03/15/2005

Associated Press

King County's Metro transit agency is considering whether to offer ferry service.

A report in June will recommend whether the county should offer passenger-ferry service on Lake Washington and Lake Union. It also will say whether Metro should take over the Vashon Island run to downtown Seattle that is now operated by the state ferry system.

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TACOMA, Wash. — Tacoma is looking for a new operator to run its garbage-burning plant in the city's industrial Tideflats area.

The city hopes the plant would burn as much as three-quarters of Tacoma's garbage. Electricity generated by the plant could be sold as "green power" to environmentally minded customers, if the plant wins an air quality permit.

The plant was shut down in 2001 after the state refused to allow it to burn waste oil and asphalt roofing along with the garbage.

The only other operating garbage incinerator in Washington is at Spokane.

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CONCONULLY, Wash. (AP) — Organizers of the Cowboy Caviar festival in Conconully are auctioning off the titles of "King and Queen of the Ball" on eBay.

The winning royal couple will receive free lodging, entertainment and food in the north-central Washington town for three days.

They will reign over a contest to see which of three restaurants can cook up the best bull testicles.

The town of 200 hopes to attract more attention to the June 18 event, which sold 60 tickets last year. Marilyn Church of the Chamber of Commerce said some people plan their summer vacations around testicle festivals.

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SEQUIM, Wash. (AP) — Mayor Walt Schubert was injured in a motorcycle crash on State Route 112 west of Port Angeles.

His Harley-Davidson left the highway Sunday at a turn and hit a stump, the State Patrol reported.

The 64-year-old was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where his condition was described as satisfactory.

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WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) — Lack of snow continues to take its toll on winter recreation in Washington.

Monday was the final day of the season for the Mission Ridge ski area near Wenatchee.

The hill had been operating recently on man-made snow, but operators decided to call it quits.

While the hill had more than 100,000 skier visits last year, it had only about 23,000 in this warm and dry winter. The resort plans to invest in more snowmaking equipment for next year.

The Mount Baker Ski Area also closed Monday, at least temporarily. It could reopen if it gets 15 to 18 inches of new snow, general manager Duncan Howat said.

And at Mount Rainier National Park, lack of snow has prompted officials to cancel the remaining three weeks of public snowshoe walks in the park.

The lack of snow — only a few inches in some places — doesn't provide enough protection for the fragile alpine meadows in the Paradise area.

"It's important for visitors to stay on deep snow or melted trails to avoid crushing these beautiful natural gardens," said Kevin Bacher, a nature interpreter.