Nearly 52 years after an Air Force fighter jet crashed in the Olympics and killed the pilot, two Seattle outdoorsmen are going to search this spring for the wreckage that has never been found.

Tomasz Biernacki and Phil Anderson have researched the crash and believe they have come up with some new evidence.

"We hope that our fresh approach and research will help locate the wreck site," Biernacki said. "After reviewing the crash and news reports from that time, we think the military may have been misled in their initial search."

On Nov. 10, 1962, Capt. Robert Lucas was flying a F-102 fighter interceptor on a routine training mission when his plane crashed somewhere between Lake Cushman and Lake Quinault. Hunters said they heard an explosion near the Wynooche watershed on the same day.

Multiple searches never found the plane or the pilot. Lucas is believed to have ejected from his plane before it crashed.

>>> Capt. Robert Lucas

"We have some evidence that has lead us to explore a few possible new locations for the jet crash," Biernacki said.

Biernacki and Anderson have been waiting for the snow to melt before they begin their search for the wreckage in the OlympicMountains.

The two outdoorsmen will film their search and it will be part of their adventure documentary series exploring the Olympic Peninsula, My Olympics.

The adventure documentary will include an episode on Anderson, who is nicknamed "Cougar Phil." Anderson, following the advice of a local Indian, will spend five days in the wilderness, living off the land in an attempt to experience what Indians called "Vision Quest." He'll only have knife and a survival kit.

Another of the six planned episodes Biernacki and Anderson will be shooting will be on cougars.

Dedicated South Sound craft beer fans are no strangers to closed gates. The Tacoma Craft Beer Festival and the Tacoma Big Beer Festival had to shut doors on beer drinkers due to capacity crowds. Last year, the Gig Harbor Beer Festival sold out in just over an hour after the gate opened.

"There's a good chance this year's Gig Harbor Beer Festival will sell out before its opening day, May 10," says John Fosberg, the Festival's producer and founder of the Gig Harbor Brewing Company.

Fosberg dropped the third annual Gig Harbor Beer Festival's news release today, touting 21 craft brewers, Gig Harbor's Heritage Distillery and a bigger music venue will consume the Gig Harbor Uptown Pavilion Saturday, May 10 - Mother's Day weekend.

"We love the Uptown Gig Harbor Pavilion and the managers and owners at the Uptown property," says Fosberg. "They are extremely helpful and supportive of our efforts. For the past three years, we've been looking for a new venue - preferably an indoor site - but have been unable to find anything within Gig Harbor that can surpass Uptown in capacity, electric power, ease of parking, management support and cost. Nothing comes close."

Fosberg says there are several brewers returning from previous years who are bringing some fan favorites and new brews to try. Eleven brewers poured at the first Gig Harbor Beer Festival. Last year, 18 beer companies set up booths. This year, 21 Washington state brewers will set up shop. Here's the starting line-up:

• 192 Brewing, Kenmore
• 7 Seas Brewing, Gig Harbor
• American Brewing, Edmonds
• Bainbridge Island Brewing, Bainbridge Island
• Big Al Brewing, Seattle
• Der Blokken, Bremerton
• Dicks Brewing Co., Centralia
• Everybody's Brewing, White Salmon
• Fremont Brewing, Seattle
• Georgetown Brewing Co., Seattle
• Harmon Brewing Co., Tacoma
• Hood Canal Brewery, Kingston
• Loowit Brewing Co., Vancouver
• Narrows Brewing, Tacoma
• Northwest Brewing, Pacific
• Rainy Daze Brewing Co., Silverdale
• RAM Big Horn Brewery, Tacoma
• Silver City Brewery, Bremerton
• Slippery Pig Brewing, Poulsbo
• Sound Brewery • Poulsbo
• Wingman Brewery, Tacoma

"Gig Harbor's own Heritage Distillery will be there pouring samples of their spirits," says Fosberg.

