Witnesses sought in State Patrol trooper’s crash . . . and other news briefs

Witnesses sought in trooper’s crash on 101

PORT ANGELES — The State Patrol’s Major Accident Investigation Team put out the call Wednesday for witnesses to last Friday’s crash that involved a trooper’s car and two others on U.S. Highway 101 east of Port

Angeles.

Detective Sgt. Jerry Cooper said investigators are seeking witnesses who saw events leading to the crash.

Trooper Travis Beebe lost control of his patrol car on the Morse Creek “S” curve Friday afternoon while trying to overtake a speeder, the State Patrol has said.

The cruiser struck two vehicles after making a U-turn.

One driver was treated at the scene by medics, and Beebe was treat at a hospital for back and neck pain.

The patrol car was destroyed.

Witnesses are asked to phone Cooper at 360-805-1192.

Memorial set

PORT ANGELES — Serenity House employee Harlan D. Nez will be remembered at a memorial gathering in the Tempest Ballroom, corner of East First and Albert streets, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.

Nez, 54, was found dead on the sidewalk on the 500 block of East First Street last Wednesday. There was no foul play, police said.

He had been employed by Serenity House as night manager of the Street Outreach Shelter since March 2011 and volunteered at the Serenity House Thrift Store for several years.

Attendees should enter through the Housing Resource Center, 535 E. First St., or through the alley off Albert Street between First and Front streets.

Deadline to enroll

OLYMPIA — Open enrollment in Medicare’s prescription drug program (Part D) and Medicare Advantage plans ends Saturday.

Help sorting through plans is available through the state Insurance Commissioner’s SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors)

program.

“We have volunteers statewide ready to answer questions, search for plans online and provide information about prescription drug and Medicare Advantage plans,” said Todd Dixon, SHIBA manager.

To contact a SHIBA volunteer, phone 800-562-6900 or 800-633-4227.

Photograph ‘king tides’

OLYMPIA — Washington’s higher-than-usual winter tides are coming up, and the state Department of Ecology is inviting the public to share their photos of this naturally occurring event.

These higher-than-usual tides are sometimes called “king tides” and occur when the sun’s and moon’s gravitational pulls reinforce one another.

King tides offer a glimpse of how rising sea levels from global climate change could affect the state’s coastal areas, organizers said.

In the coastal regions, king tide dates vary slightly depending on location:

■ In the Strait of Juan de Fuca, they will occur Dec. 30-31, Jan. 1-2 and Jan. 30-31.

■ Along Washington’s outer coast, king tides will occur today and Dec. 30-31, Jan. 1-2, Jan. 5-8 and Jan. 29-30.

■ Puget Sound dates are this Friday through next Tuesday, plus Dec. 30-31 and Jan. 4-8.

Pictures should be taken where the high water levels can be gauged against familiar landmarks such as seawalls, jetties, bridge supports or buildings.

Note the date, time and location of the photo, then upload the images on the Washington King Tide Photo Initiative Flickr Group at www.flickr.com/groups/1611274@N22.

Holiday collection

PORT ANGELES — Roosevelt Elementary students, staff and families will be soliciting donations Monday through Friday, Dec. 13, for their annual holiday drive at Roosevelt Elementary, 106 Monroe Road, during school hours.

They are collecting “nonperishable food items, books, clothing, toiletries and money to purchase turkeys,” organizer and teacher Kelly Sanders said.

“The donated items will be distributed among Roosevelt families in need before winter break, and leftover items will be donated to the Port Angeles Food Bank, Independent Bible Church Clothes Closet and our Six Books for Summer Program.”

For more information, phone Sanders at 360-452-8973 or contact Tina Smith-O’Hart at 360-565-3703 or tsmithohara@portangelesschools.org.

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