Emerald People’s Utility District Employee, Kyle Roadman, Receives Utility Award (Medford Mail Tribune, OR)

(EUGENE, OR) -- Medford native Kyle Roadman has received the highest award granted by the American Public Power Association at its national conference in Orlando, Florida.

Roadman is power resources manager for  in Eugene. He was one of the architects of Emerald PUD’s first strategic plan in 2015. He also led the development of Emerald PUD’s GREEN Grant program, where local organizations receive a clean energy grant of $40,000 to help offset their electricity costs.

Roadman joined Emerald PUD in 2010 as an analyst to help the utility enter into a new power sales agreement with Bonneville Power Administration. Roadman joined Emerald PUD in 2010 as an analyst to help the utility enter into a new power sales agreement with Bonneville Power Administration.

U-S Congress: Minor Energy Bills Hit House Floor (Politico)

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- Lawmakers today vote on 10 minor energy bills in the House with most having to do with extending the deadlines for hydroelectric power projects. A couple of exceptions: H.R. 338, which aims to have DOE prioritize training for modern energy and manufacturing jobs; H.R. 1109, which would amend the Federal Power Act to set $10 million as the minimum threshold for mergers and acquisitions subject to FERC jurisdiction and H.R. 627, which aims to spread information about federal programs available to help schools fund energy efficiency efforts.

Congress: Pacific Northwest Representatives Concerned about President’s Proposal to Divest Bonneville Power Administration’s Assets – Point to BPA’s Strengths in the Region (Public Power Council, Portland, OR)

(WASHINGTON, DC)– Pacific Northwest Members of Congress today (June 5) voiced their opposition to a proposal in the President’s budget to sell off the Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) assets.

In their letter to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, fifteen Members of Congress express their concern over the proposal to privatize BPA and highlight BPA’s unique role in providing affordable, clean energy to the Pacific Northwest communities.

Members signing the letter include:

• Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
• Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
• Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
• Peter DeFazio (D-OR)
• Suzan DelBene (D-WA)
• Denny Heck (D-WA)
• Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)
• Derek Kilmer (D-WA)
• Rick Larsen (D-WA)
• Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
• Dan Newhouse (R-WA)
• Dave Reichert (R-WA)
• Kurt Schrader (D-OR)
• Adam Smith (D-WA)
• Greg Walden (R-OR)

Here's the letter:

Dear Secretary Perry and Director Mulvaney:

We write to you to express our concern with a provision in the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Budget Request that proposes to sell off transmission assets for federal Power Marketing Agencies, including for the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). We believe divesting BPA’s transmission assets will harm individuals and businesses, divert capital needed for further infrastructure investment in the Northwest, and undermine regional utility coordination. For these reasons, we are united in opposing implementation of these elements of the FY18 Budget.

BPA has a fundamental role in our region that dates back decades.  Established by Congress in 1937 as a nonprofit federal power marketing administration, BPA was tasked with helping to manage and sell power generated by the newly constructed Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River.  Eighty years later, BPA has helped to develop and administer the complex electrical system that powers the Northwest, now providing affordable and reliable power to over 12 million people and the businesses that help the region thrive.

Importantly, BPA is self-funding, and is of no cost to the taxpayer.  The entire BPA transmission system—both the capital investment and operation and maintenance—is fully paid by the users of the system.  In fact, it has benefitted U.S. taxpayers by providing more than $32.5 billion in payments to the U.S Treasury.  Divesting these assets to the highest bidder could transfer the benefit and equity of these investments from the Northwest consumers, who have financed the system, to distant investors.  Furthermore, this proposal will lead to a certain rate increase for consumers, imposing increased costs on families and economic development, potentially jeopardizing the ability of the BPA to repay the costs of the Federal Columbia River Power System.

We are also concerned that the divestiture would put rural communities in the Pacific Northwest at increased risk.  Currently, BPA coordinates in transmission and power marketing functions to maximize efficiency.  Severing that relationship will undermine this goal.  Moreover, privatization could lead to the division of the regional grid, with high-value assets sold off for a premium and lines that serve rural areas and grid reliability abandoned.  Private companies are unlikely to give these communities the proper maintenance and attention they need to maintain complex transmission assets.

Contrary to the FY18 Budget’s rationale, BPA owns 75% of the transmission in the Pacific Northwest.  All Northwest utilities and the customers they serve depend on BPA’s grid to access affordable and reliable power.  Selling off BPA’s transmission assets is bad public policy that undermines the President’s economic objectives and betrays a lack of understanding of the Northwest. 

We oppose this proposal, and instead urge you to work with us to support the continued health of BPA, which has been central to the economic vitality of the Northwest.

