Hundreds of classic cars expected at Eatonville’s 29th annual Rod Knockers Car Show
By Merrick Parnell Contributing Writer
For nearly 30 years, downtown Eatonville has been the place to be for car enthusiasts during the annual Rod Knockers Car Show.
Now in its 29th year, the event returns June 21, bringing together classic car lovers from across the Pacific Northwest.
“Last year we had 327 registered vehicles. We have them come up from Oregon and, of course, all reaches of Washington,” said Frank Tolliver, president of the Rod Knockers Car Club.
The Rod Knockers Car Club, established in 1994, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the local community. The club provides funding for the Eatonville Senior Center and local food bank, and it sponsors tiny homes for veterans at the Washington Soldiers Home in Orting. In addition, the club supports education by funding two automotive scholarships at Bates Technical College.
According to Tolliver, organizing the show takes months of planning.
“There’s a lot that goes into putting a show on. Lining up sponsors is the main element, then collecting door prizes and knickknacks for the goody bags,” he said. “It takes time to organize and set up. Show time is very busy and energizing.”
Three Eatonville athletes rewrite the record books
By Skip Smith Contributing Writer
Eatonville High School's track and field record board is getting a serious facelift this spring—thanks to a trio of standout athletes who shattered long-standing marks and, in one case, kept breaking his own.
Seniors Ethan Carter, Ky Nation, and Jenae Roulst have each etched their names into school history this season, redefining what’s possible on the track and in the field for the Cruisers.Seeing a single school record fall in a season isn’t unusual. But three in one year—two of them on the same day—is rare, and for Eatonville, it marks a momentous chapter in the school’s athletic legacy.
Carter’s dominance in the pole vault has been nothing short of historic. The senior first broke Jahmai Judah’s 2019 school record of 14 feet, 1 inch with a 14-2 clearance at the 1A Evergreen League Championships on May 10. From there, he didn’t stop. In fact, Carter broke his own record five more times this season—peaking with a 15-8 vault on April 23 at Foss.
“Every time I have vaulted to attempt and break the school record, I knew I was attempting it,” Carter said. “It feels amazing
knowing that I am a part of the Eatonville Cruiser history. I only hope my record pushes other kids to vault higher and break it again.”
Carter, who plans to attend Pierce College before transferring to Pacific Lutheran University to continue competing, said he’s aiming to grow as both an athlete and future coach.
While Carter soared over bars, Nation and Roulst scorched the track.
Roulst broke Hannah Hanson’s 2023 girls 100-meter record with a 12.77-second sprint at a home meet against Steilacoom on April 30.
“It feels amazing!” Roulst said. “My second older brother Jager Roulst has the school record for high jump and me not wanting to let him be the only one—I had to get my name in that trophy case with him.” Roulst, who overcame a serious foot injury that left her season in doubt, said the moment was even more special because it came at her final home meet. “I had no idea I broke it. I was feeling amazing that day,” she said. “I jumped up and down hugging
Tolliver added that car culture brings people together across
The Rod Knockers Car Show returns June 21.
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Eatonville's Ky Nation (left), Ethan Carter (center), and Jenae Roulst (right) all etched their names into the Eatonville HS record books this track season by breaking school records.
KIERSTI NATION/GEOFF OLSON/JENAE ROULST
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County ‘SolSmart Silver’ for solar energy
By The Tacoma Weekly
Pierce County received a “Silver” designation from the national SolSmart program for encouraging the growth of affordable solar energy options at the local level.
As a SolSmart Silver designee, Pierce County has adopted nationally recognized best practices to advance solar market growth. Pierce County worked with SolSmart’s no-cost technical assistance team to increase local knowledge of solar energy so the entire community can benefit.
“Pierce County is proud to receive the SolSmart Silver designation, which reflects our commitment to a cleaner, more resilient future. By making solar energy more accessible and affordable for our residents and businesses, we’re not only reducing emissions – we’re investing in local solutions that create long-term benefits for our community,” said Pierce County Executive Mello.
SolSmart is led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. Over 500 cities, towns, counties, and regional organizations have achieved SolSmart designation since the program
launched in 2016.
Pierce County’s greenhouse gas reduction plan, Sustainability 2030, calls for a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from a 2015 baseline. Eliminating barriers to the installation of renewable energy projects, including solar energy, supports the goals of Sustainability 2030. Shifting energy generation to clean, local sources like solar saves money, reduces pollution and increases resilience.
