| |
 Hunt
for Missing Hiker Ends in Tragedy on Rainier...
News Release
from Kevin Bacher
Public Information Officer, Mount Rainier
National Park
June 19, 2006
The search for missing hiker Jeff
Graves at Mount Rainier National Park concluded this afternoon when
his
body was found on Eagle Peak. Mr. Graves was spotted by helicopter at
about 3:00 p.m. Ground searchers
reached the location and confirmed the discovery about 4:00, and the
extrication was completed by helicopter.
Today's events brought a sad end to almost three
days of intense searching, which began on Sunday morning
after Mr.
Graves was reported overdue from a dayhike on Saturday evening. At its
peak today, the search involved sixty individuals, including twenty
ground teams and a helicopter. Poor visibility had kept the helicopter
grounded until late morning on Monday.
Based on interviews with searchers, it appears
that Mr. Graves left the trail on his descent from Eagle Peak
in a steep, heavily forested area, then lost his footing and fell about
200 feet. He came to rest at the base of a 75 degree slope, hidden by
the trees, about an eighth of a mile from the trail at an elevation of
4000 feet. (The approximate coordinates are 46.7500 degrees north,
121.7916 degrees west.) The weather at the time was cool, wet, and
foggy.
Jeff Graves was 47 years old and an engineer at the
manufacturing company Stratasys Inc. in Minneapolis,
Minnesota. His
wife, Randi, their seven-year-old son, and several other relatives were
in the park when he was found. Jeff’s mother, Ruth Graves, of
Ypsilanti, Michigan, is serving her third year as a volunteer in the
Longmire Museum and Jackson Visitor Center in the park.
The Eagle Peak Trail is a strenuous dayhike that climbs
3000 feet in 3.6 miles beginning at Longmire, in
the southwest
corner of Mount Rainier National Park. The area around the trail is
rugged, heavily forested, and intersected by numerous cliffs and
ravines.
Day-Hiker
Jeff Graves Missing at Mount Rainier...
News Release
from Kevin Bacher
Public Information Officer, Mount Rainier
National Park
360-569-6131
June 18, 2006
A search continues at Mount Rainier
National Park for Jeff Graves, 47, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Despite
an extensive effort today, searchers found few clues to narrow a search
that has lasted for two days.
Mr. Graves was reported missing when he did
not return from a day-hike on Eagle Peak the evening of
Saturday,
June 16. A search began at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday. Forty individuals
assisted, including ten search teams and three teams from German Shepherd Search Dogs of Washington State.
Vehicles patrolled the U.S. Forest Service roads outside the south park
boundary, and rangers contacted and interviewed day-hikers who had been on the Eagle Peak trail on Saturday. A helicopter remained on standby
all day due to poor weather conditions.
The search continued at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, June 18.
Fifty-two people assisted in the search, including
fifteen ground
teams. Two volunteer dog teams from Northwest Bloodhounds Search &
Rescue tracked scent from Mr. Graves’ vehicle, parked at the
Longmire Museum. Both dogs showed interest in the drainage to the north
of the lower Eagle Peak trail; however, a ground team searching the
drainage did not find anything remarkable.
A team positioned along the roads used binoculars
to search the cliffs on the north and northwest sides of the
peak.
The weather progressively improved throughout the day, and a helicopter
from WorldWind Helicopters in Renton, Washington was able to join the
search shortly after noon. No conclusive clues were found.
Tuesday’s search will emphasize high-priority areas,
expanded search areas to the south, and aerial
searches. It is
expected to involve between fifty and sixty searchers. Additional hikers
who had been on the Eagle Peak Trail on Saturday have been identified
and will be contacted.
Jeff Graves was in the park visiting his mother, Ruth
Graves, who is now serving her third year as a
volunteer interpretive
ranger. Jeff and his wife, Randi, have a seven-year-old son.
The Eagle Peak Trail is a strenuous day-hike that climbs
3000 feet in 3.6 miles beginning at Longmire, in
the southwest
corner of Mount Rainier National Park. The trail is currently
snow-covered above 5100 feet. The search area includes rugged, heavily
forested wilderness with many cliffs and ravines. Saturday and Sunday
nights were cool with rain, fog, and low temperatures in the mid 30s.
Mr. Graves was wearing fleece and a
red Gortex jacket, and carrying a daypack.
Three Council
Positions and Three School Board Positions Open This Year...
June
7, 2007
The
Pierce County Auditor's filing deadline for town council and
school board elections closes at 4:30 p.m. June 8.
There are three council positions open: Council
Position 3 - currently held by Meridith Weilert Wright; Council
Position 4 - currently held by Bobbi Allison and Council Position 5 -
currently held by Mike Gallagher.
The Town Treasurer position is also open - currently held by
Melode Akervick. This is the only position requiring a
filing fee. This year the fee is $92.27.
There are also three positions open on the District 404 School
Board of Directors: Director District 1 - currently held by Robert
Miller; Director District 3 - currently held by Kirk Heinz and
Director District 4 - currently held by Tim Patterson.
The primary election is August
21 and the general election is November 6, 2007.
Town Council Filings...
June
8, 2007: 3:30 p.m. - Planning Commissioner Jim Valentine has filed for
Council Position 5.
Councilmember Bobbi Allison filed for Council Position 4 June 7.
June 8, 2007: 5
p.m. Planning
Commission Chair Steve Lind has filed for Council Position 3.
Citizen Brenden Pierce has also filed for Council Position 3.
Update:
The filing for elective
office in Pierce County closed at 4:30 p.m. tonight, June 8. The last
update from the Pierce County Auditor's office indicates that two
council seats are unopposed. As of 5 p.m. there were no candidates who
filed against Jim Valentine or Bobbi Allison.
According to the auditor's update Bob
Miller, Kirk Heinz and Tim Patterson are unopposed for school board.
School District Director Filings...
June
8, 2007: Bob Miller has filed for Director District 1
Kirk Heinz has filed for Director District 3
Tim Patterson has filed for Director District 4
Late
Filing for Town Treasurer...
June 15, 2007: This position
was part of the Pierce County Auditor's three day re-opening of the
filing period as no one had yet filed. Councilmember Meridith (Weilert)
Wright filed for the treasurer's position after voting yes on a
council resolution to retain the town treasurer instead of combining
the positions of town clerk/treasurer.
Olympia Couple
Killed in Logging Truck Accident...
June 1, 2007: An elderly couple from Olympia died around noon Wednesday,
May 30 in an accident on
Highway 7 (Mountain Highway) near
Eatonville. The couple, Joseph Fortune, 80, and his wife, Helen, 77 were
in a minivan and “blew” the stop sign at the intersection of the
Eatonville Cutoff and Mountain Highway. They died at the scene and had
to be cut from the twisted, mangled remains of their vehicle.
A loaded logging truck, owned by T. L. Fitzer
Hauling, was driven by Randy Fisk survived the accident but suffered
a broken rib. Fisk has been a truck driver for thirty years and worked
for Fitzer Hauling the past six years.
Logs spilled out on the highway and traffic was
detoured until about 6 p.m. Wednesday evening.
A commuter
coming
home from Tacoma to Eatonville called ENN, around 5:30 p.m. and said the
accident was terrible. At that time traffic was still being rerouted to
avoid the accident scene.
Fisk
could not avoid broad siding the minivan and no charges will be filed
against him.
Youth Connect with
Cleanup
MAY%2026,%202007%20010.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
May
26, 2007 - by Bob Walter: As a small army of helpers look on, staff
member and former youth participant Jodi Kelly hoists a seat-less bicycle
up to an unidentified helper standing in one of the huge
dumpsters at Smallwood Park Saturday. The annual clean up benefits
the Youth Connection. It was 3 p.m., and two shifts of volunteer
workers - about a dozen kids and ten adults - had worked for six
hours, helping unload yard waste, dilapidated furniture and tons of
other garbage. This work was done for donations.
Of the five dumpsters, one was for yard
waste, the other four for the truck and trailer loads of trash cleaned out of sheds, garages, homes and yards. Diane Carney (far left in
photo), Executive Director of the Youth Connection, had arranged a
bar-be-cue at mid-day with hot dogs, chips and sodas for the workers.
Carney said the spring clean-up, going on for ten or twelve years,
raised $757.25, the largest amount raised so far.
The dumpsters and disposal were again
donated by the LeMay Company, which has been providing the free,
one-day service in Eatonville and other communities for years.
Every dumpster was filled to capacity by
the end of the scheduled drop-off period - a sign of a very successful
effort. A couple of vehicles rolled in right at 3, but had to be
turned back, as there was no room for their loads.
Farewell to the Chief, Town
Mascot Accidentally Killed...
%20MAY%2018,%2007%200104070840.jpg)
(photo by Chrystal McGlone)
May 19, 2007
- by Dixie A. Walter: Sometime around February 2003 this handsome, stray
cat adopted the Eatonville Fire Department and Town Hall. The black
and white cat quickly became the official "Chief" and mascot
of EFD, and other parts of the town hall. He was given cat license
number 43 which is the call number of the department.
Chief was quickly taken to be neutered and
was given his shots. He made the town hall, and fire hall, his home
for the next four years, delighting citizens and staff alike. He was
smart and friendly, but also reserved and dignified.
Sadly, Chief was killed instantly by a truck
in front of town hall on Mother's Day, May 13. Town Clerk Chrystal
McGlone and Assistant Fire Chief, Sheila Wicks Dudley, buried him
in Sheila's yard with love and a lot of tears.
There is an empty space at town hall with
his death. Chief will be greatly missed, and mourned, by many in town
for a very, very long time.
Chief in March 2003...
%20MAY%2018,%2007%202%20crop.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Chrystal McGlone Eulogizes Chief,
Everybody's Friend...
He was a stray that started hanging
around four years ago and we started feeding him. Then we adopted him and
had him fixed and got his shots. He kept the fire hall and town hall
rodent free.
We loved Chief very much. He had many
admirers. People paying their bills would sit down and pet him afterwards.
People passing by would notice him waiting by the door to get in, walk
up and let him in and then just carry on.
Everyone knew him. He greeted us
every morning by our cars, and ate lunch with us every afternoon.
He often slept on my lap, or on my desk, as I did my work. It was no
mistake that he came into our lives and we came into his.
He will always be a part of us.
Honey Bees
Swarm in Hilltop Neighborhood...
%20APR%2029,%2007%20008.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Thousands of honey bees have swarmed in the Eatonville area looking
for a new home.
Lady Honey
Bees, and a Few Drones, Look Around Eatonville for New Hive...
by
Bob Walter
April 29, 2007
A
swarm of honey bees searching for a new place to hive has taken
up residence in the yard of Eatonville's
Jeffrey and Karen Bowles up near the reservoir at the south end
of town. The bees arrived Saturday, April 28, and remain there, in
a football-sized pod hanging onto a branch about seven
feet up in a small pine tree near the Bowles' house.
Bowles said
when they first landed, the bees were in a group of clusters spread
out for several feet, but
gradually formed into one as they
all moved in close to protect the queen bee. His neighbor, Eatonville
Elementary School teacher Steve Kastama, came to investigate, and
shared his knowledge of the natural history of honey bees.
This is a period in which "scouts" fly
out and try to locate good sources of nectar, then come back and
communicate
the information on what they've found to their hive-mates. Eventually,
they will fly off to a promising new place found by one of these
scouts to colonize - unless a beekeeper and escorts them to
a new location. Or they may choose to stay in the same area.
According to studies done about honey bee
swarms the scout bees do a "waggle dance" to inform the
others
in the swarm about possible places to hive. The dances are similar
to the form of communication bees use to tell others in the colony
about food sources. Scientists say once the scouts have
"discussed" their various sites, a "quorum" is
formed and "decisions" are made as to which place scouted
has the most potential. Usually, if about fifteen bees
"agree" on a new spot and enter it the rest of the swarm
will follow and a new colony is formed.
Honey bees swarm for various reasons,
sometimes the previous hive has become overcrowded or a new queen
flies out and is followed by her workers, all female. Studies indicate
the death of the older queen is not a reason to swarm. Bees in swarms
don't tend to be aggressive, apparently because they do not yet have a
hive to defend
Honey Bees are
Disappearing "Rapidly"
.
It is
interesting to see these bees in Eatonville, when on the larger
scene, amateur and professional bee
keepers in the U.S and
Europe have witnessed a rapid decline in their colony sizes
this past year. Craig Mackintosh, writing about the collapse of honey
bee colonies for Celsiam, April 13 states,
"...accumulating reports tell us
that the problem is not constrained to the U. S. alone - but that, to
one degree or another, empty hives are becoming common in Germany,
Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Poland, and now possibly
the U.K. Canada, so far, seems unsure if they have the problem or not.
We've now also had unconfirmed reports from Brazil" Some reports
estimate that one in every three bites of food we eat has been
pollinated by honey bees.
A report to Congress by the Congressional
Research Service dated March 26, 2007 says, "Honey bees are
the most economically valuable pollinators of agricultural crops
worldwide...bee pollination is involved in about one-third of the U.
S. diet, and contributes to the production of a wide range of fruits,
vegetables, tree nuts, forage crops and other specialty crops. The
monetary value of honey bees as commercial pollinators in the United
States is estimated at about $15 billion annually.
Bees
are vitally important pollinators of many fruit and vegetable crops
upon which humans depend, so there
is a growing concern about
the mystery of what has been termed the "colony collapse disorder
(CDD)." Are the bees dying in the fields? Becoming disoriented?
Succumbing to mites, temperature extremes or the stress of being
transported? Some theorize cell phone towers may interfere with the
bees ability to find their hives. Anywhere from 30 percent to 70
percent of bees in hives have disappeared, in come cases, leaving hive
boxes completely empty. Meanwhile, scientists continue to search for
the answer to the question, why?
Can You Find
the Queen?
%20%20APR%2029,%2007%20010.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Thousands of translucent, silver wings quiver in the light as the
queen's workers protect her. Most humans
can't find her, but those bees surrounding her, keeping her warm
and safe, know exactly where she is. The queen communicates by
emitting a pheromone which her workers respond to with complete
devotion.
The Bowles' were going to contact a local
beekeeper who might want this swarm. Experts recommend you
don't
worry if a swarm is in your yard, they often stay only a few hours or
days before moving on. The bees are unlikely to sting. They have eaten
well before they swarm and being well fed their ability to sting is
hampered. However, it is always wise to keep your distance,
especially if you have an allergy to bee stings. A bee keeper should
be contacted if you want the bees away from you.
Fishing Season
at Kids Pond
Photos and Story by Bob
Walter...
%20APR%2028,%2007%20015.jpg)
April 29, 2007: A young boy proudly hoists his catch. For many
Eatonville families, opening day of fishing
season means
going across the Mashell River to the Kids' Pond, and
trying your luck for some great kids' prizes at the Fishing Derby
put on by the Eatonville Lions Club. There were bicycles, fishing
rods and sleeping bags given away each hour to the top fisherkids.
In addition to the prizes awarded, the
Lions served piping hot coffee, hot chocolate and hotcakes to an
appreciative
crowd. Parks lead Bill Adkins, who assisted with the stocking the
pond, said a string of cars followed him into Smallwood Park when he
unlocked the gate at 5:45 a.m., and hadn't stopped by 9:30 a.m.
Looks
Like Spiderman was Here...
%20APR%2028,%2007%20013.jpg)
It took some careful casting and
reeling in this crowd. Trout lines bobbed and floated one after
the other
toward the center of the pond. Parents
and grandparents, brothers and sisters, everyone was helping the
young ones with fishing techniques in this annual
ritual.
Most were having a good time, fishing,
eating, visiting and mentoring. One male adult, however, was heard
to
angrily chastise his excited novice for almost
letting the catch flop back into the water. To a few, this is
serious business, no foolin' around. But to most, its just a good
time.
Girls on Horses Paint a
Pretty Picture...
%20APR%2028,%2007%20004.jpg)
It may have been opening day of fishing season, but for
these girls, it was a morning to ride their horses to
Smallwood Park for some exercise and play. On the left is Charlie,
on Beau, and on the right is Janessa, on Zoe.
Though they look like they could be related, these horses
were acquired at different times from different
sources, said
Charlie. The horses were jumping the cottonwood logs lying along the
park road. Later they could be seen galloping through the
trees along the road behind the kids' pond. Most of those along
the shore didn't even seem to notice.
Beautiful
Beau...
%20%20APR%2028,%2007%20005.jpg)
Beau, in
braided mane, cuts a fine profile as Janessa looks on.
HAPPY
Spring!
%20APR%205,%2007%20013.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
 
Meet Chelsea
Newkirk,
Eatonville's 81st May Queen
%20A%20PR%207,%2007%20009.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
April 9, 2007: Eatonville High School Senior lovely Chelsea
Newkirk, 17, was selected as May Queen last
week from a field of
over twenty candidates. Chelsea is the daughter of Phil and Dawn
Newkirk and attended Weyerhaeuser Elementary School. Her mother, Dawn,
owns Dawn's Floral and Gifts located at 100 Washington Avenue North.
Blaine McNichol, 17, was chosen eighty
first May King. Brian is the son of former Eatonville Police
Sergeant
Rex McNichol and Bonnie. Rex
left the Eatonville Police Department last November to work for the
Pierce County Sheriff's Department.
May Day festivities will be held Friday,
May 4 at Eatonville High School.
Mountain Wears a
"Hat"
%20APR%202,%2007%20DSCN0137.jpg)
(photo by Debi Hamilton)
This photo of Mount Rainier was taken last month by Debi Hamilton
who works in the Eatonville School District Office. To the left is
a glimpse of South Hall, part of the high school which is due for
renovation. Debi says, about the mountain, "I cannot imagine
living somewhere I can not watch her. I feel blessed some days when I
look out my window to gaze upon such beauty."
New Fire Chief
Named...
%20MAR%2026,%2007%20002.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
March 26, 2007: During the
March 26 council meeting Mayor Tommy Smallwood introduced "new
interim
fire chief Josh Wikander."
Smallwood praised Wikander for his "leadership skills."
Wikander lives just out of the town limits with his wife, Teckla and
their two young sons, Wade, six and Ladd, three-years-old.
Wikander is the son of John and Sandy
Wikander and is a home town man. He graduated from Eatonville
High
School in 1993, and joined the Eatonville Volunteer Fire Department in
1992 while still a student. Wikander works for Randles Sand and
Gravel. When introduced by Mayor Smallwood Wikander, a friendly young
man who is quick to smile, simply said, "I'm proud to serve." He
replaces long-time chief Bob Holt who resigned recently.
Eatonville Regional 
Trail Plan
Launch
of Planning Project to Create a Trail Plan for the Town of Eatonville
with Regional Connections to Surrounding Communities, Areas and
Attractions
from
Town Planner, Nick Bond
February 17, 2007
The Town of Eatonville is beginning a planning project to develop a trail
plan for Eatonville with regional
connections
to Mount Rainier National Park, surrounding cities, existing trails,
and other nearby destinations and attractions.
The ultimate goal of the project is to create a plan that will describe
the community vision for such a trail network including proposed
routes; type of use; design concepts; potential management and
operation needs; partnerships; likely funding sources; and
recommendations for implementation.
To help facilitate the process, the
Town of Eatonville successfully applied for assistance from the
Rivers,
Trails, and Conservation Assistance program of the
National Park Service. ‘Rivers and Trails’ is a program of the
National Park Service that provides non-financial grants of planning
assistance to communities working to protect local open space
resources and enhance close to home connections to recreation and
nature.
The Mayor of Eatonville, Tom Smallwood,
had this to say about the project, “A trail network emanating
from
Eatonville will provide many health, recreation, and economic benefits
to residents and visitors to Eatonville and throughout the Upper
Nisqually Valley.”
The National Park Service and the Town of Eatonville will be
working with an advisory committee consisting of representatives from
other public agencies and interested community members to develop the
trail plan.
A public involvement component will be a key feature of the planning
project. This will be
accomplished in the following ways:
·
Consultation
with an advisory committee during preparation of the plan
·
Newsletters
will be prepared and distributed by regular mail, email, and posted on
the Town of Eatonville website
·
A
public open-house will be convened half way through the project to
display and discuss preliminary maps, ideas, and concepts
·
A
public meeting will be convened to release the draft plan
·
The
draft plan will be available for public review and comment for
30-days.
For more information, or to have your name placed on the mailing list,
please contact Nick Bond, Eatonville Town
Planner, at 360.832.3361.
Donations Being Accepted for June
Potter and Family...
February 22, 2007
"Friends and Neighbors of June
Potter and Her Family" are accepting donations to help ease the
financial
burden of laying to rest Brenda Potter who was killed
Saturday, February 17 in a motorcycle accident near Eatonville on
Highway 161. June lives in Eatonville on Washington Avenue.
Donations may be dropped off at Venture Bank, 121
Washington Avenue North or The Holly Hut, 129
Washington Avenue North.
Holly Hut owner Nancy Iames says they will be collecting donations for
about two weeks.
Brenda was riding on the back of her father,
Chuck's, bike when he lost control and slid into an oncoming
pickup
truck near Ohop Valley Road East. The father is currently in critical
conditions, in a coma at Tacoma General Hospital.
Fatal Motorcycle Crash Near Ohop
Valley Road Saturday
February 18, 2007
Brenda
A. Potter, 36, from Roy was killed Saturday afternoon when a
motorcycle driven by her father
smashed into a Ford pickup truck near Ohop Valley Road East on
Highway 161. The father, Chuck Potter, 62, from Graham, was
critically injured and, at last report, was on life support. The
accident happened about 4:30 p.m., in daylight, as the father and
daughter followed another motorcyclist through the dangerous Ohop
Valley curves.
The motorcyclists were heading north, were
driving recklessly through traffic and passing on blind curves
according to witnesses. The Graham man lost control of his bike and
crashed into the pickup which was southbound, killing his daughter
who was riding with him. The pickup driver wasn't injured.
The other motorcycle driver was booked at
the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of vehicular homicide. It is
believed alcohol is implicated in the deadly crash.
Revitalization
Moving Ahead
"Ball Park"
Costs Close to Ten Million Dollars... %20%20JAN.%2023,%2007%20004.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
February 2, 2007: Jennifer Dvorak of Parametrix Engineering points out
traffic options to about twenty
people, less staff and consultants, who
attended the last Town Revitalization meeting recently. Once again
there was a lot of discussion about traffic flow and building a new
street between Washington Avenue North and Mashell Avenue.
Mark Spitzer of Arai Jackson Ellison
Murakami Architects told the group he had met with some members
of the LeMay family who own a large portion of property on Washington
Avenue North. Spitzer said LeMay was still cautious about some of the
revitalization proposals, but wasn't against the project.
"Ball park costs" put forward
regarding how much the revitalization might cost the town add up to
about ten
million dollars. The figures presented at the last meeting are:
New
Street
$750,000
Rainier/Larson Street
Improvements
1,800,000
North Town
Entrance
3,400,000
School
Street
550,000
Washington Avenue/Center
Street
500,000
Mashell Avenue/Center
Street
250,000
Parking
750,000
Town
Plaza
1,100,000
Retail
Plaza
800,000
$9,900,000
"North Town Entrance. " This figure of
three-million-four-hundred thousand dollars represents a change
in the entrance to Eatonville below
the high school which would require a retaining wall. Spitzer
explained this figure could be lower by half. None of the figures
are set in stone. They could go lower or higher.
