Fife Free Press - Current Stories

Flood District begins official formation

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:08:07 -0700

With the recent Pierce County Council's passage of the creation of a county-wide Flood Control Zone, the rules and policies to fund levee work and water-retention projects around the county are being drafted.

The mission of the flood control district is to generate tax dollars that would be used to protect lives, homes and businesses around the county from catastrophic losses caused by flooding, particularly if the Puyallup River overruns its banks and shuts down Interstate 5 the way waters did in Lewis County three years ago. The economic impact of that flooding exceeded $10 million per day.

The Flood Control Zone became official in April, but the County Council is now developing ways the district will operate and how the district will determine the tax rate that property owners will pay to fund projects.

"The flood hazards in the county are real," said Brian Ziegler, director of Pierce County Public Works and Utilities.

Not only are there direct threats to life and property if the aging levees and current projects fail to keep the waters within the riverbanks, but there is a growing threat to business, the environment, transportation and tourism dollars if the area floods. An analysis released in October 2010 concluded the county could face economic losses of more than $725 million. The county estimates that some 21,000 people would be directly affected by a massive flood, while some 17,000 jobs would be lost or stalled. Some 9,300 homes in the county would face significant damage. But to some degree, everyone in the county would be touched by the rising waters through impacts on work or travel or by the environmental damage flood waters would bring. Some 216,000 people, for example, would be affected by the loss of sewer treatment services if the three sewer treatment plants located within local flood plains have to shut down as water rises around them. That could lead to untreated sewage flowing into local waterways.

"People don't stop flushing because of a flood," Ziegler said. "The rivers will always be our sewer system whether we treat what goes into the rivers or not."

Faced with rising urbanization of the county, a flood control system that dates backs to the 1920s that does not meet current standards and is reaching the end of useful life, the district was needed to fill the gap between the current flow of just $2 million a year in flood-control dollars into a system that already needs more than $300 million in repairs and upgrades.

The district's funding is expected to come from a levy of 10 cents per $1,000 assessed value, which amounts to $20 a year on a $200,000 home. The money cannot be used for anything other than flood-related actions. That tax rate will generate about $8 million that will be matched with federal funds to chip away at the backlog of repairs. The 10-cent rate is what has been recommended by the County Council as the district was forming. State law allows for five times that rate. A decision of what rate taxpayers will actually pay will rest with the Flood Control District's Board of Supervisors. That board is made up of County Council members, meaning the members will largely be advising themselves.

"It is kind of a quirk in state law," Ziegler said.

That district will have an advisory board of city officials collected from around Pierce County, although the specifics are being worked out now. More details will come later this summer.

While the district takes official form, research on flood control methods continues. County, municipal and Corps of Engineers officials are two years into a six year flood-control study that will target what projects will be most beneficial in controlling floods as well as put the levees and retention projects into a pool of projects around the country that would then compete for federal funding.

Fife sits at the lowest point in Pierce County, making it the most likely to be flooded by rainwater and melting snow from the far reaches of the area. While the Flood Control District was generally welcoming news to the Fife City Council during a recent briefing on the issue, support was less than unquestioning.

"I support it but also am troubled by it," Councilmember Richard Godwin said.

The idea of studying flood-control projects does not seem to have progressed much in recent years.

"You would be better off taking all the studies and make a levee out of them because nothing physical has happened with those folks," he said of the Army Corps of Engineers. "I don't know how much more you can study it. Something has to happen here. The river isn't going to wait on your studies."

Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Hull questioned why the proposed advisory board only lists Puyallup Tribe as a rotating member, noting that not only does much of the Puyallup River sit within the reservation, the tribe is such an active member in what happens along the waterway.

"They play such an important role," he said.

The advisory board to the Flood Control Board of Supervisors would help determine which cities and towns within the county would receive local grant dollars for smaller flood-control projects in their areas. The "opportunity fund" system was a concession for cities like Gig Harbor, DuPont, Steilacoom, University Place and Milton that do not see direct impacts of seasonal flooding the way Fife and low-land areas do. While much less significant in terms of potential flooding impacts, Pierce County has 11 significant flood plains along the Puyallup, White, Carbon, Nisqually, Greenwater and Mashel rivers, and South Prairie Creek. The flood plains range from the very urban nine miles along the lower Puyallup River to the rural Nisqually River between Elbe and Ashford. Many of the levees along these rivers were built more than 80 years ago by farmers to protect their fields. Now, these aging levees protect major business centers, residences and critical public facilities such as roads, bridges and sewer treatment plants that need to be upgraded.

The suprise of a lifetime

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:03:24 -0700

When her grandparents led her into Dave's of Milton on Mother's Day, Kelsey Lyons, 11, was a little nervous but determined to send a personal message to her father, who has been serving in Afghanistan since last July. As part of a fictional program called Letters to Loved Ones, dreamed up by mom Cynthia Hansen, Lyons expected to read the letter to a local reporter who would then snap her picture and send the message off in a special publication for soldiers serving overseas.

What she did not expect was for her father, Spc. David Hammonds, to be hiding in a nearby flower shop.

Inside the restaurant and surrounded by friends and family – and perfect strangers who eventually caught on to the scheme – Lyons read her letter aloud, saying how much she misses him, how the world is a perfect place when he is around and, of course, how she cannot wait to make trips to Wild Waves with him when he returns for good at the end of June. Listening in from outside the restaurant, Hammonds walked in with a smile, much to the stunned disbelief of his daughter.

After other patrons learned of the reunion, Dave's owner Mary Tompkins received at least five offers to pay for the family's breakfast by customers who were simply grateful to be part of the moment.

"I'm just honored they chose to hold the reunion here at Dave's," Tompkins said.

After weeks of careful planning, Hansen was thrilled the surprise came together successfully.

"I know how happy she is right now, and how much this means to her," Hansen said. "And what parent doesn't want their child to be as happy as they possibly can be?"

The mother/daughter team has been apart from Hammonds for nearly a year, and his position on the front lines of the war made his absence all the more tangible. As part of the 22nd Engineers Battalion, Hammonds' role is to clear improvised explosive devices from the roadways. Hammonds himself has suffered three traumatic brain injuries and is nominated for a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained while moving an injured soldier to safety.

"After being so close to someone who has been in such a dangerous, precarious situation for so long, hearing his voice on American soil is one of those things you pray every night for," Hansen said. "You don't even stop holding your breath until a moment like this."

During his two-week leave, Hammond plans to spend quality time with the family, but has few specific plans except one: "It looks like I'll be taking Kelsey to Wild Waves," he laughed.

Gaining perspective

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:43:23 -0700

The Hedden Running Team received a special visit May 10 from motivational speaker and 154-time marathon runner Harry C. Cordellos when he joined their practice for an afternoon focused on the importance of leading a healthy, active lifestyle. Cordellos, who is completely without sight, holds the national record for blind runners for finishing the Boston Marathon in 2:57:42.

His message for the kids was simple: "So often, people think of running as punishment," he said. "But the truth is that running not only makes you stronger, but it also helps your mind work better."

Cordellos, 72, is the author of three books including his autobiography "Breaking Through," and regularly speaks around the country to students about athletics without limitations. As an avid athlete, Cordellos refused to let a disability keep him from accomplishing his goals, breaking records and living a full life. "Adapting is the key to success when you have a physical handicap," he said. "If there's a way to do something, I was always determined to find it."

And he found ways to become an accomplished swimmer, water skier and even ping-pong player. When Cordellos played a round of what he calls rally ping-pong, the students could see for themselves the accomplishments one can make in spite of their limitations.

The students also watched a portion of a video showing Cordellos' race through the treacherous terrain of northern California's Dipsea Race, America's oldest trail run. Although the race is a relatively short 7.4 miles, the course includes more than 600 stairs and steep trails that few believed he could master. But thanks to a dedicated guide, he achieved his goal. "They said it couldn't be done," he said, "but we did it. The Dipsea Race is like life – you don't necessarily win it – you survive it."

Hearing lessons of perseverance and dedication will help students as they approach the 1.2-mile Sound to Narrows junior run on June 9. By that time, after running on Tuesdays and Thursdays during official practices, and three days at home, the kids will have completed a full adult marathon of 26.2 miles. "It's my goal to help the kids realize that what they put in their bodies affects their health," said teacher/trainer Ladd Wolfe. "We want them to realize that it's okay to be physical and active."

Fife student actors stage a must-see production of ‘Oliver!’

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:29:13 -0700

Given the wealth of talent among the student actors in Fife schools, their new production of "Oliver!" is guaranteed to be a most entertaining time for families and audiences of all ages. The show opened May 11 and continues through this weekend, playing May 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. and May 20 at 2 p.m.

Those who have read the Charles Dickens classic "Oliver Twist," or seen the popular 1968 film, will be familiar with the basic story, as Fife's version sticks to the original telling. Everything centers around the poor, orphan waif and his experiences on the streets of London and the cast of crazy, and often dangerous, characters he meets along the way. This production includes many memorable songs made famous in the film and on Broadway, such as "Food, Glorious Food," "Consider Yourself" and, of course, "Oliver."

The level of professionalism and skill possessed by the Fife cast members is of a quality that rivals what one might see on much bigger theater stages. They're that good.

"They constantly surprise us with the depth and quality of the performances they put on," said their director and Fife drama teacher Dave Hockman who, with his wife and fellow teacher Teresa, have together produced countless plays for Fife schools. "We can guide them toward it, but it's their dedication and hard work that makes the difference. We're just proud parents looking on."

This production of "Oliver!" is being presented by the Fife High School Drama Department, but the cast also includes a few student actors from Columbia Junior High and Surprise Lake Middle School. The two Olivers were chosen from the middle school – Isaiah Stevens plays this lead role in Cast I and Kent Matoba plays it in Cast II. Many of the roles in this play were cast with two actors so that the maximum number of students can participate.

