Cruisers fall short in season opener against Timberwolves
By Skip Smith | Contributing Writer
The Eatonville Cruisers boys basketball team opened their 2024-2025 season Saturday night, facing off against the Morton-White Pass Timberwolves in a hard-fought non-league matchup. The Cruisers, led by first-year Head Coach Josh Bennett, were eager to start the season with a win, but Morton-White Pass and standout player Judah Kelly dashed those hopes, securing a 66-60 victory.
Kelly dominated the game, dropping a game-high 29 points and leading the Timberwolves to the win despite Eatonville’s late-game rally.
The game started evenly, with both teams trading baskets in a back-and-forth first quarter. Neither team gained the upper hand, and the score stood tied at 16-16 after one. Eatonville Head Coach Josh Bennett praised his team’s early energy.
“We started the game off great,” Bennett said. “We did not come out flat, and our energy was awesome from the jump.”
Eatonville looked poised to take control in the second quarter, going on a 9-2 run early to establish a 25-18 lead. However, the Timberwolves quickly responded with a 9-0 run of their own to close out the quarter, entering halftime with a slim 27-25 advantage.
The third quarter proved pivotal, as Morton-White Pass broke the game wide open. The Timberwolves outscored the Cruisers 27-13, with Kelly taking charge and delivering critical buckets. Meanwhile, Eatonville struggled offensively, with Amari Samuel providing the bulk of the scoring, contributing 9 of the team’s 13 points in the period.
“The third quarter was tough on us,” Bennett admitted. “MWP went on a 9-0 run at one point, and we made some turnovers that we shouldn’t have. I should have used a timeout earlier in that stretch, but I thought we were one or two possessions away the whole time during the third to turn it around. That is how much confidence I have in this group.”
By the end of the third, the Timberwolves had extended their lead to 54-38.
Despite the daunting 17-point deficit, the Cruisers refused to fold. Led by Lowell McWright, who scored 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, Eatonville mounted a spirited comeback. They outscored Morton-White Pass 22-12 in the final frame, cutting the lead to as little as four points.
“Being down 17 going into the fourth quarter, most teams would have given up,” Bennett said. “In the huddle before we went back out there, the boys committed as a team that they would fight until the end and try to get back into the game. We cut it to four during the fourth, but ultimately, we missed some shots, and time ran out on us. I am beyond proud of the guys for how they clawed their way back into the game.”
B ASKETBALL, 7
Incoming Pierce County executive says housing costs, homelessness top priorities
Pierce County Executive-elect Ryan Mello announced his agenda for 2025, including plans to increase the region’s affordable housing capacity and reduce homelessness.
Mello was elected as the new Pierce County executive last month during the general election. He has served as the Pierce County Council chair since 2023.
Mello, a Democrat, will take over a position held by Republican Bruce Dammeier, who has served as the county executive since 2016.
On Monday, Mello announced his upcoming administration’s “Forward Together” agenda to address the top issues facing Pierce County.
The agenda prioritizes building more affordable housing and transitioning people out of homelessness. The county’s housing action strategy found that about onethird of all households in Pierce County are burdened by the high cost of housing. The annual rate of housing production countywide needs to increase by 46%, compared to recent efforts to address
current needs and keep pace with expected demand through the year 2044.
The agenda also seeks to reduce crime, which has been a worsening issue.
According to a presentation in the Pierce County Public Safety Committee in October, the property crime rate in the county sheriff’s department service area increased by 22.5% from 2019 to 2022.
Notably, violent crime in the sheriff’s department service area decreased by 5.9% from 2019, but increased for the county as a whole by 1.8%.
Other listed issues and actions as part of Mello’s agenda include helping families access affordable childcare, ensuring access to parks and safe infrastructure for pedestrians, opening more behavioral health facilities and increasing related services, and creating more good-paying jobs to the region.
“Forward Together is about making sure everyone feels like they’re a part of our community and has a say in making it better,” Mello said in a statement. “Our
Pierce County Executive-elect Ryan Mello
PHOTO COURTESY OF PIERCE COUNTY
By Spencer Pauley | The Center Square
Eatonville's Amari Samuel shoots over Morton-White Pass's Judah Kelly scoring 3 of his team high 20 points in the Cruisers 66-60 loss to the Timberwolves this past Saturday night. Photo: Bailey Andersen.
COURTESY BAILEY ANDERSEN
Alcohol Anonymous meetings offered Alcoholics Anonymous is available for people who have a problem with
Meetings begin at noon Wednesdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays at the American Legion Hall/ Lions Club, 123 Rainier Ave. N.
Community council
Graham-Kapowsin Community Council's Center at Evergreen on the Graham Hill has Ted Brown's Music on the first and third Thursday of the month at 12:30 p.m. in addition to Taichi at 10 a.m. and Exercise with Fay at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday for free.
Alanon help Alanon is available to help people struggling with a loved one’s drinking. Call 425-8300314.
Learn about Friends Of Eatonville Library
OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
CATHOLIC CHURCH
CATHOLIC CHURCH
OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
CATHOLIC CHURCH
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Reverend Dominic Chikankheni
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Reverend Dominic Chikankheni
Reverend Dominic Chikankheni
Reverend Dominic Chikankheni
Reverend Dominic Chikankheni
253-875-6630 ext. 127
253-875-6630 ext. 127
253-875-6630 ext. 127
253-875-6630 ext.
229 Antonie Ave. N.
253-875-6630 ext. 127
229 Antonie Ave. N.
229 Antonie Ave. N.
229 Antonie Ave. N.
229 Antonie Ave. N.
360-832-6363 or 253-875-6630
360-832-6363 or 253-875-6630
360-832-6363 or 253-875-6630
360-832-6363 or 253-875-6630
Saturday Mass...........4:00 p.m.
