PORT ANGELES — The Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Education Foundation held its annual fundraiser, Winterfest, on Nov. 18 at the Vern Burton Community Center, raising more than $70,000.

Approximately 380 people attended. Dinner was prepared by Kokopelli Grill, with appetizers and oysters by Country Aire and Jamestown Seafood and dessert and beverages by Pies, Cakes & More and Fogtown Coffee. BBR provided live music and the silent and live auctions were sponsored by Pacific Office Equipment and Miller Construction.

Jim and Debbie Jones were the guests of honor — Jim Jones for his service as a board member during the days of the Public Development Authority and Debbie Jones for her service on Ski Patrol.

Proceeds from the event support the foundation’s winter sports education programs, scholarships for underprivileged youth in the community who would like to learn how to ski or snowboard, Ski Patrol and instructor training as well as capital improvements to the ski area.

If people would like further information on the scholarship program and the services that are offered by the foundation, they can visit www.hurricaneridge.com or email info@ hurricaneridge.com.

Salmon snagger

OLYMPIA — A Pacific County judge has sentenced a recreational fisherman to 50 days in jail, fined him $1,500 and imposed a five-year fishing license suspension for repeat salmon snagging violations, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today.

WDFW Police investigated the latest snagging case in August. David Gretzner, 66, from Long Beach, was sentenced Nov. 16 by Pacific County District Court Judge Nancy McAllister, after pleading guilty to one count each of unlawful recreational fishing in the first degree and unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree.

Gretzner has been engaged in illegal fishing activity for several years and was well known by WDFW police. He was previously charged with other snagging violations in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

“When he was caught snagging in August 2023, he was awaiting trial for his 2022 charges and was still on probation for previous snagging violations,” said WDFW police sergeant Todd Dielman.

The term “snagging” means an effort to take fish with a hook and line in a manner that the fish does not take the hook or hooks voluntarily in its mouth.