According to Julie Murphy at the County elections office, a total of 1,999 Ocean Shores ballots have been received, this week. Of these, 1,677 votes were counted on Tuesday, with 860 of them (51.58%) voting to approve the property tax increase for EMS, and the other 817 voting to reject the request.

That leaves 322 ballots to be counted in the next tally, to be released Friday at 5 p.m. So it looks like 1,000 is the magic number for a tentative win, although there will be one more tally before the May 12 “certification.”

For tentative approval, there would have to be 140 more “approve” votes, or 43% of the 322 to be counted.

For tentative rejection, there would have to be 183 more “reject” votes, or 57% of those 322 to be counted.

A total of 3,182 ballots were mailed to Ocean Shores voters; the 1,999 responses thus far are 63% of the total mailed.

With 1,677 votes counted, the property tax increase for EMS was being approved by 51.28% of the voters. According to the County’s election web site, there were 860 votes for “Approved,” over 817  “Rejected” votes.

“It’s awfully close, “ said Mayor Garland French, minutes after the first count. “I think I’m going to have to reserve much comment until Friday,” when the next ballot count is announced.

As of 7 p.m., there were 146 votes collected today at the Convention Center which were not part of this count. The ballots were collected until 8 p.m., then driven to Montesano. The first ballot count was released shortly after 8 p.m.

There were 3,182 ballots mailed to Ocean Shores voters, earlier this month.

Late addition:

“Like Mayor French, we are waiting for Friday’s results,” said Randy Peck, of the groups Lower Ocean Shores Taxes, which opposes the tax increase.

Not counting EMS election results, to be posted the night of April 27, will this blog return:

a) May 1, 2010

b) June 1, 2010

c) December 21, 2012

d) Never 1, 2222

Cast your vote in the “comments” section.

Winner(s) get a prize package including: free copy of the May Beach Approach; free blood pressure check, at the Fire Station; free cup of coffee, at the IGA deli (use the code words “I trust you, Dave!“); and free admission, to the next North Beach High baseball and softball games.

From all of us here on Hiatus Island, to all of you on the Shores of Ocean (including this Local Bunny, who, when asked about Easter traditions, said he will be celebrating the holiday by nibbling on a CHOCOLATE HUMAN)

The long-awaited IGGA expansion is happening. The City of Ocean Snores announced today that it has reached a deal to allow the supermarket to lease space inside the new Fire Station. The market will move its bakery and deli sections to the two northern bays of the Fire Department. This area will fall under the domain of Public Safety. In addition to being Chief of Police and Fire Chief, Mike Stretcher will also become Chief of Baked Goods and Deli Chief.

Associated

Press

Release

Information

Literally

For

Oppressed

Only

Locals

Seriously

And now, back to your regularly scheduled Hiatus.

Dear Blogees:

If I’m a blogger, you’re a blogee, right? Anyway, the weather is sure nice, out here in Hiatus. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Copalis Beach. (Pancho, que pasa, amigo?!) The food is great (truck driver-sized fish sandwich, anyone?), and there’s plenty of beer, which is almost exactly the color of O.S. water, but tastes much better.

On the down side, I’m being held against my will. But, hey, the way things are going, a little loss of freedom here and there will only strengthen me, for what comes to pass.

Plus, they do let me out, once a week, to put out the 289’s favorite weekly newspaper (you too, 276ers).

What’s that? You don’t subscribe to the North Coast News? Well, just call the number below the photo. All you need is cash, check or a major credit card. Heck, we’ll even take a minor one.

Call 360-289-2441, ask about out “Blog Hiatus Special.”

Update, 5 p.m.: Issued by The National Weather Service

4:58 pm PST, Sat., Feb. 27, 2010

… TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS CANCELLED FOR THE WASHINGTON COAST…  

We’ll be back around 3 o’clock, BT (Beach Time), day and month TBA . . .

So that your friendly neighborhood Editor can focus all his time on making the North Coast News the best weekly newspaper on the entire North Beach (and I won’t rest until . . .), the northcoastnews.com will is going “on Hiatus.” My travel agent tells me that Hiatus is surprisingly nice, this time of year, and the food can even rise to mediocre, if you catch the cook after a good nap.

Rest assured, or assuredly rest (take your choice): the northcoastnews.com will come back, bigger, better, stronger, bloggier. Not satisfied to merely be “the Facebook of the 289″ or “Youtube without the videos,” this site may even completely reinvent itself, a la Cat Stewart. (Replace local tidbits, beach photos and random irony with Buddhism? Ponder.)

Some helpful links, to help you get information, waste a little time, or just waste a little time (0r even waste some time):

Subscribe to the North Coast News ($19.95 per year, or make us an offer!): 360-289-2441.

weather.com for the North Beach area

Aberdeen Daily World

Ocean Shores government

Grays Harbor County Emergency Management

Tsunami warning center

Recent earthquakes: USGS

Gary Iversen

Bruce Richardson

. . . Happy surfing, stay safe out there on that big scary ‘net!

The sports star apology once was a deeply humiliating event, for all involved. How the mighty has fallen!
Now, we’ve become accustomed to the press conference to boo-hoo over wild promiscuity, abuse of steroids and recreational drugs, or just random crime sprees.
Most recently, it was golf mega-star Tiger Woods (who, apparently, became confused and believed he was part of the Professional Girlfriends Association), before him retired baseball slugger Mark McGwire (“Um, remember those home runs I hit from here to Canada? Surprise: steroids.”). Football and basketball players, boxers . . . name any sport, and you’ll find a disgraced hero, sniffling at the microphone.

For those sure to follow, here’s an all-in-one guide that, with slight modifications, can work for any sports hero who needs to do a little explaining:

“First of all, I’d like to say that, because certain crime investigations may or may not be ongoing, I can’t go into details or answer questions.

Clam dig + Chocolate on the Beach Festival + EMS Conference = big weekend on the beach