The next steps for revitalization include going to various groups for
grants. To keep informed, and see what
progress is being made, please see the Revitalization Web site
Downtown
Revitalization Home Page
and follow the links to diagrams, grants and funding information.
You will also find information about the Eatonville Downtown
Development Association (EDDA).
EDDA officers are President Kirk
Heinz, Vice-President Rich Williams, Secretary Bob Williams and Treasurer
Mike Jeffries. The EDDA board meets February 6 at 6:15 p.m. in the
town hall.
For more about EDDA please see
Articles
of Incorporation and By-Laws
Town Planner Requires
21 Conditions Regarding Airport Development...
%20NOV.%206,%2006%20011.jpg)
Artist's rendition of Aviator Heights Development at the
Eatonville airport, Swanson Field. The red strip down the
middle of the graphic represents hangers. The airport is
being developed by Jerry Nybo with backing by Summit
Properties.
After a three-hour special planning
commission meeting January 29, the commission, consisting of five
members, voted unanimously to approve the airport development and
send the issue to the Eatonville Town Council for final
approval.
The motion to approve the preliminary
plat was made by Commissioner Bob Schaub, who lives near the
airport. Elizabeth (Betsy) Harris, attending her first
meeting as an appointed commissioner, seconded the motion. Town
Planner, Nick Bond ,has put twenty-one conditions on the
development. The project shouldn't be approved unless all
conditions are met. To read the conditions please see
21
Airport Conditions
Meet Aubrey
Meadows...
%20FEB.%2012,%2007%20AubreyElizabeth.jpg)
from
Proud Grandmother Pam Holt
February
12, 2007
Aubrey Elizabeth Meadows
6 pounds 10 ounces 18 1/2 inches long
Born February 6, 2007
Welcomed into the world by Dave and
Lacey Meadows and big sister Katie Jean!
Very Proud Grandparents: Bob and Pam
Holt of Eatonville and Aubrey and Harriet Meadows of Yelm
Thank Heaven for little Girls!
Tony Catches the Image of
Lenticular Clouds...
(photo by Tony Sirgedas)
January
23, 2007: Tony Sirgedas preserved
"a nice stack of
lenticular clouds over Mount Rainier just
before noon," Tuesday, January 23. Lenticular clouds form at
high altitudes when stable moist air flows over mountains. This
type of cloud has been mistaken for Unidentified Flying Objects
(UFOs) which may be the reason Mount Rainier is believed by some
to be a "home" for UFOs.
Few areas of Mount Rainier National Park
are open to the public as the November flood damage repair
continues. It is estimated the park sustained $36 million in
damages. Norm Dicks, Washington's U. S. Representative is working
hard to help the national park find the money to get it back into
full operation.
Dicks, a Democrat,
is now
chairman of the House Interior appropriations subcommittee. This
committee
controls money given of many federal agencies, including the
National Park Service. So far Dicks has managed to get the
National Park Service to generate $18 million for park repairs.
Two million dollars will go toward opening roads to Olympic
National Park which were destroyed by storms.
More money needed for road repairs is
supposed to come from the Federal Highway Administration funds
for
emergency repairs on roads owned by the federal government.
Everyone hopes the park, including Paradise will be open in the
spring. The devastating floods, rock and mud slides, at Mount
Rainer came from the November 6 and 7 storm which dropped eighteen
inches of rain on the park. Repair of the park has been hampered
by winter weather.
To view Paradise at Mount Rainier Web
cam please see http://mms.nps.gov/mora/cam/paradise.jpg
New Planning Commissioner
Elizabeth (Betsy)
Harris...
%20JAN.%2029,%2007%20IMG_0104.jpg)
(photo by Arlen Paranto)
January 29, 2007- by Dixie A. Walter: Elizabeth Harris took her seat
on the Eatonville Planning
Commission during a special meeting/public
hearing about Aviator Heights, the controversial airport development.
Mayor
Tommy Smallwood said he spent forty-five minutes with Harris, found
her a very "pleasant person," and
felt she would be an asset to the commission. She has lived in
Eatonville around seven months and, according to Smallwood is a friend
of former commission chair Phil Beach. Smallwood added that Harris
moved to Eatonville to be near a relative, Jack Westerfield, and
thought she was a very "pleasant person." He also pointed
out the town is in "short supply on planning commission
people."
The planning commission, by Eatonville Municipal
Code, should consist of nine members. Prior to the appointment of
Harris the commission has only had five members for two months after
the resignation of Steve Pruitt in November 2006. Before his
resignation the commission had six members for several months.
Harris, who did not attend the meeting, lives in
town and is retired from Wachovia, a financial service. She has a BA
in social studies education from the University of
Illinois and a MBA in accounting and information services from
Emory University. Her husband was a city manager. Harris also
volunteers weekly at Mountain Community Co-op as office manager and
cashier.
After over three hours of hearing from
town staff, developer Jerry Nybo's attorney, Eatonville's new town
attorney,
commissioners and citizens,
the commission surprised no one by unanimously voting to approve the
preliminary plat application and send it on to the Eatonville Town Council
for approval or disapproval. Harris seconded Commissioner Bob Schaub's
motion to approve the plat.
Planning Commissioners attending
were: Chairman Steve Lind were: Elizabeth Harris, Jim Valentine, Bob
Schaub and Phil Beach. Commissioner Larry Frink, with an excused
absence, did not attend.
Planning
Commission Chair Welcomes
New Commissioner...
%20JAN.%2029,%2007%20IMG_0105.jpg)
(photo by Arlen Paranto)
Steve Lind, Chairman of the Eatonville Planning Commission, (with
back to audience) welcomes Elizebeth
Harris by presenting her
with the official name plate. The pair were posing for town photos.
Council Member
Voted Vice-Chair of PCRC
%20Untitled.jpg)
(2006 photo by Bob Walter)
by
Dixie A. Walter
January
19, 2007
Thursday,
January 18 the Pierce County Regional Council (PCRC) voted Mike
Lonergan, Tacoma City
Council, as
chair and Bobbi Allison, Eatonville Town Council, as vice-chair.
Allison has been attending PCRC meetings nearly six years. She began
participation while a member of the Eatonville Planning Commission,
then as an alternate and as the town's representative. Allison is
also on the PCRC sub-committee for affordable housing.
"Having Eatonville represented at the
PCRC level is a benefit to the town. We need to be present to make
ourselves
and our needs known," Allison explained. The first Eatonville
official to hold a chair position on PCRC added, "Participation
never hurts and it builds our town's respectability which has been
hurt in the past."
She is in her fourth year on the
Eatonville Town Council and served two years on the Eatonville
Planning
Commission prior to being elected to the council.
The Pierce County Regional Council
consists of elected officials from twenty-three towns, cities,
Pierce
County, and the Port of Tacoma. PCRC's responsibility is
"to ensure that the Growth Management Act requirements are
coordinated with the County and the region." For more
information please see Pierce
County Regional Council Home Page
Also during the January 18 meeting the
Buildable Lands Employment targets were passed.
Harmony Potts
to Wed
Steven Knight...
%20JAN.%2024,%2007%20lastscan.jpg)
(courtesy photo)
January
23, 2007: Harmony Marie Potts, daughter of Madeline and Larry Potts will
marry Steven Ralph
Knight Saturday, January 27 at the Pendleton
Center for Arts in Pendleton, Oregon. Harmony graduated from
Eatonville High School in 1997 and went on to the University of
Washington to get her Bachelor's Degree in English. She was also an
exchange student in Ireland, and will complete her registered nurse
studies in May. Steven is from Wallowa, Oregon.
New Owners of
Aaron's Ark
%20JAN.%2015,%2007%20003.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
January 15, 2007 - by Bob Walter: Drew and Bobett Pruitt have just
signed the papers and purchased
Aaron's
Ark Restaurant from her parents, Kim and David Babcock, who had
owned it for about 20 years. The original restaurant, built by Keith
and Delores Malcom, was called The Deli. Today, Sunday, is the
Pruitts' first day as the new owners, and they are very excited. The
young couple, wed just last September, had planned to follow job
opportunities out of town, when the Babcocks asked them if they
wanted to buy the popular restaurant. At first they hadn't really
wanted to go that direction, but after talking it over, they made
their decision to buy.
They come into it well-qualified. Drew has
a degree in Business Marketing from Azuza-Pacific University
in
southern California. Bobett, who for awhile was a Communications
major at Pacific Lutheran University, brings years of experience to
her new role, working in various capacities at the restaurant since
she was 13. She may eventually complete her course work for
her degree, but for now, there's a business to be run. And while the
two are new to business ownership, they are a formidable team.
Says Bobett, "I've known Drew since third grade. He worked
here, too, when we were in high school."
They will share the management duties and
oversee the staff of about ten employees, with Drew handling
most
of the paperwork and the night manager duties to start, and Bobett
running things during the day. There are many details to be worked
out, but as Drew says, "We're taking the first steps [in that
process] right now. Everything came together very
quickly."
Aaron's Ark is at the corner of Washington
and Center Streets, at the stoplight. Winter hours are 7:00 am
to
8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday and
Saturday. Stop by and offer your congratulations to the newlywed-
new-business-owners!
Tony Captures the Comet
Photos and Story by Tony Sirgedas...
The comet first became visible Friday evening
shortly after the sun set.
January 13, 2007 - From Tony: Friday evening, January 12, the
light clouds and haze broke enough at
sunset
to allow viewing of Comet McNaught low over the western
horizon. Friday was the last day the comet will be visible in the
Northern Hemisphere as it will pass behind the sun's glare and then
be visible in the Southern Hemisphere after January 15. Officially
known as comet C/2006 P1, it was only recently discovered
August 7, 2006 by Rob McNaught who has discovered several other
comets that also bear his name. More information on the comet can be
found at
NASA
- A Bright Comet Is Coming
Awesome!
Ducks and Comet McNaught
over Kreger Lake on Friday January 12.
Town Attorney Change...
%20EHudson.jpg)
%20Robert_Mack.jpg)
Right:
Edward Greely Hudson now advising Town of Eatonville replacing
long-time Town Attorney Robert
Mack. Hudson is with the firm of Smith Alling Lane
and Mack was also with the same firm until recently.
Who is Edward Hudson?
by
Dixie A. Walter
January 5, 2007
According
to the Smith Alling Lane Web site Hudson is a Senior Governmental
Affairs Consultant who
"advises
businesses with regard to management decisions and alternative
approaches to the resolution of legal matters." He served six
years on the Tacoma City Council and "one year as
President of the Puget Sound Council of Governments (today the Puget
Sound Regional Council...)."
Hudson also provides guidance with
modern land use policy. He is a Viet Nam veteran who served in the
Army.
He grew up in Tacoma, is married with two daughters. Wife, Dorothy
is a high school teacher. He obtained his law degree at the
University of Wisconsin in Madison and has a business degree from
the University of Washington.
The Web site reports Hudson was a member
of the Washington State China Relations Council, member and
president of the Washington State Arts Commission and chair of the
International Section of the Washington State Bar Association. In
addition he is licensed to practice law in not only in this state
but also before the federal U. S. District Court for the Western
District of Washington.
Areas of practice - business and
corporate law; business succession; collection; employment law;
environmental
and land use law; estate, probate and elder law; personal injury
law, property and real estate law.
He volunteers with the Regional
Governance Project, the Tacoma Actors Guild's Board of Directors and
Rotary's International Student Exchange Committee. Hobbies
include mountain climbing, skiing and reading.
Ed Hudson and Robert Mack
represented the town in two major cases. The first was the sale of
Van Eaton
Park which was taken to Pierce County Superior Court
by Steve Van Cleve. This case, which never went to trial, was
dismissed by Judge Sergio Armijo. Armijo's decision to dismiss was
overturned by the State Court of Appeals in November 2006. The Court
of Appeals remanded the case back to Superior Court for a jury
trial. To read the Court of Appeals decision please see
Court
of Appeals Decision .
Hudson and Mack also represented
the town against a petition for review regarding Aviator Heights
brought
in front of the Central Washington Growth Management Hearings Board.
The hearings board decision itemized a number of problems regarding
the town's "flaws and inconsistencies"
in relation to the proposed development stating the town's development
regulations were "clearly
erroneous." To read the hearings board decision please
see
Hearings
Board Decision 2006
Edward Hudson's eddress
is edhudson@smithallinglane.com
Where Did Mack Go?
Former
Town Attorney Bob Mack has joined the Tacoma Public Utilities to
lead that organization's public
affairs activities. Mark Crisson,
director of utilities appointed Mack deputy director of public
affairs effective January 1, 2007. Part of his duties include
overseeing the Public Utilities' Community/Media Services Office.
Mack worked on major land use and
utility issues, including the Growth Management Act. His background
included
advising clients on natural resource, environmental and land-use
issues. He was picked as one of the best lawyers in America for
environmental and natural resources law.
Jebinos to Open This Week
%20DEC.%2031,%2006%20011.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
January 1, 2007 - by Bob Walter:
Amidst the ambiance of Rat Pack memorabilia, colorfully-lit glass
bricks, and a starburst chandelier, a willing crowd enjoyed a $100 per
couple, prime rib or prawns dinner, and a preview of Jebino's on New Year's
Eve. When someone suggested, on short notice, to proprietors John and Tammi
Bratholm, that they host a New Year's Eve dinner, a couple of calls
were made to gauge interest. Word of mouth began to spread, calls for
reservations began coming in, and in a day or so, every table was booked.
The Bratholms were just disappointed more of their friends couldn't be
accommodated.
But they are happy the long-awaited opening of
Jebino's is finally imminent. They plan to formally open the
new
restaurant at the corner of Mashell Avenue and Carter Street in Eatonville
this Thursday, January 4, after a couple of days of practice with the new
kitchen equipment. Reservations are being taken now.
Park May Not Open
Until Spring, or Close to It...
%20NOV.%2006.jpg)
(National Park Service Photo)
December
11, 2006: Mount Rainier National Park may not be open to vehicles
until sometime in March. The
early
November floods devastated many areas of the park and now heavy snow
at Paradise is hampering efforts to repair the water system. Park Superintendent
Dave Uberuaga estimates the park will lose about $250,000 in
entrance fees by the end of the year. The damage done by Mother
Nature has reached nearly $30 million and the park has is looking at
the longest closure since World War II.
A report from the Federal Highway
Administration regarding repairs may come this week, but the
earliest
repairs probably won't begin until January. Electricity
and sewer haven't been re-established at Longmire although the
national park is awaiting approval of funding to assist the other
damages. Repairs have already eaten up $791,000 and climbing.
The park is thinking about shuttling visitors
to Longmire, giving tours of the damaged park. They are also
giving
thought to allowing hikers, snowshoers and Nordic skiers on the
Westside Road.
Some Eatonville businesses report a slowdown
of customers, but hardest hit by the park closure are the
various
small businesses in Ashford and Elbe. People are being laid off
which is always difficult, especially during the holiday. To help
keep business alive and bring people to the area the Mount Rainier
Visitor Center is promoting activities in the area. Please see Activities
Up-the-Line .
For detailed information regarding the
park closure, repair efforts and more photographs of flood damage please
see
nps.gov/mora/parknews/upload/Flood
Recovery
%20newbaby.gif)
Meet Nate Smith,
Eatonville's Newest Citizen...
%20DEC.%2012,%202006%20Nate'spics095.jpg)
December 12, 2006: Skip Smith sent the following happy announcement:
We have a new addition to the
family we would like to share.
His name is Nathaniel James Smith. Born at Good Samaritan hospital in
Puyallup on Monday, December 11, 2006 at 3:20 p.m. He weighed a
hefty 9 lbs. 2 oz. and measured 21.5" in length. He joins his two
big brother's Derrick Laclef (14) and Trevor Smith (7). His parents,
Dena Laclef and Skip Smith are very excited to bring this little
bundle of joy home to Eatonville.
Anne's
World...
%20NOV.%2023,%202006%20lastscan.jpg)
November
25, 2006 - by Dixie A. Walter: This drawing was created by my
eight-year-old granddaughter, Anne Shore at Thanksgiving. I
asked her what her world would like if she could make it any way she
wanted. Anne answered saying the sky would be pink and orange, the
grass would be blue, the trees would be different colors. Finally
she said, "I'll draw it for you," which she did.
I enjoy talking to children, their
imaginations haven't yet been limited by the same restrictions put
on adults. Grass doesn't have to be green, a tree can be purple
or blue and lots of purple birds can fly in the orange and pink sky.
Christmas
Parade 2006
Photos and Story by Bob
Walter...
%20DEC.%202,%2006%20012.jpg)
Frosty the Snowman, sandwiched between two giant snow globes, waves
to onlookers at the Christmas
Parade
in Eatonville Saturday evening. There were floats, fire engines,
horses, bright lights and candy to delight the children in the
crowd.
Mrs. and Mr.
Claus Greet the Children...
%20DEC.%202,%2006%20003.jpg)
Photographer
Cheryl snaps a photo of a girl with Santa at Keybank, with Mrs. Claus
and three elves looking
on. In the
left foreground is Dawn Newkirk, organizer of the event.
One is
Delighted...
%20DEC.%202,%2006%20008.jpg)
Kylee and Kidder Kindelspira are all smiles as they meet with Santa
Claus to discuss their Christmas wish
lists. Each child received a
candy cane and a fresh orange from Santa during their visit.
The
Organizer...
%20DEC.%202,%2006%20002.jpg)
Always ready to help the community through her creativity and hard
work, Dawn Newkirk greeted grateful
parents who brought their
children to see Santa at Keybank, making sure they all had a
memorable experience. The Greater Eatonville Chamber of
Commerce supplies oranges and candy canes for the kid's who visit
Santa.
Dawn is a longtime business woman in
Eatonville being the proprietor of Dawn's Floral and Gifts and
Jillian's.
She also worked for a very long time at Nancy Iams' Holly Hut. Dawn
is also the driving force behind Eatonville's Daffodil Float.
See The Jessica and Emily
Show at Victorian Christmas
%20AUG.%2027,%202006%20EMMALLIDOL.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Emily
Randolph Banford of Eatonville posed with some her prizes after winning the South Hill Mall Idol
contest in the
seven through twelve age category late last summer. Emily attends
fourth grade in the Eatonville School District. Emily and Jessica Molly Steves
of Yelm are making their debut at the Victorian Country Christmas Festival. The
MC for the show is Tabitha Simolke, also from Eatonville.
Some Great Youthful
Christmas Entertainment...
from Carol Slevett
November 29, 2006
Emily Randolph Banford of Eatonville has teamed up with Jessica Molly Steves
of Yelm to create a new show
called "The Jessica and Emily
Show." Jessica is a very experienced performer
with an incredible voice. She has been performing for most of her life and is
a joy to watch. Emily has been performing for five of her eight years
and was recently chosen the South HIll Mall Jr. Idol. Emily sings and
dances and is a pretty seasoned little performer.
Tabitha Simolke, also from Eatonville, is a
talented MC who also does a little dancing and singing. The
teaming up of
a twenty-year-old and a nine-year-old makes for a very entertaining show full
of variety and incredible singing.
They will be performing at the
Victorian Country Christmas Festival on Sunday, December 3 at noon on the
Crystal Castle Stage in the Show Plex Building, now called the North
Pole for the Christmas event.
It was truly an honor to be
given a spot in this festival. Jessica, Emily and Tabitha hope that some
of the
people of Eatonville will come down and support them in their very
first show.
Eatonville
and Environs Wake to More Snow and Ice
Photos by Bob Walter...
%20NOV.%2028,%2006%20002.jpg)
November 28, 2006: Several inches of snow fell on Eatonville and
other parts of the state overnight causing dangerously icy
roads, causing closures of many businesses and making school kids happy with the
longed for "snow day." The Fantasy Lights event in
Spanaway was cancelled because of the "inclement" weather.
All Pierce County government offices opened two hours late and Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
were also closed. Most of the town, county businesses, schools and
events hope to be functioning by Wednesday.
Although the temperature stayed in the
twenties in most places most of the day, some of the roads packed with
ice and snow melted enough to ensure black and sheet ice for evening
and early morning commuters.
Tale of the
Ruler...
%20NOV.%2028,%2006%20001.jpg)
At 8 a.m. the snow measured about four and a half inches,
however, some places had more and some had less. Dogs and
children enjoyed the white stuff.
Christmas
Trees Get Ready
for the Season...
%20NOV.%2028,%2006%20005.jpg)
Mother
Nature had the upper hand in decorating Christmas trees at Mel Cox's
tree farm by Barney's Corner. It was often a dreary day, but the
sun and sky occasionally fought through the snow clouds to
brighten things up.
Firefighter Bell
Honored by American Legion...
%20NOV.%2014,%202006%20011.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
November 17, 2006 - by Bob Walter: Eatonville Fire Department Lt.
Aaron Bell received the Officer of the
Year award last week from
American Legion's Mt. Tacoma Post 148, for his years of outstanding
service to the community, saving lives and property, and treating the
injured. He is pictured here with his wife, Michelle, and Eatonville
Fire Chief Bob Holt. Members of the American Legion District
Headquarters attended the Eatonville American Legion's annual
spaghetti dinner honoring Veterans and the ceremony honoring Lt. Bell.
Farewell Cake From
Council for Sgt. McNicol...
%20NOV.%2013,%2006%20111306_19091.jpg)
(cell phone photo by Councilmember Bobbi Allison)
November
15, 2006: The Eatonville Town Council took a cake break Monday, November
13 to share and enjoy a chocolate cake and to thank
Sergeant Rex McNicol for his eight years of service to town. Many of his
fellow officers, Chief Jim Lewis and Gaille Finley, attended the small
"party." McNicol said he really appreciated the opportunity to
serve in Eatonville and has enjoyed his duty here. He added, "I
love this town so much I moved my family here and I plan to die
here."
Sgt. McNicol
Leaving Eatonville Police Department
Taking a Position with Pierce
County Sheriff's Department...
%20NOV.%2012,%2006%20003.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
November 12, 2006: Sergeant Rex McNicol has been with the Eatonville
Police Dept since April 1999. He
started as a patrol officer and
was promoted to Sergeant in September 2000. McNicol was offered a
position with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department and will be
leaving EPD November 19. "Sergeant McNicol has done an
outstanding job for the Town of Eatonville," said Police Chief
Jim Lewis.
The popular officer intends to remain a resident
of Eatonville, "I'm not going anywhere," he told ENN.
Santa Visits
Early...
%20NOV.%204,%2006%20039.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
November 11, 2006: Scott Snyder and his older sisters, Mia and Isabelle
had a happy time with Santa during
the Cottage Merchants event
last weekend. These are the adorable children of Amy and Eric Snyder.
Santa was at Melly Rodriguez's new business Good Home Dry Cleaners and
Gifts located at 104 Washington Avenue South. The new shop features
Madame Alexander dolls and other gifts. You can also drop off your dry
cleaning and pick it up within two or three days.
Santa will also visit the shop December 2
and December 9.
Mount Rainier
Evacuated For Public Safety...
%20TahomaCreek1.jpg)
(Courtesy photo from Mount Rainier
National Park)
Tahoma Creek Monday afternoon. Rivers and creeks in Western Washington
are deluged by days of heavy,
consistent rains labeled "The
Pineapple Express." The weather forecasts call for more heavy rain
until Wednesday. By 5 p.m. emergencies had been declared in eighteen
counties.
According to news sources the
Nisqually River is expected to have a "major flood." The
Nisqually is roiling
with huge pieces of debris and trees.
Those who saw the Nisqually after Mount St. Helens erupted say the river
looks like it did at that time.
The Kernahan Bridge looked to be in danger
of going out but crews are working to save it. School
Transportation
and Maintenance Supervisor Dan Dawkins said loads of rock were being in
dumped around the bridge in a effort to keep it standing. Dawkins noted
that there was one car on the bridge at 6:30 a.m., but didn't know what
happened to it.
One source said the Lewis County end of the
bridge has some damage which is being repaired. Dawkins also
said he
watched the Nisqually River for about fifteen minutes and it was a mess
with trees and other debris racing past.
Eatonville
Police Office Supervisor and Director of Emergency Management, Gaille
Finley, reports that
the
town is "okay." She explained, "Our public works are
checking and clearing storm drains." And added, "There is no
problem with flooding currently."
Heavy Rains
Force Park Closure...
Press release
November 6, 2006 - 3:30 p.m.
A torrential storm dropped more than seven inches of rain on Mount
Rainier National Park on Sunday, with
another ten inches expected on
Monday. Park rivers are raging
bank to bank, with chocolate-colored water carrying trees, rocks, and
mud. Several park roads and
campgrounds are threatened by flooding and mudslides.
Park officials closed the main park road from the
Nisqually Entrance to Paradise and are turning people
back at the
park gate. Highway 123 is also
closed, due to a rockslide. “We
want to prevent visitors getting trapped inside the park.
The road is vulnerable to washouts in several key
places, and there is only one way out.” said superintendent
Dave
Uberagua. Park employees working
at Longmire were encouraged to leave the park while the roads are still
passable rather than finish their work day.
Gaille Finley
Discussed 911 Procedures with Seniors...
November 1, 2006
Gaille Finley, Eatonville
Police Office Supervisor and recently appointed Director of Emergency
Management spoke at the senior meal site Friday, November 3. She
explained enhanced 911, how and when to call 911, what to expect when
calling, when not to call 911, helpful hints and other pertinent
information.
Senior citizen meals are served in the
Community Center at 305 Center Street beginning at 11:30 a.m. For
in-depth information about 911 please see
911
Eatonville's Relay
For
Life 2007...
%20%20JUNE%204,%202006%20007.jpg)
(photo by Bob
Walter - Relay For Life 2006)
Among the many poignant reminiscences of each Relay in Eatonville
is the Wall of Memories and Wall of Hope where messages are
written to those who have not survived cancer, and those who are
fighting the disease.
It's About a Community Who Takes up
the Fight!
by
Tiffany Salesdy
October 27, 2006
EATONVILLE. – Relay For Life is a unique, overnight, community
event where people of all ages and from all walks of life come
together for a common cause – to fight cancer. Relay For Life
represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be
forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that
one day cancer will be eliminated.
The 2006 planning
committee would like to thank
everyone for their participation and support of the American
Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Eatonville 2006.
Our community raised $55,000 to support cancer research,
education, advocacy and services.
Committee planning has now begun for the fifth annual
Relay For Life of Eatonville, which will take place July
14 - 15, 2007 at Eatonville High School's B. W. Lyon Field.
The planning
committee is currently recruiting new committee members and new
teams. Event Co-Chairs, Karen Woodcock and Jan Kusler would like
to extend an invitation to all community members to join the 2007
Relay For Life Committee. The
committee is responsible for planning and organizing this remarkable
event. Having a full committee is crucial to making the event a
success and we need your help to make that happen!
A committee retreat will take place on November 4 to kick off
the year, all committee members, old and new, will be invited.
Please contact Tiffany Salesky, Community Relationship
Manager for the American Cancer Society at
1.800.ACS.2345, or
Tiffany.saleksy@cancer.org
if you would like to join the planning committee, form a team, or
participate as a survivor at the event. We hope to see you at Relay!
The
American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary
health organization dedicated
to eliminating cancer as a major
health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives from cancer, and
diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education,
advocacy and service. For twenty-four hour cancer information, call
the American Cancer Society at 1.800.ACS.2345 or visit
www.cancer.org
Jillian's Closet
Changes Consignment Policy...
%20%20OCT.%2028,%2006%20017.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
October 29, 2006: Jillian Newkirk recently announced her store on the
corner of Mashell Avenue and
Center Street has changed from the sale
of clothing on consignment, to donated items only - "everything
except appliances." Receipts will gladly be given for tax
purposes. Contact Jillian's, 360.832.5455, for more information if you
have items to donate.
For ENN readers not familiar with the "main
drag" of Eatonville - the reflections in Jillian's Closet window
are Kirk's Pharmacy on the right, with murals on the wall, and Key
Bank on the left.
Abstract of
Jebino's
%20OCT.%2029,%2006%20010.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
This reflection of the cloudy sky makes Jebino's appear to have the sky
as its ceiling. It looks as if there is
still a lot work to be done
before the highly anticipated new restaurant is set to open around the
end of this month.
Candidate's
Forum 2006
Photos and Story by Arlen
Paranto...
%20OCT.%2017,%2006%20IMG_1464.jpg)
Left to right: Darcy Burner (D) running for United States
Representative, 8th Congressional District;
Jim Mcune (R) State House 2nd Legislative District, Position 1; Tom
Campbell (R) State House 2nd Legislative District, Position 2; Jean
Marie Christenson (D) State House 2nd Legislative District, Position
1 and Jeff Stephan State House 2nd Legislative District, Position 2.
Candidates Well
Received During Forum...
October
19, 2006
There was a nice crowd at the
candidates forum Tuesday, October 17. Most were people I have
never seen at the usual planning and council meetings or around
town, so I assumed most were from the outskirts or beyond.
Possibly drawn in to see Darcy Burner
who is running for the U. S. House of Representatives opposite Dave
Reichert (R) who did not
accept the invitation to attend the forum. Burner got hung up
in traffic coming from Bellevue so did not arrive until thirty
minutes late. But she was graciously received by the audience,
knowing what a bear Meridian can be.
Each candidate, or incumbent, for office gave
an introductory speech about their background. Jim McCune
is a business man in Graham, Tom Campbell is a licensed
Chiropractor in Roy, Jean Christenson a counselor from Rainier,
Jeff Stephan is a union carpenter and Burner is a former
executive from Microsoft.
The moderator, Eileen Fox, with the
Tacoma/Pierce County League of Women Voters, and the timer
asked all questions of each candidate and allowed specific
times to respond, which all complied with.
Many of the questions were asked by
the audience on written on four by five index cards and were
presented to the candidates by Fox.
Burner
Explains her Positions...
%20OCT.%2017,%2006%20IMG_1467.jpg)
While League of Women Voter's moderator Eileen Fox listens U. S.
House of Representatives candidate
Darcy Burner (D) responds
to questions from the audience.
My question as to what committee Darcy Burner would like to
serve on in Congress was the first one she was
asked. and she answered it quickly. One of the committees she would
like to serve on dealt with the Internet where she has
demonstrated expertise.
When asked how she felt about gun
control. Burner said she has a 9 mm pistol and a permit to
carry and is trained to use it. In previous years she was
stalked and even a restraining order was ineffective so the police
told her she should protect herself.
She jokingly opened her jacket to
show that she was not carrying at the moment. This drew a chuckle
out of the audience.
Jeff
Stephan Addresses Voters...
%20OCT.%2017,%2006%20IMG_1462.jpg)
Eatonville resident Jeff Stephan (D) described his agenda to the
local electorate.
Stephan got a big hand when
he said he was for abolishing the sales tax and using an income tax
system. His
point was that the current raising sales tax hurts
the low and medium income people and many of those would be exempt
from the income tax. Stephan also pointed out the need for domestic
and alternate energy sources and even our town's recycling
shortcomings.
Christenson spoke of her job experiences
at Washington State Reformatory and the need to improve prevention
to reduce future criminal activities. She offered a different view
than the other candidates.
Jim McCune,in a short speech, talked
of his experiences and was proud of his involvement with getting Meth
lab reduction laws in place.
Tom Campbell's eloquent speech on his
history and government accomplishments was very effective in getting
his agenda across.
In summary I would say that the League
of Women voters, assisted by Michael Jeffries and Judy East, did an excellent
job in getting this meeting together and managing it's forum.
All candidates were treated with respect
and covered a wide variety of subjects that was well received by the
audience. Well Done!
The
Audience Listened and Learned...
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What Color Will
I Be?
%20SEPT.%2022,%2006%20040.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Color Contest
Update...
October 6, 2006:
The two top colors chosen by citizens for painting the town hall are
beige with sage trim and almond with dark trim. Town Clerk
Chrystal McGlone says Bill Atkins, parks supervisor, plans to paint
sections of the building with the top colors so people passing by can
get a better idea of which color they would like to see all the time.
Town Hall Due
for a Change...
September 29: Eatonville's town hall is due for a change. Next year the town plans
to paint the building and is currently
holding
an "informal" contest to choose which colors the town's
office should wear. To vote for your favorite color combination just
tell whoever is at the front counter your favorite of the five colors
listed and your vote will be duly noted.
The list of colors is taped at the far
left end of the front counter. For your convenience here is a list of
the five choices: beige with sage trim; almond with dark
trim; Mashell red with light putty trim; dark green with soft white
trim and natural colored doors or light green. The contest should run
until the end of the year
"Suspicious" Brush
Fire...
%20OCT.%208,%202006%20013.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
October 8,
2006: An estimated quarter-acre of young forest at the end of
Berggren Road in Eatonville was
burned in a fire recently. There are homes near this site. The Eatonville Fire
Department put out this fire while another brush fire in the area
near Lynch Creek Quarry's Class B pit. Jeff Burgess and some other
quarry employees took the water trucks and put out the fire by the B
pit. Eatonville Fire Chief Bob Holt said the fires are
"suspicious" and "are under
investigation."
Chief Holt also emphasized the area is still bone
dry even with the recent rainfall. Presently the Palmer
Drought Index map shows our area needing nine to twelve inches of
rain to get back to normal. Please see Map
showing Additional Precipitation Needed to Bring Palmer Drought Index
to -0.5 inches
Area is Still Very
Dry and Very Dangerous
%20OCT.%208,%202006%20012.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
The fire, in a triangular section of trees and shrubs, was
bordered by the town road on the west side and by Randle's Lynch Creek Quarry
property on the east side. To the south was more forest, and several
hundred yards further are homes.
October 9, 2006: 2004
Eatonville High School graduate Ian O'Brien is currently the
Frontier Conference Total Offensive
leader
with 1009 yards in five games of conference play. O'Brien, a former
EHS stand out and four sport letterman (football,
basketball, soccer, track) is a red shirt sophomore and
starting quarterback for the Eastern Oregon University
Mountaineers.
This past week O'Brien lead his team to
a 28-21 victory over the University of Montana Western Bulldogs
in
Dillon Montana. O'Brien rushed for 104 yards and one touch down
and passed for 119 yards and one touch down on the day. O'Brien has
averaged over 200 yards a game with six games played.
Ian
Fights His Way in For Six Points!
%20OCT.%209,%2006%20Ian%20fights%20his%20way%20in%20for%20six!.jpg)
(photo by Donny O'Brien)
Did You See It?
Meteor or UFO?
October 1, 2006
Tony Sirgedas writes:
"Did you see it? About 8:20
p.m. what appeared to be a large meteor fell directly
down
in front of Mount Rainier east of town. It was aqua green, emitting
sparks as it came apart and other bits of light lasting about
four seconds lighting up the sky.
October 6, 2006: Marlayne Elliff writes to ENN, "I saw the
green streak and I just said "Oh."I ran out side
and I
thought maybe it was a plane but nope...So I wasn't crazy in what I
saw....aliens among us.
%209486098_480X360.jpg)
(photo by Pierce County Sheriff's Department)
Price
Nick Miller Jr.
Pierce County
Superior Court Criminal Case 06-1-03069-1
by Dixie A. Walter
October 4, 2006
Price Nick Miller Jr., fifty-nine, a former
resident of Gig Harbor, and owner of the "Buffalo Ranch,"
one-hundred-sixty
acres, a few miles outside of Eatonville, was arrested July 6, 2006 and
charged with five counts of child rape and two counts of child molestation.
Miller, whose bail was set at one million dollars pleaded not guilty.
Initially the charges were brought by one minor child,
a boy, called T. J. in court documents. A few days later five more victims
alleged child sex abuse by Miller. No new charges resulted from those
allegations. Miller was a Boy Scout leader and some Boy Scouts may have been
involved in Miller's predations. T. J. was not a Scout.
Court papers state that T. J. was fifteen years old
when made the allegations against Miller. Some excerpts from the Pierce
County Superior Court, Declaration for Determination of Probable Cause.
"T. J. disclosed that defendant had molested him since he was 7 or 8
years old. The first incident occurred at one of the defendant's rental homes.
They played hide-and-seek."
The "declaration" describes a graphic
incident when T. J. said he hid in a closest and when the "defendant"
found T. J. he touched him in a sexual manner over his clothes. The defendant
allegedly took him into a bedroom for a back rub. After the back rub the
defendant allegedly touched him in a sexual manner under his clothing. T. J.
then alleges the defendant had the young boy touch him in a sexual manner.
From then on, until T. J. was fifteen,
Miller allegedly molested him "at least 3 or 4 times a week." According
to the court document filed July 7, 2006, T. J. was sexual abused in "Gig
Harbor, in Eatonville, in Lakebay and in Key Peninsula. Among the charges are
acts of oral sex which T. J. alleges began when he was "7 or 8 years
old."
The document also states, "When T. J.
was 12 years old, defendant allowed T. J.'s mother to live in one of his
rental homes rent free while T. J. lived in a foster home. The last incident
happened when T. J. was 15 years old, during spring break of 2006.
"In June of 2006, T. J. contacted the
defendant by phone. Their phone conversation was wire tapped. T. J. mentioned
in the phone conversation how they had sexual contact, and the defendant did
not deny or question T.J.'s comment.
"According to Detective Ray
Shaviri of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, defendant is a Boy Scout Leader.
He has access to many young children."
Miller is married and has
three children. He is a retired Gig Harbor businessman and was a
volunteer firefighter.
"Miller's trial date was originally
set for August 23 but was changed to November 8, 2006. Trial dates are
always subject to change, and often do. Miller will have a jury trial.
For more about the Miller case
please see Boy
Scout Leader Arrested
(Publisher's Note: After a
great deal of thought I have decided to publish the declaration document. I want
to warn you that it is very
graphic and very sad. I made the decision to publish because sometimes we cannot
get the full impact of such a crime when it has been even somewhat sugar coated.
The court documents tell it like it is and it isn't a pretty, sanitized story.
However, if you decide to read the document perhaps it will give you some
insight into how pedophiles (alleged) behavior. Dixie A. Walter. If you wish to
read the document please see
T.
J. Declaration )
 Fire Alert:
Area in "Severe"
Drought, Fire Threat Extremely
High
by Dixie A. Walter
September 7, 2006
Our
area, and most of the state, are in the midst of the driest spell in
recorded history. The area is in a "severe
drought" according to the U.S. Forest Service's Wildlife Fire
Assessment System (WFAS). The Keeth-Bryram Drought Index (KBDI) says
the area would need six to nine inches of rain just to bring moisture content back to normal.
Although rain is in the forecast this
Saturday, it is highly unlikely Eatonville and environs will even come
close to getting the amount of rain necessary to alleviate the
severity of the current drought. Large Douglas fir trees are dying in
many places from lack of moisture. These evergreens have a very
shallow root system and cannot reach down through the soil far enough
to find water which is about seven to nine inches deep currently.
Dying fir trees can fall and hit homes,
cars etc. Putting a hose at the base of the trees which may endanger property
and watering them for about twenty minutes can help save your trees
and possibly save damage to homes, vehicles, yards etc.
The threat of fire from humans has caused
the woods to be closed to logging for fear of sparks, matches, cigarettes
etc. Lightening could also cause a wildfire which could spread rapidly.
In these tinder box conditions KBDI warns that our state is in the 600
to 800 bracket - which is, "Often associated with more severe
drought with increased wildfire occurrence. Intense, deep burning
fires with significant downwind spotting can be expected. Live fuels
(living trees, shrubs) can also be expected to burn actively at these
levels."
Please be extremely careful. Burn bans are in effect all over the
state and campfires have been banned also. For more information please see the
following sites: Drought
Maps - Keetch-Byram Drought Index and Plamer Drought Map - US
Palmer Drought Index - Map
showing Additional Precipitation Needed to Bring Palmer Drought Index
to -0.5 inches - Drought
Monitor
In
Memoriam
September 11, 2001
%2025-5346.jpg)
September
9, 2006: Four months before the horrific and tragic terrorist attack
of 9/11 Eatonville residents Harold and Rosana Hefley visited New
York City and the Twin Towers. To see their photographs of the
towers and an unsuspecting, peaceful city please go to
Twin
Towers Before the Attack
Emily Randolph Wins South
Hill Mall Idol Contest...
(courtesy photo)
Eatonville's
newest star. Emily Randolph won
the first ever South Hill Mall Idol contest today. She was in the
seven through twelve age category. Emily is eight and will attend
fourth grade school in the Eatonville School District.
Her very proud grandmother Carol Slevett
said, "Emily sang 'I Want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart'
and she was a huge hit. She has learned to yodel
pretty well. She won lots of prizes and will be performing at some
of the Mall events that they have for the next year." Above is
beaming Emily with some of her prizes.
Emily has
Quite the Resume for her Age
from Carol Slevett
September 1, 2006
Garay
Music Studios was the sponsor of the Idol competition. I don't
remember exactly how many were entered all together. I think
it was twelve or thirteen in Emily's division. This is the way
it worked - last week they had the preliminaries. The
performers sang without music sort of like American Idol.
Then they narrowed it to six finalists in each age category. The
finalists competed last Sunday, August 27. They picked only one
winner in each category. Emily had some tough competition. Emily
dances with Eatonville Dance Center. Jessica Steeves
arranged the routine.
Asked by ENN to explain more about her
talented granddaughter Carol joked, "Okay, you asked for
it. You should never ask a proud Grandma to talk about her
grandchild!" Carol added the following information about
young Emily. "People ask me how she learned to yodel. Emily
has always been able to copy sounds. When she was two she could whinny
just like a horse, and she whinnied for a least a year! Emily's
instructor, Jessica Steeves, is a wonderful singer and she
yodels as well. Jessica taught Emily how to yodel and she picked
it right up.
Carol explained further, "Emily has
been performing for her family, friends and anyone who would
watch her since she could walk. I noticed she could
sing on key when she was about two. She would cry if anyone
around her sang off key, it was funny."
"Emily started out with the
Eatonville Dance Center when she was two and a half years old.
At four, she was a good little dancer and Justine
Thornton, the studio owner, suggested she try competitions. So
Emily did a tap number to "Animal Crackers in my
Soup." She did well with that so she competed the next year
and the next. Every year I asked her if she wanted to try a song
and dance routine but she said, "No" until last year.
So, at age seven, she did her first song and dance routine and
she loved it. She just can't seem to get enough of it. Emily has
a lot of confidence for her age and is having so much fun with
all of this, she has never seen a stage she didn't like. It's a
great experience for her."
Carol added, "Emily
also sings Broadway songs. She performed "Castle on a
Cloud" from Les Miserables for her recital last June. She
also sings, jazz, country and pop. Emily loves dancing too, and
takes ballet, jazz and hip hop and competes in those as
well."
Emily's mom is Shannon Antos, who will
soon be married to Larry Banford of Eatonville. Amanda is Emily's little
four-year-old sister who has started dancing and singing too.
Carol notes, "Guess it runs in the family. Both girls love
animals and love to ride horses." Love of animals must run in
the family too as Carol devoted many years to animal rescue.
Emily and Amanda also have a proud
Grandfather, Carol's husband Tom.
Emily
on Stage in Eatonville...
%20OCT.%201,%202005%20010.jpg)
(2005 photo by Bob Walter)
Emily
Randolph struts her stuff last fall during a benefit at Eatonville
Elementary School for Katrina victims.
What's Happening on
the Hillside?
%20AUG.%2012,%2006%20009.jpg)
(August 12 photo by Bob Walter)
August 18, 2006: by Dixie A. Walter: ENN asked Town Planner Nick
Bond what was happening on the hill above Tim Daniel's home.
Bond explained that dirt was creeping into Daniel's garage and he
decided to "terrace" the hill to "stabilize it."
Daniel had a geo-tech report done on the hillside and also has a
grading permit Bond said.
The town council on January 23,
2006 unanimously passed Ordinance 2006-3 "Vacating land
dedicated to the town for a street right of way along Rainier
Avenue from its intersection with Prospect Street north to its
intersection with Larson Street, and a portion of Larson Street
between Rainier Avenue and Mashell Avenue" Street vacate
requested by Tim Daniel." Bond also noted that the town gave
Daniel permission to begin the project before the rains came even
though the paperwork for the street vacant was not completed.
Bond said it was his understanding
that Daniel would park his logging truck "tucked away"
behind his garage. This would remove the huge rig from being
parked on the street.
Seven Days Later,
August 25...
%20AUG.%2019,%202006%20022.jpg)
(August 25 photo by Bob
Walter)
Two Days Later,
August 27...
%20%20AUG.%2026,%2006%20017.jpg)
(August 27 photo by Bob Walter)
Five Days
Later - September 1...
%20SEPT.%201,%2006%20005.jpg)
(September 1, 2006)
Senators Enjoy Corn Feed...
(photo by Bob Walter)
(photo by Bob Walter)
%20AUG.%2026,%2006%20046.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
A fixture at Rasmussen's cornfeeds is Ed Wright who has cooked for
countless years. He has cooked thousands of burgers and fed
thousands of visitors to the Rasmussen ranch each year and always
ready with a smile and a quip.
Lead Contaminated Toys
Recalled by U. S. Libraries...
%20%20AUG.%2016,%202006.jpg)
%20%20AUG.%2016,%202006%2020060810164842_medium.jpg)
These
cute, bendable toys are deceptive. The toys were given away across the
United States by library systems as an
incentive to encourage reading under the "Paws, Claws, Scales and
Tales" program. Hundreds of the toys, some testing positive for dangerous
levels of lead were handed out in the South Sound area and Eatonville as
well.
The Eatonville Library is a branch of the Pierce County
Library System. According to report in The News Tribune Eatonville ordered
forty-eight of the poseable, twenty-seven cent toys and gave out thirty-six.
Eight have been turned in since the recall.
Parents/Caregivers Should
Promptly Return
Toys to Libraries...
by
Dixie A. Walter
August 16, 2006
The
seemingly innocuous cat and dog toys were "awarded" to American kids
who completed five hundred minutes of reading from May 22 to July 22, 2006.
They are about four inches high and are shaped somewhat like a lollipop.
The toys were bought from Oriental trading and are stamped "Made in
China." After testing by the Indiana Department of Health the alarming
amounts of lead found in the contaminated toys which prompted warnings and a
recall of the small toys.
