New deputy fire Marshal

Brian Tracer has been appointed deputy fire marshal for the Jefferson County Office of the Fire Marshal.

Tracer will focus his efforts on inspections, investigations and implementation of the E911 program through addressing and road-naming. Tracer will also continue his efforts with the community wildfire protection plan and general public safety improvements.

Tracer recently retired from a 32-year career in emergency services in Jefferson County.

He started his career in 1992 as a volunteer with Fire District 6 and then took a job at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, where he served in a variety of roles from 1993 to 2014, including fire investigator and chief civil deputy. He then returned to the fire service, where he worked as assistant fire chief with East Jefferson Fire Rescue from 2014 to 2024.

Makah can hunt gray whales

Federal regulators have approved the request of the Makah Tribe to hunt gray whales off the Washington state coast from their land at the northwestern corner of the Olympic Peninsula.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), gave the approval June 13 for the taking of up to 25 whales over  the next decade. There are no immediate plans for the Makah to resume hunting. 

Tribal leaders say whaling is needed for cultural reasons and its welfare. Tribal leaders also say they have seen a decline in subsistence living, particularly in regard to salmon, and the tribe needs to diversify its marine fisheries.

An 1855 treaty established Makah whale hunting rules. The tribe took one whale 25 years ago and a federal appeals court stepped in. It ruled that the environmental impact of the whale hunting had not been fully evaluated.

Exhibits extended at historical society

The Jefferson County Historical Society (JCHS) Museum of Art + History announces the extension of two exhibitions: Jeanne K Simmons: Photographs, Artifacts, and Intimate Works and Tessa Hulls: Feeding Ghosts. Due to popular demand, these exhibitions will now be available for viewing through July 21 and July 28, respectively.

Jeanne K Simmons, an acclaimed interdisciplinary artist, continues to captivate visitors with her exhibition, that explores the profound connection between humanity and the natural world. Simmons' works, which include photographs and three-dimensional pieces, showcase women harmoniously integrated into natural settings. This exhibition offers a diverse range of works, each bearing its unique narrative and emotional depth.

Tessa Hulls' exhibition, Feeding Ghosts, delves into the narrative of three generations of Chinese women, exploring themes of love, grief, exile, and identity. Hulls' graphic memoir vividly portrays the lives of her grandmother, mother and herself, revealing the intergenerational impact of trauma and the enduring power of love. This exhibition invites audiences to embark on a journey through history and personal reflection.

PT ferry service disruption

A crew shortage interrupted ferry service from Port Townsend to Coupeville at about 9 a.m. on June 16, forcing travelers to seek other routes to Whidbey Island.

No show fees were waived until a crew member was located and service could resume.

At about 2 p.m., a crew member was located and the M/V Kennewick was able to resume service.

PT wins sustainability award

The city of Port Townsend won the 2024 International City/County Management Association’s Award for Local Government Excellence in Community Sustainability, for the city’s financial sustainability initiative.

The city’s financial sustainability initiative was a multi-year effort to map out pathways to meet ongoing and evolving community needs.

In spite of its balanced budgets, neglect of the city’s core infrastructure has threatened to escalate its costs, limit its options for improvement, and defer its decisions to future generations, so the aim of the initiative was the sustained, efficient, fair and affordable provision of the city’s basic infrastructure and services.

The city established a financial sustainability task force in 2022, to assist with a review of the city’s current financial position, and to identify options for the future to recommend to the city council.

In 2023, the task force recommended focusing on city services, including core services, housing, streets and parks, prioritized through widespread community engagement and planning over a number of years.

The Port Townsend City Council integrated the findings into developing their multi-year strategic workplan, which included establishing a Transportation Benefit District and a 0.3% sales tax for local transportation funding, which was put before the voters of Port Townsend for consideration in 2023, and passed with nearly 80% of the vote.