Lakebay Marina owner Mark Scott, in chronic default on his aquatics lease agreement with Washington State Department of Natural Resources, was notified in writing Oct. 20 the state will not issue a … more

A woman in her late 40s died by drowning in the saltwater pond at Penrose Point State Park in Lakebay Oct. 17. Her identity had not been made public by press time. more

Emilie Marchio, who has taught kindergarten at Vaughn Elementary School for six years, was delighted to welcome more than a dozen 5-year-olds to class. “I love it. As strange and weird as it … more

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a consumer protection lawsuit Sept. 2 against the e-cigarette company Juul, asserting that the company’s products and marketing target underage consumers. more

In the pre-pandemic era, over the course of a year the Greentrike organization’s Play to Learn outreach program served tens of thousands of people across 23 regional sites, including the Key Peninsula Civic Center in Vaughn. The grant-funded early childhood education program is now being offered virtually over Zoom, including thematic circle time, project-based activity time, pajama time and STEAM-focused lessons. more

Dale McCracken of the north Vaughn area was killed instantly by a falling tree limb during a wind storm the afternoon of Oct. 13. He was 30 years old. According to Key Peninsula Fire Department , … more

For the third consecutive year, the Key Peninsula News won top honors for writing, photography and advertising in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2020 Better Newspaper Contest, held Oct. 9. more

The Peninsula School District plan to invite more students back to in-person learning in November stalled Oct. 23 when, in response to record-setting COVID-19 infections in the county, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department advised schools to cease classroom instruction. more

Ten candidates for six local public offices ranging from the Washington State House of Representatives to Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer participated in a 90-minute candidate forum online hosted by the Key Peninsula Community Council Oct. 13. more

The five-year dream of building a residential addiction treatment center on the Key Peninsula ended in August when the nonprofit Hope Recovery Center board of directors withdrew its application for a conditional use permit. more

Residents of Burley Lagoon reported a stench in mid to late August that reminded some of the clam die-off on Rocky Bay last summer. more

Dr. Anthony Chen, director of the Tacoma-Pierce County Public Health Department, was in high demand in July as school boards and superintendents, public and private, sought guidance on reopening in … more

The rate of COVID-19 infections in Pierce County initially decreased in September, but as people spend more time indoors and local schools welcome at least some students back to classrooms, the threat of a … more

Masks are an annoyance for those who use them, but do they really stop the spread of the virus? If so, which mask is best? Do you need a mask if you always social distance? more

Mark Cockerill joined the Key Peninsula Community Council as a director last fall with no idea that he would soon dive into the abyss of local broadband access, or lack thereof, on the KP. … more

The Washington State Senate passed a bill in March that will require all public school districts to teach comprehensive sexual health education for grades K-12 by the school year … more

Carrie Phillips, a licensed naturopathic doctor, saw her first patient at Blue Spark Health in late December on the KP. Soon after her opening, the pandemic hit, with a slowdown in calls and visits, … more

UPDATE: The Peninsula School District announced Sept. 4 that in-person classroom instruction will begin Sept. 21 for K-1 students with remote learning options available. It has since been delayed to Sept. 28. more

The parking lot of the Key Peninsula Civic Center became a massive drive-through back-to-school supply donation festival Aug. 8, thanks to the efforts of the Children’s Home Society of … more

The Key Peninsula voted to renew the existing maintenance and operation levy for KP Fire District 16 in the primary election Aug. 4. The department will continue to receive $800,000 a year from KP … more