Among the states were the toys were distributed are
Wisconsin, North Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky,
Oregon, California and Washington State. About three-thousand of the toys were
shipped to twenty libraries in Washington State. Some of the toys tested were
found to have 0.4 and 0.24 percent of lead. The top safety limit is 0.06
percent. Highsmith Publications said the toys had been shipped to one thousand
one hundred libraries across the country.
Not all of the toys have test positive for lead. However,
health officials urge parents to return all the toys to local libraries for
proper disposal. Officials also urge the people who handle these potentially
toxic toys to wash their hands very carefully.
Youngsters are at the greatest risk for lead poisoning
since their small bodies absorb more lead. Even healthy appearing children
can have dangerous levels of lead in their bodies. The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) says childhood lead poisoning continues to be a major environmental
health problem in American kids. Lead, a highly toxic, heavy metal, is mainly
found in paint.
Prolonged
exposure to lead can cause serious and irreversible health effects, including
damage to the brain, nervous system, and kidneys. It may also cause hearing,
behavior and learning problems in young children. According to the
EPA..."If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their
bodies can suffer from:
- Damage to the brain and nervous system
- Behavior and learning problems (such as
hyperactivity)
- Slowed growth
- Hearing problems
- Headaches
- Children's brains and nervous systems are more
sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.
This matter has been referred to the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission for further investigation and
follow-up.
Kid's Camp - Paint a Mural with
Fred Oldfield...
%20071405Fredandkids1.jpg)
(courtesy photo 2005)
Fred Oldfield teaches youngsters to
appreciate art and tap into their creative abilities.
by Joella Oldfield
253.752.9708
866-445-9175
foldfield@comcast.net
www.fredolfieldcenter.com
August 18, 2006
The Fred Oldfield Western Heritage Center will be holding its last
Summer Art Camp August 21-24. Forty children will be
joining Western Artist Fred Oldfield and painting twelve eight- foot
murals to be mounted on the roof of their building.
Last year the children painted a
marvelous fifty-foot mural on the side of their building. The
children range from six to eighteen years of age. This will
be an outdoor project and a wonderful photo opportunity. Fred
Oldfield is known around the country as the "Grand
Daddy" of Western Art and he painted the first mural for the
Toppenish Mural Society as well as two others there.
The children will benefit from this
eighty-eight-year old artist's experience and knowledge. Please join
us for a wonderful art experience for the kids! Thursday and
Friday will be the ideal photo opportunity days as you will be able
to see the murals close to completion. The Heritage Center is
located at the Red Gate at the Puyallup Fair & Events Center.
Fred Oldfield Gives Personal
Attention to His Camp Kids...
%202005_0714_114035AA.jpg)
(courtesy photo 2005)
Fred Oldfield Western
Heritage Center Free Fun Family Day - August 26 from noon until 4
p.m.
Mural Unveiling
Be the first to see the unveiling of the new outdoor Children’s Mural! See
many of Fred's murals at Oldfield
Center
the children will paint this mural at the “Paint a Mural with Fred” Summer
Camp. It will delight and amaze you. Stop by and see the children at work Aug
21-24 – 9:30 to noon. See fun activities and entertainment below:
Artists in Action
Crafts for Kids
American Indian Dancing & Storytelling
Amanda Lee Little – Puyallup Idol 2004
Bluegrass Music
Square/Line Dancing ~ Demos/Lessons
Come and learn about Railroad “Date Nails” while you enjoy the Collection
and Expertise of Mike Hansen.
The Center is located at the Red Gate at the Puyallup Fair & Events
Center.
A Few Scenes from the
Pierce County Fair...
%20AUG.%2012,%2006%20022.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
August 15, 2006: by Bob Walter:
We caught up with 2006 Pierce County Fair Queen Toni Tonetti, a student at
Sumner High School, as she consulted with an aide on her next royal duty.
Busy as she was, she graciously paused long enough for us to get a photo.
Fair Provides Fertile
Bounty
%20AUG.%2012,%2006%20039.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Even
the day's production of eggs, laid by the show hens and collected by their
handlers, were on display in the Poultry Barn, revealing a scramble of sizes
and colors. This multi-colored batch of eggs were laid Saturday, August 12.
Flying Fingers Create
Delicate Lace
%20AUG.%2012,%2006%20107.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Lacemaker
Lorri Ferguson deftly creates a ribbon of lace, following a pattern imprinted on
the wheel - her fingers weaving the tiny spools in a dizzying flurry of
movement.
Fabric Art
%20AUG.%2012,%2006%20067.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
An
explosion of color greeted visitors to the Quilt Barn at the Pierce County Fair.
Each type of pattern or design has a name, and requires specific cuts of
fabric, sequence of application and stitching.
Men Like Flowers Too...
%20AUG.%2012,%2006%20057.jpg)
(photo by Dixie A. Walter)
The
flower and vegetable show includes floral arrangements, individual flowers, even
whimsical "veggie animal" creations, that are judged each
year.
This Moment of Beauty
Courtesy of Dawn Newkirk...
%20AUG.%2012,%2006%20005.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
August 15,
2006: These dramatic petunias are just a few decorating Dawn's Floral and Gifts
on the corner of Washington Avenue and Center Street. Dawn's " magic
secret" to growing amazing petunias? Miracle Gro plant fertilizer just
about every day, and plenty of water.
Little Ones
Enchanted by our Enchanting Mountain...
%20AUG.%208,%202006%20P1030891.jpg)
August 9, 2006: This wonderful photograph was sent to ENN from Cathy Farwell for
everyone to enjoy. The
photo was taken
"this past week." The little ones are Colby Dunivan, three, and his
sister Chloe Dunivan, who is five. They live in Eatonville with their parents
Robin and Cody Dunivan. Their very proud grandmother is Rhonda Tracy. Photo by
Cody Dunivan.
4
Meet
Adorable Baby Amelia
Amelia Louise Spencer was born on May 4th at 10:20 a.m. to proud parents
Lindsay (Knelleken) Spencer and David Spencer of Seattle. She was seven
pounds and twenty inches long.
Her grandparents are Kathy and Mike Knelleken of
Eatonville and Anne & Brian Spencer of Iowa City, Iowa, and
great-grandparents are Delores and Keith Malcom and Shirley Knelleken of
Eatonville and Hal Richerson of Iowa City, Iowa. Dad David is studying
medicine at the University of Washington.
Amelia is the first great-grandchild of Keith and
Delores Malcom. The Malcom family have been business people in
Eatonville since 1917. The family patriarch, Olaf (Ole) Malcom was born in
Fredrickstad, Norway in 1883 and came to America in 1903.
Ole opened a meat market and packing plant in the
area in 1917. After World War II Keith bought the meat market in the old
Red and White Grocery store. After seventeen years the energetic Malcoms
bought the grocery store and began the odyssey which led them into numerous
other business ventures in Eatonville.
Malcoms built the town's first supermarket, motel
and mall and it's hard to count how many other businesses they built.
Keith, Delores, Kathy, Mike and Lindsay are all graduates of Eatonville High
School. Always committed to the community's future, the Malcom family
have set an excellent example for their first great-grandchild to
follow.
For more family photos of little Amelia please see More
Amelia
Eatonville
Police Department Bike Patrol...
%20JUNE%2023,%202006%20004.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Eatonville police officer Kevin Wade with the department's
Ziegler-Lam 24 speed men's mountain bike.
by
Officer Kevin Wade - EPD
July 12, 2006
The
Eatonville Police Department began its bicycle patrol in 1994 as a Community
Oriented Policing Unit. Bicycle officers patrol the downtown area of
Eatonville in addition to parks and neighborhoods. Due to the staffing demands
bike patrol officers are only available to be on patrol when there is another
on-duty patrolman in a vehicle.
There are currently three certified
bike patrol officers in the Eatonville Police Department. Certification requires
the officer attend an eight-hour hands on course.
We have one Ziegler-Lam 24 speed men’s mountain bike purchased in
September 1998. It is the goal of this department to have at least two new bikes
purchased and outfitted for patrol.
Putting a police officer on a bicycle has many advantages. It makes
the officer more approachable by the public without the car doors and
windows forming a barrier between the officer and citizen, allowing for more
informal interactions. This approachability augments the Eatonville Police
Department’s commitment to community policing, working in partnership with the
community we serve. The bicycle also creates a learning situation for safe
riding discussions with children.
Bike officers are better able to patrol areas in a manner, which is
not as noticeable as a marked patrol unit. A bicycle has access to
areas that a car cannot go, such as trails, side yards and some alleys. This
broadens our patrol abilities, especially when it comes to pursuing suspects who
are on foot. A bicycle is also less obtrusive and more low-key than a patrol
car. It allows the officer to approach a situation without being observed and
without as great an interruption in “normal” activity than driving a car
into the area. This type of patrol of course extends a greater access to those
whom may be violating the law.
Bicycle patrol is another positive
approach to community oriented policing for the Town of Eatonville.
Excerpt from July
10
Council Report
Questions About Signs...
by Bob Walter
July 11, 2006
"At the July 10 Eatonville Town Council
meeting, John Bratholm, co-owner with his wife, Tammi, of The Pizza
Place, presented the council with a sketch of the
sign planned for their new restaurant under construction - Jebino's.
"Bratholm asked the council for an ordinance
'provision' that would allow the sign. Town Planner
Nick Bond responded, saying the sign ordinance would have
to be changed, so as to include this type of sign as one of those
which would be allowed by variance. He stated there are currently only
two sign types presently allowed through this process: roof signs
and historic or antique signs.
"The town's sign ordinance does not allow variances
for height restrictions or square footage requirements, and
painted wall signs are regulated differently than free-standing signs,
which are limited in area based on the speed limit for the
street(s) and/or the length of street frontage.
"Mayor Tom Smallwood and Councilmember
Meridith Weilert both suggested the next town revitalization
meeting, scheduled for Tuesday night (July 12), would be a good place
to discuss the sign ordinance, and any changes that might allow for
more appropriate regulations and more effective commercial signage.
"The mayor expressed his hope that any sign ordinance changes could
be accomplished within a month, so that Bratholm could move ahead.
Councilmember Bruce Rath said the sign ordinance has been broken
many times, and the council needs to do something, 'fairly
fast,' to allow business owners to comply with the ordinance and
still advertise their businesses."
Below are three examples of Jebino sign John Bratholm gave to the
council showing showing the signs various angles. A sign committee
was established during the July 11 Revitalization meeting.
Proposed
Signage for Jebinos...
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Sunrise
Area Celebrates 75th Anniversary...
Press release
July 12, 2006
Mount Rainier National Park announces the 75th anniversary of opening the
Sunrise area on the northeast slopes of the mountain. A special observance
of the anniversary will be held on Saturday July 15 at the Sunrise Visitor
Center (open 9 a.m.-6 p.m.).
Special guided walks featuring the history of Sunrise, with
great views of wild flowers and the mountain, will be held.
Walks will begin at the Visitor Center at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more
information contact the Sunrise Visitor Center at 360.663.2425. Come to the
Sunrise side of the mountain for a special day. Everyone is welcome.
Rod Knockers
Decorated "Main Street"
Photos by Arlen Paranto...
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Outstanding
cars and trucks lined both sides of Mashell Avenue for blocks Saturday, June 24.
There were 270 270 vehicles of all sizes, colors and
ages which have been lovingly cared for, and restored by Rod Knockers car club
members. Photographer Arlen Paranto had a penchant for 1950s era pick up trucks
this year, with the exception of the innards of a Ford GT Coupe which costs
$150,000 without accessories, please see last photo.
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Park Dedicated on a Very,
Very Hot Day...
%20JUNE%2024,%2006%20IMG_1089%20a.jpg)
(photo by Arlen Paranto)
June
26, 2006: A small crowd braved the eighty-some degree weather to attend a brief
ceremony dedicating Mill Pond Park. Mayor Tommy
Smallwood thanked several people for their devotion to the success of the park.
Many in the audience were town staff, park committee members and some elected
officials.
Among those thanked were former Councilmember
Ray Harper, present Councilmember Meridith Weilert, parks
committee members Bruce Lachney, Nancy Ellis, Dixie and Bob Walter, planning commissioner and
park committee member Bob Schaub and former Mayor Harold
Parnell. Mayor Smallwood said former mayor and present Councilmember Bruce Rath "took
ownership of the park." Lachney reminded everyone of the role of Erin
Brock, who as a young skateboarder, went with him to the County Council
requesting funds. Brock is now in college.
Town
Launches New
Web Site...
June 13, 2006
During the
Eatonville Town Council meeting June 12 Mayor Tommy Smallwood announced the
launch of the
town's Web site. Smallwood said the site was still under construction and
explained that much more would be added in the future. Ted Slatten, Eatonville
resident, has been working behind the site to set it up and town employee
Christina Dargan is Webmaster.
To view the new site please see www.eatonville-wa.gov.
ENN Fourth Anniversary...
June 11, 2006
EatonvilleNews.net
was launched June 8, 2002 and readership has steadily climbed in readership
since then. We have never advertised,
but relied on the grapevine to spread the word about electronic local news. All
services are free.
During the month of May ENN had 42, 114 pages
viewed.
New Lighting at Park...
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(photo by Bob Walter)
June 19, 2006: New lights have sprouted at Mill Pond Park in preparation of the
park's dedication ceremonies and the Founder's Day Auction this Saturday,
June 24 following the Rod Knockers car show which ends at 3 p.m. The vintage
appearing lights are made from fiberglass and are a very attractive addition to
the park.
Eatonville Searching for
New Town Clerk...
by Dixie A. Walter
June 7, 2006
ENN
has learned from Mayor
Tom Smallwood that a search is in progress for someone to replace former Town
Clerk Carrie Lynn Loffelmacher. In a brief statement to ENN the mayor said,
"When I took the Mayor's office I said that I would not make any changes
for six months.
"It has been six months and I have decided to
change the Town Clerk who works at the will of the Mayor. I will do
both an internal and external search to pick the best person for the Town.
Currently [deputy clerk] Chrystal McClone is acting Town Clerk."
Loffelmacher was appointed town clerk by
former mayor Harold Parnell. Her last day in the position was Tuesday, June
6.
National Flag Day and
National Flag Week...
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In August 1949 Congress designated June 14 of each year as Flag Day and in June
1966 Congress also requested the President to annually proclaim the
week in June in which June 14 occurs as National Flag Week. The President calls
upon all citizens to fly Old Glory during the third week in June.
Legion's Dignified
Disposal of
Unserviceable Flags...
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(photo by Dixie A. Walter)
June
14, 2006: Jody Johnson, Commander, American Legion Post 148 in Eatonville
salutes as the ceremony to dispose of "unserviceable" flags gets
underway near the Van Eaton Cabin/Stage Stop Museum at Mill Pond Park June 13.
Below is an excerpt from the American Legion's ceremony:
Dignified
Disposal of Unserviceable Flags
The
sergeant-at-arms tells the commander there are a number of unserviceable flags
which have been inspected and deemed disposable.
At
this poing the commander then makes the following brief, but touching statement.
"Comrades, we have presented here these Flags of our Country which have
been inspected and judged as unserviceable. They have reached their present
state of tribute, memory or love.
"A flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze,
or a beautiful banner of finest silk. Its intrinsic value may be trifling or
great; but its real value is beyond price, for it is a precious symbol of all
that we and our comrades have worked for, lived for and died for - a free nation
of free men and women, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and
practice of Justice, Freedom and Democracy.
"Let these faded Flags of our Country be
retired and destroyed with respectful and honorable rites and their
places be taken by bright new Flags of the same size and kind, and let no grave
of our soldier, sailor or airman dead be unhonored and unmarked.
Sergeant-at-Arms, assemble the Color Guard, escort the Flags and destroy them in
an honorable manner. The members shall stand at attention.
Then
a prayer is said and the flags are soberly burned.
Legionnaires
Begin the Flag
Burning Ceremony...
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(photo by Dixie A. Walter)
Thirty-two retired American flags were solemnly burned during the American
Legion's annual flag disposal ceremony at Mill Pond Park. The Legion
disposes of about the same number of old faded, tattered and torn flags each
year.
Another Flag is Placed on
the Pyre...
%20JUNE%2013,%202006%20009.jpg)
(photo by Dixie A. Walter)
After the flag disposal ceremony Legion members enjoyed a picnic dinner, then
held their meeting and installed new officers.
Development Could
be Costly to Existing Residents...
%20APRIL%2019,%2006%20004.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
This recent logging operation on
Airport Road East is in preparation for a six-house development, which required
the town's approval of a short plat. Local residents along Airport Road and
Lynch Creek Road are concerned over impending sewer and water line
construction along the roads, set in motion by the development, and their
apparent obligation to help pay for the lines and their own hook-ups. The town
will be meeting with the residents soon.
by Bob
Walter
May 19, 2006
Should
an out-of-town developer’s money-making decision force existing local
residents and property owners to pay for sewer and water hookups and
user fees? That appears to be the case along Lynch Creek Road and Airport
Road East, where residents are being told that even though they have
perfectly functioning private wells and septic systems, they will have to
help pay for the cost of extending sewer and water lines past their homes,
through the installation of water meters, and hooking up to the system.
An owner of a three-and-a-quarter-acre
parcel of land along those streets, who does not live in the area, plans
to build six houses on the property. His approved short plat of the property
will increase the density, thus requiring water and sewer lines to it. But
who should pay for a developer’s decision?
Bud
Lucas, who, along with his wife, Nan, moved into their home in the woods two
years ago, lives on Airport Road East. He was told by the
adjoining landowner that he would probably build three homes, in which case,
without further short platting, he could construct septic systems. But now,
out along the street sits a sandwich board sign announcing a mitigated
determination of non-significance, or MDNS, from the Town of Eatonville, for
a planned short plat dividing the three lots into six. The developer listed
on the sign is MJK Contracting.
The
town plans to schedule a meeting with all property owners in the near future
to discuss the issues. Hal Burlingame’s home is further east along
Airport Road, and he, too has been informed that he will eventually be
subject to the required meter, hook-up and user fees for sewer and
water.
The corner of Bob and Gail Schaub’s home is
adjacent to Lynch Creek Road below the development, closer in to town.
Bob Schaub says as they prepared to build a few years ago, [then Public
Works Director] "Jamieson Van Eaton said the town was going to extend
the sewer line. When we started to build, they changed their minds. We even offered to pay
more than the cost of a hook-up." An offer that was rejected by the town at
the time. The Schaubs, too, will now be required to hook-up to the lines as
they are extended.
Burlingame, who owns nearly a thousand feet
of road frontage, is anxious to see the plans and proposals being prepared
by the town, and is very concerned about the prospect of having to pay for
hook-ups to help a developer turn a profit.
The
property to be developed borders the Lucas property on three sides. The land
surrounding the Lucas home has now been logged. Huge slash piles now sit
where the forest once stood. They must either be hauled away or chipped. So
far, this has not been done, though town representatives have told Lucas
they are working on getting the developer to clean up the slash.
The
Lucases are now contending with both the loss of the surrounding forest, and
the prospect of paying for sewer
service they don’t need. The sewer line requirement is especially hard to
swallow, since Lucas was initially told by the landowner that he did not
plan to short plat. And facing the prospect of paying for extension of the
town’s water lines is very discouraging for him, since his family’s
water needs are supplied by a one-hundred-eighty- five foot well. “The
well water we have now is perfect," Lucas said, “and I‘m not
thrilled about going to treated water.” Lucas also told town officials he
would pay for the water lines going by his property. The response, he said,
was that he would have one year to actually hook up to the water system.
Krista Returns to School
after Being hit by Bus in January
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(photo by Bob Walter)
by
Dixie A. Walter
May 8, 2006
High
school senior Krista Bondo, with her beautiful eyes, wide, happy smile and
plucky determination, returned to
school "last week." Krista was spotted Community Day enjoying the
great weather and lively times during the festivities the Eightieth
Krista was hit, run over and dragged about 60 feet
in early January on Washington Avenue. She was on a crosswalk on her way to
school when the accident happened. Most of her clothes were shredded and they
were new clothes too. Krista has always felt her backpack was instrumental in
preventing from more serious, and perhaps, deadly injuries. Krista has used the
same backpack since she was a young girl. It will have a special place in her
life forever.
As will her relationship with Robin Hill who
witnessed the accident and took control of the moment as best she could.
Robin's quick thinking and courageous actions are credited with saving Krista.
Which she did.
Krista suffered a fractured leg and underwent
surgery - she spent weeks and weeks recuperating. It can't have been easy,
yet you just don't hear a word of complaint from this young woman. There's is
always that sunny smile which is genuine, Her eyes prove it. She's happy to be
alive and she's happy to be rid of the cast and all the paraphernalia that went
with her mending leg although she said she still has some pain in her knee.
For more about Krista's story please see School
Bus Accident
Who Torched this Car?
Photos by Bob Walter...
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May 8, 2005 - by Bob Walter: What was once a brand new,
Hertz rental car, had been driven to a wooded spot 10 miles
outside of Elbe and deliberately torched. The new car had only 486
miles on it. Stamped license plates were traced back to Hertz where it
was identified as being rented with a false ID and a stolen credit
card. The tow truck driver speculated the car may have been used in a
crime of some kind or a "victim" of gang
activity.
Authorities are searching records to
determine if the car was used in some type of criminal activity.
The driver commented that at least they had parked the car
in the middle of a forest road away from trees so the inferno did not
ignite a forest fire. The fire was so intense, all the rubber, fabric,
bumpers and other burnable material were gone, and parts of the wheels
had melted into unrecognizable shapes. Piles of ash and dust lay
beneath the car where it sat on the bed of the truck. It was even
impossible to tell what color the car had been.
It's a Mess from Every
Direction...
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This Used to be the Engine...
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Metal
Turned into Shiny Drops...
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May
6, 2006: From Spencer's Mom Betty Van Eaton: "Spencer continues his long
road to recovery. He had been doing fairly well for the month following
his release from the hospital. He had even started back to school during
the mornings when he started to run fevers again.
We took him back to the doctor, hoping this did not mean a
return to the hospital. It turned out that somehow, he had contracted a
case of Bronchitis! The doctor changed the antibiotic he was on, which seem to
help him quite a bit. The most recent chest x-rays show the right lung is
still half filled with the pneumonia/*empyema.
Functioning with one healthy lung and one struggling
lung is one of the main reason he continues to tire so easily.
Surgery on the right lung has still not been completely ruled out. Things like
running, jumping and climbing are much harder for him right now. But, he is
really a trooper and trying very hard to get his strength back. We go back to
the doctor next week for more blood tests and chest x-rays to see how things
are progressing.
*
Empyema is caused by an infection that spreads from
the lung and leads to an accumulation of pus in the pleural space, the
cavity between the lung and the membrane that surrounds it. The infected fluid
can build up to a quantity of a pint or more, which puts pressure on the
lungs, causing shortness of breath and pain.
Virg Enjoys
Visits from Old Friends...
Bill
Jones, Larry Doll, and I spent an enjoyable afternoon with Virg, where he
resides at his daughter's home in Covington. She had arranged for a luncheon
at their home so we could just stay there and visit. Bill used to work with
Virg at Alder Dam, he took Jim Dean's place when Jim retired.
Virg has not lost a bit of his humor and
seems to be doing very well in a very nice, quiet wooded neighborhood.
