Our weekly look at farming, ranching, and fishing industries, not only in our nation but the world over.
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 5/ 17
DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 5, 2017 – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with officials from SCORE, the nation’s largest volunteer network of expert business mentors, to support new and beginning farmers. Today’s agreement provides new help resources for beginning ranchers, veterans, women, socially disadvantaged Americans and others, providing new tools to help them both grow and thrive in agri-business.
“Shepherding one generation to the next is our responsibility. We want to help new farmers, veterans, and people transitioning from other industries to agriculture,” said Secretary Perdue. “They need land, equipment, and access to capital, but they also need advice and guidance. That's what SCORE is all about.”
SCORE matches business professionals and entrepreneurs with new business owners to mentor them through the process of starting-up and maintaining a new business. USDA and its partners across rural America are working with SCORE to support new farming and ranching operations, and identify and recruit mentors with a wealth of agricultural experience.
Secretary Perdue announced the new partnership in Des Moines during the Iowa Agriculture Summit. Perdue was joined by Steve Records, Vice-President of Field Operations for SCORE in signing a Memorandum of Understanding that will guide USDA and SCORE as they partner in the mentorship effort, which will soon expand to other states.
“SCORE’s mission to help people start and grow vibrant small businesses is boosted by this new partnership with USDA. America’s farmers, ranchers and agri-businesses will benefit from the business knowledge and expertise SCORE can offer,” said Records. “The partnership allows both SCORE and USDA to serve more people while providing America’s farmers added support to lead to more sound business operations, create profitable farms with sustainable growth and create new jobs. We are excited at the opportunity to extend SCORE’s impact to our farmers and the agriculture industry.”
SCORE mentors will partner with USDA and a wide array of groups already hard at work serving new and beginning farmers and ranchers, such as the FFA, 4-H, cooperative extension and land grant universities, nonprofits, legal aid groups, banks, technical and farm advisors. These partnerships will expand and integrate outreach and technical assistance between current and retired farmers and agri-business experts and new farmers.
This joint initiative leverages SCORE’s 10,000 existing volunteer mentors and USDA’s expertise and presence in agricultural communities to bring no-cost business mentoring to rural and agricultural entrepreneurs. This initiative will also be another tool to empower the work of many community-based organizations, cooperative extension and land grant universities working with beginning farmers in their communities. SCORE mentorship will also be available to current farmers and ranchers. Anyone interested in being a mentor can get more information and sign up on the USDA New Farmers’ website at https://newfarmers.usda.gov/mentorship.
USDA Celebrates National Farmers Market Week: Marine Veteran Serves through Agriculture
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 9/ 17
Garfield Jarret served in the Marine Corps until he was injured in Iraq during a roadside attack. When he returned to the United States, he attended Florida International University (FIU) to receive his undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work.
As an FIU student, he learned about the FIU Veterans and Small Farmers Outreach Program (VeSFO) . The intent of this program, funded by USDA, is to provide veterans, socially disadvantaged and new farmers in South Florida with necessary technical information, farm entrepreneurial skills and access to government assistance programs they need to start and sustain viable farm operations.
“I did all the different types of therapy you can do as a veteran,” Jarret said. “I tried them all but didn’t get the same connection as I get when I work with the land. I can live a happy and healthy life.”
Jarret has been the owner and operator of Cool Runnings Organic Farms in Homestead, Florida, since 2014. He currently raises goats, poultry and rabbits. He also grows a variety of vegetables and tropical fruits such as longans, starfruit and jackfruit.
“I grew up on my grandfather’s farm in Jamaica. He had 140 acres of sugarcane and some animals as well,” said Jarret. He moved to the United States when he was 12 years old.
To further enhance his operation, he participates in the FSA Microloan program, which finances the needs of small, beginning farmer, niche and non-traditional farm operations, such as truck farms and farms participating in direct marketing and sales, such as farmers markets.
Products from Cool Runnings Organic Farms can be found at the Pembroke Pines Farmers Market through Whole Foods, Doral Farmers Market and Wynwood Farmers Market. He sells his produce to other vendors who sell his produce at other South Florida farmers markets. In addition to farmers markets, he sells his products to restaurants and hotels.
