Staph infection cancels game

Port Townsend High School canceled a football game and closed its athletic facilities because a player contracted MRSA, a staph infection that resists antibiotics.

The actions came as the King County Medical Examiner's Office said a 46-year-old Federal Way man, John Jones, died Wednesday of MRSA — methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus — at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

MRSA is commonly found on skin, and it is spread by close contact with infected people or contaminated surfaces.

It wasn't immediately known how Jones or the Port Townsend student, a senior, contracted the infection. The boy's name was not disclosed.

Harborview officials said there was no risk to other patients.

At the high school, the gym, locker room and weight room were closed Friday so the school could disinfect surfaces. Saturday's home game against Steilacoom — the final game of the season — was canceled.

Parents were told to check children for skin infections or boils.

The government says more than 90,000 Americans are sickened each year by MRSA and nearly 19,000 die.

Health officials recommend frequent hand-washing and the cleaning of shared surfaces as basic precautions against MRSA.

Bellevue

Expect I-405 lane closures for repaving

Repaving, guardrail and other work might close up to three lanes of northbound Interstate 405 from Interstate 90 to the BNSF Railway overpass and southbound Interstate 405 between Southeast Eighth Street and Interstate 90 Sunday through Thursday nights.

The first lane will close at 8 p.m. each night, with up to three lanes closed by 11 p.m. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m.

The Interstate 405 northbound HOV lane from 112th Avenue Southeast to Interstate 90 will close at 8 p.m. and reopen at 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. At 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. these nights, two southbound lanes on Interstate 405 from Interstate 90 to 112th Avenue Southeast will also close. All lanes will reopen by 6 a.m.

The northbound Interstate 405 onramp from 112th Avenue Southeast and two eastbound or westbound lanes of Coal Creek Parkway under the Interstate 405 bridge will close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday.

Fort Lewis

Army reassures families of support

In an unusual ceremony at Fort Lewis on Friday, the post leaders signed the "Army Family Covenant," a pledge to support military families in a manner commensurate with their service.

The covenant comes at a time when 15-month deployments have created severe strain and hardships for many military families, and the Army will spend $1.4 billion dollars this year to support family services.

"We have always felt the moral obligation, and desire, to provide adequate family services, but we have not always had the resources ... this day marks a meaningful recommitment," said Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby, the post commander.

Among the benefits for Fort Lewis families will be full-time assistants for battalion Family Readiness Groups, further improvements to barracks and residential communities, and six new child-care centers on post by the end of 2009.

Seattle

"J.P. Patches Day" to be proclaimed

The Seattle City Council and Mayor Greg Nickels will declare Monday to be "J. P. Patches Day" in Seattle to honor Chris Wedes, who has portrayed the Puget Sound area's most popular clown for half a century.

Wedes, 79, of Edmonds, recently canceled most of his public appearances after being diagnosed with a form of blood cancer. He plans to appear as himself, rather than as J.P., to accept the proclamation 2 p.m. Monday at City Council chambers.

"The J.P. Patches Show" ran on KIRO-TV from 1958 to 1981, but Wedes has kept the character alive by appearing at birthday parties, county fairs, Seafair parades and other events.

Wedes is being honored "for the memorable lessons he taught generations of children growing up in Seattle," a City Council announcement said. A committee has been raising money to build a statue of Patches and his pal, Gertrude, in Fremont. For information: www.jppatches.com.

Portland

Some sea lions' days may be numbered

A federal task force is expected to recommend next week that pesky California sea lions gobbling up threatened salmon at Bonneville Dam be killed to help conserve Columbia River fish runs.

Biologists have tried various methods to chase away the hungry marine mammals. But all attempts have failed — including setting off underwater firecrackers.

"The best and most sincere efforts to dissuade these creatures with nonlethal measures just have not worked," said U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., who has led a bipartisan effort with U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., to find a solution.

The recommendation by the 18-member panel was being reviewed before a final draft was to be released after a Monday deadline. It follows a request by Oregon, Washington state and Idaho for federal approval to kill the sea lions.

Only one member of the broad-based task force objected — Sharon Young, of the Humane Society of the United States.

Charles Hudson of the Columbia Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, a strong supporter of the states' request, said the draft plan would target repeat offenders among the sea lions that are easily identified and have been observed at Bonneville for years.

The recommendation goes to NOAA Fisheries for consideration, and a decision that is not expected until March, when sea lions return with the spring salmon runs.

Seattle Times staff and news services