Local Stories

On 07-01-19 Sheriff, Rick Scott promoted Brad Johansson to the position of Undersheriff. Undersheriff Johansson had been serving in the role of Chief Criminal Deputy. He is replacing retired Undersheriff Dave Pimentel. Undersheriff Johansson has moved through the ranks servings as a Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Chief Criminal Deputy. The Undersheriff is second in command to the Sheriff and it is an administrative position that supervises all the administrative functions of the sheriff’s office.

A young softball player was left devastated when her baseball gear was stolen out of her parents vehicle in the Walmart Parking lot recently.  Softball is her passion, and her family had just moved here to the Harbor and could not afford to replace the items.  Several organizations got together and did an amazing thing for this young girl and were able to replace all of the items.  The Aberdeen Police Officers Guild, Hoquiam HS Girls Softball and Lemay's pulled something off that she will never forget. 

More from Aberdeen Police Department Lt. Chastain 

In a morning statement on social media, Hoquiam Police Chief Myers said that he received word from Columbia Wellness who operates the local crisis center and intervention team that states "staffing levels will drop below a safety threshold that will not allow Columbia Wellness to continue to provide crisis services as of December 12th, 2019."

Ten years ago, the Museum of the North Beach rescued a historic 1912 wooden Northern Pacific Caboose. The caboose had been used as a nightly rental in Moclips, and a new owner wanted it removed from their property. Our membership collected funds to have it moved seven blocks to the Washington State Parks day-use park in Moclips, the original site of the Northern Pacific Railway depot. If you go to YouTube and search "Moclips caboose" you'll see a few short videos of the move to State Parks property in 2009 taken by Stephanie Allestad.

 This particular piece of railroad history is very important to Moclips by the Sea Historical Society as it was on the last train to Moclips before the tracks were torn up in the 1980's by the Burlington Northern. We are now preparing to move it again.

Hoquiam Police Chief Myers had some decisions to make recently with the recent retirement of his Deputy Chief. Along with that, it opened up other leadership opportunities within his department and he outlined that in a recent press release.

Memorial Announcement for Lieutenant/Paramedic Philip Oldham

The Ocean Shores Fire Department and the Ocean Shores Police Department would like you and your family to have a fun and safe 4^th of July in Ocean Shores. Below is a list of fireworks rules, laws, safety ideas, and tide tables which you should follow in order to enjoy your holiday.

According to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs executive director Steve Strachan Friday afternoon Montesano Police Chief Brett Vance has been appointed to fill a position of treasure for the statewide organization. More on this from below.

The Gambler 500 which is the world’s largest and competitive trail cleanup competition recently paid a visit to the Capital Forest which borders Thurston and Grays Harbor County through State Route 12 and State Route 8. 

6 tons of garbage was said to have been collected in the Capital Forest.  6 tons of trash, more than 70 tires and several large bodies of wrecked cars, boats and trailers.

Rules are simple at the Gambler events - 

Don’t be a dick.

Camp is rustic, dusty and post-apocalyptic, there will be places to park if you choose to camp elsewhere and just come to hang out with fellow gamblers.  Camp tightly, sorry no savesies, if you want to camp next to friends, travel with your friends.

There is no official route, the goal is to reach Gamblertown using as little pavement as possible “pavement is lava” drive safe as you be sharing and interacting with thousands of other gambler cars.  The best challenge is navigating stock 2WD cars over backroads that trucks and SUVs wouldn’t have a problem with but you’ll find plenty of challenges for built rigs along the way.

For more on their events check out https://gambler500.com

Grays Harbor County Sheriff Rick Scott has been elected vice president of the board of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC). Sheriff Scott was elected to serve as vice president of the 15-member executive board at the organization’s annual conference held last week.

In addition to the proclamation, we presented Deputy Chief Wertanen with a plaque bearing his badge at the top and outlining all the years of service and positions he has held in the department. In accordance with our Mission Statement, it also recognized: “Your dedication, loyalty, and hard work as a peace officer helped to make Hoquiam stronger and safer for all.” We hope Deputy Chief Wertanen will remain a volunteer with the department on our arson investigation team. We wish him the best in his retirement and hope he will now actually have the time to get his boat out and DO SOME FISHING! You have earned it! JEFF MYERS, Chief of Police

The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) would like to remind residents that when used appropriately, portable fire extinguishers can save lives and property and are an important part of a home safety plan. Fires grow and spread rapidly, and the first priority for residents should always be to get out safely during a fire.

On Monday, May 6th Aberdeen Police Chief Steve Shumate announced that he had selected his second in command (deputy chief) Jay Staten to fill the shoes of longtime Deputy Chief Timmons who retired from the department.

Here is what Chief Shumate had to say in his statement. 

Boating season is approaching and both Grays Harbor and Pacific County Sheriffs Departments are offering free boat inspections at your home or location so that you do not have to go to them.

The Coast Guard and Washington State Parks’ Boating Program encourage recreational boaters and paddlers to know the risks of accidental cold-water immersion. While air temperatures may be rising, water temperatures in Washington state waterways remain cold.

FEMA recently finished a study along the Black River, Chehalis River, and Satsop River in the Lower Chehalis Watershed. Grays Harbor County is holding an Open House for residents to see and talk about the flood map from this study.

We here at Grays Harbor Scanner having been monitoring police and fire traffic daily for over 7 years have seen a huge increase in calls for the Elma area especially after the addition of Summit Pacific Hospital and its expansions.  Those that serve and work for the Elma Police Department have done a fantastic job with the increased calls and made such a huge professional change in their organization over the years. 

The Aberdeen Police Departments new K9 team is ready to hit the streets and take a bite out of crime.