He has a dog and a cat to keep him company and he enjoys
them.
He
lives close to Marge [Butler, his wife] who is in an assisted care home and
sees her often. He also lives near his other daughter, Joyce. Virg said that his
Eatonville friends come
occasionally to visit and he really enjoys talking to them.
Town Square Location will
Likely be Changed...
by Dixie A. Walter
May 1, 2006
During
the April 24 town council meeting Mayor Tommy Smallwood announced the hiring of
a new temporary employee and major changes in the location of the proposed
town square. Smallwood said the new hire will basically be a utility person and
will be used where he is needed. The man will also help with parks as he has
experience in that area. The town has money in the budget for the new employee
who will "...work from two to four months."
Town Square Update...
Good
news about the town square. The mayor explained that he and Town Planner Nick
Bond had been talking to the LeMay family for about two months, and had
drawn up some preliminary plans for the town square if the "Van
Cleve" property could be obtained. (LeMay bought the former Van Cleve
properties on Mashell Avenue and Washington Street.)
Smallwood said, "I got a call Thursday night. The
LeMay family likes the ideas and basically they are very much willing to
trade some property. It looks like we are going to put the park between
Washington Street and Mashell Avenue, and probably haven an eighty to one
hundred foot wide park with a cobblestone alley where people can walk."
There would be parking on Washington and visitors could walk to the heart of
town.
The mayor further explained, "On both sides
of the park there will be businesses. Maybe a bookstore, an art gallery,
coffee shop, maybe a restaurant. It's hard to say what will go in there. I'm
going to a revitalization meeting with some council members, Gary [Armstrong,
town administrator] and Nick, and learn how to get some of these grants
to revitalize the area."
Smallwood also mentioned the town is,
"...getting ready to put out some contracts for revitalization of Eatonville with different people. There is going
to be getting a lot of people involved in the next several months..."
As for the land the mayor noted, "We haven't agreed
to any terms or anything, but the LeMay family have agreed to it in
concept. I talked to them again tonight and they wanted to make sure it was
fair, as long as there is something in it for the LeMay family and for
Eatonville. I'm really excited; they walked through it with us...they said
their board was very happy with the idea of what should take place.
"Basically it will open up that
corridor when we revitalize the streets on Mashell and Washington, just
the way we all feel it should be. I was very excited to hear this Thursday
night and wanted to share it with you. It looks like it could be a super thing
for Eatonville and what the town needs. Mainly it will stop people coming
through town and we could get a little bit of their money. But the main thing
is we will have nice shops and nice businesses for Eatonville and that's one
of the keys I was looking for."
Some of the ideas suggested for the site to
attract visitors would be benches and the old town fire bell.
Steve Van Cleve
Named Volunteer of the Month...
May 1, 2006
The following article appeared in the AOPA
(Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assocition) Magazine naming Steve
Van Cleve Volunteer of the Month for May. Van Cleve is a local and
commercial pilot. He has worked tirelessly to ensure safety is primary
at the Eatonville Airport, Swanson Field. According to their Web site
AOPA has a membership of 408,000 and is the largest and most influential
aviation association in the world.
Steve Van Cleve, the ASN volunteer for Eatonville-Swanson Field in
Eatonville, Washington, has been oposing the town's development
However, the Town Council approved the new development regulations,
paving the way to allow improper use of the aerospace zone and
incompatible land use.
But Van Cleve has not given up on
protecting his airport. Van Cleve filed a petition at the state level
for a review against the town's decision to adopt the development
regulations. The state's review board must rule on Van Cleve's
petition, which challenges the legality of the town's new development
regulations. His argument is that the regulations are incongruent with
a Washington state law that requires growth plans to provide for
public health and safety. Should the state find in Van Cleve's favor,
the town will be forced to adopt measures to protect the airport.
Thanks to Van Cleve's determination and
organized effort that included various groups, the town council
might be forced to amend the development regulations to include
airport protections.
A Peaceful Day at Clear
Lake
(photo by Tony Sirgedas)
April
30, 2006: Tony says, "This
was shot Friday morning, most likely the last morning for a while when there
will be no boats out on Clear Lake now that fishing season has opened up."
Virg Butler Honored for
Sixty Years with American Legion
%20APRIL%2024,%2006%20VirgilBu.jpg)
(photo by Jody Johnson)
Virg Butler, a long time resident of Eatonville, now living in Covington, was
honored by last month by the Amercian Legion
for sixty years of continuous membership in the Eatonville Post.
From
Jody Johnson
Commander American Legion Post - Eatonville
April 24, 2006
On March 25, Mr. Virgil [Virg] Butler received an award for sixty
years of continuous membership with the American Legion. The award was
presented at his residence in Covington, Washington by Commander Jody
Johnson and Vice Commander Fred Mathews.
Virg was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1945 from
Akron, Ohio through Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania. Among many countless
achievements, Mr. Butler obtained five Battle Stars while with the 3rd
Division, 82nd Airborne, and 1st Airborne Task Force under Gen. Gavin and with
the 7th Army.
On his return trip home Virg endured a ride
on a “40 & 8” from Metz, France, to Marseille. From Marseille, he
flew to Casablanca aboard a B-17 then to Dakar, on the west coast of Africa.
Sergeant Butler flew across the Atlantic to Natal, Brazil aboard a C-54.
The final leg of his journey home was from Natal to Miami in the same
airplane.
Virg deserved the special trip as it is great mile
stone for one to achieve, not to mention the honor and pleasure for Fred
and I to meet with him and hear some of his stories.
Virg reached his eighty eighth year on April 12. We
wish him Happy Birthday with many more to come.
Madison's a Winner!
%20APRIL%2019,%202006%20ad0a434f2c930995.jpg)
(Courtesy Photo)
April 21, 2006
Beautiful
eight-year-old Madison Doucette won an Honorable Mention in the Northwest Trek
poster contest. Invitations to the contest were sent to area schools and
Madison was the only students in Rosemary Nordstrom's Eatonville Elementary's
second grade class who took up the challenge. Her charming poster is depicted
above.
The theme for the contest was Living with Washington
Wildlife - How can animals and humans live peacefully in the same habitat?
Students from kindergarten to sixth grade were invited to participate in the
contest to celebrate National Wildlfife Week. Madison will be recognized with a
certificate during an awards ceremony at Trek soon. There is also an awards
assembly at the elementary school Wednesday, April 26 at 8:30 a.m. in the
elementary school gym.
Madison is the daughter of Deneen and Chris Doucette
and has a younger sister Mallory, five.
Eatonville Kids Make
Final Cut for Spring Fair...
%20OCT.%201,%202005%20044.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter 2005)
Christi
Grohs with the Explosion Extravaganza dance troupe expresses the joy
of dance during a benefit by the kids for hurricane relief last fall.
Another groups of dancers, Kids in Motion, also joined in for the benefit.
Explosion Extravaganza will be strutting their moves during the Spring Fair at
the Puyallup Fairgrounds Friday.
Eatonville
Dance Troupe will Perform at Puyallup Spring Fair...
from Carol Slevett
April 19, 2005
Explosion Extravaganza will be performing at the Spring Fair? We are very
proud to be invited. We beat out over a hundred groups that wanted
to perform there. We are a 4-H Performing Arts group from Eatonville.
Hopefully the town will take some pride in us. We have amazing talent
this year. We perform at the Fountain stage at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on
Friday. Both performances will be for 1 hour.
We are a variety show, featuring singers of all ages and
a dance team. One of our singers, Antonia McFadden, was on "Step Up
to the Mic" which was on TV. Another of our singers, Amanda Little,
was last years Puyallup Jr. Idol. Jessica Steeves, another singer has
done a lot of her own shows and Emily Randolph and Christy Grohs are our young
singers.
It's a Boy for Sarah
Cole!
from Lacey Meadows
April 16, 2006
Sarah Cole gave birth to a big, bouncing baby boy
April 14. Named Bennett Jay Cole, he weighed in at 8 pounds,
6 ounces and was 21 inches long. Baby Bennet is happy and healthy, mom is doing
great and the rest of his family, Brad, Petra and Gavin are all very
proud.
Mom is co-chair of the Relay For Life and baby
Bennet, I'm sure will be ready to Relay in June! Congratulations to
the Cole family and their newest member.
Town Loses $60,000
Someone Really
Dropped the Ball...
My View
by Dixie A. Walter
April 10, 2006
Someone
in the Town of Eatonville overlooked a
routine emergency medical services levy which should have been
put on the November ballot. This SNAFU means the town lost $60,000 which was
slated for another police officer and vehicle. This costly oversight was known
during budget talks in December but evidently wasn't told to the News Tribune
until last week when the Tacoma daily ran a front page story about the
"mess."
Although three days ago ENN asked Mayor Tommy
Smallwood in an email if he wished to make a statement, nothing has
been forthcoming from him. According to the Tribune article, Smallwood said he
didn't know who was to blame, "...town clerk, town administrator, former
mayor or fire chief..." The mayor is also quoted as saying it doesn't do
any good to blame someone. One question being asked is, "Why shouldn't the
person responsible be blamed?" That is a lot of money and somehow we will
end up paying for the mistake. Why shouldn't we know who did it?
A read through the job descriptions of all
four people named by Smallwood certainly appears to point to the town clerk.
The clerk's job description is about budgets, finances, etc. Although the Fire
Chief, like a gentleman, is prepared to take the "hit," no where in
his job description are any kind of finances mentioned. The town administrator
is supposed to lead grant/loan activities. It is usually the job of the clerk to
take care of the levy in other municipalities. And even though the mayor should
be on top of such issues, it's not his job either.
Spencer Van Eaton's
Family Thanks Community...
March 30, 2006
We find ourselves completely overwhelmed and humbled by the support and
generosity of this community! The donations and work that has gone
into helping us is more than we could have ever imagined. The dinners
delivered to our home during Spencer's extensive hospital stay removed a
huge burden from our days away from the older boys.
The efforts that went into the penny drive,
gathering food and basket donations and the success of the benefit
dinner/auction were incredible. The many monetary donations are truly
appreciated. Your thoughts and prayers helped us find the strength to
face a very frightening situation. And, to each and every person who
contributed their time, their talents and their constant abilities to find
the right words of encouragement, WE THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR
HEARTS!!!
Spencer Update, Good
News!
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Spencer Van Eaton first grader at Eatonville Elementary has been critically
ill with phnemonea and spent over a month in ICU at Mary Bridge Children's
Hospital. A benefit was held for Spencer and family March 17, St. Patrick's
Day, where people were greeted with the happy news that Spencer had been able
to go home the same day. Below is an update from his mom relating his visit to
the doctor today, March 30.
Young Spencer Surprises
Doctors with his Ability to Fight a Deadly Disease...
from Betty Van Eaton
March 30, 2006
We went to the infectious disease specialist doctor
today - who is pretty much leading up the group of doctors
who are treating Spencer. Even though he is still weak and has a long way to
go, the doctor was very surprised to see how well Spencer is doing. The
blood test results came back showing there are still a significant but
declining number of stubborn infectious cells, but definite continued
improvement. So he decided to send us for a chest x-ray.
In the one week since he has been home, his
right lung has improved from about one third functional to about half
functional. This is HUGE and not something they really ever
expected to see! The lower half of the lung is still infected
with the pneumonia goo, with most of the concentration being in the bottom
third of the lung.
Surgery is still a possibility, but less of one at
this point. They are going to continue the antibiotics for approximately
another two months, BUT (this is great) he will probably only have to be on
the IV for one more week! We go next Thursday to see this doctor again and
he is hoping they can remove the IV line at that appointment!
YIPPPEEEEE!!!!!! Then everything will be in pill form after that. That
makes going back to school (at least for mornings) a realistic plan.
From all the
doctors we talked to this week, we got the impression that they did
not expect Spencer to survive past that first week in the
hospital. I know his guardian angels watched over him where I
couldn't, but I am positive that all the thoughts and prayers played a
part in his miracle recovery.
March
19, 2006 In what
has become a familiar sight in Eatonville for most of the past three
years, a group of citizens has come to the corner of Washington Avenue
and Center Street on Friday afternoons to quietly express their stand for
peace, and an end to the war in Iraq. They were even there at the corner
over three years ago, conducting a candlelight vigil before the war began,
hopeful it could be averted, but to no avail.
Their persistence speaks volumes. After
intermittent vigils early in the war, they began to appear weekly, and
now have been here for thirty-one consecutive weeks with their message -
as many as twenty, as few as one. Sunday marked the third anniversary of
the invasion of Iraq, so in addition to their Friday stand, they came out
again on this day - men, women and children - smiling and waving at
passing motorists, many of whom smile, wave, flash the peace sign or honk
in return. The reaction of a few drivers is not so positive; yet others
stop to discuss the war, and the merits and flaws of U.S. policy, with the
demonstrators.
Our Constitution at Work...
Spencer Now at Home...
(courtesy photo)
March
18, 2006: The crowd gathered for the Spencer Van Eaton benefit heard some
wonderful and heartening news. The little guy, who has struggled so
valiantly, was allowed to come home on the very day of the benefit. Spencer is
the son of Tom and Betty Van Eaton. The Estes put up a Web site where you can
follow Spencer's progress.
The March 16 Web site update from his mom,
Betty, gives a cautiously optimistic view of his condition. See the update
below. To learn more about Spencer please visit
www.estes-associates.com/forum
March 16 Update...
"Well, we finally had some spectacular possibilities presented
to us today. Spencer's right lung is making progress -
although very slow progress - it is still progress. He is taking
two of the antibiotics orally now, but the penicillin remains through
the IV because of the strength and dosage. His shakes are a
little less and even though he tires very easily, he is
walking much better.
"So we just have the eating and
pesky fever to consider. The doctors think that maybe he could do with
a couple of weeks of TLC at home. IF he can make it 24 hours
without vomiting or a fever spike, he might be able to come
home some time next week. They would have to teach me how to
administer the IV antibiotic and he would come home with a portable
24/7 pump.
"A home health care worker
could come once a week to check on things, change the dressing and
draw a blood sample. And I would have to take him back once
a week to get checked out by the doctor and have chest x-rays done.
This would be the routine for 3 weeks and then they would reassess the
situation. They would continue the IV or maybe even lower the
dosage.
"There is still a real
possibility of surgery down the road, but they would like to continue
with the antibiotic treatment as long as the lung is showing any
sign of additional improvement. He wouldn't be able to return to
school yet, but he would be sleeping in his own bed, eating his
favorite foods and soaking in his own bathtub (he does not like using
the hospital tub!).
"I find this an
interesting turn of events on the eve of the day where treasures are
found at the end of the rainbow!"
Love, Betty
Spencer Van Eaton
Benefit a Loving Success
Benefit for Spencer Brings in Over $4,682
Photos and Story by Bob
Walter...
Mini-Daffs
Spring Up...
%20(OP)%20March%2011,%2006%20012.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
March
18, 2006: Spring arrives at 10:26 a.m. our time, Monday, March 20. The equinox
occurs when the sun crosses straight over the equator. What becomes spring
for us in the northern half of the planet becomes autumn for the southern half.
Equinox means that night and day are of equal length for that very short period.
And, if you get the timing down perfectly, you really can balance an egg for the
duration of the "equallness."
Also around the corner is Daylight Saving Time
(DST). The longer hours of light begin at 2 a.m. April 2. DST is not
recognized in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, Hawaii, American Samoa, the
eastern time zone of Indiana and Arizona. However, the Navajo Nation does take part
in DST because the nation is part of three states.
Taking A Stand for Peace
%20March%2010,%2006%20010.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
March 11, 2006 - by Bob Walter: Showing their persistence in spite of a cold
winter day and an ever-lengthening war in Iraq, a group of citizens again
took their place at the corner of Washington Avenue and Center Street in
Eatonville, Friday afternoon, from 4 to 6 p.m., to express their desire for
peace in the world. A woman driving by asked, "What are you
protesting?" A member of the group replied, "We're not protesters. We
support our troops. We're standing up for peace."
Michael Hill, at the far right, said this is the thirtieth
consecutive Friday that like-minded individuals have stood at the
corner, holding their placards and waving at passing motorists, many of whom
honk and wave in return.
Hill said at times there have been as few as one
person, and as many as nine. When asked how long they plan to continue the
Friday ritual, Hill replied, "As long as the war goes on." The group
also plans a Sunday afternoon vigil on March 19th, to commemorate the third
anniversary of the invasion of Iraq by the U.S.- led, military coalition.
Alder Street Update...
Problem Plagued Project Picks up Steam
%20March%2010,%2006%20003.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
March 11, 2006 - by Bob Walter: Now that the unusually long
stretch of rainy winter weather has subsided somewhat, progress on
construction along Alder Street has picked up. The street now has a
bed of gravel in preparation for paving, and the sidewalk and parking
strip are beginning to take shape. In the background is the Van Eaton
Cabin, home of the future Stage Stop Museum, and the town shops. The
iron beams lying to the right of the "Snowman" are part of
the Charles Matheny sculpture, which will soon be installed in the
field near this spot.
Young Spencer Needs
Your Help...
Spencer
Van Eaton Fund
Spencer
has been in Mary Bridge ICU since February 13th with Phnemonea and
expected to remain in ICU for another 4-6 weeks. The
family has no Medical Insurance and in need of financial assistance to cover
medical bills and living expenses. Please
open your heart to a local family in need.
March
17th 7PM ~ at Eatonville Elementary School
~Dinner,
Bake Sale & Raffle~
For
more information please call or email Charlene Estes
253-381-3651
or charlene@estes-associates.com
You
can stop at any Key Bank to make a donation under Spencer VanEaton
A message from Charlene.
You can visit www.estes-associates.com/forum
where her husband has set up a forum
for "everyone who is interested in helping. The emails and phone calls
are getting really overwhelming so I am trying to organize everything this
way."
The forum is brand new and still being worked on.
There you will find updates on little Spencer's progress, information
regarding donations, general discussion and a place to volunteer.
Team Spirit For
a Cure
%20March%2011,%2006%20001.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
March 11, 2006 - by Bob Walter: Eileen Johnson and Ruth Nelson,
members of the Relay For Life fundraising team sponsored by the Ohop
Grange, volunteered a shift selling fresh, homemade, baked goods in
front of the Plaza Market on Saturday.
Making a purchase is
cancer survivor Sharon Van Eaton, a Relay participant from another
team, Isabelle's Angels, named after Sharon's granddaughter -
young Isabelle Snyder, another cancer survivor. The Relay For Life theme this year
is "Lights, Camera, Action!" The Relay is the American
Cancer Society's national event to raise funds for cancer research and
support services.
The next Relay For Life Planning Committee
meeting will be Thursday, March 16 at 6 p.m. in the Mill Village Motel
meeting room. The Team Captain's meeting
will follow at 7 p.m. Please RSVP is you cannot
attend the Team Captain's meeting which is the first of this season.
The Relay committee has set goals for 2006 -
$65,000, twenty-five teams and seventy-five cancer survivors are the
numbers they want to reach. Team registration is $100. Fundraisers are
happening now (see photo above) and will continue throughout the twenty-four hour event which
will be held at B. W. Lyon Field June 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 10 a.m.
One poignant fundraiser is a memorial
quilt which will be put together by three-time cancer survivor Jan Kusler.
Quilt squares are being sold for $5 and can be decorated with permanent fabric
magic markers. You may make your own square. Some craft stores carry photo
transfer fabric so you can put a photograph of your loved one(s) on one square
or more. If you make your square(s) you may make a $5 donation when the square
is turned in by April 1. A seam allowance of one-fourth inch must be left
undecorated.
Jan and her friend, Sue Biles, will
put the quilt together and it will be auctioned at the Relay. For more information please contact Jan Kusler
- 360.832.3089 or email her - Jan@rainierconnect.com
For more information and names of Relay
contacts please see
For more information and names of Relay
contacts please see
For more information and names of Relay
contacts please see For more information and names of Relay
contacts please see For more information and names of Relay
contacts please see For more information and names of Relay
contacts please see
Relay
Kick-off 2006
Farmers Fight Cancer Team in Relay For
Life...
by
Louise Kazda Carson
March 7, 2006
Any one
who would like to join me on a Relay For Life team, Farmers Fight Cancer, is so
welcome. This is not about how much you farm but about where your heart is.
If you have a love of growing vegetables, flowers, shrubs or you raise animals
and would like to walk in this year's Relay For Life in June, please call me at
TLC Forge & Farm at 253.847.3235.
People who raise food often work on the old ways of
fighting cancer -- through healthy eating and working the soil. I was
diagnosed with Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia (CLL) during a routine physical in
1993. For something that sounds so ominous, this is actually nothing. There
doesn't seem to be any negative progression and I don't do anything for
treatment but enjoy life and eat very well. So many other people have truly
suffered with cancers of many kinds. I now realize one way to show support for
them and their families is in something such as the Relay for Life. Besides, it
will add to my Frequent Walker Miles in Eatonville.
I will be attending this week's Team Captain's
meeting and the one in April. Hopefully, someone else on the team can go to
the May meeting. Remember, this is not about defining "farming" but
walking in support of those whose lives have been so altered by this plague.
The White Stuff Visits...
%20MARCH%209,%202006%20007.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
A March snow falling
Wednesday evening etched Nature's architecture in white. By Thursday afternoon most
of the snow was gone, but more was falling intermittently.
Town Highlighted by Snow...
%20MARCH%209,%202006%20022.jpg)
Viewed from the
corner of Larson Street and Orchard Avenue South on the hill, the businesses,
homes and high school of Eatonville are highlighted in white by the late
winter snow. More snow is forecast for our area over the next several days.
Looking for Browse...
%20MARCH%209,%202006%20%20snowdeer.jpg)
(photo by Arlen Paranto)
This blacktail deer
was photographed in the yard of Arlen and Johnny Paranto the morning of March 9.
Deer habitually visit Parant's area but usually blend into the background
better. Snow is a good time for animal watching, and animals does include birds.
Think Independence Day!
%202005%20135F0072b.jpg)
(photo by Tony Sirgedas 2005)
by Audrey Thompson
February 25, 2006
Planning
for the annual Third and Fourth of July community celebration is underway. We
are very pleased to announce our sponsor again this
year will be Century 21 Real Estate Center. There will be a few changes this
year, but most all will be about the same. The Fire Works Show will still be on
July 3 and the parade will begin at noon July 4.
We are hoping to raise enough money so we can have
some free amusements for the kids. If your business or organization would
like to sponsor an amusement please let us know. If you choose to do this we wil
have a sign made letting the community know this amusement was sponsored by you.
Applications will be available soon for vendors such as
food, games and other types of amusements. If your application is approved
you will be notified by the board with a letter requesting your vender fee [$25]
and proof of insurance. Also, if you have a band who would like to donate their
time to play on July 3 please let us know.
Again we would like to thank all of the people and
businesses who made last year's celebration such a great family event.
Without your help it would not have happened. We will again be asking for
donations. If you have any questions you can call 360.832.6668 - Jan's Salon, or
360.832.8366 - Thompson's Vehicle License Agency. Or you may write to us at P.O.
Box 1086, Eatonville, Washington, 98328.
If you or your club would like to get involved with
us please feel free to call. Let's make this year's parade the best it has
been in years. How about every business and organization in our area submit a
parade entry.
