Category Archives: Culture

Stories from Backstage – the Dixie Chicks, first memory

by Bruce A. Smith  Seattle’s Key Arena, Summer, 2003 – and the Tacoma Dome, November 2006 Seattle: Chicks Rule!  Yup, best concert I’ve ever seen, and I’m not alone in that assessment – the 12,000 screaming, mostly women in the Key … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Entertainment, Stories from Backstage | 1 Comment

Anatomy of a heart attack – a love letter to all of you

by Bruce A. Smith  Part 1, in a series. One phone call is all it took to save my life.  “911,” said the calm, even, female voice on the other end.  “I’m having chest pains,” I replied.  “I’m 62 years … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Health, Politics | 26 Comments

Suspects in the DB Cooper skyjacking – sketches, pictures and comparisons

by Bruce A. Smith As part of the resurgent investigation into the DB Cooper skyjacking case, there has been a recent effort by private sleuths to show pictures of the various suspects to the passengers from the hijacked aircraft. Here … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, DB Cooper, Events | 137 Comments

Stories from Backstage – Neil Diamond

Note:  From 1999 until 2006 I was a theatrical stagehand in Nashville and Seattle.  I also went on a few brief tours with Cavalia, the Cirque Du Soleil spin-off that is currently performing in Marymoor Park.  Key Arena, Seattle – 2006 … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Entertainment, Events, Stories from Backstage | 2 Comments

Countdown to the Oscars includes unusual move to nominate an over-looked actor

by Bruce A. Smith  The 84th Academy Awards will be awarded on February 26, and there is a surprising campaign surging within the film industry to nominate an actor that has been overlooked heretofore.  The circumstances surrounding this omission are … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Entertainment, Events | 3 Comments

Smoke from debris burning fills the skies of Pierce County causing death and suffering to many

  by Bruce A. Smith  Although our area has been graced this month with several days of sunshine and cloudless skies, it has spelled doom and suffering for many residents of Pierce County as the air – particularly on weekends … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Eatonville News, Environment, Frederickson, Graham News, Parkland, Politics, Spanaway, Weather | 6 Comments

Guest Author: Cate Montana – “A Fish in Water”

by Cate Montana Special to the Mountain News  I was at a good friend’s wedding recently.  It was post-nuptials and post-dinner and people were having a good time on the outdoor dance floor.  Taking a breather, I retreated to an … Continue reading

Posted in Cate Montana, Culture, Folk tales and stories | 3 Comments

Rick Santorum speaks in Tacoma

 by Bruce A. Smith  If you believe you’re part of the “Real America,” you probably would have enjoyed the 45-minute speech Rick Santorum delivered Monday night in downtown Tacoma.

Posted in Culture, Events, Politics | 4 Comments

Chocolate Stroll a huge success in Orting

by Bruce A. Smith  Carrying goodie bags filled with chocolate candies, dozens of parents and kids – and a goodly gaggle of middle-aged women out for a lark – flooded the downtown core of Orting on Saturday afternoon for the … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Entertainment, Events, Orting | 10 Comments

Remembering Charlie and Braden Powell

  Over the past week, a handful of Puyallup-area school teachers began collecting stories about Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5, Powell, the two boys killed by their father, Josh Powell, on February 5 near Graham.

Posted in Cops and courts, Culture, Events, Graham News, South Hill | 2 Comments