It was the year of structure for Sequim, or the attempt to build and/or save structures.

In 2015, the Sequim Aquatic Parks & Recreation Center District #1, SARC, led many front pages in the Gazette with two attempts to go through voters to save its facility to no avail before pursuing an effort with the Olympic Peninsula YMCA.

The Sequim School District also made two attempts to pass construction bonds but school board members, not deterred, opted to try again in February 2016.

The City of Sequim and Clallam County Public Utility District #1 completed their facilities with the city celebrating its Civic Center opening in May and the PUD its Carlsborg headquarters in December.

Several civic leaders came and went this year, too, the weather led to drought conditions across the Sequim-Dungeness area and many milestones were reached.

So here, by month, are some of the high and low points for Sequim in 2015.

January

Oasis shifts

Following pressures from music corporations to pay royalties, owner Dale Dunning of the Oasis Bar & Grill, opted to stop offering live music on Dec. 31, 2014. He converted the Oasis into an all-ages eatery at specific hours and brought in some live music from musicians playing only their original music throughout the year. Sequim State Rep. Kevin Van De Wege drafted House Bill 1763 to keep music licensing companies accountable but following amendments suggested by the music licensing companies in March, Van De Wege said what remained of his original bill was an annual $1,500 licensing fee for the companies and establishing a consumer awareness campaign through the Attorney General’s office.

State confirms avian flu

An outbreak of H5N2 avian flu, not known to be harmful to humans, was found in domestic poultry in Agnew. More than 100 chickens, ducks and geese were euthanized and a 10-kilometer quarantine zone was established around 92 Cosmos Lane and enforced for about a month before the U.S. Department of Agriculture lifted it after finding the flu had not spread.

Boys in Sequim

The book “Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown inspired a 42-vintage boat exhibit at the Sequim Museum & Arts. The boat, built by George Pocock at the University of Washington in the spring of 1947, is similar to the boat Sequim’s Joe Rantz and the U.S. Olympic team used to win gold at the Olympic Games in Germany in 1936. The book has become so popular that one of the Gazette’s stories — “No Ordinary Joe” — remains a weekly top hit on the www.sequimgazette.com.

February

SARC levy fails

In February, the board of commissioners for the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center (SARC) attempted to pass a 12 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for each of six years operations levy but it failed 57.5-42.5 percent. Proponents said the 27-year-old facility was likely to close by the end of 2016 because of depleted reserves and increasing costs for replacing deteriorating equipment and infrastructure.

School bond falls short

That same special election, Sequim schools failed to reach the 60 percent super-majority in their first bond attempt in 2015 at $49.5 million. Final votes came in at 7,308 (57.59 percent) in favor. The 20-year bond would have paid for land and the building of a new elementary school, add four classrooms, a gym and service kitchen at Greywolf Elementary school, add six science classrooms and band/choir rooms at Sequim High School and ear down an unused portion of the Sequim Community School, renovated the base kitchen and Helen Haller Elementary, high school science rooms and a portion of Sequim Community School into a maintenance and warehouse building.

Trestle damaged

The aged trestle that supports the 100-year-old Railroad Bridge over the Dungeness River was partially brought down by flooding conditions and debris beginning on Feb. 6. The bridge was partially closed and through-access was later stopped, hindering visitors and travelers of the Olympic Discovery Trail. Officials with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, who owns the bridge, shortly thereafter began damage and repair/replacement costs assessments.

DUI for Deputy Mayor

Following a December 2014 arrest for allegedly driving under the influence, City of Sequim Deputy Mayor Dennis Smith’s blood alcohol level was revealed to be 0.26 in February. Smith apologized and continued to serve on the Sequim City Council. He also voluntarily attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, remains in an outpatient treatment for two years and he installed an ignition interlock in his vehicle.

O’Mera named Sequim’s queen

For the 120th anniversary of the Sequim Irrigation Festival, Sequim High School junior Megan O’Mera was crowned queen at the 38th-annual festival pageant on Feb. 14.

The theme was “120 Fun a Plenty” and O’Mera and fellow princesses Morgan King, Emily Larson and Amanda Sanders attended events throughout the year.

