Category Archives: Safety

Incident on 136th Ave E.

Neighborhood Security, Safety

On 31 Jan 2023 at around 4:30PM three teenage friends, one of them black, were walking on 136th Ave. E. toward Military Dr. When they were near the sports court just before 118th St. E. they were accosted by two men in a red Chevrolet, License Number BMB 9859. One of the men asked the boys “Have you ever been robbed nigger” obviously referring to the black teenager. The boys felt threatened, though no physical harm was done to them.  They reported the incident to their parents. Fortunately,  because of the Neighborhood Camera System, we were able to identify the car which had cruised past the boys three times in total. A police report was made.

This kind of harassment has no place in our neighborhood, or in fact anywhere in the US.  It was as vicious as it was unprovoked. Let’s keep an eye out for things like this.

Below are some pictures which show that between 4:08PM and 4:30PM the car passed the kids three times.

First recorded passRed Chevrolet at 408.43PM

Second recorded passRed Chevrolet at 416.51PM

 Third recorded passRed Chevrolet at 419.57PM

Better Pictures of Bobcat

Interesting Things, Neighborhood Events, Safety

I received these pictures from a neighbor.  She said “The bobcat has been coming to our house quite a bit now. We always take our dog out on a leash. The bobcat comes up to our slider and wags its tail when our dog barks at it. “

It appears that our Neighborhood Bobcat has become quite accustom to humans.  This is not a good thing. Remember it is a wild animal and use great care if it is around. Always have your animals on a leash when you are out with them. Lets enjoy looking at our Bobcat , but don’t try to touch it.

PS: This time when I sent out notices I got the warning on my copy that “This may be a Phishing message”.  In my case you can ignore the message, but be vigilant for real phishing messages. (KH)

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Mail Theft

Neighborhood Security, Safety

On 12 September 2023 at 0102hrs two individuals on electric scooters came down 117th St E and turned on to 138th Ave Ct E. They went from one end of the street to the other and opened mailboxes to see if anyone had left mail to be picked up that day. They did not bother one Neighbor who has a Ft. Knox heavy steel mailbox. Also if you get the USPS app that lets you know approximately what to expect on a given day it will help you know if someone has gone through your mail. This link will take you to a USPS web page which will guide you through signing up for the service. https://www.usps.com/

Mail theft must pay well because  electric scooters are not inexpensive and judging by the ease they went up 117th they were fairly powerful, therefore probably in the upper end of the price range. It appears that they used a truck as well as the scooters, as the first picture shows a truck stopping at some mailboxes at 0130:29 hrs.

I have heard that they hit another nearby neighborhood. It is tempting to put outgoing mail in your postbox to be picked up the next day.  However remember that unless you have a very heavy steel mailbox like the Ft. Knox, it is easy for thieves to steal your mail in the early morning hours.

Below are pictures of the bad guys:

0130hrs

3 0102.45hrs 2023 2 1

Yes We Have a Bobcat!!!!

Neighborhood Events, Neighborhood Security, Safety

Yesterday a neighbor sent me some great pictures of our neighborhood Bobcat hanging out in their yard. The Bobcat lay in their yard for about 10 minutes before walking off.  When I received these pictures I checked with Google Images and it returned pictures of  Bobcats in the US. I guess this put to rest any doubts we may have had about the correct identification of the animal. Anyone with small dogs or cats might consider making them into strictly indoor pets.

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Do we have Bears in the Neighborhood again?

Interesting Things, Neighborhood Events, Neighborhood Security, Safety

One of my neighbors was walking down Jennifer Court and spotted what he thought was bear scat.  He sent me a picture and it looked the same as the Bear scat we found in the Neighborhood several years ago. It appears that the scat consists mostly of the remains of cherries.  Since as far as  I know, we do not have cherry trees around here, if they are cherries they must have come from someone’s home.

I have added the picture I was sent.  If you have an opinion that it is something other than Bear scat, feel free to let me know at kahalljr@comcsast.net.

Addendum: A Neighbor texted me with the information that they have a cherry tree in their backyard and the last time  we had a bear in the Neighborhood it was eating from their cherry tree.  The scat looked the same as below.

Scat

Bobcat den in our area?

Interesting Things, Neighborhood Events, Neighborhood Security, Safety

My next-door neighbors saw a much smaller version of the bobcat I saw several weeks ago.  Did not get a picture though. The bobcats may have established a den nearby and are raising a litter. Now we appear to have cayotes and Bobcats looking for a meal in our neighborhood.  Take care of your cats and small dogs.

For those who did not see it.  Here is the photo I got previously of the adult Bobcat.

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Request for Support

Neighborhood Events, Neighborhood Security, Safety

The STACC committee sent a letter (see below) to Michael Jimenez, Senior Planner, at Pierce County in regard to the Public Notice Short Plat request for approval at 12009 132nd Ave Ct E, Application #1010106. He replied that our comments about safety, traffic impact and the proposed density being reduced have been sent to the engineering department and added to the record for the Hearing Examiner to consider.

We encourage more neighbors to send additional messages to Pierce County. Email or call Michael Jimenez, Senior Planner at:

michael.jimenez@piercecountywa.gov

(253) 798-7181

Here are views of the area asking for the short plat.  As you can see if approved this will dump a large number of vehicles on to 136th. If you don’t mind waiting while 10 or 20 vehicles try to leave 136th at the stop sign you can ignore this post, but if you don’t want even more congestion you ought to write a letter to Mr. Jimenez.

Please see the STACC letter below these pictures.

