Tears, cheers — and a handmade quilt to keep him warm — greeted Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger at the start of the Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday.
Tharinger, D-Dungeness, has lymphatic cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments in Seattle every two weeks.
Julie Triggs, administrative assistant in the Department of Community Development, presented the quilt, comprised of 32 squares — each one drawn by a commissioner, manager or employee.
They ranged from religious messages to pictures of fishing to the claddagh, an Irish symbol of friendship and faith from Tharinger’s fellow commissioner, Mike Doherty.
“Put together,” said Triggs, “they represent a big hug.”