SEE INSIDE: Author Ron Lemco chronicles the lion’s path in prison, Page 3 . . . . Sumner Downtown Association Executive Director retires, Page 5 . . . Community based transitions class helps special needs students prepare for working world, Page 11 . . . Bonney Lake Panthers football rolls over Enumclaw, Page 23 Your hometown newspaper
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
www.blscourierherald.com
Not all support 911 ballot measure
What’s Inside Classified ...................................Page 27 Views ..............................................Page 7 Sports .........................................Page 23 Education ................................... Page11 Pets ..................................................Page 6
Bonney Lake mayor says city has already spent $3 million to upgrade its system
Big & Small We Talk ‘Em All
All About Pets....
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Monitoring a pet’s health can be a weighty issue.
By Brian Beckley Staff Writer
On the Web t 'BSN 'SFTI TMJEFTIPX t 4QPSUT SFTVMUT t &YQBOEFE QPMJDF CMPUUFS t CSFBLJOH OFXT Updates daily. Go to: www.blscourierherald.com
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Pierce County voters are being asked to approve a 0.1 percent sales tax increase to pay for an upgrade to the county’s 911 system that
County Executive Pat McCarthy said would bring all dispatch services under the same roof. “We’re looking at trying to take a system that’s disparate and unconnected and connect it,� she said. The move is predicated by a 2004 FCC mandate to move communications services to a narrower broadcast band that must be completed by January 2013, but McCarthy said the main driver for the ballot measure is fixing the “Swiss cheese approach to radio commu-
nications� that currently serves the county. “Why not capitalize on this opportunity to really look at making a more efficient system for everyone?� she asked. But not all are on board, including many in the city of Bonney Lake, which has already spent more than $3 million to upgrade its own communications facilities following the mandate, money being paid off through debt service.
SEE 911, PAGE 10
A patch of Halloween fun!
School board boundaries redrawn due to growth
Weather Today, Wednesday, should be cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain in the afternoon and a high in the low 50s. Mostly cloudy skies are QSFEJDUFE UISPVHI 'JSEBZ XJUI showers this weekend. For details go to: www.blscourierherald.com
New boundaries provide more equal representation for southern and eastern parts of district By Daniel Nash Staff Writer
Responding to decade-long population growth in the east and south ends of district boundaries, the Sumner School Board has redrawn its director boundaries for more equal representation of its constituents. Like many public legislatures, the board evaluates its boundaries every ten years once new federal Census figures become available. Washington state requires school districts to develop a plan for adjusting their bounds to the population within eight months of receiving Census data.
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Senior Resource Guide
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Domanic Gerts, 4, gets a little help from grandfather Al Gerts Saturday at Farm Fresh Produce’s pumpkin patch on state Route 410. The Gerts family was among many dodging rain showers to get their pumpkins and check out the farm’s corn maze and other festivities. Right, Drake Liske, 11, lines up an apple on the farm’s slingshot. Photos by Brian Beckley/To view or buy photos go to www.blscourierherald.com.
SEE DISTRICTS, PAGE 5
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