County Briefs

County records 2 COVID-19 deaths

Mason County recorded two COVID-19 deaths last week.

According to the Division of Emergency Management the deaths were a man in his 70s and a man in his 80s.

The county recorded 17 cases on April 20 and 21. The seven-day case rate per 100,000 people is 28.9 and the 14-day case rate is 62.5. The county is 58.8% vaccinated and no one is hospitalized with COVID.

Kilmer issues statement on Biden’s Executive Order

U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, attended President Joe Biden’s signing of an executive order at Seward Park in Seattle on April 22.

Biden signed an order designed to aid forests, communities and local economies.

“As someone who grew up on the Olympic Peninsula, I learned first-hand that economic growth and environmental protection must go hand-in-hand,” Kilmer said in a news release. “Today’s executive order by President Biden is a step forward in protecting our most ecologically diverse and environmentally sensitive areas, while also supporting the health of our working forests and growing the jobs that depend on them. This executive order aims to help reduce wildfire risk, combat global deforestation, enhance opportunities for outdoor recreation and grow sustainable jobs in timber communities. As this is implemented, I’ll keep working to ensure we embrace the important role our forests can play in combating the climate crisis – while ensuring that we provide opportunity and predictability for the timber industry and for communities on the peninsula.”

State Patrol adds 44 troopers in its graduating class

Washington State Patrol graduated 44 new troopers as part of the 115th class to complete its training class.

According to a news release, the class is made up of 50% of underrepresented communities. After completing 1,400 hours of training, they were presented with their commission cards by Chief John R. Batiste, who welcomed them and their families to WSP.

“Our agency has received the highest level of accreditation for law enforcement in the world,” Batiste said during the ceremony. “We will count on you to live up to the honor and meet those standards in all that you do and say. But it will always be your honesty, character, courage, compassion and professionalism that makes a difference in the lives of the people we serve.”

Academy Captain Robert W. Sharpe presented awards. The awards included the top academic award to Maxwell A. Puff, top driving award to Jared M. Gearhart, top firearms award to Regan J. Klepac, top physical fitness award to Javier Nunez III, top control tactics award to Juan Martinez Jr., top collision investigation award to Adam J. Harlan, top communications award to Puff and the top overall cadet award to Noah D. Baker.

National Day of Prayer event May 5 at courthouse

The National Day of Prayer will be marked May 5 at noon on the east lawn of the Mason County Courthouse.

Participants are asked to stay on the lawn to not block the courthouse entrance and all are welcome to join. Area churches will gather for prayer at 7 p.m. at Gateway Christian Fellowship in recognition of the day.

Kilmer votes to support state restaurants

Rep. Derek Kilmer voted to support the Relief for Restaurants & Other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act, which would deliver $55 billion to state restaurants and establish a new program to support small businesses affected by the pandemic.

“Local restaurants and small businesses contribute to the vitality of our communities ­— but they’ve been hit hard during this pandemic. That’s why Congress passed the American Rescue Plan and provided critical support to local businesses and restaurants, and the workers they support,” Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, said in a news release. “We know as this pandemic has persisted – they have faced continued challenges. That’s why today I voted to support legislation that will help build on the success of key programs in the American Rescue Plan – including the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. At the end of the day, this is about jobs. This new funding will help more local, independent restaurants access essential relief so they can keep employing people in our region. In addition, this bill will establish a new program to support our hardest-hit small businesses – delivering critical assistance to businesses that have suffered revenue losses of at least 40 percent during the pandemic. I’ll keep working to have the back of our small businesses and local employers.”

According to the news release, The act will provide $42 billion to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which was established through the American Rescue Plan Act. The RRF has distributed $28.6 billion of relief, including $920 million for about 3,250 state businesses.

The act also includes $13 billion to establish the Hard Hit Industries Award Program to assist state businesses with 200 or fewer employees that have experienced 40 percent or more in lost revenue.