KBKW News

Montesano, WA - Nine law enforcement agencies in Grays Harbor County will be joining other participating agencies in a special statewide emphasis patrol to insure that all drivers and passengers are wearing their seat belts or in approved  child safety seats during special enforcement patrols on Friday, May 21^st through  June 3rd.   The extra patrols are part of the National Click It or Ticket Program designed to insure that everyone is traveling safely during the Memorial Day Weekend.

Participating agencies in Grays Harbor County County will include: Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Department, Montesano, Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Ocean Shores, Cosmopolis, Elma, and McCleary Police Department (s), as well as the Washington State Patrol.   Locally, the patrols are being coordinated by Grays Harbor County Target Zero Task Force.

Failure to wear your seat belt properly or to have children under the age of 16 properly securing in an approved infant or child safety seat can result in a $124 fine for each violation. The driver of the vehicle is also responsible for everyone under the age of 16 riding in their vehicle. Those over the age of 16 are responsible for themselves.

Aberdeen, WA - The Aberdeen VFW made a tough decision this week, Commander Jim Daly said last night "I would [first] like to apologize to the public for very short notice on some big news with the Aberdeen VFW. After Sunday's normal operations, we are going to close our doors."
Daly said safety and structural concerns over cracks in the ceiling of the 104 year old Bijou Theatre building on Heron street prompted the closure "We feel that it is prudent to close our door, do the repairs, and we hope to open again in the fall." However after an insurance claim on the damage was denied, Daly said the VFW is working with Anchor Bank to fund the costly repairs. Donations supporting their efforts can be made to the "Aberdeen VFW Building Program" at any Anchor Bank branch.

Members will still be able to access many of the VFW's programs "most of our operations are going to continue. The Service Officer will be at Worksource able to offer his services for veterans and their families. Bingo that we have Monday and Wednesday night will move to the [Aberdeen] Eagles." Daly said after Sunday, the VFW will move their meetings to the Fourty and Eight.

Olympia, WA - Friday is the 32nd anniversary of the Mount St. Helens eruption. The area is now a national monument, but people are gathering there that day to make a case for turning it into a national park.
According to the National Parks Conservation Association, the added prestige of park designation would mean more visitors, which boosts the local economy, and also more stable funding for conservation and upkeep. Sean Smith, NPCA Northwest regional director, says that's because the National Park Service is funded differently than is the Forest Service, which manages Mount St. Helens now.
"In the President's budget every year, there are specific allocations for individual parks, whereas the Forest Service has a lump sum that then gets trickled down to its individual forests and forest units."
National park designation would not mean acquiring any new federal land, Smith says, just changing the way the existing acreage is managed. He notes there are some concerns about proposals for neighboring lands, including a mine and a residential development.

Shelton, WA - The Mason County Sheriff’s Office was notified just four minutes after midnight on Tuesday morning, May 15, 2012, of a traffic accident on E. Mikkelsen Road, just north of Shelton. Responding Deputies, Firefighters and Emergency Medical workers found that the single vehicle with four occupants had left the roadway.

Three male occupants sustained different stages of injuries while one female occupant had died. Deputies Identified the male occupants as Dylan J. Burke, age 24, Jason J. Brown, age 31, and Cody R. Laney, age 21. The deceased female was identified as Terra K. Dittmer, age 38. All four occupants resided in Mason County.

According to witness statements, the four had been celebrating Laney’s 21st birthday at the Towne Pub in Shelton and Burke was to be the designated driver.

The vehicle, a 2003 silver Mercedes Benz was registered to Dittmer. Burke was identified as the driver by his injuries as well as witness statements. Brown and Laney were passengers. Laney was transported via helicopter to Harbor View Medical Center in Seattle for a broken leg and internal bleeding; and Burke was transported via ambulance to Mason General Hospital for leg and head injuries.

Today, May 16, 2012, Burke left Mason General Hospital, but later turned himself in to Deputies at the Mason County Jail. Burke will appear before a Mason County Superior Court Judge sometime this week.

Ocean Shores, WA - The Ocean Shores store is among 18 Liquor stores that will go back to the auction block next week. The Liquor Control Board will host a live auction May 24 for the rights to the stores after top bidders failed to pay their posted bids following last month's auction. Washington is in the process of privatizing its liquor sales after voters approved an initiative kicking the state out of the liquor business. Bidders already have paid out $25.9 million for the rights to 149 stores.

Cosmopolis, WA - The city of Cosmopolis could be next in line to make a stand on the Wild Olympics campaign, Mayor Vickie Raines said last night that Councilman Frank Chestnut requested a resolution in opposition be drafted and presented to the council at their June meeting, Hoquiam this week made a similar request. Aberdeen adopted a resolution last year opposing the campaign that seeks to place more control over Forest lands and rivers on the Olympic Penninsula.

Aberdeen, WA - The City of Aberdeen Planning Commission will be hosting a public meeting on Thursday, May 17th at 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30) at the Aberdeen Rotary Log Pavilion.

The Planning Commission is in the process of updating the City’s 2001 Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is a record of our common vision and goals serving as guidelines for future land use decisions that affect us all.

The Planning Commission is currently focusing on the downtown and waterfront elements.

There will also be discussion concerning the proposed Seaport Landing.

Washington D.C. - On Thursday, May 17^th at 10:30 A.M., U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) will attend the first Senate oversight hearing on tsunami debris response. Cantwell will urge more action to protect Washington state’s coastal economy, during a Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard hearing entitled “Stemming the Tide: the U.S. Response to Tsunami-Generated Marine Debris.”

After a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on March 11, 2011, an enormous amount of debris was washed out to sea. One year later, very little is known about the composition of the debris and there is currently no federal plan in place to address a large-scale marine debris event such as the approaching tsunami debris. Cantwell has been a leading advocate of getting an aggressive plan in place to address the threat tsunami debris poses to Washington state’s coastal economy and communities. The state’s coastal economy supports 165,000 jobs and produces $10.8 billion in economic activity each year.

Olympia, WA - Reality star Kim Kardashian, fresh from a sweaty workout, decides to dump her personal trainer. “It’s not someone else, it’s something else” said the celebutante in a recent television advertisement. After a gratuitous shot of one of the starlet’s most photographed body parts and a scene of Kardashian glamorously lacing up a pair of Skechers, text on the screen says, “Bye-bye trainer, hello Shape Ups.”

Might certain footwear – in this case, Skechers “Shape Ups” – magically burn off calories, fat and even improve circulation? A group of federal and state watchdogs, including Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna, say unfortunately not. Yet Skechers marketed their shoes to have these and other benefits.

“Advertising materials claimed that consumers may ‘get in shape without setting foot in a gym’ even though there’s no good evidence to show the shoes work as advertised,” said McKenna. “Don’t cancel your gym membership. File these sketchy footwear claims under ‘too good to be true.’”