360-832-6363 or 253-875-6630
Saturday Mass...........4:00 p.m.
The Friends of the Eatonville Library operates as a fundraising group to assist the Eatonville community. Primarily, it 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.
Saturday Mass...........4:00 p.m.
Wednesday.................6:30 p.m.
Wednesday.................6:30 p.m.
Saturday Mass...........4:00 p.m. Wednesday.................6:30 p.m.
Wednesday.................6:30 p.m.
Saturday Mass...........4:00 p.m. Wednesday.................6:30 p.m.
Also, The Friends of the Eatonville Library Group is currently operating with only two members — in contrast to 10-13 members in the pre-Covid era. The group seeks members and volunteers. Contact Mike Eaton.
Wreaths Across America will host a Saturday ceremony
Staff Report
Wreaths Across America will host a Saturday ceremony at Roy Cemetery.
The ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The ceremony will include a welcome and prayer led by Pastor Bill of New Beginnings Church in Roy, and wreath placements will immediately follow the ceremony.
For more information on Wreaths Across America, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Cooperative preserves affordable housing in Parkland
By The Tacoma Weekly
The Pierce County Community Development Corporation (PCCDC) is awarding $750,000 to a resident-owned cooperative for the purchase of Olga Dor Court, a Mobile Home Community (MHC) for seniors aged 55 years or older in Parkland.
Olga Dor Court residents were notified earlier this year that the property owner intended to sell the community, which is a 5-acre, 100%-occupied MHC consisting of 48 manufactured housing pads and a singlefamily residence. With the assistance of the ROC Northwest program at the Northwest C ooperative Development Center, a nonprofit specializing in cooperative development, they formed a resident-owned cooperative to purchase the property to continue its use as affordable housing.
Manufactured home communities provide an opportunity to live at a relatively affordable cost, but are susceptible to redevelopment, often leaving residents with little to no options when costs increase, or the property owner wants to sell.
"Our top priority was keeping housing affordable for the people here," said Ben Ward, president of Olga Dor Homeowners Cooperative. "Without this opportunity, many residents couldn't afford another rent increase. Cooperative ownership lets us manage our community - setting our
own rules, overseeing the budget and securing a stable future. Achieving this goal brings financial stability and peace of mind. We're deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this possible."
Through the Pierce County Community Development Corporation loan fund, Department of Commerce, Washington Community Reinvestment Association, Washington State Housing Financing Commission and support from Northwest Cooperative Development Center, Olga Dor Homeowners Cooperative is now the owner of the property that their homes sit on. This is the first MHC preservation project for the PCCDC acquisition loan fund, providing stability to a community at risk of displacement and redevelopment.
"Olga Dor Homeowners Cooperative will be the sixth residentowned cooperative community in Pierce County, but the first to receive PCCDC acquisition loan funds. Partnerships like this are critical as we work to preserve affordable homeownership in Pierce County," said Victoria O’Banion of the Northwest Cooperative Development Center. "We look forward to working with the PCCDC on the next preservation project."
Partial funding for this cooperative project comes from the PCCDC acquisition loan
fund, providing capital to stop displacement of residents in properties at high risk of redevelopment and/or economic displacement. In response to the passing of Senate Bill 5198 last yaer, Pierce County’s 2024-2025 biennial budget appropriated $2.75M to the PCCDC to establish a rapid acquisition loan fund for affordable housing and preservation.
"I am thrilled that the County was able to help residents join together and purchase this property to protect their homes! When the County Council adopted our 2024-2025 budget, it was a situation exactly like this that inspired the idea for us to establish the Affordable Housing Development and Preservation Program," said Robyn Denson, Councilmember for District 7 and Chair of the Community Development and Environment Committee. The Olga Dor acquisition is a shining example of how we can empower residents to ensure their own long-term housing affordability."
ROC Northwest will be hosting a community event to celebrate the Olga Dor Homeowne rs Cooperative acquisition on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 4-6 p.m. at the Parkland/Spanaway Library, located at 13718 Pacific Ave. S., in Tacoma.
To learn more about the PCCDC loan fund and what Pierce County is doing in the affordable housing space, visit piercecountywa. gov/ah.
Campbell announces plans for transition to Assessor-Treasurer
By The Tacoma Weekly Campbell
The Pierce County Canvassing Board has officially certified the results of the Nov. 5, 2024, General Election, paving the way for several key transitions in County government, set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
Following election certification, current Council Vice Chair Marty Campbell (District 5) and Assessor-Treasurer elect announced his plans to resign from his Council seat on Dec. 31, 2024, to
transition into his new role as AssessorTreasurer.
“It has been a great privilege to serve on the Pierce County Council and to represent the interests of our community in District 5,” said Campbell. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside my fellow councilmembers, council staff, and – most importantly – the residents
of this county, whose voices have shaped our work together.”
With Campbell’s transition coming in the middle of his second term, the Pierce County Council will need to appoint a new representative for District 5. The successful candidate will have to run for election in the 2025 General Election to retain the seat in 2026, and again in 2026 to begin a new four-year term on Jan. 1, 2026.
The appointment process begins with the Pierce County Democrats
nominating three candidates for consideration. The Council will interview and appoint one of the nominees in January in an open public meeting. For more information on the nomination process, please contact the Pierce County Democrats atpcdemsinfo@ gmail.com. For more information on the appointment process or other updates, visit www. piercecountywa.gov/council.