This week, USDA is joining farmers, like Jarret, in celebrating National Farmers Market Week. Farmers markets give consumers access to locally grown and farm-fresh products, while giving farmers the platform to grow and connect with their customer base.
“As a consumer and a farmer, I think it’s important to know where your food is coming from,” said Jarret. “Not only do I get to feel satisfaction from the fruits of my labor, but I’ve also gained so many contacts by going to markets.”
Jarret’s business is community oriented. He collaborates with FIU’s Agroecology Program to help educate students.
“I have students each semester needing to meet community involvement requirements,” he said. “They get a first-hand knowledge of what farming is like and the difficulties of it. Having that knowledge, they can go and create tools to assist farmers.”
Aside from students, he works with veterans to teach them how to farm, teaches community volunteers about agriculture and also works with a faith-based halfway house to help people find a life purpose.
Celebrate National Farmers Market Week by visiting your local farmers market and supporting the farmers who supply fresh produce and products to your community. Use the National Farmers Market Directory to find a market near you: https://www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/farmersmarkets. To date, there are nearly 8,700 markets in the USDA Farmers Market Directory.
Secretary Perdue Announces $16.8 Million to Encourage SNAP Participants to Purchase Healthy Foods
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 7/ 17
WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 7, 2017) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced 32 grants totaling $16.8 million to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants increase their purchases of fruits and vegetables. The program is operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The funding comes from the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.
“These grants help provide low income families with the resources they need to consume more nutritious food. Last year, SNAP helped put healthy food on the tables of at least 44 million Americans, including 19 million children,” Perdue said. “This builds on the successes of health-related incentives, with many of the projects being conducted at farmers markets. At the same time, we’re also helping to strengthen local and regional food systems.”
FINI is a joint program between NIFA and USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, which oversees SNAP and is responsible for evaluating the impact of the variety of types of incentive programs that are deployed by FINI grantees. The program brings together stakeholders from different parts of the national food system to improve the nutrition and health status of SNAP households. The awards under FINI represent a variety of projects, including relatively small pilot projects, multi-year community-based projects, and larger-scale multi-year projects.
Grants being announced, by state, include:
FINI Pilot Projects (up to $100,000, not to exceed 1 year):
East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, Oakland, California, $76,697
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Sacramento, California, $63,494
The Kenny Family Foundation, Wilmington, Delaware, $45,000
Presence Health, Chicago, Illinois, $100,000
Iowa Healthiest State Initiative, Des Moines, Iowa, $99,587
Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Red Lake Nation, Minnesota, $78,188
Capacity Builders, Inc., Farmington, New Mexico, $26,478
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, $99,997
Janus Youth Programs, Inc., Portland, Oregon, $94,566
Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council, Johnson City, Tennessee, $94,211
Richmond City Health District, Richmond, Virginia, $98,108
Multi-year community-based projects (up to $500,000, not to exceed 4 years):
Community Services Unlimited Inc., Los Angeles, California, $500,000
Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency, Woodland, California, $500,000
FRESHFARM Markets, Inc., Washington, District of Columbia, $250,000
Atlanta Community Food Bank, Atlanta, Georgia, $250,000
The Food Basket, Inc., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, $500,000
Heritage Ranch Inc., Honaunau, Hawaii, $500,000
VNA Health Care, Aurora, Illinois, $488,090
The Experimental Station: 6100 Blackstone, Chicago, Illinois, $487,197
Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation, Whitesburg, Kentucky, $307,916
Crossroads Community Food Network, Inc., Takoma Park, Maryland, $112,403
Together We Can, North Las Vegas, Nevada, $500,000
The Fortune Society, Inc., New York City, New York, $498,000
Reinvestment Partners, Durham, North Carolina, $398,960
Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, Youngstown, Ohio, $498,880
Nurture Nature Center, Easton, Pennsylvania, $267,394
Rhode Island Public Health Institute, Providence, Rhode Island, $299,844
Grow Food d/b/a Viva Farms, Mount Vernon, Washington, $488,758
Multi-year large-scale projects ($500,000 or greater, not to exceed 4 years):
California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, California, $3,944,573
Community Farm Alliance, Inc., Berea, Kentucky, $602,159
Fair Food Network, Ann Arbor, Michigan, $3,500,000
The Food Trust, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, $987,500
Among the grant recipients this year, The Experimental Station 61St Street , located in an underserved neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, will increase the affordability of fruits and vegetables sold in Illinois Farmers Markets for Illinois SNAP clients. The project aims to expand the SNAP Double Coupon Program incentive to an additional 80 Illinois Farmers Markets and direct-to-consumer venues. Currently, the project has funded almost 90 farmers markets and direct-to-consumer venues statewide and facilitated thousands of SNAP shoppers to purchase almost $500,000 of additional fresh and healthy foods with the Double Value Coupon incentives. More than 22,000 low-income Illinois residents will benefit from affordable access to the region’s freshest fruits, vegetables and other healthy goods.
