Faulty equipment is being blamed for a power outage on July 3 that affected nearly 4,000 consumers. Here’s the news release from Peninsula Light Co.:

Peninsula Light Company lost power to the Ludholm substation on Burnham Drive due to a faulty lighting arrestor about 9:20 a.m. on Saturday, July 3. The outage affected 3,739 consumers in the Crescent Valley, Point Richmond, East Gig Harbor and North Gig Harbor communities.

Power was restored to all meters by at 10:25 a.m.

The lighting arrestor is used to protect the substation in the event of a lighting strike. Think of it as a large surge protector. Crews restored the power by switching the circuits and bypassing the arrestor.

The arrestor has been replaced, and the substation is operating once again under normal conditions.

Lots of upgrade work coming for the westbound Narrows bridge in a nearly $2 million project that will last until December. Single- and double-lane closures are expected throughout the week.

Here’s the news release from the state Department of Transportation that spells out the details:

TACOMA — Electrical work on the westbound Tacoma Narrows Bridge begins next week as crews install new components and make upgrades to reduce maintenance and operation costs.

WSDOT and contractor Signal Electric are also converting the electrical systems on the westbound bridge and connecting them to utility services in Gig Harbor and Tacoma that power the eastbound bridge. The $1.9 million project starts Monday, July 12, and is scheduled to end Wednesday, Dec. 1.

Motorists can expect single-lane closures from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and double lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.

To find out about traffic impacts from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge electrical upgrade and other projects in the area, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/olympic/construction.

For the first time in nearly two years, it’s OK to swim near the Purdy sand spit. Here’s the news release from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department:

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has lifted the “no swimming” advisory for the Purdy sand spit.

Water quality conditions are again safe for swimming and other water recreation activities. This advisory had been in place since October 2008 when a number of failing septic systems were identified or suspected in close proximity to the sandspit. Subsequent testing identified seven failing septic systems. All of the seven sites had numerous constraints and required complicated repairs or new systems.

Recent water samples collected by the health department as part of the Marine BEACH sampling program have shown good water quality at the Purdy sand spit. Also, water samples collected by the state Department of Health just off of the Purdy sand spit have shown good results.

But the shellfish closure issued by the state Department of Health for the sand spit remains in effect. It is important not to harvest shellfish from the beach.

Here’s a news release from the state Department of Licensing:

OLYMPIA — Summer boating is right around the corner, and so is the deadline for renewing boat and watercraft registration decals. In Washington state, all boat registrations expire on June 30.

Owners of boats and watercraft received a postcard in April informing them DOL won’t mail paper renewal reminders for boats and other watercraft anymore because the funding used to print and mail them was eliminated. The postcard invited these owners to sign up online at dol.wa.gov to receive renewal reminders by email.

DOL will send out boat and watercraft email renewal reminders to those who signed up for them on June 9. To receive one of these reminders, boat owners have to sign up at the DOL website no later than June 8. Owners who sign up after this date will not receive a renewal reminder for their boat until next year.

Boat registrations can be renewed online and in person at a neighborhood vehicle licensing office. Those who choose to renew in an office should make sure to note the registration number on the bow of the boat or watercraft and take that information to the office.

The Key Peninsula Fire Department announced Friday that it has been awarded $139,000 in FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant funds. The department stated in a news release that it plans to use the money to replace aging self-contained breathing apparatus with new equipment that will meet current safety standards.

The announcement came from the office of U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., according to the fire department news release.

The KPFD reported that it has struggled to meet safety standards due to several economic setbacks in the past few years. Its original request was for $261,000 to replace all of the department’s non-compliant equipment.

The funds issued through the grant program are intended “to protect the public and fire service personnel from fire and all hazards,” according to the news release.

Water tested safe for residents with water service on Harborview Drive located between Stinson to North Harborview Drive.

Due to Thursday’s water main break on Harborview Drive, the city submitted water samples to the Department of Health for a recommended water bacteria test.  Test results confirm that the water is safe.

Before results were released, some residents were asked to boil water for at least five minutes before drinking it or cooking with it, due to the water main break last Thursday.

The Department of Health recommended bacteria testing after a water main broke between Stinson Avenue and North Harborview Drive.

Test results were released  here.

The city says water can be safely used for showering or laundering purposes.

For more information, call the city’s Operations Division at 253-851-6170.

The fire that destroyed a Gig Harbor restaurant this week has been determined to be a probable act of arson, investigators said Friday.

Investigators from the City of Gig Harbor and the Pierce County Fire Marshal’s offices worked with an accelerant-sniffing dog, which found signs of an accelerant that was reportedly used to ignite the blaze Wednesday night that destroyed the Le Bistro Restaurant located at 4120 Harborview Drive.

The dog was on loan from the Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s office.

