Matthew Nash

This agave grew from the size of a baseball in the 1990s to the height of Isobel Johnston’s roof in 2020. She saw it bloom in 2023. Following her death last year, Clallam County Fire District 3 commissioners, who purchased the property on Fifth Avenue in 2015, agreed to sell it to support the building of a new Carlsborg fire station. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group file)

Fire district to sell property known for its Sequim agave plant

Sale proceeds may support new Carlsborg station project

 

Aaron Fisher, left, appears in Clallam County Superior Court on Jan. 9 with his attorney Lane Wolfley at a hearing during which his trial was confirmed to begin on Jan. 26. He has been charged with second-degree murder. (Clallam County Superior Court)

Murder trial is set for Jan. 26

Bank robbery trial to be reset for future date

 

As part of Olympic Theatre Arts’ energy renovation upgrade project, new lighting has been installed, including on the Elaine and Robert Caldwell Main Stage that allows for new and improved effects. (Olympic Theatre Arts)

Olympic Theatre Arts remodels its building

New roof, LED lights, HVAC throughout

 

Dozens of law enforcement vehicles assisted with the arrest of Justin Cox last June after he allegedly shot at officers and bystanders as he was sheltering inside a home. On Dec. 22, he received an order for civil commitment for inpatient psychiatric treatment. (Emily Matthiessen/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Sequim man sent to state hospital

Charges could be refiled in Carlsborg standoff case

Dozens of law enforcement vehicles assisted with the arrest of Justin Cox last June after he allegedly shot at officers and bystanders as he was sheltering inside a home. On Dec. 22, he received an order for civil commitment for inpatient psychiatric treatment. (Emily Matthiessen/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Father and son KC Eaton and Hayden Eaton became the new owners of Bill’s Plumbing & Sanikan on Dec. 31. They purchased it from Judy Kimler, the daughter of business founders Bill and Ann Kimler, who started the plumbing business in 1959.

Sequim’s Bill’s Plumbing sold after 60-plus years

New owners say they are committed to community

Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Father and son KC Eaton and Hayden Eaton became the new owners of Bill’s Plumbing & Sanikan on Dec. 31. They purchased it from Judy Kimler, the daughter of business founders Bill and Ann Kimler, who started the plumbing business in 1959.
Joan Butler receives a sweet drink as a gift during her 100th birthday party on Dec. 19 at Diamond Point. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Diamond Point woman celebrates 100th birthday

Butler’s keys to longevity: Keep moving, don’t smoke

Joan Butler receives a sweet drink as a gift during her 100th birthday party on Dec. 19 at Diamond Point. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
North Olympic Library System staff report that construction funds for the renovation and expansion of the Sequim Library will mostly come from timber revenue via state forest trust lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Sequim library to open in 2026

Timber revenues help fund construction

North Olympic Library System staff report that construction funds for the renovation and expansion of the Sequim Library will mostly come from timber revenue via state forest trust lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Justice Loftus holds up a dinosaur mask he received at the Winter Wishes assembly. He said he plans to use it to play with his younger brother. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Sequim High School assembly grants students’ requests

Annual assembly provides gifts via leadership class

Justice Loftus holds up a dinosaur mask he received at the Winter Wishes assembly. He said he plans to use it to play with his younger brother. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Deb Carlson, president of the Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild, presents a check for $9,585 to Deputy Police Chief John Southard and City Manager Matt Huish to help purchase three automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for three new vehicles and new AED pads and first aid supplies for the full fleet. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Guild marks $2.5M in support for medical needs

Shop donations reopen in February, sales in March

Deb Carlson, president of the Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild, presents a check for $9,585 to Deputy Police Chief John Southard and City Manager Matt Huish to help purchase three automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for three new vehicles and new AED pads and first aid supplies for the full fleet. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Marylaura Ramponi stands by an excavator donated for geotechnical work at Sequim School District by Jamestown Excavating. She donated $1 million for the naming rights of the Ramponi Center for Technical Excellence, a career and technical education building that will be built in conjunction with new buildings at Sequim High School. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Progress begins on CTE building

Ramponi Center could be done by early 2028

Marylaura Ramponi stands by an excavator donated for geotechnical work at Sequim School District by Jamestown Excavating. She donated $1 million for the naming rights of the Ramponi Center for Technical Excellence, a career and technical education building that will be built in conjunction with new buildings at Sequim High School. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Clallam requests new court contracts

Sequim, PA to explore six-month agreements

Sequim City Council member Vicki Lowe participates in her last meeting on Dec. 8 after choosing not to run for a second term. (Barbara Hanna/City of Sequim)