“As I prepare to take on the role of AssessorTreasurer, I am excited to continue my commitment
to public service in this new capacity and focus my attention on property assessments that are fair, accurate, and transparent,” added Campbell. “It is a tremendous honor to have the County’s trust, and I look forward to bringing the same dedication and accountability to the Assessor-Treasurer’s office that I have strived to demonstrate as a councilmember. Although I am stepping down from this role, I remain devoted to serving our community and all the people of Pierce County.”
Other transitions on the Pierce County Council include Councilmember and current Council Chair Ryan Mello (District 4) to the office of the County Executive. Mello’s first and only four-year term as a Councilmember is ending on Dec. 31, 2024, and incoming District 4 Councilmember Rosie Ayala will begin her first full term on Jan. 1, 2025
County Council approves supplemental budget
By The Tacoma Weekly
The Pierce County Council approved a supplemental budget ordinance, which amends the current 2024–2025 Biennial Budget, during its Tuesday, Nov. 26, meeting. The supplemental budget includes investments in affordable housing, homelessness interventions, therapeutic courts, and youth violence prevention, among other priorities.
Earlier this month, Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier submitted his proposed budget supplemental budget to the Council. The Council’s Committee of the Whole reviewed, amended, and forwarded the proposal to the full Council for final consideration.
“Many of the proposed increases in the Executive’s proposal have merit, but some require further thought and analysis and are better suited for consideration next year,” said Council Chair Ryan Mello (District 4).
“With leadership transitions occurring in several elected offices,
including the Sheriff’s Department, new budget priorities will likely emerge in 2025.”
Details of the supplemental budget ordinance are available here. Major budget items include:
■ Additional Government Affairs Staff: $425,000 to fund two new positions to support Pierce County’s intergovernmental affairs needs.
■ Behavioral Health and Therapeutic Courts Fund: $75,000 to support housing assistance for participants in the Felony Mental Health Court.
■ Fund Balance Adjustments: A $3.6 million reduction to the County’s use of its fund balance.
■ 2026 FIFA World Cup Preparation: The Economic Development Department will collaborate with Tacoma’s tourism authority to provide recommendations by May 1, 2025, for leveraging the economic potential of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
■ Youth Violence Prevention Services: $245,000 is allocated to community-focused programs, including the Northwest Leadership Foundation, Pierce County Fair Foundation, and local youth activities in Buckley.
■ Affordable Housing: Up to $1 million is allocated to the South Sound Housing Affordability Partners’ (SSHA3P)
Housing Capital Fund Account to support affordable housing projects.
■ Homeless Housing Solutions: Funding for homeless stability sites is repurposed for other homeless housing solutions to be implemented after February 2025 with Council approval.
■ Sewer Utility Fund: The Executive is tasked with proposing
an affordable housing sewer connection program by Sept. 1, 2025, to reduce or waive fees for qualifying projects.
The supplemental budget ordinance will become on Jan. 1, 2025, or ten days after the Executive signs, whichever is later.
O'Banion
Funding is included to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Gov. Inslee imposes spending freeze to deal with $10B-$12B operating budget gap
By Brett Davis
The Center Square
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee is calling for a freeze on hiring, services contracts, goods and equipment purchases, and travel to deal with a projected operating budget shortfall between $10 billion and $12 billion over the next four years.
The shortfall exists despite the state's record $72 billion budget.
“Effective December 2, 2024, for all agencies under my direction and control, I am directing a freeze on the following: (1) hiring not related to public safety or other non-discretionary activities as listed below, (2) execution of non-essential services contracts, (3) discretionary purchasing of goods and equipment, and (4) travel,” Inslee wrote in a directive to his executive and small cabinet agency directors.
“Exempt from the freeze is hiring to fill vacancies in
critical areas,” the governor continued. “Also, services contracts, goods and equipment purchases, and travel that are necessary to continue critical services or agency operations are exempt from the freeze.”
The freeze on services contracts and purchases of goods and equipment does not apply to amounts less than $10,000.
The Washington State Office of Financial Management blames slowing revenue forecasts, rising costs and expanding need for the looming budget gap.
“This deficit is due to the recent revenue forecasts that were adjusted down and the increase in caseloads and the cost to maintain existing programs,” OFM Director Pat Sullivan said in a Nov. 8 memo.
In that memo, Sullivan goes on to “direct agencies to propose operating and transportation budget reductions, starting
with pauses or delays of programs, and to identify savings options for both the 2025 supplemental budgets and 2025-27 budgets.”
Critics claim the state has been reckless with its spending.
Washington Policy Center’s Small Business Center Director Mark Harmsworth, a former state legislator, wrote in a recent blog post that “the state does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. It seems the budget deficit is a state-created spending problem that the state leaders don’t want to acknowledge.”
In his directive, Inslee urged other state officials to implement similar costsaving measures.
“I recognize the practical difficulties of implementing this directive to maintain the financial health of the state,” he said. “I call upon non-cabinet agencies, higher education institutions, boards and commissions,
and other separately elected officials to impose similar restrictions within their agencies and jurisdictions.”
Inslee’s directive will remain in place indefinitely.
By Dec. 20, Inslee's office will propose a new two-year
Washington state’s spending spree drives massive deficit
By TJ Martinell The Center Square
Over the past decade, many state lawmakers have advocated fiscal restraint during years of enormous revenue growth, arguing that Washington could face a budgetary crisis if an economic downturn were to occur.
Although the state operating budget now faces an estimated $10 billion to $12 billion deficit, their dire predictions weren’t entirely accurate, as revenue levels still remain at all-time highs.
Since 2013, the state operating budget has increased from $38.4 billion to $75.5 billion for the current biennium, a $37 billion increase that has nearly doubled spending.
Much of the increased spending occurred between 2015-2019, as the Legislature wrestled with how to comply with the state Supreme Court’s 2013 McCleary decision, which found the Legislature was failing to fulfill its constitutional obligation to fully fund basic education.
