Shades of Grays Harbor

A Day of Help

2012-01-27T15:11:00.001-08:00

Edward Beck winces as he gets a free immunity shot from Lisa Leitz, RN for the Grays Harbor County Health Department, during the annual project "Homeless Connect" at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Aberdeen. The event was an effort to count, feed and provide basic services for the county's homeless population.

Krystal Hamm holds her 4-month-old son Charles as they are helped by volunteer Lori Tornquist.

Jennifer Perkins gets a free haircut from volunteer Pat Gordon.

Community Support

2012-01-19T11:53:00.000-08:00

Tabitha Kowal hugs a friend outside of her home in Montesano as her husband, Dan looks on. More than 100 people gathered for a 2-mile walk to raise money for the young mother, who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

Jen Wenger and Kurt Schaefer place flowers on Kowal's fence as they pass by.

Profile

2012-01-10T11:15:00.001-08:00

Brad Fuhrer has a business selling hand-made fishing jigs.

Butterfly

2012-01-05T09:44:00.001-08:00

Catch You on the Rebound

2011-12-21T13:20:00.001-08:00

Pummelled

2011-11-29T11:51:00.001-08:00

Driving on the beach is not without its consequences.

Committed

2011-11-12T18:06:00.000-08:00

Bal Tim Jr., 5, of Seattle plays in the sand as his father hunts razor clams at Roosevelt Beach.

Foodball Skaters

2011-11-05T18:15:00.000-07:00

Aberdeen High School students organized a Saturday night skate at Harborena in Hoquiam as a fundraiser for Foodball, the annual competitive foodbank benefit. I tried to get a motion shot of these two girls with the skating bobcat (Aberdeen's mascot), and got this shot when I was setting up the lights. Usually I hate the green from the fluorescents, but I like it here!

Pygmy Owl

2011-10-25T11:11:00.000-07:00

An adult pygmy owl visited the kids at the Hoquiam Library's pre-school story time.

Local Artist

2011-10-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

Aberdeen High School grad Roxi Copland came home from Vancouver, BC to play a show at the D&R Theater in Aberdeen.

Prison Compost

2011-09-30T13:29:00.001-07:00

Stafford Creek Correctional Center composts all of its organic waste on site, around 500 tons per year. In this photo, inmate Josh Nygren holds a handful of finished compost during a tour organized by the Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

Tackle

2011-09-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Photo Illustration

2011-09-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

To accompany a piece about bullying.

Affectionate Cat

2011-08-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

Animal handler Dave Coleburn gets a rub from one of a pair of 8-month-old mountain lion siblings he brought to the Grays Harbor County Fair. He's got the kittens' parents on his property in Anacortes and has looked after the pair since birth.

Kite Gangster

2011-08-05T11:56:00.001-07:00

Andy Sias, the owner of Ocean Shores Kites, brandishes one of the store's rubber band guns.

Wired

2011-07-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

The 7th Street Kids got to practice flying around the stage ahead of the upcoming production of "The Wizard of Oz."

Shot From the Hip

2011-07-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

Why am I posting this shot? I don't know. It's from the McCleary Bear Festival parade a couple of weeks ago. My D2H must have fired when I was walking through the crowd because I didn't know I had it. I kind of like it though!

"Take me to your leader"

2011-07-15T13:10:00.001-07:00

Ironworker Tryouts

2011-07-08T19:25:00.001-07:00

Ironworkers Local 86 held tryouts in an effort to get more local apprentices working at the SR 520 Pontoon Project site. Of the 25 people that showed up, only 15 were able to complete each of the four tasks set up by the union. The most grueling test was "packing rebar," in which each of the tryouts teamed up with a union member in hefting a 100-pound bundle of steel back and forth across a vacant lot (about 200 feet). At each end, they had to drop and pick up the bundle multiple times in rapid succession. Within the first hour, this test claimed nine of the 10 dropouts.

The tryouts were taught to tie rebar then instructed to do it over and over again as fast as they could.

Probably the most backbreaking test was tying a rebar grid on the ground. Tryouts were dinged for using their knees to bend over because it was too slow.

Waiting

2011-07-07T11:33:00.001-07:00

The driver of a truck that overturned on the Port Industrial Road sits on one of heavy steel tubes he was hauling and waits for help. The truck tipped when its load broke loose.

Dancin, Chillin.

2011-07-05T09:39:00.000-07:00

These brothers were visiting their Hoquiam grandparents from Alaska, perusing the classics at the weekend car show. Matt, 2, started dancing to some oldies music that was playing while his brother Nick, 4, hung out on a Volkswagen.

Pirates Invade Westport

2011-06-28T15:29:00.001-07:00

Karmic Woodcarver

2011-06-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

Chainsaw carver Sean "The Whittler" Brown sits next to a sculpture of the buddha he carved at his lot on State Street in Aberdeen Saturday. Two days ago Brown discovered that two of his pieces, a beaver and a blue heron, had been stolen. He's fairly sure who the culprit is, because a man had been hanging around last week asking about the beaver and told Brown "his mom liked birds," Brown said. Still, the artist has chosen not to involve the authorities, leaving justice instead to a higher power. "I'm just going to let karma take care of it," he added.

