Shows
Clallam County WatchdogMore than a feeThe Clallam Conservation District wants to charge every property owner a $5 parcel fee, claiming it’s to support conservation. But behind the scenes, the agency is piping ditches that recharge wells, exempting powerful landowners, partnering with tribal entities expanding into the water utility business, and sidestepping public transparency. All this comes after the County cut their funding—following years of reckless spending on poetry programs and perks. Now they want you to pay the price. Is this really about conservation—or quiet control over the region’s water supply?Tomorrow, the Clallam Conservation District (CCD) will con...2025-07-2442 min
Clallam County Watchdog"Equity" is the new buzzwordIn Clallam County, taxpayer-funded grants meant to promote “equity” are increasingly going to select groups—while many struggling rural communities are left behind. From exclusive funding rules to electric vehicles for well-connected tribal programs, question whether identity-based priorities are overriding actual community need. Who decides what’s fair—and who’s footing the bill?In economically stagnant Clallam County, "equity" is a word that gets used often—but doesn't always mean what it seems. While local families struggle with inflation, housing costs, and limited services, millions in state and federal funding—paid for by you and every other...2025-07-2340 min
Clallam County WatchdogFuel, fumbles, and forgotten taxpayersWhen a fuel truck plunges into Port Angeles’ water supply, tribal-owned PetroCard is barely mentioned. Meanwhile, taxpayers face massive new levies for “essential services” while still footing the bill for meth pipes and million-dollar vehicle fleets. From city council races to tribal land grabs, uncover the quiet decisions draining your wallet—and ask why no one’s held accountable when the damage comes from the top.Salmon, sovereignty, and the spillOn Friday, a fuel tanker crashed off Highway 101 into Indian Creek, a tributary of the Elwha River—Port Angeles’ primary water source. The tanker was...2025-07-2237 min
Clallam County WatchdogThe tipping point: tax hikes and reckless spendingAs the cost of living in Washington State skyrockets, Clallam County residents are being hit from all sides—rising fuel costs, school levies, a recent hospital levy, and now new tax hikes disguised as essential service funding. But behind the curtain is a pattern of reckless local spending, bloated projects, and political misdirection. Pull back the curtain on where your tax dollars are really going—and what’s coming next if no one speaks up.Washington State is already one of the most expensive places to live in the country. According to World Population Review, we ran...2025-07-2120 min
Clallam County WatchdogCheck your state rights at the doorWith Olympic Medical Center limiting new patient intake, many Clallam County residents have turned to Jamestown Family Health Clinic—without realizing they are entering a sovereign nation where Washington state laws do not always apply. One disabled woman discovered this the hard way when her legal rights disappeared at the clinic door—and she was banned from returning.In August 2021, Sequim resident Laura (not her real name) was in a near-fatal, head-on motorcycle collision. Multiple fractures, organ failure, and permanent nerve damage rendered her paralyzed and given a mere 5% chance of walking again. After being bedb...2025-07-2027 min
Clallam County WatchdogWhat happens when you normalize dysfunction?What do boofing kits, broken tractors, and free meth pipes have in common? In Clallam County, they’re all taxpayer-funded. Dive into a local economy fueled by grant grifting, public spending with no receipts, and “harm reduction” that forgets the harm. From rigged school bond campaigns to fire-prone homeless encampments, the people paying the price are the ones playing by the rules. When policy enables crime: A boofing kit economyIn Clallam County, “harm reduction” means giving out free meth pipes, fentanyl test strips, and even “boofing kits”—tools to help people ingest drugs rectally...2025-07-1928 min
Clallam County WatchdogFlashback FridayIn 2019, Reps. Mike Chapman and Steve Tharinger told residents that a new MAT clinic in Sequim would reduce crime and homelessness — dismissing critics as fearmongers. Six years later, with overdose deaths at record highs and public disorder growing, their bold predictions haven’t aged well.In 2019, Reps. Mike Chapman and Steve Tharinger defended the then-proposed MAT clinic in Sequim with bold confidence in a Peninsula Daily News article. Critics were dismissed. Concerns about public safety and unintended consequences were waved off as political fearmongering.“Fear works in politics,” Chapman said at the time, comparin...2025-07-1839 min