In terms of music, Perry Acker returns for the band's second year and takes the stage at 3 p.m. Aisle of View, a reggae band currently touring the country, opens at 1 p.m.

The standard beer festival giant Jenga game will tower at the festival, too.

Tickets are $20, $25 after April 25, and are available at the Festival's website. Admission includes a commemorative taster cup and eight taster tokens. Depending on availability, you may also purchase tickets the day of the event for $25. Additional taster tokens will be on sale during the event.

"Our ticket prices still haven't gone up," says Fosberg. "Tickets cost the same as they did our first year. It's the perfect Mother's Day gift."

The Gig Harbor Beer Festival benefits the Gig Harbor Kiwanis Foundation.

GIG HARBOR BEER FESTIVAL, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 10, Uptown Pavilion, 4701 Point Fosdick Dr. NW, Gig Harbor, $20 at brownpapertickets or gigharborbeerfestival.com

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 4.23.14 >>>

U.S. President Barack Obama said engagement with Beijing would not come at the expense of its Asian allies.

Why Obama's Asia tour is bad news for China.

The Pentagon has laid out plans for how it would cut $66 billion in procurement and research-and-development projects between 2016 and 2019 should U.S. defense spending caps remain in place.

Ukraine's president ordered the country's forces to renew a military operation against pro-Russian militants in East Ukraine after the killing of two men and a shooting at a plane.

Four Army units heading to Eastern Europe.

Germany helped prep Russia for war.

Commercial satellite imagery shows increased activity at North Korea's nuclear test site.

Report: U.S. may leave fewer troops in Afghanaistan.

New recruits in the U.S. military are getting slightly older.

U.S. Army denies it will lay off 3,000 officers to meet force reduction goals.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program personnel demonstrated five technologies under development to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

Defense officials agree that the military must change the way it buys satellites and space services. They just can't settle on exactly how it should be done.

Buying in bulk is key to lowering the cost of the F-35 joint strike fighter, the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program.

Rising jet production lifted Boeing's profit above Wall Street estimates, and the company notched up its full-year forecast.

As the Department of Veterans Affairs nears officially ending vet homelessness in 2015, job training, sustainment is critical.

Watch where 26 asteroids recently slammed into Earth.

The simplest explanation of climate change you'll ever see.

You'll Watch the Whole Thing: The formation of the United States of America in one cool animated map.

Future: We got the doors from Star Trek. The ones that go swooooosh - and that's about it.

Putt like Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Finally: Tiny desktop-sized version of Jupiter.

Researchers from the University of Colorado Denver have been looking into the most common unfriendings on the social network.

See what Stephen Colbert had to say to Dave Letterman last night.

Read GQ's new interview with Louis C.K.

Listen: New Pixies record is streaming at NPR.

Finally: An oral history of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

In case you missed it yesterday ...

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 2014 >>>

1. It's impossible to place The Saturday Giant into any sort of neat one-man band box. The Columbus, Ohio native isn't a prototypical one-man band: no one hollow-body guitar, no one bass drum, no one hi-hat cymbal and, OK, one voice. Instead, The Saturday Giant, aka Phil Cogley, purchased a Boomerang III Phrase Sampler looping pedal building one fragment of musical material on top of another - sculpting layers of guitars, drums, bass lines, beat boxing, keyboards and vocals into intricate indie pop-rock. In spirit and attitude, The Saturday Giant plays innovative art rock - nothing pre-recorded. The result is a one-of-a-kind live show at 8 p.m. in Metronome Coffee.

2. The Evergreen State College keeps the Earth Day drive alive with a live music, vendors, sustainability workshops, interactive art displays, activities for kids and more from noon to 5 p.m.