“The fire appears to have originated in the seating area of the restaurant,” Gig Harbor Fire Marshal Dick Bower said. “We found some unusual burn patterns during our investigation that pointed to the possibility of a flammable liquid being involved. Based on that, we asked for assistance from Topper, Snohomish County’s arson dog who is trained in sniffing out accelerants used to start fires.”

Samples of materials identified by the dog have been sent to the state crime lab for analysis.  No suspects have yet to be identified, but the Gig Harbor Police Department and Fire Marshal’s Office are conducting interviews and reviewing surveillance video from a nearby building.

A $10,000 reward has been offered through the Arson Alarm Foundation and the Washington Insurance Council for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the fire.

Bower said those with information by call 253-851-6170 during business hours, or 1-800-55-ARSON. After business hours, people should call 9-1-1, Bower said.

A corrections officer was shot in the knee Monday afternoon when a gun accidentally discharged along the perimeter of the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Purdy.

According to dispatch reports, two corrections officers were on the perimeter when one checked the serial number of a handgun. But the gun went off and struck one of the officers in the knee.

Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One responded to the scene. The injury is reportedly non-life-threatening, according to dispatch traffic. Medic One left the area about 2:30 p.m.

The Washington State Patrol will be investigating the incident.

Seven people have been arrested and more than $80,000 in stolen property has been recovered in connection with a burglary ring in both Gig Harbor and University Place.

Suspects used stolen rental vehicles to haul away items such as portable safes, personal belongings and jewelry, according to evidence gathered in the investigation.

A Tacoma home served as the hub for the criminal activity, and more than 20 victims already have been identified in the case, according to the Gig Harbor Police Department.  The case is still open as investigators continue to look into the correlation between more than 60 identity theft cases in the Gig Harbor area.

“Our detectives did a fantastic job in exercising the perseverance required to solve this extensive criminal enterprise,” Gig Harbor Police Chief Mike Davis said in a written statement.

The items stolen also serve as a reminder to invest time in taking photos of personal belongings and serial numbers for identification. Nearly half of the property items recovered bore no ownership markings, and the serial numbers were never reported, making it impossible for the owners to identify recovered property.

Two portable safes were recovered during the service of the search warrant at the Tacoma home, a reminder that safes that are not bolted down can be taken by thieves.

A memorial to honor Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Walter “Kent” Mundell will be held at 1 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Tacoma Dome. The time is being finalized.

Thousands from the law enforcement community, emergency response agencies and the public are invited and anticipated to attend. More information will follow in the coming days regarding the procession, transportation options and the ceremony.

On Dec. 21, Mundell was shot by a suspect while he responded to a domestic violence incident at a home in Eatonville. He died at 5:04 p.m. on Monday, with his family at his side.

Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy has directed that all flags in Pierce County be lowered to half-staff today until further notice. Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join the recognition.

Pierce County has received numerous calls from generous residents, agencies and businesses wanting to help. Those interested in making a donation, visiting from an out-of-area law enforcement agency or Honor Guard, or those just wanting more information regarding the memorial should e-mail pcsdmemorial@co.pierce.wa.us or call 1-866-977-2362. While volunteers are not needed at this time, people can assist by donating to Mundell’s family at any branch of Columbia Bank. For a list of branches, visit www.columbiabank.com.

Mundell was hired with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department in January 2000. He is survived by his wife and two children, ages 10 and 16. Mundell worked as a patrol deputy in South Hill and most recently with the Mountain detachment.

Over the course of his career with the sheriff’s department, Mundell served as a member of the Air Operations, Clandestine Lab Team and as a Safety Committee Representative.

UPDATE, 10:18 A.M. TUESDAY: A motorcade with Deputy Kent Mundell is scheduled to leave the King County Medical Examiner’s Office at 2 p.m. today. The procession will head southbound on Interstate 5 to the 74th Street exit, onto South Tacoma Way, a right on Steilacoom Boulevard to the Mountain View Funeral Home.

The county expects a small motorcade, but citizens are encouraged to line the route if they would like to pay their respects.

UPDATE, 1:54 P.M. TUESDAY: The memorial ceremony for Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Kent Mundell will begin at 1 p.m. on Jan. 5 at the Tacoma Dome. The Mundell family and the sheriff’s department has invited the public to share in the fallen deputy’s remembrance by attending the ceremony and lining the processional route.

The procession for will begin at 10 a.m. at the Puyallup Fair and Events Center, 110 9th Ave SW. The route will start north on South Meridian, veer right to 3rd Street SE, then to 2nd Street NE. It will then turn west on to River Road and continue through on Bay Street, where it will head west on Puyallup Avenue and proceed north on C Street to the Tacoma Dome.

Parking will be limited at the Tacoma Dome. The public is encouraged to use alternative parking areas. More information on those locations will follow.

Along with Columbia Bank branches, the Pierce County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild is accepting donations at www.pcdsguild.com. Tapco Credit Union also has set up an account, which can accept donations at any of its locations or at www.tapcocu.org.