"This is my fifth play," 6th-grader Stevens said. "I started when I was nine." Playing Oliver, he feels a kinship with the adventurous young man. "I like the character because he's sort of like me."

For Matoba, "Oliver!" is his very first play. His older sister Arika, a junior at Fife High School, plays the Artful Dodger in both casts. It was she who encouraged her brother to audition. "I'm just a bit nervous because this is my first time," he said, "but Arika helped me a lot with my lines and the songs."

"My favorite part is being with my brother," Arika said, a fine singer who brings it to the Fife stage every time.

Tickets to "Oliver!" are $8 general admission. All performances will take place in the performing arts center at Columbia Junior High, 2901 54th St E. in Fife

Do-it-yourself dog wash makes this chore a joy

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:08:53 -0700

Puyallup Tribal member William Manzanares has set up a most convenient, inexpensive and effective self-serve dog washing system next door to his Northpoint Smoke Shop on River Road. Housed in its own neat and tidy little building, it's open 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. seven days a week and works like a do-it-yourself car wash but for dogs of any and all sizes.

Being self-service, customers can drive up and get right to work on scrubbing their pooch without having to make an appointment and without having to hand Fido over to be handled by a stranger. Cost is $10 for ten minutes, and you can use cash, credit/debit cards or purchase tokens from inside the smoke shop.

Everything is right there in one compact, coin-operated unit called the K9000, made in the USA and recognized as the top of the line self-serve dog wash system currently on the market. It's also the safest and easiest to use.

The "tub" side of the K9000 is waist-high to humans, with a side door that makes it simple to walk your dog into the tub rather than having to lift him/her up and in. On the right are two hand-held hoses – one that sprays heat-controlled water through a variety of nozzle settings and another that blows warm air for blow-drying. A control panel allows users to dial a selection of choices – shampoo, flea shampoo, rinse, conditioner, blow dry and to disinfect the tub afterward, which all users are kindly asked to do as a courtesy for the next customer.

"Everyone who uses it loves it," William Manzanares said, noting that in the wintertime customers appreciate the heated room when it's too cold to wash the dog outside. He said he got the idea to open the dog wash after seeing the K9000 unit on the "Modern Marvels" show on the History Channel.

A former pit bull owner, William Manzanares said he knows first-hand that it can be difficult to find a groomer that fits your dog, and also that it's oftentimes difficult to keep your dog clean without making a huge, watery mess in the bathroom. "I knew there had to be other dog owners out there who couldn't wash their dog outside or their dog just isn't right for a groomer." This led him to purchase the first K9000 in the state of Washington, and he's been impressed with its performance and reliability. His set-up is perfect for all kinds of occasions, such as when coming home with a wet and muddy dog from a day at the lake, for when company is coming and the four-footed family member needs a clean-up, or for simply keeping your dog fresh and clean throughout the year.

Northpoint Smoke Shop is located at 6408 River Rd. E. Parking is free and always available.

Editorial: Welcome Home, David

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:29:48 -0700

It may seem like an obvious statement on its surface, but it is worth stating. Wars are fought by people, not machines, or guns, or tanks, or drones. People.

More so than in many other communities around the nation, Pierce County knows that fact to be all too true.

Tens of thousands of soldiers, airmen and reservists with ties to Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Camp Murray have found themselves in harm's way in the deserts of Iraq and the mountain valleys of Afghanistan in the last decade of military actions in those far flung regions of the globe. Many have served multiple deployments for extended times away from their families, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters and other relatives who serve their country in their own right by saying goodbye to their loved ones as they struggle to keep things together on the home front.

Some never come home from those deployments overseas, which makes the safe and unharmed return of a loved one in uniform all that much better.

Such was the case with Spc. David Hammonds, a Milton resident who found himself at the center of a unique welcome home event after serving his country for much of the last year in Afghanistan. The details of how everything went down can be found in the cover story of this newspaper.

While every family member of a soldier understandably wants to make their welcome home party memorable, what was good to know is that perfect strangers wanted to help with planning, or cheers, or by covering expenses.

Hammonds wasn't just a soldier greeting his surprised daughter; he was the embodiment of every soldier returning home to loved ones. For everyone gathered at Dave's of Milton for his homecoming, he was a dad, a neighbor, a coworker who answered the nation's call. While a free breakfast, cake and some handshakes will never pay the debt America owes to soldiers like him, they represent the thoughts and well wishes of a grateful nation.

Soldiers, generally, don't want such praise anyway. They welcome and appreciate it, sure. But what they often really want is to be home and to rebuild their pre-deployment lives.

So, thank you Spc. David Hammonds. Now enjoy Wild Waves. I hear there is an 11-year-old girl around somewhere who really wants to take you down the water slides a few hundred times.

Share comments about this editorial at www.fifefreepress.com or www.mesignal.net.

Letters to the Editor: May Day Vandalism

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:19:45 -0700

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the vandalism and terrorism done by the so-called "anarchists" in Seattle on May 1. Why do we call them anarchists when actually they are terrorists? All they are doing is terrorizing and destroying the property and people there. They should be treated just like any other terrorists and get the same treatment and punishment as other criminal gangs. The authorities should be allowed to use all appropriate action to quell the unlawful mob no matter what it takes. Those terrorists know they are illegal when they are so cowardly they have to cover their faces.

I am all for doing whatever it would take to stop them from destroying personal property and terrorizing the citizens. Just like they vandalized the mayor's home while he, his wife and children were sleeping. Now that sure takes a brave person.

They call themselves anarchists. I call them terrorists. They are doing the same thing foreign terrorists would do if they came to our country. They are destroying the area. Treat them like all other terrorists, whatever it takes. If the penalty were harsh enough, maybe it would discourage them the next time.

One media report stated that Mayor Mike McGinn and Seattle Police Department did a superb job of handling them. Well, they did all they could do. They are limited to what they can do. I want to turn them loose to do what they have to do, not what they can legally do. They might have to do a little illegal activity to keep up with these illegal terrorists.

Unfortunately, the good guys' hands are tied too much while the terrorists are destroying personal and public property. Treat them like the criminal terrorists they are. Let's not be too kind to these terrorists. If it takes a change in our laws so we can use more means of curtailing this activity, let's do it. We have waited too long already. We have had too much of this type of activity in the past and we have not been able to manhandle them or punish them enough to discourage this type of terrorist activity. We must do something before some innocent people get maimed or killed.

Richard Susan
Tacoma

Letters to the editor: Export-Import Bank of the United States

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:09:41 -0700

Dear Editor,

I am pleased my colleagues were able to reach an agreement to reauthorize and raise the lending limits for the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Ex-Im provides critical financing to promote American exports and keeps them competitive within the global marketplace. Providing American manufacturers the resources they need to meet demand for United States exports is one of our top priorities for putting our economy back on track – nearly 95 percent of the world's consumers live outside the United States. Extending support to the Ex-Im Bank is critical to maintaining and creating jobs in Washington state and around the country. Ex-Im lending supports exporters in aerospace, clean technology, global health, wine and other agricultural industries.

Over the past three years, the Ex-Im Bank has provided more than $30 billion in disbursements to Washington state and more than $11 billion in capital to businesses in the 9th District. And the majority of companies receiving loans were small businesses. These loans have supported more than $68 billion in export sales in our state and have helped our local businesses complete transactions, create and sustain jobs that are vital to the health of our local and national economies.

U.S. Representative Adam Smith
Tacoma

Guest Editorial: Think F.A.S.T. and help save lives from stroke

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:25:17 -0700

May is Stroke Awareness Month. As a stroke survivor and volunteer for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, I had a chance to address Tacoma City Council on May 1 about the devastating effects of stroke and to thank them for encouraging the public to learn the stroke warning signs in order to help save lives.

In 2007 when I was 37, I envisioned my whole life ahead of me as I was planning my wedding to Michael, the man of my dreams. I had a successful career and was in good health. I never suspected that my life would change in an instant.

I had a hemorrhagic stroke – bleeding in the brain – which caused paralysis on my left side. On that quiet morning, I left my old life as I knew it and began a new life journey as a stroke survivor. Thankfully my fiancé recognized that I was having a stroke and thanks to him, I got medical help quickly.

Warning sign #1. As I sat on the couch, I felt an extreme headache. Warning sign #2. As I got up, I described to Michael that I was looking down at my left foot but I could not feel it. The sensation quickly traveled up the left side of my body. It was like it went to sleep without the pins and needles feeling. Warning sign #3. "Help me!" I exclaimed. He looked at me and asked me to smile. He could see that the left side of my face was not equal to my right side. Warning sign #4. He said to me, "Karen, everything you are telling me says you are having a stroke!" All of this took less than five minutes.

The stroke affected my vision, took my feeling on my entire left side and spasticity in my left hand. I had no fine motor skills and had to learn to walk again so I have a slight limp. With hard work, determination and complete love and support from Michael, I was able to walk down the aisle four months later on our wedding day.

Every 40 seconds, someone in America experiences a stroke, which cuts off blood supply to the brain, causing brain cells to die. It is a medical emergency, so it is very important to recognize the warning signs. Think F.A.S.T.: Face. Ask the person to smile. Does the face look uneven? Arms. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift down or is it unable to move? Speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does their speech sound strange? Strange speech could be slurred, the wrong words may come out, or the person is unable to speak.

Time to call 911. Many people in Washington die or are disabled from stroke because they do not get the appropriate medical treatment within the recommended time window, which is three hours for the most common type of stroke. Washington's new Emergency Cardiac and Stroke System helps save lives by taking patients to the right hospital for the right treatment quickly. But to activate the system, you must be able to recognize a stroke and call 911 promptly.

