PHOTOS: A dozen hot air balloon pilots were in the air over Battle Creek Saturday to thank those working during the pandemic. The flight was part of a world-wide effort by balloon pilots to honor front-line workers. Called "Lifting Spirits Around the World," the flights were to say to front-line workers "that we are all very grateful and thankful for them," according to Tom Brown, one of the organizers of the Battle Creek flight.
- PUB DATE: 10/5/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Battle Creek Enquirer

It sometimes feels like a never-ending roller coaster when it comes to the amount of people that can get infected by someone with COVID-19, also known as the transmission rate. "The trends are shifting again," said Dr. Anthony Chen, director of health at Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. "Transmission and cases are increasing over the last two weeks," said Dr.
- PUB DATE: 10/5/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

A fire at the Travelodge on the 1000 block of Wenatchee Avenue produced a column of smoke that could be seen throughout the Wenatchee Valley Saturday afternoon around 4:00 pm. Chelan County Fire District 1 Battalion Chief Kelly Lindemann said when crews arrived, an exterior fire was spreading up to the 2nd floor of the building.
- PUB DATE: 10/3/2020 7:24:42 PM - SOURCE: KPQ-AM 560

Four North Whidbey firefighters were part of the firefighting effort in California this past week, and smoke from the wildfires has tinged the Whidbey skyline in recent weeks. The North Whidbey Fire and Rescue crew left last week with an engine to assist in the firefighting efforts along with firefighters from several other agencies from Western Washington, according to Chief John Clark.
- PUB DATE: 10/3/2020 1:01:34 AM - SOURCE: Whidbey News-Times

PHOTOS: Islander Jim Whitney, medical services officer for the Redmond Fire District, said that keeping up morale among first responders has been a priority since day one of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The anxiety and fear associated with COVID at the onset were pretty high,” he said. But now, a tool designed by researchers working in the University of Washington’s Engineering Innovation in Health program (EIH) and manufactured on Vashon will allow emergency medical services staff to reuse invaluable N95 respirator masks, seen as the best line of defense against transmission of COVID-19 for essential workers and those on the frontline.
- PUB DATE: 10/2/2020 1:13:49 AM - SOURCE: Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber