PORT TOWNSEND — Two plane crash victims remained in serious condition in a Seattle hospital Wednesday, two days after their plane crashed near the Discovery Bay Golf Club’s 17th hole.
Stephen L. Smith, the owner of the plane, and Deborah L. Smith of Snohomish remained in intensive care at Harborview Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.
The plane, a two-seater 1965 Cessna 150, crashed into the brush at about 1:20 p.m., said Bill Beezley, East Jefferson Fire-Rescue spokesman.
The Smiths were extricated from the wreckage and then airlifted to Harborview.
The inquiry into what caused the crash is expected to last up to 18 months.
An initial determination for the cause of the crash could come in about a week, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Free performance
SEQUIM — Jazz harpist Laraine Claire will give a free performance at Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave., this Friday.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. for this “Off Stage” event, which will also feature short talks by KSQM-FM hosts.
Starting at 6 p.m., they will chat briefly about their radio programs while Claire plays her Lyon & Healy harp.
While admission is free, beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks will be available for purchase at OTA’s bar.
For information, phone the theater at 360-683-7326.
Police dog funeral
VANCOUVER, Wash. — Hundreds of community members and officers, both on two legs and four, came to a public memorial service for a Vancouver police dog that was stabbed in the line of duty.
The overwhelming opinion was that 6-year-old Vancouver Police K9 Ike was a very good boy.
Ike was trained in patrol and drug detection and had 450 deployments and more than 60 captures throughout his career.
His handler, Officer Jack Anderson, said Ike was a consistent partner and friend.
The department gave Anderson its Purple Heart award on Ike’s behalf, and the Washington State Police Canine Association presented Anderson with its Medal of Valor for Ike.
Ike was stabbed while capturing Jackie Chan Karuo on Sept. 1. Karuo has been charged with a number of crimes, including harming a police dog.
Minimum wage
OLYMPIA — Washington state’s minimum wage will not increase next year, and the state will no longer have the highest statewide minimum wage as of January.
State officials announced that the current minimum wage of $9.47 an hour will not increase because inflation, as measured by the national Consumer Price Index, did not increase over the past year. That index decreased 0.3 percent.
It’s only the second time that there has not been an increase in the state since voters approved an initiative in 1998 to adjust the minimum wage with inflation. Under that law, the minimum wage can’t be decreased. The last time the minimum wage was not increased was in 2010.
Even though Washington has had the highest minimum wage in the country for years, on Jan. 1, California and Massachusetts will reach $10 per hour.