As an American Heart Association volunteer, I am an advocate for the 7 million stroke survivors in the country to raise awareness about stroke. Please, make it your mission to educate yourself on the warning signs of stroke so you can be there for the ones you love. And make it your mission to educate the ones you love so they can be there for you.

May is American Stroke Month. Learn the warning signs and learn more about Washington's Emergency Cardiac and Stroke System at www.heart.org/call911.

Karen Dionne is a Graham resident.

Appreciate that special man at father-daughter dance

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:13:56 -0700

Now that Mother's Day has come and gone, next up is Father's Day on June 17. But before that day arrives, there will be a chance to celebrate that special man at the third annual "Daddy's Little Girl" father/daughter dance, June 9 at the Fife High School cafeteria. Sponsored by Fife High School cheerleaders, the money raised will help the squad offset their uniform costs.

This dance is dedicated not just to fathers but to any man who girls wish to thank for "being there" for them whether it is an uncle, big brother, stepfather, grandfather…all are invited.

"It is a night where they can bond and really experience some fun activities together," said cheer coach Christiann Thomas. "Not every child is going to have a daddy that's in their lives or be able to be there that day, and some dads are overseas. Girls need a good male role model, so whoever it is for them is welcome."

Holding the dance at the end of the school year also gives the dads a chance to have a special moment with their girls at this pivotal point in the young ladies' lives. "It is a special event before girls go off to college or start a new life outside their home," Thomas said.

There are many activities planned for the evening – dancing, music, refreshments, crafts, and games like musical chairs and scavenger hunts with prizes. Render's Photography in Fife will be there to take photos of couples, and Fife Flowers will offer corsages. Fife cheerleaders will be on hand to welcome everyone and assist throughout the night.

Kailey Sales is captain of the cheer squad. "I'm bringing my mom to help out," she said, "and I'll dance with the little girls. It makes them happy because they look up to cheerleaders, and it's fun for them to get dressed up."

In preparation for the dance, Thomas is assembling a slide show of photos that girls planning to attend the dance are invited to send in beforehand – from baby pictures on up. Photos can be submitted on a CD or e-mailed to cthomas@fife.k12.wa.us. This information and more is included on the pre-registration form at https://sites.google.com/a/fifeschools/com/thomas/home/fhscheer. Tickets are $10 pre-registered, and $15 at the door, $40 for families of any size. No specific attire is required, so get dressed up or come as you are.

News Briefs

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:55:01 -0700

Fife needs homes for birds and bats

All you Scout Troops, Camp Fire Groups, school and church groups, and any others, as well as individual woodworkers, the City of Fife needs homes for flying critters on wetland property that currently has none. Where will the birds and the bats sleep and care for their young? The City of Fife is seeking volunteer donations of a few bird houses (any type – be as simple or elaborate as you like!) and a couple bat boxes, as well as the posts to mount them on.

Contact Carl Durham, project manager, at (253) 896-8692, or cdurham@cityoffife.org. Fit in Fife Day

Fit in Fife Day will promote health and wellness in Fife. Come down to Dacca Park to participate in the 5K run, Kids Dash, attend a health seminar, or take a fitness class. There will be activities for all ages, so bring your family and join in on the fun. Call the Fife Community Center at (253) 922-0900. The event is scheduled for 9-11 a.m. on June 2 and is free.

Relay 4 Life in Fife

Join walkers on June 15 and 16, for the first Relay For Life of Fife-Milton-Edgewood, located at Fife High School, to help save lives. Team meetings will be held the first Thursday of every month at the old Milton library space (1000 Laurel St.). More information is available at "http://www.relayforlifeoffifemiltonedgewood.org".

Relay 4 Life fundraiser

The Fife-Milton-Edgewood Relay 4 Life team is holding a garage sale May 19th, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 25th and Milton Way!! Come and find a treasure -- and any donations would be greatly appreciated.

Free summer playground program

This program will offer lunch and an afternoon snack made possible by United States Department of Agriculture. This free drop-in program provides the opportunity for kids to get creative with arts and crafts, play lots of games and sports, and visit with friends. This program is not to be used to substitute childcare or day-care services! Adult recreation staff will supervise the kids during activities but is not responsible for keeping track of children at the program or park site for the duration of the day; kids can come and go as they please. It is solely the responsibility of the parents, legal guardians and day-care providers to supervise their children to ensure their safety. The program runs 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 25 to Sept. 17 at Colburn Park.

All Saints students send principal to the roof

All Saints School has a longstanding commitment to community service. Each year, students participate in many different service projects. One of these service projects is the annual penny drive that benefits the local food banks. The school's Fife campus donates all money collected to the Fife Food Bank located at the St. Martin of Tours campus and the Puyallup campus donates to the All Saints Community Services Food Bank that offers support to anyone in need in Puyallup. This year's effort raised a record amount, more than $4,000 between both campuses. In answer to a challenge to top $4,000, the principal spent the day on the school roof at the Puyallup campus. Principal Terence Maguire started his day on May 15 on the roof of All Saints School and stayed there until school let out.

Fife's 2012 Tourism Ambassador

The Tourism Ambassador representing Fife for 2012 is Joe Burgi, owner of Pick Quick! He was selected for his passion for his business and tourism.

"Tourism is so important – not just for Pick Quick, but for everyone here in Fife. The movement of people in and out helps every business," he said on his promotional poster. "We love to see people come through. Tourism brings Fife a lot of exposure with the people who come into the area and see what has happened in the area. Tourism is what drives everybody. We love to see people come in from out of town and see that they like Fife, spend some money here and of course come again!"

Burgi and his wife Betty have owned and managed Pick Quick, a walk-up burger and shake stand, since 1980. Betty worked at Pick Quick as a teenager in the early 1950s while dating Joe. Now, they have made it a family-run operation, with Joe and Betty's children, children-in-law and even grandchildren involved in the business. As lifetime Pierce County residents, this is their home.

In 2011, travelers to Fife spent $58.1 million and generated $4.3 million in state and local tax revenues, creating 680 jobs with $15.3 million in earnings.

Fife Public Art Map and walking tour

The Fife Public Art Program was established in 2011 as a visible way to enhance quality of life for residents and support tourism and economic vitality. A call to artists was sent out in October 2011 and closed Dec. 31. More than 20 artists from around the country submitted applications, some with multiple pieces of art work. The Fife Public Arts Commission (FPAC) then selected five pieces to purchase and place in public locations. The art pieces will remain at their locations for at least one year, at which time the FPAC and Fife community will select pieces for permanent display. All pieces not selected for permanent display will be sold at an annual "Arts Gala" with all proceeds benefiting the FPAP. Maps of the artwork locations can be found at city offices and online at http://www.CityofFife.org

. McDonald announces campaign

Currently serving as chair of the Pierce County Council, Joyce McDonald has announced that she will seek re-election to her 2nd District seat. District 2 represents the areas of Puyallup, Fife, Sumner, Edgewood, Milton, Northeast Tacoma, Browns Point-Dash Point, Pacific and the Lakeland area of Auburn.

"Ensuring fiscal responsibility and accountability along with improving public safety have always been in my top priorities," said McDonald. "I look forward to continuing to work on these important issues in my second term on the Pierce County Council."

With sound fiscal leadership, Pierce County has weathered the economic downturn that crippled the state legislature, she said. At the first signs of recession, Pierce County tightened belts and cut spending. Since 2008, county government has cut 14 percent of its workforce and almost $90 million in total spending, while prioritizing the services that are most important to Pierce County's citizens – sheriff's deputies, justice in the courts, and criminals off the streets and in the jail.

"I am prepared to continue making tough decisions to ensure that we balance the budget, without increasing the tax burden on our county's hard-working families," said McDonald. "Elected officials sometimes forget they serve to represent the people while citizens are working hard to support their families and make our communities better places to live."

McDonald previously served five terms in the Washington State House of Representatives, where she was twice recognized by Washington police officers as Legislator of the Year for providing increased school safety, tighter sex offender laws, and tougher drunk driving and meth lab penalties. Her campaign can be reached at Joyce@JoyceMcDonald.com or at (253) 770-8061.

Schools celebrate spring with district art show and fun run

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:26:57 -0700

As the school year slowly winds to a close, Fife Schools is opening its doors to the community for a few fun and free events coming up that are perfect for the whole family.

DISTRICT ART SHOW

Returning this year is the popular Fife School District Art Show, May 24 at Columbia Junior High, 5:30-7 p.m. Always a crowd pleaser, this eighth annual event showcases an amazing collection of student art both in quality and quantity. Created by students from all six Fife schools, the dozens of works that will be on display in the junior high's library range from paintings and drawings to sculptures and computer generated, graphic design concepts.

All the art on display will reflect what the students are studying in their art classes. "Best of…" awards in eight categories will be given to every grade according to how students explored the eight principles of design – movement, color, line, rhythm, emphasis, unity, balance and value.

Columbia Junior High art teacher Melissa Brownell (who is also one of the district's 2011/2012 Certificated Employee of the Year) said the Fife School District stands out in its efforts to bring so much student work from its six schools together under one roof. "We are so fortunate to have this kind of show. It shows continuity and how we all work together."

FBLA 5K FUN RUN

During the District Art Show, Columbia Junior High's FBLA chapter will be sponsoring its third annual 5k fun run at the junior high, and across the street at Dacca Park, to raise money for an Auburn child with a life-threatening illness. Check-in time is 5-5:50 p.m. and the run starts at 6. Open to participants of all ages and abilities, the run is approximately 3.1 miles on a fully paved course that is wheelchair accessible. Everyone is welcome to participate, whether you plan to walk or run.

