Coast Guard's new copter adds power to rescue equipment
2006-07-06
by ANDREW BINION
PORT ANGELES -- Recent upgrades to the Coast Guard's workhorse helicopter have given the brightly
colored birds more oomph.
Coast Guard Group Port Angeles received the first of three upgraded HH-65 Dolphin helicopters recently.
Two more are on their way.
The choppers may not be brand new, but they have more power -- and when they arrived, the chopper with
the new engine still had that new helicopter smell.
The old engines were capable of about 750 shaft horsepower.
The new engine packs a punch more than 1,000 shaft horsepower, said Chief Warrant Officer Bryan Hardy,
a helicopter mechanic.
``That's a lot of power,'' he said.
With the old engines, the workhorse helicopters had a maximum speed of 190 mph.
``We wouldn't get that unless we were in a dive,'' said Lt. Steve Mahany, a pilot, who noted the maximum
speed was usually about 165 mph.
With the upgrades, the maximum speed went up to 200 mph, and with the right conditions that may be
attainable, Mahany said.
Time matters for Coast Guard helicopter crews who whiz to the aid of boaters in distress.
``Our on-scene time could definitely be a lot faster,'' he said.
Astoria man, son make emergency landing in
Alaska
Airplane motor breaks while North Coast residents head north on a five-plane trip
to Anchorage
By KARA HANSEN
The Daily Astorian
Thursday, July 06, 2006
An Astoria man and his son are safe after they were forced to make an emergency
landing on a narrow strip of a remote Alaska beach July 1.
Astoria optometrist Steve Scruggs, 51, and his 14-year-old son, Peter, were on a fiveplane trip from Seattle to Anchorage, Alaska, when their Beechcraft Bonanza’s motor
broke.
The two were forced to land on a narrow beach near the entrance of Lituya Bay, in
Glacier Bay National Park on the southeastern coast of Alaska.
“John Raichl is the real hero,” said Scruggs’ wife, Stacey, referring to the former Clatsop
County Sheriff. “There are no cell phones, and you can’t get anybody on the radio, except
for John Raichl.”
Raichl, who was flying one of the companion planes, managed to contact a passing
Northwest Airlines flight, which relayed the information to the Air Force, launching a
U.S. Coast Guard rescue operation in the isolated area. Astoria dentist Philip Bales was
also on the trip.
A Coast Guard HH-60 helicopter from Alaska’s Air Station Sitka arrived at the scene at
12:45 p.m. It flew Scruggs and his son back to Sitka, where they are reportedly in good
condition.
While their plane was fixed the next day, the event put a damper on their trip, Scruggs’
wife said.
“They were going to go fishing,” she said, although she expressed gratitude they weren’t
stranded. If Raichl hadn’t found help, she said, “They might still be sitting there, eating
their two weeks of rations. No one would have found them.”
Boat fire was caused by starter
fluid, gas mix
Port workers clean up fuel leaked in blaze
JOHN STARK
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
A boater's attempt to restart an engine with a bowl of gasoline and starter fluid led
to the fire that destroyed three vessels moored at Squalicum Harbor Tuesday.
Bellingham Fire Department spokesman Brian Flannelly said an investigation
indicated that the fire began on a twin-engine boat of about 30 feet. One of the two
engines was running, and one of the vessel's occupants was attempting to get the
balky second engine to turn over by feeding the flammable fuel mixture manually
into its carburetor.
After the risky procedure touched off an engine fire, the man emptied the boat's fire
extinguisher onto the blaze and appeared to have it knocked down, but it flared up
again as soon as the fire extinguisher gave out, Flannelly said. The man ran onto the
dock to get another extinguisher, but by the time he got back the boat was blazing,
and flames soon spread to neighboring vessels.
The man wasn't injured. Two passengers on the boat suffered only minor burns that
did not require hospitalization.
Flannelly identified the owner of the vessel where the fire started as Vincent Hill of
Everson. It was not immediately clear whether Hill was the one who was attempting
to start the engine when the fire broke out. Hill was not available for comment
Wednesday.
Two of the burned vessels, including the one where the fire began, sank at their
moorings. On Wednesday, only one blackened, partially collapsed hulk was visible at
the scene, surrounded by black, floating ooze. A fourth vessel suffered some smoke
and heat damage, its plastic canopy partly melted.
