Among the highlights will be appearances Sunday by Edgar Hansen and Nick Mavar Jr. of the MV Northwestern, from the Discovery Channel television series “Deadliest Catch.” Also appearing will be Glenn Hall of Hawg Quest both days, and Nick Mundt of “The Bone Collector” show, who will appear Saturday.

Also at the expo, vendors and exhibitors will tout the outdoor experiences, products and recreational destinations that make the Grays Harbor County a worthy destination. Exhibitors include fishing guides and lodging providers. There also will be a free kids’ fishing pond, the Northwest Record Head Mounts and trophy game display.

Expo tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for youths ages 6-13 and free for children 5 and younger. Hours are 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m..-4 p.m Sunday.

The fairgrounds are 1/2 mile east of Elma on Elma-McCleary Road.

Work has been taking place since September as the park has gone through a sewer system upgrade.

State Parks officials noted that the trail dump station and boat pumpout are expected to be closed through Feb. 8.

The park is located on the east side of Key Peninsula, at the head of Mayo Cove.

Substantial amounts of snow have fallen at higher evevations all over the forest, said a news release. This can be an issue for anyone planning to hunt, fish or camp on the forest.

Remember toe take chains or other traction devices when heading into the forest. Carry shovels, water, food and extra clothing. Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.

Greg Schirato, deputy director of the wildlife program, said the action is consistent with those of the Governor’s Office and the state Department of Natural Resources, which have lifted statewide burn bans in recent days.

“Wildfire risks are easing, particularly after the recent rains in western Washington,” Schirato said in a news release. “But it’s important that everyone remain vigilant and avoid any action that could touch off another blaze.”

By lifting its emergency restrictions, the department will again allow campers, hunters and others who visit the department’s lands to build campfires, practice target shooting, use generators and operate chainsaws.

Standard rules for those and other activities on WDFW lands are available on the department’s website. For information about wildfire risks around the state, click here.

Bridge Creek, Bridge Creek Group, Bridge Creek Stock, Shady, Tumwater, High Bridge, Harlequin, Harlequin Group, Rainbow Falls, Purple Point, Purple Point Stock, Purple Point Overflow, Weaver Point, Manly Wham and Flick Creek.

The ignition of wood, briquettes, or any fuel in fire pits, fire pans, barbecue grills or other devices is prohibited in these places until further notice.

This ban in the middle and lower Stehekin Valley and the National Park Service-managed portion of Lake Chelan complements the ban imposed by the U.S. Forest Service along the lower portion of Lake Chelan and throughout the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

In the areas of Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and North Cascades National Park unaffected by this ban, campfires are permitted as usual.

They must be in established fire pits in both designated frontcountry campgrounds and designated backcountry campsites. Campfires are not permitted in other areas.

Wood and charcoal fires are only allowed in developed campgrounds and group campgrounds that have established concrete or steel-grated fire pits or rings.

Building and tending open campfires, including barbeques, cooking fires, and warming fires are prohibited until further notice. Permissible sources of cooking and heat are portable stoves, or lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel. Smoking is allowed within enclosed vehicles, buildings, and developed recreation sites.

Violators can be fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned up to six months in jail.

According to fire officials, the long persistent dry summer has created dangerously high fire conditions and the National Weather Service predicts more dry conditions ahead.

Wood and charcoal fires are only allowed in developed campgrounds and group campgrounds that have established concrete or steel-grated fire pits or rings. Building and tending open campfires, including charcoal briquettes, cooking fires and warming fires are prohibited until further notice.

Allowable sources for cooking or heat include portable stoves or lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel.

Smoking is allowed within enclosed vehicles, buildings and developed recreation sites.

Violators can be fined up to $5,000 and/ or imprisoned up to six months in jail.

The emergency order, which is effective immediately, prohibits:

Fires or campfires: However, personal camp stoves or lanterns fueled by liquid petroleum, liquid petroleum gas or propane are allowed.

Smoking: Unless in an enclosed vehicle.

Target shooting: Except at shooting ranges developed by the agency.

Welding and the use of chainsaws and other equipment: Operating a torch with an open flame and equipment powered by an internal combustion engine is prohibited.

Operating a motor vehicle off developed roads: Except when parking in areas without vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway and parking in developed campgrounds and at trailheads.

Greg Schirato, deputy director of the department’s wildlife program, said these restrictions are part of a larger effort by state and federal agencies to reduce the risk of further wildfires in Washington. That effort includes a burn ban issued for all forestlands protected by the state Department of Natural Resources and another issued by Gov. Chris Gregoire for eastern Washington.

The restrictions on WDFW-managed lands will remain in effect until conditions improve and the risk of wildfires decreases.

The sites were temporarily closed a week ago to assist with fire suppression efforts at the Diamond Butte Fire.

The Middle Fork Road, which accesses Tree Phones Campground and Whites Ridge Trailhead, will continue to be closed during the week, but will reopen from 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday at 8 p.m. It will be closed on Labor Day.

You can get more details by clicking here.

The deaths of two visitors have led officials at Yosemite National Park to issue a warning to 1,700 people they might have been exposed to hantavirus while staying at Curry Village.

The first person died in June and the second person died earlier this month. Two other people have been infected but are expected to live.

All of them, as well as the people who were warned of the situation Tuesday, stayed in the park’s popular “Signature Tent Cabins” at Curry Village.

Click here to read more about the situation.