The Shoalwater Bay Police department held its first Safety Fair on Thursday, August 15 at the Shoalwater Bay Gym working with agencies from across Pacific and Grays Harbor Counties.

Longtime HAVA Shelter Manager Lisa Carlson resigned on Tuesday, August 13 due to a personal health problem. Carlson had given several years of dedication and service to the shelter, and now handed the shelter duties over to new Manager McKayla Smith, who previously served as the volunteer and cat adoption coordinator.

Carlson, according to HAVA Member Dee Roberts, had been planning for her eventual retirement from the position and had already been training Smith as her successor. The only part of the plan that changed was it happened two years early.

Local law enforcement and emergency response agencies assembled at South Fork Landing Park near downtown Raymond for the 2nd Annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4. Several other local agencies and organizations also attended to raise awareness for many causes.

New organizer

Zoe Sowa, secretary at the South Bend Police Department, was tasked with setting up this year's National Night Out. Last year's event was organized by former Pacific County Sheriff's Office Chief Civil Deputy Denise Rowlette who departed the office at the start of the year.

"Chief Criminal Deputy Pat Matlock reached out to me to see if I would help this year," Sowa said. "I took part in it last year and helped. Since Denise is no longer there, I was asked to take over and spearheaded it this year."

MENLO - This year's theme for the Pacific County Fair (PCF), "Carnival Lights & Country Nights," was chosen by the Pacific County Fair Advisory Board, and it was submitted by a community person who received $50 for submitting the selection.

The Willapa Harbor Festival is only a week and a half away and Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce Director Michelle Layman is hard at work putting the finishing touches on the annual event. The festival will take place at is the normal location at 3rd Street Park in downtown Raymond with other events held around the downtown area.

Washington has been barraged with some of the 'wackiest' weather over the past year and meteorologist are predicting it may get even wackier. The El Nino pattern is expected to dissipate over the next few months with forecasters and forecasting models predicting the possibility of a 'neutral' pattern on the horizon. The problem: neutral normally means wild in meteorologist lingo.

The abnormal year thus far

The El Nino pattern that developed late in 2018 has become one of the weakest in recent memory for the Pacific Northwest according to Pacific County Emergency Management Agency Director Scott McDougall and several meteorologists. El Nino typically means warmer-than-normal temperatures over the winter months along with dryer conditions.

Willapa Valley HS senior Hallee Layman finished in fourth place in the shotput at the USA Track & Field Region 13 Championships (July 6), which qualifies her for the USATF Junior Olympic meet in Sacramento, California.

Pacific County and most of the Pacific Northwest was drenched by a rare July Abnormally Wet System, also known as JAWS, last week. Another potent storm is expected to impact the area late this week possibly as soon as Thursday, July 18 or Friday, July 19.

July has already received above normal rainfall for the month, and according to University of Washington Atmospheric Science Professor Cliff Mass, will be well above normal after the next system impacts the area. Some good has come from the drenching according to Mass, who mentioned the recent rainfall has pushed the fire danger to low for most of western Washington and to moderate on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains.

The Butte Creek Picnic Area is nearing completion after a lengthy 12 year closure. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has spent the past few months repairing the entire area including fixing up picnic tables, laying new gravel, repairing the bathroom, and clearing the area of debris. The picnic area is set to officially open with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, July 1.

Washington state is set to implement stricter gun laws beginning on July 1. Gun shops around the state have been overrun for the past month with transactions by firearm enthusiasts looking to complete purchases before the change commences. For some the time has already run out while others are still looking to make a few more purchases before the clock strikes 11:59 p.m. on June 30.

Time has run out for some

Handgun purchasers who currently hold a concealed pistol license (CPL) are still able to make same day purchases for handguns but those who don't are running out of time. Anyone without a CPL has to fill out a form that is sent to their local law enforcement agency who runs a background check to ensure the purchaser is eligible for a firearm on top of the standard NICS background check through the FBI.

Once either cleared by the local agency or a ten day waiting period has passed, the purchaser can pick up their firearm. Time has now run out for the 10 day waiting period for those without CPL's wishing to buy a handgun before July 1. They are now at the mercy of the speed of their local agency. Any purchases not finalized before July 1 will be referred to the new law with the entire process possibly restarted according to firearm dealers.