Port of Bellingham workers managed to contain the spill with floating booms after
the fire was extinguished Tuesday, and on Wednesday they were at work with
absorbent pads cleaning up the mess.
Port of Bellingham spokeswoman Ann Grimm said the port was working with the U.S.
Coast Guard and state Department of Ecology on the environmental cleanup. Divers
plugged up fuel leaks on the two sunken vessels Wednesday, she said.
The fire did extensive damage to two pilings and the finger docks where the vessels
were moored, Grimm said, but there was no immediate estimate of repair costs. The
port's insurance is expected to cover much of the damage, and insurance adjusters
were en route to Bellingham, Grimm said.
Reach John Stark at 715-2274 or john.stark@bellinghamherald.com.
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1152AP_Immigration_Sanctuary_Cities.html
Thursday, July 6, 2006 · Last updated 3:32 p.m. PT
House wants to deny sanctuary cities aid
By JENNIFER TALHELM
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON -- Cities and states that aid illegal immigrants without reporting them to
the authorities risk losing millions of dollars in homeland security and other federal
money under two spending bills approved last month by the House.
The bills, which fund the departments of Homeland Security, Commerce, State and
Justice, were amended to refuse federal money to any city or state with policies that
prohibit local government officials from alerting federal authorities about possible
immigration law violators.
House lawmakers say several cities and states allow criminal suspects to escape
deportation because local officials, including police officers, turn a blind eye to the
immigration law passed in 1996.
It is unclear what will happen to the immigration provisions when the spending measures
are considered in the Senate.
But the prospect outraged New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who raised the
issue during a Senate immigration hearing in Philadelphia this week, threatening "one
heck of a battle" if Congress cuts off homeland security and justice dollars.
Bloomberg said New York City protects residents' confidentiality when they report a
crime or seek medical care or education.
The city's policy complies with the 1996 law, he said. But he said some members of
Congress have questioned it and asked for the Justice Department to review all state and
local policies.
"We believe the review will validate our approach," Bloomberg told the Senate
Committee. "But whatever the findings, let me be clear: The way to deal with this issue is
not - not - by reducing the safety and security of our nation."
House supporters of the provisions said cities that prevent police officers from sharing
information about illegal immigrants with the federal government put Americans at risk.
They shared a list of violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants in Houston, New
York and other cities. Several involved gang members.
"No police officer should be barred from contacting federal immigration authorities about
a criminal alien suspect," said Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, who offered the amendment to
the 2007 Homeland Security appropriations bill.
The Congressional Research Service reported earlier this year that the "sanctuary"
policies of several cities are rooted in a 1980s religious movement in which churches
helped thousands of Central American migrants fleeing civil war. The specific policies
vary. Some prevent local governments from using resources to enforce a federal law.
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform
Caucus, said Congress intended the 1996 federal immigration law to counteract the
sanctuary policies.
"Unfortunately, there was a law but there was no penalty," Tancredo said in an interview.
"What this does is add some sort of penalty."
Bloomberg said the penalty would aid terrorists. "New York remains the country's top
terror target, and if Congress passes this amendment, no one will cheer louder than alQaida," he said.
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Salmon_Assistance.html
Friday, July 7, 2006 · Last updated 3:27 a.m. PT
Salmon fishermen may soon get aid
By JEFF BARNARD
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez has agreed to take the
first steps toward declaring an economic disaster for salmon fishermen in Oregon and
California, whose season has been virtually shut down to protect dwindling returns to the
Klamath River.
Gutierrez said Thursday in a conference call with members of Congress and governors
from the two states that he was declaring a fisheries resource disaster, which makes
fishermen and associated businesses eligible for loans, but not grants.
"We will move quickly to implement both a short- and long-term effort to find ways to
help," Gutierrez said in a statement from Washington, D.C.
Until now, efforts to secure $85 million in aid have been stymied by the lack of a
declaration. Gutierrez is sending the head of NOAA Fisheries, William Hogarth, to the
West Coast on Monday to start gathering the information needed to decide whether to
issue a higher-level commercial fisheries disaster declaration. That will make it possible
for Congress to appropriate direct grants and other aid, said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.
"We don't really need loans, we need cash grants and assistance," DeFazio said after the
conference call. "It's a start. We appreciate that."
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is pushing for $45 million in state aid,
called the federal efforts welcome but long overdue. Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski, who
worked with the Legislature to provide a $3.5 million package of state aid, was
disappointed that more federal help wasn't immediately forthcoming, said spokesman
Lonn Hoklin.
