Forecasters say that the North Olympic Peninsula could see a white Christmas.
The National Weather Service is predicting that lowland snow is possible from tonight into early Christmas morning for all of the North Olympic Peninsula as well as other areas of Western Washington.
The forecast calls for a weather system to arrive today, spreading rain and possibly snow across the region.
The air mass is expected to cool down tonight, dropping the snow level down to 500 feet or less in most interior areas north of Tacoma.
Steady precipitation is forecast to taper off early Christmas morning, with showers lingering into Christmas afternoon.
The snow is not expected to be particularly heavy, with no more than a few inches possible in most places.
There is also a small craft advisory in effect for Strait of Juan de Fuca waters until 3 p.m. today, and one in effect for coastal waters until 10 p.m. tonight.
Democrats establish scholarship
PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Democrats announced that the party has established a new scholarship fund honoring former Jefferson County Commissioner Phil Johnson.
The Phil Johnson Environmental Scholarship Fund will award up to $2,000 scholarships annually to Jefferson County residents who are graduating from high school or enrolled in college and who major or minor in environmental sciences, ecology, or an allied field of study, such as marine sciences or biology.
The fund will be housed at the Jefferson Community Foundation.
“By housing the fund at JCF, the donations are tax-deductible and all of the necessary processes and legal requirements are handled by a team of experienced fund administrators,” said Siobhan Canty, community foundation executive director.
Johnson is a retired commercial fisherman who fought a four-year battle against state Department of Ecology regulations that would have required all of Jefferson County to allow net fish pens in its waters, according to a news release.
For more information about scholarships, including those available through the environmental scholarship fund, visit thewashboard.org.
Garbage fee waived
PORT ANGELES — The city announced that residential garbage customers can change their garbage service without incurring the regular $30 service change fee effective Monday, Jan. 1.
To apply for the change of service download the form by visiting www.cityofpa.us, or visit City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St., to receive a form in-person.
Completed forms are due by Friday, Jan. 12.
Forms can be deposited at the front counter in city hall, in the drop box outside, or mailed to City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St., Port Angeles, WA, 98362.
Customers can choose either weekly at $41.08 per month, or every-other-week garbage collection at $25.65 per month.
Yard waste service is optional and is $9.03 per month.
The new rates are effective January 1, 2018.
For more information, call city Solid Waste Collections at 360-417-4876.
Landing practice
COUPEVILLE — There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island at the outlying field midmorning to early evening Wednesday and Thursday.
Operations will continue midmorning to early afternoon Friday.
Comments, including noise complaints, can be directed to the station’s comment line at 360-257-6665 or via comments.NASWI@navy.mil.
All other questions can be directed to the public affairs office at 360-257-2286.
KONP talk guests
PORT ANGELES — Here is this week’s schedule for the 1:05 p.m. to 2 p.m. local talk show segment on KONP radio, at 1450 AM, 101.7 FM and www.konp.com on the internet outside the Port Angeles area.
Station General Manager Todd Ortloff hosts the Monday through Thursday segments.
This week’s scheduled lineup:
• Monday: Closed for Christmas. KONP will air special Christmas programming.
• Tuesday: Master gardeners Bill Wrobel, Jeanette Stehr-Green and Judy English will take calls from listeners.
• Wednesday: TBA
• Thursday: ABC Special.
CWU honor roll
ELLENSBERG — Several former Olympic Peninsula students were named to the Central Washington University fall honor roll.
Undergraduate students who earn a 3.5 or better grade-point average on a 4.0 scale while carrying at least 12 graded credit hours of study are eligible for the honor roll.
The local students are:
• Forks: Courtnie Paul and Andrew Reilly.
• Port Angeles: Erica Jean Beck, Danny Price, Colby Siemens, Braedi Spraks and John D. Garrison.
• Port Ludlow: Jessica Leigh Dygert.
• Port Townsend: Baili Jordan Shaw and Jessica Ruth Ried.
• Quilcene: Megan MacKenzie Weller.
• Sequim: Mikayla Rachek Bentz and Justin Porter.
