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East Pierce to lay off six firefighters By Ray Still Staff Writer
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East Pierce Fire and Rescue and the department’s labor union, Local 3520, failed to reach an agreement last week to mitigate a $1 million deficit in East Pierce’s 2015 budget. In order to address the shortfall, East Pierce’s Fire
an agreement with Commissioners Local 3520, we are voted 5-2 to lay forced to utilize off four firefightpersonnel layers, as well as offs to reduce our two temporar y deficit spending,” firefighters, one Fire Commission receptionist, and Dale Mitchell Chairman Dale reduce one inforMitchell said durmation technology staff member to part- ing a Dec. 16 meeting. “We believe our only time status. “Given that we have viable option to the longbeen unable to come to term financial health
of the fire district is to lower our annual operating expenditures through a reduction in the number of employees.” Local 3520 and East Pierce will continue to discuss concessions, but the layoffs are scheduled to take place on Jan. 31 if concessions are not agreed upon.
Labor Concessions
Local 3520 and East Pierce have met seven times during the past few months to discuss multiple concession packages in order to prevent layoffs. The union’s most recent package, according to Local 3520 President
SEE LAYOFFS, PAGE 4
Schemes, scams and theft increase during holidays By Eric Mandel
Find out how to calm a stressed kitty in the All About Pets section Page 5
W
Weather The forecast for today, Wednesday, calls for mostly cloudy skies and a chance of shower with high to 43 and overnight low to 30. the forecast for Christmas is for showers with partly sunny skies and a high to 40.
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O Christmas Tree
Renee Fleckner examines a fir tree at Farm Fresh Produce in Buckley off of state Route 410. Her husband Chad and her sons Vincent and Cameron enjoy a hot drink on a cool night Dec. 17. Photo by Ray Still
hen the sales are announced and the wallets come out, there’s always one safe bet: Tis’ the season for thefts and scams. “There are a lot of vulnerable people out there,” said Covington Police Chief Kevin Klason. Crimes typically increase across the nation during the holiday season. The mix of alcohol, depression, heavy shopping and family obligations can produce a piteous blend. Large and small cities alike face this increase in nefariousness, be it bank robberies and murders or mail theft and phone scams. Area law enforcement officials say the spike locally is centered on the latter of those crimes — specifically scams. The Federal Trade Commission says thousands of people lose money to phone scams every year, from a few dollars to life savings. The Bonney Lake Police Department warned its residents of a phone scam reported by several citizens that involved an automated phone call falsely identified as being from the City of Bonney Lake. The
&Wellness OH BABY!
Deadline: January 2 @ 5pm, Published: January 28
Health
Staff Writer
SEE SCAMS, PAGE 8
Deadline: January 14 @ 5pm, Published: January 21
2014