Citizen of the Year dies

On Feb. 24, Volunteer Cliff Vining was named Sequim’s Citizen of the Year in 2014 posthumously a few days after he died at age 93. Vining was a long-time volunteer at the Sequim Food Bank, working a few hours everyday there for 30 years. He told the Gazette it was an honor to be nominated but he “wasn’t one to seek recognition for his years of volunteerism.” Vining was raised in Sequim and moved back here more than 30 years ago with his wife Betty Lou (who died 10 years ago) from Yakima after retiring from owning a trucking business and multiple farms.

Paranormal Sequim

In February, investigators with the Red Ball Paranormal Investigations from Jefferson County examined the Dungeness Schoolhouse to see if there were in fact spirits within the historical building. The group said there was paranormal activity in the building but nothing to be afraid of. They also investigated the Sequim Museum & Arts’s archives on March 13 but didn’t find much activity.

March

Massey honored

Radio announcer Bob Massey was recognized by family and friends at KSQM 91.5 FM for being the oldest active radio announcer in the U.S. He spent most of his career in radio and helped launch KSQM Radio and his was the very first voice heard over the air waves for KSQM on Dec. 7, 2008. He continued the “The Classy Bob Massey show” from 9 a.m.-noon weekdays. He was honored as the most senior radio broadcaster in the United States, receiving special congratulations from the Washington State Legislature and recognition from the City of Sequim. He later died on July 26.

Super exits

Sequim Superintendent Kelly Shea announced his resignation on March 6 to take the same position in East Valley (Spokane) School District. Shea, who was hired in July 2012, said he’d only leave Sequim for Spokane to be near his mother. His original plan was to work in Sequim 5-7 years before looking to move back. His last day was June 30 and the Sequim School Board began a search through a consulting agency. The search found three finalists but the school board opted to make Assistant Superintendent Gary Neal the interim superintendent. He was named acting superintendent in November.

Drought declared

Sequim and the Olympic Peninsula were named one of three regions in a drought on March 13 by Gov. Jay Inslee  because the Olympic Mountains had nearly zero snowpack during the winter.

Inslee issued a statewide drought conditions advisory in May. The Department of Ecology officials initially requested $9 million from the state legislature in drought relief in the state and a total of $16 million was allocated for 2015-2016 and $5.6 million was used in 2015. So far in 2016, snow levels are meeting their marks.

SARC seeks parks district

Following SARC’s levy’s failure in February, its board of commissioners voted 4-1 on Feb. 26 to pursue a metropolitan park district to help fund the facility on the August primary ballot. The district had the ability to tax up to 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation but commissioners recommended 12 cents. They also opted to pursue putting it on the ballot by receiving enough petition signatures, which they later received 4,400 of the 3,500 required. City officials said they supported a park district but wanted the commissioners to wait to seek input from other entities. They later recommended waiting until 2016 at the earliest, which SARC supporters said did not provide any immediate solutions.

Ms. Wheelchair in Sequim

Julie Broadwell of Sequim was named Ms. Wheelchair for Washington on March 31 and she later competed from July-August in Des Moines, Iowa, for the Ms. Wheelchair America title in Iowa. Broadwell served as a spokesman throughout the state where she can discuss awareness, acceptance and the overall understanding of disabilities with the general public.

Grain elevator sold

The Clallam Cooperative’s 85-foot grain elevator and its adjoining building formerly housing El Cazador were sold on March 13 in a trustee’s sale to Linda “Candy” Diesen, owner of Tootsie’s. The restaurant closed March 3, 2014, after 33 years in business and the building first went to auction on April 27, 2014. It was continued several times into the next year until being sold for $355,482. Diesen later leased the restaurant portion to Baja Cantina, her former tenants at 820 W. Washington St., which burned down in an electrical fire on May 19, 2014. The Sequim Consignment Co. later relocated to the former Hollywood Video space as well.

Kisena honored nationally

Teen room coordinator Luke Kisena with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula earned one of 12 national Maytag Dependable Leader awards for his efforts with local teens. The clubs received $20,000 for educational scholarships.

April

New fire chief named

Ben Andrews was named Clallam County Fire District 3’s new fire chief following Steve Vogel’s 14-year-lead role. Andrews joined the local fire district in 2003 after 10 years with Jefferson County Fire District 3. Vogel officially retired in August. Andrews was a finalist for the job with fellow Assistant Chief Tony Hudson, who remains assistant chief of logistics.