Lowe honored for Sequim City Council service

Elected officials recall her inspiration, confidence

Sequim City Council member Vicki Lowe participates in her last meeting on Dec. 8 after choosing not to run for a second term. (Barbara Hanna/City of Sequim)
Andra Smith, Sequim Food Bank’s executive director, will take a job in February with the Washington Food Coalition, helping more than 300 hunger-relief agencies across the state with networking, finding new resources and understanding legislation. (Silas Crews)

Executive director to leave Sequim Food Bank

Smith accepts statewide position for hunger-relief agencies

Andra Smith, Sequim Food Bank’s executive director, will take a job in February with the Washington Food Coalition, helping more than 300 hunger-relief agencies across the state with networking, finding new resources and understanding legislation. (Silas Crews)
Mahlum, an architecture firm, has been hired by the Sequim School District for design services related to renovation of Sequim High School and building a new Career and Technical Education building, the Ramponi Center for Technical Excellence. The high school’s renovation is part of a voter-approved bond while the CTE building is funded with grants and private contributions. (Sequim School District)

Sequim schools approve contracts

Projects approved by Public Review Committee

Mahlum, an architecture firm, has been hired by the Sequim School District for design services related to renovation of Sequim High School and building a new Career and Technical Education building, the Ramponi Center for Technical Excellence. The high school’s renovation is part of a voter-approved bond while the CTE building is funded with grants and private contributions. (Sequim School District)

Trial pushed to January for man accused of second-degree murder

New defense attorney says he will need a new investigator

Sequim Museum volunteers Bob Stipe, Scott Stipe and executive director Judy Reandeau Stipe stand with Dan Bujok, VFW district commander, and Ken Bearly, Carlsborg 4760 post commander, at the museum’s Veterans Monument. It’s recently been refurbished and organizers welcome past and present veterans and their family members to apply for a tile to be placed on the east side of the wall. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Museum seeks veterans to add tiles to monument wall

Rededication ceremony tentatively set for early 2026

Sequim Museum volunteers Bob Stipe, Scott Stipe and executive director Judy Reandeau Stipe stand with Dan Bujok, VFW district commander, and Ken Bearly, Carlsborg 4760 post commander, at the museum’s Veterans Monument. It’s recently been refurbished and organizers welcome past and present veterans and their family members to apply for a tile to be placed on the east side of the wall. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim’s 2026 budget is about 11 percent less than this year with fewer capital projects and a new cap on municipal funding. Staffing will increase by 1.1 full-time-equivalent employees following retirements, position changes and new hires. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Sequim approves $51.6M budget

Utility increases to continue for five years

Sequim’s 2026 budget is about 11 percent less than this year with fewer capital projects and a new cap on municipal funding. Staffing will increase by 1.1 full-time-equivalent employees following retirements, position changes and new hires. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Santa Claus, the Grinch and career and volunteers with Clallam County Fire District 3, IAFF Local 2933 and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will accept food and toy donations this week as part of Santa’s Toy and Food Fire Brigade in Sequim. The food and toy drive will end on Friday at Sequim Walmart with donations accepted from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Santa arriving to hand out candy canes and take photos from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Toys, food to highlight Sequim Santa Brigade

Program will culminate Friday with booth at Walmart location

Santa Claus, the Grinch and career and volunteers with Clallam County Fire District 3, IAFF Local 2933 and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will accept food and toy donations this week as part of Santa’s Toy and Food Fire Brigade in Sequim. The food and toy drive will end on Friday at Sequim Walmart with donations accepted from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Santa arriving to hand out candy canes and take photos from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Four locations are accepting items for children ages 1-18 for Toys for Sequim Kids set for Dec. 16 at the Sequim Prairie Grange. Locations include Anytime Fitness Sequim, Co-Op Farm and Garden, Sequim Electronics (Radio Shack) and the YMCA of Sequim.

Toys for Sequim Kids seeks donations for annual event

Trees are up for Toys for Sequim Kids, an annual giving event for children ages 1-18. Community members can make donations, including new… Continue reading

Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Four locations are accepting items for children ages 1-18 for Toys for Sequim Kids set for Dec. 16 at the Sequim Prairie Grange. Locations include Anytime Fitness Sequim, Co-Op Farm and Garden, Sequim Electronics (Radio Shack) and the YMCA of Sequim.
Sequim administrative staff members said they look to bringing city shop staff, including water, streets and stormwater, back under one roof with site improvements. In an effort to find the funds to do so, they’ve paused $350,000 in funding originally set for a second-floor remodel of the Sequim Civic Center and designated it for the shop area. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Sequim Civic Center remodel on hold for city shop upgrades

Public Works director says plan would be less than $35M

Sequim administrative staff members said they look to bringing city shop staff, including water, streets and stormwater, back under one roof with site improvements. In an effort to find the funds to do so, they’ve paused $350,000 in funding originally set for a second-floor remodel of the Sequim Civic Center and designated it for the shop area. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)