Stories for Pierce County
Stage 1 burn ban issued for Pierce County at 4 p.m. today
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To protect public health from rising air pollution levels, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage 1 burn ban in Pierce County, effective at 4 p.m. today. This ban is in effect until further notice.
Airport Advisory Commission applicants sought
Posted by | CommentsThe Thun Field Advisory Commission is seeking applicants to fill one position to represent South Hill residents on the commission. The commission meets bi-monthly to review issues related to the Pierce County Thun Field airport and other properties within 1,000 feet of the airport.
The unpaid positions require applicants to be current South Hill residents. The term expires April 12, 2016.
Applications are available here or by calling 253-798-4050. Go online to get more information about the Thun Field Advisory Commission.
For more information, please contact Deb Wallace, Pierce County Public Works and Utilities at 253-798-7109 or deb.wallace@co.pierce.wa.us.
Pets of the week
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Omar: 458824 Ormar is all muscle and a giant heart! He’s a 5 year old neutered pit bull and is looking for love and a home where he can get lots of play time! Omar loves to go for walks and is very treat motivated. He would do best in a home where he can work on his training and learn new tricks. He already knows how to ‘sit’. Omar does seem to have some allergies that cause the pads of his paws to swell. This will need to be monitored and hopefully his new family can find the cause and get him on a special diet.. Come meet this handsome boy today!
Meino: 458723 This pet of the week is a true kitty Casanova. Meino is a 2 year old black tabby with white. He’s a neutered male and would love a home in time for Valentine’s day. Meino came to the shelter as a stray and is now hanging out in our new Petunia Louise Community Cat Room. He LOVES napping in the window seat and people watching. He’s very playful and very affectionate. He can get a little rough at times when he plays and would do best in a home with older children. Come meet this handsome man today!
Contact The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, (253) 383-2733 for more information. You can now see all shelter pets online.
Community steps up to help students with tuition
Posted by | CommentsAround 130 supporters of the University of Washington Tacoma attended a fundraising breakfast this morning on the university campus to help students meet the gap between what they can pay and what it costs to attend the university this year.
Friends of the University of Washington Tacoma, including community members, staff, faculty, retirees and alumni, have raised $350,159 so far for a new fund drive called Step Up Scholarships.
UW Tacoma is matching contributions to the Step Up Scholarships at 50 cents on the dollar, bringing the total thus far to more than $525,000. The goal is to raise $1 million all together by April 13, when tuition is due for spring quarter.
“Students are being asked to shoulder more of the cost of attending the university, and we want to help them as much as we can,” said UW Tacoma Chancellor Debra Friedman. “We have made remarkable progress in a short time, but we still have a ways to go. We need to raise another $316,000 from the community in two and a half months.”
Nominations being accepted for fourth Annual "Spirit of Youth" Award
Posted by | CommentsThe Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice (WA-PCJJ) is seeking nominations for the fourth Annual “Spirit of Youth” Award. The intent of the award is to recognize and celebrate a young adult who has made great strides following involvement with the juvenile justice system; has overcome personal obstacles; and is today making significant contributions to society. A $1,000 scholarship to attend a Washington state college, university or vocational/technical school is available to the award winner.
The award also provides the WA-PCJJ and the public with an important opportunity to learn from a young person’s direct experience about the hard work and dedication it takes to build a better life, and how juvenile justice professionals and systems can most effectively be of help.
Feb. 2 flag lowering to honor fallen Army private
Posted by | CommentsFlags should remain at half-staff until close of business Thursday, or first thing Friday morning, February 3.
Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join this recognition.
SBA Kicks Off Emerging Leaders Initiative for 2012
Posted by | CommentsToday, the U.S. Small Business Administration kicked off its 2012 e200/Emerging Leaders executive-level training initiative in 27 cities and communities. Since 2008 the e200/Emerging Leaders initiative has helped nearly 1,000 promising small business owners in underserved communities across the country sustain and grow their businesses, providing training they use to succeed and create jobs.
“Over the last few years Emerging Leaders has helped expand opportunities for many promising small businesses in underserved communities – in particular those that have been most impacted by these tough economic times,” SBA Administrator Karen Mills said. “Graduates of the program have increased their revenue, created jobs and helped drive local economic growth in their communities. Continuing with this year’s lineup of new classes builds on this success and provides even more entrepreneurs in underserved communities with the support, resources and skills to succeed.”
Joint Base Lewis-McChord late night firing announcement
Posted by | CommentsJoint Base Lewis-McChord will be conducting late night firing on the following dates:
| DATE | TIME | FIRING OF |
| 1-3 February 2012 | Day & Night | Demolitions, C4 and 120mm, 60mm Mortars |
| 7-10 February 2012 | Day & Night | 120mm, 81mm and 60mm Mortars |
Increased levels of activity will be noticed during the evening hours, and firing will be conducted from numerous firing points on base.
AARP Drivers Safety Program class locator and schedule for February 2012
Posted by | CommentsCurrently there are 15 classes scheduled in and around the Tacoma – Pierce County area in February. Should someone wish information about future classes in the Tacoma area, please call 253-588-2885.
