Mount Rainier National Park implements parkwide fire ban
Nisqually Valley News staff
Mount Rainier National Park implemented a parkwide fire ban for all campfires and the ignition of wood, briquettes or any fuel in fire pits, fire pans and barbecue grills.
The ban went into effect Friday, Aug. 18, and will be effective until rescinded. The ban is in place to help reduce the risk of human-caused wildland fires during the hot and dry conditions.
Use of portable, petroleum-filled cooking stoves, heating devices and/or lanterns using liquefied or bottled fuel are permissible provided such devices can be turned off. Discharging, or use of any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition or other incendiary devices in any location on federal lands is prohibited.
The fire ban supports national incident management efforts by reducing the risk of wildland fire on park lands and the subsequent need to draw from limited firefighting resources. Thurston County’s ban on recreational fires is still in effect.
For more information about visiting Mount Rainier National Park and park alerts, visit https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm.
Student honors: Scholars named to UMGC Dean’s List
Nisqually Valley News staff
Ten University of Maryland Global Campus students from the Nisqually Valley were named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester.
• Mason Armbruster, Tenino
• Jose Floresrivera, Yelm
• Larissa Lucena, Yelm
• Michael McHenry, Yelm
• David Riggins, Yelm
• Kyle Rocke, Yelm
• Tyler Slone, Yelm
• Jason Verette, Yelm
• Brandon Waggoner, Yelm
• Camila Quinones, Yelm
To be eligible for the honor, students must complete at least six credits during the term, earn a grade point average of at least 3.5 for the term, and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 for UMGC.
University of Maryland Global Campus was founded more than 75 years ago specifically to serve the higher education needs of working adults and military service members.
Writers conference to offer workshops by published authors
The Southwest Washington Writers Conference will take place Sept. 9 at Centralia College, offering two dozen writing workshops.
USA Today best-selling romantic suspense writer Elizabeth Goddard, who has sold 1.5 million books, will be the keynote speaker. Workshop topics include how-to sessions on fiction and nonfiction, audiobooks, memoirs, marketing and flash fiction, among others. A literary agent will speak, and workshop presenters include historical fiction author Melanie Dobson, inspirational writer and speaker Christina Suzann Nelson and many other published authors.
Participants can choose a Friday how-to session, Saturday’s workshops or both. Lunch is included both days, and early registration is recommended.
The personalized venue of the conference offers experienced writers and beginners the opportunity to network and improve their craft. The nonprofit conference is put on by volunteers with all proceeds benefiting college scholarships.
For information and registration for the Southwest Washington Writers Conference, see https//southwestwashingtonwriters.com.
Thurston County Commissioners holding ribbon-cutting for new Rochester roundabout
For the Nisqually Valley News
On Friday, Aug. 25, the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the county’s new roundabout project at the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and Sargent Road Southwest, according to a news release.
The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. on the northwest corner of the intersection with parking available adjacent to VJ’s Builder Barn, located at 6525 196th Ave. SW in Rochester. Aside from the BOCC, the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, the Thurston County Public Works Department and other partners were involved in this project.
Representatives from involved agencies will be present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“The newly constructed roundabout at U.S. Highway 12 and Sargent Road SW in Rochester will provide safe and efficient access to homes and businesses, optimize traffic flow for cars and large trucks, improve emergency response, and is designed to accommodate increased traffic from anticipated future development in southwest Thurston County,” the release stated.
Aside from the anticipated traffic flow and safety improvements, the project included upgrading stormwater drains, sidewalks, street lighting and other urban features, according to the Thurston County Public Works website.
Additionally, the website stated research has shown roundabouts lead to a 37% decrease in traffic collisions, a 75% decrease in collision-related injuries, a 40% decrease in pedestrians being hit and a 90% decrease in fatal collisions.
The project’s total cost was $6 million, with $2 million coming from Thurston County, $2.1 million from the Chehalis Tribe and developers, and $1.9 million from developer fees.
For more information, contact the Thurston County Public Works Department at 360-867-2300 or visit https://tinyurl.com/muvwvc8h.
