Aberdeen, WA - Greater Grays Harbor, Inc., with Economic Development Councils from Lewis, Pacific, Mason and Thurston counties, won an award from the Washington State Department of Commerce for teamwork. The five regional economic development agencies are collectively known as “Pac 5.”

Pac 5 won the “Plays Well With Others” award due to the strength of their collaborative efforts, which started five years ago with the creation of the Northwest Manufacturers Alliance, which established resources and networks – including training, curriculum, international business development and local advocacy – the manufacturers could take advantage of, and continued with the ongoing Regional Innovation EXPO & Forecast Conference, which grew from fewer than 50 attendees five years ago to over 350 individuals and firms this year.

Lacey, WA - A 10 year old male student walking to Olympic View Elementary school Thursday morning reported that a male attempted to lure him into a vehicle. At about 7:45 am near the intersection of 14th Ave NE and Horne St E, the student said a white male in a smaller silver 4dr vehicle pulled along side him and engaged him in conversation.

The student described how the male asked him if he wanted to earn $100.00. The student initially said that he would, but when the male asked him to get in the car, the student said "NO". The male told the student that he had some toys and opened the passenger door, telling him it would only take 10 minutes. When the student again declined the offer, the male indicated that he would find someone else who wanted $100 and drove away. The student added that the vehicle drove up and down the street approximately 6 times before leaving the neighborhood. Other 6th grade students reported seeing the vehicle stop and the door open, but could not hear any conversation.
The male is described as a white male in his 30's, clean shaven with short blonde hair. He was reported to be wearing a dark blue brimmed hat, dark sunglasses, a light blue short sleeved t-shirt and jeans. The t-shirt reportedly had a white "bird" logo or emblem on the left side of the chest. The student reported that the vehicle looked similar to a "Saturn".
Anyone with information about this person or incident is asked to call the Thurston County Sheriff's Office at 360.786.5500 or CrimeStoppers at 360.493.2222.

Portland, OR - As the region looks for more effective ways to integrate wind and other renewable energy sources, the Bonneville Power Administration and its customers have agreed to settle the portion of BPA’s rate case that defines charges for balancing services, or generation inputs, that maintain a constant balance of the energy produced and energy consumed. 

Montesano, WA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will close Lake Sylvia to fishing by the public for 12 hours prior to the local fishing event. Lake Sylvia will reopen at 6:00 a.m. on June 8.

The closure is effective for all game fish from 6 p.m. June 7 through 6 a.m. June 8, 2013. Fish for the event will be planted the evening prior to the event to better acclimate them to the lake. Organizers of this event donate time, effort, and money to raise and stock trout into Lake Sylvia. The organizers also help with other fishing events in local lakes. The expected participation for this year’s event is about 350 kids. Lake Sylvia is open year-round with the exception of this closure.

Olympia, WA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to close the recreational halibut fishery in Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), on May 20th. 
The department said recreational halibut fishing remains open in other coastal and Puget Sound areas, but that the Marine Area 2 recreational halibut fishery is projected to have taken the Pacific halibut quota for the primary season and the northern nearshore area by the end of the day May 19, 2013.
Effective May 20, 2013, the department will close the recreational halibut fishery in Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), including the northern nearshore area from the Queets River (47º31.70'N. latitude) south to Point Chehalis (46º58.00'N. latitude) and east of a line approximating the 30 fathom depth contour as defined by the following coordinates until further notice.
47 º 31.70 N. lat, 124 º 37.03 W. long
47 º 25.67 N. lat, 124 º 34.79 W. long
47 º 12.82 N. lat, 124 º 29.12 W. long
46 º 58.00 N. lat, 124 º 24.24 W. long
This rule conforms to federal action taken by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC).