SEE INSIDE: Binetti: Lawn is just fine, it will come back, page 5 . . . . Elfers: City leaders must be prudent, page 6 LOOK ONLINE: Downtown Buckley getting ready for “Back to the Future” car show, visit www.courierherald.com
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Roach, Dahlquist set for 31st Senate battle
What’s Inside Obituaries.......................Page 3, 4 Binetti.................................Page 5 Views..................................Page 6 Church...............................Page 7 Classified...........................Page 10
Champion...
By Dennis Box Editor
Enumclaw golfer Tyler Salsbury held off all challengers to win the prestigious Washington State Amateur Championship. For a full story, visit www.courierherald.com.
Weather There’s a 40 percent chance of showers today (Wednesday) and Thursday, with daytime high temperatures in the lower 70s. Sunny skies return Friday and stick around through Sunday, with temperatures reaching near 80 degrees. Nighttime lows will be around 60, with some cloudy conditions.
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The Seattle and Rainier polo clubs play in the Seattle Cup tournament in Enumclaw Saturday. The tournament was the inaugural event for the Seattle Polo & Equestrian Club, which has built a home on Southeast 400th Street. Photos by Dennis Box To view a slideshow go to www.courierherald.com.
The Aug. 5 primary narrowed the field of prospective political candidates in the 31st District and set up the high-noon showdown in the race for the district’s seat in the Senate. The intraparty primary clash between Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, and Rep. Cathy Dahlquist, R-Enumclaw, drew plenty of smoke and fire, and both will be on the November ballot. As of Monday, Roach maintained a narrow 288 vote lead over Dahlquist, according to the Secretary of State’s website. Roach had a 156 vote margin on election night. In the weeks leading up the primary, Roach faced a series of newspaper reports from The Courier-Herald, Tacoma News Tribune and Seattle Times concerning some of her Senate expense reports payments over the past six years. Roach, who is seeking a seventh term in the Senate, had to pay back about $5,000 to the Senate for mileage that was not allowed, two cell phones and her post office mailbox that received legislative and campaign mail, which is not allowed by state law.
The senator repeatedly said the accuracy of her expense reports were not her responsibility, but the responsibility of the Senate administration. During the weeks Pam Roach leading up to the primary and after the expense reports stories broke in the media, Roach sent an email to The Courier-Herald stating she delivered a letter to the Public Disclosure Commission alleging Dahlquist violated Cathy Dahlquist campaign finance rules. The accuracy or validity of this allegation has not been confirmed. Roach receive 9,077 votes, 40 percent, and Dahlquist had 8,789 votes, good for 39 percent. Lynda Messner, from Bonney Lake, who ran as a Democrat, received 4,551, 20 percent. Messner has been eliminated and Roach and Dahlquist now advance to the general election. In King County, Dahlquist received
SEE PRIMARY, PAGE 16
Conviction brings 25 years or more By Kevin Hanson Senior Writer
Enumclaw’s Travis Martin Lear was just 25 when he committed his third and final sex crime. Now, he’s facing 25 years behind bars and possibly many more. A King County jury found Lear guilty Aug. 6 of first-degree child molestation, the result of an incident that occurred in early 2013 at the Enumclaw library. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 5 at Kent’s
Regional Justice Center before Judge Chad Allred. Lear’s conviction came with a “predatory offense” stipulation that mandates a minimum incarceration of 25 years but allows a parole board to keep an inmate in prison for life. Lear has been confined to the RJC since his arrest. When Lear headed to the Enumclaw library on the afternoon of Jan. 30, 2013, he had twice been convicted of sex crimes and was a registered, Level 1 sex offender. But
things would only get worse. According to information taken from an Enumclaw Police Department press release and a “probable cause” document prepared by an EPD detective, the library incident unfolded like this. Lear’s 11-year-old victim and her father were visiting the library. She eventually headed to the parking lot, got into their car and was having a snack. A man approached the vehicle and ordered the girl to walk to the library bathroom, threaten-
ing to kill her if she didn’t follow his orders. Fearing for her safety, the young victim complied. The stranger, later identified as Lear, followed the girl into the bathroom and locked the door. He kissed her and molested her before becoming apologetic. The suspect said he didn’t like what he was doing but couldn’t control his “urges.” He told the victim she could leave, but not before issuing
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