The Columbia FBLA chapter has "adopted" 4-year-old Maksim as their "wish kid" through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He wants to travel to the Ukraine to visit his grandparents, and FBLA members are determined to help get him there. Fundraisers include the fun run and "Miracle Minute" during lunch periods when FBLA students dash around to collect as much money as they can in one minute. Their ultimate goal is to raise a minimum of $2,500 to go toward his wish.

Last year, the FBLA chapter raised $2,600 toward a trip to Disney World for the very first "wish kid" they adopted, 4-year-old Tylynn from Newport, Wash.

Columbia Jr. High business and technology teacher Keith Hannah is the chapter advisor. "There are many community service opportunities for students to participate in, but I was looking for something very specific for these kids," he said. "I wanted the students to become involved in raising money for something tangible, something where they could really see their efforts benefiting someone. An experience like this helps them see immediately how their efforts made an impact in someone's life."

Those who can't make the fun run but still want to contribute to Maksim's wish can do so through the online Wish Page. The website will automatically generate a tax statement for charitable contributions.

Trojans beat Lindbergh, punch ticket to state

Thu, 17 May 2012 08:57:18 -0700

Facing a nearly undefeated, high-scoring Lindbergh squad wasn't enough to stop the Fife baseball team from accomplishing their goals. The Trojans jumped on the Eagles early, and Brock Carpenter shut down Lindbergh's offense to lead Fife to a 6-1 win that punched their ticket to the state tournament on May 9.

"Our goal has always been to get back to state," said head coach Shane Nixon, whose squad last appeared in the state tournament in 2008. "We haven't gone very often, so it's exciting for the kids, it's exciting for the program."

Andrew Waltner got the Trojans' offense going in the second with a single to score Klayton Leingang, and Josh Connolly then scored on a balk by Lindbergh starter Matthew Stuart. Broznan Kraus followed two batters later with a single to score Waltner, giving the Trojans a 3-0 lead.

That would be more than enough for Carpenter on the mound. The junior struck out the side in the third and pitched a complete game, allowing just one run on four hits, with two walks and eight strikeouts.

"I always have a good defense so I always try to work to that strength – let them put the ball in play and let my defense make plays like they do," Carpenter said. "It gives me a lot of confidence when I have a good defense behind me."

The Trojans added three more runs in the fourth when Waltner scored from third on a throwing error by catcher Tyler Gould, and Carpenter doubled to deep left to score Kraus and Hayden Fagundes. Carpenter's lone blemish came in the bottom of the fourth, when Gould doubled to right center to score Ryan White.

"We hit the ball when we had to hit the ball today," Nixon said. "We've been struggling a little bit with runners on base and getting runners in. But I think today we got the big hits."

The Trojans fell 6-4 in eight innings to Sumner in the semifinals on May 12 and settled for the fifth seed to state with a 1-0 loss to Interlake later in the day. The Trojans were set to face North Thurston in the first round of the state tournament on May 19 at 10 a.m. at WF West High School in Chehalis.

"With our team I think the sky's the limit," Carpenter said. "There's endless possibilities with this group. We've got a lot of guys that can play, got a lot of passion. I'm excited to see what we can do."

TROJANS SOCCER TOPS FOSTER 

After wrapping up the school's first ever 16-0 season, the Trojans notched a 3-0 win over Foster in the district playoffs on May 12 to once again punch their ticket to the state tournament.

Edgar Garcia's header goal off a corner by Albert Carrillo got the Trojans started in the 40th minute, and Gilberto Garcia and Victor Mansaray added second-half goals to pad the lead.

Garcia scored two goals and Joel Carrillo added two more as the Trojans rolled past Washougal 6-0 in the opening round of the state playoffs on May 15.

The Trojans were set to face the winner of the match between Interlake and Squalicum in the second of the state tournament on May 19.  SOFTBALL HEADS TO DISTRICTS 

The Trojans softball team knocked off North Kitsap 7-6 on May 12 to earn the No. 10 seed to the district tournament this weekend at Sprinker Recreation Center.

Fife is set to take on seventh-seeded Port Angeles on May 18 at noon, with the winner moving on to face second-seeded Kingston at 6 p.m. while the loser faces an elimination game on May 19 at 10 a.m.

 FIFE GIRLS WIN SUB-DISTRICT

Led by seniors Sonteona Stinson and Lateah Holmes, the Fife girls track team scored 120.5 points to win the sub-district meet on May 11-12 at Sunset Chevrolet Stadium in Sumner.

Stinson claimed tight-knit victories in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles and teamed with Kylee Horan, McCrea Nirider and Paola Quintana to take second in the 4X100-meter relay. Stinson, Horan, Nirider and Amber Swayze also took second in the 4X400-meter relay. Holmes, meanwhile, won the high jump, long jump and triple jump, and the Trojans' Savannah Barber won the javelin throw with a toss of 98 feet.

The Trojans' boys placed seventh at the event, scoring 36 points while White River took the title with 101 points.

Events Committee Ramps Up Efforts in Anticipation of Milton Days 2012

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:58:11 -0700

After Milton City Council passed a resolution earlier this year to allow non-residents to serve on the Events Committee, the group has signed on a number of new members dedicated to making this year's Milton Days bigger and better than ever. The newest members joining the team this year include Teresa Cosner, Rori Lelli-Bates, Deb Hooie, Brandy Wade, Susan Johnson and Rachon Hanson. Three non-residents were responsible for about 90 percent of the fundraising for last year's festivities, and Chairman Tom Boyle requested that council allow them to serve as official members.

"These gals were with us all throughout the year, but weren't able to vote in our meetings," Boyle said. "We wanted to make sure we didn't lose their help, and it means a lot to them to have a vote on the committee."

The committee is already hard at work planning this year's festivities. The theme "Rock the Park" is meant to attract more teens and youth to the largely family-oriented festivities. One of the more exciting new developments of this year's event is the Skate Jam, designed to attract younger crowds.

"We have room for 10 booths at the skate park, and we've already heard a lot of interest from potential vendors," Boyle said.

The 2012 Milton Days event takes place Aug. 18-19, with the Skate Jam scheduled for Sunday.

The Events Committee has already lined up about 12 vendors – this time last year, the group did not begin finalizing vendors until June. Thanks to the extra help and additional committee members, Boyle expects the event to provide more activities than ever before.

"Oftentimes, people walk through Milton Days and they're done in an hour and a half or so," Boyle said. "We do not want that to happen this year – we want them to have enough to do that they want to stay all day."

Parks Cleanup Event a Community Effort

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:55:15 -0700

After a winter peppered with powerful snow and ice storms, countless parks throughout Puget Sound were in dire need of sprucing up during this year's Parks Appreciation Day. Milton's Interurban Trail was hit especially hard, but thanks to a few extra helping hands during the April 21 cleanup event, the beloved trail received some much-needed attention. This year, about 20 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment attended the event, and spent the morning trimming branches, clearing debris and connecting with residents.

Rather than sleeping in or enjoying a sunny Saturday morning, soldiers and their families volunteered their time to give back to the community, and were happy to do so. "The community does so much to support us, so it's nothing for me to come out for a few hours to help," said SGT Julian Ollivierre.

Parks and Facilities Supervisor Brent Thompson estimates the volunteers cleaned up at least 20 yards of debris from the trail. The extra help was much appreciated, considering the storm damage that remained in spite of his crew's cleanup efforts. "It's just wonderful to have these guys here today to help out," Thompson said.

When Milton first adopted the military unit last year, Mayor Debra Perry was unsure how the connection would unfold, but was happy to support the soldiers. "When I heard they wanted to help out during Parks Appreciation Day, I was so excited," she said. "This is one of the best turnouts we've had, and I don't think we've ever gotten this much work done."

In a show of appreciation, Northwest Embroidery donated T-shirts and hats for the volunteers, and a number of organizations donated food to feed the hungry crew. "It's great to give back to the community that gives so much to us," added Sgt. First Class Raymond Castillo.

Game On!

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:35:44 -0700

For the Milton community, it is fairly common knowledge that Jennell's Flowers & Pies is the place to go for friendly service and unique floral designs. But when the shop was named the 2012 Jackie Robinson Most Valuable Diverse Business Partner by the Seattle Mariners and Major League Baseball, Milton's favorite flower shop is sure to earn some well deserved attention from throughout the state.

This award recognizes proactive leadership, commitment to sound business practices, quality products, efficiency, reliability and accountability, reflecting the character of baseball legend Jackie Robinson.

Jennell's has been working with the Mariners since about 1995, delivering flowers to commemorate special occasions and milestones in the lives of the approximately 1,800 people involved in the organization. Each time the shop delivered flowers for the Mariners through the FTD wire service, the organization received such praise that other shops were quickly overshadowed. From that point on, requests from the Mariners continued to increase until this year, when owner Jennell Sader signed on to provide all flowers for the field. "After a lot of back and forth to see if I was even able to handle the business, I accepted," she said. "I have a wonderful part-time employee, but I'm basically a one-woman show. It's a big commitment, but I love baseball and absolutely love the Mariners."

Sader's first large-scale project for the Mariners was the 2001 All-Star Game held in Seattle. She provided flowers for all the hotel rooms of players and employees, and turned a pier into an extended Pike Place Market. "We provided more than 10,000 flowers in arrangements and buckets to transform the pier," she said. "It was amazing."

And when the organization asked Sader to provide arrangements for the funeral for beloved announcer Dave Neihaus in 2010, she was blown away. "For me to walk onto the field for his tribute and provide the flowers was incredible for me," she said.