Clallam County WatchdogTaxed but turned awayClallam County residents were told higher taxes were needed to save Olympic Medical Center—but now they’re being turned away from the very hospital they’re funding. As services shrink, clinics close, and financial transparency disappears, county commissioners who pushed the levy hike are silent. Where’s the accountability for a failing public hospital sitting on dozens of vacant, tax-exempt properties while patients are left without care?“I am taxed for this facility, and I cannot get an appointment.”That was the message from Clallam County resident Denise Lapio during a recent public comme...2025-07-1726 min
Clallam County WatchdogMillions for a few?While Clallam County struggles to meet the basic needs of its residents, one small but politically powerful tribe received over $19 million in federal funding in a single year—plus a taxpayer-funded housing liaison created just for them. With no job description, no transparency, and no oversight, county leaders are quietly funneling public resources toward those who already have the most. Is this equity—or entitlement?In 2021–2022 alone, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe received over $19.6 million in federal grants, according to public audit data submitted to the federal government. That number is more than double what the Trib...2025-07-1645 min
Clallam County WatchdogFirst Fed leadership changes raise questionsWhen a respected community bank quietly loses its CEO and top banking officer within days, pays out a six-figure severance, and posts the worst financial performance in its peer group — shouldn’t someone be asking why?For over a century, First Fed has been a cornerstone of the Olympic Peninsula’s financial and civic life. As the only community bank headquartered in the region — and one of the area’s major employers — its health matters to more than just shareholders. It matters to communities, nonprofits, small businesses, and everyday customers from Forks to Port Townsend.That’s...2025-07-1526 min
Clallam County WatchdogWho does government serve?Despite overwhelming public support for ethics reform, Clallam County’s Charter Review Commission is again turning to government insiders instead of honoring the will of voters. With 74% of the public backing a proposal to bar commissioners from serving on nonprofit boards that receive county funds, the CRC has stalled action—opting instead to invite those very commissioners to justify their dual roles. The result is a growing credibility gap, as the public asks: who is Clallam County government really serving?First, it was the Water Steward proposal. Survey data showed that a strong majority of Clal...2025-07-1425 min
Clallam County WatchdogWho speaks for the West End?Despite overwhelming public support for restoring district-only voting in Clallam County, political maneuvering and delays threaten to keep the issue off the November ballot—leaving rural District 3 voters effectively silenced in their own elections. At stake is whether West End residents will ever truly choose their own commissioner, or continue to be overruled by voters from Port Angeles and Sequim.One of the more consequential questions in this year’s Clallam County Charter Review Commission survey asked voters whether they want to return to district-only voting for county commissioners. That is, should voters from each dist...2025-07-1333 min
Clallam County Watchdog11 stories you won't hear anywhere elseThis roundup pulls back the curtain on the stories slipping through the cracks — or being buried on purpose. From a major housing discrimination lawsuit in Sequim, to the proposed 600-home development next to John Wayne Marina, to city leaders skipping tours of the very industries that built Port Angeles. We dig into media shakeups, unspoken tax advantages, sneaky fee proposals, and a podcast that's making noise for all the right reasons. If you care about where your community’s really headed, this is the one to read.State sues Sequim apartment complexWhile no l...2025-07-1232 min
Clallam County WatchdogPay to play?Clallam County Commissioners say they want public input — but is it only from those who pay to play? Despite repeated calls for open dialogue and a town hall that revealed a costly oversight, the Board has gone silent on real engagement. Emails go unanswered, Q&A sessions are ignored, and public commenters are cut off — unless they happen to be campaign donors. As commissioners find time for parades and pie judging, many residents are left wondering: Is Clallam County government still working for the people, or just the well-connected?Engaging with Clallam County’s three electe...2025-07-1118 min
Clallam County WatchdogWhose water is it, anyway?Clallam County’s Charter Review Commission is pushing a deeply unpopular Water Steward proposal despite 70% public opposition — and instead of listening to voters, they’re taking cues from government agencies and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. Unelected actors are shaping policy that could restrict residents while exempting a sovereign nation. If the public doesn’t regain control of the charter, they may soon lose control of their water.Despite clear public opposition, the Clallam County Charter Review Commission (CRC) is forging ahead with a controversial proposal to create a “Water Steward” position within county government. The idea, firs...2025-07-1028 min
