(Airdate: November 28, 2025) County Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour and Jim Burke talked about food insecurity and the impact cuts to government funding and grants to local food outreach organizations plus alternatives to Black Friday including Giving Tuesday. Their guests were:
– Oceana Sawyer ([email protected]), Nourishing Beloved Community (NBC) https://www.nourishingbelovedcommunity.com/. Nourishing Beloved Community emerged from a growing commitment to practice interdependence and develop resilience among People of the Global Majority on the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington.
– Roland Faragher-Horwell, President of the Board of Jefferson County Food Banks https://www.jcfba.org/
– Siobhan Canty, Director of The Jefferson Community Foundation, https://www.givejefferson.org/, https://jcfgives.org/

(Airdate: November 21, 2025) Instead of the usual County Commissioner co-host , this week Jim Burke is joined by Pinky Faeria Mingo, Director of Environmental Health and Water Quality of Jefferson County. Jim and Pinky are joined by two others in that Department: Becca Maurer, Code Compliance Specialist and Carter Erickson, Environmental Health Manager.

Becca talks about an alternative program that is relatively new that helps bring property owners into compliance in a collaborative way instead of the usual punitive model, (similar to diversionary programs in Superior Court.)

Carter explains the process for new septic systems and remediation of existing systems. They both stress the importance of clean up of environmental hazards that affect water quality and the general environment in Jefferson County.

(Airdate: November 24, 2025) County Administrator Josh Peters Joins co-hosts Jim Burke and Heidi Eisenhour to discuss a potential budget shortfall for 2026 in excess of $5 million. They discuss how we got here and where potential cuts might come from. There will be a public hearing during the BOCC meeting on Monday December 8.

(Airdate: November 7, 2025) For 65 years, United Good Neighbors has rallied the community to strengthen front-line nonprofits that meet basic needs. This year’s Give Jefferson Campaign is more important than ever. Significant cuts to federal and state budgets are putting a greater burden on our local nonprofits and community agencies dedicated to serving those in our community who need the most support. KPTZ’s Jim Burke and County Commissioner Greg Brotherton spoke with Siobhan Canty, CEO & President of Jefferson Community Foundation, to discuss the topic of budget cut impacts and the current Give Jefferson Campaign. Go to https://www.givejefferson.org/ to help.

(Airdate: October 31, 2025) Commissioner Greg Brotherton and co-host Jim Burke welcome from the Jefferson County Historical Society, Executive Director Tara McCauley. They discuss the place of LORE alongside history and tell stories of GHOSTS, BIGFOOT, and THE MONKEY’S PAW for Halloween. To learn more about The JCHS and the big job of preserving and relating local history click here.

This week, In a special Fund Drive edition of County Connections, Jim Burke and co-host Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour welcome Jefferson County Department of Public Works Director/County Engineer Al Cairns and Tracy Grisman, Chair and District #1 Citizen Representative on SWAC (Solid Waste Advisory Commitee). They discuss solid waste, recycling, the upcoming plans for county-wide solid waste curbside service, and the relocation of the Transfer station.
Also. on Monday, October 27 at the Transfer Station from 5-7 pm is the unveiling of artwork developed through the A.I.R.E. program (Artist In Residency and Education) which brings focus to recycling and uses actual trash for the assemblage.

(Airdate: October 17, 2025) Jim Burke and Commissioner Heather Dudley-Nollette are joined by Karen Affeld, Director of the North Olympic Development Council. They discuss what the Council does for Jefferson AND Clallam County business development and preservation of the environment (the built and the natural environment.) The area has a high number of unemployed among 25-54 year-olds and qualified for a non-compete grant from the federal government to spur job growth.
You can find out more and offer support to the N.O.D.C. by going to their website: https://www.noprcd.org/

(Airdate: October 10, 2025) This week on County Connections, Jim Burke and co-host Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour welcome Jessica Lowe, who is the Director of the Jefferson County Children’s Advocacy Center. From their webpage: “In response to the needs of Jefferson County, efforts are currently underway by the Olympic Peninsula YMCA and community partners to develop an accredited Child Advocacy Center where children who experience abuse, and non-offending family members, can come for safety, justice and healing.”
The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) has a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) that draws on a dozen local agencies and keeping focus on the child so they avoid having to recount the abuse to many different people repeatedly, reducing further trauma. The CAC occupies the space vacated by KPTZ Radio after they moved to the New KPTZ station at Fort Worden. To find out more and to support the CAC go to their webpage.

(Airdate: October 3, 2025) Jim Burke and Commissioner Heather Dudley-Nollette welcome Shawn Frederick, Director of Central services to the program, and discuss how the department supports the county administration behind the scenes with facilities management, and support the public to through the IT department. There is a community meeting in the west end at the Hoh Tribal Center on October 22nd, from 6-8pm, and anyone may view the meeting on the county website at https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/

(Airdate: September 26, 2025) Commissioner Greg Brotherton and Jim Burke welcome Josh Peters, County Administrator and Drummer with Abracadabra Trip. They discuss a series of community meetings that have been happening at community centers throughout the county, and one that is coming up at the Hoh Tribal Center in the west end of the county on October 22 at 6pm. Go to co.jefferson.wa.us to attend virtually or get more information.

Reminder to listeners to ask questions of Dr. Berry or Willie Bence by writing to: [email protected] by Friday October 3 at 12 noon to be answered on Monday, October 6 at 9:45am during the BOCC public Health Report.