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PENINSULA DAILY NEWS July 12, 2016 | 75¢
Port Townsend-Jefferson County’s Daily Newspaper
Bids opened for damaged road reroute
Four-legged friends
Washed-out Undie Road repairs would top $900,000 BY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
CHARLIE BERMANT/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Griffin Bailey of Seattle rides Nevada while volunteer Terry Naughton leads them around the track. Bailey is a participant in the Salish Spirit therapeutic riding program, held each summer at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.
Equine therapy spurs success for disabled Both children, adults improving with saddle time BY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PORT TOWNSEND — A therapeutic program that puts people with disabilities on horses has become an essential part of their treatment, according to both the program’s sponsor and participants. “There is a real benefit to
them coming here,” said Mary Nepute, program director for the six-week Salish Spirit summer program held on consecutive Wednesdays at Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 4907 Landes St. The equine-assisted therapy program is in the fourth week of its fourth year, with sessions ending July 26.
Immediate effect The positive effect is immediate, according to those close to the program. “He is very ill at ease in the world,” Sabra Hernandez of
PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners opened bids Monday for rerouting part of Undie Road around a section with significant damage in West Jefferson County. The commissioners hope to award the bid at their next regular meeting at 9 a.m. Monday, July 18 in chambers at Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St. The 0.8-mile stretch of Undie Road on the north bank of the Bogachiel River south of Forks was severely damaged during fall and winter storms and is now reduced to one barely navigable lane. Several options have been discussed by commissioners since the damage occurred, including considering canceling the job and forcing the 13 people living beyond
the damaged section of road to fend for themselves. The current project is intended to create an alternate route that entails using 1.3 miles of existing state Department of Natural Resources road and another 0.9 miles of steep terrain construction.
Estimate The engineer’s estimate is $926,150, of which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide $209,000. The three bidders from lowest to highest are: ■ Interwest Construction Inc., Burlington: $905,310 ■ Bruch and Bruch Construction, Port Angeles: $919,645 ■ Jordan Excavating Inc., Port Angeles: $1,070,000 Representatives for all three companies were present for the bid opening. TURN
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Seattle said of her 17-year-old son, Griffin Bailey. “When he gets on the horse, you can see it in his face and he calms down. It’s really quite magical.”
Big success Nepute said that one of the program’s biggest successes is a 41-year-old woman who has been riding for two years. “The first time she was out there, she was fearful and clinging. Now she’s out there waving her hands,” Nepute said. TURN
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CHARLIE BERMANT/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Jefferson County Director of Public Works Monte Reinders opens a bid for the rehabilitation of Undie Road at a Jefferson County Commission meeting Monday.
Human error blamed for Hood Canal span closure PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
A hydraulic valve that was closed prevented the Hood Canal Bridge from rising evenly Sunday.
SHINE — Human error caused the unplanned sevenhour closure of the Hood Canal Bridge on Sunday, the state Department of Transportation has announced. An uneven lift span on the state Highway 104 bridge caused the closure, and initial investigations have shown that this resulted from a malfunction of one of four hydraulic lift cylinders that raise and lower that section of the bridge, according to a Transportation press release. The lift didn’t have enough
hydraulic fluid, the amount of which is controlled by a valve that was inadvertently left closed after preventive maintenance work last week. The malfunctioning hydraulic lift caused the lift span to rise unevenly during an 8 a.m. marine opening Sunday, closing the bridge to marine and vehicular traffic. “We are so sorry for the inconvenience and travel disruptions this incident caused to mariners and motorists alike,” Troy Cowan, Transportation’s Olympic Region assistant regional administrator of maintenance and operations,
Crews respond When the incident took place Sunday, Transportation bridge engineers and additional bridge crewmembers arrived at the bridge and manually lowered the span to its closed position. TURN
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INSIDE TODAY’S PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Recognizing the Silent Signs of Prediabetes
100th year, 165th issue — 2 sections, 18 pages
Presented by Vicki Everrett, RDN, CDE Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Certified Diabetes Educator
Thursday, July 14, 3pm & 6pm OMC Medical Services Building 840 N. 5th Avenue, Sequim 671488803
Vicki Everrett, RDN, CDE
said in the release. “Our crews take great pride in their maintenance of the Hood Canal Bridge. This mistake is a humbling reminder of how important their work is, and how important it is for them to be focused and diligent at all times.”
BUSINESS CLASSIFIED COMICS COMMENTARY DEAR ABBY DEATHS HOROSCOPE NATION PENINSULA POLL
A8 B6 B5 A7 B5 A6 B5 A3 A2
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PUZZLES/GAMES SPORTS WEATHER WORLD
B7 B1 B10 A3