During that time frame, the state operating budget increased from $38.2 billion to $52.8 billion, a 38% increase of $14.6 billion. Those figures do not include the supplemental budgets.
Within those years, public school funding also increased dramatically. The 2011-2013 operating budget invested $17.7 billion into K-12. By 2019, it has increased to $28.7 billion, a 62% increase of $11 billion; under the 2013-2025 budget, $32.4 billion is spent on public schools.
According to the Washington Policy Center, the state has increased education employees significantly since 2011, with a 25% increase in teaching staff, 42% increase in school principals, and a 66% increase in non-teacher staff positions.
However, state spending spiked in the next two biennium. Between 2019-2023, the operating budget increased from $52.8
billion to $69.8 billion, a 38% increase of $17 billion.
The spending increases were funded with a combination of new taxes as well as new or unexpected revenue. In March 2019, the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council estimated that the state would receive $50 billion for the 2019-21 biennium, $5 billion more than the $45 billion in the 2017-19 biennium.
During the 2021 legislative session, ERFC reported the state would receive $3.5 billion in unanticipated revenue; that same session legislators approved an operating budget that increased spending from the prior biennium, not including supplemental budgets, by $6.2 billion.
The sustainability of new spending was a significant focus of discussion in the 2019 legislative session. At the time, Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, remarked at ERFC's March 20, 2019 meeting that the state was "in the best shape we've been in, certainly in the last decade," adding that they could increase spending by several billion without having to resort to new taxes.
In disagreement was ERFC member and House Appropriations Chair Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, said at the same meeting surplus revenue “doesn’t take away the arithmetic problem that we came here with. This reduces our problem … but doesn’t eliminate it.”
“In order to make good on our commitments, we would need additional revenue,” he also said.
“This is about paying the bills.”
The state Legislature that session would go on to enact a slew of new taxes that included:
■ Senate Bill 5993, which changed and increased the hazardous waste tax.
■ House Bill 2158, which imposed a business and occupation tax surcharge on certain businesses to pay for higher education programs.
■ House Bill 1873, which placed
a tax on vaping products.
■ Senate Bill 5998, which changed the real estate excise tax from a flat 1.28% to a graduated rate.
■ House Bill 2167, which placed an additional 1.2% B&O tax on certain financial institutions.
The new taxes drew criticism from minority party leaders, including Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, who at the time wrote that the new taxes “were rushed through the process, in the final three days of session, with absolutely no opportunity for meaningful review or comment from Republicans or the public.
I am deeply troubled that the majority believes this level of spending growth is sustainable. In times of prosperity, we should be focused on building reserves to prevent the devastating cuts that were required after the last economic downturn.”
During the 2020 legislative session, Stokesbary proposed to take $1.14 billion of surplus revenue to provide tax relief, but it was rejected. Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, made a similar proposal that was also rejected.
After the House approved the operating budget during the 2019 session, Stokesbary wrote in a statement that “if the majority cannot find the will to provide tax cuts (now) for working families … then it seems clear they will never provide tax cuts."
state budget.
In January, Inslee will hand control of the executive branch to Gov.elect Bob Ferguson, who may have his own ideas regarding the state budget.
The next legislative session will convene on Jan. 13. State lawmakers in the House and Senate will later release budget proposals. This will be followed by weeks of negotiations on a final budget before the end of the 105-day session.
WA GOP chair files bill to restore felony status for fentanyl-related offenses
By Tim Clouser | The Center Square
After failing to launch last session, the Washington State Republican Party is attempting to raise the stakes around dealing, trafficking and possessing fentanyl with legislation that, if approved, would lead to harsher sentences.
Washington State Republican Party Chair Rep. Jim Walsh, D-Aberdeen, filed House Bill 1000 on Tuesday ahead of the 2025 legislative session. Walsh pushed the same measure during the last session, but his bill never went before a committee for a hearing and failed to make it out of the House.
HB 1000 would expand what the state considers a “major violation” of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act to include fentanyl. Major violations of the UCSA qualify for longer sentences outside of the standard range, meaning the dangerous yet popular opioid would join the list.
According to the proposed bill, the following would be added to the UCSA if approved: “The current offense involved the knowing delivery or distribution of fentanyl, precursor chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of fentanyl, or a counterfeit substance containing fentanyl, and resulted in substantial bodily harm as defined in RCW 9A.04.110, permanent impairment to cognitive functions, or death of another person."
Walsh told The Center Square that the intent is to restore the felony status for fentanyl-related offenses, mainly trafficking and dealing, but said it could apply to possession as well.
The Washington Supreme Court struck down the state’s drug possession law with the 2021 Blake Decision. The ruling followed a case in which a Spokane woman argued she wasn’t aware there was methamphetamine in the pants that she got from a friend.
The court ruled that the law was unconstitutional because it made unknowing possession illegal; that was until the Legislature convened for a special session two years later to fix the mistake that cost
taxpayers millions of dollars, opting to make intentional possession a gross misdemeanor.
“We should have fixed it the first time by inserting the word knowingly into the statute. We didn’t do that. We went on this long adventure of decriminalization and semi-decriminalization,” Walsh said. “You know, I don’t agree with the state Supreme Court very often, but I think in this case, they were on the mark. We just need to add knowingly.”
Fentanyl proliferation has reached crisis levels over the past few years nationwide and is now the leading cause of death for citizens between 18 and 45 years old. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA seized over 77 million fentanyl pills last year and almost 12,000 pounds of powder, the most in any single year and “enough to kill every American.”
