Ellensburg Community Morning Show, Thursday, July 2nd

 Starting this week, the speed cameras in those zones come with a 125-dollar fine. Until now, first-time offenders got a warning, and the state handed out more than 85,000 of them since last spring. A second ticket runs 248 dollars.

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NEWS

The Ellensburg School Board is set to give Superintendent Troy Tornow a raise and a longer contract. The new deal runs through June 2029 and bumps his salary by 6,500 dollars, to 216,500. Tornow started as interim superintendent in the summer of 2023 and took the job permanently in 2024 after a national search. Before Ellensburg, he worked as a teacher, coach, principal and assistant superintendent in the Selah district.

If you want to hear from the people asking for your vote this August, mark your calendar. The Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters are hosting two candidate forums. The first is Tuesday, July 14th at the Roslyn Masonic Hall, and the second is Friday, July 17th at the Hal Holmes Community Center in Ellensburg. Both nights start with a meet-and-greet at 5, and the forum at 6. The forums cover races with three or more candidates on the August 4th primary ballot, including Congress, the state House, county prosecutor and four seats on the state Supreme Court.

One more thing to know if you drive through highway work zones. Starting this week, the speed cameras in those zones come with a 125-dollar fine. Until now, first-time offenders got a warning, and the state handed out more than 85,000 of them since last spring. A second ticket runs 248 dollars. The cameras only switch on when workers are present, and they photograph the plate, not your face. And with the new state budget year starting Wednesday, gas and diesel taxes each tick up about a penny a gallon.

A couple of things to do today. The Roslyn Public Library hosts its summer reading program, "Unearth a Story," at 11 in the morning. And Toastmasters International meets at 5:30 that evening at the Hal Holmes Community Center in Ellensburg. Looking ahead to the holiday weekend, Cle Elum Pioneer Days kicks off Friday downtown, and the Ellensburg Farmers Market is open Saturday morning at 9 in downtown Ellensburg. 

Suncadia will have a full day of 4th of July Celebrations: Stars and Stripes dance party and Bike Parade. Suncadia Village Pavillion   9:30AM-10:30AM, Kids Summer Spectacular with The Reptile Man @ Suncadia Social 12PM-1:30 PM, Soul Brigade Concert @ Suncadia Social 6PM-8PM, Zootopia 2 @ Suncadia Social.  Starts at dusk.

WEATHER                                                                                          

The forecasted high tomorrow in Ellensburg is 75 degrees with a low of 52. Look for a sunny day, but breezy in the afternoon, with northwest winds picking up to around 21 miles an hour. No rain in the forecast. The sun sets at 9:00 p.m

WHAT'S FOR LUNCH AT THE FISH OPEN TABLE?

The FISH Open Table Lunch is a Cheese Burger with Potato Salad and an Apple. The senior lunch is open to all seniors age 60-plus from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ellensburg Open Table at 204 North Main Street, and 11:30 to 1 at the Upper County Senior Center in Cle Elum. The community lunch for anyone needing a hot meal is from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Ellensburg Open Table.