Thank you again. The Committee for the July
Community Celebration.
Power Outages Frustrate Residents and Businesses...
%20FEB.%2028,%20065%20008.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
March 5, 2006 - by Bob Walter: On Tuesday evening, just before dusk, power to the town of Eatonville was
mysteriously cut off. Over the next couple of hours, the town was plunged
into darkness many times, as electric crews first worked to isolate the
source of the problem, then to repair it. During the process of pinpointing the
problem, relay switches near the problem kept kicking off as they warmed up
again; thus the repeated outages. "They're designed to do that," said
Mayor Tommy Smallwood, in a phone interview.
Shortly after the first power failure, town
electrical supervisor Nestor Sundita, having met water and sewer
superintendent Mike Tiller at the Ohop Valley Substation, was able to restore
the power temporarily. Sundita then used the long lighted pole seen above to
check for shorts where the high voltage lines leave the substation compound.
Suddenly, the substation let out a moan, the lines began to bounce, and the town
was dark again.
Said Mayor Smallwood, "Someone reported
seeing a big arc and a flash along the highway between the substation and
the town." Armed with this information, the town crew was able to determine
the source of the problem, a bad insulator on a pole near the end of Ohop Valley
Extension Road. They replaced it, solving the problem.
Local Blacksmith Helps Forge Massive
Sculpture...
%20FEB.%2019,%202006.jpg)
(photo by Mike Bondi/Mirto)
"Second Iron Age"
February 23, 2006 - by Louise Kazda Carson: The forged helix
above is one of the largest forged sculptures done during what blacksmiths
refer to as the Second Iron Age. Each piece weighs somewhat over two-hundred
pounds and there are eighteen pieces of the helix. When the base is done the
entire sculpt will be around two tons This is a birthday gift to Willene Jaqua
from her husband, in center of photo in red jacket, Russell Jaqua. He designed
it while undergoing treatment for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's
disease.
Presently he is unable to speak or swallow but is
mobile and was delighted to find the sculpture completed to his
specifications on Monday morning, February 20. Some blacksmiths involved
fondly described Russell as "very picky" on this project, "just
as he's always been with his art."
The Port Townsend artist/blacksmith relied on
about thirty smiths to help out on this project. In the photo, center
left, is Mike Bondi from the Bay area of California who helped Russell
organize the technical aspects of the project. Trixie, is the Nimba Forge dog.
On the right center is Jerry Culberson from Allyn,
Washington who is a fellow Viet Nam Veteran and worked tirelessly
through the President's Day Weekend on the project. Jerry and other smiths
donated time other weekends as well as this last weekend including Terry
Carson, Eatonville blacksmith of TLC Forge & Farm who went up on Sunday,
February 12. Carson is in his third year as president of the Northwest
Blacksmith Association. Fellow smiths and friends are making plans to follow
up that weekend because it was much too wonderful to let go of.
Russell and Willene share the same birthday,
February 17, and Willene will always celebrate that day as a joint
birthday. A large party at a Port Townsend restaurant, Sweet Laurette's,
started the weekend last Friday, with Russell in a place of honor.
Good food accompanied the hard working smiths
throughout the weekend and plenty of fresh oysters were "forge
cooked" on utensils made for the happening or eaten raw.
Russell and Willene Jaqua own Nimba Forge in Port
Townsend and also make some of the finest anvils in this country,
according to discerning blacksmiths. Quality is core with Russell and Willene
in every way and that never ends.
State Representative Tom Campbell
returns...
%20FEB.%2018,%2006%20003.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
February 19,
2006 - By Bob Walter: State Representative Tom Campbell dropped in for a town
hall meeting at the Eatonville Library Saturday, afternoon February 18,
after visiting Yelm and Graham. Campbell fielded questions from the eight
area residents who attended, and talked about several bills that are moving
through the state legislative process.
The first one, House Bill 1015, which he is
working hard to pass, would require the reporting of infections acquired in
health care facilities. Campbell said hospitals are opposed to the bill, and
would rather devote all of their efforts toward prevention rather than routing
some health care costs toward reporting.
Another bill, House Bill 1071, would amend and
add new sections to the Uniform Disciplinary Act, regulating fifty-nine
health care professions. This act protects the health and safety of patients
from unprofessional conduct. The bill would create greater consistency in the
sanctions imposed, and would redistribute the duties of the secretary of health
and the various health boards, for greater efficiency.
"Jessica's Law," which would add
twenty-five years to the sentencing of one convicted of rape of a child, is
scheduled for a vote very soon. Representative Campbell also talked about
transportation projects, the state's budget, and the issue of basing
compensation upon performance, in both the education and health care fields.
"We're almost to the point of revolution," he said, adding that
incompetence in these fields should never trump performance, regardless of
longevity in the position. Campbell encouraged his constituents to contact
him by phone, 360.786.7912, or via email from the Washington State Legislature
home page on the Web. He said he will always respond.
Mayor Tells Chamber about
State of the Town...
%20FEB.%2016,%2006%20002.jpg)
(photo by Dixie A. Walter)
Mayor
Tommy Smallwood with his wife Karen attended the Greater Eatonville Chamber of
Commerce Luncheon Thursday, February
16. The couple celebrated thirty-eight years of marriage on Valentine's Day.
Smallwood chose to give his report sitting rather than standing.
"State of the
Town"
by
Dixie A. Walter
February 17, 2006
Explaining
that he was a little "scared" when asked to give a "State of the
Town" report to the chamber as
he had only "been mayor two days over sixty days," Mayor Smallwood
began by telling the group the "town is healthy financially." However,
he added, the town is "not rich" and we can't "do everything we
would like to do."
Smallwood said, in his opinion, Eatonville had a
"strong and good" council and planning commission. He added that
he believed the town council was "the strongest council in a long
time." He explained a compromise had been reached regarding the airport
component of the Comprehensive Plan.
Regarding growth, Smallwood told chamber members it
is inevitable. Growth is happening and there isn't anything the town can do
about it except to handle growth "responsibly." He said the new water
filtration plant is being built and should be pretty much on schedule for
opening in June and running in September. The mayor is very optimistic this new
plant will provide excellent water for the community.
Smallwood also said the town has a grant for new sidewalks
on Carter Street. Roads are a priority, but he doesn't know when the new
Alder Street will be completed. The project was started during the winter and
has been stalled by many weeks because of the extreme rainy weather the area has
experienced. The mayor emphasized that he won't put an end date on the project
at this time. The Alder Street project is months behind schedule.
The new mayor drew laughs when he told the gathering he
had changed the name of the town "retreat" to "advancement,"
because retreat means going backward, and the town needs to go forward. He
passed out copies of the "Advancement" agenda : the vision statement;
values statement; mission statement; goals and action plan (please see "Advancement"
Agenda )
He also wants to see the community
working together harmoniously much like a family, with town government being
just one part of the community.
Stressing the
importance of goals Smallwood said he has
set goals for himself all of his life and said "That's how I got
through my life." He used the recent Seahawks loss at the Super Bowl as an
example of not setting goals high enough. According to the mayor, the Seahawks
lost the Super Bowl game because that hadn't been their goal. Their goal was to
make it to the Super Bowl but not to win it.
Although Police Chief Jim Lewis would like to have
seen an animal control officer hired "a month and a half ago," the
process has taken longer than expected. Smallwood said they would probably begin
interviewing next week, and whoever is hired will be attending a class soon
after taking the position.
He also pointed out how kind people were to one
another at Christmas. Telling how he observed several instances of community
members going to town hall and paying utility bills for others. Smallwood noted
these were only the ones he had seen personally and there probably were other
instances he didn't witness.
Mayor Smallwood also wants a town sign at the north entrance to town listing various service
groups, churches
etc. He wants to see "neighborhood pride" and he discussed various
committees for the town including: water; sewer and storm water; electric; and
parks. He pointed out how he wants the town to be "safe, ethical and
legal" stressing how important "legal" is to him.
The town will soon have a Web site, perhaps
the preliminary site will be online in a "week or so." The site will
only post government documents and issues and will link to other groups, such as
the chamber, for tourist information. Also the town's eddresses are being
changed "mashell.com," to "Eatonville-wa.gov."
On the subject of the "Advancement"
meeting the mayor explained that muffins and coffee would be supplied
beginning 9 a.m. and lunch will include an assortment of sandwiches. He said he
would love to see forty or fifty people attend the meeting which is scheduled to
end at 3:30 p.m.
Smallwood thanked everyone, including his
wife, Karen, for the support he's been receiving since being elected mayor
and said he would do it all over if he had to.
Baby, It's Cold
Outside...
%20FEB.%2018,%2006%20014.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
February
18 - by Bob Walter: When ice forms on the surface of a river
moving as fast as the Mashell, you know it's getting cold. The temperature
was cold enough that the effect of a large boulder in slowing down the surface
speed of the water was enough to cause a long slab of ice to form. Ice can also
be seen in the slower-moving eddies along the shoreline.
Ice Paints River's Edge
%20FEB.%2018,%2006%20013.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Several
days of freezing temperatures have caused a layer of ice to form along the edges
of the Mashell River, and on other streams in
the area. White trails of bubbles, formed by the flow of water around stones,
have been frozen in place.
Fur,
Feather & Fins
Donates Dog Food...
%202.5.06%20004.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
February 4, 2006: Arron Pemberton of Fur, Feather & Fins, 107
Mashell Avenue North, stands beside a 200-pound stack of dog food
before loading it into a vehicle bound for The Humane Society for
Tacoma and Pierce County's animal shelter. This is the second donation
the Eatonville pet supply store has made to the shelter in the past
few months. The food will feed the hungry dogs whose owners seek
temporary assistance through the Society's Pet Food Bank.
Home From one
Historical Project, Advising on Another
%202.5.06%20012.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
February
5, 2006: Eatonville's John Carney inspected the south wall of the Van Eaton
Cabin Sunday morning, helping pinpoint the sources of several water leaks
which became apparent during a particularly windy, rainy day last weekend. The
South Pierce County Historical Society is fortunate to have such expertise.
Carney is team leader for another historical
project: the reconstruction of Fort Clatsop, the winter quarters of the
Lewis & Clark Expedition in 1805-06. Carney and several other craftsmen
from Mount Rainier National Park are rebuilding the fort at the Clatsop County
Fairgrounds, with help from volunteers who are helping to de-bark the
logs.
Once completed, the fort will be
disassembled, and the logs hauled to a lumber mill where they will be
pressure treated, then reassembled at the original site of Fort Clatsop, near
the city of Astoria, Oregon. Decades of wet, northwest weather all but
consumed the original fort, which was reconstructed in 1955, but burned in a
fire last October.
Watch your step!
%202.5.06%20007.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
February 4, 2006: The Alder Street construction project, begun last
November, has come to a virtual standstill. According to
Eatonville Mayor Tommy Smallwood the weather has stopped the project.
Here a four-foot deep, eighteen inch wide trench, near the corner at
Mashell Avenue South, sits collecting water with no safety barrier.
Deep ruts, piles of saturated dirt, construction cones and barricades
litter the street, while the open field around the Van Eaton Cabin is
a mass of mud. Some Alder Street residents wonder when their new
street construction will be completed.
The (Mighty) Mashell
Runs Fast and High...
%202.5.06%20001.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
February 4, 2006: Like other streams in south Pierce County, the Mashell River
ran high Saturday, as seen here at the east end of town near the Alder
Cutoff Road bridge. Heavy rains and windy weather continued to pound the area
this week.
Lot Eighty at Hamner Springs Pours
Forth Water...
,%202.5.06%20019.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
February 4, 2006: After several days of rain, a steady stream of water
poured from this lot into the street, in the southwest corner
of the Hamner Springs development. No construction has begun on
the lot, which sits near the base of the ridge.
Too
Much Water?
%20FEB.%202,%2006%20003.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
February 3, 2006: This photo of Ohop Creek was taken Thursday evening,
February 2. The creek is estimated to be one to two feet higher than normal. The incessant
rain has swollen all bodies of water in the area and more rain is in the
forecast. However, next week is supposedly going to be drier.
Lynch
Creek...
%20(OP)%20%20FEB.%202,%2006%20005.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
White water rages in Lynch Creek.
"Stormy Weather"
%20%20JAN.%2031,%2006%20002.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
by Bob Walter
January 31, 2006
Winds whipped around
Eatonville cracking off branches and blowing away anything in its path. This evergreen
in the 200 block of Washington Avenue North had already been cleared from
the street but still blocked the sidewalk late Tuesday evening.
Most people stayed protected in their homes
but others ventured out to view what damage may have been done. Town power
went off about four times, but snapped back on within seconds. The town crew was
out in the dangerous weather keeping our electricity working.
Eatonville Mayor Tommy Smallwood
explained, "We
were lucky that we only had two small outages in town. The light crew, with help
from the water crew, did a great job getting everything back to normal. They
worked until about 2 a.m. to get the power back on."
House
Strengthens Sex Offender Laws
Legislation
to Protect Victims and Catch and Convict
More Sex-offenders passes House with Firm Bi-partisan Support...
Press Release
February 1, 2006
OLYMPIA - Today the House of Representatives passed a comprehensive
package of legislation designed to lock-up more sex offenders and protect
their victims. Mandatory 25-year
sentences for most serious sex offenses against children and vulnerable adults
led the reforms.
“The protection
of our children has always been my top priority in Olympia,” said
Representative Tami Green (D-Lakewood).
“This legislation was crafted with the input of police, prosecutors,
advocates and victims to put more sex offenders behind bars and to make sure
we get a conviction of those who hurt our children.”
County
prosecutors, local police officers, and victims’ advocates were instrumental
in crafting the package, and predict it will give law enforcement
necessary flexibility to secure more convictions and protects victims from
further harm.
"These
pieces of legislation seek to protect our most vulnerable. I am pleased that
our community and legislators have become educated enough to want to
support victims and hold offenders accountable,” said Carolee Wynhoff, Exec
Director of the Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County. “We will never
understand why predators do what they do, but through this legislation victims
will gain the tools and support that they need to regain healthy and
productive lives."
Tom McBride from
the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys testified in support of
House Bill 3277. “The thing
about child abuse prosecution is ... it is often a game of leverage,” said
McBride. “You are giving us
leverage with this bill to force good outcomes.”
The package of legislation includes:
House
Bill 3277 – creates mandatory 25-years to life sentences for:
·
For child rape or molestation in the first degree committed by
strangers or teachers, coaches and other trusted authority figures.
·
Offenders convicted of rape in the first or second degree, forced
sexual acts or first degree kidnapping with sexual motivation. The law applies
when the victim is under fifteen, developmentally disabled, mentally ill or an
elderly adult.
House
Bill 2576 – Establishes protection orders for victims of sexual
assault.
House
Bill 3252 – When a conviction is the result of a guilty plea, in
order to receive sentencing alternatives the offender
must admit that they committed all elements of the crime.
House
Bill 3238 – Makes it a felony to distribute false sex-offender
notices.
All the measures were passed from the House with unanimous
bi-partisan support and will now be considered before the
Senate.
Guess Who is
Going to the Super Bowl in February?
%20JAN.22%20,%2006%20.IMG_0623.jpg)
January 22, 2006: From Arlen Paranto, "I have been wearing this
sweat shirt for years and sometimes I felt like I should cover
it up, but not today!" Paranto, like all Seahawks fans, was
euphoric Sunday night after the Seattle team beat the Carolina Panthers
34 -14 to clinch the NFC championship and head to Superbowl XL in
Detroit. It took thirty years for the Hawks to win the prize. They will
play the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, February 5 in Detroit. The big game
starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time.
Meth Lab Busted in Town...
%20%20JAN.%2018,%202006%20004.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
This sign
is posted on the door of a duplex unit located behind the mini-mall on
Rainier Avenue South in Eatonville where the occupants had been
allegedly cooking, and selling the deadly drug methamphetamine The
duplex is owned by Chuck McKasson and Tim Daniel. The alleged perpetrators
had the audacity to carry out their illegal, and highly dangerous,
activities across the street from the Eatonville town hall and police
department.
Alleged
Meth Makers Behind Bars...
by Dixie
A. Walter
January 19, 2006
Eatonville
Police Department report for January 16 says that a
thirty-seven-year-old man and twenty-seven-year-old woman from
Mena, Arkansas, along with a sixteen-year-old Eatonville youth were
"arrested for Unlawful Manufacture of a Controlled Substance -
Meth."
EPD officers "obtained consent to
search the residence. The Pierce County Sheriff's Department Lab team and
a number of deputies assisted with the search. A lab was found and
rendered safe. A search warrant was obtained and the Lab team removed
over seventy pieces of evident including a loaded pistol."
Sgt.
McNicol, Officer McGuire, Officer Watton and Pierce
County Sheriffs did an excellent job ridding the duplex unit of
the perilous meth lab. Eatonville Mayor Tommy Smallwood said, "I
am very proud of how our police department in how they handled the
case and how professional they were. The Eatonville police was the
lead on the case and called in the proper support to handle the
situation."
Those
arrested were booked into the Pierce County Jail and Remann Hall. It
was discovered the man was also wanted in Polk County, Arkansas
for manufacturing meth. The case was forwarded to the
prosecutor.
In an article dated January 18, 2005 the
New York Times reported on two methamphetamine
studies released in Washington D.C. Wednesday. The Times
report explains how hospitals are being inundated by meth users.
"A sharp increase in the number of people arriving in emergency
rooms with methamphetamine-related
problems is straining local hospital budgets and treatment facilities
across the county, particularly in the Midwest..." And since the
majority of meth addicts have no insurance taxpayers are paying for
their treatments.
The studies were done by the National
Association of Counties. Last July the association said that an "overwhelming
number of sheriffs polled nationwide declared
meth amphetamine their number one law enforcement problem."
Street names for meth include speed,
crank, crystal-meth and glass. It is also called the "poor man's cocaine."
It can be cooked in "labs" as small as a suitcase, or even
in the trunk of a car, using easily obtained toxic household chemicals
and over-the-counter medicines. The association studies say that many
people going to hospital emergency rooms have been burned in the
manufacturing and are also children exposed to the chemicals. Meth
labs are a very real menace in neighborhoods where they repeatedly
blow up. One meth cooker teaches ten more cookers a year.
The meth scourge, originally concentrated
in the West and Southwest states has spread to middle America and
is now common in rural areas. Methamphetamine is legal in America if
prescribed by a doctor. It can be used for attention deficit disorders
and obesity. However, a few hundred dollars in legal medicines and
chemicals can produce thousands of dollars worth of illegal meth.
Coats
and Other Warm Clothing Being Collected...
December 11, 2005
The Eatonville Third and Fourth of
July Committee is sponsoring a clothing drive this year. You will find donation
boxes for coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, pants and other warm clothing at
Jan's Salon, 201 Carter Street East and Thompson Vehicle License Agency, 320
Center Street East. Clothing may also be taken to the Community Center, 305
Center Street West. Presently only warm clothing is needed. The clothing
drive by the committee will continue into the New Year.
Unopposed
Councilmember Moves her Agenda Quickly Meridith
Weilert Pushes for Restoration of Urban Growth Area in Ohop Valley
Three days Before Being Sworn Into Office...
Planning Commission Chair, Phil Beach
Wants Even
More Land included in UGA...
by Dixie A. Walter
My View
January 9, 2006
Meridith Wielert, an unopposed candidate for Eatonville town
council, was "elected" November 8, 2005. Before she
took the oath of office on December 12, Weilert sent a letter, dated
December 9, 2005, to council appointed "Mayor Rath."
Weilert's letter is an interesting study
in "Let's get my agenda going right now!" Of course that's
only my opinion. However, I've been observing various people and
their agendas for some time now, about forty years. After a while it
doesn't take a rocket scientist to see where various people are
headed. Some, like Weilert, don't even try to finesse their
ambition, or the ambition of their friends/supporters.
Before Weilert, the mother of four young
children, ran for council she was appointed to the planning commission
by former council appointed Mayor Bruce Rath. She was on the
planning commission for a scant period of time and now sits on your
council.
Looks like one of her first orders of
business is to bring the Ohop Valley Urban Growth Area (UGA) issue back
to the forefront of controversy.
This was an issue many people thought
was dead. Approximately two years ago a number of Eatonville citizens,
concerned about the future of Ohop Valley, went to sub-committee
meetings of the Pierce County Council and requested the council pay
close attention to Eatonville's Urban Growth Area (UGA) as pertains
to Ohop Valley.
Their testimony helped the
committee make up its mind to keep the valley out of Eatonville's
UGA. Does Weilert have "connections" to property
owners in the valley who might profit from a change in the UGA?
If you want to find the answer ask Weilert if she knows, or is acquainted
with, anyone whose life would be financially improved by building in
the valley.
What Phil Beach wants is a whole lot
of land taken into the UGA in that area. Is he going for the splatter
effect? Throw as much as there as possible and maybe
something will stick. Or is he just being swept along with the tide
of change in the community without looking into the history of the
past several years. We will see, will we not?
To read both the Weilert and Beach
letters please see Hurry
Up - Ohop Valley UGA
Is Rain Affecting Housing
Development on Mapped Landslide Area?
What do you think?
January 11,
2006 - Dixie A. Walter: The persistent rain in the area has posed many
questions about Hamner Springs, a development built, in
part, on a mapped hazardous landslide area. Above you will see the
answer to one question. Will it slide after all the rock and concrete
was finally put up to hold back the hillside? Yes, it will slide, and
has.
Weather experts say this area has fourteen
to twenty steady days of rain in the future. If they are correct
will this hillside hold? It was cut away in a dangerous manner,
with seemingly little thought given to the possible jeopardy of rain
and landslides.
This activity produced a man-made, sheer
wall of earth which began eroding almost immediately. Slides on the
sheer face dictated something must be done to protect houses being
built directly across the street. A concrete retaining wall was
eventually built and tons of rock was piled up the side of the sheer
cliff in an effort to stop sliding. Is it working? Would you like to
live across the street today as rainfall gets closer and closer to
breaking a record which has held since the 1930s?
Another Hamner Springs Slide...
Part way up
"Skylar" is a trail of mud which came down through the trees
to the edge of the road. It's now a nice, oozing mess that clogs
the ditch next to the sidewalk.
Area Inundated by Rain
Rain Expected to Continue for Two Weeks or
More...Records May be Broken
%20JAN.%2011,%2005%20OhopCreekFlooding1-11-06.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
January 11,
2006 - 8 a.m.: Bob Walter estimates Ohop Creek is about two feet above
its banks due to the nearly non-stop rain which has continued for
twenty-four days and counting. Ohop Creek is a salmon bearing creek.
The Other Side of the Road...
%20JAN.%2011,%2005%20OhopCreek1-11-06.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Ohop Creek
is getting closer to reaching the bottom of the bridge. With no
respite from the rain in sight, according to weather experts, more
flooding will probably happen in Ohop Valley which is a flood plain.
Brand New Lake Schactler...
%20JAN.%2011,%202006%20LakebyDogwoodPark.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Looking east from Highway 161 near Dogwood Park Scenic Viewpoint you
will find a new body of water brought by Mother Nature to fill
part of Schactler's field. Water fowl haven't missed a chance to
utilize the new, temporary lake.
The Mashell River is also
Overflowing...