3. Several local beer events go down tonight. 99 Bottles in Federal Way will be pouring five brews from Anchorage Brewing Company from 5-7 p.m., with guest Geoff Sampson from Shelton Brothers importers. Pint Defiance on the edge of Fircrest hosts the American Brewing Company team, which will show off its new canned Breakaway IPA - as well as pour American Blonde Ale, Single-Hop Citra Experimental Pale Ale and Cabernet Barrel Aged Imperial Stout from the handles - from 5-7 p.m. Over at The Swiss Restaurant & Pub, Pyramid Breweries will be in the house from 6-9 p.m.

4. Alt rock band Torre had their equipment stolen last week. Beginning at 7 p.m. the music community will gather to help their own in the form of a benefit concert at Louie G's Pizza in Fife. Schedule to rock the house are Jessica Lynne, Kitt Bender and Eva D, Strangely Alright, Brooke Lizotte and Pamela Moore, SweetKiss Momma, Rafael Tranquilino with Torre hitting the stage and 10:30 p.m. Come out, drop a few dollars, eat some pizza and rock out. If you can't make the show, watch a live stream of Strangely Alright's set here.

5. Besides being the son of Woody, Arlo Guthrie is destined to be remembered for one memorable recording: "Alice's Restaurant Massacree," a raucous, politically edgy, draft-dodging, best-to-hear-high anthem that once upon a time was a fixture on early underground FM radio. Guthrie's story is based in truth: Two youths - one Arlo himself - couldn't find a garbage dump open on Thanksgiving, and so they threw a load of refuse down a hillside and were arrested. The events that transpired next are right out of Mayberry R.F.D., which is funny enough, except that Guthrie departs from his story line to talk about what it's like to get a draft physical: "You walk in, you get injected, inspected, detected, infected, neglected and selected!" And the people you meet there: "There was all kinds of mean, nasty, ugly-lookin' people on the bench there ... there was mother-rapers ... father-stabbers ... father-rapers!" "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" is an American classic, and we have out fingers crossed Guthrie performs it at 7:30 p.m. in the Washington Center - along with "Dead or Alive," "Gypsy Davy" and "This Land Is Your Land."

LINK: Wednesday, April 23 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Nick Cassavetes has never had the track record of his father, John. The elder Cassavetes was unimpeachably important as one of the catalysts of the American indie film movement, and his catalogue is peerlessly valuable to the cinematic landscape. Though his directorial output was relatively brief, even a cursory glance at his credits reveals classics such as A Woman Under the Influence, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie and Gloria.

Meanwhile, the younger Cassavetes has seemingly struggled through the years in search of a directorial voice. Recently, it seemed like he was beginning to find it: the execrable John Q led into the improved The Notebook, which then led into the quite good Alpha Dog. Unfortunately, his career then dipped into the mopey My Sister's Keeper - his first dalliance with Cameron Diaz - and we now find ourselves flinching at The Other Woman.

This is far from the first film to feature three jilted women taking revenge on their mutual cad - Chasing Papi and John Tucker Must Die both come immediately to mind, which indicates that there are likely scores of other examples. What all of these movies seem to share in common (besides plot) is the odd choice to subject their scorned women to the further humiliation of starring in a shitty comedy.

I'm not asking for these women to go full-on, scorched earth, Falling Down on this guy, but it feels just the slightest bit gross to watch these beautiful, accomplished women slapstick around for 90 minutes in the wake of a betrayal. It doesn't help that, while Cameron Diaz may have many bright spots, comedy is one that seems to have alluded her.

Still, full judgment of The Other Woman will be held until I inevitably find myself staring blankly at it one hung-over Sunday afternoon. God help me.

"Tacoma musicians don't mess around."

I once saw that on a bumper sticker. Ok ... there is no bumper sticker. But, there should be. Just take a look at this line-up of musicians who came together to raise money for alternative rock band Torre, the Tacoma-based rockers who recently had their equipment stolen by robbers:

• Jessica Lynne
• Kitt Bender and Eva D
• Strangely Alright
• Brooke Lizotte and Pamela Moore (toured with Queensryche)
• SweetKiss Momma
• Rafael Tranquilino Band
  
• Torre

While there will be no cover, donations are strongly encouraged and a raffle will be held.

