OLYMPIA - Jason Bodine, a first-year law enforcement officer for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), was honored today by the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington. After participating in a successful all-night search to locate two equestrians lost in Capitol State Forest on June 14-15, Bodine helped rescue one of the rider's horses which had become trapped in a ravine after falling down a steep hillside.

"There is nothing in Officer Bodine's job description that requires him to go down a mountainside and into a hole with a chainsaw to cut through brush and downed logs to get a trapped horse out, but he did, and we are all grateful," said Darrell Wallace, vice president of the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington.

ASTORIA, Ore. - The Coast Guard rescued a 19-year-old man from a cliff on Humbug Mountain near Port Orford, Ore., Tuesday.

Coast Guard Group/Air Station North Bend, Ore., received a call from the Curry County Sherriff's Department at approximately 6:20 p.m. requesting assistance for a Klamath Falls resident was trapped on a cliff face after injuring his arm while climbing.  An HH-65 helicopter crew was dispatched to the scene where they were able to hoist the man into the helicopter and deposit him safely on the beach where he was met by members of the sheriff's department and taken to Curry County General Hospital by a waiting emergency medical team.

Representative Lynn Kesler is inviting Grays Harbor residents to a Community Meeting to discuss "What's next for Lake Sylvia State Park? Your turn." Wednesday evening at the Montesano City Hall, from 6 pm until 7:30 residents will be able to offer their ideas and opinions on the state park recently saved by the 5$ opt-out car licensing fee, along with nearly 40 others that were on a state chopping block this budget cycle.

The WeLuvLakeSilvia group reports:

Remember when Lake Sylvia State Park was going to be closed?  Remember when we wrote to Rep. Lynn Kessler and promised we'd "do anything" to keep it open?  Now is our chance to show Rep. Kessler just how serious we are about our Park!  She will be directing the meeting, will answer our questions and will expect us to offer our time to help.

Projected dry conditions will lead to above normal significant fire potential in areas of Eastern Washington this summer.  Creating defensible space around the home can greatly increase the chances of your home surviving a wildfire.  Homeowners should take active steps to defend their homes from wildfire by using Firewise plants in the landscape.

Firewise plants are fire-resistant plants that due to their ability to retain moisture do not readily ignite from a flame or other ignition sources.  When planning a landscape, homeowners have a wide assortment of plants, trees and shrubs to choose from that are both attractive and fire-resistant.  Key characteristics of these plants are:

• Thick succulent leaves.
• Low amount of dead materials.
• Sap is water-like and does not have a strong odor.
• Sap or resin materials are low.

ASTORIA, Ore. - The US Coast Guard reports that a privately owned helicopter crashed into the waters of Grays Harbor, Wash., approximately one mile north of Ocean Shores, Wash., Tuesday morning. For video of the flyover, click the image below, for the complete story click Read More...

In this video released by the Coast Guard, an MH-60 helicopter crew from Group/Air Station Astoria performs a flyover of a privately-owned helicopter which crashed near Ocean Shores, Wash., July 7, 2009. Neither passenger of the helicopter was seriously injured and only a light sheen of fuel was detected on the surface of the water. (U.S. Coast Guard video/Air Station Astoria)