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(Friendship Force seeks world peace one friend at a time)
(Thurston County’s bridges to undergo inspections for new weight limits)
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Retired Olympia businesswoman Hillary Joseph fits the description of a people-loving, extroverted world traveler. So it s no surprise that she voices unabashed enthusiasm for Friendship Force International.Friendship Force was launched in the <a href=http://www.avanttravel.com/page.php?sale=Cheap-Louboutin>Cheap Louboutin</a>  White House in 1977 by Presbyterian minister Wayne Smith with the full support of President Jimmy Carter as a nonprofit, cultural exchange group promoting peace through friendships. The Olympia chapter formed in 1984 and Hillary Joseph and her husband, Rocklin Perrott, joined the local chapter in 2007.Two or three times a year, a contingent of 20 or so visitors from Friendship Force chapters in the United States or foreign countries come to the Olympia area for weeklong home visits with Olympia chapter members, some 60 people. The guests pay their own travel expenses and an exchange fee charged by Friendship Force to cover the costs of mapping out the logistics of the visit.In addition, members of the Olympia chapter travel in groups to other chapter sites here and abroad. Olympia chapter members were among the first to visit a chapter in South Korea. That was in 1986.Joseph and Perrott have hosted families and individuals from Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, Azerbaijan and Texas. Some of their guests speak English. Some don t, including a fellow from Indonesia who sat down at the host family s piano and belted out a medley of Elvis Presley songs.The Olympia couple has yet to travel overseas to a Friendship Force family s home, but it probably won t be long before they do. They ve always been the kind of world travelers that immerse themselves in the local culture, staying at hostels or the home of someone they meet in the countries they visit. It s a great way to connect with human spirit in a way that isn t going to happen on a tour bus, Rocklin, 65, said.The global community that is Friendship Force included in 2011 more than 370 clubs with roughly 18,000 members in 54 countries. That year, about 4,500 people participated in exchanges as traveling ambassadors, and many more served as hosts. Joseph said citizen ambassadors visiting Olympia from all over the world typically shower their host families with gifts, and love to bring pictures of their places back home. A common mistake among her guests: They think the Washington state capital city is Seattle.Joseph and other Olympia hosts quickly set the record straight by showing them the state Capitol in Olympia. The Temple of Justice on the Capitol Campus is another popular destination for visitors who want to see democracy in action, he said.Other favorite sites to visit in the region include Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, the Olympic mountains, the Olympia Farmers Market, the South Sound waterfront, Nisqually Wildlife Refuge and area <a href=http://www.alportico.net/page.php?sale=True-Religion-White-Skinny-Jeans>True Religion White Skinny Jeans</a>  historic homes and museums.Organizers attempt to match visitors with their hosts in ways that avoid obvious conflicts. For instance, they try not to pair smokers with non-smokers or people allergic to pets with pet owners. But a diversity of world views, religions and political persuasions is more common than not. I m Jewish and I ve had Muslims staying in my home, Joseph said. That s one reflection of the theme, the mission, the mantra of Friendship Force: Create a world of friends that expands into a world of peace.On Sept. 20, Friendship Force Olympia is sponsoring an evening with travel writer and Public Broadcasting Service travel show host Rick Steves at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. The theme for the 7 p.m. talk is: Changing the Way You See the World. Joseph said the event s goal is to recruit new members to Friendship Force, not necessarily raise money.As with many nonprofit groups and private clubs, the membership is aging and in need of some younger members. Joseph knows that younger people are often too busy with their careers and families to find the time to travel overseas. But that s no reason for younger adults not to join Friendship Force, she offered. The beauty of Friendship Force is you can see the world without traveling by being a host, she said.For more information on the Olympia chapter <a href=http://www.alportico.net/page.php?sale=Gucci-Socks>Gucci Socks</a>  and upcoming events, visit www.olympiafriendshipforce.org.  
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The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration is requiring local governments to evaluate their bridges for new load ratings by Dec. 2017, to ensure that the structures can handle modern vehicles that are designed to haul heavier loads. Thurston County Public Works is about a third of the way through checking those weight limits on the 119 roadway bridges in its inventory, according to civil engineer Matt Unzelman.However, the county is going to hire an outside firm to do some of the inspections. The Board of <a href=http://www.avanttravel.com/page.php?sale=New-Michael-Kors-Handbags>New Michael Kors Handbags</a>  County Commissioners voted 3-0 to hire Exeltech Consulting Inc. of Lacey to conduct that work on 10 structures, ranging from the Old Highway 101 Bridge to the Mud Bay Bridge.  Some of our more structurally complex bridges are included with these 10 bridges, Unzelman told The Olympian. We just need a different level of expertise. The ratings will determine if the county needs to add a weight limits to some of its structures, he said.County manager Cliff Moore described the work as routine, but said it s an important long-term process for the county. Like most jurisdictions in the nation, we are trying to keep on this issue, he said. The money will come from the county s road fund, and will include the following structures. (Size and inspection information was listed in the county s 2014 Bridge Index.) &nbsp;James Road Bridge (culvert), known as J-1, which goes over an overflow channel, was built in 1985. The 25-foot-long structure was given a 98.19 sufficiency rating during an Aug. 8, 2012, inspection.  &nbsp;Littlerock Road Bridge, known as L-5, which goes over a ditch, was built in 1960. The 20-foot-long bridge was given a 49.66 rating during a Nov. 21, 2013 inspection. Crews made some emergency repairs on the bridge this spring for scour and cracking. It is just down the road and the same design as the L-4 Bridge which is undergoing a complete replacement <a href=http://www.avanttravel.com/page.php?sale=Michael-Kors-Charlton-Crossbody-Bag>Michael Kors Charlton Crossbody Bag</a>  due to structural deficiencies. &nbsp;Mud Bay Bridge, known as O-4, which goes over Mud Bay, was built in 1978. The 208-foot-long bridge was given a sufficiency rating of 77.02 during a Sept. 27, 2012 inspection. &nbsp;Old Highway 101 Bridge, known as O-3 which goes over Perry Creek, was built in 1958.The 105-foot-long bridge was given a sufficiency rating of 80.31 during a Sept. 14, 2012 inspection. &nbsp;Oyster Bay Culvert, known as OB-1, which goes over Schneider Creek, was built in 2010. The 20-foot-long bridge was given a sufficiency rating of 85.8 during a June 12, 2012, inspection. &nbsp;Steamboat Island Bridge, known as S-7, which goes over Totten Inlet, was built in 1982. The 706-foot-long structure was given a sufficiency rating of 68.73 during a Sept. 14, 2012, inspection. &nbsp;Holmes Island Bridge, <a href=http://www.avanttravel.com/page.php?sale=Louboutin-Canada>Louboutin Canada</a>  known as H-3, which goes over Long Lake and was built in 1962. The 53-foot-long bridge, and was given a sufficiency rating of 54.26 during an Aug. 7, 2013 inspection. &nbsp;Nisqually Cutoff Bridge, known as N-1, which goes over an overflow channel, was built in 1936. The 92-foot-long structure was given a 74.48 sufficiency rating during an Oct. 4, 2012 inspection&nbsp;Old Pacific Highway Bridge, known as O-11, which goes over the Nisqually River was built in 1998. The 320-foot long structure was given a sufficiency rating of 95.38 during a Sept. 12, 2012 inspection.  &nbsp;Reservation Road Railroad Bridge, known as R-1, goes over a railroad and was built in 1993. The 331-foot-long bridge was given a sufficiency rating of 94.49 during an Aug. 9, 2013 inspection.
  John Dodge: 360-754-5444
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Revision as of 21:04, 25 September 2014

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration is requiring local governments to evaluate their bridges for new load ratings by Dec. 2017, to ensure that the structures can handle modern vehicles that are designed to haul heavier loads. Thurston County Public Works is about a third of the way through checking those weight limits on the 119 roadway bridges in its inventory, according to civil engineer Matt Unzelman.However, the county is going to hire an outside firm to do some of the inspections. The Board of <a href=http://www.avanttravel.com/page.php?sale=New-Michael-Kors-Handbags>New Michael Kors Handbags</a> County Commissioners voted 3-0 to hire Exeltech Consulting Inc. of Lacey to conduct that work on 10 structures, ranging from the Old Highway 101 Bridge to the Mud Bay Bridge. Some of our more structurally complex bridges are included with these 10 bridges, Unzelman told The Olympian. We just need a different level of expertise. The ratings will determine if the county needs to add a weight limits to some of its structures, he said.County manager Cliff Moore described the work as routine, but said it s an important long-term process for the county. Like most jurisdictions in the nation, we are trying to keep on this issue, he said. The money will come from the county s road fund, and will include the following structures. (Size and inspection information was listed in the county s 2014 Bridge Index.)  James Road Bridge (culvert), known as J-1, which goes over an overflow channel, was built in 1985. The 25-foot-long structure was given a 98.19 sufficiency rating during an Aug. 8, 2012, inspection.  Littlerock Road Bridge, known as L-5, which goes over a ditch, was built in 1960. The 20-foot-long bridge was given a 49.66 rating during a Nov. 21, 2013 inspection. Crews made some emergency repairs on the bridge this spring for scour and cracking. It is just down the road and the same design as the L-4 Bridge which is undergoing a complete replacement <a href=http://www.avanttravel.com/page.php?sale=Michael-Kors-Charlton-Crossbody-Bag>Michael Kors Charlton Crossbody Bag</a> due to structural deficiencies.  Mud Bay Bridge, known as O-4, which goes over Mud Bay, was built in 1978. The 208-foot-long bridge was given a sufficiency rating of 77.02 during a Sept. 27, 2012 inspection.  Old Highway 101 Bridge, known as O-3 which goes over Perry Creek, was built in 1958.The 105-foot-long bridge was given a sufficiency rating of 80.31 during a Sept. 14, 2012 inspection.  Oyster Bay Culvert, known as OB-1, which goes over Schneider Creek, was built in 2010. The 20-foot-long bridge was given a sufficiency rating of 85.8 during a June 12, 2012, inspection.  Steamboat Island Bridge, known as S-7, which goes over Totten Inlet, was built in 1982. The 706-foot-long structure was given a sufficiency rating of 68.73 during a Sept. 14, 2012, inspection.  Holmes Island Bridge, <a href=http://www.avanttravel.com/page.php?sale=Louboutin-Canada>Louboutin Canada</a> known as H-3, which goes over Long Lake and was built in 1962. The 53-foot-long bridge, and was given a sufficiency rating of 54.26 during an Aug. 7, 2013 inspection.  Nisqually Cutoff Bridge, known as N-1, which goes over an overflow channel, was built in 1936. The 92-foot-long structure was given a 74.48 sufficiency rating during an Oct. 4, 2012 inspection.  Old Pacific Highway Bridge, known as O-11, which goes over the Nisqually River was built in 1998. The 320-foot long structure was given a sufficiency rating of 95.38 during a Sept. 12, 2012 inspection.  Reservation Road Railroad Bridge, known as R-1, goes over a railroad and was built in 1993. The 331-foot-long bridge was given a sufficiency rating of 94.49 during an Aug. 9, 2013 inspection.

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