Raymond, WA - In keeping with the College Bound theme, fourth grade students from Raymond Elementary School visited the University of Washington on Thursday May 9th.  After arriving, students were treated to a campus tour.  Some of the tour highlights were visiting the "Harry Potter" Reading room in the gothic-style Suzzalo Library, seeing the world's largest book, walking the Quad and Red Square, and checking out the HUB (Husky Union Building). Students also learned about some of the majors that UW has to offer.

After a quick lunch, students met at the University of Washington's Burke Museum. The meeting place was the Life and Times of Washington, an exhibit about the natural history of our state.  Students were divided into small groups to "dig" prehistoric fossils in the Discovery Lab.   They also "found" some ancient artifacts such as Clovis points.  Later in the session they worked to identify their finds and establish which geologic time period the finds fit into.   Some of the more exciting "finds" were a saber tooth tiger tusk, a velociraptor claw, and the largest T-rex tooth ever discovered.  The chaperones, Mrs. deMontigny, Mr. Clements, and all the students agreed that this was one awesome field trip.

Westport, WA - Seventy-eight crew members from the fishing vessel Arctic Storm were evacuated after it caught fire about 32 miles west of Grays Harbor Monday.

The U.S. Coast Guard said the vessel’s crew members successfully put out the engine room fire using the Halon chemical firefighting system aboard the ship.

 A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria and two 47-foot motor lifeboat crews from Station Grays Harbor monitored as good Samaritan vessels evacuated 78 of the 120 personnel aboard the fishing vessel. 42 crewmembers will remain aboard Arctic Storm to man the vessel. The 78 evacuated crewmembers were moved to commercial fishing vessels Northern Voyager, Golden Alaska, Sea Dawn and Excellence. Evacuated crewmembers are scheduled to be transported to Westport, Wash.

 A tug is enroute to tow the Arctic Storm to Aberdeen, Wash.

 Arctic Storm is reported to contain approximately 188,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

 No pollution or injuries have been reported. The Washington Department of Ecology was notified and is standing by to assist, if needed.

 The Coast Guard will conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire.

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.