Anticipation Grows For Lakewood City Manager Andrew Neiditz, Two Others For Top Tacoma Position

The Tacoma City Council will make a decision on the new city manager position on Dec. 20. Neiditz is among three finalists for the job.

Lakewood Business Accepting Donations To Help Families of Soldiers Killed in Crash

Yorkshire Yarns of Lakewood is accepting gifts of money or gift cards for the families. Sonya Acord, the shop's owner, attends church with the family of Frank Buoniconti, one of the four 16th Combat Aviation Brigade soldiers who died Monday night.

JBLM Suspects Wearing Superhero, Transformer Masks Arrested in Armed Robberies in Lakewood

The incidents happened Tuesday at a 7-Eleven convenience store and Monday at a 76 gas station. Police believe the suspects are active duty Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldiers.

JBLM Identifies Helicopter Crash Victims

Soldiers are natives from four different states across the country. According to a base safety officer, the helicopters were on a routine night training flight.

Poll: Federal Transportation Safety Board Calls For Banning All Personal Electronic Devices While Driving

More than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents. The board is recommending no texting, no calling or doing anything else on your phone or device while driving.

Update: Soldier Held at JBLM Named Person of Interest in Paxton Slaying

The 19-year-old soldier has not been charged but is being held by the Army for repeatedly going AWOL, and Kirkland Police say he is from the Eastside.

Four Dead In Helicopter Training Crash At Joint Base Lewis-McChord

The accident involved two OH-58 Kiowa observation helicopters. It took place inside the southwest training area at JBLM, in Thurston County. Patch embedded a widget so you can see where the accident happened on a map.

Soldiers Conduct Explosive Training At Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Special guest Patch contributor JM Simpson tells us that 24 soldiers took part in the Team Leader Training this week, which featured real-life scenarios that soldiers face in areas such as Afghanistan and Libya.

A Pioneer Mother

Claudia Thomas, Washington state's first African American female mayor, was honored at Monday's City Council meeting. Family and community members acknowledged her 16 years of contributions to Lakewood. She will step down from the council in January.

Lakewood City Manager Finalist for Open Tacoma Position

Andrew Neiditz has more than 25 years of experience in local government. He believes Tacoma has "challenging problems" but is eager to face them. The Tacoma City Council expects to render a decision for its new city manager position on Dec. 13.

Lakewood Cracking Down on Excess Feather Banners

Many of the changes allow most businesses to continue displaying their signs without a permit.

Patches Nearby: State Department Of Ecology Fines BNSF For Chambers Creek Properties Train Spill

The $3,000 fine is for spilling 150 gallons of liquid sodium hydroxide. The state also billed the train company $6,370 for cleanup.

POLL: Gregoire Pushes To Reclassify Marijuana

The governors of Washington and Rhode Island want doctors to be able to prescribe it and pharmacists to fill prescriptions. They filed a petition with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Wednesday.

Deployed Soldiers Give Shout-Out to Their Hometown

SPC Sylvia Turner is currently in Kabul, Afghanistan

JBLM Soldiers Prepare For Santa’s Castle Ruck March

Soldiers from the 555th Engineer Brigade will support military families this holiday season by participating in the unit’s 2nd Annual Santa’s Castle Ruck March at 6:30 a.m. Friday.

JBLM Airman To Be Part Of Holiday Tree Lighting In Olympia

Senior Airman Samuel Lovelady flew 23 missions in Iraq.

Study Session Roundup: Councilman Neary Honored, Abandoned Vehicles Code Under Review

The Shoreline Master Program was updated by city officials during Monday night's study session.

FBI Tips on Safe Cyber Monday Shopping

If that offer seems too good to be true, it probably is, according to the bureau.

Lakewood’s Court History Started with a Hanging

The municipal court located at City Hall handles criminal and gross misdemeanors and traffic violations that occur in Lakewood and University Place.