"What the Bush administration has promised today is low-interest loans," Hoklin said.
"And loans and debt are not what the fishers need."
Federal fisheries managers last spring drastically curtailed commercial salmon fishing on
700 miles of the California and Oregon coast for this year to protect dwindling returns of
wild chinook salmon to the Klamath River in Northern California.
The restricted seasons have allowed the 3,000 fishermen in California and Oregon to land
about 2 percent to 3 percent of what they would land in a good year, said Glen Spain of
the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations.
Some commercial fishermen from Oregon, supported by property rights advocates, sued
over the curtailment, arguing that hatchery fish ought to be counted along with wild fish
in deciding whether to restrict the commercial ocean harvest.
On Thursday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco agreed with a lower
court that the rules were reasonable in managing a fishery "to maintain its long-term
viability."
State officials to review chinook run
Washington and Oregon officials will meet at 2 p.m. today by telephone to review summer
chinook fisheries in the lower Columbia River.
A new forecast of the run, along with updates on sport and commercial fisheries, will be
available.
Depending on the run update and sport catches, fishing could be closed or extended until the
fall chinook season begins on Aug. 1.
Update edition of guide book offers tipsfor vacationing in northern Puget Sound
Information on parks, points of interest and other vacation help is available in the new edition
of "Afoot and Afloat North Puget Sound,'' new on the market from The Mountaineers Books.
The price is $16.95 for the 300-page softbound book. The Web site is
www.mountaineersbooks.org.
The authors are Marge and Ted Muller of Seattle. They have been writing outdoor guides for
40 years.
The book includes information on the Strait of Juan de Fuca but not the San Juan Islands,
which are covered in a separate book.
Merwin Hatchery to be open July 16to fishing event for disabled children
ARIEL -- Registration is open through Friday for the seventh annual Merwin Special Kids Day
on July 16.
About 200 children with disabilities will fish for trout ranging from 1 to 6 pounds at Merwin
Hatchery east of Woodland during the event.
The hatchery is wheelchair accessible and will have 6,000 trout available.
Approximately 250 volunteers will be available for serve as one-on-one fishing coaches.
Rods, reels, tackle and T-shirts will be provided. A free barbecue lunch will be served along
with other activities.
The event draws youth from Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Emanuel Legacy Hospital,
Shriners Hospital, and Kaiser Kids, but any children with disabilities are invited.
Sponsors include the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, Pacific Power, Vancouver Wildlife
League, Fish First, and local businesses.
To register a child or to volunteer, call 1-800-899-4421.
Oregon toname director
SALEM -- The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet at 1 p.m. today to select a new
director for the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The two finalists are interim director Roy Elicker and Virgil Moore, Idaho Department of Fish
and Wildlife fisheries chief.
Both were interviewed on June 8.
Fire investigators inspect NOAA piers from the water
Jul 06, 2006 - 11:50:06 pm PDT
SEATTLE - Fire investigators headed out on boats Thursday for a waterside view of the
damage from a huge fire that scorched two National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration piers on Lake Union, four of the agency's boats and two buildings.
The Seattle Fire Department is leading the investigation, with assistance from Seattle
police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said Helen
Fitzpatrick, fire department spokeswoman.
The cause of the fire early Wednesday has not yet been determined.
The NOAA piers are expected to be unusable for as long as two years.
Six firefighters were treated for minor injuries and dozens of houseboats were evacuated
as a precaution, but no homes were damaged.
The fire was reported around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, more than two hours after the end of
a Fourth of July fireworks show over the lake, Fitzpatrick said. About 100 NOAA
employees and their families who watched the show from the pier were gone by about 11
p.m. Tuesday, NOAA officials said.
The piers are part of NOAA's 15-acre Pacific Marine Operations Center on the lake.
The fire damaged two 224-foot NOAA ships _ the McArthur, a decommissioned research
vessel, and the Assertive, a former Navy ship that was acquired last year for retrofitting
to conduct oceanographic research _ as well as a navigation operations trailer and a steam
plant that supply ships with power when they're moored at the site, spokesman Brian
Gorman said.
The flames destroyed a small work vessel and an inflatable boat, as well as a pickup
truck, a van and a station wagon.
Capt. Mark Ablondi, commander of the marine operations center, said the pier damage
could force NOAA to find other docks "for the next couple of years."
A service of the Associated Press(AP)