News briefs: Inland Northwest Blood Center supply critically low

The Inland Northwest Blood Center is critically low on two types of blood – so low that the agency is opening on New Year’s Day for donations.

The blood center needs 500 donors this week to accumulate a safe inventory of O-Negative and O-Positive blood, said Elizabeth Giles, spokeswoman for the sole provider of blood to more than 35 hospitals regionally.

O-Negative can be given to anyone in an emergency situation, while O-Positive is the most common blood type and therefore crucial to have in adequate supply.

The blood center has only 10 percent of the needed blood supply.

Giles attributes the shortage to the convergence of holiday travel, which pulls donors out of town, flu season, and forgetfulness. But she said it’s especially problematic because blood is most needed during the holiday season, when accidents increase.

The blood bank’s Spokane location will be open on New Year’s Day from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit inbcsaves.org for more information.

No damage reported from small quake

ENTIAT, Wash. – The Washington state Emergency Management agency said no damage has been reported from a small quake that hit Central Washington near Entiat on Monday afternoon.

The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network said the magnitude-3.0 quake was centered about 6 miles west of Entiat and 16 miles north of Wenatchee at a depth of more than 2 1/2 miles.

Wenatchee man’s body found on beach

FLORENCE, Ore. – Oregon state police said a body discovered on a Lane County beach is that of a Washington state man reported missing Dec. 16.

The police said foul play is not suspected in the death of 27-year-old Bryan E. McKinney, of Wenatchee.

He was identified through dental records. His body was found Saturday.

Troopers said the body washed onto Baker Beach north of Florence and a walker found it.

Coastal mayor declares emergency

OCEAN SHORES, Wash. – The mayor of the Washington coast community of Ocean Shores has declared a state of emergency after recent big waves and high tides damaged giant protective sandbags that protect several houses and condos from beach erosion.

Mayor Crystal Dingler said she’s concerned that land behind the damaged sandbags will be undermined in future storms and the bluff will start falling off.

KIRO-TV reported she’s appealing to the state for help and to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The corps can only respond to an impending storm.

The city installed the giant sandbags called “geotubes” in the 1990s to protect the properties. Dingler said they were meant to be a temporary fix and they have lasted 15 years. She said there wasn’t enough money to come up with a permanent solution.

Cat sold with mattress set back home

PORTLAND – Camo is hiding no longer.

The Oregon cat accidentally sold with a mattress set is home after 10 days on his own.

Roy Dufek wrote in a statement that his girlfriend, Hayley Crews, caught Camo in a trap Saturday night after he was reportedly seen near the Hillsboro Airport west of Portland. The trap was baited with sardines in oil and familiar scented clothing.

People across the Portland area and beyond had been on the lookout for Camo after his unusual disappearance got national attention.

Dufek sold his girlfriend’s mattress set Dec. 17 without realizing the cat was likely in a favorite hiding spot: the box spring.

Unable to find Camo at the mattress buyer’s home, Dufek took to social media for help tracking down the 5-year-old cat that likely scurried out of the box spring when the buyer, who lives near the airport, took it off the car roof.

Dufek wrote that Camo was 2 pounds lighter after 10 days outside, and had a cut lip, broken nails and a bleeding paw. On Sunday, Camo was examined by a veterinarian and given a bath by Crews.

The couple thanked everyone for their help, saying it’s great to know friends and strangers had their back in time of need.