Commissioners approve application for ‘Phase 2’

The Board of County Commissioners voted in favor of moving to Phase 2 of the governor’s “Safe Start” plan for reopening the economy.

Legion, Elks observe Memorial Day at Fort Worden Cemetery May 25

Even with social distancing in effect, Memorial Day will continue to be “a day on, not a day off” for local veterans. Members of the Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26 of the American …

Marrowstone Island fire extinguished by East Jefferson Fire Rescue

Units of East Jefferson Fire Rescue responded to a fire engulfing a one-story residence on Heinzinger Road in Nordland at 2:16 p.m. May 19. Units arrived to find flames consuming the house. No one …

Celebrating Rhody in a pandemic

About 30 people lined up along Lawrence Street in Port Townsend to watch a parade of 33 vehicles wend their way down the road for the canceled 85th annual Rhododendron Festival Grand Parade …

Jefferson County Fair, flea market canceled for 2020

After much consideration and discussion, the Jefferson County Fair Association has decided to cancel the 2020 Jefferson County Fair, originally scheduled for Aug. 7-9, saying it serves the best interests of the health and safety of the fair and the surrounding community.

E-edition

05.20.2020 Leader

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Coronavirus coverage

COVID-19 Live Updates

The Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader is dedicated to keeping our community informed and up to date. See updates below: May …
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Check to make sure you aren’t a victim of unemployment fraud

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, along with other Washington state law enforcement agencies, has received numerous calls …
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Recreation reopened, distancing required

Lakes and public beaches reopened in Washington this month as part of the first phase of the governor’s “Safe Start” …
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Commission to vote Friday on ‘Phase 2’ of reopening county

County commissioners are expected to vote May 22 on the public health officer’s recommendation to move to Phase 2 of the …
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Drive-in church sermon broadcasts from Blue Heron parking lot

Almost 40 vehicles took advantage of the loosening of coronavirus pandemic restrictions enacted by the state to attend church services …
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Arts and Entertainment

Rhody Fest traditions weather the decades

Tom Camfield remembers the first Rhododendron Festival from when he was about 6 years old—85 years ago. For this Port …
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Queen Jenessah will reign in 2021

Jenessah Seebergoss had dreamt of becoming Rhody Queen since she was in the seventh grade. Now a junior at Port Townsend High …
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Rhody princess looks toward the future

Hailey Hirschel has loved to cook since she was 7 years old. Her mom, Belynda Hirschel, was the one who taught her the basics when …
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Being royal is about much more than a crown

Life as a Rhody Princess is not just about the crown for Princess Brigitte Palmer. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t love …
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Special sections

Rhody Keepsake - Rembering 85 years of Rhody

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In other news ...

Local news

A peek inside Port Townsend’s aquarium

This time of year, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center’s aquarium on the Fort Worden dock is typically crawling with visitors each weekend who peer through the glass at fish swimming in their marine habitats or reach into the touch tanks to feel the textured skin of a sea star.

Fund for farmers supports local food production

A new fund will help farmers in Jefferson and Clallam counties provide local food for their communities.

Chimacum Farmers Market to open June 7

The Jefferson County Farmers Market Association announced the Chimacum Farmers Market will open for its summer season June 7.

Most eateries at the port are open

Boats aren’t the only thing moving in and out of the Port of Port Townsend. Good food, coffee, beer and banter with servers are also coming to customers at almost all the eateries and …

Marine trades plan for reopening in Phase 2

When the governor first announced his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, boat builders in Port Townsend put down their sanders, chisels and saws and headed home. But as the fishing …

Obituaries

Orville John Wise

Port Ludlow resident Orville Wise, 60, died in the early hours of May 4, 2020, at home in the comforting care of his loving companion Tina. He had fought a long and difficult battle with …

Richard (Scott) Westwood

Scott passed away at his home on April 25, two weeks before his 65th birthday. He was born and raised in Moscow, Idaho to Richard and Helen Westwood. After finishing high school in Moscow, he …

Dennis Anstine

Dennis Walter Anstine died on April 14, 2020 in Newport, Oregon after a long battle with cancer. He was born in Kearney, Nebraska on July 5, 1941. Dennis graduated from Scottsbluff High School in …

Thomas Berg

To say that Tom Berg’s death at an age just shy of 98 years was unexpected is a testament to the man’s life and work ethic. In the few days preceding his passing April 24, he and his wife …

Kenneth Wayne Mikkelsen

Kenneth Wayne Mikkelsen was born January 19, 1930 in Shelley, Idaho to Ole Sophus and Eva Holm Mikkelsen. At the age of four the family moved to a farm in St. Ignatius, Montana. He attended St. …

Opinion

The engine of the economy keeps running

With the closure of school buildings in March, it has been made very clear the essential role schools play for families and our …
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The zoomerang and other things

The “lockdown” or “self-quarantining” or “plain common sense” affects almost all of what we see, …
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Creating the community we want post-pandemic starts now

Imagine that in five years “affordable housing” is no longer a hot topic in Jefferson County. Some indicators we had fixed …
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Nhatt Attack!

Fort Worden’s Korean War vets jump from the frying pan to the fire

While soldiers of the 2nd Engineer Special Brigade, who trained at Fort Worden, were engaged in the Korean Conflict (1950-53), their …
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