Ocean Shores, WA Emeritus at Harbour Pointe Shores is sponsoring the “Frozen Memories” Ice Sculpting Contest at the 6th Annual Grays Harbor County Expo. This is a “first” ever Ice Sculpting event at the Expo. Four 300-pound blocks of Ice will be given to four of the best Chain Saw Carvers in the Northwest to be turned into “Symbols of Freedom!” The winner of the contest receives prize money and bragging rights. Saturday afternoon following the mid-day Memorial Service come over and watch the Ice Sculpting in Action. Check out our sponsor, Emeritus at http://www.emeritus.com/elder-care-services.
Also at this year’s show, David “Ogie” Ogran “The World’s Fastest Golfer” as noted by the Guinness Book of World Records with two official records. You can see Ogie in action at http://www.worldsfastestgolfer.com/page3.html. Stop and talk to him about his extreme speed golf records.
You can check out the Expo offerings at www.graysharborexpo.com and www.DoOceanShores.com. It starts at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, 120 W Chance a La Mer NW, Ocean Shores, WA 98569, at Noon on Friday, May 24 and runs thru Sunday, May 26th at 5 p.m. Hours on Saturday and Sunday are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is FREE for everyone!

Washington State - In recognition of the start of National Safe Boating Week, May 18-24, 2013, the Thirteenth Coast Guard District is emphasizing boating safety for all Pacific Northwest boaters.

In conjunction with the North American Safe Boating “Wear it! Always wear your life jacket!” campaign, the Coast Guard reinforces the following boating safety messages:

• Take a paddler education course. Paddlesports are the fastest growing segment of recreational boating, with more than 300,000 paddlecraft (primarily kayaks) now being sold annually. Paddlecraft are an extremely affordable entry point to recreational boating.  Like any other watercraft, paddlers should seek out paddler education before heading out on the water.  CLICK HERE to obtain more information on paddlesport safety.
• Wear a personal floatation device/life jacket at all times.  The law states you must have a PFD for every person on board, but the Coast Guard suggests you go one step further and wear your PFD at all times when boating.  It is much more difficult to locate, access, or don a PFD at the moment the accident occurs.  CLICK HERE for more information on personal floatation devices/PFDs.
• File a float plan and leave it with someone who is not recreating on the water.  A float plan is a lifesaving device on paper and can assist emergency responders with locating a distressed mariner. To learn more about a float plan CLICK HERE.  For a blank float plan CLICK HERE.
• Have a marine band radio and visual distress signals.  All of these devices will greatly assist you if you are in distress.  CLICK HERE for more information on visual distress signals.
• Have a registered 406MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.  CLICK HERE to learn more about EPIRBs and registering your EPIRB.
• DO NOT boat under the influence of alcohol.  Alcohol affects judgment, vision, balance and coordination.  Factor in boat motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind and spray and a drinker's impairment is accelerated.  CLICK HERE for more information on boating under the influence.    
• Start the season off right with a thorough boat inspection, including the hull and propulsion equipment. Pay particular attention to through-hull fittings and hoses that may have cracked or become brittle over the winter.
• Obtain a free boat inspection from the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Boating safety courses are also available.

For additional boating safety tips, go to http://www.uscgboating.org/default.aspx. Click on the “REGULATIONS” tab to get additional information on federal laws, federal regulations, state boating laws and navigation rules.

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.