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Chairman Willie Frank III and the Nisqually Indian Tribe hosted Senator Maria Cantwell, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland and Gov. Jay Inslee recently for a boat tour on the Nisqually River to see the aging Nisqually Bridge across Interstate 5. They then joined a roundtable conversation with local elected leaders from Pierce and Thurston counties and representatives of the Washington State Department of Transportation and South Sound Military & Community Partnership.

In 2018, the state's transportation budget included $2.25 million for a corridor planning study of I-5 between Tumwater and Mounts Road. The 2022 Move Ahead Washington package recently passed by the Legislature and signed by Inslee includes $75 million to advance project work in the corridor.

The Nisqually Indian Tribe has been an active partner throughout the planning process, including partnering with Washington State Department of Transportation to have the U.S. Geologic Survey complete a hydrologic study of the Nisqually River related to I-5.

"The aging Nisqually Bridge across I-5 no longer meets the needs of this quickly-growing region, and is also altering the ecological health of the area. As we look to the future, the Nisqually Tribe, local, state and federal leaders are partnering together so we can seize this opportunity to restore the vibrancy of this ecosystem and ensure a more resilient transportation corridor," Inslee posted on Instagram.

This has been an interesting year for weather, we have had our fair share of snow and also power outages. During all of this, we need to remember who is out there putting the lines back together when the power goes down, the employees at the PUD.

During the recent Tokeland Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday, April 12, it was announced that Dollar General was attempting to build a store in Grayland.

Kitty Bryan, a resident of the Grayland community, presented to the chamber that the proposed site is located at 2172 SR 105 across from the Local Bar and Grill on the Grays Harbor County side of the divide in Grayland. This puts it less than 6 miles away from the Westport Dollar General store.

Dollar General targets underserved regions throughout the United States. Bryan pointed out that in the east the chain store is every 6 miles throughout the back roads. One big concern for the Grayland and surrounding community is that they are an artist community and rely on the small stores for survival. The fear is that an incoming chain store will change the unique atmosphere of the area and drive out the smaller businesses.

Longtime retired educator Kathy Tully has been appointed the interim superintendent of the Raymond School District through June 30. Tully takes over for Ross Baker, who was terminated by the Raymond School Board after being in the position for less than one year.

Tully has attended many colleges and has received several degrees and certificates including: Central Michigan University (Spanish and Elementary Education); University of Washington (fifth year); University of Portland (Master's in Educational Leadership); and Seattle Pacific University (Principal's Certificate).