Clallam County WatchdogSmooth sailing (for some)Washington State is offering $4.75 million in electric boat grants—but you might be ineligible. Funded by the Climate Commitment Act, the new program is open exclusively to tribes, leaving out struggling fishing families, local businesses, and rural communities still paying the highest gas prices in years. In Clallam County, where economic hardship runs deep, many are asking: why do well-funded tribal corporations qualify for green technology upgrades while the rest of the community is left behind?After a year marked by Washington’s largest tax increase in state history—and the defeat of a voter initia...2025-07-0926 min
Clallam County Watchdog$320K for "Harm Reduction"As Clallam County struggles to fund schools, retain jail staff, and keep essential hospital services, officials are proposing a $100,000 increase to a harm reduction program that hands out free smoking and injection supplies — with no clear data on whether it’s working. Taxpayers are being asked to fund an ever-growing program with no plan for sustainability and no metrics for success.As local testing scores continue to tumble, Olympic Medical Center warns of critical staffing shortages, and Clallam County struggles to retain enough corrections officers to safely operate the jail — the Clallam County Health & Human Servic...2025-07-0828 min
Clallam County WatchdogCommissioners to award $800k to Habitat this weekClallam County is poised to grant $800,000 in public funds to Habitat for Humanity—but key questions about transparency remain unanswered. Despite promises of openness, Habitat has withheld documents, backed out of a meeting, and cited questionable incidents to justify cutting off dialogue. The line between nonprofit mission and public accountability has become blurred. When taxpayer dollars are involved, who’s really keeping track?At this week’s regular meeting, the Clallam County Board of Commissioners is expected to award $800,000 in public funds to Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County. The decision follows a six-month delay, during...2025-07-0729 min
Clallam County WatchdogSaving the hospital meant losing a voiceVoters stepped up to save Olympic Medical Center with a tax hike—but now the hospital is shutting out the public, hiding its finances, and quietly planning a merger behind closed doors. What happened to accountability? And who really benefits if OMC goes under? Follow the money, follow the secrecy, and follow the growing pattern of public institutions treating taxpayers like blank checks.This time last year, Olympic Medical Center (OMC) warned Clallam County voters that without a levy lid lift, the region risked losing 24/7 labor and delivery, emergency and trauma care, ICU services, and ob...2025-07-0634 min
Clallam County WatchdogInside the bond machineLast month, questions were raised about whether the Sequim School District’s partnership with the Wenaha Group was more about selling a school bond than honestly assessing community needs. Now, the results of a public records request are in—and they confirm many of those concerns. Internal emails and planning documents show that campaign-style messaging, political consultants, and coordination with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe were already underway—long before the public had even seen a proposal.Weneha’s role is bigger than just planningThe Wenaha Group was not merely assessing facilities. Their $90...2025-07-0527 min
Clallam County WatchdogWhen "help" hurtsFree food. Free rides. Free housing. But who’s paying—and who’s watching? Clallam County’s spending spree is wrapped in compassion, but the price tag includes unanswered questions, creeping dysfunction, and vanishing oversight. On the eve of the 4th of July, take a closer look at a county that calls it “help”—but leaves taxpayers to foot the bill.County may boost harm reduction budget by $100kThis week, Clallam County’s Health and Human Services Department asked the Board of Commissioners for an additional $100,000 in funding for “harm reduction”—raising the total to $320,000...2025-07-0331 min
Clallam County WatchdogClallam County LapdogA recent column in the Sequim Gazette raises serious questions about the role of local media—publishing glowing praise for a costly, controversial public project while refusing equal space to those who funded it and lived with its consequences. Journalism has lost its way, ceased serving the people, and begun protecting the powerful. Here’s the proof.When a newspaper becomes a mouthpiece for the government rather than a watchdog for the people, democracy suffers. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s happening at the Sequim Gazette. Their recent “County Spotlight” column, authored by Clallam County Commissioner...2025-07-0235 min
