🌱 Patch AM: Lakewood hazardous-waste firm hit with $1.04 million in fines

Morning Lakewood! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Lakewood hazardous-waste firm hit with $1.04 million in fines
• How a new Tacoma treatment center could change mental health care locally
• What's really at stake in Pierce County's sheriff ballot measure?

Also on today's calendar: Back to Church Sunday and 1 more event.

Today's riddle: Where do math teachers go on vacation? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: A shower, with a high of 73 and low of 50 degrees.
• Sunday: A morning shower or two, temps: high: 76, low: 54.
• Monday: Clouds and sun with a shower, with a high of 71 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Crystal Clean, Inc. Penalized for Hazardous Waste Management Violations (marketscreener.com) — A hazardous waste company with a Lakewood location has been fined $1.04 million by the state for mishandling and misdirecting dangerous materials like used oil, solvents, and corrosives over a two-year period. Inspectors say Crystal Clean altered shipping documents and sent waste to unpermitted facilities, breaking key tracking rules that protect communities and the environment. The company has 30 days to pay or appeal.
   

• New 100-bed behavioral health center planned near busy Tacoma corridor (thenewstribune.com) — Pierce County has approved $3 million to help build a new 100-bed behavioral health residential facility in Tacoma, aiming to restore local treatment options lost in 2024. Funded through a countywide housing and services tax, the project will serve Medicaid patients and leverages substantial private investment, a development especially relevant for Lakewood residents who currently rely on distant or emergency care in crises.
   

• Judge issues ruling on measure that could remove Sheriff Swank from office early (thenewstribune.com) — A judge has cleared the way for Pierce County voters to decide in November whether to switch the sheriff from an elected to an appointed position, potentially ending Sheriff Keith Swank's term two years early. For Lakewood residents, the ruling keeps a major law-enforcement governance change on the ballot, with local policing leadership shifts in Lakewood cited as context for the debate.
   

📸 Around Lakewood

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Lakewood

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★ Featured events ★

Saturday September 12
• Ratapalooza - Lakewood, WA 2026 →
  McGavick Conference Center | Clover Park Technical College, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW Bld 23, Lakewood
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Tuesday September 8
• SHS Class of 2027 Senior Family Night
  Saltar's Point Elementary SHS Theater
  6:00 pm
Friday September 11
• PIO Picture Day
  Saltar's Point Elementary Auxiliary Gym
  8:30 am
Sunday September 20
• Back to Church Sunday →
  10402 Kline St SW, Lakewood
  10:00 am

📣 Lakewood Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Monday September 7
• Labor Day, District offices closed
  Industrial Design Engineering and Art Tacoma, WA 98444
Tuesday September 8
• First Day of School
  Early Learning Center Tacoma, WA 98444
• Workforce Grants & Application Workshop
  Tacoma Community College 6501 S 19th St, Tacoma, WA 98466
  2:00 pm
• SHS Class of 2027 Senior Family Night
  Saltar's Point Elementary SHS Theater
  6:00 pm
Wednesday September 9
• First Day of School (Grades 1-12)
  Industrial Design Engineering and Art Tacoma, WA 98444
Thursday September 10
• School Board Meeting
  Industrial Design Engineering and Art Professional Development Center Cafeteria, 6501 N 23rd St Tacoma, WA 98406
  6:00 pm
Friday September 11
• PIO Picture Day
  Saltar's Point Elementary Auxiliary Gym
  8:30 am
Friday September 25
• Foss Varsity Football @ Steilacoom →
  Steilacoom High School, 54 Sentinel Dr, Steilacoom
  7:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Government Jobs posted a job opening for Permit Tech in Lakewood. Apply here.
• YMCA of Greater Kansas City posted a job opening for Swim Instructor in Lakewood. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lakewood here.

🗞 Nearby News

Steilacoom

• This Puget Sound town hauled a church in by wagon, and it's still standing today (wheninyourstate.com)
• River Ridge tops Tumwater behind freshman Kinsley Phillips' brace (chronline.com)

University Place

• AT&T store in Pierce County has suddenly closed. Here's what we know (thenewstribune.com)
• TNT's fourth annual high school football fantasy draft (thenewstribune.com)

Parkland

• Bullet flies through Parkland apartment, nearly hitting family (kiro7.com)

Ok Lakewood! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Times Square (Thank you Jean K. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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