This is not a test; this is the actual Sun. Please report to the beach, immediately.

A 31-year-old Edmonds male passed away today at Harborview Hospital, from injuries suffered in his motorcycle crash July 30 on U.S. Highway 101. (Corrected from original post.) According to the State Patrol, he was slowing to turn onto the Moclips Highway when his rear wheel locked into a skid, sending him off the road.

Art Wuerth, the finance director of the City of Ocean Shores since April 1, 2009, resigned on Wednesday.
Early Thursday afternoon, Wuerth said he will work a few days next week, then shortly after return to Tumwater; rather than crunching numbers here, he’ll be raising dahlias there.
Wuerth, 59, previously worked for the state of Washington for 30 years. He “came out of retirement” last year to take the Ocean Shores job, and said he accepted a challenge from then-Mayor Dean Bunkers:
“I promised Mayor Bunkers I would help get the city back in fiscal stability.”
Proudly noting “I was Mayor Bunkers only hire,” Wuerth added “I was really never long term. I was interim.”

Jen Hough photo:

*Street LID bills coming soon

*First Half Numbers: Positive revenues, troubling spending and a lively “study session”

*Vote deadline next week

*Sea Mar Ocean Shores clinic is open: With a little help from the Friends

*Q&A with County Commissioner candidates

*Locals Only: Kung Fu Budget Master Lillian schools Grasshopper Tom

*North Beach High’s new Athletic Director

*What a teacher is doing on his summer vacation

*And some random fun . . .

Thanks for the great photo, Norm Snow.

From our man on Duck Lake, Gary Iversen:

Just went back and forth from the beach to Aberdeen for the first time since the bridge closure. Even with moderately heavy summer-time traffic, everything was flowing smoothly, no delays at all. (Not that I would want to do it every day . . .)

Sign ups for Hoquiam Youth Football for kids ages 6-12 that live in the North Beach Area will be held at the Ocean Shores Golf Course on Tuesday, Aug. 10 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. The cost is $100 per child but you are able to recoup the cost of the registration. A parent will need to bring a copy of a birth certificate. For more information, phone 360-289-3455.

1. Ocean Shores City Council did which of the following, tonight?

a) Lowered the Speed Limits to 15 mph on all city streets

b) Sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow!” to the project manager who brought the Fire Station in under budget

c) Decided to sell the Weatherwax, after all, to create Walmartwax

d) Set a Street LID hearing date of Sept. 20, meaning property owners will get assessments/bills within a month

2. The total Street LID cost will be

At this afternoon’s budget study session, with council, the mayor and several department heads, the veteran councilman Dave Creighton just said, to the department heads present (Mike Styner, Police/Fire; Ken Lanfear, Public Works; latecomer Ken Mercer, Convention Center): “This is going to be the hardest budget that staff has ever gone through. I’m going to nail you guys for every single dime. This budget will be council driven, not staff-driven
“I don’t feel in the last few years we have done a very good job in budgeting . . .
“I believe it’s about time we took control of the budget and decide where the money is going.”