South Sound briefs - May 4

• Published May 04, 2008

SOUTH SOUND

DOT advises on work that may delay traffic

The following projects are expected to affect traffic in Thurston and Lewis counties this week:

• Installation of traffic-data sensors will close single lanes at various times on Interstate 5 in Lewis County between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

• Noxious weed control will close the left lanes of I-5 north and south at various points from Tumwater to the Pierce County line between 3 and 6 a.m. Thursday.

• Slope stabilization will close the right lane of westbound state Route 8, from mileposts 16.6 to 16.8, between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

FORT LEWIS

Pride week for I Corps soldiers begins Monday

I Corps soldiers at Fort Lewis will observe I Corps Pride Week from Monday through Friday.

Pride Week is held annually to conduct soldier training and maintain training areas throughout the installation, according to Fort Lewis. It will involve brigade-on-brigade athletic competition, unit "Organization Day" activities, the first Fort Lewis safety fair and the I Corps Unit Run.

GRAYS HARBOR COUNTY

Jury acquits officer who hit teenage daughter

An Ocean Shores police officer has been acquitted of fourth-degree assault involving his 17-year-old daughter.

An Aberdeen Municipal Court jury found it was acceptable discipline when Officer Jeffrey Elmore used a belt on the girl. Elmore and his wife clasped hands and fought tears, but his daughter turned away from hugs and was led out of the courtroom sobbing.

The teenager accused Elmore of beating her with a belt in an argument Nov. 18. The prosecutor, Forest Worgum, says her bruises were visible for nearly a month.

Defense lawyer David L. Mistachkin argued that Elmore was exercising reasonable discretion in parental discipline.

The verdict was reached April 11. Elmore remained on administrative leave pending completion of an internal investigation.

olympia

Evergreen Christian pupil off to national spelling bee

James Lee, an eighth-grader at Evergreen Christian School in Olympia, will compete Saturday in the Association of Christian Schools International's National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Lee advanced to the national competition by winning a spelling bee in Poulsbo, followed by a regional spelling bee in Vancouver, Wash.

The national spelling bee involves fifth- through eighth-graders who attend schools that are part of the ACSI.

SOUTH SOUND

Postal carriers to collect items for food banks

Letter carriers in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Shelton will collect food from postal customers Saturday for delivery to the Thurston County Food Bank, Lacey's Sacred Heart Food Bank and Saint's Pantry of Shelton as part of the 16th annual Letter Carriers' Food Drive.

For more information, contact Ruth Milroy, coordinator, food drive, at Milroywashere@msn.com.

The Olympian, news services