kalama
Longview man struck by train near Kalama
A 28-year-old Longview man remains hospitalized after a train struck him near Kalama as he was walking on New Year’s Day.
The Daily News reported that Eric Garoutte was in critical condition Tuesday at a hospital in Vancouver.
BNSF Railway spokesman Gus Melonas said Garoutte was walking northbound on the main line track around noon. The crew on the approaching train hit the emergency brake but was unable to stop before hitting Garoutte from behind.
Kalama Police Chief Randy Gibson said he sustained severe neck injuries.
port angeles
Clamming set for part of Olympic National Park
A section of Olympic National Park will open for clamming for the first time in five years.
The Kitsap Sun reported that Kalaloch Beach will host 10 razor clamming dates over four months this year, starting Sunday and Monday.
The beach was closed in 2011 due to low clam abundance. It opened for three days in 2012 but has been closed since.
seattle
Analysis: Puget Sound aquatic habitat healthy
Data suggest aquatic habitat in the Puget Sound remains healthy despite other measures of the sound’s health deteriorating.
The Seattle Times reported that a new analysis found that beds of eelgrass have changed very little in the past four decades, a good sign, as shrinking eelgrass beds has been linked to declines in salmon, herring and other marine creatures.
Over the past 40 years, eelgrass abundance has declined sharply in some parts of Puget Sound, while increasing in others.
Study co-author Phil Levin, of the University of Washington and The Nature Conservancy, said the stable eelgrass beds suggest that though things aren’t getting worse in the sound, they could be better.
seattle
Man fined $9,500 for pointing laser at ferry
A Whidbey Island man must pay a $9,500 civil penalty for shining a high-powered blue laser at a Washington state ferry in 2015.
U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday that one of its hearing officers assessed the penalty against Mark Raden of Freeland last week.
The Coast Guard in April said it had fined Raden $100,000 for the laser strike. Spokeswoman Ali Flockerzi told the Kitsap Sun that fine was for a series of offenses but the hearing officer chose to pursue one — interfering with the safe operation of a vessel.
Raden was riding a state ferry between Mukilteo and Clinton when he pointed the laser at another ferry, hitting the vessel’s master and chief mate in the eyes.
The Coast Guard said Raden also pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment in Island County Superior Court. He was ordered to serve 15 days in jail and pay about $3,740 in restitution to the master and chief mate.
lynnwood
Two kids safe after falling through thin ice
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said two children are safe after falling through thin ice on Lake Serene in Lynnwood.
Spokeswoman Shari Ireton said the report came in just before 4 p.m. Wednesday, and rescuers with Snohomish Fire District 1 managed to reach the children.
No further details were immediately available.
