Ellensburg Community Morning Show, Thursday, September 10th
NEWS
Cle Elum is down two city councilmembers. Ken Ratliff and Stephen Cook both submitted resignation letters this week, effective immediately, and Mayor Matthew Lundh read them aloud at Tuesday night's council meeting. Ratliff, who held Position 2, thanked the city for the honor of serving "the people and city I love for these many years." Cook wrote that personal challenges and the demands of his regular job had left him unable to serve effectively, and said stepping down now was the responsible choice. Both men were elected to terms that ran through the end of 2027. Lundh said the two will be honored at the council's next meeting, and that the city will begin the process of filling the vacancies soon.
The City of Ellensburg wants to hear from you about the city's trees. The draft Urban Forest Management Plan is open for public comment, and the deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. The plan lays out how Ellensburg will plant, maintain, protect and grow the community's trees in the years ahead. You can read the draft and comment online through the city's website, by email to McGowan at ellensburgwa.gov, or in person at the Public Works office at 501 North Anderson Street.
There's a second comment period open, too, and this one runs longer. Chapter 2 of the city's updated Comprehensive Plan is available for review through September 30th. The other chapters went out for public comment back in June and July. Chapter 2 wasn't ready then, so the city is giving it its own window now. Written comments can go to Planning Manager Stacey Henderson.
Local kids are getting a lot more time outdoors. The Kittitas Environmental Education Network announced this week that it's launching a year-round outdoor learning series based at its campus at Helen McCabe Park. There are three weekly programs — a Nature Academy on Tuesday mornings and Outdoor Fridays, both for ages 8 to 11, and an EcoExplorers after-school club Wednesday afternoons for ages 11 to 16 — plus a monthly Adventure Club for families. Executive director Jill Scheffer says the point is for environmental education to be something children experience, not just something they read about. KEEN provides transportation, with a bus picking up students at the Ellensburg Safeway parking lot. Each program needs at least ten students enrolled to run. You can find more at keen dash y-c-i-c dot org.
And downtown Ellensburg's murals are getting a fresh coat. The Ellensburg Downtown Association's Mural Society raised more than forty thousand dollars at its annual Blank Canvas Party in the alley behind Gallery One last month. Businesses and community members put up more than sixteen thousand dollars in auction items alone. The money goes toward restoring the historical murals scattered around downtown. Mural Society chair Renee Fyall says public art is more than beautification — it builds pride and gives a community a sense of identity.
A quick note for drivers: guardrail repairs are underway at Reecer Creek Road where it meets University Way and where it meets Highway 10. Crews are working daylight hours and expect to wrap up by the weekend. There are no detours, but there will be flaggers, so give yourself a little extra time.
And one more: the Kittitas Valley Memorial Pool and Fitness Center is still closed for its annual maintenance shutdown. It reopens Monday with the fall schedule
For events today, Toastmasters International meets at 5:30 this evening at the Hal Holmes Community Center. Looking ahead to tomorrow, Cle Elum Community Clean Ups start at 9 a.m. at the Dru Bru taproom in Cle Elum. And Saturday morning, the Ellensburg Farmers Market is back downtown at 9 a.m.
SPORTS
Central Washington volleyball opens conference play tonight, on the road at Number 23 Simon Fraser in Burnaby, British Columbia. First serve is 7 p.m. The Wildcats are 4 and 2 on the season, including wins over San Francisco State, Chaminade and then-Number 4 Point Loma at their home invitational.
Cross country runs at the WSU Cougar Classic in Colfax tomorrow evening, starting at 5:30. Both Wildcat squads won their home opener here in Ellensburg last weekend.
The big one is Saturday. Wildcat football hosts Number 1 Ferris State at 6 p.m. at Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium. It's the home opener. Central is 0 and 1 after a 24-to-17 loss at Cal Poly.
Also Saturday, volleyball is at Western Washington in Bellingham at 7 p.m. And Sunday, soccer travels to Seattle U for a 4 p.m. kickoff.
WEATHER
The forecasted high today in Ellensburg is 73 degrees with a low tonight of 47 degrees. Mostly cloudy, with patchy blowing dust after 11 this morning. The sunset is at 7:23 p.m. Winds are out of the northwest at 6 to 11 miles an hour this morning, picking up to 16 to 21 this afternoon, with gusts as high as 31. No rain in the forecast today. There are no weather alerts in effect for the Kittitas Valley.
WHAT'S FOR LUNCH AT THE FISH OPEN TABLE?
The FISH Open Table lunch today is a Baked Potato with Chili, served with cornbread, cheese and sour cream, and fruit. 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 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Cle Elum, where meals are served by the Upper County Senior Center. The community lunch for anyone needing a hot meal is from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Ellensburg Open Table.
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