Top stories

Quilcene woman jailed during crackdown of interstate drug ring

A Quilcene woman was arrested as part of a two-state, 10-team SWAT takedown that targeted a drug ring authorities say is tied to a white supremacist prison gang. Two dozen people were arrested …

Port Townsend eyes four potential sites for new pool

Pool discussions are heating up as the city of Port Townsend considers four possible sites to house its planned aquatics and wellness center. Termed the Healthier Together Aquatics Center, the city …

Driver arrested for felony DUI at state park

A 57-year-old Goldendale man was jailed on $200,000 bail after he was arrested for felony driving under the influence earlier this month at Dosewallips State Park. Forrest Ethan Wanous made his …
Planning is already underway for Soundcheck, the beloved music event centered on highlighting local musicians in local venues. While many know Soundcheck as the exciting, weeklong pre-game to …
The Port Townsend Police Department received a total of 185 calls between Friday, March 3, and Thursday, March 9. Below are selected reports. At 12:15 p.m. Sunday, March 5, an animal call was …
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received 233 calls for service between Friday, Feb. 17 and Friday, Feb. 24. Below are selected reports. At 3:26 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 in Port Hadlock, a …
After a year of preparation, the city of Port Townsend is set to appoint a poet laureate starting in 2024. The Port Townsend City Council unanimously approved the move during its Monday meeting, …
Jefferson Healthcare recently received three 2023 Women’s Choice Awards for stellar hospital service. The prestigious accolades include: America’s Best Hospitals for Minimally Invasive …

News from local businesses

First Fed to Celebrate Special Customer Appreciation Week

First Fed celebrates their customers annually with March festivities at their branches. This year’s Customer Appreciation Week is particularly meaningful as 2023 is First Fed’s 100th …

Set Sail with New Maritime Lenders

The maritime industry is woven deep into the history and culture of the Pacific Northwest, dating back hundreds of years. For modern maritime businesses, it’s important to have commercial …

Arts and Entertainment
The next big THING
Port Townsend’s biggest music festival has announced the dates and bands for this year’s return of THING. And according …
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Students are top winners in regional art competition
Three student artists from Jefferson County were named winners in the Olympic Educational Service District 114 in the 50th Annual …
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Dance theatre holds open rehearsal at Fort Worden
Local master of movement Bill Evans is inviting the public to learn the art of dance and also witness the repertory talents of the …
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‘Wet: Reflections on Water’ photography to fill Best Gallery
A new exhibit will offer fresh perspectives on the surroundings that define the Olympic Peninsula.  “Wet: Reflections on …
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Coronavirus coverage
COVID-19 death toll in Jefferson County rises to 35
A Jefferson County resident has died from COVID-19, Jefferson County Public Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry said Monday. The death …
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Virus burden ‘enormous’ for hospital
Jefferson Healthcare Medical Center is filling up with people with respiratory problems, Jefferson County Public Hospital District …
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Safeway to host drive-up vaccination clinic
The Port Townsend Safeway will hold a drive-up vaccination clinic this weekend. Safeway pharmacists will provide vaccinations for …
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In other news ...
Local news

Port Townsend Police Log | Keyed car

The Port Townsend Police Department received a total of 185 calls between Friday, March 3, and Thursday, March 9. Below are selected reports. At 7 a.m. Friday, March 3, an attempted break-in was …

Jefferson County Sheriff's Log | Trouble with a tenant

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received 360 calls for service between Friday, March 3 and Friday, March 10. Below are selected reports. At 1:47 p.m. Tuesday, March 7 in Brinnon, a …

Port Townsend Police Log | 'It's gonna blow'

The Port Townsend Police Department received a total of 166 calls between Friday, Feb. 24, and Thursday, March 2. Below are selected reports. At 12 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, in the 2700 block of …

More charges in knife attack

The Port Townsend man accused of trying to murder his wife was arraigned on three new charges Friday in Jefferson County Superior Court. John Lewis Allen, 50, was arrested for allegedly stabbing …

Jefferson County Sheriff's Log | Gone to pot

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received 360 calls for service between Friday, March 3 and Friday, March 10. Below are selected reports. At 3:47 p.m. Monday, March 6 in Quilcene, a …
Obituaries

Wesley A. Smith

Wesley A. Smith was born on June 21, 1939 to Alfred and Leona in Minnesota and moved to Port Townsend when he was 2 years old. Wesley was a mechanic by profession and had his own transmission …

Gwendolyn Blanche Moore

Gwen learned to play the piano at an early age and continued to study and perform classical music all of her life. She met her partner, Pat Britt, when they were counselors at a Girl Scout camp in …

Deborah Lynn Long

Daughter of Clara and James Dennis, Debbie grew up in Kent, Ohio. She moved to Port Townsend in the early 1980s where she raised her children Cori and Aaron Long and made a community of …

Nils Bertrand Finholt

There will be a gathering Saturday, April 8, in Seattle for Nils Bertrand Finholt who died on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Nils was born on April 6, 1979. He is the son of Penny Jensen and stepson of Lee …

