Search concludes for two men who vanished separately at Cape Flattery
A coordinated effort involving multiple agencies to locate two men who disappeared at Cape Flattery concluded Friday evening, with no findings and the trail now open once again to visitors.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the operation wrapped up at 6 p.m. on Friday. Teams had scoured all sections of the Cape Flattery trail network—beaches, sheltered coves, steep ravines, and adjacent upland areas—without locating either individual or identifying new developments.
The missing persons are Jeffrey R. Hunter, 53, from Columbus, Ohio, and Florin Anghel Grigoriu, 44, of Kirkland. Officials have determined the two incidents are unrelated, based on available details.
Separate arrivals, similar outcomes
Hunter arrived at the Cape Flattery parking area on July 16, parking his vehicle and entering the trail system without incident. He had secured a Makah permit for access to tribal land, but no contact was recorded after that point. When deputies followed up with his relatives, they learned he was traveling cross-country and had gone silent for several days prior to his disappearance.
Grigoriu, meanwhile, picked up a rental vehicle in Port Angeles and reached the same trailhead around noon on July 21. His mobile device remained inside the car, and family members described recent struggles with mental health—details consistent with prior interactions he’d had with local officers. His vehicle was later discovered parked in an atypical location, prompting tribal law enforcement to investigate.
Tribal awareness and response
Makah Tribal Chairman TJ Greene noted to KONP radio that Hunter’s absence went initially unreported, with tribal staff first noting his idling vehicle at the trailhead. In Grigoriu’s case, a permit booth operator flagged an unusual situation, leading officers to find his car parked out of sequence in the lot. He did not return to retrieve it.
Neah Bay Public Safety alerted the Sheriff’s Office on July 22 about two individuals unaccounted for at the site. Responding the following day, authorities initiated a joint search, installed closure signage, and established a checkpoint to regulate public access.
Broad search coordination
Over two days, ground units, technical rescue teams, detection dogs, marine assets, and aircraft supported operations. Participating organizations spanned federal, state, and local jurisdictions: Olympic National Park Service, Makah Natural Resource Enforcement, Clallam County Search and Rescue, the Washington State Department of Corrections Incident Response Team, Neah Bay Fire & EMS, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Neah Bay Public Safety.
K9 teams contributed from Kitsap and Pierce counties, as well as the Mason County German Shepherd Rescue Team. Detectives from Clallam County and the FBI provided investigative support.
Outreach and next steps
The Sheriff’s Office extended appreciation to participating agencies, volunteers, and community members. Officials indicated their continued concern for both families and encouraged anyone with relevant information to reach out to Clallam County Dispatch at 360-417-2459.
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Olympic Peninsula housing authority seeks $2.5 million in federal grants for rural repairs
The Olympic Housing Authority has submitted applications for two federal funding streams totaling $2.5 million to support aging infrastructure across its rural properties.
The agency is pursuing a $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Capital Fund program, alongside a $800,000 allocation under the Rural Development Housing Repair Loans and Grants initiative. Projects under consideration include roof replacements at seven mobile home parks, updates to heating systems in three senior complexes, and accessibility modifications in 24 units reserved for residents with disabilities.
Agency officials emphasized that many of the targeted buildings were constructed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and recent inspections flagged deteriorating insulation, outdated plumbing fixtures, and degraded foundational elements as pressing concerns.
“We’re not just patching symptoms,” said the agency’s director during a recent board meeting. “We’re addressing structural realities that will shape livability over the next two decades.”
If awarded, work could begin as early as spring 2025, with completion expected within 18 months. HUD is expected to announce Capital Fund recipients this fall, while Rural Development decisions typically follow early next year.
Port Angeles school board advances phased return to in-person learning
The Port Angeles School Board has approved a multi-phase plan to expand in-person instruction starting next semester, reversing most pandemic-era hybrid models.
Phase one, set for January, will restore full-day, five-day-a-week attendance for elementary students, with middle and high school schedules adjusted to reduce classroom transitions and allow for more flexible staffing. A key component is the addition of three temporary classrooms at East Ridge Middle School to accommodate projected enrollment growth.
Board minutes cite improved air filtration systems across all campuses—installed over the past two years—as a major factor in enabling the shift. Ventilation upgrades included HEPA filters in classrooms, increased outdoor air intake, and real-time air quality monitoring.
The district also plans to reintroduce after-school enrichment programs previously suspended, including robotics, visual arts, and dual-language immersion tracks, pending staffing finalization.
Sequim landlord agrees to pay $42,000 in back rent after eviction dispute
A Sequim landlord has agreed to accept a $42,000 settlement to resolve a dispute involving three tenants who were evicted last fall.
The agreement, filed in Clallam County Superior Court in mid-September, follows a mediation process initiated after the tenants contested the eviction on grounds of inadequate notice and unaddressed maintenance issues. Court records show the landlord had pursued eviction over rent arrears totaling $31,500, plus $10,500 in late fees and court costs.
Under the terms, the landlord will waive $7,000 in penalties and allow the tenants to remain in their unit through the end of the lease term, with rent frozen at current levels. In exchange, the tenants will contribute $12,000 toward future property improvements.
A local housing advocate who assisted the tenants noted the resolution reflects a growing trend of landlords opting for collaborative solutions rather than pursuing protracted legal battles.
State transportation officials move ahead with Dungeness River bridge upgrades
The Washington State Department of Transportation has allocated $6.3 million to begin design and environmental review for a long-anticipated upgrade to the Dungeness River Bridge on State Route 101.
The project aims to replace the existing two-lane structure with a widened span featuring protected bike and pedestrian lanes, improved seismic resilience, and adaptive lighting for wildlife corridors. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2026, with an estimated duration of 22 months.
Environmental assessments are underway, with public comment periods set to open in November. WSDOT officials highlighted that the bridge—built in 1972—handles roughly 12,000 vehicles daily and serves as a critical link for emergency services during winter storm events.
Earlier reporting noted community concerns about traffic disruptions during construction. Agency planners say they will implement a phased approach to minimize impact, including temporary detours and real-time traffic alerts via a dedicated project portal.