The holiday season is always bustling, and sometimes, between the family gatherings and gift shopping and get-togethers with friends, it’s hard to find some time for yourself.
But without fail, my wife and I will always make time to watch at least two Christmas movies together — “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) and “Scrooge” (1951) — with a cup of hot chocolate and a cozy blanket.
By themselves, these movies are some of the best modern media has to offer; Jimmy Stewart’s role as George Bailey has an overwhelming amount of soul, and I’m always blown away by the special effects Brian Desmond Hurst and his crew were able to cobble together in an era that was only just getting used to color films.
But I believe the magic of both these films shines brightest when you watch them together.
Bailey and Scrooge are diametrically opposed, the former finding it impossible to not help his friends, family, and community — often to his own detriment— and the latter having a soul so cold, its expected descent into hell portends the realm’s fabled freezing.
Even so, our protagonists experience the same life lesson, albeit in their own ways — that their actions, either small or large, have far-reaching (and often unpredictable) effects.
I think 2019 was emblematic of these two films. On one hand, we’ve stories about the Enumclaw School District and the Rainier Foothills Wellness Center using their combined resources to reach out to those suffering from depression and anxiety, and the Plateau Farmers Market working on accepting SNAP benefits next season. These are actions and ideas that will ripple out so far into the Plateau community, it is impossible to track how many lives may improve.
On the other, we also have stories that bring fear and pain closer to home, and there is little telling how we, as individuals and as a whole, will change because of them.
All I know is, while we can’t control the world around us, we can control how we react to the world, and that small measure of control — or a lack of it — can lead to big things.
So as we head into 2020, let’s remember that we may never know if we are a George Bailey, whose selfless actions staved off poverty and cruelty for an entire community, or an Ebenezer Scrooge, whose change of heart saved the life of a little boy.
We just have to trust that as long as we are kind, patient, generous, and loving, the world will become a better place for everyone.
Happy New Years!
10) ‘COUNCIL OKS SWIMMING POOL IMPROVEMENTS’ (MARCH 20, 2019)
The Enumclaw pool was much discussed during 2019, as the city council has been trying to figure out exactly what to do with the aging structure: options included everything from basically doing nothing to a $9.6 million option of building a new pool facility. In March, the council officially OK’d roughly $630,000 for various repairs, which includes repairing the roof, pool liner, and deck, as well as improvements to the spectator seating area and “air handling” units. In order to help pay for these improvements, pool rates have gone up once already, and are expected to increase 7 percent in 2020 and a further 7 percent in 2021.
9) ‘ALL THINGS SASQUATCH AT THE FIELD HOUSE FOR THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE’ (APRIL 17)
Travelers from all over attended the Third Annual Conference for Primal People at the Expo Center’s Field House in May 2019, making it a hive of activity as people traded tales and examined artifacts. Pictured in one vendor showing off a Sasquatch mold to a patron. Photo by Ray Miller-Still
With Pierce County being one of the best places in the U.S. to potentially spot a Bigfoot, the third International Conference for Primal People decided to make the Expo Center’s Field House its headquarters for a three-day event. The event was organized by Thom Cantrall, an Enumclaw resident and a famous Sasquatch researcher known to many in the community. The conference sported many such experts who have collected various evidence of the cryptid, from footprints (and butt prints) to audio clips and videos — and those who attended were surprised with a visit from Bob Gimlin of the 1967 Patterson-Gimlin film fame, which captured what appeared to be a female Sasquatch looking over her shoulder as she bounded into the woods.
8) ‘GUILTY PLEAS IN KIDNAPPING CASE’ (JAN. 23)
The saga of Lily Christopherson and her abduction and rape began in 2018 and continued into 2019 when one of her abductors, Maria Ann Counts, pled guilty to all charges. For those who don’t remember the case, Bonney Lake resident Christopherson, who was then 15, went missing May 9, 2018, and it soon became apparent it wasn’t a simple runaway situation. Counts was arrested May 24, and another suspect, Christopher Fitzpatrick, was arrested May 26, but Christopherson wasn’t found until June 3 by a passerby in Tacoma. Counts’ charges included first-degree kidnapping, promoting the commercial sexual abuse of a minor, two counts of third-degree rape, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance to a minor, and second-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Fitzpatick, who faces the same charges, has a jury trial date currently set for Feb. 3, 2020.
7) ‘EXPLORING THE INS AND OUTS OF ANXIETY’ (FEB. 20)
Enumclaw families attended a showing of “Angst,” a movie about anxiety disorders, in March 2019. After the movie, Enumclaw School District counselors Rebecca Bowen, Tina Hickcox, Sandra Wright, and Kami Johnson answered questions from the audience. Photo by Ray Miller-Still
Why does it seem children and teenagers these days are always anxious? The Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation, the Enumclaw School District, and the Enumclaw Schools Foundation held a showing of the movie, “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety,” and hosted a panel of elementary, middle, and high school guidance counselors to answer any questions parents may have. Explaining the rise of anxiety in children would take up too much room here, but in general, counselors believe the major prevalence of social media, extremely busy schedules, and rigorous academic expectations can all be partly to blame, while putting down electronics, getting out into nature, and having mindful discussions about how to deal with stress are all strategies to help reduce anxiety.