Clallam County WatchdogBillion-dollar bridge boondoggleLocal tribes and an NGO are exploring a costly and disruptive replacement of the Hood Canal Bridge—not because it’s failing, but because of concerns that it may confuse migrating salmon. The project, still in early stages, is backed by NOAA and tribal partners like the Jamestown S’Klallam, raising questions about priorities, influence, and who’s really footing the bill in a state already struggling to maintain basic infrastructure. Is this about fish—or something bigger?In a region struggling to maintain its roads, Washington may be heading toward one of the most expensive—...2025-07-0136 min
Clallam County WatchdogDelayed promises and rising pricesThe long-promised Simdars Road Interchange was supposed to bring safer access and economic opportunity to Sequim’s east side—but now it’s delayed until at least 2031. While rural drivers wait, and gas prices rise again, millions from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act are funding EV stations, planning conferences, and grant programs elsewhere. As fuel surcharges hit working families hardest, Clallam County residents are questioning whether climate revenue is truly serving the communities who need it most.In 2023, the long-anticipated Simdars Road Interchange appeared to be gaining momentum. The state project would open eastbound access from Hig...2025-06-3028 min
Clallam County WatchdogBlood quantumAs tribal bloodlines thin and policy debates grow louder, it's time to ask whether the boundaries we draw around ancestry still serve justice—or simply preserve power.Like many who now call Sequim home, Al Courtney didn’t grow up here—but once he arrived, he knew the stories of how the town came to be were worth preserving. In 2000, he helped collect oral histories that were published as Sequim: Pioneer Histories from 1850 to WWII, followed by a second volume covering up to 1962. These books are more than local trivia—they trace names, families, and how smal...2025-06-2929 min
Clallam County WatchdogOPM (Other People's Money)County Commissioners are poised to grant Habitat for Humanity $800,000 to support a housing project in Carlsborg—but questions remain. The nonprofit has sent hundreds of thousands in local donations overseas, struggled through its first-ever development process, and previously planned to steer public funds to Jamestown Excavating without competitive bidding. While that plan may have changed, the lack of transparency and the blurred lines between charity, politics, and public money are raising serious concerns.When most people donate to Habitat for Humanity, they imagine their dollars helping a local family get a roof over their heads—not...2025-06-2833 min
Clallam County WatchdogWho’s in charge of the Dungeness Reservoir?Who’s really in charge of the Dungeness Off-Channel Reservoir? County officials say Public Works is leading the project—but the County Charter, floodplain laws, and environmental regulations point to the Department of Community Development. As political donations, legal ambiguity, and quiet re-planning swirl around one of the most expensive water projects in County history, the real danger may be that no one’s truly accountable. And if the Charter has been violated? The entire project could grind to a halt—just like Towne Road.When it comes to the Dungeness Off-Channel Reservoir, Clallam County official...2025-06-2736 min
Clallam County WatchdogCrisis and contradiction: Are we on the right track?Crime is rising, budgets are buckling, and public trust is wearing thin in Clallam County. While repeat offenders roam the streets and homelessness spreads, local leaders double down on progressive policies, selective enforcement, and identity-driven initiatives. From taxpayer-funded programs to tribal business advantages— is anyone still focused on the basics: safety, fairness, and accountability?Repeat offender, repeat failurePolice recently arrested Guy Jay Ralph Jr. on charges including DUI and hit-and-run. Ralph is a Level 2 sex offender with a long criminal history, including a 1998 conviction for sexual abuse in Oregon, several burglary charges, an...2025-06-2631 min
Clallam County WatchdogVirtues, values, and a tale of two proclamationsWhile Sequim’s city leaders devote time to virtue-signaling proclamations for Pride and Juneteenth, they’ve stayed silent on the fatal assault of a local artist—and forgotten the veterans who made their proclamations possible. In a city unraveling outside its own chambers, it’s time to ask: what do our leaders really value?Drive past Sequim City Hall on any given day, and you’ll likely see the symptoms of a city struggling with reality: shopping carts piled outside, homeless individuals sleeping on benches, and silence from inside the chambers. But don’t worry—your elected o...2025-06-2531 min
