Packwood, WA Local News and More

Girl, 5, died in Pierce County in August. ME has released her cause of death

The 5-year-old girl who died in August on a property south of Graham died of multiple traumatic injuries, the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Friday. Sheriff’s deputies have said forensic testing supported the conclusion that a dog attacked her. Alice Jo Sandholm Locke died Aug. 13 while spending the day with her grandmother. A 911 caller reported her missing. The Sheriff’s Office has said an aggressive dog came at arriving deputies, and a woman came out to restrain it. Deputies later shot and killed a dog found near the girl’s body so they could render aid to her. In a phone call Friday evening, Alice Jo’s mother, Josie Locke, said she still has unanswered questions about what happened to her daughter. Locke said the loss has been hard on her and her family, and she still struggles to sleep knowing she’ll never see Alice Jo again. “We love her, and we miss her every day,” Locke said.

Pierce County, WA · 22h

The Chronicle

Lewis County allows family burial grounds after approval of rules

Lewis County will now permit family burial grounds in the county after the passage of a bill sponsored by a bipartisan group of state lawmakers, including 19th District state Rep. Jim Walsh,

Lewis County, WA · 2d

The Chronicle

Brian Mittge: Climbing to new heights with the GOATs of Lewis County

Amidst all the fake but almost believable videos and AI slop floating around cyberspace, I was truly delighted by a few true moments captured and shared online this week.  One was a bighorn

Lewis County, WA · 20h

The Chronicle

partner publisher · 85.2K followers

Centralia woman charged with felony after allegedly assaulting ex, damaging vehicle 

A 26-year-old Centralia woman is facing a felony criminal charge after allegedly assaulting her ex and stabbing the hood of his vehicle and a tire with a set of needle nose pliers.  Martha

Centralia, WA · 1d

Apple Valley News Now

Granger man arrested after fatal shooting in Outlook

YAKIMA CO., Wash. - A Granger man was arrested on suspicion of murder after another man was found dead in Outlook Friday.

Outlook, WA · 3h

KIRO 7 Seattle

partner publisher · 169.5K followers

Tacoma Humane Society waives adoption fees, seeks fosters as dog intake surges

The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County is asking for the community’s help after a surge in dogs arriving at the shelter pushed it beyond capacity.

Tacoma, WA · 1d

valleyrecord.com

Man, 20, receives 19 years for Federal Way murder in 2023

A judge sentenced a 20-year-old Tacoma man to 19 years, four months in prison for the fatal shooting of a 27-year-old man in 2023 at a Federal Way gas station. Tau’rean Curtis Sonnell Forks, just 17 at the time of the July 15, 2023 shooting at a Arco gas station, 3910 S. 320th St., was sentenced Nov. 6 by King County Superior Court Judge Taki Flevaris at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. Forks pleaded guilty Aug. 27 to second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement, a lesser charge than the original first-degree murder charge.

Federal Way, WA · 22h

Tacoma News Tribune

How DJ Mims turned Puyallup into WA's best high school football team

When Luke Parker broke Puyallup High’s single-season touchdown receptions record in last week’s playoff win over Lewis & Clark, he didn’t have to go far to find the previous record holder. Dane Looker was standing on the sideline, in fact, when Parker recorded his record-breaking 19th touchdown catch. Looker, who played with quarterback Brock Huard in the mid-1990s, is Puyallup’s receivers coach. “Congratulations,” he told Parker, a senior captain. “You earned it.” Looker went on to play at the UW and in the NFL. “It was really rewarding to hear,” Parker said. “But you know, I’m not satisfied. I feel like the state’s championship’s our goal as a team.” That goal is within reach. The WIAA’s state high school football tournaments begin this week across Washington. Puyallup, which is 10-0, is the No. 1 seed in the Class 4A tournament. At this point in the season, Puyallup is the state’s undisputed No. 1 team. Just look at the resume. A 57-14 road win over Rocky Mountain, one of Idaho’s top programs. A 32-14 win over Bellevue, which is a 3A title contender. A 43-42 overtime road win over Lake Stevens, the No. 2 seed in the 4A state tournament. A

Puyallup, WA · 1d

Chronicle

Letter to the editor: Putting Mossyrock students first

As we enter a season of reflection and gratitude, I want to share where Mossyrock Schools is headed and speak honestly about what stands in our way. As your school superintendent, my guiding principle is simple and unchanging: every decision we make must begin with the needs of our students, including their learning, their health and their sense of belonging.

Mossyrock, WA · 20h

MyNorthwest.com

‘No excuse for what happened’: Ursula condemns failure to protect WA inmate from assault after $150K verdict

A federal jury in Tacoma awarded former inmate Mozzy Clark $150,000 after she sued over allegations that staff failed to protect her from a cellmate at Washington’s women’s prison in Gig Harbor. The jury found corrections officer Gregory Brooks liable but ruled in favor of the other officer named at trial.