Waterpark Fun

2011-06-10T13:54:00.001-07:00

Aberdeen has opened the new Finch Waterpark for the summer.

The Cosmo Mill

2011-06-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

The crew at Cosmo Specialty Fibers works to re-spool newly-manufactured fiber through the machines after a brief shutdown. The stuff looks like thick paper and can be used in a variety of ways, from synthetic clothing to cigarette filters.

Fastpitch Celebration Shots

2011-05-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

Contagious enthusiasm

Wipeouts

2011-05-17T10:17:00.001-07:00

Role Playing Carnage

2011-04-27T11:18:00.000-07:00

The local police department staged the aftermath of a fake drunk driving accident in the parking lot of Hoquiam High School, complete with a wrecked car, students as victims, emergency responders and ketchup for blood. Besides being great for photos, the event seems to really hit home for a lot of students, which is why PDs across the country continue to put these events on.

Turf Wars, Swallow Style

2011-04-19T09:09:00.001-07:00

Tree swallows bicker over real estate at the Bishop Athletic Complex.

Unsafe at Second

2011-04-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

He was OK

Booby

2011-04-05T18:13:00.001-07:00

Wildlife rehabilitator Angie Messmer watches as the new addition to her menagerie of wild animals, a Brown Booby, stretches its wings in the the back room of the Hoquiam Licensing & Transportation Agency where she works. The bird was picked up from Westport fisherman Jeff Dungey, who said that the large, brown seabird jumped onto his boat while he and his crew were near Willapa Bay checking crab pots. The bird is typically found in more southern climates, like the Hawaiian Islands and the gulf of Mexico, making its appearance off the Washington coast highly unusual. Messmer says that there are a few options for the animal, including soliciting an airline to donate a round trip trip for a handler to return the bird. In the meantime, the booby continues to consume about 2 pounds of fish and squid per day.

Doozy First Step

2011-04-02T08:40:00.001-07:00

Wet Spring

2011-04-01T08:12:00.001-07:00

A surplus of rainwater at the retention pond in Aberdeen inspired the crew of the Hawaiian Chieftain to chart new territory Thursday.

Signs of Spring

2011-03-29T09:35:00.001-07:00

Song Sparrow sings

Picking daffodils at the Satsop Bulb Farm

Birds of Prey

2011-03-19T10:18:00.001-07:00

Red-tailed Hawk with handler.

Barn Owl with handler.

Shelter

2011-03-02T09:23:00.001-08:00

Arny Scwendeman

2011-01-12T12:15:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, for whatever reason, we shoot a story that never runs in the newspaper. This one, about WWII veteran Arny Schwendeman, has been lost in the shuffle. Arny is almost 90 and is one of the few Raymond VFW members keeping the chapter alive, despite the fact that few use its storefront meeting hall downtown.

Schwendeman poses for a photo in front of a wall bearing the military portraits of VFW members.

Schwendeman points out the members of his family that have served in the US military.

Schwendeman walks past a wall with the names of Raymond VFW members. The ones with a shiny pin next to them are no longer living.

Schwendeman stands in the Raymond VFW hall which is having some financial troubles. The VFW has been renting the space to a local yoga instructor.

Schwendeman closes the door on the Raymond VFW hall.

Cage Fight

2011-01-06T11:40:00.001-08:00

A Gift for Grandma

2010-12-31T09:11:00.000-08:00

Maize Chapin, 8, had long, blonde locks. She decided to make a gift of her hair to her grandmother, Marion, who has lost her own during chemotherapy treatments.

Moving the Polson Log

2010-12-10T15:53:00.001-08:00

Polson Museum director John Larson acquired a 550-year-old Doug Fir log for a logging camp exhibit. He and volunteers took two weeks to build a steel structure sturdy enough to position the 28,000-pound round.

Football is Brutal

2010-12-04T23:11:00.001-08:00

It is not uncommon for players to have their heads ripped entirely off during a football game.

Fumble Recovery

2010-10-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

Trolling Lake Sylvia

2010-10-08T14:25:00.001-07:00

Spar Topping

2010-09-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

A scene from this year's Logger's Playday.

The Livestock Auction

2010-08-14T17:02:00.001-07:00

4H and FFA participants spend some final moments with their animals before the youth livestock auction at the county fair.

County Fair, Day 1

2010-08-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

Kassy Kerstetter, 12, of Rochester leans on her horse "Buck" while waiting to compete in the 4H show in the Pavilion Arena at the Grays Harbor County Fair Tuesday.

Difference of Opinion

2010-08-04T10:30:00.001-07:00

Discussing the issues at the Satsop River Rock Festival.