To achieve SolSmart Silver designation, Pierce County Planning & Public Works Development Services staff completed training on best practices for permitting and inspecting solar energy and solar-plus storage systems.
Pierce County’s Office of Resilience and Climate Action also created a solar landing
page to help residents learn more about planning their solar projects. The solar energy webpage also highlights local solar success stories, such as the Purdy Landfill Solar Project. These and other actions taken will make it faster, easier, and more affordable for local residents, businesses and nonprofit organizations to install solar in our community. At the city level, Tacoma Public Utilities can assist customers with adding solar energy to their homes.
SolSmart designees are now in 43 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Any city, town, county, and regional organization is eligible to join the program. Interested communities can learn more at SolSmart.org.
does so by accepting books and other donations and conducting book sales during the year. All of the funds are used to supplement the various library programs that enrich the local community.
To learn more about the group, contact Mike Eaton at 253-310–7709 or reach him in person at the library any Friday. There is no obligation. Application forms to join the organization are available at the library.
Some utility companies in the county can help homeowners with solar energy.
COURTESY TACOMA WEEKLY
Savvy Senior: Does Medicare cover annual physical exams?
by Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior, Does Medicare cover annual physical exams? I’ve gotten a physical every year since I turned 50 and would like to find out what Medicare covers when I sign up in a few months.
Almost 65
Dear Almost, No, Medicare does not pay for annual physical exams, but it does cover a onetime “Welcome to Medicare” checkup during your first year after enrolling in Part B. And after that, it covers annual wellness visits to keep track of your health. Here’s what you should know.
PHYSICAL VS WELLNESS EXAM
In an annual physical, a doctor examines you, may do bloodwork and other tests and looks for problems even though you don’t have a specific complaint or risk.
The Welcome to Medicare checkup and annual wellness visits are different. They focus primarily on preventive care.
Your doctor will review your risk factors, develop a personalized health plan for you, check that you’re up to date with preventive tests such as cancer screenings and flu shots and may refer you for other tests. Here’s a breakdown of what these exams may include.
WELCOME TO MEDICARE CHECKUP
This is an introduction to Medicare and focuses on health promotion, disease prevention and detection to help you stay well. It’s an opportunity for your doctor to assess your health and provide a plan for care. During this visit your doctor will:
■ Take your height, weight, and blood pressure measurements, and calculate your body mass index (BMI).
■ Ask about your personal and family health history.
■ Give you referrals for other care as needed.
■ Assess your potential for depression.
■ Provide a simple vision test.
■ Recommend vaccines, tests, screenings and other preventive
services you need to stay healthy.
■ Offer to talk with you about creating advance directives.
ANNUAL WELLNESS VISIT
This visit includes some of the same elements as the Welcome to Medicare checkup. For example, your doctor will review your medical history, record your vital information and give you an opportunity to talk about advance directives. Your doctor may also provide the following services:
■ Create a screening checklist for recommended preventive services for the upcoming year.
■ Look at health risks and treatment options.
■ Perform a cognitive assessment to look for signs of dementia.
■ Provide personalized health advice.
■ Review your current prescriptions.
Study risk factors for opioid problems if you have a prescription for opioids, and screen for potential substance use disorders.
MEDICARE COVERAGE
The Welcome to Medicare and annual wellness visits are fully covered by Medicare Part B without any out-of-pocket costs. You don’t need the Welcome to Medicare visit to qualify for later annual wellness visits, but know that Medicare won’t pay for a wellness visit during the first 12 months you have Part B.
During these visits, the provider may order additional tests or procedures that may be subject to Medicare’s deductibles, copayments or coinsurance.
Make sure that when you book your appointment, you specifically ask for the Welcome to Medicare checkup or annual wellness visit to ensure Medicare covers it. Otherwise, you may have to pay for the visit.
If you’re enrolled in Medicare Advantage, you’ll probably need to use an in-network provider for the wellness visits to be covered. Some Medicare Advantage plans also cover annual physicals in addition to the wellness visit. Check your plan for details.
Send your questions or comments to questions@ savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
Public input sought for bridge’s future
By The Tacoma Weekly
Pierce County Councilmember Dave Morell is encouraging community members to participate in the Carbon River Bridge Public Input period.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has launched an online open house to gather community input on the future of State Route 165 across the Carbon River. The bridge was permanently closed in April due to structural deterioration, ending years of vehicle weight restrictions caused by deferred maintenance.
