NEWS BRIEFS: Firearm safety classes set … and other items

PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office will host two free Citizen’s Firearm Safety Courses this month.

Pre-registration is required for the classes in the Clallam County Courthouse Emergency Operations Center.

They will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on two Saturdays — Feb. 16 and Feb. 23.

The courses are designed to familiarize citizens with the use of firearms and firearm safety through a firearms simulator — an interactive system utilizing real firearms that have been converted to a laser system.

Students will be placed into the role of a police officer responding to a scene and confronting a shoot/no-shoot scenario.

“This allows them to develop a better understanding of the situations law enforcement officers face on a daily basis and the split-second decisions they must make,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.

To register, contact Lorraine Shore at 360-417-2262 or lshore@co.clallam.wa.us.

Demos membership

PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Democrats have kicked off their 2019 membership drive with a goal of 500 members.

The drive’s theme is “Our Strength is in Shared Values.” It reflects the organization’s support of community members’ shared needs including healthcare, family wage jobs, affordable housing, accessible childcare, and clean air and water, the group said in a press release.

Annual dues are $20 for individuals those aged 26 and older, and $5 for younger than 27. Funds help support candidates, issues and initiatives promoting the membership’s common values and goals, Clallam Democrats said.

Find membership forms online at www.clallamdemocrats.org; click the “members” tab. The form can be printed and mailed or dropped off in person, with a check or cash, at: Democratic Headquarters, 124-A W. First St., Port Angeles, or paid online via credit card or PayPal.

New officers at business association

PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Business Association recently announced the election of

its new officers and directors.

The new officers are President Carol Johnson, retired from North Olympic Timber Action Committee; Vice President Shenna Younger, Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics; Treasurer Jon Fager, retired nuclear inspector; Secretary Deborah Swanson, RE/MAX Evergreen, and Past

President Matthew

Rainwater, U.S. Border Patrol.

The board of directors includes Deborah Fuson, NW Small Business Solutions; Jack Glaubert, Sound Surveyors; Marc Abshire, Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, and John Brewer, retired publisher and editor of the Peninsula Daily News.

Rotary grants given to local organizations

CHIMACUM — The Rotary Club of East Jefferson County recently announced the award of two grants to local organizations.

According to a press release, the club awarded $1,000 to the Pi String Orchestra to repair instruments and to purchase new ones.

The Pi String Orchestra offers free music lessons to students of all ages.

The club also awarded a $942.50 grant to the Chimacum School District for the purchase of an emergency ham radio system.

The new radio system will allow the school to operate an emergency communications center during disasters that disrupt other communication systems.

The club welcomes visitors to its weekly meetings at noon on Thursdays at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road.

Arts commission

SEQUIM — The city of Sequim is seeking an applicant to fill a recently vacated seat on the Arts Advisory Commission.

The four-year term for the vacant seat expires in December.

The volunteers on the commission advise the

city on matters of art

and culture.

For more information, call Cyndi Hueth at 360-582-2477, visit city hall at 152 W. Cedar St. or visit www.sequimwa.gov.

Chain gang busy

PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Chain Gang dug a ditch on Mount Pleasant Road to prevent flooding onto the roadway during the week of Jan. 7-11.

Crew members also dug ditches at the Colville parking lot on Dan Kelly Road, at Fresh Water Park Road to prevent erosion onto private property and at Freshwater Bay Road to prevent flooding onto the roadway.

Crew members cleared and thinned trees and brush at the county shop due to a recent theft.

Crew members also hauled off storm debris from the county yard.

Crew members chipped storm debris along Grauel-Rampo, Liljedahl, Holly Hill, Elwha River, Benson, Lower Elwha, Hoare, Black Diamond, Lake Dawn, Old Mill, Simmons, Dan Kelly, Eden Valley, Mount Angeles, Tamarack, Key, Doss and Mapleton roads.

During the week of

Jan. 14-18, the chain gang picked up 6,100 pounds of litter from six illegal dumpsites along Tumwater Truck Route.

Notable items found include 283 needles, five tents, four sleeping bags, a propane bottle, six lawn chairs, a metal table, a metal chair, 15 bicycle tires and rims, 10 bike frames, a marijuana pipe, a washing machine tub and a wooden table.

Crew members filled in a ditch that they had dug previously at the search and rescue yard.

Crew members also chipped storm debris along Swanson Lane and Black Diamond, Old State, Place, Miller, Gerber, O’Brien, Hidden Valley, Township Line and Dear Park roads.

Weekly flight operations scheduled

COUPEVILLE — There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Complex for Monday through Sunday, Feb. 10.

There will be landing practice at the Outlying Landing Field in Coupeville late afternoon to night Monday.

Practice is also slated for late afternoon to night Tuesday

Practice is also slated for evening to night Wednesday

Operations will continue in the evening Thursday.

There will be landing practice operations at Ault Field late afternoon to evening Thursday.

Practice is also slated for afternoon Friday.

Operations will continue afternoon to mid-afternoon Sunday.

Comments, including noise complaints, can be directed to the station’s comment line at

360-257-6665 or via email at comments.NASWI@navy.mil.

All other questions can be directed to the public affairs office at 360-257-2286.

Meeting changed

GARDINER — There will be a meeting for

the Gardiner Community Cemetery at 5 p.m. Thursday.

The meeting will be held downstairs in the Gardiner Community Center, 1040 Old Gardiner Road.

This meeting has been moved up from its originally scheduled date.

The public is invited to attend this free meeting.

Sequim to flush

SEQUIM — The Sequim Public Works Department will be flushing the city’s water system starting Monday.

According to a press release, the first phase will occur north of Washington Street to

East Oak Street from Blake Avenue to Brown Road.

City officials expect this phase to be complete by the end of February.

The system is being flushed to remove sediment and minerals from the pipes, during the

process residents might see discoloration of their water.

If discoloration occurs, residents are advised to run their faucet until it clears.

For more information, call Public Works at 360-683-4908, option 5.

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