Since 2014, NIFA, has awarded more than $65 million through the FINI program. Previously funded projects include the Farmacy Health Improvement Program project that is researching the problem of low-income people with specific medical conditions (pregnancy, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and hypertension and/or obesity) not having access to healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables. As a result of this project, pregnant women and people diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes qualify for vouchers redeemable for $2 per day for the patient and $1 per day for each additional household member to purchase locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. The Fair Food Network (Ann Arbor, Michigan) project developed solutions that work across the food system to support farmers, strengthen local economies, and increase access to healthy food—especially in low-income communities. As a result of this project, the “Double Up Food Bucks” program became a national model for other healthy food incentives that are now active in nearly 20 states. This project helps low-income Americans bring home healthier food while supporting family farmers and growing local economies.
NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education, and extension and promotes transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges. NIFAs’ support of the best and brightest scientists and extension personnel has resulted in user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries that combat childhood obesity, improve and sustain rural economic growth, address water availability issues, increase food production, find new sources of energy, mitigate climate variability and ensure food safety. To learn more about NIFA’s impact on agricultural science, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts or sign up for email updates .
UN NEWS CENTER: UN agency sounds alarm as drought-stricken herders in Ethiopia face massive livestock losses
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11 August 2017 – Drought has devastated herders' livelihoods as it exhausted pastures and water sources, the United Nations agriculture agency said today, stressing that supporting them to get back on their feet and prevent further livestock losses are crucial in the Horn of Africa country, where hunger has been on the rise this year.
The drought has led to a significant number of animals dying or falling ill, particularly in the southern and south-eastern regions of the country, as other areas recover from previous seasons' El Niño-induced drought,” warned the Food and Agriculture Organization of the (FAO).
FAO pointed out that drought-hit pastoralists face reduced milk production, rising malnutrition, and have limited income-earning capacity and severely constrained access to food.
“Some 8.5 million people – one in 12 people – are now suffering from hunger; of these, 3.3 million people live in Somali Region,” said the UN agriculture agency.
The current food and nutrition crisis is significantly aggravated by the severe blow to pastoral livelihoods. For livestock-dependent families, the animals can literally mean the difference between life and death – especially for children, pregnant and nursing mothers, for whom milk is a crucial source of nutrition.
With up to two million animals lost so far, FAO is focusing on providing emergency livestock support to the most vulnerable pastoralist communities through animal vaccination and treatment, supplementary feed and water, rehabilitating water points, and supporting fodder and feed production.
“It is crucial to provide this support between now and October – when rains are due – to begin the recovery process and prevent further losses of animals. If we don't act now, hunger and malnutrition will only get worse among pastoral communities,” said Abdoul Karim Bah, FAO Deputy Representative in Ethiopia.
By providing supplementary feed and water for livestock, while simultaneously supporting fodder production, FAO seeks to protect core breeding animals and enable drought-hit families to rebuild their livelihoods.