Washington’s position along Interstate 5, Interstate 405 and Interstate 90 makes it a gateway for trafficking up north and to the east; last year, the DEA Seattle Field Division seized 3.7 million fentanyl pills and over 280 pounds of powder through the state, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho, according to DEA reporting.
Out of that seized, the DEA took 4.8 million lethal doses off the streets last year in Washington alone. Despite this, at least 1,085 people died from fentanyl in King County, the most populous in the state, a roughly 47% increase from 2022 to 2023, according to DEA data.
“The purpose of the policy change is not to be vindictive toward addicts. We want addicts to get treatment,” Walsh said. “The drug courts are having a hard time incentivizing people to accept diversion. So, let’s make it a felony again. Let’s get some of these people in court and offer them a real choice. You know, get in treatment, get sober, or you’re going to face a felony.”
Savvy Senior: How to talk to your doctors and get them to listen
Dear Savvy Senior, How can I get my doctors to listen better? I just turned 78, and over the past few years I feel more and more dismissed by my doctors. I know I can’t be the only one who feels this way. Any suggestions?
Dissatisfied Patient
DEAR DISSATISFIED, Communication difficulties between patients and their doctors is nothing new. Many older patients feel like their doctors are dismissing their concerns, which can be frustrating and lead to missed diagnoses and delayed care.
If you believe your doctor isn’t listening to you, here are some tips offered by the National Institute on Aging that may help.
Prepare for your appointment: Before your exam, make a written prioritized list of any questions and concerns you want to discuss with your doctor, or print any online health research you’ve gathered, and bring it to your appointment so you won’t forget anything. If you’re in for a diagnostic visit, you should prepare a detailed description of your symptoms, when they began and what makes
them worse.
Be honest and upfront: Even if the topic seems sensitive or embarrassing, it’s important to be honest and upfront with your doctor. You may feel uncomfortable talking about memory loss or bowel issues, but these are all important to your health. It’s better to be thorough and share detailed information than to be quiet or shy about what you’re thinking or feeling. Remember, your doctor is used to talking about all kinds of personal matters. Ask specific questions: If you and your doctor aren’t communicating well, ask specific questions that require a response. For example: What might have caused the problem I’m dealing with? What’s the specific name of my diagnosis? Is the problem serious?
Will it heal completely or require ongoing management? What future symptoms might suggest you need emergency care or a follow-up visit? When and how will you receive your test results? If you don’t understand something, don’t hesitate to ask: Can you explain that in simpler terms? Or: Can you give me more details about that?
Take someone with
you: Bring along a family member or friend to your appointment. Your companion can help you ask questions or raise concerns that you hadn’t considered and listen to what the doctor is telling you and give you support.
Be persistent: If your doctor isn’t addressing your questions, repeat them or rephrase them. If you still don’t get anywhere, follow up with one of these statements: “I’m worried that we aren’t communicating well. Here’s why I feel that way.” Or: “I need to talk with you about X. I feel like I can’t. Can we talk about this?”
After your appointment, if you’re uncertain about any instructions or have other questions, call or email your health care provider. Don’t wait until your next visit to make sure you understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, or anything else that might affect your health.
For more tips, the National Institute on Aging offers a free booklet called “Talking with Your Doctor: A Guide for Older Adults” that can help you prepare for an appointment and become a better and more informed patient. To order free copy or see it online, visit order.nia.nih.gov/
publication/talking-withyour-doctor-a-guide-forolder-adults.
Consider moving on: If you’re not making any progress with your doctor and the problem persists, it’s probably time to start looking for a new provider. Depending how unsatisfied you are with your care,
Ninth Circuit rules in favor of federal deportation
By Bethany Blankley
The federal government has the authority to deport foreign nationals in the U.S. illegally over the objection of local authorities, a panel of three judges on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled.
The 29-page ruling was written by Judge Daniel Bress, with judges Michael Hawkins and Richard Clinton concurring.
At issue is an April 2019 executive order issued by King County Executive Dow Constantine, which directed county officials to prohibit fixed base operators on a county airfield near Seattle from servicing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement charter flights used to deport illegal foreign nationals. Constantine’s order prohibited King County International Airport from supporting “the transportation and deportation of immigration detainees in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, either traveling within or arriving or departing the United States or its territories.”
The airport is located next to a major ICE-Seattle base of operations.
The Trump administration at the time sued, arguing Constantine’s order violated the Supremacy Clause’s intergovernmental immunity doctrine and a World War II-era Instrument of Transfer agreement allowing the federal government to use the airport in King County.
A district court agreed, ruling in
favor of the federal government. King County next appealed to the Ninth Circuit.
The Ninth Circuit panel affirmed the district court’s summary judgment that the order violated the Supremacy Clause and the Instrument of Transfer agreement.
The panel also held that the federal government had Article III standing to sue and “had two related concrete and individualized injuries.” The first is “the inability to conduct the charter flights – which has increased ICE’s operational costs – constituted a de facto injury that affected the United States in a particularized, individual way” and “an imminent risk of future injury from the Executive Order.”
The second is the federal government’s injuries “were fairly traceable” and “are likely, as opposed to merely speculative,” as a result of the order. Were there no order, “an FBO would resume servicing ICE charter flights,” the court notes.
Constantine’s order violated the intergovernmental immunity doctrine because it “improperly regulated the way in which the federal government transported noncitizen detainees by preventing ICE from using private FBO contractors at Boeing Field, and on its face discriminated against the United States by singling out the federal government and its contractors for unfavorable treatment,” the court held.
With King County, as a socalled “sanctuary county,” Constantine argues its region “has acted decisively to become more inclusive, removing barriers
to affordable housing, transit, health, economic opportunity and promoting strong childhood development for everyone.” The county has also set its “region apart as a leader in protecting the rights of all people in our communities, and continues to not tolerate discrimination, harassment, expressions of hate, or any behavior intended to promote fear, intimidation, or isolation,” he says.
