Richland, WA - Last fall, rail cars carrying crude oil from North Dakota and Montana began making regular transits through Eastern Washington – including the Tri-Cities – mostly bound for petroleum refineries and fuel terminals in Puget Sound.

This week, about 50 environmental emergency responders from the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) will be in Richland to learn how to safely and effectively respond to crude oil spills from trains – especially incidents reaching state waters such as the Columbia River.

Shipping crude oil by rail is a new trend for our state. Until September 2012, Washington’s oil refining industry got nearly all of its crude oil from Alaska by oil tanker and Canada by pipeline.

Most of the state’s five refineries have built or are working to construct new facilities to handle rail car shipments of crude oil. Some refineries are now prepared to unload unit trains made up of 100 or more separate rail cars filled with crude oil every day.

On Wednesday May 8, Ecology spill responders will conduct an afternoon exercise in Richland’s Columbia Point Marina Park. No oil will be released during the drill.

Aberdeen, WA - The Aberdeen fire department is warning homeowners to secure their property of all flamables. Battalion Chief Bill Mayne tells us crews were called to the report of an explosion and fire in the 1300 block of West Second street just before midnight to find burning debris in a backyard. Mayne said the fire was quickly dowsed and posed no immediate threat to nearby life or property. While the cause of this fire is under investigation, Mayne said it is the second in as many weeks to appear to have started in a similar fashion.

Shelton, WA -  The Mason County Sheriff’s Office reports Jaramie Lee Smith was apprehended late last night and is now in custody at the Mason County Jail. Detective Bill Adam tells us Smith was known to have a with a .22 caliber revolver, and was being considered armed and dangerous. Adam said he was last seen leaving his Elma home around 4 Monday morning, he was being sought regarding threats made to his wife.

Aberdeen, WA - The first pontoon from the second cycle in Aberdeen has begun it's 260 mile nautical journey to Puget Sound. The longitudinal pontoon will wait in Tacoma for outfitting and preparation for assembly on Lake Washington.
The Washington State Department of Transportation reports In the second cycle, crews built three longitudinal pontoons, two supplemental stability pontoons and one cross pontoon. They floated out of the Aberdeen casting basin during a blustery rainstorm overnight April 28-29.

Aberdeen, WA, May 7, 2013: Rediviva, (red-uh-vee-vuh) a new restaurant and bar located at 118 E. Wishkah Street in downtown Aberdeen, will be open for business in June 2013. Rediviva is owned and operated by Andrew Bickar, previous Executive Chef of the Ocean Crest Resort and Eric W. Duensing, owner of DC Slices in Washington DC. Rediviva will operate in the newly renovated space that was once occupied by Mallard’s Bistro, directly across from the D&R Theater.

Bickar tells KBKW Rediviva will offer a hand-crafted lunch and dinner menu with a variety of fresh local ingredients and regional fare. “Look for a refined approach to Northwest American cuisine highlighting local seafood, meats, foraged items from the peninsula, as well as locally grown produce,” award-winning Executive Chef Andrew Bickar said of the Rediviva Menu. The focus on fresh items will be apparent, with oysters being shucked at the newly renovated bar daily, as well as craft cocktails, regional wines and local beers.

Rediviva is a collaboration between Chef Bickar and Eric Duensing, who has been previously featured on the Food Network, Travel Channel and the History Channel’s “Modern Marvels”. “I absolutely love the Washington Coast, and am thrilled to be involved with this project”, said Duensing. Designed in cooperation with Scott Sowinski, A.I.A. Associate, LEEDTM AP of Architects West of Coeur d'Alene, ID and Bargreen Ellingson of Tacoma, WA, Rediviva’s interior will feature locally reclaimed wood, contemporary art by Grays Harbor artists, and expansive front windows. The restaurant will also feature design elements from its namesake, the Columbia Rediviva, Captain Robert Gray’s three-masted ship that sailed into and discovered on Grays Harbor 221 years ago on May 7, 1792.

Follow Rediviva’s progress toward opening as they post updates on their social media platforms including pictures, renderings, and construction updates. Follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/RedivivaNW and Facebook www.facebook.com/redivivarestaurant.