Marianne Short, vice president of human resources for the Mariners, says Jennell's Flowers personifies what the award represents. "This has been a long time coming," Short said. "Jennell has a special touch and goes above and beyond what's expected. We have a young group of players and when they have babies, Jennell always wants to know if there is an older sibling to send a gift to, as well. She makes me look good."

Jennell says she appreciates the family culture of the organization. "The Mariners are always thanking people with flowers, whether it's fans, players or employees," she said. "People often don't realize what goes on in an organization like the Mariners, and what wonderful people they are. It's a wonderful organization to work with."

Awards Night Packs the House

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:06:33 -0700

With a standingroom only crowd filling the room, this month's meeting of the Fife school board was an occasion for somber reflection on what has passed and buoyant applause for those who give hope for our future.

Paying tribute to a model bus driver and friend of the children and district, Superintendent Dr. Steve McCammon began the evening with a moment of silence for Ryan Callis. It was Callis who, on April 9, suffered a heart attack while driving a school bus full of Surprise Lake Middle School students. Thirteen-year-olds Jeremy Wuitschick and Johnny Wood leaped to successfully save the bus from crashing and to save Callis' life by administering CPR, but he passed away April 12.

"Most heroes are born of tragedy," McCammon said of the two boys who acted so bravely. He praised Callis for his dedication to his work before asking everyone present for a moment of silence in honor of the man for whom the entire district continues to grieve.

Callis had been working for the district for just a few months. He was a Houston native, although he had moved to Tacoma in 1990 after serving in the Army that included time in Panama and Nicaragua. Callis had also worked as an in-home health care worker and for 14 years as a Pierce Transit bus driver, particularly with special needs children. He was 43 and the married father of three children.

McCammon then presented his annual Superintendent's Leadership Award to both Wuitschick and Wood, who stood before their friends and family smiling proudly. This is the first time the superintendent has ever given his award to a student, citing the boys' decision to step up and go above and beyond the call of duty.

Next up, the annual Employee of the Year awards were handed out to one classified employee and one certificated employee from each of the district's six schools. Classified winners: Peter Miles, Melissa Brownell, Deana Holmes, Steve Slavens, Jan Boitano and Jessica Blakeway. Certificated winners: Cathy Paris, Travis Ohlde, Cindy Stewart, Alix Meyer, Rachael Shinn, Michelle Fernando, Ron Dalton and Kim Elliott.

McCammon closed the awards ceremony with a quote from Andy Rooney:

"Educators who have plugged away at their jobs for 20, 30, and 40 years are heroes. I suspect they know in their hearts they've done a good thing too, and are more satisfied with themselves than most people are.

"Most of us end up with no more than five or six people who remember us. Educators have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives."

If you would like to send a donation to the Callis family, send to: Fife Public Schools, c/o Damian Jenkins, Transportation Director, 5802 20th St. E., Fife, WA 98424.

Parks Appreciation Day Draws Record Crowd

Thu, 03 May 2012 11:24:58 -0700

Fife's annual Parks Appreciation Day drew many hands and working muscles, the largest number of volunteers in recent memory.

The high turnout came through a series of factors. The weather cooperated, bringing clear skies and warm temperatures. Arbor Day activities and the unveiling of the city's first public art funneled more volunteers to the effort, and a small army of Comcast employees totaling some 150 people fleshed out the duty roster at key parks projects.

Comcast employees volunteered their time as part of the communication company's Comcast Cares Day, when the company fields some 67,000 people for a day of volunteering as a way to promote community involvement.

"This was not just Comcast employees," said Parks and Recreation Director Kurt Reuter. "This was Comcast employees and their families. We had lots of husbands and wives and children out on the site, both sites, for the entire day."

While Comcast has a large call center in Fife, workers there opted to help with landscaping at Tacoma's new STAR Recreation Center. The workers from the Puyallup Comcast office, however, spent the day clearing brush and small trees from the Hylebos Nature Area.

"It was just like a herd of goats," Reuter said. "They just cleared out the hillside."

Volunteers alongside Comcast workers or at other parks work sites around Fife that day included hundreds of people with ties to local civic organizations, including Rotarians and several Girl Scout troops. Other business supporters included Starbucks, which donated coffee, and Smyth's Gardenville Greenhouse, which donated several flats of flowers.

The Arbor Day celebration on the same day saw the formal dedication of Brenda's Grove at Five Acre Park. Brenda Puaokalani was a city employee for some 10 years before she died of cancer in 2007. The park was named in her honor because of her personality and dedication to public service. The grove has five Tupelo trees that will eventually grow to provide shade along the pedestrian pathway.

The day's activities were rounded out by the dedication of public art pieces around the city following the creation of the city's Public Art Commission and a selection of five works for display.

"This was a very exciting day for us," Fife spokeswoman Laurel Potter said. "This is the first public art in the city of Fife."

Maps of the art pieces and other cultural attractions in the city are now available at city hall.

70th Avenue Work Enters Final Phase

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:47:51 -0700

Fife City Council has greenlighted the final phase of street improvements in the works for 70th Avenue, but that work will take another two years.

While the actual construction bid for the final leg of street improvements along 70th Avenue came in under budget by $2 million, an associated bid to actually manage the project raised some concerns.

The contract to oversee the last of four phases to widen 70th Avenue from two to four and five lanes went to David Evans and Associates, which has been part of the project from the start some eight years ago. But even with the momentum of being the incumbent project manager and a unanimous vote by the council, several council members put the firm on notice that controlling costs and keeping them informed about how the project is moving forward should be top priorities.

"The cost for construction management is to me a little bit outrageous," Councilmember Richard Godwin said of the $1.1 million bid to shepherd the work through to completion. "I left the last project feeling that we got our pockets picked and wasn't real pleased."

Engineering and oversight contracts associated with this project so far have been revised by a few hundred thousand dollars to include additional work.

Godwin was joined by Councilmembers Pat Hulcey and Tim Curtis in a call for more transparency about engineering and project management costs so taxpayers and the city do not suffer from sticker shock once the project is completed or the contract needs to be adjusted. They want periodic, if not weekly, updates on the project spending that can also be posted on the city's website.

The contract covers construction inspection, survey, testing and engineering work for the widening of 70th Avenue East from the current two to five lanes from Valley Avenue East through the intersection of 20th Street East before tapering to four lanes to match the existing street at the bridge that runs above Interstate 5. The project will also include bicycle lanes, curbs, gutters, landscaped planter strips, sidewalks, illumination, a full traffic signal at 20th Street East, flashing traffic beacons at 26th Street, drainage, water main, sanitary sewer and conversion of overhead utilities to underground. The project management contract is about 15 percent of the construction cost, which is within the typical fee range for a multi-agency street project like this. The whole project is being funded by federal, state, county, port and local dollars in an effort to curb traffic delays along a main roadway used by trucks flowing in and out of Tacoma's Tideflats.

The actual construction of this phase of the work will be done by Active Construction, Inc. Its bid of $7.45 million is some $2 million below the $9.5 million initially budgeted because of supply cost savings that will actually mean the roadway will also last longer. Even with the standard 10 percent needed for contingencies, the bid amount will save money.

"We are well under budget," Public Works Director Russell Blount said.

Initial planning for the widening and reconstruction of 70th Avenue East was started by Pierce County before that area annexed into Fife in 1995. At that time, work on 70th Avenue East and Valley Avenue East was planned as a single project. Completion is expected in 2013, almost 21 years after the county began its work on the project at a total price tag $30 million.

Editorial: Volunteers prove ‘community’ is an action word

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:15:30 -0700

The annual Parks Appreciation Day on April 21 was a rousing success on several levels. Volunteers from around the area gathered with leather gloves, rakes and shovels in hand to make Fife, Milton and Edgewood more than a bit nicer through sprucing-up projects at area parks.

Crews worked on trimming trees, cutting back berry bushes and laying tons of beauty bark and landscaping soil, so city coffers did not have to pay to have the work done. But aside from the savings to taxpayers the work provided, the effort showed that volunteer efforts build more than parks. They build stronger neighborhoods.

On that note, Comcast showed that it is a great corporate neighbor by fielding some 150 volunteers, their spouses and their children in a show of company pride for its Comcast Cares Day. The communications company, which has a call center in Fife, takes one day a year to encourage its employees to give back to the communities they serve. Some 60,000 Comcast folks took part in parks clean-ups and other projects in cities around the country this year. Fife was one of them. Comcast crews cleared brush around the Hylebos Nature Area, making them about half of the city's volunteer turnout this year.

Imagine, for a moment if every company, church, civic group, housing development association and school had a similar system of encouraging volunteerism. Imagine the army of willing hands working on the singular goal of just giving back a little to the community they call home. Just a few hours of volunteering by everyone could bring great changes for all.

Anyone who has volunteered to pick up litter or organized a bake sale, taught a Girl Scout troop about using a map and compass to find their way home or coached a T-ball team that the hitter should run the bases counter clockwise knows that their efforts are much more rewarding than exhausting. But they also know how much better the experience would be if they had just a few more hands and hearts.

They donate their time and talent for many reasons – to support their children's activities, to network with co-workers or even just because the work needs doing. But everyone benefits from their efforts.

Imagine a park that never had cheering fans along the sidelines because no one would organize teams, or a housing development without a block party or a city hall without art. Not many people would want to live in that community, but those features take effort.

Volunteers bring a community alive and paint the vibrant colors and attractions we like to call home. What color are you painting the community?

Guest Editorial: Now Biomass is the Enviroment’s Enemy?

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:08:45 -0700

When environmental organizations pushed Washington voters to approve their renewable energy Initiative 937, they touted biomass energy – incinerated wood waste – as one of their preferred alternatives to fossil fuel. They reasoned that biomass energy plants would help clear forests of flammable wood debris from dead and diseased timber, put idled loggers and mill workers back to work and produce cleaner, more affordable energy. But since voters narrowly approved the initiative in 2006, many of those same activists are battling against biomass projects.

