County Briefs

Car accident knocks out power lines

A car ran into a pole on state Route 3 in Belfair near North Mason High School, knocking down a power line Friday night.

According to Mason County PUD 3 social media posts, the incident was reported around 8:15 p.m. and PUD 3 sent out a lineman to investigate. In order to make repairs, the lineman had to cut power for customers in Allyn, LakeLand Village and Victor. The power was only out in Allyn and LakeLand Village for an hour before PUD 3 was able to reroute power from a different substation. Power was restored at 2:30 a.m. to Alta Drive and state Route 302 toward Victor.

Belfair jaywalker injured on state Route 16

A 57-year-old Belfair man was injured and charged with jaywalking after being struck by a vehicle on state Route 16.

According to a Washington State Patrol news release, the Belfair man was crossing the street on Sedgwick Road next to state Route 16. A car, driven by a Port Orchard man was eastbound on state Route 16 and was attempting to make a right turn onto southbound Sedgwick Road on a green light. The Belfair man stepped into traffic in front of the Port Orchard vehicle and was hit.

The Belfair man was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Port Orchard. The Port Orchard man was not injured.

Salal permits on sale Jan. 11, 12

Permits for commercial-use salal in Olympic National Forest will go on sale Jan. 11 and 12.

According to an Olympic National Forest news release, permits will be available at 9 a.m. Jan. 11 and March 8 at the Quilcene office at 295142 Highway 101 South and at the Quinault office at 353 South Shore Road. Permits will be available at 9 a..m Jan. 12 and March 9 at the Forks office at 437 Tillicum Lane.

Anyone harvesting salal within Olympic National Forest for the purpose of selling must carry a commercial-use permit while picking. One hundred permits will be available for sale at $150, 50 at the Quilcene office and 25 at each the Forks and Quinault offices. People buying a permit must be 18 years old and provide a federal or state identification. A lottery system will be used if demand exceeds supply and only one permit per person is allowed.

For more information, go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/olympic.

McHargue appointed to PUD commission

Mason County PUD 3 appointed Jeff McHargue to take the spot of Bruce Jorgensen at the Dec. 20 meeting.

According to a news release, Jorgenson, 92, was first elected in 1995 and is in his fifth term in office. Jorgensen’s retirement will be effective at the end of the year.

“I am thrilled to be appointed to complete the two-year term from commissioner Jofrenson’s retirement after 28 years of service,” McHargue wrote in an email to the Journal. “I will serve the ratepayers of Mason County and appreciate the confidence the current commission has placed in me.”

Kilmer celebrates Respect for Marriage Act

U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, supported the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, which repeals the Defense of Marriage Act and enshrines marriage equality into federal law.

According to a news release, the act include provisions to protect marriage equality, including enshrining marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples and provides additional protections at the state level by prohibiting state officials from denying recognition to an out-of-state marriage based on sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.

“The federal government has a responsibility to protect people’s freedoms — that includes protecting marriages under federal law,” Kilmer said in a news release. “Earlier this year, the Dobbs decision not only threatened reproductive freedom, but also the freedom of loving same-sex and interracial couples to get married. That’s why today’s vote is so important – it repeals the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, enshrines marriage equality in federal law, and ensures that if someone has a legal marriage in one state, that marriage will be recognized in another state. These are important policies if we want to stand up for freedom and equality, and I’m proud to have finally sent this bill to the president’s desk to be signed into law.”

Kilmer also voted for the National Defense Authorization Act for 2023. The act supports service members and federal workers, ensures fairness for shipyard workers, protects the state’s environment and reduces jet noise.

Kilmer worked with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, to unveil the Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act, which would address chronic underfunding and barriers to sovereignty faced by Indian Country due to the federal government’s failures to meet its trust and treaty responsibilities.

Feedback and comments are welcomed to help refine and improve the legislation in the next congress by emailing [email protected].