In addition to FAO-supported destocking and cash-for-work programmes to provide cash for families, animal health campaigns will be reinforced to protect animals, particularly before the rain sets in – when they are at their weakest and more susceptible to parasites or infectious diseases.
Funding appeal
FAO urgently requires $20 million between August and December to come to the aid of Ethiopia's farmers and herders.
FAO has already assisted almost 500,000 drought-hit people in 2017 through a mix of livestock feed provision, destocking and animal health interventions, thanks to the support of the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden through FAO's Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, as well as FAO's own Early Warning Early Action fund and Technical Cooperation Programme.
OLYMPIA WATCH
From the Governor's blog: Prepare for gridlock as motorists head to see eclipse. In parts of state, traffic could resemble what’s seen during large winter stormsDate posted 8/ 11/ 17
Washington and many other states are bracing for unprecedented traffic problems on the days surrounding the Aug. 21 total eclipse.
The last time a total solar eclipse shadowed the lower forty-eight was in 1979, when its path of totality crossed over the state, giving many Washingtonians a chance to witness the kind of eclipse seen from Earth once every 18 months. A total eclipse won’t be visible from the West Coast again until 2045, when it will cross northern California.
This month, Washington will be north of the eclipse’s path of totality, which will span from Oregon to South Carolina. People in Washington will see only the moon partially covering the sun — unless they head south.
There are an estimated 5.5 million drivers in Washington, and no sure way to predict how many of them will drive to see the total eclipse. What officials do know is that hotels, campgrounds and other types of lodging along the path of totality were booked months — and sometimes years — in advance.
Officials also assume that people who couldn’t secure lodging for the eclipse will drive into the path of totality on the morning of Monday, Aug. 21. And once the eclipse is done, return traffic is expected to be heavy through Tuesday.
In Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown has authorized the National Guard to help manage the expected surge of up to 1 million tourists. Gov. Jay Inslee is asking Washington residents driving south to plan ahead and use caution.
“A total solar eclipse is no doubt a special astronomical phenomenon that many people will want to enjoy,” Inslee said. “Washingtonians can help ensure that everyone has a safe and memorable experience by giving themselves an abundance of travel time before and after the eclipse, exiting the highway before stopping to watch the eclipse and wearing eye protection specifically designed for eclipse viewing.”
The eclipse will reach totality (full coverage of the sun) in Oregon between 10:15 and 10:25 a.m. On the west side of the state, it will cover a strip of land south of Portland and north of Eugene; on Oregon’s east side, its path will include Baker City and parts of the Malheur National Forest.
The Washington State Department of Transportation is telling motorists to prepare for significant traffic delays similar to those encountered during a large winter storm. Or imagine Seattle traffic after a Seahawks game, on top of traffic backed up from a road-construction project.
“We want everyone to be prepared for additional traffic both before and after the eclipse, whether you’re traveling to the path of totality or going about your daily travels,” Washington State Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar said. “Most importantly, we want people informed so we can all travel and return home safely.”
WSDOT also warns that dry conditions and more traffic could heighten wildfire danger and slow emergency responders trying to get to a wildfire.
Whether you’re driving to the path of totality, or just driving to work that day, here’s what you need to know:
Eclipse watchers
Leave early and prepare for the possibility that you might be spending several hours in your vehicle.
Bring supplies with you, including food and water and other essential items. Stores could run low on supplies and congestion could mean your travel takes longer than expected.
Keep your vehicle gassed up throughout your travels and don’t let the gauge get too close to empty in case you can’t quickly get to a gas station.
Identify a safe place to park and watch the eclipse ahead of time. There’s sure to be lots of traffic the morning of the 21st, and you don’t want to rush to find a spot.
And don’t forget your protective eye ware. Regular sunglasses won’t cut it for eclipse viewing; special glasses are required. Learn more on NASA’s eclipse safety page.
Commuters
If you are commuting to work Aug. 21, and especially if you live near the Oregon border, consider delaying your start and stop times, altering your drive plans or allowing extra time to get to work.