%20JAN.%2010,%2006.jpg)
(photo by Dixie A. Walter)
This photo
was taken Tuesday afternoon, January 10 from Smallwood Park. The river
is roiling, dirty and over its banks. Tanwax Creek is also
flooding and more water is pouring down from the heavens. Mudslides
are happening all around Pierce County. Orville Road is still closed
after a week of problems. Close to our area over half of the road to
Camp One east of Kapowsin is now closed until further notice.
Santa
Visits Town One Last Time Before Christmas...
%20DEC.%2017,%2005%20012.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
December 17, 2005: Santa Claus made his annual visit to the Eatonville Fire
Hall, after first hitching a ride through all the neighborhoods on one of
two gleaming red fire engines, presumably to keep his reindeer fresh for the Big
Night. In between blasts from the sirens and air horns, his lead driver beckoned
all the town's children to come and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.
Santa has been visiting Eatonville for many decades to the delight of all ages.
After sitting on Santa's lap and sharing their
Christmas wishes, the kids got white Teddy Bears and oranges, and everyone
warmed their insides with steaming hot chocolate. Pictured above with Santa are
Damon and Dyson Hammond, who, rumor has it, are related to the Big Guy in some
way. Could it be?
Toys
for Local Kids Collected at Mountain Fitness...
%20Closeupoftoys.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
December 12, 2005: By Bob Walter - Mountain
Fitness owner, Nancy Mettler's
son, Mark, has been coordinating the toy drive. The toys must
be new and unwrapped, and dropped off at the Eatonville Family Agency (EFA).
Mountain Fitness, and other sites like Kirk's were providing easy
drop-off, to support the EFA. However, the sign at Mountain Fitness said
the drive was to end today, the 12th. You can still take toys to the
EFA, where parents in the Eatonville School District area who
rely on the agencies can come in and pick a couple of toys
for each child, and their kids can have a happier holiday.
The
agency is also still collecting toys for girls and boys to put under their
Christmas tree at
the
Community Center, 305 Center Street West
in Eatonville.
Icy
Beauty...
%20DEC.%2010,%202005%20023.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
A large boulder and a fallen cottonwood leaf covered with ice crystals
were etched by the light of the rising sun at Smallwood Park early
Saturday morning. The temperature was 28 degrees.
IRBQ
Quilt Winner...
%20DEC.%2012,%2005%20100_0438.jpg)
(photo by Don Cook)
December 12, 2005: From Don Cook -
Karen Hanson is shown with her daughter holding on to the quilt she won
in the I'd Rather Be Quilting (IRBQ) raffle. Her number was drawn at IRBQ's
annual Christmas dinner and when she was called she came down to claim her
prize.
Katrina
Support Movie...
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(photo by Jeffrey Audirsch,
Decature, Georgia)
December 6, 2005
This short, touching "movie" was put together with
photographs by Director of Turtle Homes Rescue and Director
of Tortoise Aid International Annie Lancaster. The slide show was
beautifully crafted by Rachel Pierson. Music comes into the piece
after a little time so turn up your sound. This short is more about
people than animals.
To
view the movie please see Hurricane
Support
About
Tanwax Creek
Group's Second Meeting...
by Bob Walter
December 12, 2005
The Tanwax Community Group held the second
Nisqually River Basin Plan public meeting Wednesday evening,
December 7, at the Weyerhaeuser Elementary School library. The meeting was
coordinated by Tanwax Lake resident David Hymel. Tanwax Creek and its
tributaries are part of the Nisqually River Basin, one of ten watersheds in
Pierce County for which basin plans are being developed. Four have been
completed and adopted, while six more, including the Nisqually, are still
under development.
The
creation of the basin plans is funded through annual surface water
management fees paid by property owners. The management fees have been
accumulating, and a good plan is needed to ensure the maximum public benefit
is achieved using the funds.
Surface water fees from property owners in the Nisqually Basin generate
$191,000 per year, and the account currently contains $1.4
million. How this money is spent depends a lot on input from local citizens,
but the primary goals are to reduce flood hazards, improve fish and wildlife
habitat, improve water quality and coordinate responsible use of public
resources.
Staff members from Pierce County Public Works and Utilities, Water
Programs Section, spoke at the meeting about the Tanwax Basin’s
characteristics, impacts of human development, and the somewhat
“laborious” planning process. Already 1705 questionnaires were sent out,
and 118 responses received.
After receiving input from planners and citizens, the Surface Water
Advisory Board makes recommendations to the Pierce County Planning
Commission. The county executive and the Pierce County Council also review
and decide on the plan. Residents with questions or comments are encouraged
to call Roy Huberd or Randy Brake at 253.798.2725.
The Tanwax Basin is 13 miles long, consisting of 26 square miles of land
and waterways, including nine lakes. For the purposes of surface
water planning, it has been divided into three sections: the first being
from the creek’s outflow at the Nisqually River to Rapjohn Lake, the
second section extending from Rapjohn to the Tanwax Lake outflow at Highway
161, and the third extending from there to its upper end in the Benbow Lakes
area.
Individual parcel owners can nominate areas for survey and improvements.
Some sections have flooding problems, while others have diminished
habitat quality due to invasive plants such as reed canary grass. Citizens
looking for opportunities to learn more about basin planning and wetlands
enhancement are encouraged to contact David Hymel at 360.832.8148.
Hymel mentioned a training program coming up in March or April on how to
conduct a water basin survey. At the conclusion of the meeting, the 30
or so people in attendance thanked Hymel for his work in coordinating the
meeting and informing the public about basin planning issues.
Last Full Moon of 2005...
%20DEC.%2013,%2005%20_J9K2170.jpg)
(photo by Tony Sirgedas)
December
13, 2005: Tony captured this stunning image of the last full moon
of the year Tuesday night. This moon has many names. In Medieval
England it was called the Oak Moon, Colonial Americans referred to
this moon as the Christmas Moon, in China it's called the Bitter
Moon, Celts named it Cold Moon and some Native Americans named it
the Snow Moon.
The Farmer's Almanac defines this
final full moon of the year as, "The Full Cold Moon or the
Full Long Night's Moon: During this month the winter cold
fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. It
is also sometimes called the Moon before Yule. The term Long Night
Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is
indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long
time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky
because it is opposite a low Sun."
County
Councilmember Roger Bush Swears in Tommy Smallwood as New Mayor...
%20DEC.%2012,%2005%20002.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Bush Swears in
New Council...
%20DEC.%2012,%2005%20004.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Left to right: Roger
Bush, Meridith Weilert, Rich Adams and Bruce Rath. Weilert and Rath ran
unopposed.
Smallwood takes
the Mayor's Chair...
%20%20DEC.%2012,%2005%20010.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
December 12, 2005: Because Bruce Rath was a council appointed mayor his term was up when
the election was certified. The same situation applied to Waylan
Jumper, also appointed by the council. Wielert took his seat. Adams and
Rath will take their seats in January. There is no council meeting until
2006.
Mayor Tommy Smallwood spoke briefly about
the direction he hoped to take the town. He said there were about
three pages in front of him detailing what he would like to see
accomplished, and explained the pages would be published in the future.
Medicare
Part D Could Cost Seniors Thousands...
by Bev Keaveny, Adjutant
American Legion Post 264
December 13, 2005
Failure to choose a plan or making the wrong choice about Medicare
Part D could cost seniors thousands of dollars. Since many seniors
have found it difficult to determine which of the more than 40
Medicare Part D plans will provide them with the best benefit, Rainier
American Legion Post 264 has invited Alice Carvo from the WSU College
of Pharmacy to discuss what seniors on Medicare need to know to make
an educated choice. The seminar will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday,
December 17 at the Rainier Chapel, 307 Binghampton Street East in
Rainier.
Coverage begins January 1, 2006 for people
who join by December 31, 2005. People currently on Medicare have
until May 15, 2006 to sign up without a penalty, so seniors should
take the time to find out which plan will give the best benefit for
their needs. Like other insurance, if they join, they will pay a
monthly premium, which varies by plan, and a yearly deductible (no
more than $250 in 2006).
They will
also pay a part of the cost of the prescriptions, including a
co-payment or co-insurance. Costs will vary depending on which
drug plan is chosen. Some plans may offer more coverage and additional
drugs for a higher monthly premium. If individuals have limited income
and resources, and they qualify for extra help, they may not have to
pay a premium or deductible.
Some pharmacies may not accept all of the plans
available. If they want to stay with a current pharmacy, they should
contact the pharmacist to make sure the plan they choose will be
accepted by the pharmacy. Once a plan is chosen, they will only be
able to change plans once each year during in November/December.
Seniors should bring a list of their current
medications and the dosage of the drug as well as how many times
each day they take the drug, to the seminar. For more information
call 360.446.3194.
More
Garbage about
the Dump...
December 10, 2005
(Less
than one week's advance notice of these meetings was given by the
Health Dept. during the holiday season. George Wearn, CROWD
president.)
(Below is the notification sent to "residents.")
Dear
Resident:
Pierce
County Recycling, Composting and Disposal, LLR dba LRI (LRI), the
owners and operators of the LRI Landfill, located at 30919
Meridian St. East, is requesting re-issuance of their solid
wastehandling permit. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
(TPCHD) is required by state law (Chapter 173-351 WAC, Criteria for
Municipal Solid Waste Landfills) to review this re-issuance
application and to make a determination.
As a part of this solid waste permit re-issuance process, the TPCHD
will be holding two public meetings and
will be accepting the public's comment on the re-issuance application
through January 13, 2006. Comments are welcome in several
formats, as described below. You are encouraged to visit the
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department's (TPCHD) website
( www.tpchd.org
)
,
where you can review LRI's Re-Issuance Application packet
Comments
in writing: Public comment (MS 304)
Tacoma-Pierce
County Health Department
3629 South D Street,
304
Tacoma,
WA 98418-6813
Comments electronically: Submit on-line at www.tpchd.org
-
Comments
can be sent via email to www.solidwaste@tpchd.org
Comments in person:
Public meeting December 13th 5 p.m.
- 7:30 p.m.
Graham-Kapowsin
High School, 22100 108th Avenue East
Graham,
WA 9833
Public meeting December 15th
2 - 4:30
p.m.
Nature
Center at Snake Lake, Corner of South 19th and
Tyler
St., Tacoma WA 98405
The TPCHD will consider all comments before making a
decision on the landfill permit re-issuance request.
The TPCHD will respond in writing to all comments, concerns, or
questions related to the permit re-issuance application raised
during the public process. This response will be posted on
the the TPCHD website.
Copies
of LRI's Re-Issuance Application are available for review at
the Eatonville, Spanaway/Parkland, and Graham public
libraries as well as the TPCHD's website (tpchd.org).
Please note that the TPCHD maintains many files
and documents regarding the LRI Landfill. These are
all public documents and may be reviewed upon
appointment at
3629
South D Street, Tacoma, WA 98418 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday). To schedule an appointment
please contact the Solid Waste Program at 253. 798.2940.
Thank you for your interest.
Sincerely,
John Sherman, Environmental
Health Liaison
Environmental
Health Programs
Second Snow of
the Season...
%20DEC.%201,%2005%20022.jpg)
(photo by Dixie A. Walter)
December 1, 2005: Under three hours of small snow flakes coated
Dixie's car with just over two and a half inches by early
afternoon. The weather report for December 2 says we can expect the
same tomorrow, also with freezing temps in the evening as already
predicted for this evening. Please drive carefully or stay home if
possible.
First Snow of
the Season...
(photo by Tony Sirgedas)
November 29, 2005: We lucked out on the morning commute with no snow
today and then this afternoon a few good snow showers left the ground
white and frosted the Christmas trees waiting to be cut at Mel Cox's
Tree Farm .
A Break
in the Storm
(photo by Tony Sirgedas)
November 17, 2005: Another moment in time captured by Tony Sirgedas:
"While out elk hunting it's not always about seeing animals
or filling the freezer. Most of the time it's being able to enjoy
short moments like this when the sun pops through the clouds in a
storm and casts its magical light on the valley below."
Tony's Cautious
Deer...
%20_J9K1244d.jpg)
(photo by Tony Sirgedas)
November 12, 2005: Tony says, " Here's one buck that made it
through the general hunting season. Most likely it's because
he resides inside the city limits munching on the local rose bushes.
He even looked both ways before crossing."
Meet Your New
Council...
%20OCT.%2011,%2005%20018.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Councilmember
Elect Rich Adams
%20OCT.%2011,%202005%20%20023.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Councilmember
Elect Meridith Weilert
(photo by Dixie A. Walter)
Councilmember
Elect Bruce Rath
American Legion
Officer of the Year...
%20NOV.%202005%20011.jpg)
(photo by Dixie A. Walter)
Superintendent of Schools, and a veteran, Ray Arment, congratulates
The American Legion's Officer of the Year Sergeant James Heishman.
Heishman was honored Tuesday, October 9 during the Legion's annual
spaghetti dinner. Chatting between the two men is Commander Jody
Johnson. Johnson read the following letter listing Heishman's
impressive accomplishments during his seventeen years in the sheriff's
department.
Letter
of Commendation
November
9, 2005
Sergeant James Heishman is a
seventeen-year veteran of the Pierce County Sheriffs Department.
He was recently assigned as supervisor to the Pierce County
Sheriffs Mountain Detachment in 2004.
He supervises a detail consisting of one investigator; eighteen
patrol officers, and one civilian office assistant.
His detachment is responsible for an area covering 700 square
miles with a population of approximately 50,000.
Jim’s supervisors and peers describe Sergeant
Heishman as an individual with high morals.
He has the ability to follow and meet the objectives and
goals established by his department regarding crime suppression.
At the same time he is always working at streamlining the
unit’s operation in an attempt to accomplish more with less.
He maintains teamwork within the detail and other units by
working with Patrol, Crime Analysis, the Special Investigation Unit,
the Prosecutor’s Office and the Courts.
One of his most notable traits is his desire to train his
deputies in an effort to make their work more efficient and
professional.
Sergeant Heishman brings a wealth of experience
and skill to the Mountain Detachment. During his seventeen years
with the Sheriff’s Department, he has worked full time
assignments in Patrol, Narcotics, Major Crimes (special assault and
homicide team) and the Mountain Detachment. He has held the ranks of
Deputy, Detective, Detective Sergeant and Sergeant. He has also held
additional duty positions with the department’s honor guard, air
operations, field training officer, critical incident stress
management team through the Department of Emergency Management and the
special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team. Within SWAT, he has worked
all duty positions except negotiator and was selected as the SWAT team
commander in 2000, a position he still holds. He has also held an
elected regional executive board position within the Washington State
Tactical Officer’s Association for 10 years and teaches basic and
advanced SWAT tactics at the state level.
In 1991, he accepted a two-year assignment
with Narcotics Division as a Narcotic and Vice Investigator and also
won an additional duty position with the Department’s Special
Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT).
In 1993, Jim was selected as a resident deputy with the
Mountain Detachment and was also elected to a Washington State
Tactical Officers Association (WSTOA) executive Board position for
region 1, which serves nine Washington counties as their
representative.
He taught new hire deputies in
Criminal Law, Geography and Report Writing and was also worked as a Field-Training
Officer. In 1997 Sergeant Heishman was promoted to the rank of
Detective and Assigned to special Assault Unit. In 2000, Jim applied for a lateral transfer from Detective
Sergeant to Sergeant and was assigned again to East Patrol.
In 2004, Jim was again assigned to the Mountain Detachment as
the swing shift supervisor.
Sergeant Heishman also brings a wealth of
training to the community he serves.
He is a graduate of Indian Hills Community College,
Ottumwa, Iowa. Jim is
also a graduate from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training
Commission’s (WSCJTC) Basic Law enforcement Academy.
He is certified as a Critical Incident Stress Management peer
support debriefer. Jim
has attended Washington State Criminal Justice courses on Child Abuse,
First level Supervisor, Death Investigation, Budget and Grant writing,
and Homicide Investigation.
Within the Sheriff’s Department, Sergeant
Heishman has earned numerous awards. A portion of them being; 1995
Officer of the Year, Team Merit, 4 Patrol Impact Awards, SWAT Merit,
SWAT trainer of the year in 1992, 1995, 1998 and 2000. While attending
the basic law enforcement academy in 1987, he was president of his
class, graduated first in his class and was also awarded the best
academic and best physical fitness awards.
Sergeant Heishman has an Associate Degree
in Criminal Justice and has received formal training in many areas,
a portion of which include; critical incident stress management,
homicide investigation, death investigation, budget and grant writing,
first level supervision (certificate awarded), middle management
supervision (certificate awarded), active shooter response and all
levels of tactical training.
Sergeant Heishman’s public service is
not just limited to Pierce County or the State of Washington. He also
serves his country in the Air Force Reserve. He is currently assigned
to the 90th Security Forces Group in Cheyenne, Wyoming as
their IMA Operations Superintendent.
Within the Air Force, Sergeant Heishman
has also earned numerous awards. A portion of them being; Air Force
Commendation Medal, Achievement Medal, Outstanding Unit Award, Good
Conduct Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service
Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, 2004 IMA Senior Non
Commissioned Officer of the Year for 90th Security Forces
Group (Space Command) and Outstanding Enlisted IMA Non Commissioned
Officer of the Year for McChord AFB and/or Air Mobility Command in
1994, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. He also earned honor graduate at Air
Force basic training, Security Forces technical training school and
while attending military police investigator’s school.
It is with great pride that The American
Legion Post 148 acknowledges Sergeant Heishman’s leadership abilities,
dedication to duty, commitment to the community he serves and the
country that he served so well, by recognizing his as their officer of
the year 2004.
Jody Johnson
COMMANDING
American Legion Post 148
Smallwood
Elected Mayor...
%20lastscan.jpg)
November 8, 10:55 p.m.
Eatonville: Bruce Rath -
unopposed - 478 votes - 36 write-in votes...
Meridith Weilert - unopposed - 489 votes - 17 write-in votes...
Bobbi Allison - 173 votes: Tommy Smallwood - 453 votes...
Rich Adams - 427 votes: Jeff Stephan -146 votes...
For election updates please see November
8, 2005 General Election
Local Author will
Sign
Book at Borders...
%20~MAP0000.jpg)
The cover of Barbara Carroll Brendel's
new book.
by Dixie A. Walter
November 7, 2005
Local
author Barbara Carroll Brendel has written a children's book,
"Where Angels Tread." The book is religious
fiction for children under twelve years old. According to Brendel,
"Some of the accounts are based on true life experiences from my
missionary grandmother."
Borders Books at South Hill have ordered the books
and scheduled a book signing Saturday, November 12 from 11:30 a.m.
until 1:30 p.m.
"Where Angels Tread" is a forty-seven
page paperback. Brendel explained, "The profits are being donated to
Daystar Television Network for children's programming. The books are for
sale on Amazon.com and CSNbooks.com as well. The books are also for sale
to libraries through PMA Resource Directory. It is also available from
Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Spring Arbor and published by Christian
Services Publishing. The publisher is handling the donation to
Daystar."
On the back cover of the children's book
Brendel describes her belief in angels. "I acknowledge that some of
the accounts in this book involving angels are based on true life
experiences. I know from personal experience that angels are real and
that the spiritual world exists and is ever present around us."
$150,000 Study
Grant Still not Secured...
by Dixie A. Walter
My View
November 5, 2005
There
is a certain amount of confusion being generated by the status of the
$150,000 study grant approved for the Town of Eatonville. Fact: No
one is attempting to "derail" the grant as was recently
reported by Michael Jeffries. In yet another flimsy, and transparent,
attempt to discredit Mayoral Candidate Bobbi Allison he supposedly
quotes Town Planner Mart Kask as saying, "There was a last minute
effort by an individual or group of people to derail the project."
Whether
or not this is an accurate quote is open to question. However, the only
last minute effort by anyone regarding the grant was an attempt to
save it from being lost or postponed for several months. The town's
handling of the issues involving certification of the Comprehensive
Plan's airport component has been lax at the very least. An important
October 1 deadline was missed, but the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC)
has been lenient with the town and has overlooked the town's inability
to understand the situation, so far.
Commercial pilot Steve Van
Cleve, who also owns a plane hangered at Swanson Field is an advocate of
the Puget Sound Regional Council's Rural Corridors SR 161 study
grant. He has repeatedly spoken at public meetings stating the
importance of the grant and expressing his support. This is all a matter
of public record.
Discouraging incompatible land use around airports through
Comprehensive Plans is a state law and part of the Growth Management
Act adopted in 1996. Safety issues are most important. In order for the
town to receive the grant the transportation element of the plan must be
certified by the PSRC. The town must adopt goals
and development regulations
to comply.
During the July 11 council
meeting the goals
were passed along with local
adoption, by reference of Federal
Aviation Regulations part 77 (FAR
77). There has been no action on the
development regulations
as erroneously reported by
Jeffries. Goals and regulations are not the same issues. No
council action has been taken regarding these regulations.
Van Cleve said he mailed a
copy of the Comprehensive Plan to PSRC Senior Planner Stephan Kiehl.
Van Cleve also sent Kiehl information from John Shambaugh,
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Aviation Division,
that the council adopted July 11. Van Cleve stated, "I sent the
Shambaugh letter to the PSRC also, because I wanted them to see that
there was some progress being made."
He adds, "The
deadline for Eatonville to submit their plan to PSRC was October 1. They
didn't do it. They would have nothing so far if I hadn't sent the
information. Everyone knew the comp plan was a draft and they were
waiting for the final form from the town via Mart Kask."
Mayor Bruce Rath wanted
the planning commission to pass the comp plan without
the airport planning. Mayoral
candidate Tommy Smallwood was appointed by Rath to lead a committee to
work with the airport people and develop these regulations
months ago. Only
landowners were invited to the meetings, but the law requires
consultation with pilots and airport users as well. There have been no
results reported from the few meetings held.
Joe Price, also a pilot,
and Van Cleve are both members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilot's
Association (AOPA). According to Van Cleve, "We are both
airport support network volunteers. Our motives are obvious and very
public. We report to the AOPA to protect airports. Joe is the volunteer
for Shady Acres airport near Fredrickson and I am the volunteer for
Swanson Field. It's all about saving airports."
Van Cleve further
explains, "I have been speaking to the planning commission and
later the town council since early 2004 on this issue, well before
Van Eaton Park became an issue [Van Cleve has a Superior Court lawsuit
pending against the sale of the park].
"Jerry Nybo is
developing at the Eatonville Airport. He is in violation of FAR 77. If
the development is in violation of Far 77 it's incompatible land
use. Since FAR 77 has also been adopted by the town, the Nybo
development is in violation of the Eatonville Municipal Code as
well." He adds, "I supported the Nybo development and told
Jerry I would fly him to other airports to see how they developed. He
did not take my offer. I still support the development as long as it's
compatible with airports and aviation.
"If the town had
simply completed the development regulation when they should have the
transportation element would be certified. The grant would be
assured. The town could have helped Nybo do a development that would be
compatible with airports and all of this would be a non-issue. The
sooner the town gets this done the sooner they get the grant. The goal
Joe and I are working on is to save the airport. The way we do this is
to make sure incompatible land use does not happen as per state
law."
