County Briefs

Pedestrian dead in Route 3 accident

A pedestrian died in a one-car accident on state Route 3 near East Agate Road on Sunday evening.

According to a Washington State Patrol news release, Paul B. Taft, 56, of Shelton was struck and killed while sitting in the southbound lane by a 63-year-old Shelton driver.

WSP spokesperson Katherine Weatherwax said Taft is suspected of attempting suicide. No charges have been filed against the Shelton driver. The driver and a 58-year-old Shelton female passenger were not injured in the accident.

One dead in U.S. 101 motorcycle crash

One person died and another was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash on U.S. Highway 101 south of Shelton on Sunday evening.

According to a Washington State Patrol news release, Erin E. Dodge, 54, of Tacoma died after sustaining injuries in the accident. The motorcycle driver, a 58-year-old Olympia man, was traveling south with Dodge. The motorcycle missed the curve, leaving the road and striking a cable barrier post. The motorcycle bounced back across the southbound lanes and went off the side of the road, hitting a tree and ejecting the driver. The motorcycle and driver ended up in a ravine. Dodge was ejected instantly and ended up in the road.

Each person was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The motorcycle driver was charged with vehicular assault and a DUI.

Student hit in front of Shelton High

A Shelton High School student was hit in front of Shelton High School on Friday afternoon.

According to a Shelton Police report, the driver was also a high school student. The driver was turning right from the Huff ‘N’ Puff trail parking lot and did not see the student crossing the road. The student was hit by the front passenger side quarter panel.

The student was tended to by medics for minor injuries and was released to her mother upon arrival.

Shooting incident at Loop Field

Shelton Police are investigating a shooting incident at Loop Field at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

According to a City of Shelton Facebook post, there were no life-threatening injuries and “we have no reason to believe there’s any danger to the public.” Shelton Police is investigating the incident.

Resource advisory committee filled

The Olympic National Forest added 15 new members to fill vacancies on the Olympic Peninsula Resource Advisory Committee.

According to a news release, the committee can provide input on a variety of forest-related topics and review projects on or adjacent to Olympic National Forest in Grays Harbor, Clallam, Jefferson and Mason counties. Advisory committees represent a variety of backgrounds and interests. The committee is required to balance and be diverse with equal representation from industry, environmental groups, recreation groups, elected officials and local residents.

Committee members are Dane Bonnell, Eric Nagle, Julie Anne Metzger, Phil Wolff, Michael Spears, Jill Silver, Paul Pickett, Mitzi Schindele, Matthew Stewart, Mara Zimmerman, Jill Warne, Greg Brotherton, Nicole Rasmussen, Julie Ann Koehlinger and Austin Paul.

For more information about the committee, go to http://www.tinyurl.com/kpnc8ksr.

Six seasonal gates closed in forest

Olympic National Forest closed six seasonal gates on the south part of Olympic National Forest.

According to a news release, gate 2451 in the North Fork Skokomish River watershed, gates 2354, 2353 and 2361 in the South Fork Skokomish River watershed and gate 2294 in the Wynoochee River watershed closed Monday. The gate on road 2270 will close Nov. 1.

The closures happen each winter from Oct. 1 through April 30 and are part of the memorandum of understanding between Olympic National Forest and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Anyone with questions can contact Betsy Howell with Olympic National Forest at 360-765-2230.

Public comment opens for scenic trail

Public comment is sought on the Forest Service’s proposal to develop a trailwide comprehensive plan and associated environmental analysis.

According to a news release, the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail is one of the nation’s newest national scenic trails in Montana, Idaho and Washington, designated by Congress as part of the National Trails System in 2009. The route is about 1,200 miles from the continental divide to the Pacific Ocean.

The project includes portions of seven national forests, including the Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park.

The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail project goals include fulfilling legislative requirements from the National Trails System Act.

The 30-day comment period runs through Oct. 30, and comments received after the 30-day period will be considered but will not have standing. Comments can be submitted online at http://www.tinyurl.com/4msu73rv. The scoping document for the project can be downloaded from http://www.tinyurl.com/2ve337js.