Howard Augustine Fosser

Howard Augustine Fosser, 80, died on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 following years of living with Parkinson’s disease with recent additional infection complications. He was born on Oct. 9, 1942, …
Calendar of events
Opinion & Columnists
Connectivity Fair: Come meet local nonprofits | Local 20/20
So, is the onset of spring making you antsy to get out of your house after two-plus years of COVID isolation?  Are you new to …
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We must act now | Guest Viewpoint
It’s madness out there.  Shortly after Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a bill banning drag shows in public venues or …
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Is a 911 a car, a call, or a personal crisis? | Life in Ludlow
Call it my enthusiasm or maybe even my obsession. Since 1979, my auto of choice has been the Porsche 911 and BJ has endured and …
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Beef stew from here — because we’re not all there
It was a day of stew, chill and damp.  I looked at Irish stews, with St. Patrick’s Day approaching, but I didn’t …
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The show must go on, unless you’re a Blue Devil | Life in Ludlow
You could call it an “education-oriented” week. Kind of.  The scheduled speaker for our weekly East Jefferson …
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TV, tall trees really don’t coexist well | Mann Overboard
My license plate says “The Evergreen State,” and that sounds nice and green. But there’s a down side to all these …
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TOONS

Today's cartoon for Wednesday, March 29

Today's cartoon is by Dave Granlund, PoliticalCartoons.com.

Today's cartoon for Tuesday, March 28

Today's cartoon is by John Darkow, Columbia Missourian.

Today's cartoon for Monday, March 27

Today's cartoon is by Dave Whamond, Canada, PoliticalCartoons.com.

BLOGS
SO ONCE AGAIN I ILLUSTRATE with my hapless great grandchildren—from left Claire, Iris and Simon Camfield-Bronstein. They will have little to do with creation of the near future of the early …
THE CLAIM ABOVE, OF COURSE, IS STARKLY AT ODDS, “not only with the history of westward expansion but with the history of Florida; thousands of Native Americans were forcibly relocated from the …
Letters
Port Townsend remains an obstacle course | Letter to the editor
  All over the country, historic post offices have been made accessible.  The solution for ours is not complicated, as Jack …
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You can always get more geraniums | Letter to the editor
I read with some alarm the suggestion that archers should patrol our streets to cull the herds of deer which would make it safe for …
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It’s not complicated: We just need a pool | Letter to the editor
  Well it is pretty obvious after reading the Health and Wellness insert in the Feb. 1 Leader that we do not need a Health and …
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Allocation battles won’t save salmon | Letter to the editor
The Leader’s story, “Lawsuit over Southeast Alaska fisheries makes waves locally,” covered Wild Fish …
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Pay more attention to nuance in reporting | Letter to the editor
  Please, Leader, stop insulting people who speak up about the loss of biodiversity by publicly labeling them tree …
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Sports

Rivals baseball loses to Cascade Cougars

The Cascade Christian Cougars defeated the East Jefferson Rivals varsity boys baseball team on Wednesday, March 22. Facing off at Chimacum High School’s diamond, the Rivals lost 7-4 to the …
SPORTS GALLERIES

Varsity boys basketball: East Jefferson vs. Bellevue Christian High School | Photo Gallery

The East Jefferson Rivals varsity boys basketball team  faced Bellevue Christian High School in hoops  Jan. 5.  The Leader's James Sloan captured the action courtside  as the …

Varsity Girls Basketball: East Jefferson vs. Seattle Christian | Photo Gallery

The East Jefferson Rivals varsity girls basketball team  earned their first win of the season Monday, Dec. 12 versus Seattle Christian at home in the Chimacum High Gymnasium.  The …
Twenty-two middle school wrestlers from Port Townsend and Chimacum headed west to Forks last week, hopping on the mat for the fourth wrestling meet of the season. The team compiled a 22-17 record …
Middle school wrestlers from Chimacum and Port Townsend competed in their third competition of the season last week in Sequim, and finished with a 25-16 record after a night of 41 …
The East Jefferson Rivals beat feet in their first 2023 track and field competition at the Logan Relays, hosted Saturday by Bainbridge High School. East Jefferson Head Coach Ian Fraser said the …
The East Jefferson Rivals varsity boys soccer team kicked off their spring season facing Port Angeles High School Saturday afternoon, losing 7-0 to the Roughriders. Missing several key starters …
completed Thursday, March 2 as the local grapplers gained valuable experience and earned a 44-18 record overall versus their Olympic Peninsula opponents. “We stepped up last night and …
More Sports
Sir Isaac takes first in Shipwrights’ Regatta
The 32nd annual Shipwrights’ Regatta was a success for local and visiting sailers, with close to 30 mariners braving the chilly …
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Rivals wrestlers take on state’s best at Mat Classic XXXIV
Twenty-four mats and thousands of enthusiastic onlookers all under one domed roof. There’s no experience quite like the Mat …
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Shipwrights’ Regatta back in Port Townsend Bay this weekend
The 32nd year of sailboat racing throughout the salty blue sea and snow-capped mountain backdrop of Port Townsend Bay is returning …
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Three Rivals wrestlers headed to state tournament
With three East Jefferson Rivals wrestlers finishing in the top three of their weight divisions at Regionals, Jameson Henery, Mi Amada …
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Rivals boys eliminated in playoffs to Vashon Island
The East Jefferson Rivals varsity boys basketball team was eliminated from the first round of the Nisqually League playoffs after …
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Photos
Photo Galleries

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