INSIDE: South Prairie council seat candidate-less | Page 2 . . . District to pay employees from reserves | Page 5 . . . Sumner takes Rainier To Ruston Mayor’s Cup | Page 10
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Wednesday, July 3, 2013 | 75 cents
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Kids collide with car, sustain no major injuries
An inaugural Relay
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Weather
The forecast for today, Wednesday, is sunny with a high of 81 and low of 58. Thursday, Independence Day, will be sunny with highs in the upper 70s and lows around 57. Friday predicts a high of 76. Saturday and Sunday will near 80 once again and lows will remain about 58.
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The city of Bonney Lake celebrated its first independent Relay for Life event June 28 and 29. On splitting off from Sumner’s Relay — which will be held July 26 — guest speaker Mayor Neil Johnson said “This is how Relay For Life of Sumner began, splitting off from Puyallup Relay. And that became a big success.” Thirty-one teams and 228 participants raised more than $41,500 for cancer research. Photo by Daniel Nash
Two adolescent boys were hit by a vehicle at approximately 9:30 p.m. Thursday night in Bonney Lake. The vehicle was traveling southbound on 194th Avenue East, approaching 75th Street East, when it struck the two 12-year-olds. One boy was on a bicycle and the other was riding a scooter; neither sustained major injuries. It was reported that the boys did not stop at the stop sign before proceeding into the road. Bonney Lake police officer Todd Green said alcohol and speed were not factors in the accident. The driver was able to slow the vehicle down enough to minimize impact. Both boys were transported to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma for treatment of minor injuries, including bumps and bruises. Although the outcome turned out to be
See helmets, Page 2
Education takes the fore during Op. Dry Water By Daniel Nash Staff Writer
It’s June 28 and the start of a beautiful weekend on Tapps, drawing hundreds to the lake’s shore and on the water. Amidst the sun and fun, Bonney Lake police are about to embark on patrol in the department’s marine services boat, taking special care to look for boat operators who could be under the influence of alcohol. The hunt is part of Operation Dry Water, a national campaign funding overtime patrols to enforce boating under the influence laws. In Washington state, operating a boat under the influence of drugs
or alcohol is a misdemeanor that can result in 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. On July 28, the crime will become a gross misdemeanor with enhanced penalties of up to 364 days in jail and $5,000 in fines. The Coast Guard and National Association of State Boating Law Administrators initiative began in 2009 to reduce water fatalities involving alcohol. A 2012 Coast Guard study found alcohol factored into nearly a fifth of boating deaths. “Almost all the major accidents we see on the water involve alcohol,” says Sgt. Rob Hoag, adding that summer 2013 had been relatively accident-free so far. Hoag manned the first shift
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of the weekend emphasis alongside Officer Eric Alfano. Standing shoreside Friday morning shortly before launching the boat, Hoag said he expected the weekend to begin calmly. “Ninety percent of what we do on the boat is education,” says Hoag. “We want to make sure boaters have all the proper life jackets and equipment, their boater education card, and if they don’t have them or didn’t know they needed them, we tell them how to get them as soon as possible.” As the police boat sets out, Allan Yorke is just starting to fill up with people and only a few boats have ventured onto the water. Within
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minutes, Hoag slows near a row boat close to the launch and shouts to the three occupants. “Hey guys, we’re just doing safety checks,” he said. “Do you all have life jackets?” The three nod. “Can you show me?” All three scoop their jackets from the boat bottom and hold them up. “Alright, looks good,” Hoag says. Before they leave, a boy in the boat asks how fast the police boat goes. “About 55,” Hoag says. “Yeah, more like 165,” Alfano jokes, and the boat takes off west
See dry water, Page 2