Oregon-Washington border roads where heavy traffic is expected are Interstates 5 and 205 between Vancouver and Portland; state Route 14 between I-5 and I-205 and from Skamania County to the Bridge of the Gods; U.S. Routes 97 and 197 from Klickitat County to Oregon; SR 433 from Longview to Rainier; SR 409 between Cathlamet and Westport (connected by the Wahkiakum County Ferry); U.S. 101 from Washington to Astoria; and SR 4 between Longview and Long Beach.
It’s possible all parts of Washington could see eclipse traffic both before and after the event. For a list of traffic challenges in other state regions that day, check the WSDOT travel alerts page.
If you are driving in Washington during the partial eclipse, please find a safe place to stop if you want to observe the moon obscure part of the sun. Do not stop on roadways or pull onto shoulders — those need to remain open for emergency responders.
If you don’t care to see the total eclipse and don’t need to commute on Aug. 21, avoid the highways.
Traffic tools
Stay up to speed on traffic conditions with WSDOT’s travel tools, including the WSDOT app, Twitter accounts, WSDOT Facebook page and travel alerts. More tips about eclipse travel are available at the WSDOT blog.
Inslee names Anne Cruser to Cowlitz County Superior Court and Samuel Swanberg to Benton-Franklin County Superior Court
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 10/ 17
Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the appointments of Anne Cruser to Cowlitz County Superior Court and Samuel Swanberg to Benton-Franklin County Superior Court.
Cruser will fill a newly established seat on the Cowlitz County Superior Court. She is currently a supervising attorney for the Appellate Division at the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Cruser also served as judge pro tempore for five years in the Cowlitz County District Court and owned a private law firm for seven years. She focuses on appellate law with experience in criminal trial litigation and public records.
“Anne has a wealth of legal experience combined with a strong connection to the community," Inslee said. "I know that she will bring a forward-thinking attitude to the bench.”
Cruser earned her law degree from Willamette University College of Law.
The state Legislature added a fifth Cowlitz County position to the current four-member team in 2006. However, due to county budgetary constraints, the seat did not open until this year.
Samuel Swanberg's appointment to Benton-Franklin County Superior Court is to replace Judge Vic VanderSchoor, who is retiring after 21 years of service.
Swanberg has served as judge pro tempore for Pasco Municipal Court, Benton County District Court, and for the Juvenile Division of Superior Court for Benton-Franklin County. He has also practiced in the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.
“Samuel knows this community well and he is highly regarded by those who know him and work with him," Inslee said.
Swanberg practiced law as a private attorney for 24 years in state and federal courts. He specialized in criminal defense, family law, and domestic cases with experience in civil litigation.
He obtained his law degree from Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School.
WDFW: Pier 86 on Seattle waterfront closes for public safety
PRESS RELEASE 8/ 11/ 17
OLYMPIA – A popular fishing pier on the Seattle waterfront has been closed until further notice due to public safety concerns.
The Port of Seattle and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) are currently working to determine the future of Pier 86, which requires costly repairs to fix cracked piers as well as failing electrical and water systems.
The port and the state agency jointly managed the facility for 30 years, but that agreement expired in 2009, said Russell Link, regional WDFW manager.
"We've both agreed to look for funding sources to upgrade or reconstruct the pier, but that we need to close the facility in the near term to address safety concerns," Link said.
Based on a recent structural analysis, the needed repairs would cost between $2 million to $5 million, he said.
WASH. DFI: Capitol Finance - Advance Fee Scam
PRESS RELEASED 8/ 9/ 17
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions warns consumers to verify the license of any lending professional they are considering doing business with to avoid becoming victims of potential scams. It has been reported that a Washington State consumer was contacted and told he was approved for a loan. However, he had to first send verification funds that needed to be sent via an iTunes gift card. No loan was provided and the consumer did not receive a refund. It appears that Capitol Finance may be conducting an advance fee loan scam. No address information was provided to the consumer, other than the company was alleged to be located in Jacksonville, Florida. The consumer provided the following telephone numbers alleged to be associated with the company:
904*410*0097
727*466*3920
The Department is only reporting these allegations and has been unable to verify the information as belonging to Capitol Finance.
