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The Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader

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The Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader

Serving Port Townsend and Jefferson County since 1889

01/15/2026

Brinnon School earns top honor, secures $5.6 million grant

By Alex Frick

The Brinnon School District has been named a 2025 State Distinguished School by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Brinnon is one of four schools in the state to receive the recognition. It comes as the district also landed a $5.655 million Small Rural Schools Modernization Grant for major campus upgrades scheduled to begin this summer.

According to Brinnon School District Superintendent Patricia Beathard, while the announcements came at the same time, the recognition and the grant are separate.

OSPI’s Distinguished School designation is based on student performance and growth on tests, and schools must meet a strict participation rate even to be considered.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

01/14/2026

Facebook post triggers ethics complaint against councilmember

By Mallory Kruml

An ethics complaint filed against Port Townsend Councilmember Neil Nelson takes aim at a Facebook post he made on Dec. 10. In the post, Nelson invited members of the public to meet with him at Evergreen Fitness, which he owns.

“As a councilmember I envite anyone to come meet with me any Saturday from 8 to 3 at Evergreen Fitness,” Nelson wrote. “Find the real answers about anything you want to know about the city.”

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

01/13/2026

Health officials urge vaccines this flu season as cases rise locally, nationally

By Mallory Kruml

Flu season is here, and experts say most states are experiencing high or very high flu activity, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that at least 7.5 million cases have occurred so far.

Washington ranked moderate in the CDC’s most recent weekly flu report, with local officials confirming a recent uptick in cases in Jefferson County.

“I’d say it is consistent with what we see this time of year,” said Jefferson County Public Health Officer Allison Berry. “So, higher than what we see the rest of the year, but similar to what we’ve seen in other winters.”

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

01/12/2026

County raises solid waste fees, rolls out new live traffic camera

By Alex Frick

Jefferson County residents who haul their own trash will pay more at the scales this year, as the county has increased solid waste fees at transfer stations. The county is also introducing a new tool for transfer station users to check traffic conditions.

The changes, taking effect on Jan. 1, were adopted through the county’s most recent solid waste fee schedule and apply to the Port Townsend Transfer Station at 325 County Landfill Road, as well as other rural drop sites. Disposal rates are adjusted on a regular basis to help cover operational expenses, including labor, fuel and transportation to landfill sites, as well as ongoing facility and equipment costs.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

01/11/2026

Demo day: Sanderling Building leveled for new hotel

By Mallory Kruml

Crews with The BJC Group began demolition of the Sanderling Building along Port Townsend’s Water Street on Jan. 5.

The city notified residents of the work on Jan. 2, writing that the sidewalk will be closed during the demolition phase, with signage and barriers in place to ensure pedestrian safety. Prior to the start of construction — expected to be complete by early 2027 — an alternative pedestrian route will be constructed to redirect foot traffic.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

01/10/2026

Power shift at City Hall: council selects mayor, deputy mayor

By Mallory Kruml

Port Townsend’s city council marked the first meeting of the year with the swearing in of new and returning council members and the passing of the mayor’s gavel.

At the nomination of David Faber — the now former mayor — and a unanimous vote by her fellow council members, Amy Howard was chosen as the next mayor of Port Townsend.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

01/09/2026

4-H coordinator throws hat in ring for county commissioner

By Alex Frick

Anji Scalf, the 4-H coordinator for the local Washington State University Extension, has announced her bid for the post of Jefferson County Commissioner, District 3.

The seat represents Discovery Bay, Port Ludlow, Quilcene, Brinnon and the West End, and is being left open by Commissioner Greg Brotherton, who will step down at the end of the year.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

01/08/2026

Encampment dispersal complicates homeless count

By Alex Frick

Jefferson County providers are gearing up for the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) count, which tracks changes in homelessness and helps determine how funding and services are allocated.

This year’s count will take place on Jan. 29, with a growing focus on older adults, a demographic that appears more prominently this year and is reported to be increasingly challenging to reach.

Viola Ware, director of Housing and Community Development for Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP), said the county’s By-Name List — which tracks residents who are engaged through outreach and coordinated-entry services — currently includes 272 people who are experiencing homelessness or are marginally housed, and that nearly half are seniors.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

01/07/2026

Giving drive smashes record

By Mallory Kruml

United Good Neighbors (UGN) just wrapped up its most successful fundraising effort to date, with over $500,000 raised during its annual Give Jefferson campaign.

For decades, the campaign has served as a united charitable effort focused on supporting organizations that address fundamental needs in Jefferson County. This year, 28 organizations, all having been impacted by recent state and federal funding cuts, were selected as fund recipients.

01/06/2026

Ferguson backs income tax on Washington residents earning over $1M

By Jake Goldstein-Street
Washington State Standard

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Dec. 23 threw his support behind a proposed income tax on residents earning more than $1 million annually, and said he’s prepared to sign the policy into law next year.

Some legislative Democrats are eyeing a 9.9% “millionaires tax” on adjusted annual gross income over $1 million. Ferguson endorsed this version of the proposal. Less than 0.5% of Washingtonians would be subject to the tax, and it’s expected to raise $3 billion per year.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

01/05/2026

Port Townsend rings in New Year with ‘Extraterrestrial Extravaganza’

By Mallory Kruml

Port Townsend is gearing up to bid farewell to 2025 in style.

With events for traditionalists and thrill-seekers, there’s little need to travel far to ring in the new year.

New Year’s Eve falls on a Wednesday this time around, so some may want to call it an early night with The Production Alliance’s First Night — an hours-long, all-ages celebration in downtown Port Townsend offering live music, interactive art, stargazing, art exhibits, fireworks and more all before 8 p.m.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

01/04/2026

2025 in review: a turbulent year of pressure, protests

By James Robinson

Each year, The Leader looks back over the previous 12 months to capture the paper’s most compelling stories. These stories make up our annual “Year in Review” edition. And what a year it was.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

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