Grays Harbor received confirmation of its first report of A/SWH1 - or "swine flu" - late Wednesday.  The 14-year-old Hoquiam resident was ill in early May and has since recovered.  The child was tested by a local physician and it took about one week for the test results to be confirmed. 

The child was kept out of school during most of the illness, which will help decrease the risk of exposure.   "There is no need to close schools at this point ," said Dr. John Bausher, local health officer. "This continues to be a mild illness, like regular influenza, and we do not close schools for that. Parents of all school aged children are advised to keep children home if they have a fever or other signs of illness."

Local health officials stress that this case report was very much expected. New counties have been added to the map of known places for the new flu in recent days, as the state's count has risen.  To date, the state lab has received 1651 samples and tested 1312. Of these, 493 have been positive.  The virus has been reported in 15 counties, counting Grays Harbor, but the number of counties are expected to increase, as samples are submitted from around the state. The majority of cases have been in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties.

The Grays Harbor County Fair has announced that David Cassidy has canceled his scheduled appearance at the 2009 Grays Harbor County Fair.  Mr. Cassidy has accepted a movie offer, which conflicts with his appearance at the 2009 Grays Harbor County Fair.  All of Mr. Cassidy's August concert dates have been cancelled. 

"We are saddened at this latest development, as David Cassidy had a very loyal following," states Rod Easton, Grays Harbor County Fair & Event Supervisor.  "These things happen, but we are going to do all we can to make sure his fans either get a prompt refund, or the opportunity to utilize their tickets for our new Wednesday night performance, the Little River Band." 

The Little River Band will be performing on the Pepsi stage Wednesday night, August 5^th at 8 pm, the time slot that David Cassidy was set to perform in.  Golden Circle tickets for the Little River Band are $30, which includes fair admission.  During the band's career,  the Little River Band  sold more than 25 million records and scored 13 American Top 40 hits, including Lonesome Loser, Take It Easy On Me, Reminising, and Cool Change.

Join the Pacific County Economic Development Council for "Ready, Respond, Recover" conferences to help area businesses prepare for natural and man-made disasters. These valuable events will provide Pacific and Wahkiakum County businesses with critical information about:

• Securing facilities
• Communicating with customers
• Handling money matters
• Rebuilding information

Admission Only $25!

Join us for one of two Ready, Respond, Recover conference dates:

June 16, 2009, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Click to print & register!
Willapa Harbor Community Building, South Bend, WA

OR

October 14, 2009, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Chautauqua Lodge, Long Beach, WA
Check Back for More Information.

The Ready, Respond, Recover conferences are made possible by an EDA Disaster Recovery Planning Grant. For more information on "Ready, Respond, Recover" contact the Pacific County EDC at 360-875-9330 or edcpcog@pacificedc.org.

Since April 15, 2009 officers of the Hoquiam Police Department have investigated 19 vehicle prowl complaints.  Sixteen of the vehicle prowls have taken place on the east side of Hoquiam in the area stretching from the Simpson Avenue Bridge to Myrtle Street.  Six have occurred along Simpson Avenue, seven along Sumner Avenue and three on Beacon Hill.  The remaining three occurred on the west side of Hoquiam.

Although some of the vehicles have been unlocked the suspects(s) are using various means to gain entry into the vehicles.  Several of the vehicles have had locks damaged to gain entry while others have had windows broken out.  Most of the vehicles have been parked on private property rather than on the street during the break-ins.

SEATTLE - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna and Secretary of State Sam Reed are slinging their pistols - figuratively speaking -- at lawless "badge charities." The state officials joined the Federal Trade Commission, state enforcement agencies and AARP Washington in announcing a nationwide crackdown on fraudulent charitable solicitors claiming to help police, firefighters and veterans.

Dubbed Operation False Charity, the sweep includes local and national enforcement actions and outreach initiatives.

"Operation False Charity is about sounding the siren on the phonies, cheapskates and outlaws," McKenna said. "We're policing those who claim to be raising money for cops, firefighters and veterans but aren't being honest.

"Just because someone says they are raising money for veterans or police does not mean every dollar you give will go toward those deserving causes," said Reed. "Some solicitors will return very little - or nothing at all - to the charity they claim to be representing. That's why it's so important to know who is taking your donations, and how that money will be spent."