The Bellingham Herald

• Loss of NOAA chance to re-examine plans
  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's decision to move its research fleet from Seattle to Newport, Ore., and not to Bellingham, was disappointing considering the efforts our community put into trying to land the facility here.
  The new Marine Operations Center for NOAA will employ 78 shore-side employees and 178 researchers and on-board crew members starting in 2011. We are sad that those jobs won't be joining our economy.
  But we suggest rather than spend time worrying about why the bid failed, our community take the opportunity to re-examine the future plans for the waterfront site formerly home to Georgia-Pacific Corp.
  Since 2003 most of the plans proposed have included at least a mention of NOAA as a key component of the reborn waterfront. It was hoped NOAA would take up residence in the mostly quiet former shipping terminal located just south of the G-P site.
  There was also talk about how well the NOAA center would combine with Western Washington University's Huxley College. University officials have labeled Huxley as the most-likely part of the university to locate at the waterfront property.

Richmond Review

• Bob Carkner believed anything was possible
  Once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky, you’ll meet an individual of impeccable integrity.
  
  Robert Thomas Carkner was such a man.
  
  With his passing Aug. 2, at the age of 73, Richmond and the world at large lost a gentle, caring soul whose contributions are beyond scope. ...
  
  Carkner obtained a bachelor of physical education at the University of B.C. with post-graduate studies in counselling, and then a master of education degree in administration at Western Washington State College (now Western Washington University). He was a high school teacher, counsellor or administrator for 35 years, 22 of those as a high school principal at Hugh Boyd, London, Steveston and Richmond High. And in all those years, Carkner never wavered from his commitment to support the staff and students or his community. He sat on countless committees including those at the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre and the B.C. Space Sypmposium.

The (Tacoma) News Tribune

• WWU alum starts organic farm near Orting
  During recent record-breaking heat, you could almost hear the corn growing at Tahoma Farms in Orting.
  
  Their first year on the farm, Tahoma owners Kim and Dan Hulse are predicting a bumper crop of sweet corn.
  
  That's due in part to the ready supply of well water that kept the corn and the farm's other produce well-irrigated as the thermometer climbed to triple digits. ...
  
  The Hulses met while working on an organic farm in Puyallup. Kim became interested in sustainable agriculture while taking classes in environmental studies at Western Washington University, and Dan learned a lot while working for an organic produce distributor.