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Tuesday

Roster battles start

More showers feeding the flowers B10

M’s manager considers open spots for spring B1

PENINSULA DAILY NEWS March 22, 2016 | 75¢

Port Townsend-Jefferson County’s Daily Newspaper

Bids for Senate, House to start

Purple flower power

Van De Wege, Chapman step up BY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS

ALANA LINDEROTH/OLYMPIC PENINSULA NEWS GROUP

Visitors enjoy Blackberry Forest during the annual Sequim Lavender Weekend in July 2015.

Lavender Weekend contends for best floral fest honors the Best Flower Festival category in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice contest selected by readers of USA Today and 10Best. The annual festival draws tens of thousands of visitors for three days of activities organized by the Sequim Lavender Growers Association and the OLYMPIC PENINSULA NEWS GROUP Sequim Lavender Farmers Association. Mary Jendrucko, executive director SEQUIM — Sequim’s lavender is for the Sequim Lavender Growers Assogaining some national attention once ciation, said she was unaware they were again as the Lavender Weekend holds in the running for the contest or how steady at 15th out of 20 in its bid to be they were entered. named best flower festival in the nation. “I know you can vote once a day for The Sequim Lavender Weekend is one the duration of the contest, which ends of 20 flower festivals in the running for on March 28,” she said.

Supporters voting online for Sequim’s iconic celebration

Voting runs through 12 p.m. Eastern on March 28. A panel of experts including Cindy Brockway, program director of cultural resources at The Trustees of Reservations; Katy Moss Warner, president emeritus of the American Horticultural Society; and Abby Hird, program director for Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S., nominated the 20 festivals in the running. In the contest’s description, it says of the Sequim Lavender Weekend: “Each July, Washington’s Dungeness Valley is blanketed in purple. TURN

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FEST/A6

SEQUIM — A political ripple caused by the retirement announcement of state Sen. Jim Hargrove began Monday, with two candidates announcing their election plans. State Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, in his fifth term in the Legislature, announced that he will relinquish that seat in order to run for the state Senate seat Hargrove is vacating at year’s end. Minutes after Van De Wege’s announcement, fourterm Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman announced his intention to Van De Wege run for Van De Wege’s seat. Hargrove, 62, announced March 10 he will not seek re-election. The Hoquiam Democrat has been a member of the state Senate since 1993. He had previously served in the state House of Representatives from 1985 to 1992. Hargrove — along with Rep. Steve Tharinger and Chapman Van De Wege, both Sequim Democrats — represents the 24th District, which covers Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County. Van De Wege, 41, said last week he wasn’t sure if he would run for the Senate, while other potential office seekers were waiting for Van De Wege’s decision before making their own plans. “I’m excited to announce my candidacy to the state Senate,” Van De Wege said in a news release distributed to the media Monday afternoon. TURN

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POLITICS/A6

Jailed PT teacher is held on $150K bond Arraignment scheduled for Friday BY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS

PORT TOWNSEND — A Superior Court judge on Monday imposed a $150,000 bond on a Port Townsend High School teacher who allegedly threatened the school’s principal. “The alleged threat was extraordinary,” Jefferson County Superior Court Judge Keith Harper told defendant James Keith Miller, 52, on Monday. “I am not sure you will follow the court’s orders [for no contact].” Miller is being held for investigation of one count of burglary in the second degree and one count

of harassment, threats to kill. Under Washington RCWs, burglary is defined as entering a property or structure with the intent to commit a crime and does not indicate intent for theft. He is scheduled for arraignment at 8:30 a.m. Friday in Jefferson County Superior Court, 1820 Jefferson St. Miller, a mathematics teacher who is now on paid administrative leave, is accused of threatening to kill principal Carrie Ehrhardt during a Friday breakfast meeting at the Bayview Restaurant. The two met to discuss his future with the district.

The meeting also included drove to the Miller’s union representative. high school campus where ‘Security reasons’ he entered his Port Townsend Police Officer former classJeremy Vergin was also in the room where restaurant in plainclothes “for students were security reasons,” according to the present. M i l l e r probable cause statement, but he began removdid not hear the conversation. Miller According to the statement, ing personal items from Miller told Ehrhardt she was “the [expletive] reason that I am not the wall, appeared to be talking able to see my children and I’m on his cellphone, described personal details of his life to students going to [expletive] kill you.” At that time, Ehrhardt com- and started asking the teenagers pleted a protection order applica- if anyone had been talking about tion against Miller “based on her him since he was placed on leave concern this is a very real threat,” earlier in the year, according to police. according to the statement. Hours after the meeting, Miller Vergin, along with Sgt. Garin

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Deputy Prosecutor Julian St. Marie recommended $150,000 bond Monday while public defender Richard Davies, acting on Miller’s behalf, asked that he be released on his own recognizance. Davies is a public defender but had not been formally retained. Miller made his initial court appearance through a video link from the jail which caused some difficulty as he could not adequately hear or see the proceedings, he said repeatedly. TURN

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TEACHER/A6

100th year, 69th issue — 2 sections, 18 pages

Presented by Dr. Duane Webb, Board-Certified Gastroenterologist

Tuesday, March 22 at 6 p.m.

Recommended bond

INSIDE TODAY’S PENINSULA DAILY NEWS

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Williams, arrived at the classroom and took Miller into custody.

BUSINESS CLASSIFIED COMICS COMMENTARY DEAR ABBY HOROSCOPE LETTERS NATION PENINSULA POLL

B10 B6 B5 A7 B5 B5 A7 A3 A2

*PENINSULA SPOTLIGHT

PUZZLES/GAMES SPORTS WEATHER WORLD

B7 B1 B10 A3


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