Sequim Gazette, September 02, 2015

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OTA rolls out two plays

SEQUIM GAZETTE

Seafood, produce biz opens shop

Off to the Cowboy Races

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Sept. 2, 2015 • A-1

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SEQUIM GAZETTE www

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015

Sequim’s Hometown Newspaper

com

75 CENTS

Vol. 42, Number 36

Building a better bridge Construction begins on Railroad Bridge, part of ODT closed

Railroad Bridge Park began in late August. After obtaining all the necessary permits and with the use of the design and engineering done by Otak, forward steps were taken toward a more modern, environmentally friendly river crossing aimed at replacing the damaged trestle. “In my entire career of surveying, I’ve never seen such a fast turnaround on a

BY ALANA LINDEROTH Sequim Gazette

Construction to build a pedestrian and bike bridge across the Dungeness River in

See BRIDGE, A-5

During construction, the ODT from Runnion Road to the trestle will be closed. Access to the project site from other directions also is prohibited for safety reasons, but park users still may go to the river to the south of the project area using the river trail from the gazebo. Sequim Gazette photo by Alana Linderoth

Sequim firefighters keep up wildfire fight in Eastern Wash.

AIRPLANES FOR ALL AGES

Four medics/ firefighters latest to travel to fires BY MATTHEW NASH Sequim Gazette

Piper Bullington, 4, of Sequim puts on the headgear for the Ageless Aviation Flights’ 1944 Boeing Steerman with help from volunteer crew chief Casey Dennis on Aug. 30. Dennis said they gave 19 free flights to military veterans on Saturday and Sunday at the Olympic Peninsula Air Affaire. Piper’s mom Kristina said it was their family’s first time at the Air Affaire. See a wrap-up and photos on page A-13. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

New city manager sets priorities Bush’s plan: parking, parks and roads for the rest of 2015 BY MATTHEW NASH Sequim Gazette

More than two weeks in and Sequim’s new city manager, Charlie Bush, 40, has his priorities set for the remainder of the year — investigating a possible proposal for a Metropolitan Parks District, forming the city’s 2016 budget highlighting road projects and finding safer parking at the Albert Haller Playfields. Bush started with the city on Aug. 17, following the retirement of Steve Burkett on June 30, and sat in on his first Sequim City Council meeting one week later. There he heard some of the background on the playfield situation. The Sequim Family Advocates recently revisited their 2011 plan to add more parking at the Water Reuse Demon-

stration Site due to safety concerns. Despite city councilors approving plans in 2011, the city’s Parks and Recreation Board denied the proposal in June due to a conflict in the city code that states that gravel parking is not allowed. Advocates said the decision forced them to abandon the project but at the Aug. 24 meeting city councilors asked Bush and city staff to pursue options. Bush said city staff are currently “looking at other options (from the original proposal) and then we’ll sit down with them to figure out all the pros and cons and ultimately take them all back to council.” As for a city-proposed Metropolitan Parks District, following SARC’s failed proposal in August, Bush said he is using the opportuBUSH nity to get to know people while seeking potential partnership opportunities with community groups that may want to be involved in a proposed district, such

See MANAGER, A-3

Even more Sequim-based firefighters have joined the fight in Eastern Washington and Oregon. In the past week, four firefighters traveled to various fires for medical relief or to combat fires. Firefighter Neil Borggard left on Aug. 30 to join fellow firefighters Len Horst (engine boss), Austen Delgado and Ivan Heuter on the Brush 34 truck at the Stickpin fire, part of the Kettle Complex fires near Curlew. The Stickpin fires are estimated to engulf 53,469 acres of the 73,962 acre total of the Kettle Complex fires. They are at 17 percent containment as of Tuesday. Ron Whitney, Doug Morrill and Anthony Jason left on Aug. 27 to serve as emergency medical professionals at the Grizzly Bear Complex fires, 20 miles southeast of Dayton. These fires have burned 74,471 acres and are 17 percent contained, too. Fire Chief Ben Andrews with Clallam County Fire District 3 said firefighters still in the field renewed their contracts to remain on duty at least another week. “No one is coming home anytime soon,” he said. Typically, firefighters go to a scene for 14 days but must make a special request for more time, Andrews said, but they must take two days’ rest after 21 days on.

See Wildfires, A-5

Firefighters, including crewmen from Clallam County Fire District 2 and 3 and the Port Angeles Fire Department, congregate in the town of Conconully near the Okanogan Complex fires. Photo courtesy of the Town of Conconully

Sports B-5 • Schools B-7 • Arts & Entertainment B-1 • Opinion A-11 • Obituaries A-10 • Classifieds C-1 • Crossword Section C

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