Clallam County WatchdogInside ClallamFrom abandoned activist camps and political gatekeeping to unchecked tribal influence and public safety risks, this roundup dives into the contradictions hiding in plain sight. Who gets heard? Who gets paid? And who really benefits when transparency gets tossed aside? In Clallam County, the stories that slip through the cracks are often the ones that matter most.Legacy or left-behind garbage?Mitch Zenobi, owner of Mitch Zenobi Tree Service, posted a Facebook video confirming the end of a dramatic protest in the Elwha watershed. Environmental activists—led by Charter Review Commissioner Nina Sarmiento—vaca...2025-06-2449 min
Clallam County WatchdogThe Charter Review Commission thinks you’re the problemThe Charter Review Commission was supposed to represent the people—now it’s lecturing them instead. From dismissing public comments as partisan noise to rewriting the rules to silence dissent, a small group of commissioners has taken control of the process. If you think your voice matters, think again—because unless you’re applauding their agenda, they’re not listening. This is how government stops being accountable and starts deciding it knows better than you.Clallam County’s Charter Review Commission was supposed to be a citizen-led body—15 elected commissioners representing the people of three districts, tas...2025-06-2346 min
Clallam County WatchdogWhen sovereignty meets incompetenceWhen the Jamestown Tribe breached a Dungeness River levee before Clallam County’s replacement was built, it triggered a $15 million emergency, real flood danger to local residents, and exposed just how powerless the County is when dealing with sovereign tribal authority backed by the federal government. Emails obtained from the US Army Corps of Engineers reveal how the Tribe called the shots, the Army Corps shrugged, and Clallam County taxpayers got stuck footing the bill—with no accountability and no say.Note: The Randy Johnson mentioned in this article is the Jamestown Tribe’s Habitat Progra...2025-06-2251 min
Clallam County WatchdogThe show he never got to haveHe spent decades creating breathtaking art — but died before he could show it. Now, the Sequim community has a chance to give Richard Madeo the gallery opening he always dreamed of. Join his family and friends on June 29 to honor a life of creativity, craftsmanship, and quiet brilliance.He poured his soul into his art, but never got to show it.Now, we finally can.On Sunday, June 29, the Sequim community will come together to honor the life, love, and legacy of Richard Gregory Madeo — carpenter, artist, father, and friend — with the ar...2025-06-2104 min
Clallam County WatchdogSurvey of suspicionThe Charter Review Commission promised a public survey to “listen to the people.” Instead, it manipulated the questions, buried the results, and is now trying to downplay what the public actually said. Two powerful amendments—one on district-only voting, another on political conflicts of interest—have overwhelming support, but commissioners are stalling. The much-hyped community survey from the Clallam County Charter Review Commission was sold as a way for citizens to shape their local government. But from the beginning, it looked more like a PR move than public outreach — and now that the results are in, some c...2025-06-2045 min
Clallam County WatchdogReservoir of powerThe Dungeness Off-Channel Reservoir is being managed as a public works project—but should it be? Clallam County’s own Charter says watershed planning belongs to the Department of Community Development. So why is an unelected deputy running a project meant to restore streamflows and protect salmon? This quiet transfer of authority raises serious questions about transparency, accountability, and whether the County is following its own rules.The Dungeness Off-Channel Reservoir is, by any fair reading of the facts, a watershed project. Its purpose? To improve summer streamflows, support aquifer recharge, assist with fish habitat, and...2025-06-1921 min
Clallam County WatchdogFive years laterFive years after protests and powerful promises of justice and “real change,” a closer look at water rights, tax policy, and tribal influence raises serious questions. While local residents are metered and taxed, a sovereign corporation flourishes—untouched by the rules that bind everyone else. Is this the equity we were promised, or a new kind of double standard?A lot has changed in the last five years—and a lot hasn’t.As we enter another summer of unrest, it’s hard not to recall the nationwide protests of 2020. On June 17th, 2020, amid the Bla...2025-06-1841 min
