Ellensburg Community Morning Show, Tuesday, September 22nd
NEWS
An independent investigation has cleared Kittitas County Coroner Cori McKean of wrongdoing. A whistleblower complaint filed this spring by four deputy coroners questioned the hiring of a chief deputy without an application and raised concerns about new draft policies that would have deputies do fingerprinting, blood draws and X-rays. The Seattle law firm Senti Law reviewed ten separate issues and found McKean acted within her authority as an elected department head. The report noted the deputy she hired was a re-hire who didn't need to go through a competitive process, and that the policies in question were drafts, which McKean had said clearly at the time. McKean has led the office since October of last year.
Central Washington University is waking back up. About 3,000 students are settling into campus housing this week, with roughly 1,500 of them having moved in last Thursday and Friday. Classes begin tomorrow. And CWU has set a date to show off its newest building. The North Academic Commons, a 104,000-square-foot arts and humanities building heated and cooled with renewable heat from the Ellensburg aquifer directly under campus, gets its official ribbon cutting Friday, October 2nd at 2 p.m., with self-guided tours afterward. It's the first building of its kind in Washington. Faculty have been working in it since August, and it will hold classes starting this quarter.
HopeSource is marking 60 years of work in Kittitas County. What started in 1966 as a small effort to meet basic needs is now the largest operator of affordable housing in Central Washington, with 1,100 units across Kittitas, Grant, Chelan and Douglas counties and more than 70 programs covering housing, shelter, energy help, food, transportation and jobs. CEO Susan Grindle credited the county and its cities for backing affordable housing projects year after year. Two more are on the way: Teanaway Court in Cle Elum, with 41 units and a child development center, recently broke ground, and Pathways Place in Ellensburg will add 78 units.
In events today, it's the Bite of the 'Burg, downtown Ellensburg's annual welcome for CWU students. Restaurants and vendors set up along Pearl Street and Fourth Avenue from 2 to 5 this afternoon, and it's open to everyone, not just students. While you're down there, a couple of Ellensburg City Councilmembers will be at the Bite for Coffee With City Council, also from 2 to 5 on Fourth Avenue, if you'd like to sit down and talk about what's on your mind.
Looking ahead to Thursday, the city is hosting a free workshop on heat pumps and heat pump water heaters from 5:30 to 6:30 in the evening at the Hal Holmes Community Center, 209 North Ruby Street. City utility customers can learn about current rebates, there's free pizza while it lasts, and Spanish language support will be available. Details are at ellensburgwa.gov/rebates.
And two city comment periods are still open through September 30th. The city wants your feedback on its stormwater program through a short online survey, and it's taking comments on Chapter 2 of the Ellensburg 2046 Comprehensive Plan update. Both are on the city website.
SPORTS
The Wildcats are at home for most of a busy week. Women's soccer, at 0 wins, 4 losses and 3 draws, hosts Western Oregon Thursday at 5 p.m. at Tomlinson Stadium, then hosts Saint Martin's Saturday at 11 a.m. Volleyball, 6 and 4 on the year and 2 and 2 in conference, is on the road: at Western Oregon Thursday at 7 p.m. and at Saint Martin's in Olympia Sunday at 4. Cross country runs the Bill Roe Classic in Ferndale Saturday morning at 10. And Wildcat football, 1 and 2 overall but 1 and 0 in conference play, is back home Saturday night at 6 against Sul Ross State at Tomlinson Stadium.
WEATHER
The forecasted high today in Ellensburg is 72 degrees with a low tonight of 45 degrees. Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then clearing to sunshine this afternoon. The sunset is at 6:59 p.m. Expect a breezy day, with northwest winds at 14 to 18 miles an hour and gusts up to 31. No rain in the forecast today. Tomorrow looks mostly sunny and calmer with a high near 70. There are no active weather alerts for the Kittitas Valley.
WHAT'S FOR LUNCH AT THE FISH OPEN TABLE?
The FISH Open Table lunch today is Ham Frittata, baked with peppers, onions, tomatoes, potatoes and cheese, served with a roll 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 to 1 at the Upper County Senior Center in Cle Elum, where the menu is different. 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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