2017 Forest Festival - STIHL® Timbersports® Western Professional Qualifier Logging Show

2017 Forest Festival Car Show-Off

Shelton Car Show-Off

June 4

Category	Winner
Best Hot Rod	Auston Heilman – Shelton
Best Rat Rod	Jim Buck – Shelton
Best Custom Car	Judy & Don Fowler – Aberdeen
Best Custom Truck	Terry Barton – Port Angeles
Best Stock Car	Keith Lutz – Olympia
Best Stock Truck	Mike Shatick – Olympia
Best 20’s or earlier	Ed Lind - Aberdeen
Best 30’s	Rick Johnson – Yelm
Best 40’s	Steve Paulsrude – Olympia
Best 50’s	Andy Moore – Lacey
Best 60’s	Brettaney Boyson – Shelton
Best 70’s	Bill & Kathy Englund - Olympia
Best Post 70’s	Bob Overby – Shelton
Best Detailed Engine	Doctor – Lacey
Best Chrome	Doctor – Lacey
Best Interior	Bill Moore – Tacoma
Best Paint	Judy & Don Fowler – Aberdeen
Best Display	William Ells – Shelton
Best Wagon	Rich Wyatt – Squim
Best Convertible	Rick Johnson – Yelm
Best Pontiac	Ralph Slaughand – Aberdeen
Best Muscle Car	Jerry Zimmerman – Elma
Best Fore (Pre 1981)	Bruce Cowan – Union
Best Ford (1981 and newer)	Tony Perry Sr. – Bremerton
Best General Motors (Pre 1981)	Ed Lind – Aberdeen
Best General Motors ( 1981 and newer)	Beau Ward – Shelton
Best Chrysler, Plymouth or Dodge	Blaine Maples – Shelton
Best Orphan	Karl Hillquist – Shelton
Best European	Bill & Robin Hall – Shelton
Best Import	Franklin Rivera – Shelton
Best Unfinished	Beau Ward – Shelton
Best Classic Motorcycle	Donnie Humbertson – Kingston
Best Radical Motorcycle	Donnie Humbertson – Kingston
Forest Festival Court Choice	Larry Reece – Sequim
NJROTC Cadet Choice	Charles Lamb – Keizer,OR

2017 Goldsborough Creek Run - Mason County Forest Festival

June 3, 2017

(SHELTON, WA)  -- It was a great day for the Goldsborough Creek Run:

There were 147 participants.

Here are the race results:

7 Mile, Male
Male overall is Will Johnson from Shelton time of 39:17.82
1st place division winners for males are:
9-14. Aiden Dodge
15-19. Drake Adams
20-29. Bruce Briner
30-39. Marciano Ceballos
40-49. Cory Woodard
50-59.Allen Walker
60-69. Roy Osterhaus

7 Mile, Female
Female overall winner is Erika Hettick from Gig Harbor with a time of 54:00.27
1st place division winners for females are:
15-19. Anika Parker
20-29. Jessica Smith
30-39. Monica Schmidt
40-49. Katie Shrum
50-59. Ann Cross
60-69. Denise Gaither

2 Mile, Male
Male overall winner is Ethan Bursch from Shelton time of 10:51.99
1st place in divisions for males are:
6-9. Cohen Holzgrove
10-14.Xavier Muhonen
15-19. John Gerchak
20-29. Dylan Heiser
30-39. LaGrou Huber
40-49. Barney Stewart
60-69. Chris VonNewdegg
70-79. Doug Woolen

2 Mile, Female
Female overall winners is Alauna Carstens of Shelton with a time of 11:45.63
1st place in divisions are:
6-9. Alexa Davidson
10-14. Eve Hunter
20-29. Kylie Schniter
30-39. Kristen Tarwell
40-49. Angela Burris
50-59. Susan Daniel
60-69. Linda Shrum
70-79. Nita McCallum

There were no new records set today.

Awards - 2017 Mason County Forest Festival Paul Bunyan Grand Parade

Float – Grand Sweepstakes Award (1st)
Lakefair, Olympia
Float – Grand Marshal’s Award (2nd)
Hoquiam Logger’s Playday
Float – President’s Award (3rd)
Sequim Irrigation Festival
Float – Governor’s Award (4th)
Rhododendron Festival
Float – Mayor’s Award (5th)
Fathoms of Fun
Motorized - Automotive
	1	Mason County Historical Society
	2	Yesteryear Car Club
Marching Band – High School
	1	North Mason High School
	2	Shelton High School
Marching Band – Middle School
	1	Hawkins Middle School
	2	Olympic Middle School
Marching Band – Elementary School
	1	North Mason – 4th and 5th
Equestrian - Mounted
	1	Equestrienne of Mason County
	2	Grays Harbor Rodeo
Dance/Drill
	1	North Queens Drill Team
	2	Highlander Drill Team
Commercial
	1	Beco’s
	2	Mason PUD 3
Spirit Award
	Mason County Sheriff
Creativity Award
	Lakefair, Olympia
Novelty Award
	Exceptional Foresters
Community Service
	Hood Canal Communications