Clallam County WatchdogClallam in crisisThe lights are dimming in Clallam County. While our neighbors to the east are investing in jobs and industry, Clallam is downsizing education, turning its back on economic prosperity, and handing over control of key public institutions to unaccountable interests. The signs are everywhere—just not where county leaders are looking. We’re losing our tax base, our young people, and now even our volunteers. And it’s all happening under the cover of noble-sounding phrases like “time immemorial.”Million-dollar mystery: Race, merit, or both?An interesting article about Habitat for Humanity surfaced from three...2025-06-1748 min
Clallam County WatchdogPiped dryA buried agreement proves Clallam Conservation District knew ditch piping could dry up wells—yet only the wealthy got mitigation while the public got silence. Now, the truth is out.The Clallam Conservation District (CCD) has long downplayed the risks that piping open irrigation ditches might dry up nearby wells. In their publicly posted FAQ, the agency admits that groundwater drawdown is possible, but insists such outcomes are rare. They state that after 66 miles of piping since 1999, “the number of wells running dry…have been very few.” Whether a well will be impacted, they say, “depends on...2025-06-1616 min
Clallam County WatchdogTowne Road: A post-mortemWhat started as a routine road realignment turned into a case study in government failure, special interest influence, and public betrayal. Clallam County’s Towne Road project—overshadowed by mismanagement, tribal pressure, vanishing transparency, and political favoritism—burned through nearly $1.5 million in avoidable costs, ignored public input, and left taxpayers footing the bill for a private driveway, empty walking paths, and costly environmental overreach. This is the story the official report didn’t tell—and the video every taxpayer needs to see.For many in Clallam County, the realignment of a 0.8-mile segment of Towne Road was n...2025-06-151h 04
Clallam County WatchdogWill Weneha win the Sequim Schools build bid?Sequim voters passed a $145 million school bond to upgrade aging facilities—but was it also a payday for the consultants who helped sell it? The Wenaha Group, a private firm that specializes in crafting bond campaigns and then managing the resulting construction, is poised to cash in. With property taxes set to rise and public records still missing, residents are asking: Was this bond about schools—or about profit?When Sequim voters passed the School District’s $145 million bond last year, they were told it was about improving schools, fixing old buildings, and investing in the co...2025-06-1425 min
Clallam County WatchdogHabitat for who, exactly?Habitat for Humanity’s good intentions are clear—but as millions in public funding flow in and political partnerships deepen, the questions get harder to ignore.With Feel Good Fridays on hiatus, the good news is that there’s another local blog to highlight the positive. Enter Clallam County Solutions, a Substack by Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County Vice President Danny Steiger. In a recent post, Steiger paints a glowing picture of his organization’s work, with stories of community, equity, and progress. But behind the PR packaging, the questions remain—questions that Steig...2025-06-1340 min
Clallam County WatchdogA county of contrastsIn Clallam County, justice, taxation, and opportunity increasingly depend on who you are—not what’s fair. See how violent crimes go unpunished, how tax dollars and gas prices are manipulated to benefit political insiders and tribal enterprises, and how local media spins the narrative to keep you distracted. From downtown assaults to multi-million-dollar gas station windfalls, this roundup asks the uncomfortable question: Is our county still working for the people who live in it—or just for those who know how to play the system?A tale of two deathsLast month, an eld...2025-06-1242 min
Clallam County WatchdogCanoes, culture, and county codeThe Canoe Journey is a powerful celebration of Indigenous culture—but this year’s landing at Jamestown Beach highlights a deeper issue. While the Tribe isn’t required to get permits or pay fees, local groups hosting similar events must navigate costly red tape. If cultural heritage matters to all, why are there two sets of rules? Dive into the double standards—and calls for equity.It’s hard not to be moved by the annual Canoe Journey. If you’ve seen it, you know: tribal canoes arriving from across the Northwest, welcomed with song, ceremony, an...2025-06-1140 min
Clallam County WatchdogDRMT to weigh in on Water Steward proposal tomorrowA powerful coalition of government officials, tribal leaders, and environmental activists is advancing a controversial “Water Steward” position—potentially reshaping Clallam County’s control over water rights. With backroom coordination, conflicting roles, and rising public concern, residents are left wondering: who’s really calling the shots on our most vital resource?The Dungeness River Management Team (DRMT) was originally founded as a partnership between Clallam County and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe to develop and implement local solutions for managing the Dungeness Watershed. Over the years, it has expanded to include representatives from influential nonprofits, environmenta...2025-06-1049 min