Good Times

2010-08-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

Overindulging at the Satsop River Rock festival

Where's the Fire?

2010-07-30T11:51:00.001-07:00

Kids Love Clowns

2010-07-10T14:41:00.001-07:00

Beekeeper

2010-06-23T10:34:00.001-07:00

From a profile I'm working on.

The Cubmobile Races

2010-06-15T11:51:00.001-07:00

Concentration

Pressure

Carnage

Thrills

Agony

Victory

Relay For Life

2010-06-09T16:26:00.001-07:00

The survivor's lap.

Johnny Garcia of Aberdeen recalls his battle with cancer last year. He had to have one of his kidneys removed.

More cancer survivors, their friends and family.

Aberdeen resident Bob Randich shares hugs with his daughters Rachel, left, and Megan. The elder Randich has survived 8 years after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. "He's doing well," said Rachel. "Every day is a good day."

Courthouse Centennial

2010-04-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

The Grays Harbor County courthouse in Montesano turned 100 and the newspaper did a story on it. It's got tons of original paintings, stained glass and fine wood working details.

A painting in one of the court rooms makes sure offenders don't miss the point.

Grays Harbor County Facility Services Director Dennis Selberg stands behind one of four clock faces on the building's tower.

Great Acoustics

2010-04-21T17:43:00.000-07:00

Members of the Elma Middle School Band play in one of the mothballed cooling towers at the Satsop Development Park.

Driftwood Eagle

2010-04-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

Tokeland artist Jeffro Uitto with a recent piece.

Long Jump

2010-04-10T16:37:00.000-07:00

The Grays Harbor County track meet.

Thick Smoke

2010-03-31T19:20:00.000-07:00

Aberdeen firefighters climb the roof of a burning home. No one injured. Dog, safe.

Two, Tangoing

2010-03-06T11:06:00.001-08:00

More Grapplers

2010-02-14T11:27:00.000-08:00

Cut From the Team

2010-01-30T14:32:00.001-08:00

The Aberdeen swim team gets new haircuts before Districts.

Salmonid

2010-01-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

Elma Middle School students separate male and female Coho salmon during a field trip to the Humptulips Fish Hatchery. They later got to blend "milked" salmon sperm with eggs for incubation.

Wrestling With a Single Light Source

2010-01-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

More Year End Stuff

2009-12-31T08:26:00.001-08:00

Newlyweds Ronald Andrew Foulds, 89, and Hilda Delphine Hand, 91, kiss after being married at Montesano Health and Rehabilitation, where the couple resides. Hand's daughter, Lana Troy says that the couple sits together all day, reading and looking at birds. They had been dating for about a year before deciding to tie the knot.

The last ship load of logs leaves from the Aberdeen Weyerhaeuser sorting yard under the Chehalis River drawbridge. The company has no plans to reopen the facility.

Washington Elementary School Head Custodian Sue Dixon takes down the flag for the final time on the last day of school. The Hoquiam School Board has decided to close Washington's doors as a cost-saving measure.

A man who declined to be identified takes a look at his grounded sailboat at the 28th Street Landing in Hoquiam. He said that he had docked there the night before on his way up the Chehalis River and had misjudged the water level at low tide. He was planning on resuming his journey when the water returned.

Some Year End Stuff

2009-12-31T08:09:00.001-08:00

Wayne Lemmon paddles through his flooded property on South Division Street in Elma. He said that this is the last year he is willing to live in the flood prone area.

Kate Lewis, left, and her daughter Maggie make their way towards Montesano on a washed out Highway 107 seeking refuge from their flooded east county home.

Roy Fredrickson, left and Loren Morgan stop to take photos of flood waters rushing over Porter Creek Road just outside of Porter.

Wall of Water

2009-12-03T16:55:00.001-08:00

During the Recent Storms

2009-11-27T08:40:00.001-08:00

Game Freak

2009-11-24T10:37:00.000-08:00

A recent portrait for a business story

2009-10-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

Where pond scum meets cranberry bog, saturated.

The big Aberdeen/Hoquiam game

2009-10-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

Loggers Playday

2009-09-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

Tree topping at Olympic Stadium in Hoquiam.

First Day of School

2009-09-08T09:35:00.001-07:00

2009-08-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

At the skate park in South Aberdeen

2009-08-20T09:55:00.000-07:00

Drive-thru blessing. A service provided by the Christian Motorcyclists Association.

2009-08-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

I think this photo from last year is funny: Hometown fan trying to distract opposing team's foul shooter.

2009-08-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

Tweety and Sam will compete at the Grays Harbor County Fair

2009-08-02T17:52:00.000-07:00

Pfc. Aaron Fairbairn, 20, returning home to Aberdeen from Afghanistan.

2009-07-06T13:23:00.001-07:00

It seems that the most appropriate way to begin a photography blog about Grays Harbor County is to post some razor clam shots. Here are some from last year.