olympics on Wednesday.
Each year, officers from all agencies on the Peninsula participate in running the Special Olympics Torch from Laird’s Corner on U.S. Highway 101 west of Port Angeles to the Hood Canal in support of the Special Olympics of Washington Games that will begin Saturday, June 2, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Sheriff deputies, city and tribal police officers, State Patrol troopers and other law enforcement officers will carry the torch and pass it off to Kitsap County on Wednesday evening.
Among the agencies participating will be Clallam and Jefferson sheriff’s offices; police departments in Sequim, Port Angeles and Port Townsend; the State Patrol; the National Park Service; the Clallam Bay Corrections Center; and the Border Patrol, said Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
During the run, Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict will lead a group of walkers with the torch from the Port Angeles City Pier east to the Rayonier property.
Jefferson County Sheriff Tony Hernandez has committed to run the day’s final stretch across the Hood Canal Bridge.
Park Service officers will start at about 7:15 a.m. at Laird’s Corner, Cameron said.
The torch will travel along Edgewood Drive to Tumwater Truck Route down the hill to downtown Port Angeles.
After Port Angeles, it will follow the Discovery Trail to Blyn and then continue on Highway 101 to Hood Canal, finishing at about 6:30 p.m., Cameron said.
The Kitsap County-area officers will dedicate their run the next day to late State Patrol Trooper Tony Radulescu, who was killed in the line of duty.
He was fatally shot Feb. 23 near Gorst by a driver who later took his own life.
Kitsap officers will take the torch to Pierce County, and the final leg of the run will be to Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Friday, June 1.
As a fundraiser for the program, T-shirts that commemorate this year’s run are available for sale in all sizes for $20.
To purchase a T-shirt, phone Cameron at 360-417-2570. All funds will support the program.
