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New and Familiar Candidates Join Contest for 26th LD Election

Former state representative Jesse Young (R-Gig Harbor) and newcomer Josh Smith (I-Gig Harbor) announced candidacies to compete in the 26th Legislative District for positions 1 and 2 respectively. more

Staff Report | 5/1/24

Tom Bates and his Ukrainian cat, Bob Reznick, whom he rescued from Kharkiv last fall and is now living comfortably in Lakebay.

Local Animal Rescuer Tom Bates Returns to Ukraine Fourth Time

Tom Bates of Lakebay is headed back to Ukraine for three more months of moving food and supplies to people near the front and evacuating injured or abandoned animals. more

Staff Report | 5/1/24

Why is Cell Service So Bad on the KP? Some Help is Coming

Spotty cell coverage across portions of the Key Peninsula has left some homeowners dependent on sometimes even less reliable landlines. Residents may well wonder why it is so bad and what can be done about it. more

Eddie Macsalka, KP News | 5/1/24

Aisle of Honor is a Memorial Weekend Tradition at Vaughn Bay Cemetery

The Aisle of Honor event pays tribute to American heroes with hundreds of flags installed for a patriotic tradition honored by the Key Peninsula community for over three decades. more

Eddie Macsalka, KP News | 5/1/24

This Wauna Curves Guardrail is a Magnet for Mishaps and Mischievous Local Commentary

That one Wauna curves guardrail. Yes, that infamous one. It has been a stoic symbol of resilience on the Key Peninsula for the last three years. more

Eddie Macsalka, KP News | 5/1/24

For naturalist Chris Rurik, seeing this native snake made for a giddy moment and his first ever chance to hang out with a rubber boa.

A Rare Encounter with a Local But Near-Mythical Snake

The rubber boa is a non-venomous, constrictor snake native to the American West, known for its smooth, velvety skin, slow-moving behavior, and unique defensive tactics. more

Chris Rurik, KP News | 5/1/24

Pierce County Council Member Robyn Denson (D-7th) spent hours attacking the Purdy knotweed with other volunteers.

Purdy Spit to Be Purged of Invasive Knotweed Species

Wauna resident Bruce Murray has officially adopted the spit under the Adopt-a-Highway Program, which has sponsors for vegetation management as well as trash pickup. more

Chris Rurik, KP News | 5/1/24

Twenty-seven-year veteran KP Firefighter/EMT Robert Fisher.

Firefighter Robert Fisher Named 2023 KP Citizen of the Year

The Key Peninsula Lions Club honored local firefighter/EMT Robert Fisher as its 37th KP Citizen of the Year during an annual awards ceremony March 23 at the KP Civic Center. more

Vicki Biggs, KP News | 5/1/24

Property for sale at Lake Kathryn Village in Wauna.

KP Commercial Real Estate Can Be a Tough Sell for Now

Business potential on the Key Peninsula stalls despite high traffic. Challenges and opportunities are both on the horizon for commercial real estate on the KP. more

Eddie Macsalka, KP News | 5/1/24

Scott Stone kicking the ball around at Volunteer Park with Harbor Soccer kids Emma, age 6, and Landon, age 8. Tina McKail, KP News

KP Native Named New Director of Harbor Soccer

Scott Stone, the new director for Harbor Soccer Club’s Key Peninsula recreational, program wants his coed players to learn the fundamentals of soccer and have enough fun that they want to continue playing the sport. more

Eddie Macsalka, KP News | 5/1/24

Isaac Pennypacker Hawk filed the first land claim on the Key Peninsula in 1863.

Early Settlers on the Key Peninsula: The Dawn of the Present

Just nine years after the Treaty of Medicine Creek in 1854, Isaac Pennypacker Hawk of Olympia filed the first claim on the Key Peninsula. more

Joseph Pentheroudakis, KP News | 5/1/24

Talking About Suicide Saves Lives

Absorb the information and resources shared in Lisa Bryan's outstanding public service article from the April 2024. Keep it handy for future reference. more

Victor Sprague, Lakebay | 5/1/24

Why the Pierce Transit Runner Doesn't Serve the KP

The launch of the Pierce Transit Runner service in Gig Harbor has brought up the question: “Why not the Key Peninsula?” more

Robyn Denson, Pierce County Councilmember District 7 | 5/1/24

Unified for All

I have been playing sports all my life, from water polo to flag football to golf, but I fell in love with baseball. Over the last several years, I have been so focused on my … more

John Browand | 5/1/24

The Month of May

The birdsong begins early. It’s better than any alarm clock. Sweeter, gentler, more alive. more

Anna Brones | 5/1/24

Slouching Toward Summer

José Alaniz | 5/1/24

Definition Depends on Perspective

An early spring sailing regatta out of Shilshole Bay got me thinking about reassessing my definition of fun. more

Carolyn Wiley | 5/1/24

What I Remember on Memorial Day

My dad, Raymond Olinger, joined the Army in 1945 after graduating high school at the top of his class of 20 in Buxton County, Kansas, when he was 17 years old. He was in Minot, North Dakota, that … more

Ted Olinger | 5/1/24

Stephanie Brooks gets some exercise while enjoying a walk with her beloved dog, Porter.

Business Owner and KP Advocate Renews Her Lease on Life

Stephanie Brooks, the owner of Gnosh food truck knew something didn’t feel right the week before Christmas. She was suffering from a heart attack that helped shift her priorities. more

Lisa Bryan, KP News | 5/1/24

The local office at the KP Civic Center has already been closed for some time.

Children’s Home Society/Akin Leaves KP After 30-Plus Years

The Children’s Home Society of Washington-Key Peninsula Family Resource Center said it will vacate its office at the KP Civic Center after more than 30 years on the KP. more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 5/1/24