Be safe on the road – Don’t Drink and Drive!

My friend, Frank Blair, lost his daughter Sheena 4 years ago to a drunk driver in an accident near Everett. The emotions, frustrations and sadness he and his family have gone through since that night have been painful to watch. The unbearable sorrow of losing a beautiful adolescent child is heartbreaking. Frank and his wife…

Council toughens rules for addressing blighted properties

The Pierce County Council has voted to toughen the rules for abandoned or blighted properties in unincorporated areas in an effort to protect neighborhoods. The Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday, Feb. 25, to close gaps in the county’s regulatory authority to address blight. “Abandoned and poorly maintained properties lower property values, attract vandalism and other…

Human Trafficking – Jim McCune, Pierce County Council

Dear Editor, Every year, human traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits by victimizing millions of people around the world and here in the United States. Human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world.  Pierce County is not immune from the horrors of this evil. As the…

Two years and counting

It has been two years now since Spanaway teen, Chris Virdell went missing near Bethel High School. Melanie and Paul Virdell, Chris’ parents participated in a vigil today in the parking lot near the Elk Plain Burger King. Many of Chris’ close friends participated as well as those who have been assisting the family to cope,…

Sheriff’s Community Academy openings

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department is looking for interested citizens to attend its winter Community Academy program. The University Place academy begins Feb. 20 and will meet each Thursday evening from 7 to 9:30 p.m. for 13 weeks. The South Hill academy begins March 19 and will meet each Wednesday evening from 7 to 9:30…

Two years, still missing – Chris Virdell

SPANAWAY, WA — On Saturday night, February 1, the prime suspect in the unsolved disappearance and possible murder of Chris Virdell was shot by Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies. Michel Borkin, 21, who was wanted on an arrest warrant in connection with a drug and identity theft case was a passenger in a red pickup truck pulled…

Car prowls in Spanaway Park

This is part of a letter from a local resident – if you see someone do this… please report it! Let’s stop these people from ruining our community. “Speaking of locally, please be careful when you park your car.  On Friday after the fog lifted I drove the dogs to the park and took them…

Soup Ladies serve up warmth and energy at shooting scene in ElkPlain

By Marianne Lincoln ELK PLAIN, WA The news Tuesday afternoon a Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy was shot in the arm by a 27 year old man at the Garage Plus business in Elk Plain. This is located at 21607 Mountain Highway). The officer’s injury was not life threatening. Deputies responded to reports of a man threatening…

Honoring the lost – Blue Steele Coffee, Nov. 29

By Marianne Lincoln PARKLAND, WA — On November 29, 2009, Lakewood lost four police officers at the Forza Coffee shop in Parkland. Tonight, in honor of those officers, Mark Renninger, Greg Richards, Tina Griswold and Ronald Owens, the renamed Blue Steele Coffee Company held a Concert 4 Remembrance. With Scott Desart singing lovely songs while playing…

Candlelight vigil honors pit bull victim Nga Woodhead

SPANAWAY, WA — A candlelight vigil was held Thursday night on the east side of 162nd and Pacific Avenue for Nga Woodhead, whose death Nov. 5 resulted from injuries sustained in a pit bull attack October 30. Luminaries lined the sidewalk as over 30 people gathered to remember Nga. Her husband Charles and several family members were in attendance….