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PHS graduation, Non-Profit Org. U.S. Seussical, page 26 K EY P ENINSULA June 13 Postage Paid Wauna, WA 98395 Permit No. 1 BOX HOLDER Happy Father’s Day, See pages NEWSThe voice of the Key Peninsula 13 & 18 www.keypennews.com Vol. 39 Issue 6 • Circulation 9,000 INSIDE ONLINE Sailing around JUNE 2010 Geoduck litter on KP beach Americorps helps out on KP Photo by Dale Goodvin, KP News Become a fan on Facebook Sailboats dotted the bay as the Longbranch Improvement Club celebrated the opening day of boating season with a regatta on May 1. Follow us on Twitter Layoff notices sent to FD 16 employees By Marsha Hart, KP News where we are today going into 2011,” “In past conversations we’ve never News Lique said. “It’s 50 cents on every thou- gotten a guarantee that a private ambu- Half of the Fire District 16 employees sand dollars of assessed property value. lance service will put an ambulance on Pierce Transit on KP ................2 will be receiving layoff notices by June 1. For a $250,000 home it is $125 a year. the Key Peninsula,” he said. “They may KP wood worker........................6 During the May 11 Fire District 16 “It’s a tax everyone is already paying, agree to respond, but they will come Summer is here ........................7 commissioner meeting, chief Tom Lique and has been for the last 10 years,” Lique from somewhere other than Key Center.” Music, poetry event ..................23 announced that the notices were being said. FD 16 personnel would still respond to prepared for 14 of the 28 employees, and If the levy fails, it could mean the end an emergency and be committed to stay Sections layoffs would be effective Sept. 30. of ambulance services. with that patient until ambulance service Peninsula Views . .4 It’s an effort to allow those employees “If the renewal fails to go through, it could arrive, Lique said. However it could Business . .5 to plan, in case the Emergency Medical will be almost $1.3 million cut in my potentially mean delays in fire response. Summer on the Peninsula 7 Services levy fails in August. As the budget, so right now the EMS part of the “Even if we can’t transport we would Faith . .12 current 10-year levy is set to expire this department provides 32 percent of our render care and be committed to them year, voters will go to the polls in August revenue.” until the ambulance came,” Lique said. Features . .13 to vote to either continue the levy for The commissioners have gone through “It could cause a ripple effect delay in our Community Works . .14 another 10 years or stop it. a workshop to determine what it could entire system following that format.” Education . .25 If the levy fails, Lique said the depart- mean for the department if the levy fails. In the past, Lique said there have been Arts & Entertainment . .26 ment would no longer guarantee ambu- They have recommended that Lique lags in response time. Sports . .27 lance service without enough personnel begin shopping for private ambulance “On at least two occasions when we’ve to staff it. services for the Key Peninsula, but he said Obituaries . .28 “If the levy passes it leaves us right it doesn’t look promising. (See FD16, Page 28) 2 www.keypennews.com • Key Peninsula News State camp- Key Peninsula may lose bus service By Rick Sorrels, KP News members and I are in favor of extending of your comments and forward them to routes to include outlying small commu- the whole Board. Public can testify at any ground hosts The Pierce Transit Board of nities, but this would come at a cost of board meeting. Board meetings are on Commissioners will soon decide whether reduced service to the inner cities. the second Monday of each month at 4 to have the voters consider a .3 percent “Decisions have not been made yet, p.m. at the Pierce Transit facilities located needed increase in sales tax to preserve existing and will be the subject of much discus- at 3720 96th St. SW, Lakewood. bus service, or to reduce or eliminate bus sion over the coming months.” Aproximately 100 persons attended the OLYMPIA - The Washington State service to various areas. Key Peninsula is Faced with proposed service reduc- May 10 Pierce Transit Board meeting. