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All but five counties in Washington state have reached Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee's reopening plan, allowing some businesses and everyday amenities to open with COVID-19 restrictions in place as of last Friday. Through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, there were a total of 79,826 COVID-19 cases after an increase of 350. The Washington State Department of Health counted 7,081 hospitalizations from COVID-19, up 33. Statewide, more than 1,644,585 COVID-19 tests have been administered, up 13,423 from Saturday's count. State health officials reported 544 new COVID-19 cases and six additional deaths in Washington on Friday.

On Labor Day evening, the sun set with a brilliant flash of red across the horizon, then the smell of smoke drifted down on the breeze. The smoke increased overnight so that the Willapa hills looked as if they were covered with blue fog. Turns out that the blue cast is a covering of smoke from out-of-the-area wildfires.
Smoke from fires as far away as northern California are being blown in on a strong wind travelling from an easterly direction. Washington state is in a dangerous historical weather event with high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds.

"With the red flag [weather] warning in place with the high temperatures that we have had and the east winds, wildfires have become a significant concern," said Pacific County Emergency Management Agency Director Scott McDougall.

Loren Culp, Lewis County's choice for governor, is planning a vehicle convoy to announce his arrival into King County this Saturday, September 19th. Culp, who is the Republican front runner has been very active on the campaign trail, holding rallies he now calls "protest" with at least 1000 people now attending.

It's been quite the campaign season, Culp has started a grassroots movement here in Washington and now he has set up the biggest convoy Washington has ever seen.

The race in the 19th Legislative District has heated up, Joel McEntire is running for State Representative against Brian Blake, the incumbent.

McEntire is a 4th generation resident of SW Washington, his family have roots in the Lewis and Wahkiakum area. He is a program mentor with Western Governors University, a Marine Corp reservist, a husband and a father of three. He is running to make this state a better place for everyone, including his children and their future.

More COVID-19 cases were reported last week, taking the county from a low risk area into the high risk category.

On Monday, September 7, the Pacific County Health and Human Services received notice of two positive cases of COVID-19 in Pacific County. These cases are in addition to the 66 previously reported cases for a total of 68 cases.

One of the confirmed positive cases is a child less than one year old who is isolating at home. The second confirmed case is an individual who is between 60-70 years old and currently isolating outside of Pacific County.

SOUTH BEND - Rapid-fire promptness and precision teamwork enabled firefighters to knock down a big brush fire that easily could have turned into a huge forest fire in South Bend. Led by the South Bend Volunteer Fire Department and joined by three fire departments, a potential disaster was avoided after quick work by firefighters who hosed down the fire in the woods directly behind Bud's Lumber in the area known as Payne's Alley in South Bend early Friday evening at 5:47.