 They now claim that microscopic nanoparticulates created by incinerating wood waste are a health hazard, even though those plants have been approved by government agencies. They want to block all proposed biomass projects until nanoparticulates are fully investigated and the Environmental Protection Agency EPA can promulgate regulations. That could take years, but that is okay with opponents because by then the plants will have been canceled because of indecision and delay. The opposition to biomass is disheartening to devastated timber communities on the Olympic Peninsula, where unemployment ranges from 11.2 percent to 13.9 percent. Even before the Great Recession hit, these communities were decimated by deep cuts in state and federal timber harvests and endangered species regulations that put forests off limits to protect the spotted owl. Even with the vast woods put off limits, the University of Washington's Olympic Natural Resources Center reports there is currently enough wood debris on the Olympic Peninsula to operate six biomass plants. Two of those biomass projects are attached to paper mills in Port Angeles and Port Townsend.

 The Port Townsend Paper Company's $55 million biomass plant would create 30 new jobs, save 1.8 million gallons of oil and cut particulate emissions by 70 percent. Nippon's Port Angeles facility would cost $71 million and replace a 1950s-era boiler that was not designed to alleviate greenhouse gases. 

For Olympic Peninsula workers and their struggling families, the opposition to biomass projects is both puzzling and frustrating. Fifty years ago, wood waste from state, federal and private timber harvests was burned in crude, inefficient, cone-shaped burners, often blanketing the skies with brownish-gray smoke. But today's sawmills and paper mills burn wood waste in efficient wood-fired furnaces that produce heat and steam for papermaking and create enough electricity to run the mills and provide power for neighboring homes.  

For example, Sierra Pacific, which has a modern sawmill at Aberdeen and a total of six biomass-generating plants, turns wood waste into electricity for 150,000 homes and businesses. Without income from power sales, the plants would have been forced to severely curtail operations, lay off workers or close. Some activists would like to see our forests locked away, put off limits to all human activity. But like the rest of nature, forests are dynamic, always changing. Trees grow, trees die, and over the years, volatile wood debris builds up on the forest floor, creating fuel for mammoth fires. For example, in just two days in 1902, our state's largest wildfire, known as the Yacolt Burn, destroyed more than 370 square miles of forestlands around Mt. St. Helens and killed 38 people in Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania counties. Today, we have the ability to prevent such massive destruction, but will we? Biomass projects are an opportunity to recycle dangerous timber debris, create renewable energy, produce electricity for our homes and businesses and create much-needed jobs in struggling, rural communities.  With flammable wood remains collecting on the forest floor and timber workers collecting unemployment checks, it seems silly, wasteful and dangerous to oppose biomass, a solution that will reduce wildfires, increase jobs and produce cleaner, more affordable renewable energy. 

Don Brunell is the president of the Association of Washington Business.

Guest Editorial: Washington’s Tax Freedom Day Arrived Later This Year

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:02:26 -0700

Your taxes were due on April 17, but only on April 24 were you free. This year's Tax Freedom Day finally arrived for our state on that date – 12 days later than last year. Washington's Tax Freedom Day is a week later than the National Tax Freedom Day, which happened to be the day federal tax returns were due. It could be just a little bit worse, though; New York and New Jersey had to wait until May 1, and Connecticut will not see its Tax Freedom Day until May 5 this year. This news comes as the United States officially surpassed Japan for the highest corporate income tax rate in the world.

The Tax Foundation, which calculates Tax Freedom Day each year, reports that Americans will spend more on taxes this year than on food, clothing and housing combined. If federal deficit spending is included, Tax Freedom Day does not come until May 14.

Critics of Tax Freedom Day argue that it is not an accurate measure of what the median taxpayer pays in taxes, but they are missing the point. The idea of Tax Freedom Day is to measure what proportion of national income is sent to our government in the form of taxes, and then represent that proportion on the calendar. The Tax Foundation explains their methodology as follows: We assume that the nation starts working on Jan. 1, earning the same amount each day and spending nothing. When the nation has finally earned enough to pay all the taxes that will be due for that year, Tax Freedom Day has arrived. This year, Americans will pay $2.62 trillion in federal taxes and $1.42 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total tax bill of 29.2 percent.

Of course individual taxpayers face varying levels of tax liability, but Tax Freedom Day can give us an idea of how much of Washington's overall income is consumed by government. Our Tax Freedom Day falls 114 days into the year, meaning that Washingtonians pay more than 31 percent of their income in taxes to local, state and federal governments.

The fact that Washington has the fourth-latest Tax Freedom Day does not necessarily mean that we have the heaviest local tax burden, though. The progressive nature of the federal tax code means that states with higher incomes pay more taxes, regardless of their local tax burdens. This effect is easily seen in comparing the low incomes of early Tax Day states like Tennessee and Louisiana to the latecomers like Washington, Connecticut and New York. This correlation is further reflected in the fact that the National Tax Freedom Day tends to be later during times of economic growth. Still, the fact that our state forks over nearly a third of its income to government of some sort is significant. The amount of private income that is consumed by government shows that budget shortfalls at the state and national level stem from a spending addiction, not a dearth of revenue.

Bryan Leonard is a budget analyst with Evergreen Freedom Foundation.

Lakewood Staged Old-School Hoot

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:58:03 -0700

The golden age of cinema mixes with a dab of the inner workings of the faux staging of a Broadway show and a dash of Agatha Christie murder mystery with a pinch of Groucho Marx for Lakewood Playhouse's latest dish of theatrical goodness.

"The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940," by John Bishop and directed by James Venturini, has all the makings of a full meal of entertainment. The story centers on the comings and goings of the weekend guests at a New England mansion that happens to be snowed in just in time for the guests to arrive and the mystery to commence. The folks have gathered to pitch a new musical to a benefactor. The mystery comes into play as the Stage Door Slasher strikes and the guests begin the finger pointing on who is using the mansion's sliding panels to do their dirty work and slip away without detection. Toss in the looming war in Europe, a spy story and a batch of back-story drama.

What makes this production work so well is the parade of quirky but subdued comedy. This character-driven show has all the classic characters from the 1940s spy mystery movies. There is the all-too German maid, the not-so-fun comedy and the uber-name-dropping director. Up and down the playbill, the actors own their roles like a pair of Christmas slippers.

Standouts among them are: Melissa Thayer as the German maid, Blake R. York as the Irish tenor of the bunch and Jeffery Weaver as the gayer-than-Liberace song meister. Their performances were just simple, good fun.

But also a standout in this show is the set by artistic director turned set designer John Munn. While the show contains an otherwise simple set of a mansion sitting room, the hidden wall was a great touch. And in case anyone in the audience ever wonders, the books are real. One dude in the back row found that out on April 28 when the books became an avalanche of literary works when the set wiggled. But the show kept going and the actors never skipped a line. Gotta love live theater.

This production contains some mildly adult situations surrounding ladies undergarments but nothing too scandalous. Because the show is a murder mystery, the character development and connections might get a bit confusing for younger viewers but they might likely still enjoy the over-the-top moments enough to gloss over the nuances of who knows whom from where. But those details really do not matter anyway.

"The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940" runs at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays through May 20 at the Lakewood Playhouse, located by the Pierce Transit Center in the Lakewood Towne Center.

Tickets are available by calling (253) 588-0042 or at www.LakewoodPlayhouse.org.

News Briefs

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:26:54 -0700

Workshops on hearing loss

About 4 percent of the population of Pierce County lives with hearing loss significant enough to affect not only their lives but also the lives of family, friends, co-workers and service providers and more. Everyone knows someone with hearing loss and nobody is immune. Hearing loss can occur at birth and with aging; it has many contributing factors such as work, illness, medications, hobbies and lifestyle.

Pierce County Community Connections Aging & Disability Resources is sponsoring a free informational workshop, "Solving the Mystery of Hearing Loss." It will be held four times: May 7, 12:10-12:50 p.m., Pierce County Annex, main conference room, 2401 S. 35th St., Tacoma; May 9, 12:10-12:50 p.m. County/City Building, seventh floor, 930 Tacoma Ave S., Tacoma; May 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Drive N.W. and May 12, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Tacoma Area Coalition for Individuals with Disabilities, 6315 S. 19th St., Tacoma.

Christine Seymour, a deaf and hard of hearing resource specialist, will present this interactive and informative presentation. It will change how people perceive hearing loss and give them the tools to support effective communication.

Washam fined for ethics violation

Pierce County Ethics Commission has determined that county assessor/treasurer Dale Washam violated county ethics rules in 2010. For that, Washam will be fined $500, the maximum amount allowed by law.

The commission made its decision on April 18. At a meeting in March it heard testimony from Washam, his chief deputy Alberto Ugas, Gretchen Borck and Bertha Fitzer. Borck was Washam's assistant until recently resigning. Fitzer was on the staff of the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office. Prosecutor Mark Lindquist, who was appointed to his position, had to face election that year. Fitzer had filed as a Republican opponent to him.

Washam convened a meeting on Sept. 14, 2010 in his office. He invited Fitzer, Borck and Ugas.

During the March meeting Washam testified that he did not discuss Fitzer's campaign during that 2010 meeting. Ugas testified that the topic was briefly discussed, but just as a matter of exchanging pleasantries. He also testified that during the meeting he produced a photo of Lindquist with a red circle and slash over his face with the words "Defeat Lindquist" on it.

Borck and Fitzer both testified that the campaign was a main topic of conversation during the meeting and that Washam offered to assist Fitzer in her effort to defeat Lindquist.