Capitol Finance is not licensed by DFI and is not registered to conduct business in Washington by the Department of Licensing, Department of Revenue, or the Secretary of State. DFI warns Washington consumers that when considering doing business with a financial service provider the consumer can:
Make sure that the entity is licensed. Consumers can use the “Verify a License” feature on DFI’s website at www.dfi.wa.gov to check whether a payday or consumer loan company is licensed to conduct business in the state of Washington.
Never provide any personal information, such as social security number or bank account number or access if the company is not licensed or authorized to conduct business.
Important Information for Washington Consumers About Unlicensed Lenders
Washington State residents are informed that Washington State law provides in RCW 31.04.035 that fees or interest charged in the making of a nonresidential loan by an unlicensed lender must be refunded to the borrower. For a residential mortgage loan, an unlicensed lender must refund any non-third-party fees charged in connection with the origination (excluding interest charges).
Washington residents only: If you suspect unlicensed activity by a payday lender or consumer loan company, please contact the Department at 1-877-RING-DFI (746-4334), or online at www.dfi.wa.gov. Even if the activity involves a loan you obtained over the internet, a license is generally still required. If a collection agency is attempting to collect a debt from you, you can check whether the company is licensed by the State of Washington Department of Licensing.
Collection activities by payday lenders in the State of Washington are subject to RCW 31.45.082, which limits the time, place, and manner by which a payday lender may collect a debt. Payday lenders must also provide borrowers with an installment plan if the borrower is not able to pay the small loan back when it is due.
SEC. of State: With tabulation nearing completion, Primary turnout approaches 27 percent
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 10/ 17
OLYMPIA…Voter turnout for the Aug. 1 Primary Election in Washington has reached 26.79 percent, higher than the numbers set in the previous two odd-year primaries. Turnout in 2015’s Primary was 24.37 percent while 2013’s was 25.99 percent.
A few thousand ballots have yet to be counted, but state and county election workers are nearing the end of the vote tabulation process.
“Even though this year’s turnout is the highest since 2011 for odd-year primaries, it is by no means encouraging that only just over a quarter of our state’s registered voters chose to make their voices heard,” said Secretary of State Kim Wyman. “Even though it is more convenient for citizens to register and cast their vote than ever before, it really comes down to how interested people are in a particular issue or candidate for them to exercise their civic duty.”
Voter turnout in a presidential election year is typically the highest, while odd-year elections historically trend lower – even though it’s the local measures and offices that will often most directly affect voters’ lives, noted Wyman.
The Secretary of State’s Office has undertaken numerous measures over the last decade to increase the likelihood that eligible citizens will register and vote, including:
Promoting voter registration through the Department of Licensing (motor voter)
Offering voter registration at state agencies as part of every sign-up or renewal of benefits
Pioneering voter registration by mail, and online
Delivering a voter information pamphlet to every household in Washington state that includes information about how to register
Providing voter registration information to college students when they register for classes
Sending voter registration information to all young people when they turn 18 years of age
Annually reaching out to potentially eligible but not yet registered voters with registration information
Providing voter pamphlets in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese
Providing voter registration information in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Burmese, Khmer (Cambodian), Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Tagalog and Ukrainian – and in forms accessible to persons with disabilities.
“We continue working to remove barriers to participation in democracy,” Wyman continued. This year, the Secretary of State proposed legislation that would have shortened voter registration deadlines, allowed the pre-registering of 17-year-olds so they automatically become registered voters on their 18th birthday, and automatically registered citizens who have an enhanced driver’s license.
Washington’s Office of Secretary of State oversees a number of areas within state government, including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office also manages the State Archives and the State Library, as well as documenting extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington.
