Sequim Gazette, June 26, 2019

Page 1

Winding road to culinary arts A-2

Family fighters

Return of the mastodon

A-7

B-1

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

SEQUIM GAZETTE www

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Vol. 46, Number 26

Clark named Sequim’s interim superintendent Administrator takes role in early July BY CONOR DOWLEY Sequim Gazette

The Sequim School District has named their interim superintendent: Rob Clark. After spending about 40 minutes in executive session on June 18 deliberating between two finalists — Clark and former Port Angeles Superinten-

dent Jane Pryne — the board reconvened into public session to announce their unanimous choice. Board director Jim Stoffer made the motion to name Clark the interim superintendent — pending a successful background check and contract negotiation — effective July 1. “This decision is made after in-

Caring

for

tensive discussions and review of the comments submitted by the public (at Monday’s interviews),” Stoffer said. The motion carried CLARK unanimously, with each board member taking the opportunity to speak in support of the decision and of the process as a whole.

“We had two really good candidates, and it was a pleasure to interview them both,” board vice president Brandino Gibson said, speaking via conference call. His words were echoed by board President Brian Kuh, who added that it was a “pleasantly difficult decision to make” between Clark and Pryne. Directors Robin Henrikson and Heather Short both thanked the public for their comments and input,

with Short mentioning that community feedback helped her make up her mind. Clark is expected to be in Sequim by July 1 after finishing his responsibilities as superintendent of the Milton-Freewater School District in Oregon. Clark has worked as superintendent of the Milton-Freewater School

See INTERIM, A-6

Canines

Starting July 1, Tristen Beck and Luke Shifflett become the new owners of the Sunshine Café. The Sequim couple worked there in high school and said if it ever came up for sale they’d like to own it. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Sunshine Café sells to Sequim couple take on different roles with Allen staying on as a cook and Dianne traveling to Hawaii to Sequim couple Luke Shif- pursue touch healing (Reiki) flett and Tristen Beck’s rela- classes. tionship with Sunshine Café, “It’s important to let the 145 W. Washington St., has community know the changcome full circle. es are going to minimal, The34-year-oldhighschool seamless,” Dianne said. sweethearts and Sequim Upfront employees will stay grads worked in the restau- on and the menu will remain rant nearly 20 years ago and the same, Beck and Shifflett now they intend to purchase said. it from owners Dianne, 56, “For the first year, we just and Allen, want to do 57, Drake. our best job Like the replicating Drakes did the service, 20 years ago the same — when food and they saw a v ib e t he sign in the Sunshine window the Ca fé ha s eatery was had,” ShifDianne Drake for sale — flett said. Co-owner, Sunshine Cafe Beck and The resShifflet quickly inquired. taurant had been in Sequim “I drove by and called since the 1970s starting as (Beck), and said we should buy the Sunshine Café Sandwich the Café,” Shifflett said. “This Shop with the Drakes purplace is special to us.” chasing it in 2000 and bring“We’ve always talked about ing back its older menu along how fun it would be to own with a few new options. this space,” Beck said. “We want to keep the legacy Shifflett grew up as best alive,” Shifflett said. friends with the Drake’s Change of hands youngest son and spent a lot Shifflett and Beck tentaof time at their house. tively take over the café June “Allen is the one who 30. It will close July 1-4 and taught me to tie my shoes,” reopen July 5 regular hours he said. See CAFE, A-9 Now, the Drakes plan to BY MATTHEW NASH Sequim Gazette

Eva, one of more than two-dozen Australian Shepherd-Border Collies rescued from an Agnew home in May, is recuperating at the Welfare for Animals Guild’s(WAG) Half Way Home Ranch in Sequim. Eva is pictured here soon after her rescue, left, and in recent days at the WAG facility. See Page A3. Photo courtesy of Welfare for Animals Guild, Richard Probst/Dog Light Photography

Fire District 3 seeks input on levy Renewal may go to ballot in November BY MATTHEW NASH Sequim Gazette

Leaders with Clallam County Fire District 3 continue to weigh impacts to residents and the fire service as they consider asking voters to renew a 10-year Emergency Medical Services property tax levy this November. With the current EMS levy rate bringing in about 25 percent (or about $2.26 million in 2018) of the district’s total budget, District 3 Fire Chief Ben Andrews said if it was voted down, “we couldn’t maintain current staff levels beyond 2022.” Andrews told fire commissioners on June 18, “We’d be deficit spending in two years (after the current levy

expires in December 2020).” Sequim-area voters approved a 10-year EMS levy in 2009 at $0.50-per-$1,000 of assessed valuation of a ANDREWS home. Collection began in 2011 and expires the end of 2020. The district’s proposed ordinance would continue the tax and not to exceed the same rate through 2029. Current valuation for the EMS levy is based on $0.45-per-$1,000 assessed valuation. Emergency medical service calls make up about 87 percent of the district’s call load, Andrews said.

Concerning fireworks

City of Sequim’s fireworks ban continues while fire district leaders say countywide ban is not necessary. See story, A-13. Last November, voters approved raising Clallam County Fire District 3’s levy lid lift from $1.26-per-$1,000 of assessed valuation to $1.50-per$1,000 of assessed value. Andrews said then that the lift’s purpose was to maintain current staffing/service levels while avoiding deficit spending too. “This really restores us back to operating normal,” Andrews said in previous interviews, regarding cutting

See LEVY, A-13

“It’s important to let the community know the changes are going to minimal, seamless.”

Arts & Entertainment B-1 • Business B-5 • Opinion A-10 • Obituaries A-12 • Schools B-7 • Sports A-7 • Classifieds C-1 • Crossword Section C

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