From the state Dept. of Transportation: Due to the closure of the US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge, motorists traveling to Ocean Shores or other coastal destinations this weekend should plan ahead for congestion and delays in Hoquiam.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced Thursday, Aug. 5, the US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge is closed until further notice after severe degradation of piles in the easterly pier was discovered.

From the Friends of the Clinic, the group that has tirelessly worked on local medical issues, first to keep a doctor here, then to bring providers here: The Ocean Shores Sea Mar Clinic is scheduled to open on Monday, August 9th in their new location here in Ocean Shores: 597 Point Brown Blvd. (location previously known as Coastal Family Medicine/Dr. Holm).
AND…they need help!  The plan is for the Copalis Sea Mar Clinic to close its doors on Friday, August 6th….and that’s where and when the help is needed …… to move them into Ocean Shores!!
Friday, August 6th, from 6 pm – 8 pm
Trucks and people to help load and move furniture, equipment, etc

The road from the beach “to town” just got trickier, tonight. Washington State Dept. of Transportation announces: “an immediate, full closure of the US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge because of concerns about its structural integrity. The closure will remain in place until further notice.”

A WSDOT release says that “During the closure, motorists will detour onto the Riverside Bridge, which will be reconfigured to accommodate two-way traffic.”

Congratulations, Ocean Shores: After three years, the Street LID project to re-pave the entire city is complete. Now all the 12,000 or so property owners have to do is pay for it . . . On the agenda at the Aug. 9 City Council meeting is for council to set a hearing date of Sept. 20, which means Street LID assessments (“bills,” with options to pay in a lump sum, or spread out over time) would have to be mailed out to property owners by Sept. 5.

The original $31.7 million project is now estimated to be in the neighborhood of $40 million, although a final total has not been announced.

street lid assessment resolution

street lid public hearing

From the County Emergency Management Dept.: 2010-2011 Winter Forecast – Winter Will Be Worst in Pacific Northwest!
It appears La Nina is definitely taking hold in the Pacific. Water temperatures are 2-3 degrees below normal which is a strong indicator of a harsh winter for the Pacific Northwest.  AccuWeather.com Chief Meteorologist Joe Bastardi predicts the Winter’s Worst Cold & Snow will be in the Pacific Northwest reaching all the way to the Great Lakes.  Cities like Portland & Seattle who experienced mild winters last year are forecast to be much colder and snowier this year.

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.

Clarification from Jim Mitchell, of the Library Board of Trustees: On the City ”official” expenditure/encumbrance report, it does indeed show the Library has overspent it’s budget by $117,304.24 thru June. However. . . there has been more than the $10,600 budgeted that has been provided by the City. The major reason for the large amount of deficit was the severance package of approximately $75,000 paid to Judy Stull for accrued vacation/sick leave on her retirement in 2009 which originally was not charged to the Library and then changed several months after the fact. . . . the City has provided another $10,000 for wages/Benefits thru September with the warning there would be no more money forthcoming. We will be paying most expenses for the balance of the year from the grants we have obtained.

After a little vacation, I’ll be back tomorrow for the RIG (Readers Input Group) “See Party” finale, 10 a.m. at the Library. We’ve been trying to “see” if there are alternative ways to fund the Library. Related reading material: The City’s first-half numbers, just out: os first half 2010

Good News: Licenses & Permits are at 70% of the budget, on pace to far exceed the conservative $295,000. Convention Center rentals are at $55,000, 61% of the projected $90,000. Self Insurance payments $84,000, 37% of the annual budget of $226,000. Departments that have spent less than 50% of their budget include: Engineering, Legal Service, Municipal Court.

Not-S0-Good News: Legislative (69.3 %), City Hall (64.3% ), Fire Dept. (64%) and Police (56.7 %) all way over 50% of their budgets, at the half-way point.

A birdie puts Jerry Johnson of Ocean Shores at +3 today, +14 for the Senior Open tournament. With seven holes to go, he can still make the cut, with a strong rally.

Update: Another birdie leaves Jerry four shots off the project cut to make the finals, with four holes to go.

Final update: Jerry finishes strong, tied for 83rd . . . misses the cut but plays a great second round, with +2 score of 72.

The Ocean Shores golfer finishes today’s US Senior Open at a rocky 81, 11 shots over par. He is currently tied for 108th, with 25 golfers still to tee up. If he is on his game tomorrow, Jerry should still have a shot at making the cut for the Saturday-Sunday championship rounds.