Anglers host regional fisheries director
The Coastal Conservation Association’s Heath Heikkila joins the Puget Sound Anglers-North Olympic Peninsula Chapter as the group’s featured speaker at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave.
Heikkila has nearly two decades of experience in working with regional natural resources, including time spent working as a policy advisor for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) where he focused on endangered salmon recovery efforts on the West Coast.
As the Coastal Conservation Association’s Regional Fisheries Director, Heikkila is intimately involved in fisheries advocacy issues at the highest level whether in Olympia or Washington D.C. Heath will be sharing more about the association’s efforts in Washington, along with discussing how the organization works and how to get more involved in fisheries issues (see www.ccawashington.org).
The evening begins with viewing the raffle prizes and fish stories. The featured speaker presentation starts at 7 p.m., followed by a business meeting that includes a financial report, government relations report, upcoming events discussions and fishing reports from members.
The club meets the third Thursday of each month at Trinity United Methodist Church.
Turnout is about 200 for GOAT races
The three annual Great Olympic Adventure Trail races — half-marathon, marathon and 50-kilometer distances — brought about 200 participants to race on the Olympic Peninsula on Sept. 8, organizers said.
Along with local runners, the races — which help support Peninsula Trails Coalition for construction and maintenance of the Olympic Discovery Trail and the Olympic Adventure Trail near Lake Crescent — saw runners from the Netherlands, Latvia and Canada, as well as racers from Wisconsin, Arizona, Minnesota, Idaho, Massachusets, California, North Carolina, Nebraska, Nevada and Utah.
Shawn Bussert of Arlington won the marathon in 3 hours, 52 minutes, with top woman Yvonne Naughton of La Conner finishing fourth overall in 4:22.
Peter Vosshall of Bainbridge Island won the 50-kilometer race in 4:38; fellow Bainbridge resident Jenine Adam was the first woman and second overall, finishing in 4:47.
Rowan Chappell of Bellingham had the fastest half-marathon after finishing with the first wave in 1:38:51; Elisa Laverty of Bainbridge Island had the best women’s time of 1:42:55.
Full results are at greatoa trun.org.