Constantine’s argument was ideological, according to the order, stating federal “deportations raise deeply troubling human rights concerns which are inconsistent with the values of King County, including separations of families, increases of racial disproportionality in policing, deportations of people into unsafe situations in other countries, and constitutional concerns of due process.”
In response, the Department of Justice sued in February 2020, arguing his order was illegal, obstructed federal immigration enforcement and violated the Instrument of Transfer agreement under the Surplus Property Act of 1944. The Trump administration also sought to quash the executive order altogether and secure a permanent injunction against it.
A district court sided with the Trump administration, granted summary judgment. It held that Constantine’s order discriminated against ICE contractors while allowing others to use the airfield, and also violated the Instrument of Transfer.
King County appealed to the Ninth Circuit, arguing Constantine’s order was lawful.
you could also notify your doctor’s medical group and your insurance company or leave feedback on their online profile.
If you’re dealing with a serious issue – like a doctor who prescribes the wrong medication or fails to provide test results in a timely manner – it might
be appropriate to file a complaint with the state medical board.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
Washington office begins tracking statewide deadly use of force incidents
By TJ Martinell | The Center Square
This month, the Washington State Office of Independent Investigation began tracking deadly use of force incidents involving law enforcement officers.
Created by the state Legislature during the 2011 session, OII is tasked with investigating incidents where police exercised use of force that resulted in a death. The state law directed OII to begin investigations in July 2023 and permits it to reopen investigations into deadly use of force incidents that occurred prior to that date “if new evidence is brought forth that was not included in the initial investigation.”
OII has an 11-member advisory board appointed by the governor. While the board may include current law enforcement officers, the 26 investigators hired by OII are not. The advisory board can guide OII on policy and procedure but has no legal authority.
The agency has offices in Olympia and intends to set up offices in six regions throughout the state. Investigation reports will be posted to its website once they are completed.
While OII can investigate deadly use of force incidents by law enforcement, any charges currently must be filed by the county prosecutor. House Bill 1579 introduced during this year’s legislative session would have changed that creating an “independent prosecutor’s office” within the State Attorney General’s Office specifically for prosecuting such cases.
Under the bill, if an investigation by OII found an officer violated the law the county prosecutor would have to determine whether they must recuse themselves and transfer the case over to the AGO’s independent prosecutor. A separate bill introduced last year would have given the AGO the power to prosecute law enforcement officers for civil rights violations.
OII’s work is part of a renewed focus on police use of force incidents starting in 2020, when Gov. Jay Inslee set up a task force whose recommendations included the creation of the state office.
In 2021, Senate Bill 5259 tasked the State Attorney General’s Office with creating a separate advisory group to make recommendations on a police use of force database that would be accessible to the public. Although OII was not mentioned in the group’s recommendations, it was included in the AGO’s request for proposal put out in 2023; emails from 2022 sent by OII employees revealed that the state office “has been working closely with the AGs office in the creation of the RFP.” According to the RFP, “collaboration with the Office of Independent Investigations ('OII') is specifically listed throughout the scope of work as the OII, through RCW 43.102.100, is required to conduct analysis of use of force data. This collaboration is encouraged in order for the Contractor to be able to assist OII to reduce and coordinate use of force reporting within law enforcement agencies and these external agencies that require use of force data.”
The Center Square contributor
Purple martin colony being relocated
By The Tacoma Weekly
A charismatic colony of purple martins along Ruston Way is moving.
The dark purple and blue birds are North America’s largest swallow and often spotted among decrepit wooden poles at Dickman Mill Park, Titlow Beach and Chambers Bay.
They are a native bird that has been migrating back to Tacoma and other areas of the West Coast for thousands of years, arriving each spring from Brazil and usually departing by late August. The birds – beloved for their pest control and throaty chirps known as the Dawn Song – live in wooden nest boxes or plastic gourds made by humans, which are often attached to pilings and dock remnants.
Last week, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources began removing about 1,200 pilings treated with creosote, a toxic chemical that keeps waterlogged wood from decaying, from the waters around Dickman Mill Park.
To preserve the longtime purple martin colony there, conservation staff from Point Defiance Zoo &
Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park teamed up with Communities for a Healthy Bay to remove 18 bird houses and gourds. The boxes and gourds will be fixed up and put back on new posts in a tidal estuary about 500 feet south of their current location.
“Purple martins are important and valued here in Tacoma and we are dedicated to monitoring and protecting them,” said zoo conservation coordinator Zach Hawn. “They are a species that restores balance to our ecosystem, and we want to continue to provide that habitat that is essential for the success of these colorful, playful birds.”
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium has been working with purple martins since it launched a community monitoring program in 2013. Volunteers are trained in how to collect data about the local birds and their behavior and are asked to monitor one of the three locations at least twice a month.
All the data is shared with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), which lists purple martins as a Species of Greatest Conservation
Need due to their low population in the state and vulnerable nesting sites. The designation means human intervention is necessary for the birds to succeed.
“I can’t overstate how important our partners and local groups are in helping us manage purple martins,” said Michelle Tirhi, a wildlife biologist for WDFW. “This collaboration is vital to keeping Washington’s purple martin populations stable and possible increasing these birds’ numbers in the future.”
No comprehensive population survey has been done to determine exactly how many purple martins nest in Washington each year, but the conservative estimate is 600 adult birds. That means Tacoma could have as much as 16 percent of the state’s population.
A statewide comprehensive survey has been proposed in Washington for 2026 or 2027, Tirhi said.