Tacoma, WA · 2d

auburn-reporter.com

Two men to be arraigned for $5.6 million in theft from four retailers

One Texan and one Californian will be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Nov. 13 for allegedly leading a sophisticated multi-million-dollar fraud scheme involving the theft and reselling of products from four online retailers. Court documents state that the defendants attempted to steal more than $9.7 million worth...

Seattle, WA · 1d

Tacoma News Tribune

Pierce County city wants a new tax on warehouses. Will more cities follow?

Warehouses are set to become a source of new tax revenue for the city of Fife under an ordinance that’s been in the works for more than a year. What’s left is figuring out the exact details of what the tax structure will look like. Following a lengthy discussion and debate among Fife council members at the regular Nov. 10 meeting, the council voted to approve an initial version of the measure on first reading, but made clear that language would be adjusted for the second, final reading, which could be as soon as two weeks. Fife, along with other Pierce County metros, has seen its share of warehouse development with its proximity to the Port of Tacoma and Interstate 5. According to Fife’s website: “Businesses operating large warehouse and logistics facilities generate significant road usage and infrastructure wear, while contributing less through retail sales tax than other business types. This tax is designed to create a closer link between infrastructure demand and funding.” The council on Tuesday appeared to be moving toward restricting the revenue to the cost of administering the tax in the first year, return funds to the transportation benefit district that came out of the fund

Pierce County, WA · 2d

ncwlife.com

partner publisher · 20.4K followers

Kittitas County gives update on 2026 General Election

Turnout for the 2026 General Election hit 64% in Kittitas County following Tuesday’s update in voting results, according to the Washington Secretary of State. Additional ballots were counted Nov. 10, and the next update is expected Thursday. Since the Nov. 3 election, a total of 20,950 ballots have been...

Kittitas County, WA · 2d

The Olympian

Parents sue Olympia School District after decision to close three schools

Five parents who are attorneys filed a Notice of Appeal Nov. 13 in Thurston County Superior Court after the Olympia School District Board of Directors voted the night before to close Madison, McKenny and LP Brown elementary schools. District parent Marissa Smith shared a media statement and the appeal with The Olympian on Nov. 13. “The parents allege that the district failed to meet the minimum requirements in state law for public engagement,” according to the media statement. “According to the lawsuit, the school board cannot close any school until it first adopts a formal policy explaining how citizens will be involved in the development of the closure proposal. The parents argue that the school board’s current policy does not meet the statutory requirements for citizen engagement and therefore is invalid.” Parents are also concerned about Superintendent Patrick Murphy presenting a closure proposal without any formal request from the school board, according to the media statement. “The lawsuit cites a school board policy that says a closure proposal cannot proceed until the school board publicly requests a written analysis of the proposal from the district,” according to the media statement. The Olympian has reached out to district spokesperson Conor Schober,

Olympia, WA · 22h

Nisqually Valley News

partner publisher · 2.1K followers

Thurston County Sheriff's Office mourns passing of retired K9 Jaxx

Retired Thurston County Sheriff's Office K9 Jaxx has passed away, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office announced Friday, Nov. 13.  K9 Jaxx was born in 2013 and joined the sheriff's

Thurston County, WA · 18h

NBCMontana

partner publisher · 153.5K followers

Blackfeet Law Enforcement seeks help locating missing 38-year-old man

BROWNING, Mont. — Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services is asking for the public's help locating 38-year-old Shane Talksabout, who has not been in contact with family or friends since Oct. 17, 2026. Talksabout was last seen with Lynette Reevis in the Yakima, Washington, area. He is described as 6 feet,...

Yakima, WA · 2d

Wonderwall

ICE accused of ‘picking people off like serial killers,’ families only know something is wrong when they ‘find the car abandoned on the side of the road,’ Washington union leader says

A Washington union leader accused ICE officers of 'picking people off like serial killers.' BY: MEGA A Washington state union leader has accused Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers of targeting immigrant farmworkers with tactics resembling those of “serial killers,” claiming families often discover their loved ones have disappeared only after finding their vehicles abandoned along rural roads. The disturbing patterns of ICE Elizabeth Strater, national vice president of the United...

Yakima County, WA · 16h

The Chronicle

A Look Back in Time: New Deal program feeds Lewis County students; former Centralian earns Bronze Star in Vietnam; donations sought to support Chehalis K-9

In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Saturday, Nov. 14, 1936, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about the expansion of a federal Works Progress Administration meal program for

Lewis County, WA · 20h

Tacoma News Tribune