Top stories

Fort Worden PDA comes up short of cash

Cash-strapped once again, the board for the Fort Worden Public Development Authority has unanimously approved the doubling of the organization’s $250,000 line of credit with Kitsap Bank. …

Students’ newfound fondness for chess inspires tournament

Chess, one of the world’s oldest and most popular strategy board games, has the power to bring players together, regardless of age or background. There’s something universal about lining …

Brinnon assists at Mason County wildfire

Hoodsport Fire and EMS and five other departments were called out to the Finch Creek Fire just before 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 16 at Finch Creek. Responders from the Brinnon Fire Department provided …
Elliot Pflueger, a senior at Chimacum High School, is the winner of the League of Women Voters-Jefferson County Essay Contest. Pflueger’s essay “Damning Darkness in Isolation” won …
  The Port Townsend School District’s local Skillmation group has earned a Regional Award from the Washington Association of School Administrators. Skillmation has been …
Police are searching for a person who used bear repellent to subdue two McDonald’s employees who were making a late-night cash deposit at a Port Townsend bank earlier this month. The thief …
The Port Townsend Police Department received a total of 175 calls between Friday, May 12, and Thursday, May 18. Below are selected reports. At 2:15 p.m. Sunday, May 14, a parking complaint was …
The Port Townsend Police Department received a total of 175 calls between Friday, May 12, and Thursday, May 18. Below are selected reports. At 9:25 a.m. Friday, May 12, in the 800 block of Polk …

News from local businesses
Meet Lynn Terwoerds, New Board Member of First Fed

Port Townsend resident Lynn Terwoerds has embraced community in the PNW, serving on non-profit boards where she can make a positive impact locally. Currently she is President of the Board of …

Local Musicians Commemorate First Fed Centennial

First Fed has announced the winner of its centennial songwriting contest is “We Believe” by mother and daughter team Mary and Jessie Morgan. The song was selected based on voting open to …

Arts and Entertainment
Northwind Art installs new art exhibit at the hospital
Generally speaking, hospitals are not always known for their morale-boosting atmosphere. But when in Port Townsend, do as the …
Read More
PlayFest takes the stage at Key City Public Theatre
Leader News Staff news@ptleader.com   Key City Public Theatre has revitalized the spirit of PlayFest from its 25-year …
Read More
Chimacum High School Concert band earns top marks at contest
The Chimacum High School Concert Band traveled to Port Angeles High School recently to participate in the Washington Music Educators …
Read More
HomeConnection students present Shakespeare’s ‘Coriolanus’
The students of Olympic Peninsula HomeConnection will be presenting Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus” as their annual …
Read More
Coronavirus coverage
Jefferson County to halt online COVID-19 reporting
Jefferson County Public Health’s weekly reports COVID-19 and the transmission risk dial are being replaced with state data and …
Read More
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 …
Read More
Virus burden ‘enormous’ for hospital
Jefferson Healthcare Medical Center is filling up with people with respiratory problems, Jefferson County Public Hospital District …
Read More
In other news ...
Local news

Downtown sewer repairs to cost city $2.6 million

After reviewing two repair options — one for $4 million and the other for $2.6 million — the Port Townsend City Council has unanimously approved the less costly alternative to fix its …

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office | Bad dog

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received 266 calls for service between Saturday, April 8 and Friday, April 14. Below are selected reports. At 3:36 p.m. Saturday, April 8 in Nordland, …

Port Townsend City Council briefed about proposed tipping fee increase

With long lines and limited hours at the Jefferson County Solid Waste facility off South Jacob Miller Road, the city of Port Townsend is considering easing that burden by increasing the minimum …

Jefferson County Sheriff's Log | Questionable transactions

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received 266 calls for service between Saturday, April 8 and Friday, April 14. Below are selected reports. At 9:18 a.m. Monday, April 10   in …

Port Townsend Police Log | Locked in the hotel room

The Port Townsend Police Department received a total of 149 calls between Friday, April 21, and Thursday, April 27. Below are selected reports. At 6:50 a.m. Tuesday, April 25, in the 500 block of …
Obituaries

George Philip Sutherland

George Philip Sutherland peacefully left us on April 23, 2023. George was born on Nov. 7, 1953 at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Washington to Philip and Loreen Sutherland. Shortly thereafter the …

Robert B. Molise

Robert B. Molise passed away in his sleep on April 10, 2023 in his home in Port Townsend at the age of 97. Born to John Molise and Opal Lawson Molise in 1926, Bob was raised in remote lumber …