Clallam County WatchdogNeedles, name-calling, and no accountabilityAs Clallam County leaders push agendas around reconciliation, drug policy, and water rights, the tangled web of public spending, tribal influence, and ideological posturing is becoming harder to ignore. From harm reduction supplies shipped to private homes, to lawsuits threatening the state’s food supply, and to bizarre behavior at local government meetings—this county might be losing more than its patience. This week’s report dives deep into the dysfunction.Harm reduction in the park?While the Clallam County Health Department refuses to acknowledge a link between drug use, harm reduction, and homele...2025-06-0946 min
Clallam County WatchdogCounty department becomes "reconciliation" program for "historic injustices"Clallam County is spending millions to make drug use “safer”—handing out crack pipes, boofing kits, and Plan B while overdose deaths continue to climb. A public health model shaped by radical ideologues and tribal politics now dominates policy, but with little evidence that it's saving lives. The people, priorities, and power behind this system are more focused on “honoring the land” than holding anyone accountable.Clallam County’s 2024 Public Health Annual Report opens not with a mission statement or public health priorities—but with a land acknowledgment. Before addressing overdose deaths, access to care, or taxpayer sp...2025-06-0840 min
Clallam County WatchdogDrought of rain, flood of cashWashington’s annual drought declarations unleash millions in grants—but not for who you think. While rural homeowners face restrictions, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe collects drought funds and keeps its golf course pristine. Meanwhile, science showing that ditch removal harmed aquifers was quietly shelved. The real drought? Accountability.This week, Casey Sixkiller, Director of Washington’s Department of Ecology, announced what’s becoming a rite of Spring in Olympia: another drought declaration. Counties along the I-5 corridor, the eastern Cascades, and one more conveniently-placed region have been declared officially dry. But don’t...2025-06-0722 min
Clallam County WatchdogPush intensifies for new bureaucracyA “volunteer” water role is quickly becoming a taxpayer-funded office. Unelected insiders are drafting policy. Public questions are dismissed, critics redirected, and free speech stifled. This isn’t water stewardship—it’s a power grab hiding in plain sight. Clallam County voters deserve to know what’s happening before they lose control of how they’re governed.The Water Steward Committee, a subcommittee of the Charter Review Commission, convened yesterday. The meeting lasted nearly two and a half hours. Several times, the committee made a concerted effort not to use the word “management.”Commissioner Ron R...2025-06-0638 min
Clallam County WatchdogBehind the curtainWhat do spicy wings, skewed surveys, and million-dollar margins have in common? They’re all part of the strange saga unfolding in Clallam County.From a commissioner dodging hard questions while blocking job opportunities near his home, to a school curriculum that skips over violent tribal history, to a tribal enterprise reporting profit margins that beat Amazon—this investigative roundup exposes how local power players say one thing and do another. If you care about transparency, accountability, and who’s really pulling the strings in Clallam, you’ll want to read this.Commissioner Ozias: Under Fire...2025-06-0531 min
Clallam County Watchdog"Equity" at whose expense?While Sequim schools struggle with failing test scores and declining enrollment, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is steering the curriculum toward cultural reeducation—without paying their fair share in local taxes. Is it really “equity” when academic basics are ignored, and those least invested in funding public schools have the loudest voice in shaping what our kids learn?In 2018, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe gave a presentation to the Sequim School Board titled “Cultural Sensitivity.” It framed history in terms of colonizers and victims, with a heavy focus on how public institutions must transform themselves to honor triba...2025-06-0434 min
Clallam County WatchdogThe value of citizen sleuthsA known Level 3 sex offender was spotted lingering near young women at the Port Angeles Farmers Market—hours later, he was booked into jail for assault. One local woman recognized him, alerted others, and took action. Most bystanders didn’t even know how to look up his record. Here’s how you can—and why you absolutely should.On Saturday, a CC Watchdog subscriber sent a message after leaving a local business in downtown Port Angeles. What she saw disturbed her—and should disturb all of us:“So today when I came out of [business...2025-06-0331 min
