Update: Unscheduled failure of equipment prompted the outage an hour and a half sooner than planned. The Grays Harbor PUD says the equipment that failed was scheduled for replacement as part of the outage.

AMANDA PARK, Wash. - The Grays Harbor PUD is conducting a planned outage on Tuesday June 18th from 9:00 a.m. until approximately 9:00 p.m. near Amanda Park. Chief Resource Officer Doug Smith tells us the outage is necessary for system repairs to improve reliability and to replace equipment within the Crane Creek substation.
Customers that will be affected are those located north of Crane Creek near Amanda Park along State Highway 101, including the Kalaloch Lodge and National Park facilities in that location. Amanda Park and Lake Quinault areas will not be affected.
In preparation for this outage, we recommend that customers take precautions with any electronic equipment such as computers, televisions, and microwaves by unplugging those items and leaving them disconnected until after the power has been fully restored.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be aware that the outage times are estimates only, and power could be restored at any time. Therefore, it is not recommended that you perform electrical work during the outage without taking the proper safety precautions, including having service disconnected if necessary.
Questions regarding the outage should be directed to Kevin Howerton at 360-538-6325

SOUTH BEND, Wash. - The Washington Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold four public meetings on strategy to conserve marbled murrelets, which are on the endangered species list with resultant restrictions on logging.

The agencies are developing a long-term Marbled Murrelet Conservation Strategy for forested state trust lands in Western Washington. The meetings will take place June 5-19.

The next meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. June 19 in the Pacific County Courthouse Annex, 1216 W. Robert Bush Drive, South Bend.

ABERDEEN, Wash. - Current college and graduate school students, living in Grays Harbor County, are encouraged to seek financial assistance for their education by applying for the E. K. and Lillian F. Bishop Foundation scholarships. Applications are available through the on-line scholarship application program. The scholarship application program is located at www.ghc.edu/bishopscholarship, through Grays Harbor College’s website. Applications must be submitted no later than July 1 and recipients will be announced by early August.

Started more than 25 years ago by the Bishop Foundation, this scholarship fund is designated for students in their third or fourth years of accredited four-year college or universities, as well as for students in their first two years of accredited graduate schools.

Grays Harbor College manages funds for this scholarship program and Eric Potts is coordinating the program.

For details visit http://www.ghc.edu/bishopscholarship/

ABERDEEN, Wash. - Aberdeen Police are seeking the public's help in finding the suspect in a residential burglary Friday that occured in the 600 block of 3rd Avenue. 
Police Captain John Green tells us the reporting person told officers that when he came home he saw a male subject running into the brush away from the rear of his apartment. The victim reported that he discovered his safe outside his apartment.
The suspect was described as a male wearing a dark colored "hoodie" type sweatshirt, and jeans. The jeans were described as being a lighter color. The victim reported a large amount of money being stolen during the burglary. The Aberdeen Police K-9 was brought in and conducted a track, but no suspect was located.
Entry into the home appeared to be forced as pry marks were located near a door. Green said it was unknown if this case is linked to the other burglary reports the Aberdeen Police Department have received in the area.

Anyone with information on this, or other, cases are asked to call the Aberdeen Police Department at 533-3180 or the tip line at 538-4450.

MONTESANO, Wash. - The Grays Harbor County Commissioners yesterday reached a settlement agreement with the Superior Court Judges over funding, and security issues.

Special Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Tom Fitzpatrick told the commissioners yesterday "This settlement agreement is the culmination of approximately a year and a half of protracted litigation, also weeks of negotiation, in order to come to a resolution which I am informed is satisfactory to the Superior Court.
The agreement restores funding cut from the judge's budget earlier this year, moves security costs to the judge's budget (from the Sheriff's budget), and sets a timetable for construction of a third courtroom.

The commissioners set public hearing dates of July 8 to add $19,674 to the Superior Court budget and $148,970 to the Juvenile Detention Center budget.

The Vidette reports that as of April, the lawsuit was costing state and county taxpayers a combined $628,000.