Thanks to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s community monitoring program, there are about 34 purple martins nesting at Dickman Mill Park, nearly 50 at Titlow Beach, about 20 at Chambers Bay and
Pizza to the recue
By Lynda Balslev
During this festive season, with its lengthy to-do lists, socializing and houseguests, a simple dinner sandwiched between holiday prep provides a welcome respite.
A recipe that's rustic and easy, with optional shortcuts, is satisfying and comforting and can be enjoyed at the kitchen table or in front of the fire. And guess what? It can also stand in as a low-key appetizer, divvied into small portions and offered to unannounced visitors or lingering houseguests who seem to have misplaced their car keys.
This is a white pizza, which means there is no tomato sauce. The ingredients on the pizza evoke the mountains, with nutty, alpine cheese and slippery golden onions. For the easiest prep, use a prepared pizza dough. There are many options available in supermarkets of decent quality. This recipe provides instructions for oven-baking, but the pizza can also be prepared on a grill over indirect high heat.
If you have the time and bandwidth, try the recipe below for homemade dough. It's an adapted recipe from Roberta's, a popular Brooklyn pizzeria, via Sam Sifton at The New York Times. It's easy to make but requires rising time, preferably overnight in the refrigerator.
For your extra effort, gift yourself with a double recipe and freeze the extras for later use.
(Simply defrost the frozen dough overnight in the refrigerator before using.)
CARAMELIZED ONION
AND GRUYERE PIZZA
Active time: 40 minutes
Total time: 1 hour
Yield: Makes one 12- to 14-inch pizza
Ingredients
■ 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
■ 2 large yellow onions, halved, thinly sliced
■ Kosher salt
■ 1 large garlic clove, grated
■ 1 ball prepared pizza dough, about 1 pound, defrosted if frozen, at room temperature
■ 1/3 cup packed finely grated
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided
■ 1 cup packed grated Gruyere cheese, about 4 ounces
■ 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, plus more for garnish
■ Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Heat one tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook the onions until they are soft, golden and beginning to caramelize in spots, 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Combine the remaining two tablespoons oil and garlic in a small bowl. Place a pizza stone on the lowest rack in the oven. Heat the oven to its highest setting, about 500 degrees. Generously dust a pizza peel with flour or line a rimless baking sheet with a piece of parchment. Thinly roll or stretch the dough into a 12- to 14-inch circle or oval (it's OK if it's irregular in shape). Transfer the dough to the peel or the parchment. Brush the dough with some of the oil, leaving a 1/2-inch border clear. Sprinkle half of the Parmigiano-Reggiano over the oil. Spread the onions over the
another 6 to 10 at the Point Defiance Boathouse.
Another colony exists on Hylebos Waterway but has not had regular monitoring in recent years.
“We have a sizable proportion of the state’s population of purple martins in the city of Tacoma,” said Sam Hain, conservation specialist at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. “It’s a huge bastion for this species that needs our support right here in our backyard.”
The purple martins’ population started to decline in the Pacific Northwest in the 1930s when forestry operations removed large amounts of timber that housed natural cavities traditionally used by the birds as nests. Around the same time, non-native birds such as house sparrows and starlings were introduced to the area and competed with purple martins for resources and nesting habitat.
With a loss of habitat, purple martin numbers dropped so low that local scientists and bird enthusiasts began building homes for the birds in an effort to recover the species. That helped the western populations rebound but
also made them reliant on human-made housing.
Purple martins nest as a colony, which is why boxes and gourds are grouped together. The birds like to be close but not too close, otherwise their squabbling intensifies and amounts to something Hawn and Hain laughingly call a “soap opera of the Sound.”
To help aid and manage purple martins, the number of boxes and gourds in each colony are limited to ensure there are enough to support
pizza. Top with the Gruyere and thyme. Sprinkle the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano over the pizza. Garnish with freshly ground black pepper and lightly season with salt.
Carefully slide the pizza onto the pizza stone. Bake until the toppings begin to char, and the crust is crisp and golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes, rotating the pizza once for even cooking. Slide the pizza off the stone and transfer to a cutting board. Immediately brush the border with some of the remaining oil. Garnish with thyme leaves. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes before cutting into wedges. Serve warm.
ROBERTA'S PIZZA DOUGH
Active time: 10 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes plus rest and rising time
Yield: Makes 2 dough balls
Ingredients
■ 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon (153 grams) 00 flour
■ 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons (153 grams) allpurpose flour
■ 1 teaspoon (8 grams) fine
sea salt
■ 3/4 teaspoon (2 grams) active dry yeast
■ 1 teaspoon (4 grams) extravirgin olive oil
Directions
In a large mixing bowl, combine flours and salt. In a small mixing bowl, stir together 200 grams (a little less than one cup) lukewarm tap water, the yeast and the olive oil, then pour it into flour mixture. Knead with your hands until well combined, approximately 3 minutes, then let the mixture rest for 15 minutes.
Knead rested dough for 3 minutes. Cut into two equal pieces and shape each into a ball. Place on a heavily floured surface, cover with dampened cloth, and let rest and rise for 3 to 4 hours at room temperature or for 8 to 24 hours in the refrigerator. (If you refrigerate the dough, remove it 30 to 45 minutes before you begin to shape it for pizza.)
To make pizza, place each dough ball on a heavily floured surface and use your fingers to stretch it, then your hands to shape it into rounds or squares. Top and bake.
Lynda Balslev is an awardwinning writer, cookbook author, and recipe developer based in northern California. Visit TasteFood at TasteFoodblog.com.
the population encouraging birds to use natural cavities as the population grows.
