Two injured in one-car accident in Alderton
A Sumner man was injured in a one-car accident on state Route 162 near 96th Street East in Alderton, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The accident occurred about 11:15 p.m. Sunday.
State patrol reported a 2000 Ford Taurus was traveling westbound on SR 162 when it moved into the eastbound lanes while passing another vehicle; the driver lost control and struck a fire hydrant, two concrete dividers and a utility pole.
The driver, Martin E. Schuler, 41, of Sumner, was listed in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle Monday morning, while passenger Lisa M. Prime of Puyallup was transported to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Tacoma in serious condition.
State patrol stated that Prime was wearing her seat belt, but Schuler was not.
Both directions of SR 162 were blocked until state Department of Transportation crews responded.
The accident remained under investigation Monday and charges may be pending against Schuler, the WSP noted.
Illegal sign enforcement under way countywide
Pierce County road crews began removing illegally-placed signs in the right of way last week following the recent agreement involving Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, the County Council and Public Works and Utilities.
Illegal sign removal started countywide Aug. 12. The initial roundup is expected to take up to three weeks to complete.
After that, the worst intersections will be revisited monthly and high volume arterial roads will be swept quarterly. As illegal sign volumes drop at any given location, the next worst spots will be targeted.
The goals of the program are to achieve compliance with sign laws and maintain safe conditions for motorists and pedestrians. The unsightly clutter caused by illegal signs in the right of way will also be addressed.
All collected signs will be recycled, unlike last year when owners were given the opportunity to reclaim their signs. The cleanup will cost taxpayers about $95,000 per year.
Repeat offenders will receive written warnings and may be subject to citations and fines. Frequently asked questions and instructions for reporting an illegal sign are available at www.piercecountywa.org/signs.
Hazardous signs that require immediate attention should be reported directly to the Road Operations 24-hour response line at 253-798-6000.
Other illegal signs in the right of way can be reported on the Web site or by calling the Sign Line hotline at 253-798-8888.
Taco dinner to benefit Cle Elum senior center
The Upper Kittitas County Senior Center in Cle Elum was destroyed by fire Aug. 1. Now, members of the Bonney Lake Senior Advisory Board want to help their fellow senior citizens.
The Advisory Board will sponsor a taco bar benefit dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Bonney Lake Senior Center, 19304 Bonney Lake Blvd. Prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 and younger.
According to Senior Center Aide Phil DeLeo, all proceeds from the dinner will benefit the Upper Kittitas County Senior Center Reconstruction Fund.
DeLeo said there will be live bluegrass music during the dinner.
According to The Daily Record of Ellensburg, Kittitas County Fire District 7 officials are unclear if the blaze stemmed from a grease fire on the large barbecue grill being used or if there was a malfunction with the propane tanks.
There were 90 to 100 people inside the building when the blaze started. The facility was open in 2002.
Those who are unable to attend the dinner, but are interested in donating to the reconstruction fund, can contact Senior Services Manager Sue Hilberg at 253-447-4327 or Senior Services Assistant Staci Guirsch at 253-447-3104.
Donation can also be sent to the Bonney Lake Senior Center, P.O. Box 7380, Bonney Lake, 98391.
Lake Tapps resident
is new to library group
Pierce County Library Foundation Board recently elected new officers to direct the volunteer board’s support of library services for Pierce County Library System.
The new officers are Lisa Korsmo, president, Lakewood; Dr. MaryAnn Woodruff, vice president, University Place; John Sloan, treasurer, Gig Harbor; Donna Losch, secretary, Puyallup; Doug Whitton, member-at-large, Puyallup and Jackie Zils, past president, Puyallup.
Rosemarie Clemente, community liaison from Lake Tapps, is one of the new directors to the board.
The foundation raises funds for the library’s early learning program, outreach services for people who are unable to visit a library, and the summer reading program, which serves thousands of kids and teenagers throughout the county.
In the past year, individuals and organizations gave more than $230,000, of which the Foundation has designated $207,000 to expand and enhance the library’s literacy and outreach services.
Pierce County Library System serves 534,000 people in unincorporated Pierce County and 14 cities and towns.
Couples escape injuries in three-car accident
A Lake Tapps and Buckley couple escaped injuries during a three-car collision Aug. 7 on Interstate 5 in Thurston County, reported Washington State Patrol.
WSP reported Douglas and Shelly Parker of Lake Tapps was traveling southbound in a 2003 Suburu Legacy when it was struck from the rear by a vehicle driven by a 51-year-old Olympia man.
The collision pushed the Parker’s vehicle into the rear of a 2000 Nissan Xterra driven by Delbert E. Helmstetler, 64, of Buckley. His wife, Taundra, 57, was a passenger in the vehicle.
All five people involved in the accident were wearing seat belts, reported WSP. The accident happened about 12:30 p.m.
