Local Dems to hold first-ever Spaghetti Feed in support of 8th CD Candidates

Posted on February 11, 2018 by

Special to the Mountain News:

Next weekend on Sunday, February 18 at the Elk Plain Grange in Spanaway, local Democrats are hosting the party’s first fundraising spaghetti feed in recent memory.

The driving force is their push to “Flip the 8th Congressional District” to blue as part of a nationwide effort to wrest control of the House of Representatives from the Republican Party. The current office holder, Dave Reichert, (R), is not seeking re-election, so the contest for his seat is intense. Continue reading →

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Stories from the Journey launches at YouTube

Posted on February 10, 2018 by

By Bruce A. Smith

I am proud to announce the launch of my “Stories from the Journey” channel at YouTube. The first selection posted is titled: The Home Run, and it explores the deeper issues encountered after I hit a home run in a Little League game when I was ten. Continue reading →

Posted in Campfire Tales, Stories from my Life, Stories from the Jounrey | 4 Comments

8th Congressional District’s candidate’s forum in Graham a solid success for Democrats

Posted on February 5, 2018 by

By Bruce A. Smith

Five individuals seeking the Democratic nomination in the 8th Congressional District (8th – CD) gathered in Graham last week for an in-depth meet-and-greet.

The current congressman for the 8th CD, Republican Dave Reichert, is retiring. As a result, his seat is one of several dozen nationwide attracting attention in the possibility that the Democratic Party may be able to break the Republican hold on Congress. Nationally, the Democrats need to flip 24 seats to gain control of the House of Representatives, and the 8th WA CD is ripe for a switch. Due to the 8th’s demographics – liberal-leaning suburban Seattle areas in the northern parts of the district – the fate of the 8th will most likely be decided in the Republican stronghold of south Pierce County. Can the Democrats find a candidate who will appeal to enough moderate voters in south county to swing the tide?

Continue reading →

Posted in Graham News, Politics | Leave a comment

DB Cooper World loses a sleuth – remembering Bob Sailshaw

Posted on January 27, 2018 by

By Bruce A. Smith

Bob Sailshaw passed away early this morning. I just received an email announcement from his wife, Michele.

For those of us who knew him and interacted with him, we knew Sail as a passionate, cantankerous-but-kindly, and generous member of Cooper World. He got involved with us several years ago after reading about our investigation of Sheridan Peterson, which began in the waning days of the DZ.

Sail knew Petey, and had been his Seattle landlord for one month in 1961 until he kicked him out for non-payment of rent. Later, in 1972, the FBI came knocking, asking about Peterson – and a flood of memories came rushing back from those 30 days. Continue reading →

Posted in DB Cooper, Remarkable men and women | 32 Comments

Third Person Charged in Death of Deputy McCartney

Posted on January 24, 2018 by

Special to the Mountain News from the Pierce County Office of Communications:

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TACOMA, WA – The Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office charged Samantha Dawn Jones, 29, with murder in the first degree and kidnapping in the first degree for her role in the death of Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel McCartney. Continue reading →

Posted in Cops and courts, Frederickson, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Riding with the Orange Man

Posted on January 22, 2018 by

By Bruce A. Smith

He was a portly man about fifty years-old and boarded the #1 bus in Parkland.

He wore an orange cowboy hat, orange mittens, orange sneakers, and an orange sweatshirt that proclaimed: “Jesus is the Way!”

Continue reading →

Posted in Tales from the Number 1 Bus | 6 Comments

One home run and many bunts

Posted on January 17, 2018 by

From the collection of true stories, titled: “Stories from the Journey,” due for publication in mid-2018.

By Bruce A. Smith

When I was ten, I hit a home run in a Little League baseball game. It was a solid shot, soaring over the pitcher’s head and arcing towards center field.

I didn’t watch its full flight because my father, who was also my coach, told me not to look at the ball after I hit it but only to run to first base. “When you’re there, turn your head and see where the ball has gone,” he instructed. “If it’s still in play and you think you can make it, run towards second base.”

So when I reached first, I looked up and saw that the ball was still rolling away from the center fielder into the outfield of the adjoining baseball field. I pivoted and headed towards second. On the way I saw the umpire running out from home plate and swinging his arm in the air, signaling a home run. Okay, home run, I thought.

Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Folk tales and stories, Moth Stories, Stories from the Jounrey | 6 Comments