Once DNR finishes removing the creosotesoaked pilings from Dickman Mill in February, conservation staff from Point Defiance Zoo will install new 6×6 posts and reinstall the boxes and gourds so they’re ready when purple martins return this spring.
Results of ‘GRIT’ income program released
By The Tacome Weekly
Mayors for Guaranteed Income, Mayor Victoria Woodards, and the United Way of Pierce County welcomed the release of independent data on the Growing Resilience In Tacoma (GRIT) guaranteed income pilot, showcasing significant improvements in financial stability, a reduction in income volatility, an increase in stable, full-time employment, and less food insecurity than a control group of similar Tacoma residents.
The GRIT pilot focused on families that are considered “asset-limited, incomeconstrained and employed” (ALICE).
From December 2021 to December 2022, GRIT gifted $500 a month to 110 ALICE families in Tacoma. These dollars were unconditional and had no strings attached. Results of the GRIT pilot demonstrate that a modest, unrestricted cash investment can improve families’ financial stability, food security, well-being, and reduce poverty in our community.
Key findings include the following. Improved financial health: Recipients of guaranteed income increased their incomes above the control group by a statistically significant margin, which was sustained six months after payments stopped. They exhibited significant improvements in financial resilience, particularly in their ability to manage a $400 emergency expense. The percentage of the control group who had more than $500 in savings declined throughout the study, while the percent increased among guaranteed income recipients.
Employment: Recipients of guaranteed income were significantly more likely to be employed across every time point evaluated. Additionally, data demonstrated stability of full-time employment among recipients (63%) over time relative to the control group (52%). The proportion of participants who identified as stay-at-home parents or caregivers remained almost 10 percent points higher in the control cohort relative to guaranteed income recipients across all time periods.
Purple martin hatchlings born in Tacoma will soon migrate to Brazil.
SAM HAIN, PDZA
COURTESY
Eatonville wrestling teams show promise in season-opening tournaments
By Skip Smith | Contributing Writer
The Eatonville High School wrestling teams launched their season with solid performances in two tournaments over the weekend, showcasing individual achievements and potential for the year ahead.
BOYS' TEAM
The boys' team competed in the Patriot Dome Classic at Washington High School, where they faced off against eight other teams and finished in seventh place. Leading the team’s efforts was Trey StaRosa (157 lbs.), who dominated his weight class to secure first place with a perfect 4-0 record. Joining him at the top was Ethan Rogers (215 lbs.), also 4-0, who claimed victory in an unusual fashion.
BASKETBALL
From page 1
The Timberwolves held on to win 66-60, spoiling Bennett’s debut as head coach.
“I can’t stress enough how hardworking and connected this group is already,” Bennett added. “They have been bought in from day one to the culture and everything we are trying to accomplish as a program. I am very fortunate to coach these kids.”
SCORING BREAKDOWN:
Amari Samuel: 20 points
Lowell McWright: 17 points
HOUSING
From page 1
communities are stronger when we all feel safe.”
Along with the announcement of the forward together agenda, Mello announced his threeperson leadership team.
Scott Nicholson, Ernst & Young senior management consultant, will serve as deputy county executive.
Pierce County Council Chief of Staff Julie Murray will serve as executive counsel.
Jamie Smith, executive director of communications for Gov. Jay Inslee, will serve as chief of staff. Mello will be legally sworn in on Dec. 31 in a private ceremony. A public swearing-in ceremony is expected to be announced sometime soon.
Rogers faced teammate Jameson Beckord in the finals. The pair settled the match with a game of rock-paper-scissors, with Rogers winning 2 out of 3 and officially taking the title via forfeit. Beckord, who went 3-1, finished as runner-up.
OTHER STANDOUT
PERFORMANCES INCLUDED:
Garin Paker (144 lbs.): Runner-up with a 3-1 record.
Ryder McFadden (144 lbs.): A strong 3-2 showing.
Aaron Tozier (285 lbs.): Took third place with a 4-1 record.
Teagan Croppi (126 lbs.): Finished fourth, going 3-2.
Justen Koch (132 lbs.): Also claimed fourth with a 2-2 record.
Several other grapplers showed grit,
Jeremy Osborn Jr.: 13 points
Colton Herbrand: 4 points
Carter Taylor: 3 points
Nash Sherrard: 2 points
Kai Rose: 1 point
The Cruisers will look to regroup as they prepare for a busy schedule next week.
Eatonville will open up 2A SPSL league play by hosting the Orting Cardinals on Monday at 7 p.m. before hitting the road to Tacoma to take on the Foss Falcons on Wednesday, also at 7 p.m.
“This is a tough group, and we’re excited to keep competing,” Bennett said.
FROSTY FESTIVITIES
including Bryan Boers (126 lbs.), Brody Lay (126 lbs.), Ethan Taylor (138 lbs.), Haven Rovang (150 lbs.), Jarin Ragazzo (175 lbs.), and Taylor Beer-Holland (285 lbs.), all of whom recorded multiple wins in their weight classes.
GIRLS' TEAM
The girls' team traveled to Orting High School for the Takedowns & Tiaras tournament, competing against 19 other teams and earning a 14th-place finish. Najalia Baublits finished in fourth place with a 3-2 record, underscoring her determination and talent.
Makenzie Ball (170 lbs.) turned heads with a 4-1 record, working her way through the consolation bracket to bring home an 8th place finish.
LOOKING AHEAD
Eatonville’s next test will be at home on Thursday, Dec. 12, when they host a dual meet against Steilacoom and Washington High Schools. The teams will then travel to Oregon for an out-of-town tournament over the weekend.
Eatonville's Trey StaRosa puts his opponent in a compromising position in one of his four matches that he won on the day to claim a first-place finish.
COURTESY SUSAN KREGER
