SOUTH BEND - Amanda Ann Hanson, 26, of Westport entered guilty pleas for attempting to elude a police vehicle, driving under the influence, escape in the second degree, residential burglary, and theft of a motor vehicle, and was sentenced to 24 months in prison.

The Pacific County Republicans gathered in South Bend on Saturday, April 22, for their annual Lincoln Day Dinner, marked by prayer, the singing of the national anthem, and the raffling off of an AR-15 rifle.

State shellfish managers have canceled the first two days (April 24 and 25) of a tentatively planned eight-day razor clam dig due to rising marine toxin levels.

Reopening scheduled for beginning of May

On Apr. 1 the doors of the Shoalwater Bay Casino were closed to the public, albeit only for 30 days. During this 30-day period the casino is undergoing a complete interior and exterior renovation.

According to casino General Manager Johnny Winokur, "The doors were closed March 31 at midnight, and we started the first hammer at 2 a.m."

State and local officials gathered at a town hall meeting in Long Beach the evening of April 14. The event was hosted by the non-profit DoGoodnics, which co-founder Robert Brake described as having been formed two and a half years ago with the intent of helping other nonprofits in the peninsula area.

The Pacific Transit System Board voted to authorize Transit Director Rich Evans to make three additional hires in order to meet a shortage of drivers at the board's quarterly meeting on April 13.

The motion to allow Evans to hire one part-time driver in addition to two drivers who are each guaranteed a minimum of 75 hours a month was made by South Bend Mayor Julie Struck and passed unanimously. The motion also authorizes Evans to approve providing Commercial Driver License training for candidates at his discretion.

The Pacific County PUD #2 Commissioners heard critical input from several members of the public at their Feb. 21 meeting in Long Beach. Most notable among them was Dick Sheldon, a Nahcotta resident who accused PUD officials of using a controversial proposed project to extend power service to Tokeland in order to cover up past mistakes and miscalculations. PUD officials had no immediate response to the allegations made by Sheldon.

The Pacific County Republicans held their regular monthly meeting in South Bend last Thursday, March 2, where they discussed upcoming events and state and county GOP strategy moving forward.