Joseph Wen-Ko Tso

Joseph Wen-Ko Tso of Port Townsend, Washington; the 30+ year former owner of The Lighthouse Cafe, passed away on Earth Day, April 22, 2023, just shy of his 90th birthday. He was held by his children …

Lester Noah Young

Les was born in Fremont, Ohio on June 22, 1940 to Carol and Elise Young. The Young family later made a marathon trip out west to Tucson, Ariz. Les attended school in Tucson and after graduation …

Irving Almer Mortensen

I am not gone  I will be wandering through the forest I will be strolling the beach I will be carried by the winds. Irv was born in Hood River Oregon where he grew up in …
Calendar of events
Opinion & Columnists
Local radio pro on AM radio’s downfall | Mann Overboard
Car (Radio) Talk: There will be something missing if you buy a new Tesla or Ford or several other electric vehicles: an AM …
Read More
The pace of nonstop events is speeding up | Life in Ludlow
OK, wake up now my friends. The weather is turning great and the fun things are starting to happen. The Rhody Festival weekend or …
Read More
Keep golf course; scale back pool plans | Guest viewpoint
I’m beginning to seriously wonder just how the city measures its needs and goes about setting its priorities. At the moment, …
Read More
TOONS

Today's cartoon for Monday, May 29

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

Today's cartoon for Sunday, May 28

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

Today's cartoon for Saturday, May 27

Today's cartoon is by Pat Byrnes, PoliticalCartoons.com.

BLOGS
Deer have grown to like and trust us, it seems. This fawn later was moved to a more secluded spot. We’ve lived quite a while in the same house on an oversized. well-hedged lot …
“COUPLE OF,” AS ABOVE, IS ANOTHER source of some argument. A for-instance is the writer of a fiction book under the Tom Clancy name that I recently read. He writes about “a …
Letters
Keep the golf course and history intact | Letter to the editor
My wife and I were thrilled when we bought our home here in Port Townsend last summer and have been very happy here since the day we …
Read More
Planned community good fit for golf course | Letter to the editor
I have seen all the consultant proposed options for the golf course and read many of the public comments. While, according to the …
Read More
Thanks to those who are keeping us safe | Letter to the editor
We would like to extend a very public thank you to the men and women of Jefferson County who came to the Beach Club in Port Ludlow to …
Read More
Grateful for the kindness of strangers | Letter to the editor
I just wanted to say thank you to the two great souls who were of assistance in our time of need. Yesterday my daughter was riding …
Read More
Thanks to our local bus drivers | Letter to the editor
This letter is to praise the bus drivers who have provided safe and responsible transit service all over Jefferson County. For me I …
Read More
Sports

Discovery Bay ladies play ‘Criss Cross’

Returning to the golf course for their weekly play, the Discovery Bay Women’s Club came together for a game of “Criss Cross.” The game involves each golfer playing her 18-hole …
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 …
There was a lot to like for the East Jefferson Rivals track and field teams in Renton last week as four high school athletes won district championships in several events with even more runners …
And that’s a wrap for the East Jefferson Rivals’ spring sports season — apart from boys tennis and the track and field teams headed to Yakima for State. The spring season saw …
The Twisters Gymnastics competitive team rounded off its 2022-2023 season in impressive fashion, with a brilliant finish at regional and state competitions. Competing against the best gymnasts …
The East Jefferson Rivals varsity softball team ended its final home matchup of the year facing Vashon Island High in a double-header last wek. While the girls were outmatched by the Pirates in …
The East Jefferson Rivals track and field teams brought their “A” game at Vashon Island High School over the weekend, with 26 Rivals athletes qualifying for the upcoming district …
More Sports
Discovery Bay golfers ‘Beat the Pro’
They came, they saw, and one of them conquered the competition. The Discovery Bay Women’s Club faced pro golfer Jeff Kent …
Read More
East Jefferson track and field teams excel at invites
The East Jefferson Rivals track and field teams had a busy time in late April, with the teams participating in three meets across the …
Read More
“Elite Eight” for Discovery Bay women’s golf club
The Discovery Bay Women’s Club golfers returned to action last Thursday, playing a round on the first nine holes of the …
Read More
East Jefferson boys soccer celebrates final home game with Klahowya
The Seattle Sounders have the Sound Wave band, the Portland Timbers have the chainsaw of Timber Joey, and the East Jefferson Rivals …
Read More
East Jefferson fastpitch softball team earns first win of the season
The East Jefferson Rivals varsity softball team earned its first victory of the season, and first victory ever as a combined softball …
Read More
Photos
Photo Galleries

Random JeffCo