Residents now have the chance to weigh in on what comes next. An online open house is available through June 17 at engage.wsdot. wa.gov/sr-165-fairfax-bridge where residents can view planning study recommendations and submit feedback.
For those without internet at home, free Wi-Fi is available at the
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communities.
“The car culture has a following no matter where you are—there will be some kind of gathering,” he said.
The club hopes for a great turnout and encourages anyone in the area to come out and enjoy the cars and festivities.
“If someone has a vehicle they’re proud of — whether it’s a car, truck, motorcycle or whatever has a motor — come on down,” Tolliver said.
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my coaches, thanking them for all they did for me.”
Roulst is currently pursuing EMT certification and may return to track in the future with hopes
Buckley Pierce County Library, 123 S. River Ave., and the Orting Pierce County Library, 202 Washington Ave. S. More Wi-Fi locations can be found at commerce.wa.gov/wsbo/ drive-in-wifi-spots.
“This bridge has been a lifeline for rural communities in the Carbon River Valley for over a century. It should have been preserved long ago, and now we’re left playing catch-up,” Morell said. “I encourage folks to participate in this process and make sure the state understands how important this connection is to our local economy, emergency response, and daily life.
Let’s push for solutions that are grounded in common sense and long-term value.”
On Tuesday, April 22, WSDOT permanently closed the SR 165 Carbon River Fairfax Bridge to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The closure has created challenges for anyone who used the bridge.
“Registration is $20. The general public gets in free. Take in the sights and sounds of the show in the shadow of Mount Rainier in downtown Eatonville.”
For those interested in registering a vehicle, the $20 registration fee can be arranged by contacting Frank at 253-212-6887 or Duane at 253-286-8686.
The event is free for spectators and runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees can enjoy complimentary hot dogs, water and chips.
of walking on to a college team.
Nation added his name to the record books on the same day as Roulst, blazing through the 100 meters in 10.88 seconds to break Zarak Scruggs’ 2017 mark.
The data driven study will develop recommendations to address the current bridge condition. During the study, WSDOT will work with local community representatives and government leaders.
For over a century, the bridge has provided access across the Carbon River Canyon for residents, businesses and visitors. This includes nearby communities of Carbonado, Wilkeson and other east Pierce County communities via SR 410 and SR 162.
The bridge provided access to Mount Rainier National Park campgrounds, hiking trails and the 93-mile-long Wonderland Trail. The bridge also provided access to other recreational activities outside the national park. SR 165, which crosses the bridge, is the only state highway leading to this area. More information about the study and background on the closure is available at the WSDOT website via tinyurl.com/3y6mpjnp.
“It feels amazing, honestly—it’s something I wanted to do and knew I could do,” Nation said.
“When I ran, I heard the time and 100% knew I broke it.”
Nation plans to start with two years of online
college before potentially continuing both his football and track careers in person. Together, the three have not only claimed records—they’ve sparked a new era of ambition at Eatonville.
The Carbon River bridge has been closed since April.
COURTESY TACOMA WEEKLY
Critical infrastructure projects funded
By The Tacoma Weekly
Thanks to Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen, Rep. Michael Keaton and Sen. Chris Gildon, the city just received funding from the state for two critical infrastructure projects, the Meeker Festival Street and the 4th Street NW Stormwater Improvement project.
The city is working to develop and implement a festival street, located on East Meeker between Meridian and 3rd Street SE. The festival street would act as a flexible space that is pedestrian-oriented and can be temporarily closed to host events and activities. It would also connect the downtown core to the Meeker Mansion.
“The street would
function just like any other street downtown, but also it can be closed temporarily to cars and serve as an activation for pedestrian activities,” said Ken Davies, Public Works Director.
The street will be curbless and include specialty pavement treatment along with new lighting, vegetation, trees, furnishings, and other amenities that encourage walking. Additionally, the project is intended to spur development in that part of downtown.
The city received $901,000 from the State for construction funding of the Meeker Festival Street. Construction is estimated to start in 2027.
The city is making a big investment along 4th
Street NW by upgrading an old stormwater line along the street that directly discharges into the Puyallup River. The old line has been in place since the 1950s.
The new, larger diameter line (36 to 42 inches) will run from the existing outfall at River Road to downtown. Due to the size and scope, the project will be spread out across several phases over time. Phase N-1A, which runs between River Road south to 7th Avenue NW was recently completed, a pivotal stage of the project timeline.
The current phase, which recently received $775,000 in state capital budget funding, will run from 7th to Stewart Avenue just before the train tracks.
