November 13, 2014- Vol 6, Issue 47
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In This Issue
Sumner's Rhubarb Status
Police Blotter
Public Notices

 
Congratulations to The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse for receiving the National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award from Washington's Secretary of State Kim Wyman.  This aware recognizes businesses who demonstrate a commitment to giving back to the community.  A Picket Fence in Sumner also received recognition.  Photo courtesy of the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor's Update: The Ugly Truth

I'm concerned about our roads.  According to our recent Comprehensive Plan Survey, you are concerned too.  You listed roads and traffic as the most important issues facing Sumner.

    
The challenge is that we're not really in control of our own destiny.  Sumner has done excellent work lately to get the grant funding to tackle big transportation projects: replacing the Bridge Street bridge, resurfacing the East Valley Highway, improving the 136th/Valentine Corridor, improving the Traffic & Main intersection, widening Stewart Road....  But, all those were built with grants or assistance that came from the State, and that funding source is in great jeopardy.  

 

We've all been reading about the financial challenges facing our State.  A lot of things at the State are underfunded.  The challenge is that funding doesn't just appear.  It comes from somewhere, and many experts agree that it could come from funding for cities or from roads and transportation funds.  This shift would solve one problem, but we all have to be aware that it will also create others.


The Association of Washington Cities has produced a short video that really sums up the challenge in our State about funding roads.  It's called The Ugly Truth, and you can look at it on our website here.  We've done fairly well keeping up our roads in Sumner, but we'll always have more to do.  We need to repave 142nd soon, and Valley Avenue is a problem.  How can we possibly tackle these if there is no funding left at the State level?  That doesn't even touch the road projects led by the State, including widening and/or finishing Highway 167 and finally improving all our outdated interchanges with Highway 410. 

 

There are no answers yet, and the State's predicament is ours as well. It's good for you and me to know the questions and understand the challenges as, hopefully, the State begins to seek answers.

  

Mayor Dave Enslow

   

Sumner's Rhubarb Status

 

The 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture finally came out, and the numbers confirm Sumner's reigning status as Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World.  Washington State still has 175 acres harvesting rhubarb for fresh market, by far the most in the nation.  The next highest is California at 52 acres.  And, of those 175 acres, 92.5% of them are in Pierce County.  Incidentally, Oregon is growing way more rhubarb, but almost all of it is harvested for processing, not fresh market.  So, when it comes to coming and sampling fresh rhubarb, or in a pie made locally, Sumner still is the Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World.  Check out rhubarb recipes and ways to share your own.

 

Police Blotter

Between October 19 and November 1, Sumner Police responded to 714 calls for service, made 21 arrests and fulfilled 33 public disclosure requests.  Incidents included the following.   

 

On October 26 officers responded to a report of a domestic dispute. A residents' son thought his girlfriend was inside and believed she stole money from him.  He tried to kick in the door and shouted, "If she is in there, I will kill you both!"  He left the scene prior to the officers' arrival, and the mother showed officers his muddy footprints on her front door. Officers mailed a citation, requiring him to appear in court for Domestic Violence Harassment.  

 

On October 29 an employee of a local store flagged down officers to report that a man had just walked out of the store with a basket of items for which he did not pay.  She pointed out that he was still sitting in his vehicle. Officers approached the vehicle and found a male subject hiding in the back seat. The officer knocked on the window, and the male subject opened the door, revealing the stolen merchandise. He immediately admitted to the theft and was released with a citation requiring him to appear in court for Theft 3rd degree.


In addition, C
hief Moericke attended the Washington State Prevention Summit; Deputy Chief Engel met with Sumner School District counselors and presented the Law Enforcement perspective of heroin use; officers increased their presence at schools and football games in the aftermath of the Marysville school shooting; and Officer Kaylor attended SWAT negotiator training.  


 

The Sumner Police Department uses CrimeReports, so you can always look online for an overview of recent crime.  You can even request email reports when crime happens near you.  Click here to check it out.  

 


Public Notices
  
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www.ci.sumner.wa.us                               
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