There is speculation that
perhaps Rath deliberately delayed the development of the airport
incompatible land use regulations to allow a private individual to
become vested and develop an incompatible airport development. If that
allegation were true was Tommy Smallwood, airport committee chair, a
party to this delay by not following through with his responsibility?
Are these people attempting to blame Allison, Price and Van Cleve
because they may have accidentally caught them while trying to clean up
the airport SNAFU? A question needing answers, but with this
administration with it's behind closed doors policy will never give
citizens answers.
ENN October "Circulation"
November 1, 2005
Web sites
differ from hard copy newspapers in many obvious ways. One of them is
the ability to closely, and accurately, monitor the amount of
traffic coming to the site on a daily basis. Online sites have
statistics pages which keep track of how many persons visit the sites,
how many pages they viewed, what country viewers are from. Contrary to
the thinking of some, viewers are not
identifiable.
ENN is a free publication "staffed" by
volunteers and launched in early June 2002. In the forty weeks since the site was launched readership
has
grown remarkably for a small local Web site. Although ENN does get
visitors from other countries such as Peru, Italy, Netherlands, Germany
etc. - it is on the World Wide Web after all - far and away most viewers log
in locally, and most from Rainierconnect.
The month of October was ENN's best month yet with
21,592 "Unique Viewers" and 36,600 "Pages Viewed."
As described by ENN stats page "Unique Viewers are the number of
client hosts (Internet Protocol address) who came to visit the
site (and viewed at least one page). This data refers to the
number of different physical persons who reached the site in any
one day."
Pages viewed means, "Number of times a page
of the site is viewed (sum for all visitors for all visits). This piece
of data differs from 'hits' in that it counts only HTML pages as opposed
to images and other files." Number of pages viewed is preferred to
hits for marketing purposes. Please see below for stats page graphic.
| Statistics
of www.eatonvillenews.net |
|
| First visit |
Month
Oct 2005
Year
2002 Year
2003 Year
2004 Year
2005 |
Last visit |
| 01 Oct 2005 - 00:01 |
31 Oct 2005 - 23:59 |
| Unique
visitors |
Number
of visits |
Pages |
Hits |
Bandwidth |
21592
|
26884
(1.24 visits/visitor) |
36600
(1.36 pages/visit) |
669615
(24.9 hits/visit) |
38.05 GB
(1484.15 KB/visit)
|
|
Mineral Man Shot
and Killed by Long Time Friend...
by Dixie A. Walter
November 1, 2005
Fifty-seven-year-old Ross Hansen was killed in Mineral October 25 by
an unnamed forty-five-year-old friend. The men had been
friends for many years. The deadly dispute began over a woman when
each man attacked the other with baseball bats.
Hansen's
forty-eight-year-old girlfriend, from whom he was separated, was
apparently visiting at the shooter's home. The situation
angered Hansen who went to the shooter's home on Mineral
Hill Road and was told to leave the property by the younger man. The
forty-five-year-old purportedly was attempting to defend himself when
he hit Hansen with a baseball bat. Hansen reportedly left the scene
and returned a short time later wielding his baseball bat.
Hansen
hit his male friend with the bat and allegedly attempted to strike him
another time when the younger man fired a small-caliber handgun
and Hansen was hit in the stomach. He died at the scene. Although
initial reports by authorities say one shot was fired, neighbors
maintain three shots were heard. The victim was only hit by one
bullet.
Lewis
County Sheriffs had not arrested the shooter as of last week. This may
be considered a case of self-defense. The investigation continues.
Hansen leaves three sons, his wife Judy died two
years ago from cancer.
Meet Sarra,
Eatonville's New Daffodil Princess...
%20OCT.%2020,%202005%20052.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
October
20, 2005: Eatonville High School Senior Sarra Schlegel smiles for the
camera minutes after being crowned Eatonville's 2006 Daffodil
Princess during the selection program Thursday evening in the high
school auditorium. Her escort is Chris Matthiesen, son of Mike
Matthieson and Tracy Anderson.
Sarra, eighteen, is the daughter of
Dean and Stephanie Schlegel. She is a soccer player who works at the Yelm
Safeway after practice. Sarra says she enjoys "being involved in
sports - bowling, soccer and fastpitch." She also "enjoys
art and working with animals." She hopes to attend Western
Washington University and major in elementary education. Her GPA is 3.
2.
Pierce County
Regional Council New Web Site...
October 23, 2005
From the Web site, "The
Pierce County Regional Council (PCRC) was created to ensure planning
between Pierce
County and its cities and towns was accomplished in a coordinated
consistent manner. The organization is comprised of elected officials
from Pierce County, each of its twenty-three cities and towns, and the
Port of Tacoma. The primary responsibility of the PCRC is to ensure
that the Growth Management Act requirements are coordinated within the
County and the region." Councilmember and candidate for
Eatonville Mayor, Bobbi Allison, represents the community on the
regional council.
To visit the site and learn more about this very
important council please see www.piercecountywa.org/pcrc
Is a Partial
Fence Safe?
%20OCT.%2020,%2005.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
October 20, 2005: Someone put a partial barrier around the rubble left
over when the Lions Club storage building was torn down. However,
a child can still get into the dangerous area because the fence is
only three-sided. The board full of nails seen below has been removed.
October 24, 2005: The rubble was finally
cleaned up and the safety issues taken care.
Safety Issues
at Park...
%20OCT.%2018,%202005%20Lionsbuildingdemolition2.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
October 18, 2005: The remains of the Lions Club storage building lie
in rubble about 20 feet from play structures at Mill Pond Park.
The rubble has been there since at least Saturday. There are nails
sticking upright and there is no barrier or construction fencing to
keep children away from the danger area. It would have been simple to
erect some kind of barrier for safety measure. This photograph was
taken late Tuesday morning.
Rubble Lies
Near Toys at Park...
%20OCT.%2018,%202005.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Children
are at risk from nails and broken pieces of wood left near toys at the
park. Some children were observed
behind the rubble climbing on the Matheny Sculpt which has been taken
apart by the town and left in pieces by the historic Van Eaton cabin.
It appears that safety isn't an issue. The Lions Club building which
stood at the park for decades was built by the late Elwin Haynes and
served as the building center for many, many years before being moved
to the park area by the Lions.
Another
Mountain Mood...
(photo by Tony Sirgedas)
October 16, 2005: Tony says, "Mount
Rainier had a new dusting of snow and the trees next to the high school were
full of fall colors last Thursday." There are three different
types of clouds near the mountain in the above photo.
A Future
Daffodil Princess...
%20OCT.%2014,%202005%20007.jpg)
(photo by Dixie A. Walter)
Daffodil Princess candidates from left to right: Sarra Schlegel,
Rachel Tweet, Arielle Dalrymple, Rebekah Black and Karianna
Hansen. One of these lovely young women will become Eatonville's
Daffodil Princess Thursday, October 20 during the Princess selection
in the high school auditorium beginning at 6:30 p.m. There is no
admission to the event.
Or Perhaps a
Daffodil Queen?
by
Dixie A. Walter
October
15, 2005
To be eligible for Daffodil Princess, girls must be high school
seniors with a 3.2 grade average. The festival's Royalty Program
offers each princess a generous scholarship. Eatonville's princess
will compete with nineteen other princesses from participating high
schools.
All of Eatonville's candidates are
extremely busy students and are willing to make the time commitment needed
to represent Eatonville, the busiest time being March and April.
Sarra, eighteen, is the daughter of
Dean and Stephanie Schlegel. She is a soccer player who works at the Yelm
Safeway after practice. Sarra says she enjoys "being involved in
sports - bowling, soccer and fastpitch." She also "enjoys
art and working with animals." She hopes to attend Western
Washington University and major in elementary education. Her GPA is 3.
2.
Rachel is seventeen; her proud
parents are Tim and Lesa Tweet. A Running Start student, Rachel says
she doesn't have as much time this year to be as involved with
school activities. This active young woman has been ASB secretary
(2004-2005), President of the SADD club as well as secretary of the
club in 2003-2004. Some of the other activities Rachel has been
involved with include: drama; Knowledge Bowl; Honor Society; school
paper; soccer; tennis; track; swimming; choir and Who's Who Among
American High School Students.
Included in her list of hobbies and
interests are: reading; learning; music - vocal, piano and guitar; community
activities such as feeding the homeless. Paint Tacoma Pierce Beautiful
and Thirty Hour families, ballroom and swing dancing, travel and
theology. Rachel plans to attend a four-year Bible college this fall.
She also plans to obtain a double major in "Bible and
communications or humanities." Her GPA is 4.0.
Seventeen-year-old Arielle's parents
are Peter and Susan Dalrymple. She has participated in the Knowledge
Bowl for three years and is also involved in Project Linus -
crocheting; drawing and painting; baking; choir; drama; creative
writing - poems and short stories; archery and gardening. Her
plans for college are "to attend an art school such as the Art
Institute of Seattle" with hopes of "getting a job in
animation, i.e. game design, cartooning and graphic design."
Arielle recently helped Eatonville's Project Linus make blankets for
hurricane victims. Arielle's GPA is 3.2.
Also a Running Start student,
Rebekah, daughter of Frank Black and Evelyn Popa, works as a legal secretary
and enjoys tennis, photography, reading and school. She plans to
attend the University of Washington for her four year degree, then
join the Air Force and become a pilot. Rebekah's GPA is 3.67.
Karianna, whose parents are
Alex and Karen Hansen, is a four-year member of the National Honor Society,
and is very interested in Eatonville High School's drama club
productions, past and present. She also participates part time in the
Knowledge Bowl.
Acting; singing; dancing;
sewing; quilting; embroidering; crocheting; reading and acting
Shakespeare,
as well as "hanging out with my friends and scrapbooking"
are included in Karianna's interests. She has applied to Pacific
Lutheran University and the University of Washington. "I plan to
graduate and work for a Master's in either English or Music
Education," says Karianna. Her GPA is 3.5.
Linda Moffitt, school nurse
and Daffodil Princess Coordinator at EHS for seven years, also
coordinated Daffodil Princesses for seven years at Franklin
Pierce. Linda is a former princess from Lincoln High School and
remains enthusiastic about Eatonville's "beautiful"
candidates year after year.
The Daffodil Festival theme this
year is "Daffodil Delights." This is the event's year
seventy-three. The Junior Parade will be held April 8, 2006 and
the Grand Floral Parade is April 22, 2006.
Barb Conant Big
Winner in Chili Cook Off...
%20OCT.%2011,%2005.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
October
13, 2005: Barb Conant took first place at Eatonville's Youth Connection
sponsored "Hot Chili Cook
Off" October 11 before the candidate's forum at the Community
Center. Seven entries were tasted, and enjoyed, by hungry chili lovers
from 5 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. For a $5 tasting fee participants were able
to eat their fill of the various dishes.
After trying all seven entries chili
enthusiasts voted for their favorite. Tasters didn't know who the cooks were.
Each pot of chili carried a letter and a funky name such as "
D. Rocket Fuel Chili," " B. Two Alarm Chili," and "
F. Chicken Noodle Chili." When the votes were counted Barb Conant's
"Potluck Chili" was the crowd favorite.
First prize was a one night stay at the
Cabinette and dinner for two at the Wild Berry Restaurant; second place,
won by Regina Adams, a $75 gift certificate from Gary's Video and third
place was taken by Shaunna Tweet with her "Chicken Noodle
Chili." Third place prize was dinner for two at the Pizza Place and
four movie passes for the Roxy Theater.
Meet the Chili
Chefs...
%20OCT.%2011,%2005.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Chili Cook Off entrants from left to right: Bobbi Allison, Regina Adams,
Marlayne Ellif, Barb Conant, Kris Johnson,
Tommy Smallwood, Shaunna Tweet and Meridith Weilert. The entries were
numbered A through G from left to right.
Dancing Kids to
Hold Benefit for Katrina Kids and Pets...
%20SEPT.%2023,%202005%20clip_image002.jpg)
(photo by Yvonne Sanchez, Director -
Kids in Motion)
Local dance teams have joined
together to volunteer their talents for Hurricane Katrina victims,
human, as well as non-human.
The benefit will be in the Elementary School gym, Saturday, October 1.
Give the kids a great, big hand, the benefit was their idea.
Eatonville Kids
are Generous and Caring
September 24, 2005 - From Lori Groh, Director of Explosion
Extravaganza. "Some of the kids from Explosion Extravaganza
and Kids in Motion dance groups. These kids are teaming up to raise
money for the Katrina victims and their pets. They really want to use
their talents to raise the money. So there will be a Fundraiser Show
on October 1 in the Eatonville Elementary School gym at 7 pm. We
are hoping the town of Eatonville will support their efforts and come
out and show the kids that they care about the Katrina victims and
their pets.
"No tickets sales but a donation at
the door would be nice. Half of the money will be given to the
Red Cross and half to the Humane Society. There will also be
a bake sale and all of that money will be given too. Our sound
is being donated by Greg Martin (Sonic Tangerine) and John
(Pizza Place) will be our Master of Ceremonies. We are grateful to
Greg and John for helping us. We want to thank the town ahead of time
for being so supportive of our two groups of kids.
"This is a great life lesson for
these kids to learn how to give of themselves and give to others who
are in need. This is the kids idea. So we would love to have
the support of Eatonville to come and watch the show and support this
Community Fundraiser. As we see it Eatonville is filled with
very talented youth so they will put on a wonderful show for their
town."
Eatonville
Talent Going to Help Others...
%20%20SEPT.%2012,%202005%20025.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Cassidy Wisley-Paul tap dances at the
Puyallup Fair September 12. Explosion Extravaganza Director Lori Grohs
explained, "We received a standing ovation at the Puyallup Fair.
The stage manager told me we were the best show so far. She loved the
quality of the numbers and invited us back next year. We loved being
at the Puyallup. The kids are very excited about getting the
opportunity to perform and look forward to going back.
"The kids who performed Brittany and
Christi Grohs - Eatonville, Alyssa Selfors - Eatonville, Emily
Randolph-Eatonville, Cassidy Wisley - Paul, Tabitha Simolke and our
singers were Antonia McFadden - Spanaway and Amanda Little - Puyallup.
"We are going back to the South
Hill Mall to perform and then on to the National 4-H Agents Convention
the end of October. We are taking December and January off because
three of the girls, Christi and Brittany Grohs and Cassidy Wisley-Paul,
will be in the Nutcracker that is put on by the Prairie Dance Center,
previously The Yelm Dance Shop. It will be at the Yelm High
School."
Putting Heart
and Soul into her Song...
%20SEPT.%2012,%202005%20017.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
One of Explosion's singers Amanda Little.
Energetic
Dancers...
%20SEPT.%2012,%202005%20005.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
Front
row left to right Brittany Grohs and Christi Grohs, back row left to
right is Cassidy Wisley Paul and Emily Randolph.
4-H Kids are Big
Winners...
%20SEPT.23,%202005%20Horsewisegroup1.jpg)
(photo by Lori Markeson)
September 24, 2005 - From Lori Grohs-Horsewise & Otherwise 4-H
Club. "These are some of the kids from Horsewise &
Otherwise 4-H Club. Horsewise is out of Eatonville. Horsewise
brought home many Pierce County 4-H Year End trophies as you can see
and three of our kids went on to the State Fair in Puyallup.
"Making it to state is not
easy and you must be at least Middle School age to go. Back row from
left to right Daniella Browning-Int. Green Horse trophy, Lindsey
Grip Hi. Point Herds Award, Brittany Grohs-Int. Performance
trophy, Int. Horse Judging Trophy, Ind, Horse Judging Medal, Int.
Showmanship Trophy, Made the State Int. Performance Riding Team,
State Int. Horse Judging Team, State Hippology Team and State
Horsebowl Team. State fair accomplishments-Made it into all the
championship classes and was 7th in the State for her Huntseat Eq. and
6th in Trail out of 125 horses and 10th in the State for her Horse
Judging.
"Next is Thomas Gilmore-Hi
Point Herds, Megan Gilmore-State Senior Performance Riding Team and Hi
Point Herds, Alexa Brockamp-Hi Point Herds, April Porter-Hi
Point Herds, Bottom Row left to right Brooke Markeson-Jr. Dressage
Trophy and Jr. Novice Performance Trophy and Hi Point Groom Squad
Award, Christi Grohs, Jr. Performance Trophy and Hi Point Groom Squad
Award, Nicole Caseber-Hi Point Herds and Hi Point Groom Squad Award,
Alyssa Selfors- Int. Mini Horse Trophy and Lindsey Clark- State Int.
Dog Team and Hi. Point Herds and not show is Bekka Held-Senior Mini
Horse Showmanship Trophy.
"As you can see they all worked very hard
this year and the hard work paid off. They had great attitudes
and it was a pleasure to work with them and their families. They
brought a lot of joy to me and my co-leader Shelly Selfors.
"But a club is only as good as your parents
and we have amazing supportive parents. Therefore the kids are great.
I can't say enough about 4-H and all that it has to offer. The
kids must also turn in Record Books and they all received blues on
those and they all did posters and community service last year, which
consisted of a food drive.
"Horsewise & Otherwise offers-Horses,
Dogs, Photography and Performing Arts (Explosion Extravaganza).
October. is enrollment month for 4-H. So we are excited about
our new year. Thanks to Eatonville for their wonderful support
of our club and we hope we make them proud."
Planning Commission Meeting
September 19...
%20%20SEPt.%20%20%20BRIDGE%20037.jpg)
(photo by Bob Walter)
September
19, 2005: On the left, Earl McKasson, appointed to the planning
commission by Mayor Bruce Rath, looks intently on as fellow Planning
Commissioner Tom Smallwood, also appointed by Rath, comments about
setting a public hearing date for a variance request, at the
commission's Monday, September 19 meeting in the Eatonville Community
Center.
Smallwood is one of two candidates for
mayor in Eatonville, the other being former Planning Commissioner
and present Councilmember, Bobbi Allison, who also attended the
Monday night meeting.
During commissioners' comments, Commissioner
Steve Pruitt spoke passionately about wanting full disclosure from
the town, or other parties, about the intent behind each decision the
commission is asked to make, so that they can reach informed
conclusions.
Pruitt was speaking specifically about the
decision before the commission, at this meeting, to vacate an alley running
through Van Eaton Park property being sold for development. Pruitt said
that until citizen Arlen Paranto spoke up and explained the location of
the alley, he did not realize all the possible implications of the
decision.
ENN
"Circulation"
September 3, 2005
Web sites
differ from hard copy newspapers in many obvious ways. One of them is
the ability to closely, and accurately, monitor the amount of
traffic coming to the site on a daily basis. Online sites have
statistics pages which keep track of how many persons visit the sites,
how many pages they viewed, what country viewers are from. Contrary to
the thinking of some, viewers are not identified.
ENN is a free publication "staffed" by
volunteers. In the three years since the site was launched readership has
grown remarkably for a small local Web site. Although ENN does get
visitors from other countries such as Peru, Italy, Netherlands, Germany
etc. - it is on the World Wide Web - far and away most viewers log
in locally.
The month of August was ENN's best month yet with
11, 695 "Unique Viewers" and 20,936 "Pages Viewed."
As described by ENN stats page "Unique Viewers are the number of
client hosts (Internet Protocol address) who came to visit the
site (and viewed at least one page). This data refers to the
number of different physical persons who reached the site in any
one day."
Pages viewed means, "Number of times a page
of the site is viewed (sum for all visitors for all visits). This piece
of data differs from 'hits' in that it counts only HTML pages as opposed
to images and other files." Number of pages viewed is preferred to
hits for marketing purposes.
Donate to Katrina
Victims...
September 2, 2005
Hurricane
Katrina destroyed most of the historic city of New Orleans. The world renown
city is currently being abandoned. Hundreds of people have died in
Mississippi and officials project thousands have died, and continue to
did in New Orleans. Doctors say they are working under Third World
conditions. Water, food, medicine, diapers, milk, baby bottles and just
about everything required for life is needed.
If you wish to contribute to the victims of this
American disaster please see American
Red Cross
Boeing to Give
One Million Dollars to Katrina Relief...
Press Release
September 3, 2005
CHICAGO, Sept. 1, 2005
- The Boeing Company announced today that it will donate $1 million
to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and
will match employee and retiree contributions to that organization
through the company's Employees Community Fund. The match is
dollar-for-dollar for employees and fifty cents-on-the-dollar for
eligible employees retired from Boeing. It extends through September
26.
Employees
all over the company responded soon after the scale and scope of
the tragedy emerged, according to Toni Bailey, vice
president, Boeing Community and Education Relations. "Our hearts
go out to all who have been affected by this tragic event," she
said. Bailey added that the company remains in close contact with the
American Red Cross and will receive regular updates on the progress of
relief efforts.
The
Employees Community Fund of The Boeing Company is the world's
largest employee-directed charitable organization,
investing nearly $33 million per year in communities around the globe
where Boeing employees live and work. Employees manage the funds
locally at more than 50 Boeing sites and choose the community
organizations that receive help.
For more information contact Susan
Birkholtz, Boeing World Headquarters, 312-544-2927
Auditor's Exit
Meeting with Town Planned...
by Dixie A. Walter
My View
September 17, 2005
In a letter
dated September 1, 2005 Mark Rapozo CPS, Audit Manager, Audit
Services, Washington State
Auditor's office, writes to the town, "We are completing our audit of the
Town of Eatonville and wanted to share our preliminary results and
recommendations with you."
The letter asks for
"participation" by..."policymakers," explaining
this is "an essential part of our audit process. It gives you
and opportunity to learn first hand our conclusions and participate in
the resolution of issues we have identified."
Rapozo adds that he would prefer not to
have a quorum of the council "...at least until the audit is
final and the report is issued. If a quorum of Council Members
were to attend, the sessions would have to be subject to requirements
of the Open Public Meetings Act."
In other words, the mayor and other
policymakers are invited to attend this preliminary meeting, but on
the other hand warned that if a quorum attended the meeting would
then have to be opened to the public. The public meaning you, the
taxpayer. So it appears the invitation is offered but with the caveat
that if too many of the officials attend that would trigger a public
meeting.
ENN has learned the date of the meeting
has been tentatively set for Monday, September 19.
To read the auditor's letter please see
Audit
Letter
Association
Errs...
by Dixie A. Walter
September 13, 2005
The Pierce County Cities and Towns Association (PCC&TA) recently
appointed Eatonville Councilmember Bobbi
Allison to a seat on the Pierce County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.
As it turned out PCC&TA made a mistake in appointing an Eatonville
official because Eatonville is not a participant of the lodging and tax
committee.
In a message dated September 9, 2005 Susan Clough,
Secretary/Treasurer of the group stated,
"It
has been brought to the attention of Pierce County Cities & Towns
Association President Bob Young that the Association erred at their
September 1 meeting in appointing Bobbi Allison to be the
representative to the Pierce County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC).
The Committee includes an elected official identified by the PCC&TA
from one of the following: Bonney Lake, Carbonado, DuPont, Edgewood,
Fircrest, Milton, Orting, Roy, Ruston, South Prairie, Sumner,
Steilacoom, or Wilkeson. This appointment will be on the PCC&TA
November 3 meeting agenda to correct this mistake."
Clough, who is also city manager of
Fircrest added, "This had nothing to do with Bobbi. It had to do
with the association not reading the requirement being limited to
certain cities. Bobbi Allison had nothing to do with this and we are
very sorry if th |
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