Auto insurance rate increases are slowing down in 2025 compared to previous years
By Carleen Johnson The Center Square
It’s probably not quite the break Washington state drivers were hoping for, but the rate of increase in the cost of auto insurance appears to be slowing down.
“I checked the numbers just to see where we're at for 2025 through six months, and we're at 1.8%,” said Aaron VanTuyl, communications manager at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, noting that’s not likely won’t show up in premium rates for the remainder of the year but should result in much smaller increases for 2026.
“Last year it was up 17.5% and in 2023 the average for that was 24.7%,” he added.
Rates dipped for most drivers just after the pandemic because there were far fewer vehicles on the road and, as a result, far fewer accidents and claims.
VanTuyl explained that OIC must approve annual rate adjustments for insurance providers.
“We’re required to approve rate changes as long as they are adequate and not excessive or unfair,” he said. “What that means is there's a process in place for rates to come in and be evaluated, and actuaries have to take a look and basically make sure that the insurance companies are accounting for the need to increase rates, so we can keep pace with the cost of claims and to pay out administrative costs.”
According to VanTuyl,
OIC’s experts spend months making sure they can legally justify the rate change insurance companies are requesting.
According to AutoInsurance.com, the average cost of full coverage car insurance in the state of Washington in 2024 was $1,452 per year, which translates to about $121 per month. Rates can be dramatically higher for those who have been involved in an auto accident, received a speeding ticket, or have committed other driving infractions.
According to an AutoInsurance.com report, “Teen drivers face the highest auto insurance rate in every state. In Washington, the average annual cost
of full coverage for drivers aged 16 to 19 is $4,294, compared to an average of $2,755 for drivers in their 20s.”
Like the report's authors, VanTuyl OIC suggests shopping around for a better rate.
“We do recommend people shop around, because, like the study shows, you can usually reduce costs by getting a new policy somewhere else,” he said. “And the other thing to look into is maybe if you've got an older car and it's already paid off, and all, maybe you don't need full coverage. Talk to an agent or broker, and ask them about discounts, and ask if switching to somewhere else can get you a better deal.
WA council rejects optimistic revenue assumption amid worries over tort debt
By TJ Martinell The Center Square
The Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council decided to reject a more optimistic economic assumption that would have presumed more revenue, as some members warn of increasing tort debt liability. Under state law, the operating budget must be balanced within a four-year period, which means spending cannot exceed the revenue forecast. However, that same law allows the Legislature to adopt a 4.5% economic growth assumption if it is higher than ERFC’s forecast. However, in the budget enacted this session, legislators chose not to use the 4.5% growth rate.
ERFC debated whether or not to use that figure as part of its economic and revenue forecasts for the 2027-2029 biennium; had they adopted the 4.5% growth
rate, it would have added a $1 billion to the state’s assumed revenue by that biennium.
Even though the council chose to adopt a revenue forecast that does not include the 4.5% rate, Rep. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, raised concerns at ERFC's Tuesday's meeting over the state’s forecasted tort liability, which is not included in forecasting. According
to Gildon, the current liability is roughly $500 million and could go up to $1 billion by the end of the four-year forecast planning.
Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, also inquired if there was a way to have the forecast account for tort liability.
“We know there's liability out there, and it has not been accounted for," he said. "If it's not
part of the budget ... and it has not been written in as expenditures in the budget, I'm really concerned that it's being ignored for the purpose of this outlook. There's no intent involved there, but it's just one of those things where if you know there is there liability out there.”
Office of Financial Management Director K.D. Chapman-See told ERFC that not all tort debt is paid through the state’s general fund account, which is why it’s not included in the budget expenditures.
“We have had more unpredictability in those tort claims in recent years, but we do work within actuary and OFM intends to continue to work with our legislative partners over the course of the interim to work on how we smooth that curve over the next several years,” she said. “This is an issue that we're aware of tracking
its nominee or general fund account, which is why it's not on the outlook.”
Washington State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti, a former legislator, told ERFC that “the Legislature will need to address in the years ahead, but it's essentially a liability, right? It's a debt that currently exists, and it is different than the forecast that I think is currently being looked at.”
However, he added that “I don't think it changes the need to address it. What I'm hearing is what is a large growing number that needs to be addressed and can't be just an accumulating debt. It's most certainly a growing liability the Legislature needs to address, because at some point the number gets to a point where it's a significant debt that needs to be reconciled but is different than the forecast vote I think that is taking place today.”
A stormwater line will be replaced along 4th St. NW.
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