THURSDAY
OCT. 15, 2015 Opinion ��������������Page 4 Community News ���Page 5
Moe the Crow
ONRC Evening Talks Elephant Seals
Page 17
Page 11
Sports ���������������Page 7 Classifieds ���������� Page 17 Volume 84 No. 5
SERVING THE WEST END SINCE 1931
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Bold daytime act troubles business owner
LAPUSH
Neah Bay Diving Fatality On Oct. 11, Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Neah Bay, on the Makah Indian Reservation, to conduct an investigation into the death of a 23-year-old Tacoma resident who was free dive spear fishing just outside of Neah Bay’s harbor when he went missing. During the ensuing investigation, deputies learned that the victim and two of his friends were snorkeling and free diving in waters west of the Neah Bay Harbor’s jetty in the Strait of Juan De Fuca. The divers were spear fishing about 100 yards from shore and using kayaks to dive from. At about 4:30 p.m. one of the victim’s fellow divers lost sight of him and a search ensued. One of the divers used a radio, from the scene, to call for help from the Neah Bay Coast Guard Station. The Coast Guard responded and began a search for the victim. The victim was soon found by one of his fellow divers; underwater and entangled
BEAVER
in a kelp bed in about 20 to 25 feet of water. The diver was able to cut the unresponsive victim free from the kelp and bring him to the ocean’s surface. The diver signaled a Coast Guard helicopter and was soon met by a Coast Guard rescue boat. The victim was transported by boat to the Neah Bay Coast Guard Station. The victim was later pronounced deceased at the Neah Bay Health Clinic. A coroner’s hold was placed on the body of the victim pending a cause of death determination by the Clallam County Prosecutor’s Office. Free diving is a form of underwater diving that relies on a diver’s ability to hold his or her breath until resurfacing, rather than the use of a breathing apparatus such as scuba gear. The name of the victim is being withheld pending confirmation on notification of the victim’s next-of-kin.
CLALLAM BAY
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NEAH BAY
PRSRT STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 6 Forks, WA
FORKS
Hickory Shirt-Heritage Days wrapped up Sunday afternoon at Forks Outfitters with the “Little Logger Contest” sponsored by the Forks Lions Club. Winners received gift baskets donated by the Lions Club and Outfitters also donated a gift card. Organizer Chris Fletcher said, “I remember this being a big deal when I was a kid, we are hoping it continues to grow.” More photos of Hickory Shirt-Heritage Days are on pages 9, 10 and 12. Photo Christi Baron
ECRWSS - BOXHOLDER
For Olympic Graphic Art’s owner Joyce Pagac, it was unsettling to find that her cash box was empty when she went to make change a week ago. Thinking that her business had been broken into, she called the Forks Police Department. FPD came and investigated and with no obvious signs of forced entry it was thought that a device had been used to open the door. Pagac reinforced all the locks and thought things were secure. A few days later she waited on several customers and then went about her work, which sometimes takes her to the back of her building where printing jobs are being done. Later, when she went to make change, she once again discovered her cash box was empty. It was concluded that someone had entered her business while she was there and emptied the cash drawer and more than likely this was the second time it had taken place. The whole thing has left her feeling a little uneasy about the boldness of the criminal. Pagac has since added a bell on the door and cameras are on the way. She said after so many years of not experiencing something like this it is a very sad situation. The police officer commented she was in a “bad neighborhood.” Pagac said, “Bad neighborhood? I am on main street!” Pagac wants other businesses to be aware that people are watching for you to not pay attention, looking for opportunities to take advantage. It also was reported by FPD’s Mike Rowley that there was a purse stolen from a customer at Forks Outfitters. Thanks to the many cameras Outfitters has installed, a person of interest was arrested soon after the incident. Both incidents serve to remind everyone to pay attention, don’t offer the opportunity to be a victim.
Hickory Shirt-Heritage Days