Details on the grant, from Chief Mike Styner:

The Ocean Shores Fire and Emergency Care Department received notification on Friday, June 25th, from the US Department of Homeland Security, that we have been awarded a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant in the amount of $166,866.00. This is a zero match grant. The grant funding becomes available on September 20, 2010 and the grant period is for two years ending on September 19, 2012. This grant will allow us to fill the laid-off firefighter/paramedic position in the fire and emergency care department.

Is Ocean Shores’ biggest Fourth of July weekend crowd ever on the horizon?

From the Ocean Shores Fire and Police departments:
•Fireworks can only be discharged on the beaches from Marine View Dr. North to Damon Rd  beach approach and “Not In Town”.
•Fireworks should not be used within 100 ft. of the dune grass or fired into the dunes.
•Fireworks can not be discharged from decks or balconies of hotels, motels or any residential properties.
•Fireworks can only be discharged during the following hours:
June 28 noon- 11:00 PM
June 29 –July 3 9:00 AM-11:00 PM
July 4 9:00 AM- Midnight
July 5 9:00 a.m.  11:00 PM
•Dispose of garbage and used fireworks properly in garbage containers,
•Do not start beach fires near the dunes or in large pieces of driftwood, completely extinguish your campfire.

According to Russ Fitts of the OSPD, “there’s nothing to indicate we have an injured animal.” The Huckleberry Court resident said he fired a shot after the bear came toward him in a threatening manner. The  bear ran away after the shot was fired. The man believes he hit the bear in the shoulder, but police and Fish and Wildlife personnel searched the area, and found not blood or other evidence of a wounded animal.

Shortly after the gunshot this morning, someone else called to say they saw a bear swimming across Duck Lake.

From KXRO radio: Ocean Shores Police are looking for a bear that may or may not have been shot by a homeowner this morning. Deputy Chief Russ Fitts says the man walked out of his Duck Lake Drive home at 7:00 this morning and saw the bear on his trash cans. Fitts says the man threw a rock at the bear, then went inside to get a handgun and shot one round at the animal as it reportedly approached him. The man claims to have hit the bear, but Fitts says no evidence of that has been found. Fish and Wildlife officials are being brought in to assist in the search.

From the OSPD call log:

June 28

Duck Lake at Hutton

Bear seen.

Eridani Loop

8:02 p.m.

“Large black bear in yard.”

Makah Ave. SE

10:11 p.m.

Bear.

June 29

OS Blvd SW

3:20 a.m.

Bear going through garbage can.

S. Wynoochee Dr SW

4:42 a.m.

Black bear in yard.

June 30

OS Blvd SW

2:57 a.m.

“Big bear just walked down the outside hallway.”

Pt Brown Ave SE

8:20 p.m.

Black bear in empty lot.

Greenview Ave SW

8:42 p.m.

Bear eating out of dumpster.

July 1

N. Wynoochee SW

5:48 a.m.

Black bear walking down road.

Calawah St SW

5:52 a.m.

Bear in yard.

June 30

Beach at Chance

Backpack, phones, towels stolen while reporting person was in water. “Only left shoes.”

The correct answer is . . . d.

From Art Wuerth, the city’s Finance Director:

SUMMARY:  MOST OF CITY HALL UTILITY BUDGET IS STORM DRAIN CHARGES FOR DUNES

The 2010 General Fund appropriation includes a line item in the City Hall department of $255,000 budgeted for Utilities.  (Page 59 of the 12/14/09 Adopted Budget)

$240,000 (or $20,000 per month) is budgeted to pay the City’s share of the Storm Drain charge for the City-owned dune areas.

The remaining $15,000 is for various other utility charges (e.g., water, sewer, garbage, electricity) applicable to the (two buildings of the) City Hall.

From Grays Harbor Sheriff’s log:
June 24
Copalis Crossing
Jehovah’s Witness backed over fence post, broke flower pot, drove away.