Key Peninsula News

KP News Wins General Excellence Award — and 16 More [Photo gallery]

For the first time win in Newspapers of Excellence category, Key Peninsula News won a second place. The award, for general excellence, is judged on content, layout and overall impression from … more

10/18/21

Candidates Visit KP Voters in Virtual Forum

Candidates for a variety of public offices appeared before about 75 Key Peninsula voters at an Oct. 12 online forum. more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 10/16/21

Seahawks Prevail in Epic Overtime Fish Bowl 43

The Peninsula High School Seahawks beat the Gig Harbor Tides 35-28 Sept. 17 at Roy Anderson Field in a stunning come-from-behind win for their sixth consecutive Fish Bowl victory. more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 9/29/21

KPFD Chief Poised to Leave for Central Pierce Fire & Rescue

Key Peninsula Fire Department Chief Dustin Morrow has applied for the job of chief at Central Pierce Fire & Rescue in Puyallup, the largest fire district in the county. He advanced to the last … more

Lisa Bryan, KP News | 9/29/21

Overwhelmed and Understaffed Hospitals Face New Wave of COVID-19

Hospitals across the state are at or near capacity as the highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19 spreads among the population, according to the Washington State Department of Health. more

Kamryn Minch and Ted Olinger, KP News | 9/29/21

Pandemic Fuels Increase in Homeschooling

In the 2020-2021 school year, the number of homeschooled students more than doubled to 802 students from 514 families. more

Krisa Bruemmer | 9/29/21

McDermott Point is KP’s Latest Conservation Project

The Pierce County Council voted to adopt the recommendations of the Citizens Advisory Board to the Conservation Futures Program to begin negotiating the purchase of conservation properties. more

Chris Rurik, KP News | 9/29/21

Key Center Loses a Business, Venue and Meeting Place

After celebrating its 10th anniversary Oct. 8, Blend Wine Shop will close its doors permanently Oct. 30. “Even as we were recovering and revenues were slowly starting to return … more

Staff Report | 9/29/21

The peaceful community of Home was upset by erratic disturbances.

Local Man Arrested After Tensions Erupt in Home Neighborhood

Michael Kotas, 46, of Lakebay was arrested July 22 for second-degree assault on a Home community resident. A hearing Aug. 8 to determine whether Kotas is competent to stand trial was continued to Sept. 27 and he was ordered held in Pierce County Jail. more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 9/1/21

Crews installing Peninsul School District’s new fiber optic cable marked everything “Not Copper” to prevent theft.

The Big Push for Broadband Equality on the KP

The Pierce County Council unanimously approved an appropriation of $15 million from the county’s 2020-2021 biennial budget to support partnerships, seed money and matching funds for grants to provide or improve broadband services in underserved areas of Pierce County. more

Lisa Bryan, KP News | 9/1/21

Fire Commissioners Stan Moffett and Frank Grubaugh meet with the Chief.

Voters Approve 6-Year Fire Levy Lid Lift

A six-year Key Peninsula fire levy lid lift was approved in the Aug. 3 primary election vote by 62% to 38%, or 2,696 yes to 1,631 no votes in a typical 22% off-year summer voter turnout. The vote … more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 9/1/21

Two Fatal Accidents

Two Key Peninsula residents died in separate accidents in July. Pedestrian Colby Jake Pederson, 32, was hit and killed by a car July 28 on Wright Bliss Road NW just north of 109th St. Ct. NW at … more

Staff Report | 9/1/21

Rate of newly diagnosed confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents April through August 16.

Fire Department Covid Vaccination Rate Exceeds Key Peninsula, County and State; Braces for Mandated Shots

Most Key Peninsula Fire District 16 personnel have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to Fire Chief Dustin Morrow. more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 9/1/21

Shabadrang (Christin) Khalsa aka Bam Bam shows off her skills.

Skate Night Ready to Roll Under New Management

Skate Night returns to the Key Peninsula Civic Center Sept. 10 with roller skate rental and concessions available from 6 to 9 p.m. There is a new Skate Night management team on board eager to get the program back up and running. more

Krisa Bruemmer, KP News | 9/1/21

More Than a Food Bank, GHP FISH Breaks Ground on New Digs

After decades of cramming food and clothing into rented spaces splitting at the seams, FISH broke ground on its own new facility at a private ceremony July 13. more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 8/28/21

School District Explores Options for KGHP-FM

Kris Hagel, executive director of digital learning for Peninsula School District, commissioned an appraisal and educational assessment in July of KGHP-FM to consider its options as a school district and a radio station owner. more

Lisa Bryan, KP News | 8/28/21

How Covid Relief Money Helped KP Residents

COVID-19 affected the Key Peninsula in many ways: residents lost jobs and coped with isolation, illness and death. Some organizations had to close their doors. Others worked in new ways to meet increased demands. more

Ted Olinger and Sara Thompson, KP News | 8/28/21

Mussels on a raft in Carr Inlet couldn’t survive the heat.

High Temperatures and Low Tide Take a Toll

Record high temperatures and minus tides spelled disaster for shellfish and other intertidal sea life in Puget Sound in June. more

8/28/21

Algal toxins were responsible for summer shellfish catastrophe.

Cause of 2019 Rocky Bay Clam Die-Off Identified

The cause of the Rocky Bay clam die-off in July 2019 has been identified. Beaches across Puget Sound were affected by similar events in both 2018 and 2019. Yessotoxins, produced by the algae species … more

Sara Thompson, KP News | 8/28/21

Built in 1936, the Purdy Bridge is graded as “poor condition” by WSDOT. Concrete pier deterioration seen here at low tide is slated for repair this summer.

Detours Ahead for Eight-Day Closure of SR-302: Updated

Multiple improvements over an 8-mile stretch of State Route 302 stretching from Elgin Clifton Road to Purdy, delayed by Covid restrictions in 2020, are back on track for completion by year’s … more

Staff Report | 8/28/21