Latest news with #SmokeyBear
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Smokey Bear, pickleball, and pollinator license plates on the way in WA
This is a sample of the special license plate to become available in Washington state starting in late 2025. The Washington State Beekeepers Association will use proceeds to support research and public education on pollinators. (Image courtesy of Washington State Beekeepers Association) Washington drivers really like their specialty license plates — and they are getting more of them. Up to six new options will arrive this fall, including plates featuring Smokey Bear, pickleball paddles, and pollinators. Old-style plates, one with white lettering on a black background and the other with green lettering on a white background, are in the mix too. Another seven offerings — including one showcasing Mount St. Helens — would become available if their backers garner enough support. The 13 plates are parked in an omnibus bill signed into law May 20 by Gov. Bob Ferguson. Those issued would join the nearly 70 different special license plates in Washington recognizing the military, sports teams, colleges, farmers, orcas, lighthouses, square dancers and wine. Fees vary, with the money generally going to support causes that are tied to each plate's theme. This latest group of 13 will be the last for a while. The new law, Senate Bill 5444, bars the state Department of Licensing from accepting or issuing applications for any additional plates until Jan. 1, 2029. Notice of this moratorium must be posted prominently on the agency website. And the licensing department must set up a work group to delve into the specialty plate program — from how applications are handled and plates are chosen to the state's ability to recoup costs from less popular plates. Sen. Adrian Cortes, D-Battle Ground, sponsored the legislation, which had a companion bill in the House authored by Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama and Rep. Brandy Donaghy, D-Snohomish County. Cortes attributed its success to Bill Ramos, the late state senator, for providing the energy and strategy to cement Senate approval on April 18. Ramos died the next night while on a trail run near his Issaquah home. 'It has Sen. Ramos' fingerprints all over it,' Cortes said in an emotional floor speech April 25 when the Senate took the final vote that sent it on to Ferguson. In tribute, the legislation is known as 'Bill's bill.' 'We're thinking about Bill as we're signing this legislation,' Ferguson said. The state Department of Licensing will begin issuing new plates on Nov. 1, barring any issues with their design and production. There is an initial fee of $40 for special plates and a renewal fee of $30. One will recognize pickleball, named the official state sport in 2022. It will be the first pickleball license plate in the nation. The Seattle Metro Pickleball Association launched the effort in 2022 and first secured the state Senate's support in 2023. Proceeds will be used for the construction and maintenance of dedicated pickleball courts throughout the state. Smokey Bear will be featured on another. Proceeds will go to the Department of Natural Resources' wildfire prevention programs. Hilary Franz, the former commissioner of public lands, championed the idea and her successor, Dave Upthegrove, has picked up the baton. Washington will join Oregon and Texas with Smokey Bear plates. 'Approximately 90% of wildfires every year are human caused. We couldn't have a better advocate for wildfire prevention crisscrossing Washington along our interstates, highways and roads than Smokey,' Upthegrove said in a news release. A monarch, a honey bee and a mason bee will star on a license plate. The Washington State Beekeepers Association will use proceeds to support research and educational activities about such pollinators. And the LeMay classic car museum in Tacoma will have one with its logo to generate funds for education and job training related to automobiles. The licensing department will issue two plates featuring styles from past eras. A 'Keep Washington Evergreen' plate will help fund installation of electric charging stations. It will have green lettering on a white background like ones Washington issued in the 1970s. The other plate will have white lettering on a black background similar to the design of those issued in the early 20th century. Money raised will be used for expanding and improving driver's education programs and activities. The remaining seven special license plates authorized in the law will be issued if a sponsor submits at least 3,500 signatures in support. Mount St. Helens could be the first in this batch. Proceeds would go to Mount St. Helens Institute, a private nonprofit organization, to support youth education, land stewardship and science at Washington's most active volcano, which is located in the southwest corner of the state. Supporters had previously submitted signatures, but their application expired and they must resubmit, according to the department. Other pending plates include: A working forests plate to support the Washington Tree Farm Program. That program helps certify small landowners who practice sustainable forestry. A nautical northwest plate to celebrate Whidbey Island's maritime communities. Money raised would go to Whidbey Island Maritime Heritage Foundation and Historic Whidbey. A Donate Life plate with proceeds going to LifeCenter Northwest to build awareness for organ donation. A Firefighter Memorial plate with funds going to the Washington State Council of Firefighters to benefit firefighters and their families in need. A Naval Academy plate with receipts going to the state's Veterans Stewardship Account to benefit veterans or their families. Washington now has six Armed Forces special license plates. A Seattle Reign FC plate with proceeds going to the RAVE foundation, the nonprofit charity for the club and for the Seattle Sounders. The Sounders already have a license plate.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WA's first Smokey Bear license plate available; funds going to human-caused wildfire campaigns
