(Airdate: April 25, 2025) Co-hosts Jim Burke and Commissioner Heather Dudley-Nollette welcome County Administrator Mark McCauley. They talk about the role of the County Administrator and the process right now to hire his successor after his retirement at the end of June, plus some ideas about what the CA does and Mark’s plans for his retirement.
(Airdate: April 18, 2025) This week on County Connections, co-hosts Jim Burke and Commissioner Greg Brotherton welcome Matt Stewart, Director of JeffCom 911, and Heather, a 911 dispatcher. It is Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. We also talked about the basics of 911 call protocols and dispatch, with a detour into what happens when your cellphone or connected watch calls 911 when you fall down or even when you don’t. (HINT: if it is not an emergency, stay on the line and make sure you tell the 911 operator, okay?) We played out to Tombstone Blues by Bob Dylan.
(Airdate: April 11, 2025) This week on County Connections, co-hosts Jim Burke and Commissioner Greg Brotherton welcome Cheryl Weinstein, Program Manager of Dove House Advocacy Services, and a member of the county’s Housing and homelessness task force. There is a fact-finding meeting that the public (especially the unhoused) of the south Jefferson County are encouraged to attend on Thursday, April 17 at the Quilcene Community Center from 6-7:30 pm. Free pizza is included! The idea is to get input, especially from those who need housing and services in that area about what is needed both in terms of soft things (services) and hard thing (housing and other actual THINGS…)
Go to the county web page for details co.jefferson.wa.us, or for other Dove House related events go to dovehousejc.org. Or call Dove House at 360 385-5292.DOVE HOUSE 24 HOUR CRISIS LINE: 360 385-5291
(Airdate: April 4, 2025) Taylor Clark sat in for KPTZ’s Jim Burke, and co-hosted along with Jefferson County Commissioner Heather Dudley Nollette as she continued her “County Government 101” course by welcoming Jefferson County Auditor Brenda Huntingford to the show. Tune in to learn about what the auditor’s office does. It is very public-facing and chances are you already have used their services.
(Airdate: March 28, 2025) This week on County Connections co-hosts Jim Burke and Commissioner Greg Brotherton welcome Viki Sonntag and Audrey Morford from the Housing Fund Board to talk about the new 5-year homeless and affordable housing plan. Our outro is Five Years by David Bowie.
(Airdate: March 21, 2025) This week on County Connections Jim Burke and co-host County Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour welcomed guests Mel Rose, PsyD, LICSW, Executive Director/Clinic Director and Mary Sepler, President of the Board, from Jumping Mouse Children’s Center, which provides mental health services for children in Jefferson County based on play therapy. Play therapy is used to help children address trauma of various kinds that make up their ACE score (Adverse Childhood Events). Go to jumpingmouse.org to find out more and to donate.
(Airdate: March 14, 2025) This week on County Connections Jim Burke and co-host Heather Dudley-Nollette welcome the new Jefferson County Sheriff (since January of this year) Andy Pernsteiner. They talk about how his elevation to sheriff came about, some of the things the sheriffs department does and an especially interesting look at a virtual reality (VR) training tool the department uses to train deputies to defuse and help someone find services; or if the scenario escalates, when non-lethal and deadly force is warranted. The public can join in dialog with the Sheriffs Department by going to a Citizen’s Advisory Committee meeting (more info at https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1210/Citizens-Advisory-Committee).
(Airdate: March 7, 2025) This week on A SPECIAL KPTZ March Gladness Fundraiser edition of County Connections Jim Burke spoke with his co-host Commissioner Greg Brotherton who was beaming in remotely from the Connectivity Summit at Chimacum High School. They talked about the many ways in which KPTZ is a vibrant conduit between the County and the community. They also spoke with Danny Milholland of the Production Alliance who are producing this 3-day event. Friday is 80 employers recruiting youth, Saturday there are 120 organizations from around the county looking for connection and support from the community, and there are IGNITE TALKS, 5-minute inspirational speeches on a range of thought provoking topics. For more information, go to www.theproductionalliance.org/events/connectivity.
To donate to KPTZ, press the blue button on the KPTZ website or TEXT KPTZ to 44321!(Airdate: February 28, 2025) This week, County Commissioner Heather Dudley-Nolette and co-host Jim Burke welcome Jefferson County Tax Assessor Jeff Chapman to discuss how tax assessments are made, the difference between regressive taxes like sales tax and property taxes which are actually more fair, plus the fact that Jeff is in “the middle” between the County Commission and the citizens who pay the taxes. The song outro is from the band Trampled By Turtles, The Middle.
(Airdate: February 21, 2025) This week on County Connections, Jim Burke and his co-host Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour welcome Richard Davies, Director of Jefferson Associated Council, contracted by the county to provide public defense, and Derek Young, Interim Executive Director Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC). Derek is advocating for HB-1592 which would increase state funding for public defenders across the sate so there might be PARITY. Currently the public defense here in Jefferson County is over 95% paid by the county. Listen below for more alarming stats as well for as ways in which agencies in the county are working to intervene before people commit crimes, or are ever charged with a crime, to lessen the case load of attorneys, and keep vulnerable members of society out of the criminal justice system if possible. HB-1805 is another bill which aims to fund programs to help youth across the state stay out of trouble.
