A few weeks ago I alerted readers to a startling state Senate proposal that would erase the life terms of nearly half the state’s 292 “Three Strikes, Your Out” inmates, setting more than 80 of them free immediately. The legislation, Senate Bill 5292, passed out of committee with the support of eastside Sen. Rodney Tom.
At a chamber of commerce breakfast meeting a couple of weeks ago Green River Community College business instructor Jeff Perlot asked those in attendance for recession jokes to lighten the mood.
I walked into a neighborhood coffee joint last week, and stood in line behind a woman already ordering. She rattled off some drink using words like “no-foam” and “with wings.” I wasn’t sure if she was ordering coffee or chicken.
As a local parent, I am impressed with the wonderful, safe, family-oriented environment our communities have to offer. Our schools are among the best in Washington, due in large part to the tremendous amount of parent involvement and volunteer time given by the families, and we have every type of activity imaginable for kids to participate in. That being said, I often wonder if my children have been exposed to enough life experiences to help them be successful in the long run.
March 24 is American Diabetes Alert Day. It is a one-day “wake-up” call to inform the American public about the seriousness of diabetes. Since 1997 the United States has seen a 60 percent increase in diabetes cases. Dr. Barbara Marshall, a pediatric endocrinologist with Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Center, wants to encourage parents to take an active role in monitoring their child’s risk factors and possible symptoms of diabetes. Below are some frequently asked questions and things everyone can do to help a child cope.
Girl Scout Cookies are on sale through March 15.
The First Pentecostal Church of Sumner will celebrate its 20th anniversary March 14-15.
The Rev. Tom Deuschle of Celebration Ministries International in Zimbabwe is building a network of churches throughout the continent of Africa. His mandate is to bring a grassroots reformation and renaissance to the nation of Zimbabwe in the face of the nation’s many challenges.
The first week of March means it is time to make nice with manure. Yes, composted steer or horse manure is a valuable asset this month as spreading manure on top of your berries will not only smother those weeds just starting to pop up, but also nourish the early spring growth that makes for a bountiful berry harvest. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and your vegetable garden are all hungry for manure. Perennials and roses also love a spring tonic of manure to wake them up and this is the week to shovel nature’s natural fertilizer around your plants.