"Just about everything was stolen," says Raymond Hayden of Maurice the Fish Records, who helped put the show together. "The reason (for the benefit) is not only to help them out with funds to get their gear back, but also to raise awareness to other musicians and artists that there are ways to protect themselves. If they get robbed won't be as painful."

Discussion and information about insurance for musicians is part of the agenda.

"A lot of musicians think it's really expensive, but it's not," says Hayden, who encourages folks to come learn more. "Plus it helps out the band. These four guys are very active in the community."

TORRE BENEFIT CONCERT, 7 p.m. to close, Wednesday, April 23, all ages, Louie G's Pizza, 5219 Pacific Hwy. E., Fife, donations accepted, 253.926.9700

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 4.24.14 >>>

Ukrainian forces killed up to five pro-Moscow separatists in the east of the country, the Interior Ministry said. 

Russia insists that Kiev pull back its troops from eastern Ukraine.

Paratroopers from the 173rd Infantry Brigade are now in Poland.

Afghanistan is not a country known for its aeronautical industry, but at least Gen. Mark Welsh, U.S. Air Force chief of staff, believes that could change.

Welsh also defended the service's plan to retire the A-10 attack plane, even as lawmakers continue to voice opposition to the idea.

And ... Welsh says the Air Force is simplifying the way it grades nuclear-missile officers on their monthly exams.

The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is beginning Operation Agile Eagle II, designed to localize and implement the larger Department of the Army-directed Brigade Combat Team 2020 initiative.

The U.S. Air Force needs to do more for its overworked drone pilots, a specialized force that has little time to train and suffers from low morale, according to a recent report by a government watchdog.

The next step toward autopilot in combat.

The Pentagon wants a cheap cruise missile that can strike anywhere in the world without risking American soldiers or aircraft. It's a great idea. As long as it doesn't inadvertently start a destabilizing arms race.

At least 40 U.S. veterans died waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, many of whom were placed on a secret waiting list.

The military is looking to roboticize the most exhausting aspects of flying jets.

A White House petition calling for the president to order the Army to reconsider its new grooming regulation fell short of its goal.

First lady announces one-stop job site for vets.

Ten of the most exotic and weird calculators on the Internet.

Finally: The coolest visualization of Pi

Awesome chemical reactions that look like impossible sorcery.

The new Star Wars movie will have the biggest budget of all the Star Wars movies.

Hear Seth Meyers interviewed on Fresh Air.

Sad: The drama surrounding the Gregg Allman biopic.

Super Dad!

THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2014 >>>

1. For most musicians the worlds of classical and modern music move in different orbits, if not galaxies. But when he sits down Thursday at the piano in the Rialto Theater, Christopher O'Riley should, once again, bring these spheres together. American pianist O'Riley has been sneaking Radiohead into the classical music world for years. As host of NPR's child-musician showcase From the Top, he gets to pick the music that gets played during station breaks. Rather than Mendelssohn preludes, O'Riley would draw up piano transcriptions of pop songs, which he'd then play without preannouncing. O'Riley will tape From the Top in front of a live audience at 7:30 p.m. in the Rialto Theater. If they haven't listen to anything written since 1900, he most likely will mess with their heads.

2. More than 50 establishments will be participating in Dining Out for Life today. During this large scale culinary fundraiser 25 percent of your bill will go directly to fund AIDS and HIV advocacy care and prevention programs. All types of cuisine are available from the rise of the sun until that late night nibble in the South Sound. Check out full details and a list of participating restaurants at diningoutforlife.com.   

3. Say friend. Do you like the poetry? Tacoma Poet Laureate Lucas Smiraldo is back at B Sharp Coffee House for another "Live at the Auricle" show. Spoken word will be fused with the musical styling of percussion master Davidson Gomez beginning at 7 p.m. An open mic will follow.