Big crowd enjoys Sprinker ice rink’s opening day
Posted by | CommentsA slideshow from the Jan. 28 opening ceremony is available here.
More than 400 skaters of all ages and abilities tried out Sprinker Recreation Center's new-and-improved ice rink on Jan. 28, which opened to the public after an eight-month renovation.
County Executive Pat McCarthy cut the ribbon by driving the Zamboni ice resurfacer through it, heralding the start of a new era at the 35-year-old rink, which was threatened with closure in 2010.
"This rink has been a great resource for recreation and exercise for hundreds of thousands of people over the years. Groups like the Lakewood Winter Club and Friends of Sprinker made it clear they wanted us to find a way to solve this problem," McCarthy said. "I'm really proud of my team for zeroing in on the priority needs, and then identifying existing funding to pay for it. I appreciate that the County Council approved this cost-effective, common sense solution."
Kelley bill designed to limit abuse of EBT cards set for hearing on Jan. 31
Posted by | CommentsTo protect public health from rising air pollution levels, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage 1 burn ban in Pierce County, effective at 12 p.m. today. This ban is in effect until further notice.
High pressure has been building over the Puget Sound region, resulting in very cold and stagnant weather conditions. Air pollution is building up in Pierce County, especially in communities where residential wood burning is common. With stagnant conditions expected to continue through tomorrow, pollution levels could reach the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" category at some locations.
Clean Air Agency staff follow a protocol set by state law to determine when and where to issue a burn ban, and when to lift a burn ban.
During a Stage 1 burn ban:
- No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.
- No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas. It also includes burning yard waste and storm debris. Pierce County is providing FREE storm debris disposal options.
- Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.
Sprinker’s new ice rink is open
Posted by | CommentsAfter an eight-month renovation, Pierce County opened its new ice rink at Sprinker Recreation Center on Saturday, Jan. 28.
The $6.5 million project included a new roof, a new rink and refrigeration equipment for the 35-year-old facility in Spanaway. The ice rink portion of the building had been threatened with closure in 2010 due to structural concerns, but Executive Pat McCarthy and the County Council found a way to address critical needs with existing funding.
Doors opened at 9 a.m. for an open house. County officials and a special guest – Olympic ice dancing silver medalist Ben Agosto – delivered brief remarks at 10:30 a.m. before McCarthy drove the Zamboni through a ribbon across the ice, signaling the start of a new era of recreation at Sprinker. The rink is now read for public skating.
Report storm damage online
Posted by | CommentsThe Pierce County Damage Assessment Center (DAC) is now collecting damage information from homeowners and business owners affected by the recent ice and snow storms online at www.piercecountywa.gov/reportdamage.
If you have additional questions, call the DAC at 1-866-798-6363 (toll-free) or email PCEOC@co.pierce.wa.us. The DAC is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Office of Advocacy Releases Small Business Profiles for All 50 States
Posted by | CommentsToday the Office of Advocacy released the annual Small Business Profiles for the States and Territories. This is the 16th year Advocacy has published a state-by-state profile of American small business for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The profiles are an invaluable resource for small businesses, legislators, academics, government officials, and policymakers in each state. The Washington profile uses the most recent data available to provide details about the state’s small business employment; business starts and closings; bank lending; business ownership by minorities, women, and veterans; and firm and employment change by major industry and firm size.
“Small businesses are the foundation of economic growth in Washington and in our nation” said Dr. Winslow Sargeant, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. “By supporting policies that promote innovation and entrepreneurship, we help small businesses tackle these challenging economic times. These statistics are a resource for a path to economic growth.”
What to do with extra garbage, recycling and storm debris
Posted by | CommentsLast week’s storm affected almost everyone’s trash and recycling collection and many of you are wondering when to set out your containers.
American Disposal, DM Disposal, and Murrey’s Disposal, Lakewood Refuse, LeMay Enterprises, and Pierce County Refuse
For no additional charge, the company will accept twice your normal amount of garbage and recycling on your next regularly scheduled pick up day. If this requires you to use an additional container, please make sure you label it “Garbage” or “Recycling”. Drivers will be on the lookout for these extra containers.
Pierce County GOP Announces 2012 Precinct Caucuses
Posted by | CommentsThe Pierce County Republican Party has announced that 2012 GOP precinct caucuses are set for Saturday, March 3, in ten locations around the county. The caucuses will give Republican voters an opportunity to participate in a "straw poll" to name their preferred presidential candidate and to elect delegates to the Pierce County Republican Convention, beginning the winnowing process to select Washington State’s delegates to the Republican National Convention late this summer in Tampa, Florida.
Pierce County’s GOP will hold "pooled caucuses" centrally located within legislative districts to maximize attendance and reduce confusion over where each precinct meeting is located. All precincts in the 2nd, 25th, 26th, 27th and 31st Legislative Districts will caucus in single locations. The 28th and 29th Legislative Districts will divide into three and two locations, respectively. Sites for all of Pierce County's GOP precinct caucuses are attached.
