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Bonney Lake grad awarded Distinguished Flying Cross Sarah Wehmann Staff Writer
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For Bonney Lake graduate Robert Wells, August 4, 2012, “started off like any other day.” Wells was stationed in Okinawa, Japan flying in the Air Force for Combat Rescue. As the day started, Wells and the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron were
loading up their aircraft as New Zealand patients. a call came over the radio. And once they were on Wells said their way he said, the call was, five more were “Attention to the added to be picked net. Scramble, up. scramble, scramAlong the way, ble!” the crew deterOnce their gear mined how much was loaded, they fuel would be took off to comneeded to accomplete the mission. plish the mission Robert Wells The mission, and the tactical Wells said, was operations center initially to pickup two was coordinating a heli-
copter air refuel with the HC-130P Rescue Kings. They would fly up from Bastion in Southern Afghanistan and wait in case Wells and his crew needed more fuel. Wells’ aircraft, Pedro 84, was joined by the lead aircraft, Pedro 83. Both aircrafts flew to the medical facility that was roughly 40 miles away, Wells said. Once they dropped off
Sarah Wehmann
Weather The forecast for today, Wednesday, calls for partly sunny with a high near 79 and light wind in the afternoon. The rest of the week and weekend is forecasted to be mostly sunny. Look for some clouds at night on the Fourth. The high should reach 77 on Sunday. The lows will be near 53.
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Staff Writer
The Bonney Lake City Council approved the resolution to adopt the city’s six-year transportation improvement program for the years 2015 to 2020 at the June 24 meeting. Prior to the approval, a public hearing was open to discuss the six-year plan but no speakers were present. City Administrator Don Morrison said the city is required to adopt a transportation plan every year. In doing so, he added, the city is eligible for federal funding through the Puget Sound Regional Council. “Very few of the projects on the list (at this time) are funded,” he said. “It is really just a big ‘wish list’ of what we would do if we had the money.” However, Morrison said aside from some minor improvements there are a few projects that could realistically be done in the next two years. Those projects include improvements to the intersection of state Route 410 and Veterans Memorial Drive, improvements to the 186th
By Theresa De Lay Staff Writer
Bull of the Woods
See council, Page 22
Bonney Lake resident George Eicher was the 2014 Bull of the Woods. Eicher rode in the 41st annual Buckley Log Show parade Saturday. Carsen Scott competes in the pole climbing event and Sarah Schoenbachler in Ma and Pa Bucking. Photos by Kevin Hanson and Ashley Britschgi
by playing the Who’s Who contest! See the ad in this week’s Bonney Lake Courier-Herald to play!
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Tapps Island Golf Course 1077289
See award, Page 22
Sumner man charged with child assault
Council approves six year plan Police Blotter Page 3
their patients, he said they received another call that three more patients needed to be picked up. Pedro 84 and 83 went back to pick up the patients and as they were picking up speed to head back to the medical facility, Wells said they heard over the radio “Pedro 84 cease fire.” “At that point, you
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Eli Tomal, a 31-year-old man from Sumner, was booked into jail for assault of a child in the first degree. According to charging documents from Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist Tomal pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $75,000. The alleged incident occurred Jan. 28 at Tomal’s home, where he resided with his girlfriend and her 1-year-old daughter. Tomal was home alone with the child for approximately 15 minutes, according to court documents. Upon returning home, the girlfriend attempted to wake the child who was reportedly breathing shallowly and throwing up but wouldn’t open her eyes. The mother called 911. Both Tomal and his girlfriend claimed the child’s injuries were caused by falling onto a f lashlight and hitting her head previously. Surgeons determined however, that excessive shaking and violent force likely caused the hemorrhaging and skull fractures the child sustained.
See assault, Page 22