4. Barleywine Revue is just awesome. The band writes and performs contemporary, relevant bluegrass and Americana music while paying homage to the traditions that have come in generations before ... think Bill Monroe meets Bill Withers. Oh man, that's fresh! Catch the band from 7-10 p.m. at The Swiss Restaurant & Pub.

5. Formed by Dustin Hill, Black Pussy is a band that leans into the stoner rock label, despite the fact that listening to their music doesn't instantly evoke images of smoke sessions and unbearable jams. Rather, their sound and look is absolutely reminiscent of the '70s and the nascent birth of cock rock, back when cock rock was essentially still just synonymous with rock 'n' roll. They come across like the fictional band at the center of Almost Famous - all long hair, denim, booze, and groupies for days, a band lost in time. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on Black Pussy in the Music & Culture section, then catch the band at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge. 

LINK: Thursday, April 24 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

For someone who's been officially shooting concerts for 10 years, you'd think Red Williamson would be burned out on music. Not so much, it turns out. The founder of Newspin Photo - who was named Best Music Video Producer in the 2013 Best of Olympia issue, and who covered the Sasquatch! Music Festival for us last year - dropped in on The Uncluded's Olympia show Tuesday night before the duo hit the road. Below are a few words and photographs from Williamson describing the night.

(April 23) twas the first stop for The Uncluded Tour where almost 700 people turned out for a free, all-ages show at the Olympia Timberland Library. It was truly a unique and amazing experience with all types of young and old in attendance. Aesop Rock and Kimya Dawson put on a raw performance in a quirky environment that suited their sound so perfectly. If you haven't heard their album Hokey Fright yet, I suggest you check it out.

Click here to see Williamson's other photos from the show.

Below is a video of The Uncluded performing live on KEXP last year.

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 4.25.14 >>>

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of wanting to start a third world war. 

President Obama encountered setbacks to two of his most cherished foreign-policy projects on Thursday, as he failed to achieve a trade deal that undergirds his strategic pivot to Asia and the Middle East peace process suffered a potentially irreparable breakdown.

Be Afaird: China can't control North Korea.

North Korea represents a threat not just to Asia but to the United States, Pres. Obama said today, as he and South Korea's President Park Geun-hye warned they would respond firmly to any "provocations".

Rates of suicide in the military were slightly worse during the war years than what the Pentagon previously reported, according to new calculations released by Defense Department officials today.

Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) said the former watchdog at the Department of Homeland Security should be fired and possibly prosecuted if allegations over his misconduct are true

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) called on Congress to pass the Military Justice Improvement Act to address military sexual assaults.

U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command's effort to grasp morale problems and outline steps to improve the nuclear community is moving beyond missileers to bomber crews.

The Navy will conduct a battle exercise off the West Coast next month that could help determine whether another 22 more EA-18G Growler aircraft will be built.

Group links military to cyber, robotics innovators.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel got a first-hand look at a life-size robot Tuesday that resembles Hollywood's "Terminator," the latest experiment by the Pentagon's hi-tech researchers.

Boeing has worked to offer the Navy an escape hatch from the costly Joint Strike Fighter program.

Many retirees and active duty families may stop shopping on base if DoD is allowed to slash commissary budgets.

The Army has taken a step toward officially acknowledging "humanists" among other faiths and belief systems, ending years of resistance to the idea.

Probe of Army general calls insular military culture into question.

Video: The science of tsunamis.

Time unveiled its annual "Influential People" feature.

Three digital images produced by Andy Warhol have been recovered on floppy discs.

Awesome: Giant robot sound effect slippers make your cyborg fantasies come true.

Take a journey into Homer's brain and push the boundaries of animation.

Ronald McDonald has gone a (still-creepy) wardrobe change.

Finally: What if Forrest Gump were a Wes Anderson film?

Keep your chin up ...

Original photo by Sgt. 1st Class Roger Dey