Ellensburg Community Morning Show, Thursday, August 8th

There's coffee in the old depot in Cle Elum. Tim and Charis Dion have opened Division Point Coffee Bar and Crêpes inside the historic South Cle Elum train depot at 801 Milwaukee Avenue. They're open 8 to 4 every day but Tuesday.

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NEWS

Kittitas County has narrowed the field for its next prosecuting attorney. Republican Jodi Hammond and independent Aaron Reiman led Tuesday's first count in the race to replace retiring prosecutor Greg Zempel. Hammond took just under 38 percent, Reiman just under 34, and Republican Patricia Todd trailed with 28 percent. The top two advance to November. About 8,400 ballots were counted in that race Tuesday, and turnout countywide stood at 28 percent. More ballots will be counted later this week, with the next results expected this afternoon at 5. In the other county races, voters renominated Sheriff Ben Kokjer, Auditor Bryan Elliott, Assessor Mike Hougardy, Clerk Stephanie George, Treasurer Amy Cziske and Coroner Cori McKean.

All four tax measures on the ballot were passing. Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue's levy lid lift, which restores the district's rate to a dollar fifty per thousand dollars of assessed value, was ahead 60 percent to 39. The district's rate had slipped to a dollar thirty-five since 2023, and officials said the increase was needed to hold current service levels. In Roslyn, a 25-cent increase to fund the city library was passing with 60 percent, expected to raise about 89 thousand dollars a year — roughly ten dollars and change a month for the owner of a 500-thousand-dollar home. Cle Elum's 98-cent increase for its volunteer fire department was passing with just under 57 percent. And Snoqualmie Pass Fire and Rescue's six-year benefit charge was ahead better than four to one. None of these numbers are final.

A dispute inside a fraternal order is threatening a building that a lot of Ellensburg groups depend on. The Washington Grand Lodge of the Odd Fellows has moved to revoke the charter of Ellensburg Lodge 20, shut it down and take control of its assets — including the Pine Street building and the Brick Road Cemetery. Lodge 20 has filed suit in Kittitas County Superior Court, and an injunction hearing is set for tomorrow. According to the lawsuit, the conflict grew out of the lodge's plan to build about 100 units of affordable housing for veterans and working families on unused cemetery land, along with a childcare center. That project has already drawn a five million dollar state appropriation, a one-point-two million dollar city grant and a million dollar state infrastructure grant. Court filings allege a Grand Lodge official told the lodge to announce it was ending the housing project or lose its charter. The Grand Lodge did not respond to the Daily Record's request for comment. Lodge 20 has been in Ellensburg for 145 years, and its building is regularly used by the Valley Theatre Company, the League of Women Voters, Kittitas County Pride, Gallery One, CWU faculty and others. Its two cemeteries handle more than 80 percent of burials in the county.

The Cle Elum City Council has hit pause on data centers. At a special meeting July 31st, the council voted unanimously for an emergency ordinance putting a six-month hold on applications for data centers and high-intensity computing facilities. The move follows weeks of pressure from residents worried about Blue Fern Development's Bullfrog Flats project, which includes a 950-thousand-square-foot business park. Councilmember Cassidy Buechle-Curtis said the city received about 50 emails on the subject. The council will form an advisory committee — including water customers, city departments, South Cle Elum and the Yakama Nation — to study the issue. Councilmembers were candid that the moratorium has limits. "This is not a magical Band-aid," said Councilmember Steven Harper, noting it won't undo agreements already in place. Mayor Matthew Lundh said the city has received no data center applications so far.

Wildfire smoke is reshaping the week here. The city canceled the community barbecue at Tuesday's National Night Out because of air quality. And the Kittitas Valley Memorial Pool and Fitness Center closed yesterday at 11:30 in the morning. The main fan on the building's HVAC system failed, and with unhealthy air outside, staff couldn't open the pool deck doors for fresh air. Parts aren't expected until early next week. Staff planned to check air quality at 8 o'clock this morning to decide whether the building could reopen, so call ahead before you go — 962-7210.

And there's coffee in the old depot. Tim and Charis Dion have opened Division Point Coffee Bar and Crêpes inside the historic South Cle Elum train depot at 801 Milwaukee Avenue. They're open 8 to 4 every day but Tuesday.

Looking at events today — Summer Concerts in the Park continues tonight from 6:30 to 8 at North Alder Street Park, 2400 North Alder. It's free, so bring a blanket, a lawn chair and your dinner. Toastmasters International meets tonight at 5:30 at the Hal Holmes Community Center, 209 North Ruby, with an online option as well. And looking ahead to Saturday, Coffee With City Council is at Unity Park at Fourth and Pearl from 9 to 11 in the morning, with Councilmembers Nancy Goodloe and Rich Elliott.

A few road notes: North Walnut Street is closed between Dean Nicholson Boulevard and 18th Avenue through tomorrow for utility work. Downtown sidewalk work on Pearl Street has shifted to night hours through the middle of the month. And South Ruby Street closes Monday between Umptanum and Mountain View for new water and sewer connections, through Friday the 14th.

WEATHER                                                                                          

The forecasted high today in Ellensburg is 96 degrees with a low tonight of 63 degrees. Sunny, with areas of smoke lingering until early afternoon. The sunset is at 8:27 p.m. with winds out of the northwest around 5 miles an hour, going calm later in the day. No rain in the forecast. An air quality alert is in effect, and the National Weather Service has posted a Fire Weather Watch from 11 a.m. tomorrow through 11 p.m. Saturday.

WHAT'S FOR LUNCH AT THE FISH OPEN TABLE?

The FISH Open Table lunch today is Chef Salad, with ham, eggs, olives, tomato, cucumber, cheese, onion and greens, served with garlic toast and peaches. 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 noon to 1 p.m. at the Cle Elum Seventh Day Adventist Church. The community lunch for anyone needing a hot meal is from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Ellensburg Open Table.