UPDATED 2:57 P.M.

Here is the story I filed for Wednesday’s paper.

Based on preliminary numbers, South Sound anglers can expect the 2012-13 fishing season to be similar to last season. That was the consensus of state Department of Fish and Wildlife staffers Tuesday as they released forecasted salmon runs for waters from the South Sound to the ocean coast.

It sounds like there will be plenty of coho and chinook off the coast to make folks happy. Waters like Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor and coastal rivers such as the Queets are expected to see large runs of …

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From Grand Canyon National Park:

On Sunday, February 26th, 2012, park dispatch received a report that a hiker had fallen in Owl Eyes Canyon, which is located on the south side of the Colorado River across from the Tapeats Creek and Deer Creek areas. The park’s helicopter was dispatched to the area and discovered the woman’s body below a cliff in the Supai rock layer. Rangers then flew to the scene via helicopter, began their investigations, and prepared the body for transport. It was flown to the South Rim and turned over to the county medical examiner. The woman has

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Two of the state’s most popular hiking trails, Mount Si and Little Si near North Bend, remain closed nearly two weeks after a single-engine plane crashed in the area Feb. 15.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources and Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area hoped to have the trail open by today but snow and winter weather hindered their effort to remove the wreckage over the weekend. The plane is at 2,000 feet and the snow level has been as low as 1,000 feet.

“Current weather predictions indicate that snow is likely to interfere with removal efforts into the …

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The current forecast from the National Weather Service is calling for bitter cold temperatures and high winds, pushing the wind chill by Tuesday night and Wednesday to -50 degrees and colder.

The forecast is calling for averages temperatures at the summit to be -15 to -19 degrees, with winds ranging from 36-42 mph Tuesday through Wednesday.

At Camp Muir, at 10,188 feet elevation, temperatures will be 1-5 degrees, with winds pushing 38-43 mph. That will create wind chills of -23 to -27 degrees.

In the meantime, the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center said avalanche dangers will be considerable below 7,000 …

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From the Associated Press:

SEABECK, Wash. — A Kitsap County sheriff’s spokesman says drug use is suspected in the two vehicle head-on crash that killed a park ranger Friday night near Seabeck, Wash.

Sgt. Ken Dickinson says the 44-year-old ranger was apparently driving home from work when a Ford Thunderbird crossed the center line and collided with his vehicle head-on.

The 35-year-old man driving the Thunderbird was arrested for suspicion of vehicular homicide. His bail was set at $500,000.

Dickinson says the initial investigation indicated narcotics were involved, but final toxicology results are pending

He says that driver and a passenger

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A series of morning razor-clam digs have been scheduled for March and April, as long as test show the clams are safe to eat.

“We’re announcing tentative dates now so people can get them on their calendars,” Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, said in a news release. “We’ll confirm the dates once the test results are available.”

Unlike the previous digs this season, these digs are timed to coincide with morning low tides. No digging will be allowed on any beach after noon.

The proposed digs are:

• March 10: (7:39 am

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The Mount Si and Little Si trailheads and trails will remain closed through Tuesday as crews work to remove the wreckage of the single-engine airplane that crashed in the Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area on Feb. 15.

The are is located in eastern King County near the town of North Bend, is a popular recreation area along the Interstate 90 corridor.

“We know this closure affects a lot of people’s weekend plans, and we appreciate everyone’s patience,” Doug McClelland, assistant region manager for DNR’s South Puget Sound Region, said in a news release. “For public safety reasons, DNR is …

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Associated Ministries will hold a short service in honor of slain ranger Margaret Anderson on March 3 at Mount Rainier National Park.

Anderson was shot near Paradise on Jan. 1 after setting up a road block to stop a motorist who ran snow tire checkpoint. The shooter fled and was found dead in Paradise River the next morning.

The service will be at 1 p.m. at the northeast side of the Paradise Visitor Center. Associated Ministries attempts to conduct “Moments of Blessings” at the sites of all homicides in Pierce County, said spokeswoman Sandy Windley.

“It is an interfaith service,” …

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