The North Beach News

Back in 2018-19, the Ocean Shores Fire Department union complained to then-Mayor Crystal Dingler about former Fire Chief David Bathke, leading Dingler to fire him (he later was awarded $750,000 after he sued the city). There’s a new chief and, after Dingler’s death in November, a new mayor. But the firehouse mutineers are stirring again–thisContinue reading “Mutiny at the Firehouse, Continued: New chief, more complaints”

Mayor Jon Martin replied to a North Beach News email, asking if he had heard back regarding a query (see below) about any potential conflict of interest in appointing Thorn Ward to the Planning Commission. According to Martin, “I did reach out to our City Attorney and MRCS about the conflict and both feel thereContinue reading “Mayor Martin: No Thorn Ward conflict”

The North Beach School District asked property owners/voters in Ocean Shores and the North Beach to approve two special election ballot measures, a moderate levy and a far-more-expensive construction bond. About 3,500 voted: 3,508 for the levy, which is narrowly passing; 3,489 for the bond, which is being rejected by a wide margin. A fewContinue reading “NB School District voter turnout: about half”

In December, Thorn Ward sent an application to the Planning Commission to Rich Hartman, a PC board member who was recently elected but not yet a member of OS City Council. Hartman forwarded it to Mayor Jon Martin, who in turn emailed City Clerk Sara Logan, asking is there was any potential conflict of interest.Continue reading “Veteran real estate man Thorn Ward to PC”

The North Beach School District got a split decision on its two voter asks last week. Voters gave the OK to a modest levy ask for operations–but pasted a loud NO on a $110 million bond request, pitched as tsunami protection with the construction of higher elevations for students, staff and the surrounding community. TheContinue reading “NB voters: Yes on levy; a hard NO on construction bond”

Bad news, Ocean Pours fans: Last week, a letter to Mayor Jon Martin stated the Planning Commission recommends tents NOT be allowed permanently in business districts; in the same letter, PC Chair Dan Bricker noted the commission is happy Martin is in no hurry to remove the “temporary” tents. On the Feb. 14 OS CityContinue reading “PC to Mayor: No hurry to remove tents–but don’t make them permanent”

A New York Times article (picked up by the Seattle Times) with an Ocean Shores dateline discusses proposed “vertical evacuation” buildings, at coastal schools and elsewhere. But, according to the report: “Perhaps nowhere is more vulnerable than Ocean Shores, a community of 6,700 residents, with thousands more who visit in the summer to enjoy theContinue reading ““Perhaps nowhere is more vulnerable than Ocean Shores””

Surely, Jon Martin would have been forgiven if he took a “dip my toe in it” approach to his new job. After all, OS City Council appointed him mayor just weeks after the unexpected passing of Crystal Dingler, who ran the city for nearly a decade. On top of that, Martin took over Thanksgiving week,Continue reading “Mayor Martin hit the sand running”

Grays Harbor County rates extremely high…but slightly lower than the state average as the Omicron variant continues to run rampant: visit site for more info: https://www.healthygh.org/directory/covid19/casecount

Link to county website, updated every other Friday (most recently Jan. 21), shows about 1,000 cases on the beach, with 608 in Ocean Shores alone. https://www.healthygh.org/directory/covid19/casecount