| Gregoire calls tribe, lawmakers continue push on graving
yard January 21st, 2005 (Olympia) -- A spokesperson for Governor Christine Gregoire says
she has made contact with Lower Elwha Klallam tribal leaders over
the graving yard in Port Angeles. Gregoire talked on the phone with
tribal chair Frances Charles earlier this week. Gregoire's deputy
communications chief Anna Kim Williams says the call was intended
to make connections with various groups around the state. It was part
of a series of phone calls concerning issues that have carried over
from the previous administration. RELATED STORY: Chamber defends letter on graving yard (Port Angeles) -- Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce officials are defending a letter that now has the Lower Elwha Tribe upset. At Monday's regular chamber meeting, President Dan Gase discussed the letter drafted on January 10th sent to local state legislators, concerning the Graving Yard situation. But the tribe calls the letter disrespectful and says it will not accept tourism money allocated through the chamber for the tribe's annual paddle journey this year. Gase says he feels some of the letter has been taken out of context. Gase says another quote taken in part says "we request that the state legislators demand that the tribe and the DOT use the federal mediators to come up with solutions to this issue." He says that was pressure on the state to explain how the situation at the Marine Drive site was allowed to happen. Gase says there are solutions to be found, and each day brings new information or new evidence that was not fully understood. Gase says the Chamber will continue to be a business advocate, and will not duck the tough issues.
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