Washington state will have a new vanity license plate up for grabs-- everyone's favorite wildfire prevention mammal. Smokey Bear is officially taking his show on the road. Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a law on Tuesday that would authorize a special license plate depicting Smokey Bear. The purchase of this license plate will help fund the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) efforts to prevent human-caused wildfires and support wildland firefighters. 'It's fitting that our state's first Smokey Bear license plate has been passed by the State Legislature during Wildfire Awareness Month,' Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove said. 'Approximately 90 percent of wildfires every year are human caused. We couldn't have a better advocate for wildfire prevention crisscrossing Washington along our interstates, highways and roads than Smokey.' Smokey Bear has been the face of wildfire prevention around the world since 1944. 'The Smokey Bear license plate will allow Washingtonians to show their support for firefighters while supporting DNR's efforts to drastically reduce the number of wildfires started by humans. The Smokey Bear license plate will also raise public awareness of wildfire prevention, letting everyone know that we all can help ensure the safety of our neighbors,' DNR wrote on its website. The Smokey Bear license plate will be available for purchase on Nov. 1 for a fee of $40 for the initial plate and a renewal fee of $30.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Smokey Bear license plate coming to WA to help fund wildfire prevention
The Brief The new Smokey Bear license plate was approved in Washington and will fund wildfire prevention and support wildland firefighters. The plates will be available starting Nov. 1 for $40, with $30 annual renewal, benefiting the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Proceeds will raise awareness of human-caused wildfires, which account for 90% of wildfires in the state. OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington drivers will soon be able to show their support for wildfire prevention with a new specialty license plate featuring the iconic Smokey Bear. Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5444 into law this week, authorizing the state's first Smokey Bear plate to support efforts to reduce human-caused wildfires. The plate will be available for purchase beginning Nov. 1. Drivers can purchase the plate for an initial fee of $40, with a $30 annual renewal fee. Proceeds from the sales of the Smoky Bear plates will go directly to the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to support wildfire prevention programs and wildland firefighter resources. "It's fitting that our state's first Smokey Bear license plate has been passed by the State Legislature during Wildfire Awareness Month," said Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove, who celebrated the bill's signing. "Approximately 90 percent of wildfires every year are human-caused. We couldn't have a better advocate for wildfire prevention crisscrossing Washington along our interstates, highways and roads than Smokey. The new license plate continues Smokey Bear's mission to raise awareness about wildfire prevention, a role the beloved mascot has held since 1944. The goal is to increase public visibility of fire safety messaging while also generating funding for fire prevention programs. Commissioner Upthegrove thanked Rep. Donaghy and Sen. Nobles, the bill's prime sponsors, for their work over two legislative sessions to get the bill passed. The Smokey Bear license plate joins Washington's growing list of specialty plates that benefit various state programs and causes, offering residents a new way to make an impact from behind the wheel. For more information or to view images of the new plate, visit the Washington DNR website. The Source Information in this story came from a Washington Department of Natural Resources press release. Recovery effort underway after boat sinks in Possession Sound near Everett, WA Is Tacoma's Teekah Lewis cold case finally coming to a close? Here's what we know Over 100 Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs stores to close, including 8 in WA Marymoor Park announces 2025 summer concert series lineup in Redmond, WA Olympia, WA man dies at Grand Canyon after lengthy hike To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Sandy elementary school becomes steward of NASA moon tree
Smokey Bear joined students and staff at Sprucewood Elementary School on Tuesday to help plant a unique Artemis I Moon Tree, granted to them by NASA. The school's new Douglas fir seedling is dubbed a 'moon tree' because it was grown from a seed carried aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft when it circumnavigated the moon in November 2022, traveling over 270,000 miles in its journey from Earth and back. The seeds for five tree species were aboard the unmanned spacecraft for the Artemis I mission. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service grew the seedlings before distributing them to approved tree stewards. School librarian Sara Lee first learned about moon tree stewardship after reading 'Moon Tree: The Story of One Extraordinary Tree' by Carolyn Bennett Fraiser. Lee explained that Frasier contacted her to let her know about the book in August 2022 because a moon tree was located near the school in Draper. She then found out NASA was introducing a new generation of moon trees as part of its national STEM engagement and conservation education initiative, so she applied for her school to be considered. After waiting two years to hear back about the application, Lee was surprised to find out the school had been selected to be a steward out of more than 1,300 applications. 'I was blown away when I got the first email saying that we had tentatively been chosen,' Lee said. 'Then, when we got back (from spring break), there was an email that said, 'Congratulations, moon tree steward, show us your celebrations.' ... We got our welcome packets and then the tree came the next day.' The school dedicated its moon tree at a celebration on Tuesday, joined by the U.S. Forest Service. Six students acknowledged for demonstrating leadership by following school rules helped Lee, Smokey Bear and teacher-of-the-year recipient Emigh Lo plant the seedling in a patch of grass near the playground. 'I think (the moon tree) is really cool because it traveled around the world and space. I think it's cool we had someone special to share it with,' said Matthew, a fourth-grade student at the school, referring to Smokey. Unknown to students, however, was that Smokey Bear was being portrayed by Lee's husband, who is a cartographer for the Forest Service and helped coordinate the special appearance. 'We had great support from our local Forest Service office and my administration was awesome. They treated this as the big deal that I was hoping it would be,' said Lee. Students officially welcomed the tree to their campus by participating in their school's 'happy chant' before ending the celebration. Principal Cathleen Schino also reminded students to take care of the tree, especially while it is still a seedling. The tree will be surrounded by a barrier to protect it from stray balls and toys from the playground and is accompanied by a plaque that explains its status as a moon tree. 'NASA and the Forest Service have trusted us to take care of this tree, to be the keepers of the tree, to care for it, and to keep it safe and healthy,' said Schino, addressing students. 'So we're going to make sure that we take care of it by admiring it with our eyes instead of our hands. Every time you go by it, we know that plants, they grow with love. We've been practicing giving compliments all year and using emotional safety, so please talk to our moon tree. Give it positive comments. It really is a thing. It will grow.' NASA began the new generation of moon tree stewardship as a nod to the historic Apollo 14 mission, where Stuart Roosa, astronaut and former smokejumper for the U.S. Forest Service, carried hundreds of seeds to space to see if they would still grow after being in a zero-gravity environment. According to Lee, the canister of seeds broke in space, but they were able to save 420 seeds that would later be planted at national monuments in celebration of the U.S. bicentennial. Four of those trees were initially sent to Utah in the 1970s, but only two are still accounted for. One is a Douglas fir that was planted at the state Capitol but was cut down after being destroyed by a tornado in 1999. The other is a sycamore tree planted at the Lone Peak Conservation Center in Draper that is still standing, but is infected with a fungal disease. Draper's almost 50-year-old moon tree is now joined by two of the new generation's seedlings — one at Sprucewood Elementary and another at Glacier Hills Elementary, both part of the Canyons School District. 'I feel like it's special,' said Lee. 'Not everybody has a tree grown from a seed that traveled 270,000 miles from space. So I wanted something special, something that even when (students are) older, they'll remember that this happened and it's accessible here. They can bring their parents and, ideally, my kids who helped plant it, (can bring their) kids back some day and show them.' Lee explained that the area where the tree was planted is also special because it was previously home to another tree planted in memory of a student who died. The tree was later cut down, but now Lee hopes the area will continue to be visited by students and remembered for generations to come.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Are you firewise? Free event in Donnelly to teach Idahoans how to prepare for wildfire
Wildland firefighters engage in cold trailing while mopping up around the West Mountain Complex fires in Idaho on Aug. 26, 2024. Cold trailing is a method of controlling partly dead fire edges by carefully inspecting and feeling an area for heat, by hand. (Courtesy of U.S Forest Service/ InciWeb Information System) A wildfire preparedness event hosted by the Valley County Fire Working Group will be free and open to the public on May 3 in Donnelly. The event, which features family-friendly activities, firewise vendors and local fire management organizations, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Donnelly Fire Department, 244 W. Roseberry Road. Organizers said in a flyer that the event aims to teach Idahoans how to protect families, property and communities from destructive wildfires. Literature, vendor booths, fire engine displays, kids games and a visit from Smokey Bear from 11:30 a.m. to noon are all part of the planned activities. The Donnelly Fire Department will provide free hot dogs for attendees, and free firewise plants will be available while supplies last. For information, go to the Valley County Fire Working Group Facebook page or go to the Valley County Wildfire Mitigation website. To secure a burn permit for your property, required from May 10 through Oct. 20, go to SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
