County Council Agenda items with final passage July 16

County Council Agenda items with final passage July 16: Proposal No. R2013-75 – A Resolution of the Pierce County Council Confirming the Appointment of Four New Members (Jeffrey Lombardi, Jenifer Davis, Katia Ramirez, and Philip Chang) to the Pierce County Arts Commission. Use the following link for Proposal information, including hearing dates and related documents: http://online.co.pierce.wa.us/cfapps/council/iview/proposal.cfm?proposal_num=R2013-75…

Pierce County wins national awards for voter project and emergency mobile app

Last year, Pierce County completed a redistricting project affecting nearly every local voter in just five weeks. The county also started using the latest mobile technology to track damage to roads, bridges, and buildings during floods, fires and other disasters. These two innovative programs have been recognized as among the best in the United States…

Out in the Park, Tacoma Pride Festival July 13

From Equal Rights Washington (ERW), July 8, 2013: Volunteer With ERW This Saturday For Tacoma’s Pride Festival Come Join ERW at our booth at Tacoma’s “Out in the Park 2013” Pride Festival at 9th and Broadway in Downtown Tacoma on Saturday, July 13 from 12pm to 5pm.  We need volunteers to staff the booth and collect…

Pierce County Library news July 8-14

Thank You for Helping to Break Down the E-book Blockade Thank you for participating in the e-book blockade, aka Scrooge campaign. Good news—all six major publishers are now selling e-books to libraries—or say they will do so soon. Pierce County Library is happy that we are making some progress. We still need a fair market…

Naturalization Ceremony, July 4, 2013, Seattle Center

More than 500 new U.S. citizens will be welcomed at the Naturalization Ceremony, the largest daytime Independence Day observance in the Northwest. There will be music to enjoy while you honor the naturalized citizens, who have made outstanding contributions to their adopted country – the United States, while maintaining their ethnic heritage. This is a…

Stay safe and legal this Fourth of July

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — The Pierce County Fire Marshal’s Office reminds citizens to celebrate the Fourth of July safely. Last year, Pierce County hospitals treated 34 firework-related injuries, according to the Office of the Washington State Fire Marshal. Avoid serious injury by exercising caution when discharging fireworks. Also, the combination of fireworks and the forecasted…

Graham Fire and Rescue welcomes new Chief Ryan Baskett

Graham Fire and Rescue held a badge pinning today to officially promote and welcome its new Fire Chief, Ryan Baskett. The 3:00 p.m. ceremony was held at the headquarters fire station on 70th Avenue. The entire Baskett family was there, some arriving from eastern Washington. Much of Baskett’s wife’s family (she’s a granddaughter of John…

Council appoints Kevin McCann Judge and Dick Muri 28th Rep.

The Pierce County Council filled two key vacancies in the community on Tuesday, July 2. First, the Council voted 7-0 to appoint Kevin McCann as a judge on the Pierce County District Court bench. McCann, who has served the county as a deputy prosecutor for 17 years, succeeds Jack Nevin, who was elected to the…

Pierce County Council blocks pot industry until rules are ready

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — The Pierce County Council unanimously voted Tuesday, July 2, to delay the start of the marijuana market until state licensing rules are set and the county adopts permanent zoning regulations. Last fall, Washington state voters approved Initiative 502, which creates a framework for the licensing the production and sale of recreational…