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In brief: Pend Oreille County to get broadband

From Staff And Wire Reports

Pend Oreille County residents can check out a new, fast broadband fiber service in a series of demonstrations this week in Newport.

The “community broadband fest” will be held today through Saturday at Community Network System, a service of the Pend Oreille Public Utility District. The showroom is at 110 W. Pine St.

Three retail service providers have signed on to provide Internet service: Concept Communication Corp., iFiber Communications and Pend Oreille Valley Networks.

The PUD this year is finishing a $34 million expansion of its fiber network to reach about 5,000 homes and businesses. Until now, the connections have been available to school districts, libraries, government offices, the Newport hospital and some major industries in the county.

The demonstrations will be 4-7 p.m. today, Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Information: www.cnsfiber.net.>

County has backlog of weapon applicants

PORTLAND – The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office says it will temporarily stop processing new concealed handgun license applications for residents of Washington state.

Lt. Steve Alexander said the suspension will give the county’s licensing unit time to play catch-up on a four-month backlog of applications.

Once the backlog becomes manageable, the Sheriff’s Office will reopen the application process for Washington residents.

A concealed-weapons permit in Washington is not valid in Oregon. If a Washington resident wants to carry a gun in both states, he or she must get a nonresident license from Oregon.

The licensing unit will still process renewals, so the suspension does not affect Washington residents who already have an Oregon license.

Copper wire thieves leave park in dark

SEATTLE – The lights are out at Seattle’s Delridge Playfield after thieves ripped out 1,200 feet of underground copper wiring.

Seattle parks workers said thieves apparently set to work once the lights were turned off Friday night, KOMO-TV reported.

Joelle Hammerstad of Seattle’s Department of Parks and Recreation said it will cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to replace the wiring.

The playfield won’t be usable after dark for at least two weeks.