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PENINSULA DAILY NEWS $1.25 Sunday
June 13, 2010
Port Angeles-Sequim-West End
Red tide levels reach 10-year high Toxins force state to close Clallam shellfishing areas BY LEAH LEACH PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
A massive influx of red tide at levels not seen in at least a decade is inundating shellfish in Clallam County sea waters with potentially lethal levels of paralytic
shellfish poison — and the toxin may be moving east toward Jefferson County, state public health officials say. The discovery of high levels of the marine toxin — called PSP, which causes breathing difficulties
— prompted the closure last week of all beaches along the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Dungeness Spit to Cape Flattery to recreational harvest — ocean beaches already being closed for the season. A commercial geoduck harvest tract used by both the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe and the state Department of Natural Resources also was closed after the toxin level was tested there, said Greg Combs of the state Department of Health Office of Shellfish and
Water Protection on Friday. “It’s pretty bad compared to recent history” of the last 10 to 15 years, Combs said. “It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a bloom like this occur.”
Levels of toxin Levels of toxin ranged from more than 1,000 micrograms to more than 3,000 micrograms in samples from Clallam County beaches last week. Shellfish harvesting is closed
when PSP levels reach 80 micrograms per 100 grams of shellfish tissue. The level of PSP found approaches the amount measured in shellfish when three Lower Elwha Kallam tribal members died after eating poisoned butter clams and mussels in 1942 — the last time any deaths from the toxin were recorded in the state, Combs said. TURN
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TOXINS/A6
‘OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW’
Clallam to see a busy primary More contenders emerge for three county positions BY PAUL GOTTLIEB PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PORT ANGELES — The final day of filing week for the November general election guaranteed a busy Aug. 17 primary ballot for elected Clallam County government positions. The new candidate filings on Friday produced three-way primary races for Democrat Mike Doherty’s West End county commissioner seat and District Court 1 Judge Rick Porter’s position as well as a five-way battle for director of the Department of Community Development John Miller’s post.
KEITH THORPE (2)/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Peninsula College graduate Philip Sheperd of Port Angeles gets assistance with his tassel from Sirrah Brown of Port Angeles before Saturday’s commencement ceremony on the college’s main campus. About 180 students were scheduled to take part in commencement.
Grads hear from justice
Some incumbents unopposed Incumbents who filed for re-election and face no opposition in the primary or general election are Sheriff Bill Benedict of Sequim, Auditor Patty Rosand of Port Angeles, Assessor Pam Rushton of Port Angeles, West End District Court 2 Judge Erik Rohrer of Forks, and Clallam County Public Utility District Position 1 incumbent Will Purser. In one county race, that for treasurer, only two candidates have filed. Incumbent Judy Scott of Port Angeles will face off against DCD Senior Planner and nonpracticing lawyer Selinda Barkhuis of Port Angeles. That’s not the case with the District 3 county commissioner, DCD and judge positions. Candidates will vie in a top two primary race that will narrow the field to only two candidates for the November election. TURN
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Where’s business? OUR BUSINESSENVIRONMENT-Politics section, usually its own stand-alone portion of the Sunday Peninsula Daily News, is part of the C section today. It starts on Page C8.
FILINGS/A8
State jurist speaks at Peninsula College commencement BY TOM CALLIS PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Washington Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens delivers the commencement address for Peninsula College on Saturday on the Port Angeles campus.
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Once hopeful for county prosecutor takes candidacy to Eastern Washington the Port Angeles attorney filed at the last minute for a congressional seat in Eastern Washington. PORT ANGELES — David R. Fox, 49, had said that he would Fox’s quest for a political office took run for the Clallam County prosan unexpected turn Friday when ecuting attorney seat now held by
BY TOM CALLIS
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
DURAMAX W/ALLISON TRANSMISSION
Republican Deb Kelly, and had participated in a May candidate forum for Democratic candidates. Instead, he filed for the state’s 5th Congressional District, which includes his hometown of Othello. “I never wanted the prosecutor job in the first place,” Fox said Saturday, adding that it was “time for a change.” Fox said that he will move
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FOX/A9
94th year, 141st issue — 7 sections, 82 pages
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temporarily to Spokane for the campaign. He said that the switch had nothing to do with his arrest at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport one week ago or allegations of sexual misconduct made by a former client whom he represented in Clallam County District Court.
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Fox to run for Congress off-Peninsula
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PORT ANGELES — Washington Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens used metaphors gleaned from her favorite sport to pitch a lifetime of wisdom to Peninsula College’s graduates Saturday. Owens, the seventh woman to sit on the high court and a former Clallam County District Court judge, delivered the commencement speech to a gymnasium full of graduates, their families and other supporters. About 180 of the 356 students who received degrees were pres-
ent at the ceremony at the Port Angeles campus of the college, which also has branches in Forks and Port Townsend. Owens’ approximately eightminute speech was initially going to be titled, “Why bother?” “But that’s not appropriate or inspiring for such a great day,” she said, joking that it would lead to questions such as: Why take on so much debt? Instead, Owens chose to throw that out and use baseball metaphors to deliver 12 positive messages for the graduates to take with them.
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