Wrestling, page 19 Non-Profit Org. U.S. K EY P ENINSULA Postage Paid Vaughn, WA 98394 Permit No. 2 BOX HOLDER Happy Martin Luther King Jr Day No School NEWSThe voice of the Key Peninsula Jan. 18 www.keypennews.com Vol. 38 Issue 1 • Circulation 9,000 INSIDE ONLINE County may log Olson Drive JANUARY 2010 More than 30 trees lining the embank- Suspect trees have been marked with ment along Olson Drive KPN have been blue spray paint because of their proximity marked with blue spray paint for possible and possible danger to the road. Some of removal by the Pierce County Public Works the largest marked trees along Olson are 3- and Utilities Department. The contract for to 5-feet in diameter, making them older the work will be awarded by early spring than the road they line. and paid for with a federal grant. “The maples are just beautiful and “Pierce County received a $400,000 people enjoy the tree-lined street,” said safety grant and we have a portion allo- Joyce Niemann, who lives on the hill above cated to improve the roadside along rural, Olson Drive. two lane county roads,” said Marlene Ford “Both these roads come out of property of the Traffic Engineering Department of my grandfather homesteaded,” said Pierce County Public Works and Utilities. Niemann, referring to Olson Drive KPN “We’re going through the process right and the intersecting 92nd Street KPN, Vaughn Bay Bridge construction now of doing a right of way assessment, and where trees have also been marked. the fastest, easiest way for us to do it was to Niemann is the granddaughter of Andrew Photo by Ted Olinger, KP News first mark them in the field and then send Olson, who homesteaded 140 acres ◗ Local government budgets Trees marked for possible removal our survey crew out to determine whether ◗ Purdy Prison Documentary along Olson Drive. they’re in the county right of way or not.” (See TREES, Page 21) ◗ Fire Stats ◗ Photo gallery and more Icy Marina Some ducks swim in the cold water as News a seagull and FD16 - third in series ..........2 other ducks walk along Census coming to KP ..........3 the ice at Polar Plunge in Allyn ............8 Lakebay From Pioneer Stock ............14 Marina. Out & About ........................24 Sections Peninsula Views . .4-5 Letters . .4 Business . .7 Features . .8 Community Works . .12 History . .14 Schools . .16 Photo by Faith Rhodes, Special Sports . .19 to the KP News 2 www.keypennews.com • Key Peninsula News Reduced aid, expense for KP residents By Ted Olinger, KP News themselves to a minimum of four 25]. It was a medical aid and Mason [career] people on every day, with a call- County transported, and that patient got Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of back minimum of three. So, just because billed. [The family is] obviously quite six stories on FD 16 one person calls in sick, it doesn’t auto- upset because they’re getting billed for matically require a callback [overtime] an incident that we should’ve been there As FD 16 cuts expenses after another shift,” said Lique. for,” said Bosch. failed levy, the result will likely be an “With only three on, two go on the “I can see that’s going to start increase in expenses for KP residents who ambulance call — a paramedic and a happening more and that’s going to be require medical aid. Other districts that driver — then only one person is left in very frustrating for our taxpayers because help with response charge patients for the district,” said Lique. “That will be a they voted for that EMS levy, 10 years ago, transport. paid officer so that they can supervise all but when we can only guarantee one The Key Peninsula Fire Department the logistics necessary if they have to go on ambulance at a time, that’s a price will run only one ambulance on some another call, or bring in another agency, everyone has to pay, sadly enough,” said shifts in 2010 to reduce costs. A new or fight a fire in the absence of having Bosch. staffing policy was adopted as planned by their own response crew,” said Lique. The EMS levy Key Pen voters approved the Fire Commissioners at the Dec. 22 Under the new policy, if a shift is down nearly 10 years ago doesn’t cover all of meeting. to three, “the officer would have to the department’s EMS expenses. Money “Changing our shift staffing level is a respond alone [to a second aid call] and for fire suppression had supplemented major change to the way we do business hope they get supported by a volunteer EMS, but that has dried up after four fire here in the department,” said Fire Chief or off duty personnel. If they don’t get an levy losses in as many years. The EMS levy Tom Lique, explaining the new policy at off duty response or a volunteer, they is due for renewal by voters next year. Photo by Ted Olinger, KP News the Dec. 8 commissioners’ meeting. can’t transport, ... [they] would have to Fire Chief Lique, Division Chief Paul As FD 16 cuts back and tries to make The department currently runs two rely on somebody else,” said Lique. Bosch, and Battalion Chiefs Riegle and ends meet with less revenue, some equip- medic units 24 hours a day. The Even with two medic units, this has Robert Bosch are also paramedics and ment is being sold. minimum requirement is four career already been happening. count toward minimum staffing for the personnel. If one of the four is not avail- Key Pen residents get a free ambulance medic units. Cutting the minimum to Lique. “I turn my portable radio on and able to work due to illness, injury or vaca- ride right now, “if they’re transported by three may require them to respond more modify my plans so I’m not leaving the tion, off duty personnel are called to fill us,” said Christina Bosch, Administrative often than they do already to fill in for a district when we don’t have any career in and paid overtime. Manager for FD 16. missing fourth staff member. people left. We’ll all monitor the traffic The new policy changes that. “We did have an incident during the “I monitor the traffic so I know when more closely when we’re at three, the “The shifts have agreed to schedule fire the day before Thanksgiving [Nov. both ambulances have left,” said Chief division chiefs and myself,” said Lique. By Marsha Hart, KP News Peninsula were prepared and distributed the number of crimes reported in the Response to by Lt. Rusty Wilder and deputy Jake Kreis area is down, but he acknowledged that On a cold Dec. 10 night, about 30 of the Pierce County Sheriff’s would not be a comfort to those who have people came out to Camp Easter Seal for Department, as well as Emily Watson, the been victimized. Key Peninsula a meeting to discuss crimes along South community service officer. Year-to-date numbers show that prop- Vaughn Road and the vicinity. “I’m here because I care what happens erty crimes are down, with 333 reported. Information about prevention and out here,” said Wilder. Crime current crime statistics for the Key Pointing to the statistics, Wilder said (See CRIME, Page 22) EY ENINSULA To subscribe, please write, Executive editor: Marsha Hart Colleen Slater, Frank Slater, Irene K P call or fax: Assistant editor: Danna Webster Torres, Karina Whitmarsh, Sharon Hicks, PJ Kezele, Kevin Reed, Ted Key Peninsula News Ad sales: Lori Boll Community pages editor: Olinger, Kelly Maxfield, Karen Lovett, 17010 S. Vaughn Rd. Kyle Coster, Ed Johnson 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 www.keypennews.com Chip Butzko Contributors: Jerry Libstaff, Rick NEWS Fax: (253) 884-4053 Unsolicited submissions deadline including press releases: Interim web master: Rodika Tollefson Sorrels, Ron Cameron, 15th of each month Email [email protected] Staff: William C. Dietz, Hugh McMillan, Jud Morris, Angelique Knapp 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 $25.00 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. Approximately 18,000 people live in the distribution area. STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, AND OPERATION OF THE KEY PENINSULA NEWS 1. THE KEY PENINSULA NEWS is a community newspaper, owned and published by the KEY PENINSULA CIVIC CENTER ASSOCIATION, a nonprofit, 501-C3, corporation with main offices in Vaughn, Washington. 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