Dispatch News 12-20-2023

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CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

Eatonville United Methodist Church 185 Mashell Ave N. 360.832.4021

JOIN US AT 6PM

Dec. 20, 2023

Pastor Bernard Preston Ritchea (360) 832-4021

ISSUE 51

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IT'S IN THE CLASSIFIEDS

Hunting for a job? In the market for a new home? Have something to sell? Turn to the Classifieds in The Dispatch and at dispatchnews.com

Pierce County Sheriff staff shortage hindering progress on homelessness By Spencer Pauley The Center Square

Courtesy Annie Norman Eatonville's Mark Nueva goes up and scores over Morton-White Pass' Keaton Thompson in the Cruisers 72-57 victory over the Timberwolves.

Klumpar's 4 consecutive double-doubles propel Eatonville to impressive wins By Skip Smith

Contributing Writer

The Eatonville Cruiser boys’ basketball team showcased resilience and offensive prowess last week, securing three wins in four games to improve their season record to 4-4. In a Monday matchup, the Cruisers faced a slow start, committing four turnovers early in the game. However, a late firstquarter surge, highlighted by a 7-0

run, allowed Eatonville to take an 18-14 lead. The momentum carried into the second quarter, where a 9-0 run extended the lead to 3724 at halftime. Griffin Clevenger and Amari Samuel led the firsthalf offensive charge, contributing 14 and 12 points, respectively. Eatonville outscored the Warriors 39—21 in the second half, securing a 67-53 victory. Clevenger notched a game-high 18 points, Samuel added 16, and Hunter Klumpar recorded the team's first double-double of

the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Wednesday's game against Morton-White Pass Timberwolves proved challenging, with Eatonville succumbing to turnovers in the first quarter. Despite a 6-0 run to finish the half, the Cruisers fell short, losing 64-53. Klumpar achieved his second consecutive double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Mark Nueva contributed 14 points. On Friday, the Cruisers, still on the road, faced the Castle Rock Rockets. Despite struggling from three-point range, shooting 2 for 19 in the first half, Eatonville secured a 59-41 win. Freshman Amari Samuel led with a career-high 24 points, HOOPS Page 5Æ

A recent committee meeting on homelessness in Pierce County highlighted the impacts low staffing at the sheriff 's department has on addressing homelessness. Pierce County Sheriff Deputy Jeff Papen told the Select Committee on Homelessness that – as homeless encampments see more incidences of shootings, homicides and missing persons – the county is struggling to respond to the increased calls for services. Papen added that the Pierce County Sheriff 's Department is one of the lowest staffed departments in the U.S.. There are 771 FTEs related to public safety in the county. The department’s law enforcement branch saw the number of positions drop from 414 FTEs in the 2022-2023 budget year to 402 set for the 2024-2025 budget year. For context, the neighboring King County, Washington state’s most populated county, has 1,125 positions in its sheriff 's department. Papen said that there was an increase in calls for service corresponding with the increase of encampments throughout the county on various kinds of properties. “It was significant – we had several hundred types of calls that we couldn’t respond to,” Papen said in the committee meeting on Dec. 13. The 2024-25 biennial budget SHORTAGE Page 1Æ


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Dispatch News 12-20-2023 by Pacific Publishing Company - Issuu