OLYMPIA ¾ Marine biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) have been detected at dangerously high levels in shellfish samples collected from north Puget Sound. The so-called “red tide” toxin levels have been as much as 100 times higher than the closure level.

The state Department of Health has closed several areas to recreational shellfish harvest because of these dangerous toxin levels. All of Whatcom County and all of San Juan County, Deception Pass, Fidalgo Bay, Samish Bay, Sinclair, and Cypress Islands in Skagit County are closed. The northern part of Whidbey Island, from Keystone Harbor on the west to Strawberry Point on the east including Deception Pass, is also closed to recreational shellfish harvest.

Grays Harbor County, WA - Public Health and Social Services Department announced today that H1N1 vaccine will soon be available to Grays Harbor County residents. Vaccine shipments began across the country last week. The Health Department is working with local schools, hospitals, and health care providers to make sure that the vaccine is delivered as quickly as possible to the people at highest risk of severe disease.

“We’re getting vaccine to the highest risk groups first,” says Dr. John Bausher, the county’s health officer. “But we expect that by Thanksgiving there will be plenty of vaccine available throughout the county and that anyone who wants a dose will be able to get it.

Starting the last week in October, the Health Department will be in schools providing vaccine to students. Every school in the county will have a clinic in the following four weeks. Information about the clinics will be sent home with students from school. Vaccination is voluntary and written parental consent is required.

Aberdeen, WA - Aberdeen Mayor Bill Simpson had some good news for the council last night "The great thing is; there's no layoffs." $90,174 will be removed from the cities reserves to prop up a fiscal budget that saw the loss of multiple tax-paying businesses.

Simpson thanked his staff "Great job they have done in putting this budget together. this is not a fun one, this is something that's been very hard and there's a lot of sacrifices made by everyone involved."

Aberdeen, WA - The city of Aberdeen took the same stance against Initiative 1033 as Hoquiam did earlier this week, unanimously passing a resolution apposing Initiative 1033. Mayor Bill Simpson read from the resolution prior to the unanimous decision.