Auburn Reporter, March 28, 2014

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INSIDE | Fancher honored as Pacific’s Citizen of the Year [8] Sports | Beltin’ Bedsworth looks to lift Ravens to postseason [12]

Friday, March 28, 2014

PACIFIC’S COURAGEOUS COP

VRFA personnel join landslide recovery efforts

Police officer receives Medal of Valor for actions

By SHAWN SKAGER sskager@auburn-reporter.com

Four members of the Valley Regional Fire Authority have joined recovery efforts in Snohomish County at the site of last Saturday’s devastating mudslide. VRFA Battalion Chief Parry Boogard, Capt. Dale Lagginess, and Firefighters Barry Rickert and Jason Herman – along with 70 others – responded to the activation of the Federal [ more RECOVERY page 3 ]

By SHAWN SKAGER

INSIDE: Auburn police officer will soon provide full-time service to the Muckleshoot Tribe on reservation property within city limits, page 6

sskager@auburn-reporter.com

Joshua Hong’s wife pins the Medal of Valor on the Pacific Police officer during a ceremony Monday. SHAWN SKAGER, Auburn Reporter

Pacific Police Officer Joshua Hong put his life on the line, using deadly force to stop a suspected car thief from stealing a Pacific patrol car on Feb. 6. For his actions, the six-year veteran received the Medal of Valor, awarded to any police officer in Washington State “who has saved, or attempted to save, the life of another at the risk of serious injury or death to himself or herself.” “While on duty with the Pacific Police Department you encountered a dangerous

felon,” Pacific Police Chief John Calkins read from the citation at Monday’s City Council meeting. “Due to the actions of the suspect, you were required to risk your life to protect the citizens of Pacific and your own life in the most complex and difficult decision to make in law enforcement, whether to use deadly force. Your decision to use deadly force was the correct decision, and you are to be [ more valor page 7 ]

VRFA: Fatal Auburn house fire was set Woman’s death likely a suicide, police say

Lt. Col. Paul Hansen, left, and Lt. Col. Edward Saylor, 94, one of four remaining Doolittle Raiders, present Hunter Storm the Air Force Association Award. RACHEL CIAMPI, Auburn Reporter

BY ROBERT WHALE rwhale@auburn-reporter.com

Valley Regional Fire Authority investigators have determined that the cause of the fatal house fire at 5034 Elliot Court SE in Auburn on Sunday afternoon was arson. And according to the King County Medical Examiner, the woman whose body was found in the burning home set the fire herself. "The Medical Examiner classified her death as a suicide," said Auburn Police Commander Mike Hirman. "We are conducting our own investigation just to make sure no one else was involved. But at this point, all indications are suicide." According to investigators, the fire began in the second-floor master bedroom of the home, where firefighters found the woman's body. The King County Medical Examiner has not yet confirmed her identity. Multiple neighbors called 911 at 3:46 p.m. after [ more FIRE page 3 ]

Civil Air Patrol Cadet honored with award, medal By ROBERT WHALE rwhale@auburn-reporter.com

Valley Regional Fire Authority firefighters responded to and extinguished a fatal house fire at 5034 Elliot Court SE in Auburn on Sunday. Fire investigators have determined that the cause of the fire was incendiary. courtesy photo, Valley Regional Fire Authority

bravo

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (PG; 1977) | March 28, 8 p.m. | Free, Auburn Ave. Theater Classical Connoisseur: Pairing of Music & Wine | April 5, 7 p.m. | $35, Auburn Golf Course Cab Calloway Orchestra | April 6, 2:30 p.m. | $17/$15, Auburn Performing Arts Center 953315

Hunter Storm, say those who know her, is a girl of remarkable drive, energy, resolve. Storm’s been baking pies to raise money so she can head off to the Florida Everglades this summer to pitch herself into marine oceanography research, one more rung on the ladder that will, given her resolve, allow her to do what she loves best in the world: “oceanography and all sorts of science, animals, the universe and [ more CADET page 3 ] Pairing of

music and

wine

ssical ClaC onnoisse ur

Tickets: www.auburnwa.gov/arts | 253-931-3043


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