NEWS BRIEFS: Conviction of Jefferson County man upheld in 2014 meth case . . . and other items

TACOMA — The state Court of Appeals in Tacoma has upheld the 2014 methamphetamine conviction of a Jefferson County man who was tried in Clallam County Superior Court.

Bruce Eli Bratton, 65, was found guilty by a Clallam County jury of possession of a controlled substance in October 2014.

Bratton served his sentence in the Clallam County jail, according to Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Michele Devlin.

On May 14, 2014, an attendant at 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn found a suspicious baggie on the floor in front of a slot machine, according to court records.

A review of the casino’s video surveillance showed a man, later identified as Bratton, sit by the machine and reach into his pocket. The baggie then fell out onto the floor, according to the video.

Bratton was later interviewed by law enforcement and admitted possession of the baggie, which contained meth.

Bratton said the drug was for his personal use only, according to court documents.

Firefighter training set

NORTH BEND — An East Jefferson Fire-Rescue recruit is among the 31 people training at the State Patrol Fire Training Academy.

Kate Griffin started the 12-week academy in North Bend with 30 others Jan. 21.

The training meets National Fire Protection Association 1001 and 472 Standards for Firefighter Professional Qualifications at the Firefighter I and II, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations Levels.

The recruits will learn fire service principles through classroom instruction and hands-on, live fire training.

Company officers include Lt. Reece Chambers of East Jefferson Fire-Rescue.

More in News

Phyllis Becker of Port Hadlock, foreground, and Wendy Davis of Port Townsend, volunteers with the Jefferson County Trash Task Force, pick up litter along Discovery Road on Sunday during the first trash pickup of the year. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Litter patrol

Phyllis Becker of Port Hadlock, foreground, and Wendy Davis of Port Townsend,… Continue reading

Jefferson County defers oversight role for homelessness grant

OlyCAP will continue to be lead agency for Commerce funding

Members of Trail Life USA, a boys Christian adventure organization, salute the burning retired flags and holiday wreaths from veterans’ graves. This joint flag retirement and wreath burning ceremony took place Saturday at the Bekkevar farm in Blyn. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
Flags, veterans’ wreaths retired at ceremony

Boys, girls organizations attend event at farm

One person taken to hospital after three-car collision

Two people were injured following a three-car collision on… Continue reading

Jefferson Conservation District seeking board candidates

The Jefferson County Conservation District is accepting applications for… Continue reading

Closing reception set for ‘Strong People’ exhibit

The Field Hall Gallery will host a closing reception… Continue reading

Kathy Downer takes the oath office for Sequim City Council seat No. 1 on Jan. 8, 2024, in the council chambers. She plans to resign from council this month after three-plus years to spend time with family. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group file)
Sequim council member to resign

Downer unseated former mayor in 2023 election

If a construction bond is approved, Sequim High School’s open campus could be enclosed to increase safety and update the older facility, Sequim School District staff said. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Ballots for Sequim schools’ bond, levy measures to be mailed Jan. 22

Helen Haller Elementary would be replaced, if successful

Stakeholders and community leaders stand together for the ceremonial groundbreaking of Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County's Lyon's Landing property in Carlsborg on Dec. 23. (Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County)
Habitat breaks ground at Carlsborg development

Lyon’s Landing planning to host 45 homes

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

Students from Mutsu City, Japan, and Port Angeles sit in a Stevens Middle School classroom eating lunch before the culture fair on Tuesday. To pass the time, they decided to have a drawing contest between themselves. (Rob Edwards)
Japanese students visit Port Angeles as part of sister city program

Mutsu students tour area’s landmarks, stay with host families