6) ‘THUNDER DOME GRAND OPENING INCHES CLOSER TO THE STARTING LINE’ (MAY 22)
Enumclaw residents had to wait patiently for two years as its newest attraction — the Thunder Dome Car Museum — put itself together for its grand opening on May 29, 2019. The museum is a nonprofit entity, with proceeds going toward raising an awareness and finding a cure for epilepsy. Since its opening, the museum has wound its way into everyday Enumclaw life by allowing members of the public to apply for their own vehicles to be displayed, working with the Enumclaw School District about internship opportunities, and gathering locals with a passion for cars together to docent. More information about the museum can be found at https://www.thunderdomecarmuseum.org/.
5) ‘BUCKLEY POLICE CHIEF DODGES MACHETE ATTACK, SUBDUES SENIOR SUSPECT’ (AUG. 26)
The most exciting crime story of the year involved Buckley Police Chief Jim Arsanto, a cup of coffee, and 78-year old Warren H. Alexander with a machete. According to reports, Arsanto stopped at the Sunshine Mart around 8 a.m. on Aug. 21 when he noticed Alexander pulling flowers from a nearby garden bed, talking to himself, and yelling at a passerby. It was when Alexander pulled out a folding machete that Arsanto jumped into action, managing to take the weapon from Alexander and taking him to the ground without injuries to either of them. Warren is known in Buckley to be transient and mentally ill; he pled not guilty at his arraignment, and a competency hearing is scheduled for Feb. 12, 2020.
4) ‘SUSPECT IN 1987 COLD CASE ACQUITTED, NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE’ (NOV. 4)
A former Enumclaw man accused of killing his wife in 1987 was found not guilty and acquitted of all charges earlier this year. Here’s a quick summary: Kevin Dale Jokumsen and his wife Donna May (Douglas) Jokumsen — a couple known for being volatile — left Washington in January 1987 to get a fresh start. However, in July of that year, Donna May arrived at a friend’s work place, allegedly with a split lip and red marks on her neck. She spent the weekend with her friends, allegedly making up her mind to move back to Washington with her two children and leave Kevin. However, when Kevin woke up the morning of July 6, he allegedly found Donna May’s car in the driveway, but no other sign of her, and her body was never found. Police tried three times to investigate Kevin, and finally brought charges against him the summer of 2017. However, the judge ruled there wasn’t enough evidence to go through with a jury trial, and Kevin became a free man.
3) PLATEAU FARMERS MARKET DEBUTS, EXPECTS TO INCREASE SERVICES (DEC. 6)
With its first season being deemed a success, the Plateau Farmers Market plans to return next summer with the ability to process food stamp benefits. Contributed photo
The Plateau Farmers Market’s first year was deemed a success by both its organizers and the city. During a city budget workshop, the Farmers Market announced it had between 16 vendors on its calmest day to their “knockout day” of 37 vendors; total gross vendor sales topped $118,000, which organizer Liz Clark said was “pretty good” for an opening season, adding that a good chunk of that money stayed local, as the vast majority of farm vendors were local farmers. Surprisingly, while most people who shopped at the farmers market lived in the 98022 ZIP code, the majority of people who came do not live within the city limits, something organizers want to improve next year. Additionally, farmers market customers also often visited other downtown business while they were in town — some Railroad Street businesses saw as much as a 30 percent increase in sales on market days. Now with a larger budget, which includes an additional $15,000 from the Enumclaw City Council, the farmers market plans to grow and improve, most notably by being able to accept food stamps for fresh produce.
2) ‘BONNEY LAKE COVERAGE TO END’ (APRIL 3)
This last year was the end of an era for the Courier-Herald. In the spring, we announced we would no longer be covering or delivering to the Bonney Lake area in order to focus more on Enumclaw, Black Diamond, and Buckley. The Bonney Lake Courier-Herald had its start in 2003, but then combined with the Enumclaw Courier-Herald 13 years later. We also announced that we would no longer be offering free subscriptions and move offices from Cole Street to Myrtle Avenue (though we’re still in the same building).
1) THE ALLEN THOMAS/DRAINAGE DISTRICT 5 INVESTIGATION (MAY 1)
King 5 investigator Chris Ingalls originally broke the story about Allan Thomas, and found the man outside Enumclaw’s True Value to ask him a few questions concerning Drainage District 5 last April. Ingalls’ report was aired April 25, which you can watch here (www.king5.com/article/news/in-rural-king-county-elected-official-answers-to-no-one/281-a6130794-2ef3-4351-86fb-7e925ecc21aa). Image courtesy King 5 News
Arguably 2019’s biggest ongoing story — which will continue into 2020 — is the investigation into local Allan Thomas and allegations that he used his former position as commissioner of Drainage District 5 in Enumclaw to steal more than $460,000 from local taxpayers. The investigation led to some changes in the special purpose tax district system in King County and an overhaul of management of the three drainage districts located in Enumclaw. Thomas — along with his wife Joann, who allegedly worked together to set up sham companies to make the scheme work — were charged with one count of wire fraud last fall, but more charges are expected.
It also appears Thomas, who held onto his office for multiple decades, may have skirted Washington state voting laws, though it’s unclear whether any related charges will be filed.
