Salem-News.com Washington articles

Harsh Weather Expected in NW Mountains

Since 1990, King County has experienced 11 federally declared flood disasters—an average of one every two years.

(OLYMPIA, Wash.) - The Olympics, North Cascades and Oregon coast are being slammed this week by a classic example of a “pineapple express” storm– a narrow plume of warm, wet air drawn northward from the tropics. Rainfall in the Olympics, Willapa Hills, and North Cascades is expected to reach 5-10 inches.

“Olympic rivers will flood and there is a strong possibility of flood downstream of the N. Cascades (e.g., Nooksack).”

Current High Surf and Wind Warnings for Oregon

High surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing rip currents and localized beach erosion.

(SALEM, Ore.) - A High Surf Advisory and High Wind Warnings are now in effect, and will remain so until 10:00 a.m. Tuesday for the entire Oregon coastline and the Coast Range.

During the storm, seas will climb to 23-27 feet, with periods around 11 seconds. Seas have already reached 23 feet off the mouth of the Columbia River, and will peak closer to the value of 27 feet tonight, during the strongest winds.

BBB Says World Link Failed its Students

BBB Alarms Consumers of Serious Complaints Against a Local Language School.

(LAKE OSWEGO, Ore.) - Students paying thousands of dollars for foreign language study courses and study abroad programs say that World Link Education, Inc., or WLE, cashed tuition checks, but discontinued classes without notice.

The Seattle-based language school raised concerns with Better Business Bureau due to reports that it recently ceased operations and failed to provide explanations to its actively enrolled students.

The Meeting of the Dogs

A veterans advocate from Washington meets our Dr. Phil Leveque to talk about PTSD.

(CURLEW, Wash. ) - Blackdog foundation is an outreach service to veterans and others in the community that are incapable of calmly dealing with the bureaucratic expectations of those in place to provide them help.

Our services are domestic/community violence intervention, PTSD reduction, anger management, peer accountability. We do MMJ conflict resolution and mediation for patients, providers, clinics, and families.

UPDATE: Police Seek Locate Missing Woman & Her 6 Kids

UPDATE: Missing woman and 6 children found safe.

(VANCOUVER, Wash.) - UPDATE: CANCEL ATTEMPT TO LOCATE ON WOMAN AND CHILDREN
Posted: November 7th, 2009 6:37 PM

Vancouver Police are canceling the attempt to locate for Nelya F. Nikolaychuk and her six children after they were located safe with relatives in Minnesota.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:
Vancouver Police are attempting to locate a 44-year old woman and her sic children, who have been missing since 2:00 p.m. on November 5th, 2009.

Restless Spirits of Fairhaven: Don`t Disturb the Murdered Dead

Beware when you climb beneath the streets of haunted cities, like Seattle, San Francisco, New York. And Fairhaven.

(FAIRHAVEN, Wash.) - As many areas of the USA which once were havens for the "Pioneer" culture, now commonly "Chinatown" or "Old Town" areas, Fairhaven, Washington has many restless ghosts, buried secrets and lost treasures.

This is a quick story of how my gallery was shut down by restless spirits.

California Seabird Specialists Respond to Fatal Foaming

Oil Spill Experts from California Answer Call of Oregon Wildlife Groups Fighting to Save Hundreds of Seabirds from Deadly Ocean Foam.

(SAN FRANCISCO) - California-based seabird specialists International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) are rushing to the aid of seabirds threatened by an unusual algal bloom off the Oregon Coast.

The world-renown team from International Bird Rescue, who have saved thousands of seabirds from oil spills around the world, are in a race against time to transport red-throated loons, and other highly sensitive migratory birds, to a state-of-the-art rescue facility in San Francisco Bay.

The Funniest Wedding Vow Ever Recorded (VIDEO)

They say a healthy sense of humor is very important in a relationship, and it looks like this couple will do just fine.

(SALEM, Ore.) - A couple's hilarious wedding video is making big strides on YouTube and in national media. The clip which is titled "waffle wedded wife" begins with a beautiful wedding scene, just before the couple-to-be offers their vows. The title of the clip gives you a clue, but you won't believe what happens.

The proud dad and father-in-law Tim Engstrom, who by the way is officiating the vows for the couple, explained that the wedding began with an organ player who didn't know when to stop playing.

National Average Ticks Up while West Coast Prices Ease

But Oregon's Average is Still Fifth Most Expensive in the Country for Fifth Consecutive Week

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The national average for regular unleaded is creeping up, while pump prices on the West Coast continue to slip. The national average gains two cents this week to $2.48, while Oregon's average drops a nickel to $2.73.

AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds says it's the first time since early August we've seen the national average go up.

Falling Pump Prices on West Coast Mean Little for Oregonians

Gas prices are finally easing on the west coast, but California, Washington and Oregon all rank in the top five most expensive states for gas for the second week in a row.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Gas prices on the West Coast are finally easing a bit, Oregon AAA says. The state's average for regular unleaded falls a penny this week to $2.88 while the national average loses two cents to $2.54.

One factor impacting gas prices in the west and elsewhere is the annual conversion from summer blended fuels to winter blends, which can slow refinery production and cause some regional price spikes.