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at risk of loosing all bus service. The tions, five Pierce County cities (Bonney Dozens of citizens all spoke out against any is recruiting enthusiastic, reliable, and closest bus stop would be the Purdy Park Lake, Orting, Buckley, Steilacoom, and reduction in service. committed volunteers who would like to and Ride. Dupont) have threatened to withdraw serve as unpaid campground hosts at The current year budget for Pierce from the Pierce Transit District if service some of the recreation areas DNR Transit is $119 million. This is a revenue to their communities is cut. manages across Washington State. Camp drop of $40 million since 2007. Lars Erickson, the Public Relations offi- hosts provide a positive, helpful, safe, Revenue comes from sales tax (70 cial for Pierce Transit, says, “Withdrawal and informative DNR presence for visi- percent), fair box receipts (18 percent), from the Pierce Transit District does not tors. Hosts have two primary duties-to and state and federal grants (10 percent). return the sales tax receipts to the cities conduct general campground mainte- Terry Lee, who represents the Key affected. The tax is still collected, the law nance and to act as a primary point of Peninsula on the Pierce County Council, simply prescribes a different distribution contact for campers. All hosts must is also the Chair of the Pierce Transit other than to Pierce Transit.” complete Basic First Aid training and Board. Washington law describes a procedure pass a Washington State Patrol criminal “The Pierce Transit Board will make the where cities can request and initiate a background check. While each DNR decision whether routes will be changed, “public transportation improvement confer- campground has unique characteristics or if a sales tax change goes to the voters,” ence” in order to redefine the boundaries of and natural features, the sites are all said Lee. “We have not made the decision the area served by Pierce Transit. considered rustic or primitive. Each site’s yet. A vote to change the tax would not go Lee said, “It is still unclear if unincorpo- amenities vary. If you are interested in to the voters until November or February. rated areas of Pierce County have the volunteering for the DNR as a camp- For a November vote, a decision would same rights as cities to determine the ground host, please call Christine need to be made no later than early service area. The attorneys are still Redmond, DNR’s Volunteer Program August. researching this.” Coordinator, at 360-902-1632. “If voters approve a sales tax increase, The only sure recourse that KP resi- we will be able to retain all existing bus dents now have is to make their needs service, and even add some additional and opinions known before decisions are CORRECTION service,” said Lee. “Without a sales tax made, he said. increase, we have no choice other than to “The public is welcome to call me, but I In the story “Food storm brews on Key cut service in order to live within our already have taken an active position to Pen” in our May edition, Holly Hendrick budget.” maintain service on the KP,” said Lee. was identified as a former board member A proposal submitted by Pierce “Other members of the Board are better of the Key Peninsula Farmers Market. Transit staff would eliminate all bus targets for public comments.” Hendrick was not a board member, but service on the Key Peninsula, including Councilmember Lee can be reached at was the market manager. The Key service for seniors and the disabled. 798-6654. Barb Shatz is the Clerk for the Peninsula News regrets the error. “I strongly oppose reducing any service Pierce Transit Board, and can be reached on the KP,” said Lee. “Other Board at 983-3438. Request that she make note EY ENINSULA To subscribe, please write, Executive editor: Marsha Hart Frank Slater, Irene Torres, Karina K P call or fax: Assistant editor: Danna Webster Whitmarsh, Sharon Hicks, PJ Kezele, Kevin Reed, Ted Olinger, Kelly Key Peninsula News Ad sales: Lori Deacon, Melissa Larson Community pages editor: Maxfield, Karen Lovett, Kyle Coster, Ed 17010 S. Vaughn Rd. Johnson, Dale Goodvin, Eleanor Walters Connie Renz P.O. Box 3, Vaughn, WA 98394 Distribution: Vic Renz, Phil Bauer, Production: September Hyde, Phone (253) 884-4699 Frank Slater, Gary Gebo NEWS Chip Butzko Contributors: Jerry Libstaff, Rick www.keypennews.com Fax: (253) 884-4053 Interim web master: Rodika Tollefson Sorrels, Ron Cameron, Heather Bigger, Unsolicited submissions deadline including press releases: Email [email protected] Staff: Hugh McMillan, Colleen Slater, Dan Whitmarsh, Jim Bellamy 15th of each month Key Peninsula News is published monthly by the Key Peninsula Civic Center Association at the Key Peninsula Civic Center in Vaughn, Washington. Copyright 2009 with all rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial or graphic contents in any manner without permission is prohibited. Annual subscriptions (12 issues) are available for $30.00 and are mailed first class. Copies are mailed presort standard to residents and post office box holders of the Key Peninsula. Single copies are available at the newspaper office in the basement of the Civic Center annex and at various distribution points located on the Key Peninsula.