LOCAL MEETINGS HIGHLIGHTS
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS
Clallam County Commission work session agenda highlight items
1) Grant amendment A with Washington State Department of Commerce to extend the grant period and increase the grant amount
2) Review the “How Did We Do” reports comparing each month’s actual performance against the 2017 Annual Budget
3) Public Works budget modification in the amount of $117,010 in order to reallocate funding to meet their anticipated expenditures
See full agenda
Clallam County Commission regular session agenda highlight items
1) Agreement with the heirs and devisees of Alvin F. Oien, Jr., deceased and Carol Ann Oien for the purchase of land and easement for the Olympic Discovery Trail between Freshwater Bay Road and Camp Hayden Road
2) Agreement with State of Washington Office of the Courts for reimbursement for travel and training during the implementation process of the new case management system Odyssey
3) Resolution calling for a hearing to be held at 10:30 a.m., August 29, for consideration of the following Debatable Emergencies:
Treasurer’s O&M – The cost of foreclosure title reports is significantly higher this year than last year/$20,000
Human Resources – Unemployment Compensation – Increase compensation budget expenditure due to restructuring and employee separations/$40,000
See full agenda
PORT COMMISSION MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
1) B. 2nd Quarter Capital Budget Report (pg. 86-99)
2) A. **Time Specific at 1:35pm - State of Washington Audit Report
3) Marine Terminal Stormwater Conveyance Change Order No. 2 (pg. 83-85)
See full agenda
Special Joint Meeting of the City of Forks & Port of Port Angeles 5:PM Aug 14th
Agenda highlight: Timber Advocacy Efforts
See full agenda
CITY OF PORT ANGELES COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEMS
1) Peninsula Housing Authority CDBG grant for stormwater infrastructure
2) Telecommunication Emergency Response team interlocal governmental agreement.
3) Solid Waste Collection surcharge elimination
See full agenda for details
OTHER LOCAL AND REGIONAL MEETINGS...
CITY OF SEQUIM AGENDA ITEM HIGHLIGHT: Ordinance No. TBD2017-01 Authorizing Unforeseen Expenditures for the Sequim Transportation Benefit District 2017 Budget
See full agenda
CITY OF FORKS AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: Robbins Annexation Proceedings
See full agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA HIGHLIGHT
AGREEMENT NO. 1763-94255 re: Chemical Dependency Prevention; In the Amount of $179,559; Jefferson County Public Health; Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR)
See full agenda
PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM
Mid-Year Financial Report for the Fiscal Year 2017
See full agenda
WORLD AND NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS
UN NEWS CENTER: After four years of conflict, uncertainty lingers for displaced Ukrainians – UN refugee agency
UN NEWS CENTER: Over 600,000 displaced Syrians returned home so far this year – UN agency
11 August 2017 – More than 600,000 displaced Syrians returned home in the first seven months of 2017, the United Nations migration agency and partners have found.
NATION
WP: ‘Fight tonight?’ Explaining Trump’s retweet that says U.S. bombers are ready to strike North KoreaU.S. tensions with North Korea took another turn Friday morning when President Trump opted to again highlight the threat the U.S. military could pose to Pyongyang, tweeting that “military solutions are now fully in place” and “locked and loaded” should North Korea “act unwisely.” But his next act on Twitter suggests that despite the bellicose rhetoric, the Pentagon is not on the brink of war.
AP: Plane returns to airport after 3 flight attendants get sick
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Officials say three flight attendants became ill on a plane headed to Barbados, causing it to return to a Florida airport.
NEWS REPORT COMMENTARY
From the Peninsula Daily news article; Port Angeles pool puts item on ballot: Voters asked to approve debt for expansion
Quote: " Pool district commissioners have unanimously approved placing a measure on the Nov. 7 general election ballot that would increase the debt capacity of the district by $3.5 million to between $10 million and $10.5 million.
That would allow the district to go ahead with a planned $12 million expansion of the 225 E. Fifth St. pool facility, which opened in 1962 and has been operated since 2009 by a voter-approved metropolitan park district."
Editorial Commentary: Readers, normally I would balk at tax levy, I think in this case approving this levi is a smart move, since the pool provides many who depend on the pool for exercise, with limited exercise options due to disability, like yours truly. So yeah, I'm bias on this issue, and supportive of this levy.
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