Power outage in E. Aberdeen, Walmart

The Grays Harbor PUD says power has been restored to the area of east Aberdeen including Walmart. According to spokesperson Liz Anderson, The PUD will be testing an underground cable that may have been the cause of this mornings outage.

Nationwide recall does not affect beef currently in local stores

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection has expanded their Public Health Alert for XL Foods to include all beef and beef products produced on August 24, 27, 28, 29 and September 5. The recall was first

The meat was sold in stores throughout Washington including Safeway and TOP Food and Drug.

Beef product from Canada’s XL Foods, Inc., tested positive for E. coli on September 3. After follow-up testing, the recall was expanded to a variety of ground beef products on September 16, 2012.

Products subject to the recall include, but are not limited to, steaks, roasts, mechanically tenderized steaks and roasts, and ground beef.

Locally, both Safeway and Top Foods pulled any meat that could have been contaminated at the first word of a recall. Aberdeen Safeway Meat Manager Patti Kennedy said that all Safeway stores in Washington “Immediately pulled the product last Saturday. All beef currently in the store is not part of the recall.”

Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, QFC, Sam’s Club, and Walmart (Colorado stores only) were also included in the recall.

 

 

State Parks are free this Saturday

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission reminds visitors that Saturday, September 29 is a State Parks free day in recognition of National Public Lands Day. The Discover Pass is not required of visitors exploring their state parks on “free days.”

A $30 annual or $10 one-day permit is normally required on state recreation lands. The Discover Pass legislation provides State Parks with the ability to designate up to 12 “free days” when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. The free days apply only at state parks. A Discover Pass is required to access DFW and DNR lands.

The final 2012 State Parks free days are scheduled for November 10 through 12 during the Veteran’s Day holiday weekend. For more information about State Parks free days, visit http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/faq/#freedays.

Suspect in attempted robbery at Radio Shack has ties to Jay Gladden

Aberdeen Police have a suspect in the September 9th attempted robbery of Radio Shack, and they say she’s connected with Jay Gladden. Gladden is wanted for the robberies of Hucklebearies Espresso and TwinStar Credit Union.

Captain John Green says that on September 9th, the woman entered the store and demanded money from an employee. The suspect fled the store after the clerk went to activate the alarm.

While working on the case with Hoquiam Police, information led detectives to a 30 year old Melissa Marie Moore, the girlfriend of Jay Gladden at the time of the robberies. The suspects were living together at the time of all 3 suspected robberies. The couple is believed to be together while on the run from police.

Melissa Marie Moore
30 years of age
5-09, 160 pounds
Green eyes
Brown hair, may have orange and pink highlights
Tattoo on right foot

Jay Randall Gladden
29 years old
5’11”, 145 lbs
Last seen with beard. Possibly clean shaven.

An arrest warrant has been issued for both suspects.

If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of either of these two suspects they are asked to call the Aberdeen Police Department at 533-3180 or the tip line at 538-4450. If either suspect is observed the public is asked not to confront the suspect and to call 911 as soon as it safe to do so.

Quinault Indian Nation receives over $560 thousand from Department of Justice

On Thursday, the Department of Justice announced more than 200 grants to over 110 American Indian and Alaska Native nations providing over $101 million to enhance law enforcement practices.

This includes over $560 thousand dollars going to the Quinault Indian Nation to hire and train for the Tribal Resources Grant Program.

The awards are made for tribal-specific grant programs to address public safety, alcohol and substance abuse, violence against women, elder abuse and other programs.

The DOJ awarded 301 grants totaling $127 million in 2011 and 286 awards totaling $118 million 2012.

A fact sheet on the awards is available at http://www.justice.gov/tribal/ctas2012/ctas-factsheet.pdf.

Christi Boora named to Aberdeen School Board

In a special meeting on Thursday, the Aberdeen School Board made their decision on the person who will be joining the board to fill the seat vacant following the passing of Jeff Snell in August.

Christi Boora, a parent and school counselor who co-chaired the Aberdeen School District’s levy campaign last spring, was appointed to the Aberdeen School Board last night.

Mrs. Boora will take the oath of office at the board’s next meeting on October 2.

Boora grew up on Grays Harbor and is a 1990 graduate of Aberdeen High School. She and her husband, Jim Boora, have two children who attend schools in Aberdeen. She holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology and is active in the community, coaching youth soccer and volunteering with the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, United Way of Grays Harbor, the AHS Boosters, the Salvation Army and Rotary. She also is a disaster counselor for the American Red Cross.

GHC scholarships still available for Fall Quarter

Despite the school year already started, the Grays Harbor College says that they still have a number of scholarships still available for the fall quarter.

They say that most of the fall scholarships are for specific areas of study or for individuals with specific backgrounds or needs.

The scholarships range from the Townsend Education Fund scholarship, open to a Student with a disability, the Joseph Hernandez scholarship for a Hispanic male, to the Delta Kappa Gamma Chapter Phi scholarship that could go to a female sophomore focusing on education. There are also scholarships available to all students.
The Grays Harbor College Foundation has a total 23 scholarships available this fall. The majority of GHC scholarships will be available winter quarter, with over 150 awards available.

Scholarship recipients must be enrolled full-time during the 2012-2013 school year to receive their scholarships.

The Scholarship application process is available until Monday, October 15th.

The complete list of available scholarships is available online at ghc.edu/stars.html

Westport tops West Coast in fishing

In a report released by NOAA on commercial fishing for 2011, Westport tops the West Coast in the value of seafood landed outside Alaska, and 13th in the nation for volume.

Westport was 16th in the value of fish landed at 61 million dollars last year, increasing its total value by over 20 million dollars. Astoria followed at 23rd with Bellingham in at 36th overall.

For volume in 2010, Westport saw 110 million pounds of fish on its docks, and in 2011 the number increased to 116 million. 3 of the top 5 ports were in Alaska. Astoria came in at 10th overall.

Alaska led all states in volume with 5.4 billion pounds; followed by Louisiana. Washington came in 4th overall with 487 million pounds.

Alaska also led states in value of landings with $1.9 billion. Washington is 4th with $319 million.

Mayor Raines asks Aberdeen to reconsider Flood Authority

Cosmopolis Mayor Vicki Raines came to the Aberdeen City Council to ask them to stay with the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority.

The Aberdeen City Council tabled a resolution that would have finalized the exit of Aberdeen from the Authority. Mayor Raines had a lot to say about the improvements the Authority is making and why Aberdeen should stick with it.

The resolution will be brought up again at the Council’s next meeting.

 

Aberdeen Fire Chief changing of the guard

Aberdeen Fire Chief Dave Carlberg saw his last Aberdeen City Council Meeting as Fire Chief and saw his replacement confirmed.

The changing of the guard happened last night as Aberdeen Fire Chief Carlberg is close to his last day. Chief Carlberg took time to thank the people he has worked with over the years.

Carlberg also shared a story about his first and last fires.

Carlberg’s replacement Tom Hubbard was also confirmed as the new chief by the council last night and introduced by both Carlberg and Aberdeen Mayor Bill Simpson.