BREAKING: THREE PEOPLE KILLED, ONE INJURED IN OAKVILLE COLLISION

Police say alcohol may have been a factor when a pickup struck a tree on the Brooklyn Road in Oakville

According to reports the truck was traveling eastbound on Brooklyn when it left the road near Garrard Creek.

The pickup’s driver, a female passenger and a male passenger all were killed.

Another female passenger was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with serious injures.

The three people killed have not been identified pending notification of next of kin.

7.0 QUAKE HITS EASTERN JAPAN; NO TSUNAMI WATCH ISSUED

TOKYO(AP) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 earthquake hit off the shores of Japan’s southern Pacific island.

The Meteorological Agency says the offshore quake Sunday struck about 370 kilometers (230 miles) below the sea surface. The agency said there was no danger of a tsunami. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Northeastern Japan was devastated by a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11 that left nearly 20,000 people dead or missing. Japan, which lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is one of the world’s most seismically active countries

BOY SCOUTS WILL AGAIN RECYCLE YOUR LIVE CHRISTMAS TREE

It’ll soon be time to take down that Christmas tree…and once again this year, the Boy Scouts stand ready to help you dispose of your live trees in an environmentally friendly way.

Beginning this weekend and for the next two weekends you’ll be able to drop your tree off at Washington Grade School and other locations around the harbor, but Hoquiam Troop 20 Committee Chair Eric Simonson says you don’t have to haul that tree anywhere – the Scouts will come and pick up your tree!

While the Boy Scouts do the tree recycling for free, they do ask that people make a donation to help fund programs and activities for the year.

Tree recycling will be tomorrow and Sunday from 9 to 5, then again next Saturday and Sunday and one final day on the 14th.

In Aberdeen and Hoquiam you can call 591-9342 to arrange for a tree pickup.

ABERDEEN COUNCILWOMEN SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON HEALTH INSURANCE FOR MAYOR SIMPSON

Mayor Bill Simpson says he would like the City of Aberdeen to make him a full-time mayor and give him access to the city’s health insurance program, but 2 city councilwomen say the quotes attibuted to them about allowing the mayor on the city plan are not accurate.

Councilwoman Kathi Hoder says her quote in a Daily World story that said she thinks the city should pay for Mayor Simpson’s insurance is not completely correct as it didn’t also say she would need more specifics before endorsing the plan.

And Hoder adds she wants to make it clear she is NOT in favor of this idea if it will drain more of the city’s already strained financial resources.

Meanwhile Councilwoman Margo Shortt – who was also quoted in the Daily World story as saying she could endorse allowing Mayor Simpson access to the city insurance – says she hasn’t decided one way or another on the matter.

One issue raised by city attorney Eric Nelson is whether the payment of the $12,000 annual insurance premium for Mayor Simpson and his wife would essentially constitute a pay raise.

Councilwoman Shortt says that would likely require a charter change – something that is done before the mayor is sworn in for a new term.

The council will likely take up the matter in January.

YUP, YOU GUESSED IT…ANOTHER WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Wind Advisory for the North & Central Coast of Washington for tonight. Sustained winds are expected to be 25-35mph , gusting to 40-50 mph. The Wind Advisory will be in effect until 6am Friday morning.

 

MORE HEAVY RAIN & WIND ON THE WAY…

The latest from Grays Harbor Emergency Management Deputy Director Chuck Wallace:

 

During the next few days, steady rain will continue to fall. Grays Harbor County Emergency Management is reminding all citizens that high wind gusts along with rain saturated grounds are indicators for possible power outages from fallen trees, tree limbs and power lines. DO NOT venture near downed tree limbs or power lines. DO NOT USE PORTABLE GENERATORS INDOORS FOR ANY REASON!! There have been numerous incidents of Carbon Monoxide poisoning in the County in the last few weeks due to the faulty use of portable generators being used indoors.

All rivers in the County will run higher than normal, especially during high tide in the Harbor. No rivers are projected to flood at this time. A few low lying roads remain closed by County Road Crews due to water over the surface. DO NOT drive over flooded roadways.

ABERDEEN SEARS STORE NOT ON CLOSURE LIST AS OF NOW

The parent company of Sears and Kmart has released a partial list of stores that it plans to close and so far the Aberdeen Sears store is not on the list.

The only two stores set to be closed in Washington State are a Sears in Walla Walla and a Kmart in Lacey.

Sears Holdings expects to release the complete list of stores to be closed within the next few days.

TOP 11 STORIES OF 2011 – WHAT’S YOUR LIST?

Here’s the list of the top 11 stories for 2011 as voted on by KXRO Newsradio staff:

11. Lindsey Baum 2 year anniversary

10. Port Of Grays Harbor’s 100th Anniversary – named Port of the Year

9. PUD pays Spradlin Rock for 2007 storm work

8. 2012 County Budget/Deficit – 5 cities file resolutions criticizing the Commissioners

7. Man attacks homeowner with dead animal

6. 520 Pontoon Project groundbreaking

5. Osama Bin Loggin T-Shirt controversy

4. Gary Lies homicide (jail inmate who escaped from GHCH)

3. Humptulips double murder

2. Closure of Grays Harbor Paper

1. The “Grinch Fund”

 

Honorable mentions:

Foodball 30th Anniversary

County Redistricting – 4 proposals, several objections

Elma football players suspended for violating conduct policy

Langley Hill Radar dedication

Aberdeen Watchman Dies

Mother bites daughter’s ear after daughter bites mother’s arm

 

What stories do YOU think were important in 2011?

Go to http://www.kxro.com/page.php?page_id=80 and send your list to KXRO News Director Rick Johnson and on Tuesday, January 3 he’ll run down the listener’s choice for top stories

 

 

BABY IT’S WARM OUTSIDE!

Is it REALLY the last week of December?

You wouldn’t know it by the VERY warm temperatures we’ve had of late.

The National Weather Service record high temperature at Bowerman Airport for December 28 was from 1980 when it was 55 degrees.

Today’s high was 52, so it was close to a new record.

In Seattle, a new record high of 55 was set, breaking the 53-degree mark from 2005.

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING

A Wind Advisory is in effect until 6am Thursday morning. The National Weather Service says sustained winds will build to 20-35 mph, gusting to 50 mph.

Early forecasts indicate the windy conditions will return Thursday evening and night to 25-35 mph sustained winds gusting to 50 mph

Grays Harbor County Emergency Management Deputy Director Chuck Wallace says that high wind gusts along with rain saturated grounds are indicators for possible power outages from fallen trees, limbs and power lines.

DO NOT venture near downed tree limbs or power lines. DO NOT USE PORTABLE GENERATORS INDOORS FOR ANY REASON!! There have been numerous incidents of Carbon Monoxide poisoning in the County in the last few weeks from the faulty use of portable generators being used indoors.

Wallace adds that all rivers in the County will run higher than normal, especially during high tide in the Harbor. No rivers are projected to flood at this time although some low lying roads and pastureland may see pooling of rainwater. DO NOT drive over flooded roadways.