Opportunity funds for SARC

SARC applied for a $386,100 grant from Clallam County Board of Commissioners’ Opportunity Fund to pay for the design, construction and installation of a new air handling system. As of the end of the year a decision hadn’t been made.

May

Teachers walk out

Sequim was one of several school districts across Washington state pursuing work stoppages in hopes of conveying a strong message to the legislators and bring awareness to the lack of their progress of “fully funding education” to meet the 2012 McCleary decision. On May 18, teachers and other staffers picketed and performed community service projects at several locations around town.

Embezzling case

A Sequim couple, Bret William Christianson and Eleana Maria Christianson, made their first court appearance May 1 after allegedly embezzling more than $1.2 million from local businessmen.

Blyn business burns

A Blyn car dealership linked to methamphetamine burned down on May 7. Deputies gathered witness information that one of the property’s residents, José Noe Torres, 57, was living in a travel trailer inside the building and allegedly started the fire on purpose. Torres pleaded guilty in June in Clallam County Superior Court to reckless burning in the first degree.

Jeff the Mover

On May 19, Sequim resident Jeff Monroe was awarded the 2015 Washington State Historic Preservation Officer Award for Outstanding Achievements in Historic Preservation, for his efforts to move the Enchanted Valley Chalet away from the Quinault River and save it from imminent destruction. Enchanted Valley Chalet is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the largest timber structure surviving in the Olympic Mountains. When Monroe heard the chalet was threatened by raging flood waters, he and his trained professionals worked side-by-side with volunteers from the Friends of Olympic National Park to drag the 64-ton, 2-and-a-half-story structure out of harm’s way.

Civic Center reopens

After years of planning and nearly a year after breaking ground, the City of Sequim’s Civic Center opened May 18 for police and city services. A public safety sales tax in 2012 worth one-tenth of 1 percent helped pay for the new police department portion of the $15 million center. By December, costs for the Civic Center were an estimated $857,000 over budget.

June

Gauging the need

In June, the Sequim Food Bank announced results of its spring 2015 needs assessment — the first of the organization’s kind in its 31-year existence. Key findings include that, within an average month, about 70,000 to 75,000 pounds of food are distributed via the food bank — and of that annual 900,000 pounds, about 30 percent goes toward someone 18 years old or younger.

Sunshine shut down

Despite an initial six-month time table to replace its fire suppression system and cooking hood, owners of Sunshine Cafe temporarily closed the business June 25 following new findings by fire officials. The cafe was one of several local businesses required to make significant changes to meet municipal codes or shut down. Sunshine Cafe reopened in mid-September.

Bush begins in Sequim

City of Sequim councilors unanimously voted June 22 to select Charlie Bush of Snoqualmie as Sequim city manager, replacing Steve Burkett. Bush, who was chosen from six finalists, worked for the City of Issaquah since May 2012 where he served as deputy city administrator through March 2014, managing 161 employees and $45 million in operating and $18 million in capital budgets.

Animals seized

Clallam County Sheriff’s Office representatives seized most of the animals from a Sequim resident’s property for alleged neglect. On June 24, the officials took into care two donkeys, two sheep and four goats from the property of John Dashti off of River Road. Dashti was charged July 31 and pleaded not guilty. Later, animal cruelty and trespassing charges against the Sequim man were dropped because he was found unfit to stand trial.

July

Honoring their return

To celebrate the return of salmon to the Dungeness River and surrounding watersheds, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe on July 11 hosted the first of what they hope is an annual Salmon Homecoming Ceremony, held along the banks of the Dungeness River at Railroad Bridge Park.

AG on the peninsula

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson toured the Olympic Peninsula on July 15 and 16, visiting Rotary clubs in Sequim and Port Angeles. Besides dishing on several hot topics such as health care, legalization of marijuana and basic education issues, Ferguson showed some skills at the Sequim Gazette’s ping pong table.

Pot gets a go-ahead

After two six-month extensions to the moratorium on the sale of legalized recreational and medical marijuana enacted by the Sequim City Council more than a year prior, council members in late July voted 6-1 to allow the moratorium to expire. In May of 2014, David Halpern was awarded the opportunity to be the city’s single recreational marijuana retailer after a double-blind lottery. For the past year Halpern paid rent at 755 W. Washington St., Ste. C, while awaiting for city officials to lift the moratorium.