Clallam County WatchdogEvading accountability, tribal privilege, and the high cost of silenceFrom land grabs to hit-and-runs, housing failures to hidden agendas—ten stories that expose a growing pattern of double standards, vanishing oversight, and taxpayer-funded hypocrisy.A different kind of “self-reliance”?Vice Chair of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Loni Greninger, recently testified before the U.S. Senate, insisting that tribal nations need more federal support for behavioral health, food security, employment, housing, and childcare. Yet she also called for greater tribal self-governance and self-determination. So which is it?Greninger’s testimony reveals a familiar tension: demanding independence while relying on federal dependency...2025-06-0230 min
Clallam County WatchdogHappy Virtue Signaling Month!I never expected to be silenced by the very groups that once stood for inclusion and free expression. But after speaking up for First Amendment rights, property rights, and honest debate, I find myself shut out—by “allies.” Identity politics and virtue signaling have replaced real dialogue with hypocrisy, and today’s self-appointed defenders of "democracy" are quickly becoming its censors.We stay close to home during the summer. It’s the best time to be in Clallam County, so why would we leave? We might not go on vacation, but vacations come to us.For y...2025-06-0127 min
Clallam County WatchdogFlooding, mapping, and a shakeup at Juvenile ServicesIt was a revealing week in Clallam County government, as Commissioners addressed flooding in Dungeness, advanced a new coastal mapping project with tribal and state partners, and—without prior notice—discussed a major shakeup in youth behavioral health services.3 Crabs Road updateAt Tuesday’s work session, Clallam County Commissioners were briefed on seasonal flooding along 3 Crabs Road, the sole access point for about 600 residents north of Sequim. Residents say the flooding has worsened since the County and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe removed an armored dike during the Meadowbrook Creek estuary restoration.An...2025-05-3035 min
Clallam County WatchdogStories you won't see in the legacy pressA lot of great article ideas are sent to Clallam County Watchdog, but not all of them fit neatly into a full-length feature. That doesn’t make them less important—many highlight issues that deserve discussion and scrutiny. So here’s a potpourri of overlooked stories and uncomfortable truths to keep our critical thinking muscles in shape.1. Sequim Gazette silences opposing viewsAfter the Sequim Gazette ran an op-ed by Craig Smith and Tony Corrado supporting a Clallam County Charter amendment to create a new “Water Steward” position, I reached out to Editor Kathy Cruz from my pr...2025-05-2933 min
Clallam County WatchdogEquity for some?Washington State is pouring millions into grant programs that are only available to tribal governments — bypassing equally struggling rural and low-income communities. Under the banner of “equity,” state and federal agencies are creating a two-tiered system of public access, where your eligibility depends not on your need, but on your identity. Is this justice — or taxpayer-funded discrimination? Washington’s push for “equity” is no longer just a buzzword — it’s becoming a system of exclusivity. While taxpayers across the state just witnessed the biggest tax hike in state history, a growing number of public funding streams are availa...2025-05-2830 min
Clallam County WatchdogAnother victim steps forwardA young girl comes forward with chilling details about her year-long relationship with Aaron Fisher—the same man accused in the fatal assault of Richard Madeo. Her story reveals alleged abuse, drug use, and grooming, all while law enforcement stood by despite repeated warnings from her family. As questions grow about a missing woman and a community’s failure to act, this investigation exposes a justice system more focused on comfort for offenders than protection for victims.Earlier this month, Richard Madeo—a Sequim-area resident with mobility issues—died following an alleged assault near the Safeway...2025-05-2734 min
Clallam County WatchdogThe new Pamphleteers and the illusion of consentThis Memorial Day, we ask: are we honoring the freedoms others died to protect—or quietly giving them away? Clallam County’s proposed “Water Steward” may sound harmless, but it masks a deeper agenda of expanding government control over land and water. Driving the effort are League of Women Voters activists, including Charter Review Chair Susan Fisch, using vague buzzwords and meetings with limited engagement to push sweeping changes without real public input. The original pamphleteers believed citizens deserved truth and transparency—not layers of bureaucracy. Do we still believe that today?When America was still in i...2025-05-2626 min