Prickly Pete is homeless

It’s a bit ironic and terribly sad if you love wildlife. All the neighbors tried to explain to the Hearings Examiner what the Tacoma Rescue Mission and the former County Executive just refused to get through their heads. The Spanaway Marsh property already had numerous residents. Residents that could not attend the hearings or testify…

Pierce County’s Non-Significance

One of the hallmarks of the past eight years under County Executive Bruce Dammeier was the prolific use of the DNS, Determination of Non-Significance. It is a term used in land development after an environmental review form is filled out and a plan for development is submitted. In the past eight years, I cannot recall…

County Council set to refill Marty Campbell’s seat in District 5

UPDATE: The Council conducted interviews on January 7, and went into Executive Session for about 45 minutes. When they returned a motion was made and passed to put the decision off to next week on January 14. ##### Resolution 2024-268: A Resolution of the Pierce County Council Appointing ________________ as Pierce County Councilmember, Representing Council…

Spanaway Lake, now it’s the beavers

Over the past several years Spanaway Lake has been having issues. For us swimming as children, it was the “duck itch” caused by a parasite getting under our skin if we didn’t dry off well with a towel after swimming. Over time, the swimming beaches became less popular, the diving docks were removed, and the…

Recounting eight years of Dammeier

By Marianne Lincoln Each new Pierce County Executive brings changes to the County. Although we have a County Charter, the Executive is the chief department head approving job and volunteer appointments and legislation from the Council. Thus, that person has a significant influence on who holds a job almost anywhere in County Government offices. Leadership…

Graham Solstice Event Dec. 21, 5-9pm

Join us as we welcome the Winter Solstice and the promise of longer days and shorter nights. Experience the magic at our warm and cozy Lodge, where you can shop for unique, handmade artisan crafts at the Night Market. Take a serene walk along our candle-lit Luminary Trail through the park and immerse yourself in…

Changes to application resubmittal upload process begin Dec. 13

PIERCE COUNTY PPW– As part of our commitment to improving the permitting process, Pierce County will implement changes to the online resubmittal procedure starting Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. What’s changing? Currently, applicants can resubmit or upload documents at any time in the review process via the orange “I Want To” dropdown menu in the online permits…

Contractors: Join the Washington State Department of Commerce webinar about the Qualified Contractor Network 

Are you a contractor interested in residential projects? The Department of Commerce’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Home Energy Rebate Programs have $165 million to help homeowners improve their homes with weatherization and high-efficiency appliances — and are seeking skilled contractors to make it happen. Join a webinar on January 14, 2025,12:30-1:30 p.m., to learn how the program…

Cantwell & Murray Announce $18.5M For Fish & Wildlife Conservation Projects

Lummi, Skokomish, Colville & Lower Elwha Klallam Tribes — as well WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife and Chelan County – receive federal funding Grants will help restore salmon & wildlife habitat; improve health, biodiversity of WA public lands WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs…

Unhoused people are like everyone else, until…

By Marianne Lincoln Becoming unhoused is a very difficult thing to experience. It happens to many very ordinary people. It could be a medical situation, a job loss, sale of a rental property, death of a spouse whose pension or income helped support the household, or many other traumatic life events. Many people have close…