August

Back to the ballot box

Sequim School District’s board of directors voted unanimously Aug. 3 to put another $49.3 million school construction bond proposal on November general election ballots.

MPD goes down

A day later (Aug. 4), a proposed Metropolitan Park District that would have helped keep the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center (SARC) open failed to meet the require a 50 percent tally at the ballot box (it got 41.8 percent), sending SARC advocates back to the proverbial drawing board.

Kayakers rescued

A 74-year-old Sequim resident, Elden Ross, and his 6-year-old grandson were rescued from Dungeness Bay on Aug. 8 after their kayak capsized. The rescue effort marks the second kayak-related emergency in Dungeness Bay within the past four months.

A centennial for Freemasons

Sequim Masonic Family of Lodge No. 213 hit a huge milestone in August, with members and friends celebrating the club’s 100th year; the 20 founding members received permission to form a lodge in Nov. 9, 1915. To celebrate, historian John Majors, his wife Beverly and volunteers with the Sequim Museum & Arts Center and Masonic Lodge authored a new book “Freemasons in the Sequim-Dungeness Area: 1915-2015.”

100 years from grads

In the same vein, Sequim schools celebrated the 100th anniversary of their first graduating class with an All-School Reunion on Aug. 14-16. Events included a golf tournament, VFW get-together, assembly, car show, dinner, Dungeness Schoolhouse tour, picnic and more. The events commemorated Sequim High’s first four graduates: Leonard Fernie, Helen Knoph, Goodwin O’Brien and Neva Peterson.

Plentiful pinks

Biologists found that the number of pink salmon returning to the Dungeness River in search of spawning grounds were defying historic records. The results was the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe received permission to conduct a beach seine fishery — a nearshore harvesting of salmon via vertical fishing nets — near the mouth of the river within Dungeness Bay through Aug. 22. It’s the first fishery for pink salmon in Dungeness Bay in more than 30 years, according to fisheries management biologist Aaron Brooks of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

Helping with the wildfires

With the Okanogan Complex fires, what many considered the largest wildfire in Washington’s history, Clallam County First District 3 sent several crews to help there and across the region. The latest group of firefighters arrived in Omak on Aug. 20.

September

Bank of America leaves peninsula

After more than 30 years in Sequim, it was announced on Sept. 1 that Bank of America’s local branch is to become 1st Security Bank. The change also encompassed the Port Angeles, Port Hadlock and Port Angeles branches. The sale includes $268 million in deposits and less than $1 million in loans was expected to be finalized in January 2016.

Gazette publisher retires

John Brewer, publisher of the Sequim Gazette, Peninsula Daily News, Forks Forum and Olympic Peninsula Homes-Land real estate magazine, retired after a 50-year career in journalism. Brewer’s retirement brought Terry Ward to the Olympic Peninsula to take the role of publisher of the newspaper group.

Commissioners OK marijuana rules

Better late then never, on Sept. 15 the Board of County Commissioners approved permanent local rules for regulating recreational marijuana, first legalized by Washington voters in 2012. Clallam County commissioners voted 2-1, with commissioner Jim McEntire and Bill Peach supportive and Mike Chapman opposed. The ordinance titled “Recreational Marijuana” went into effect on Sept. 25.

Council visits Growler base

After ongoing public concerns voiced at City of Sequim council meetings, City Manager Charlie Bush reported on a visit city officials took to the Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island in late August. The trip was prompted by the Navy’s proposed plan to conduct electronic warfare training on land and above portions of the Olympic Peninsula and public observations indicating an increase in aircraft traffic, specifically the Navy’s EA 18G Growler aircraft. The trip was made in lieu of Navy officials visiting Sequim to host a public meeting. Having heard the concerns and experiences of residents and having visited the air station, Bush said, “It’s hard to really know what the facts are.”

SARC board approaches YMCA

Exploring possibilities to support and make the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center (SARC) economically viable, the SARC board opted to further pursue a partnership with the Olympic Peninsula YMCA. Via a vote the SARC board committed $5,000 toward a $36,000 feasibility study to poll the current SARC pass-holders and broader community — a first step at a possible partnership with the YMCA. Prior to the collaboration between SARC and YMCA officials, voters rejected both a levy for SARC in February and later a metropolitan park district in August.

