Washington State Ferries could have been in a rush when this service alert went out by e-mail at 4:40 p.m. Friday, about the Edmonds and Kingston route: “Both vessels are running 15 to 20 minutes behind schedule. We apologize for any incontinence this may cause you.”
They probably meant “inconvenience.” We all know how messy it can be to get in a rush.
Naval Station Everett has a tie to the Olympics.
A sailor on the USS Abraham Lincoln competed in the 1996 games in Atlanta and the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia.
Petty Officer 3rd class Albert Agyemang, assigned to the ship’s administrative department, competed for Ghana.
The sprinter is now a naturalized U.S. citizen.
In 1993, Agyemang, a native of Accra, Ghana, began running competitively and became one of the West African country’s quickest athletes. He was 16. During the 1995 African Games, the Ghana National team topped what was then considered the superior Nigerian team.
According to a Navy public affairs office, Agyemang said, “We go (to the African Games) and beat Nigeria, a really good team, and the Olympic Committee was so impressed that they moved us to Germany to begin training full time.”
Agyemang made it to the quarterfinals in Atlanta, finishing fifth in the 200-meter race. His relay team made it to the finals in a match against the United States in the 400-meter relay. The Ghana team was disqualified on a misinterpretation of the rules, Agyemang said.
“We were so excited to make it that far and to be going up against the Americans was unbelievable,” Agyemang said. “It’s a shame that we weren’t able to compete, on a technicality.”
Agyemang, whose fastest 200-meter run time was 20.64 seconds, also qualified for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where he made it through the preliminary rounds.
If you love boating, but hate gas prices, set priorities, and see if the Everett Yacht Club is in your budget.
Sometimes their group trips aren’t too many sea miles away.
Learn about membership opportunities at 1800 hours Wednesday. That’s nautical talk for 6 p.m. The meeting is at 404 14th St., Everett.
If you have a boat, drop by for hot dogs and burgers, said Tom Evans, club vice commodore.
It’s a good thing there is a joining special, because boat sales are down.
“Now is the best time to buy, as many people are selling and you have lots of choices,” Evans said. “I feel once the public gets used to the idea and shock of the price of fuel, boat sales will turn again.”
The gang recently went to Pleasant Harbor, with more than 20 boats, for crabbing, clam digging and oyster harvesting.
“It was a great time,” he said. “The price of fuel has made some members pick and choose which cruises they go on more than they used to, but not stop entirely.”
Fun Fact: Margaret Kime of Everett is excited about attending an all-school reunion Sunday in Sultan.
She is hitching a ride from a member of the Sultan High School class of 1958.
Surely they will note her attendance.
Kime said she is the last living member of the Sultan High School class of 1928.
Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.
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