NEAH BAY — Around 100 canoes from many Native American tribes are expected to begin arriving Monday on the shores of the Makah Indian reservation on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula for the annual canoe journeys.
The Peninsula Daily News reported that the Makah have made many improvements to the reservation that will serve the canoe journeys as well as members of the tribe, including a new gym, new access ramps to the beach and an expanded senior citizens deck.
Makah tribal journeys coordinator Crystal Denney says the wanted infrastructure improvements that were long-lasting within the community.
The tribe expects 10,000 people to visit the reservation this week as the canoes arrive. About 40 canoes are coming from Canada.
Olympia: Eyman initiative approved
Initiative promoter Tim Eyman’s latest project is headed for the November ballot.
Initiative 1053 is the fourth initiative to qualify for the ballot this year. I-1053 would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature or simple-majority approval from voters to raise taxes.
The Democratic-led Legislature suspended a similar requirement earlier this year to help patch the state budget.
The I-1053 campaign turned in about 338,000 petition signatures. The minimum to make the ballot is about 241,000.
Sedro-Woolley: Two burned in explosion
Two men were seriously injured in an explosion at a shop that builds and services race cars in Sedro-Woolley.
Fire Chief Dean Klinger told the Skagit Valley Herald the men put about four gallons of methanol in a 55-gallon barrel in the parking lot Sunday night, sat on top and lit it on fire for a “barrel ride.”
Klinger says, “Apparently it was supposed to slide across the parking lot like a rocket. Instead it blew up.”
He says one end of the barrel flew 120 feet.
The men were responsive when paramedics arrived at Funk Racing. They were taken to United General Hospital then flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with severe burns.
Aberdeen: Bridge tenders laid off
The state Transportation Department has laid off bridge tenders who were responsible for opening five drawbridges in Aberdeen and Hoquiam.
The department said it will rely on a maintenance crew on call to operate bridges.
The Aberdeen Daily World reported 24-hour bridge tenders are unneeded because of a decline in vessel traffic as Weyerhaeuser has curtailed operations in Grays Harbor.
Five full-time and three temporary employees have been laid off. One has been rehired as a secretary.
Spokane: Scooter rider dies in collision
A woman riding a scooter was killed in a collision with a car at an intersection north of Spokane.
The Spokane County sheriff’s office said the 54-year-old Spokane woman was killed at the scene Friday night. The 21-year-old Deer Park man driving the car allowed investigators to draw a blood sample to test whether he was under the influence.
At the time of the crash, a deputy was attempting to catch up with the car to stop it because it had only one headlight on.
Sunnyside: Teen killed in shooting
Police are working to identify a teen killed in a drive-by shooting in Sunnyside and to locate suspects.
Witnesses said shots were fired Saturday night from a white sedan. The victim died at a hospital.
KNDO reporteds it’s the third homicide this year in Sunnyside.
Associated Press
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