COUNTY BRIEFS

Shelton customer hours change

The second-floor customer service desk at the Shelton Civic Center has new and reduced operation hours that began Saturday.

According to a news release, customer service will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays with appointment only availability 1 to 4:30 p.m. With the change in hours, customers will experience longer wait times. The new customer services operating hours will not affect police or municipal court.

Death on Route 3

A one-car accident resulted in the death of a Tacoma man Friday on state Route 3 near Grapeview.

According to a Washington State Patrol news release, a 67-year-old man was northbound in a 2012 Chevy Impala. The Chevy left the road to the left, crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a tree and debris before catching on fire in a ditch.

The name of the deceased person has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

Speed blamed for car crash near Belfair

Two people were injured in a state Route 3 crash Saturday just north of Belfair near the Kitsap County line.

According to a Washington State Patrol news release, a 25-year-old Bremerton man was southbound in a 2003 Mitsubishi near Peninsula Topsoil and a 60-year-old Lynnwood woman was northbound in a 2022 Hyundai. The Bremerton man lost control, crossed the center line and struck the Hyundai. The Bremerton man was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and the woman was transported to St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale.

The cause of the accident was speeds too fast for conditions, according to the report, and the man was charged with negligent driving.

Couture has new post on Appropriations

Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, was named assistant ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee.

According to a House Republicans news release, the committee creates the state’s operation budget and works on budget-related bills. The move puts Couture on the same status he has on the House Human Services, Youth and Early Learning Committee. He’s also on the House Education Committee.

“I am delighted Representative Couture is taking on this position,” House Republican Leader Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, said in a news release. “He hit the ground running in his first session, providing an important voice on critical issues. Even as a freshman member, Travis had a tremendous impact on the legislative process. I have no doubt his passionate advocacy for children, education, and public safety will serve both the 35th District and the entire state well as he moves into this new role.”

Couture had his first bill, House Bill 1274, pass unanimously through the House and Senate and signed into law.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as a leader on this important committee,” Couture said in a news release. “I look forward to working to get us to a common-sense budget that ensures our children get a quality education, our communities are protected, and that provides much-needed tax relief for the people of Washington state.”

Legacy forest activists rally near Capitol

Activists were at the state Department of Natural Resources building and outside the Legislative Building in Olympia on June 27 to rally for forests and climate.

According to a news release, organizers of the event say the state’s elected officials and leaders are ignoring the public input on proposed land sales of older legacy forests in the state.

The rally was organized by the Lorax Coalition and the group has seven demands, including ending clearcut logging of mature forests on public lands, including canceling Sure Wood, Wishbone, Harstine Flats, Plumb Bob, Brokedown Palace, Juneau and Upper Salmon Creek timber sales. They also demand environmental justice, double harvest rotation lengths on private lands, ending herbicide/pesticide spraying and monoculture replanting on recently logged lands, fully funding schools and counties from sources other than logging, investing Climate Commitment Act money into climate solutions and getting timber industry-funded science out of public universities.

More information about the activists is at http://www.loraxcoalition.org.

Olympic forest accepting proposals

Olympic National Forest is accepting proposals for forest improvement projects funded by the Secure Rural Schools program through Aug. 21.

According to a news release, volunteer and nonprofit organizations, interest groups, local governments and others submit a proposal for forest improvements projects. Projects must occur on national forest land or benefit the national forest. Projects selected in the past include noxious weed control, road maintenance, trail maintenance, youth conservation crews, enhancing wildlife habitat, toilet replacements and portable toilet rentals, litter and abandoned vehicle removal and culvert replacement.

Project proposals must be submitted to the Olympic National Forest headquarters to receive consideration for the money. Projects are reviewed and recommended by the Forest’s Resource Advisory Committee. For more information about the reauthorized Act that funds these projects, go to http://www.fs.fed.us/srs.