Dr. Mari Kruger Leavitt, chair of the commission said members concluded that the conduct of Washam violated the county ethics code. Washam will be mailed paperwork to officially notify him of the decision. He has 45 days from that point to file an appeal, if he chooses to do so.

While Washam, and other elected officials, are allowed to discuss politics and support a cause or candidate, they are to do so on their own time and at their own expense. Because Washam held the meeting in his office, it is considered a use of public resources.

Plastic recycling efforts

Pierce County residents can now recycle additional plastic items. Plastic jars, tubs and buckets can be added to curbside recycling carts. Examples include yogurt and sour cream containers, plastic salsa jars and kitty litter buckets. This change applies to residents that are part of Pierce County's solid waste management system, which includes the entire county except for Tacoma, Ruston and Joint Base Lewis/McChord.

"Recycling diverts waste from our landfill, is good for the environment and reclaims valuable materials for reuse," said Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. "We listened when our residents told us they wanted more recycling options during last year's recycling survey. This addition gives them new options to recycle material that will be made into new products."

Residents should look at a plastic item's shape to determine if it can be recycled. Acceptable shapes include bottles with a neck that is smaller than the body, and rigid jars, tubs and buckets. Not all plastics are accepted in the curbside recycling program, such as plastic bags and wrap, crinkly and lightweight plastic, and lids.

"We take great care in considering which items to accept in our program, because we want them to have the best chance of being recycled into new products," said County Public Works and Utilities Director Brian Ziegler.

New fire marshal

Warner Webb has assumed the lead role in Pierce County Fire Prevention Bureau, where he previously was a fire inspector.

He came to Pierce County from Whatcom County Fire Marshal's Office, where he served 15 of the last 20 years as its fire marshal. He has worked as a firefighter for Port of Bellingham for three years, and as a volunteer firefighter and reserve police officer for 15 years. He also served as vice president of the state chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators, and as well as the board of directors for Region 3 Fire Investigation Council.

"I pride myself on delivering the best customer service possible," Webb said. "I look forward to building a great relationship with other public officials in Pierce County and across the state."

Herbicide applications underway

Pierce County roadsides will get their annual makeover this spring and summer. An initial application of herbicides to combat weeds along road shoulders began last month and will continue through June. Targeted noxious weeds and brush control applications will occur through the end of November as needed. Only federal- and state-approved herbicides are used.

Workers will also mow, cut brush and trim trees along roads during the spring and summer. The work, which will be carried out weather permitting, is part of the county's integrated roadside vegetation management program.

"We want to keep our county roads neat and free of obstacles," said Bruce Wagner, Pierce County Public Works and Utilities road maintenance manager. "This work improves pedestrian and motorist safety."

The annual maintenance also reduces fire danger, optimizes storm water drainage, helps control noxious weeds and non-native plants and promotes native plant growth.

Property owners who do not want roadsides adjacent to their properties sprayed can sign an owner maintenance agreement with Pierce County. Under this agreement, the property owner agrees to maintain the vegetation. If the property owner fails to perform as required, the maintenance of the right-of-way reverts to the county. The agreement must be renewed each year. The owner must display a sign indicating their participation in the program prior to the application of herbicides. More information can be found at www.piercecountywa.org/ownermaintain or by calling (253) 798-6000.

Boating enthusiasts wanted

The citizens commission that advises the county government on matters relating to boating conditions and safety is seeking new members. The Boating Advisory Commission has openings for volunteers who live in Pierce County. Members serve as an advisory board to the sheriff, the county executive and Pierce County Council. The commission reviews county watercraft regulations and recommends amendments to county watercraft laws.

For an application, go to www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/services/citzopp/bds.htm, or contact Sergeant Brian Ward at (253) 798-4940 or bward@co.pierce.wa.us.

Sustainability efforts save $1.3 million

Pierce County saved more than $1.3 million in 2010 and 2011 by reducing its use of energy, water, fuel and office supplies, according to its second Annual Sustainability Index. The report, issued by the Pierce County Office of Sustainability, shows the county made significant progress during the second year of its five-year effort to meet ambitious goals in its Sustainability Plan.

"Making our county government operations more sustainable is a high priority for me because it saves taxpayers' money and it protects the environment," said County Executive Pat McCarthy. "We have measurable data to show the progress we are making in reducing energy and fuel usage, and also where we need to focus on further improvements. I am proud of our employees' efforts. Even the little things add up when everybody contributes."

"We are working on reducing waste in all its forms," said Ryan Dicks, Pierce County sustainability manager. "The prices of fuel, water and energy are rising and we will have to keep reducing our use if we want to stay even."

Committee needs members

Pierce County is seeking volunteers to apply for a seat on a committee that recommends how to spend tax revenues dedicated to promoting tourism. If selected, the volunteer would serve a four-year term on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, which meets several times a year to make a recommendation to the county executive and Pierce County Council regarding the allocation of taxes collected by the excise tax on lodging. The committee seeks volunteers who represent an agency, organization or group that is qualified to use the taxes collected to promote tourism in unincorporated Pierce County.

To apply, individuals should complete the application form, which can be found at www.piercecountywa.org/lodging. The application should be submitted to the Pierce County Economic Development Department, 950 Pacific Ave., Suite 720, Tacoma, WA 98402. For more information, contact Rob Allen, senior economic development specialist, at (253) 798-6915 or HYPERLINK "mailto:rallen3@co.pierce.wa.us" rallen3@co.pierce.wa.us.

Fife artist to showcase works

Anette Lusher, local artist and member of the City of Fife's Arts Commission will be one of four women to showcase art works at Premier Gallery at the Puyallup Activity Center, 210 W Pioneer in Puyallup. The show will include works by Lusher, Sadie Reneau, Arlene Towne and Edna Gruver. The show runs May 4 to Aug. 2. There will be a meet-the-artists reception at 6 p.m. on May 11.

Fife FFA does well at Spring Fair

Fife Future Farmers of America proved to be alive and well at the Puyallup Spring Fair. During the four day FFA competition, the Fife members earned 23 second place ribbons and 30 first place ribbons. In the hog division, Ille Branch placed fourth overall in senior showmanship. Shiloh Kuhn placed first in his class for novice showmanship. Jacob Peterson was overall reserve champion for novice showmanship, and Allyson Lindstrom was grand champion for novice showmanship. Evan Feroy and Daniel Barnes were both class champions. The Fife chapter also earned reserve champion for hog herds. On to steers, Jayd Moffit earned reserve champion for both type and show, and Madi Flesner earned grand champion for show. The chapter earned reserve champion for beef herds. Finally, Dennis Grelis received the John Eby Award and Ariel Pishny received the Martin T. Johnson Inspirational Award.

TRCVB to mark Travel Week

People can celebrate tourism and why tourism matters with the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau and the 2012 Pierce County Tourism Ambassadors during the 29th annual National Travel + Tourism Week.

Throughout Tourism Week, May 5-13, the TRCVB will unveil seven Pierce County Tourism Ambassadors representing Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup, Sumner, Gig Harbor, Fife and Pierce County. These seven individuals were nominated and selected to represent the diverse market segments and demographics that make up Pierce County's tourism industry.

Travel and tourism is an $886.7 million industry for Pierce County. In 2011, travelers to Fife spent $58.1 million and generated $4.3 million in state and local tax revenues, creating 680 jobs with $15.3 million in earnings. Travel is a broad and diverse industry employing a vast workforce, from hotel and restaurants employees to attractions, retail and more.

The TRCVB urges Pierce County residents and businesses to support National Travel + Tourism Week by spreading the "Why Tourism Matters" message to their respective communities throughout the week. The TRCVB will distribute posters featuring a new Tourism Ambassador each day of Tourism Week for local businesses to proudly display.

"Travel and tourism supports millions of jobs across the nation, and many here in Pierce County. It's the fourth largest industry in Washington state and it is important to know that tourism matters" said Shauna Lunde-Stewart, Interim Director for the TRCVB. "We are honoring local businesspeople as tourism ambassadors to celebrate the benefits of travel in our community and we encourage Pierce County residents to learn how travel benefits their community."

The TRCVB is also partnering with Amtrak during National Travel + Tourism Week to welcome incoming travelers to Pierce County. On Friday, May 11 at 10:56 a.m. and 7:11 p.m., the TRCVB will have a "Welcome to Our City" booth at the Amtrak train station in Tacoma located at 1001 Puyallup Ave. and will distribute Pierce County Visitor Guides and regional information to guests arriving from Oregon and California. Local businesses and media are strongly encouraged to join at these times.

Trail likely moves forward despite delays

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:20:08 -0700

The Fife City Council is set to approve a development revision for the Portside development that would allow the city to move forward with a 650-foot trail that would run along the west side of the would-be commercial development and connect it to 20th Street East. Plans had first called for the developer to pay for the trail once the 30-acre development had tenants, but a lagging economy has drawn out that timeline, so the city might do the work itself.

The asphalt trail will cost $70,000.

"This project will close a gap in the city's sidewalk system between the Mayfair Place condominium neighborhood and the sidewalks being built by the Pierce County Library District as a condition of their construction of their new Fife branch," the staff report stated. "The trail will complete a through off-street pedestrian link between 20th Street East and Valley Avenue East, allowing residents of the apartments along 62nd Avenue East and Holmdale neighborhood and beyond along Valley Avenue East to reach the library and other destinations on 20th Street."

The trail will also provide another route from the nearby neighborhoods to Fife High School.

The original agreement with the developer required C. Lee Brooke, LLC, James Abbott, LLC and Portside Business Center, LLC to construct a five-foot-wide pedestrian trail along the route only after the commercial development had tenants for its main building. That could still be years away, so the city opted to simply accept ownership of the land now and have the sidewalk built.