Assistant fire chief retires

September drew to a close along with the 36-year career as a firefighter for Roger Moeder, Clallam County Fire District 3 assistant chief. Moeder retired on Sept. 30. He started in 1980 after being hired through a government training program and eventually was hired as a career firefighter permanently in January 1982.

October

Police case settled

Sequim resident Morgan Weimer settled with the City of Sequim for $35,000 in early October for an incident that occurred in 2013. Weimer was subdued by Sequim police via what Weimer classified as “excessive force” outside the Oasis Bar & Grill. Cell phone footage captured an officer punching Weimer after he allegedly reached for the officer’s taser, law enforcement officials said. Sequim Police Chief Bill Dickinson said the decision to settle was made by the city’s insurance company because it was the less expensive route to go rather through a trial.

Dungeness Bay gets cleaner

Officials with Washington State Department of Health reclassified 688 acres in Dungeness Bay, leading to overall upgrades. The water quality upgrade reflected the ongoing work from the Clallam Conservation District, Clallam County Department of Health, Dungeness Farms officials, Jamestown S’Klallam tribe and the Dungeness River Agricultural Water Users Association, as well as individual residents to reduce the amount of fecal coliform detected within the bay.

… and open for business

The reclassification reopens a large portion of Dungeness Bay for commercial shellfish harvest, which became limited after downgrades in 2001 and 2003. After the downgrades, Jamestown Seafood, the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe’s seafood business and oyster farm located in Dungeness Bay closed in 2005. However, in response to the upgrade, officials with the tribe have expressed interest in pursuing aquaculture in the bay again.  Dungeness Bay also was targeted in late 2014 and early 2015 by the largest producer of farmed shellfish in the United States, Taylor Shellfish Farms, as possible location for a geoduck farm.

Barrett named Homecoming King

Accompanied by Queen Katie Rogers, Sequim High School senior Nick Barrett took the crown for Homecoming King on Oct. 16. His genetic disorder, Down syndrome, didn’t keep Barrett from feeling like true royalty among his peers given it’s they who voted and eventually crowned him king.

Board votes to close SARC

In a 4-0 vote on Oct. 21, board members of Clallam County Parks and Recreation District 1 — one that oversees the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center — voted to temporarily close the facility until other funding sources are found.

Fall rains a relief

By the end of October, rain had finally returned to the Sequim-Dungeness Valley, providing relief from a record-breaking hot, dry summer with little to no snowpack. Early and proactive planning by local farmers and collaboration between water users allowed most farmers to sidestep adverse impacts of the statewide drought.

November

Neal named superintendent

The Sequim School District board of directors unanimously voted to hire interim superintendent Gary Neal as the district’s permanent superintendent on Nov. 2.

Three times not charm for bond

The Nov. 3 general election brought the failure of the $49.3 million Sequim School construction bond. The failure marked the third time a school bond proposal has failed in Sequim in the past two years. The final election results showed the bond falling short of the 60 percent “super majority” by 0.43 percent.

Ozias unseats McEntire

The same election, however, revealed favorable results for Board of County Commissioners District 1 candidate Mark Ozias. Ozias unseated incumbent and county commissioner for the past eight years Jim McEntire.

King sentenced for Joyce murder

Former Sequim resident Ari Lee King was sentenced on Nov. 2 in Clallam County Superior Court by Judge Christopher Melly to 18 years for the murder of a Joyce woman in September 2014.

Las Palomas reopens after rehab

Owners of Las Palomas Mexican Restaurant were able to reopen their eatery on Nov. 4 after they closed in mid-September to bring their grill’s hood and fire suppression system up to city code.

Demand rises after SARC closes

Two weeks following the temporary closure of SARC because of a lack of funds, other exercise establishments in Sequim began feeling the effects. The increased demand caused some local businesses to raise rates as a way to keep up with the need or create deals to attract new costumers. In Port Angles, the William Shore Memorial Pool saw a spike in memberships from Sequim residents, likely reflective of SARC’s closure.

PUD moves into new headquarters

Clallam PUD’s new headquarters located in Carlsborg opened Nov. 24. Construction of the facility began in October 2014. To pay for the construction project and other infrastructure needs, the utility district sold $14.225 million worth of bonds.