10101061010106

This is the letter sent by the STACC committee:

Sunrise Terrace Architectural Control                                                                                                                 Committee STACC C/O RTPC4227 S                                                                                                                     Meridian Ste C-120 Puyallup WA                                                                                                                           98373sunriseterraceacc@gmail.com

Michael Jimenez, Senior Planner

Michael.jimenez@piercecountywa.gov  Phone: (253) 798-7181

Dear Mr. Michael Jimenez,

The Sunrise Terrace Architectural Control Committee, STACC, is writing to you because we need your expertise and help, please. STACC has safety concerns regarding the short plat property with parcel number 0419118016, Application #: 1010106. As we understand, the property will be developed for six single-family lots. The safety concern involves a higher likelihood of vehicular accidents with increased traffic. The proposal states that on a daily average, 60 vehicle trips will be added.

The entrance and exit of 132nd Avenue Court East for the proposed short plat is Military Road. Less than 100 feet from their intersection is a stop sign, where most residents turn right onto 122nd Street East. All the houses in Sunrise Terrace (north), Sunrise View Estates, Shawnee Ridge and additional homes exit via Military Road.

Also, Military Road and 122nd Street East are used as major thoroughfares from SR 162 Orting-Sumner Highway to South Hill and Highway 512 making them highly congested. Many drivers try to short-cut congested traffic by taking Military Road since going west up the hill on 122nd Street East is heavily congested. Also, the Tehaleh developers are building a new road down the western hill of Bonney Lake, connecting with SR162, which will force even more traffic up Military Road and 122nd Street East.

We have seen very unsafe accidents at the intersection of 122nd Street East and Shaw Road about 1500 feet from the proposed short plat.  At least an additional 952 average daily vehicle trips will be made at that intersection since 100 townhomes and twenty single-family homes from the new development, Shaw Heights, are currently for sale.

In addition to concerns about safety, there is another statement in the proposal that is incorrect. Criteria 2 of Required Findings asks the applicant to state how “the public use and interest will be served by such short subdivision/large lot division.” South Hill Development LLC answers that “The proposed plat will provide a well-planned and harmonious addition to the neighboring parcels, therefore encouraging future property improvements to be built to similar standards…the proposed plat will easily integrate with the neighboring properties and blend well with future adjacent property development.” Respectfully, we firmly disagree with their answer and believe this proposal is inharmonious with the surrounding properties. For example, larger lots are characteristic of Sunrise Terrace and the neighboring communities.

Sunrise Terrace was “well planned” in the 1960’s; the properties have been improved and the covenants remain in place today. Rather than changing the lot size and setbacks, “the public use and interest” would be better served if South Hill Development LLC would build homes on lots of similar size to the surrounding community. As proposed now, the number of homes would greatly outbalance the existing two homes directly across the street on 132nd Avenue Court East. We are not opposed to the development of this property, but we strongly feel that a safer and more “harmonious addition” of only two to three houses would better integrate with the older established neighborhood and have less impact on traffic and safety.

We appreciate you taking these comments into consideration.

Sincerely,

Sunrise Terrace Architectural Control Committee

Celeste Hurst, Committee Chair

Luke Rambo, Member

Nancy Jo Williams, Member

Julie Hrivnak, Member

Jacqueline McMahon-Ehlen, Member

Masha Williams-Jeans, Member

Scott Elder, Member

 

June 12, 2023

New Route From The Valley Highway Up & Down South Hill

Neighborhood Security, Safety

 

WSDOT will be holding a meeting at 1pm on April 19th at High Cedars (14604 149th Street Ct E, Orting, WA 98360-8451) in the Rainer room to discuss their recommendations for cross county transportation improvements.  Due to the continuing increase in traffic on Military road and the additional impact of the new road from Tehaleh to the valley highway at 128th, they have been investigating how best to move this traffic up and down from South Hill.

Two options have been considered, widening Military Road or developing a new route between the valley highway at 128th to either Reservoir road or 144th.

We have learned that WSDOT is planning to recommend that Military Road/122nd be widened with one additional lane up the hill. This recommendation with be discussed at the meeting on the 19th.

The additional traffic on Military Road will make it even more difficult to get into and out of our neighborhoods. Please consider attending the meeting on the 19th to express your concerns about this additional traffic.

Elvin Lerew

My opinion is that WSDOT needs to complete a new way up and down South Hill BEFORE considering putting in the new road from Tehaleh to the valley highway at 128th. Unless they do, we are going to see much greater traffic congestion for years until the new route is completed.

 Kirk Hall

Intersection of 136th & Military Rd.

Safety

One of our neighbors sent me an e-mail about the fact that many people are ignoring the stop signs in the intersection of 136th and Military Rd.  They sent me a picture of the license plate of a vehicle who as they said “Blew through the intersection without even a momentary pause”. We are not posting the picture of the license plate because it is out of context.  However if you wish to see the license plate of the car we know ran the stop sign, send me an e-mail to kahalljr@comcast.net and I will send the picture to you.

These stop signs are there for our safety. Cars coming from the valley on Military Rd are difficult to spot before they reach the intersection because of the curving, downward path of the road. Before the stop signs were installed I was almost nailed a couple of times by cars coming up from the valley.

Please don’t ignore the stop signs at the intersection of 136th and Military Rd.  The wreck you don’t have is the best kind.

The pictures below were taken from the driver’s position at the stop sign on 136th Ave E.  Notice how limited the sight line is from 136th to Military Rd E where Military Rd E is coming up from the valley (middle picture). Please note also the ALL WAY notation on the stop sign.

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