The Pierce Prairie Post, a production of the Spanaway Community Association, debuted August 14, 2012. Assisted by Ben Sclair of the Suburban Times, Marianne Lincoln embarked on the effort of providing news to unincorporated Pierce County about local events and issues that were not making it into any other local papers. Although some have lamented that the service is online and not in hard copy, the costs being prohibitive to put ink in print, thousands have adjusted to seeing the news in their email instead.

The Spanaway Community Association, incorporated in January 1995, held local meetings until the end of 2002, when competing organizations in the area, particularly the community plans, were absorbing all the available time and wearing out local volunteers. Dubbed, the Spanaway Community Action Network, it continued to mail out information through email, but several board members moved, retired and some passed away. After being on the Bethel School Board, Lincoln could see the need for additional communication tools in the area. The Eatonville Dispatch declined to cover Frederickson, Spanaway or Parkland. The News Tribune had already slowed its local coverage as well. With connections from the school board, the local community associations and the political parties, Lincoln decided to give all her connections a central point to send information and try to assemble the data on one site. Altrusa of South Pierce County had recently completed the skate park project, coordinated with other local organizations.

With a little local history, a lot of local events and some other random interesting tidbits, the Pierce Prairie Post embarked on its mission of telling the stories of unincorporated areas in South Pierce County. In addition to the events, the PPP has become a repository of local land use planning change information.

Thank you to the readers who have supported the PPP over these years. Without readers, there is no point. If you have ideas for future stories, please contact us at pierceprairiepost@hotmail.com with your information.

Please, stay cool out there. It is going to be hot today.