Schoolhouse now ADA compliant

The Dungeness Schoolhouse became fully accessible to visitors of all ages and levels of mobility on Nov. 9 after volunteers replaced the outdated chairlift with a new elevator.  The effort to install a new elevator dates back to September 2013, said Judy Stipe, executive director of the Museum & Arts Center, which owns and operates the schoolhouse. Community contributions, including those from the museum and Readers Theatre Plus and a $20,000 donation from the Albert Haller Foundation, allowed for the elevator upgrade.

December

Sequim gets a Kiwanis Club again

Three couples who are newcomers to Sequim and longtime Kiwanians have launched a plan to revitalize the club that folded two years ago. Jack Gourley, Lily Lawson, Mary and Wayne Boden and Philomela and Ted Lund recently united in their desire through Kiwanis to “improve the world one child and one community at a time.

101 school children homeless in district

An investigation into the numbers of children and young adults attending classes Sequim School District who are self-identified as homeless came to light in early December. Of the 101 self-identified homeless students in the district, about a dozen are unaccompanied and about 15 are kindergarten age. “The problem is just too massive to address all the needs but keeping the school a safe, stable space and continuing to help them achieve academic success is about the best we can do,” said Jennifer Van De Wege, the district’s homeless liaison.

Playfield parking approved

After a will they, won’t they tug of war between the City of Sequim and Sequim Advocates over providing a paved parking lot adjacent to Albert Haller Playfields, the entities agreed on plans to provide funding for it in 2016. Plans call for 60-70 parking spots at a cost of $318,000 shared between the city and the Advocates.

Cost of utilities to rise

City residents can expect to see a slight increase in their water/sewer bills from the city and from the Clallam County Public Utility District. Water bills are set to increase 3 percent and sewer rates will rise 2.5 percent for capital projects. Due to cost increases from the Bonneville Power Administration and and increased green energy requirements by the state, PUD officials said they’re forced to pass along increases amounting to 3.8 percent for electricity customers.

School bond a go for February

The Sequim School District’s board of directors unanimously voted on Dec. 7 to try for another bond issue for a new elementary school, added classrooms at Greywolf Elementary and Sequim High School, plus a modern kitchen. Due to increased interest costs, the proposed bond amount has risen $54 million, about $5 million more than the bond issue that failed by less than half a percent in November. The special election will be Feb. 9.

Game farm has Star Wars link

It’s been buzzing for many years and it sounds to some that a few of Sequim’s creatures went on a journey not so long ago to a galaxy far, far away. Former and current employees of the Olympic Game Farm say several animals’ sounds were recorded in Sequim and used in “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.” With the Dec. 18 opening of “Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens,” a former game farm employee recalls that in 1977, a sea otter named Emma was recorded and can be distinctly heard in Episode V.

County takes misdemeanor cases

The City of Sequim and Clallam County commissioners agreed to an interlocal agreement to deal with misdemeanors and traffic infractions at the county level rather than at the city level. In 2016, the deal could save the taxpayers more than $120,000. Under the agreement the city will pay a flat rate of $320,000 per year. The switch is effective Jan. 1.

Guild donations surpass $2M

Since its inception in 1970, the Sequim Dungeness Hospital Guild has raised more than $2 million, which has gone to support Olympic Medical Center, Clallam County Fire District 3, scholarships to medical students, the Dungeness Health & Wellness Clinic, Peninsula College’s School of Nursing and construction of a helipad in Sequim. The majority of funds have been raised by the guild’s thrift shop.

Council OKs state EDC funds for SARC

On Dec. 14, the Sequim City Council unanimously endorsed state economic development funds going to the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center and a contract with the YMCA in Port Angeles of $30,000 a year for three years to support low-income memberships.

Hays resigns from council

Former mayor and longtime city councilor Ken Hays presented his unexpected resignation by e-mail to Mayor Candace Pratt and City Manager Charlie Bush before the council meeting on Dec. 14. Hays, who served as mayor from 2010-2013, cited his desire to spend more time with his family and attend to his architectural business. He was first elected in 2008.

New bridge opens at park

Officials of the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe and users of the Olympic Discovery Trail celebrated the reopening of the Dungeness River Bridge on Dec. 24 after 11 long months of it being closed due to heavy rains that caused severe damage in February. The $2.5 million project replaced the structurally unsound wooden trestle with a 750-foot steel pedestrian food bridge and improved salmon habitat on the river. A grand opening ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. today, Dec. 30.