A public hearing on the plan being scheduled for this summer.

Rangers to be recognized during awards ceremony

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:17:22 -0700

A special event on May 10 will recognize the U.S. Army Rangers, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, for their combat actions in Afghanistan. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 6-8 p.m. at Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall. Among the awards to be presented are Bronze Star Medals for valor, Joint Service Commendation Medals for valor, Army Commendation Medals for valor and Purple Hearts.

The city of Milton adopted this unit last year. Members have been active in the community. A number of the Rangers volunteered their time on April 21 during Parks Appreciation Day, when they cleared debris and repaired storm damage on the Interurban Trail. The Rangers returned from Afghanistan earlier this year, marking the 14th combat deployment of the battalion since October 2001. During the latest deployment, four Rangers were killed in combat and several more were wounded.  Aaron Williams, executive director of Fife Milton Edgewood Chamber of Commerce, recently became the public affairs director of the local chapter of the Association of the United States Army.  "We want the public to attend to say thank you," said Williams, a U.S. Navy veteran. "This is a way for them to show appreciation." Williams is glad to see the growing bonds between this military unit and the community. He noted in January his organization helped organize a formal ball for the Rangers. Members of this unit have become involved with the Milton chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, he added. 

The regiment will be awarded two Valorous Unit Awards for combat actions conducted in Iraq and Afghanistan during summer 2005. On June 14 of that year, elements of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Alpha Company and Bravo Company and its subordinate units displayed extraordinary courage in action against an armed enemy in Iraq resulting in the capture of a top Abu Musab Zarquwi network officer.  

From June 28 to July 12, elements of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Bravo Company and Charlie Company conducted a rescue of an American military member and repatriation of remains of several fallen American military personnel in Afghanistan in an enemy controlled territory. The Rangers displayed remarkable dedication to duty, discipline, courage and commitment to completing the mission.  

In more than 10 years of combat, Rangers have established themselves as the nation's elite Special Operations offensive infantry force capable of planning and executing complex worldwide operations in high-risk, uncertain, and politically sensitive areas. Targeting high value targets across Iraq and Afghanistan, this regiment has conducted more than 2,500 raids during its 14 combat deployments resulting in the killing or capturing of thousands of key al-Qaeda, Taliban and other insurgent leaders.  

"The community connections have just begun and they are already strong," Williams said. "We all owe them a debt of gratitude. I hope to see a full house for the event. I want it to be standing-room only."

Guns Still Missing from Sportco Theft

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:13:34 -0700

While a group of suspects faces a roster of felony charges for the burglary of the Fife Sportco Outdoor Emporium last year, the guns stolen during those few minutes Dec. 17 continue to cause troubles for local law enforcement agencies. Most of the 41 guns stolen during the heist, worth some $20,000, remain in circulation. Five suspects have been arrested for the theft, while another three remain at large. One of the guns stolen from the sporting goods store has already been linked to a robbery in Wenatchee, which suggests the remaining guns have, or will likely, find their way into the hands of criminals, especially since at least two of the suspects have reported ties to street gangs.

The trail of stolen guns started in the pre-dawn hours of Dec. 17, when burglars shattered a glass window at the store and ran off with 39 handguns and two rifles before police could arrive, even though the first officer at the scene responded within 30 seconds of being dispatched on the priority call.

A confidential informant later fingered David Bunta as one of the burglars. Bunta was arrested later that month while in possession of two of the stolen guns and reportedly admitted to being involved but has since pleaded innocent. He faces one count of first-degree burglary and 41 counts of theft of a firearm, one count for each gun stolen. Each of the firearms charges is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison per count.

The burglary charge alone is punishable by up to life in prison. Bunta is reportedly affiliated with Original Local Boys, which is one of more than 50 active gangs on the Puyallup Indian Reservation. Tribal police were credited with generating the lead that first broke the case.

Two other men, Soeun Sun and Sovannarith Soeung, have since been arrested after two of the guns were found in their possession and the suspect in the Wenatchee armed robbery told police they had supplied the guns to two other men who have also been arrested. They have both since pleaded innocent to the felony charges filed against them. Three other men are suspected in trying to sell the guns.

All totaled, more than three dozen guns remain on the streets.

Fife Breaks Through Late to Top Sumner

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:07:41 -0700

With a bull's-eye on their back all season, Fife has continuously taken each opponent's best punch and stood firm. Facing a chance to sew up another league championship, the Trojans withstood another strong test from Sumner, and Cesar Ramos-Esquivel broke through in the 68th minute to help Fife to a 2-0 win over the Spartans on April 27.

"It feels really good," said Ramos-Esquivel of the Trojans' second straight league championship. "I think we have a better team this year…it really showed today."

Ramos-Esquivel had a couple good looks in the first half but was unable to convert, including in the 30th minute when he squeezed through two defenders and tracked down a chip forward but could not get a shot off.

"I think that every game is the same way," said Fife head coach Tony Crudo. "In the first half the teams fight and claw and keep themselves in it, and they're pretty happy. And then the second half starts and all of a sudden it seems like they aren't quite quick enough and things don't quite go the way they want."

The Trojans finally struck when Lorenzo Ramos took a chip forward and sent a beautiful through ball to Ramos-Esquivel, who drove it past the Spartans' keeper for the 1-0 lead. Fife struck again eight minutes later, as Ricardo Enchaniz's corner kick was deflected right to the foot of Victor Mansaray, who drove a ball over the keeper to seal it with four minutes remaining.

The Trojans moved to 12-0 in league play and 14-0 overall, and were once again helped by a solid, steady defense, which posted their ninth shutout and has given up just five goals all season.

"It starts with having the best goalkeeper in the league, and then you've got four seniors in front of him, all who have been to the state finals, who play on top level club teams, who know what they're doing," Crudo said. "They're very good at not just playing defense, but not letting the other team even start."

"They're really fast, and that gives us a lot of confidence because no one is going to run through them," Ramos-Esquivel added. "They might make mistakes but they're fast enough to recover."

Poised for another run at the state championship after finishing as runners up last year, the Trojans know there is still a lot of work to be done.

"We've got to keep our heads straight and not get overconfident – keep playing hard, working hard and I think we'll get to the top," Ramos-Esquivel said.

"I'm still waiting for them to play badly," Crudo added. "They haven't played badly, they haven't let down. They just don't stop."

Junior High technology students win big at competition

Thu, 03 May 2012 08:45:48 -0700

On March 22-24, Columbia Junior High School's Technology Student Association (TSA) traveled to Bellevue to compete at the Washington Technology Students Association state conference. Columbia took 15 students (up from six last year) and came away with 14 top-five finishes (up from one last year); of those 10 were top three.

"I am extremely proud of how the entire group competed and conducted themselves the entire conference," said their technology teacher/advisor Andy McClure.

He shared one specific story to illustrate the quality of the junior high and the students who learn there. "Ryan Asheim, Dominic Burgi and Jonnie Roscoe were in the finals for Tech Bowl, which was run like 'Jeopardy,' with the three finalists being asked random questions from various technology areas. They were down 4-0-0 and were struggling until Jonnie quickly gave a correct answer to a question. That seemed to spark a comeback. They came back to tie it up when Dominic nailed the TSA motto and we moved into sudden death. When the final question was asked, and it was about simple machines, I knew they would get it right. I was thinking, 'Our science teachers in the district do such a great job teaching simple machines that they could not miss it.' Well, they got it correct and took first place. If I only took a picture so you could see their faces when they won. They were shocked and proud at the same time."

Students who finished in the top two of each event, as well as the third-place VEX robotics team, have qualified to attend the National Conference in Nashville, Tenn. June 21-25.

Here is a list of how Columbia's TSA finished at the state conference (* indicates that the student has qualified for nationals):

Flight:

Benen Adsitt – First place*
Problem Solving: Max Clark and Kenny Still – Third place

Promotional Design:

Kodi Cumbo – First place*
Dominic Burgi – Second place*
Jonnie Roscoe – Fifth place

Tech Bowl Team:

Dominic Burgi, Ryan Asheim, Jonnie Roscoe – First place*

Tech Bowl Written:

Kodi Cumbo – Second place*
Dominic Burgi – Fifth place

Technical Design:

Ryan Asheim – First place*
Kenny Still – Second place*
Liam Geisler – Third place

TSA Vex Robotics:

Dominic Burgi, Kodi Cumbo, Liam Geisler, Jonnie Roscoe, Jacob Madian – Third place*
Leif Anderson, Justin Moreno, Anna Broome – Fourth place

Video Game Challenge:

Ryan Asheim – Fourth place

Columbia's TSA will be seeking donations to help send the qualifying students to Nashville. "The cost per student is up to $1,020," according to McClure. "As a chapter we have created a sponsorship opportunity. We will be 'selling' sections of our robot and placing your support on our team sign that will be hanging in our pit area during competition." For more information, contact McClure at (253) 517-1600 or at amcclure@fifeschools.com.

Community Pride on Parade

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:59:47 -0700

Tacoma was filled with community pride on Saturday as a rainbow of faces and costumes took to the streets for the 79th annual Daffodil Festival Parade.

Car clubs, marching bands, horse riders and school groups joined with ethnic and civic organizations to mark the flower the region is known for as a record number of viewers watched the floats go by under the theme of "Don't stop believing."

Organizers estimate the crowd at 12,000, many coming to play their respects to Alexandria Cole, the Daffodil Festival Princess from Puyallup Tribe of Indians' Chief Leschi School who committed suicide three days earlier. Her classmates displayed photos of her and handed out flowers, while the official princess float included her image on the chair she otherwise would had sat in to wave to the crowds.