Lakewood’s 16th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival to Take Place Dec. 2

Tillicum's first sewer connection was approved by Pierce County on Portland Avenue Nov. 10.

Poll: Do You Support Governor Gregoire's Proposal for a Temporary Sales Tax Increase?

Gov. Christine Gregoire is proposing over $1.8 billion in government cuts and is asking taxpayers to consider a temporary sales tax increase to prevent some of the more severe reductions.

Stryker Arrowhead Brigade Prepares for Pre-Christmas Deployment

The 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, conducted a deployment ceremony Tuesday outside the brigade headquarters at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Top 10 Stories of the Week

Catch up on our most popular stories.

Robi's Camera, Framing Shop: Quality Customer Service Under Cabin Roof

For the last decade, Robi's Camera and Framing shop has filled the 2,000-square foot wooden space. It's the fifth location in Lakewood and the last of a dying breed. No other shop within driving distance does what they do, says co-owner Tod Wolf.

Alex Bing's 347 All-Purpose Yards Performance Powers Lumberjacks to Youth Football Championship

The Lakewood fifth and sixths upset the undefeated Graham Eagles with a 36-28 victory at Orting Middle School Saturday night, the team's third straight Nisqually Youth Football League title. Bing records six touchdowns and two special teams TDs.

Show Us Your Heroes for Veterans Day

Upload a photo or video of you or a loved-one to be featured on Veterans Day.

Liquor Control Board Releases Statement on I-1183

The most difficult thing about the passage of I-1183 is the loss of 900 jobs, the Liquor Control Board said in a press release Wednesday, following the Nov. 8 election results.

Election Update: Incumbent Wagemann Victorious Over Caldwell in Clover Park School Board Race

Wednesday's final vote count shows University Place's Daniel Rankin ahead of Lakewood's Waylin McCurley for the West Pierce Fire & Rescue Board of Commissioners seat.

Update: Statewide, County Election Results

Here’s a look at how statewide ballot measures fared, along with contested county races.

Update: JBLM Soldier Identified in Fatal Training Accident at Fort Irwin, Calif.

Sgt. 1st Class Patrick L. Huntley of Portland Ore. died when a Stryker vehicle rolled over during a training exercise. He was part of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

JBLM Soldier Dies, Four Others Injured During Vehicle Rollover Accident at California Training Center

The soldiers are assigned to the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Ready for Tuesday Elections?

Here's a last-minute run-down of what you need to know for Tuesday's general elections. For all things elections-related, be sure to check out Lakewood Patch's Voting Guide for the latest, including live Election Day Coverage.

Patches Nearby: Local Vet Uses Art to Deal With Post-War Struggles

After serving a year in Afghanistan, war veteran Stephen Ewens is trying to raise money to portray his mental and physical battles through art. Now he needs your help to fund the project.

Initiative 1183: Privatizing Hard Liquor Sales, Creates More Questions Than Answers

The statewide measure on Tuesday's ballot proposing the privatization of state liquor stores has created confusion and consternation.

Frances Farmer, Western State Hospital's Famed Actress

Research continues on many fronts.

POLL: Are Lakewood Streets Worth Paying For?

The Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee recommended that the City Council allocate $5 million annually to street maintenance. City Councilmembers anticipate a vote in early 2012.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord One Of Eight Installations To Get Federal Funding For Improved Transportation

All eight installations were affected by the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment process, otherwise known as BRAC.

Pierce County Council Votes To Sell Former Police Station To Church For $1 Million

First Baptist Church of Lakewood intends to use the 12,400-square-foot building and its 2,600-square-foot garage as a community center.

Community Honors Marcus Walker With Street Sign In Front of Lakewood Playhouse

Former artistic director would have turned 54 on Friday as community members gathered to share stories and celebrate Walker's life.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord 3-2 Stryker Brigade Bound For Afghanistan ... Without Stryker Vehicles

The brigade's deputy commander said there might be some subtleties between a Stryker and a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, but the tactics and proficiency of the solders should make the transition seamless.