Bonney Lake’s library will be closed Feb. 13-26 while a central customer service desk is installed. The new desk will allow library staffers to answer questions and assist customers from a central location instead of spread out around the 6,480-square-foot library.

During the closure, story time sessions will be held at Bonney Lake City Hall, 19306 Bonney Lake Blvd.

Here’s the schedule:

• Preschool Play and Learn: 11:30 a.m. Feb. 14 and 21.

• Toddler Time: 10:30 a.m. Feb. 14 and 21, and 11:30 a.m. Feb. 17 and 24.

• Baby Play and Learn: 10:30 a.m. Feb. 15,

…

Read more »

Water in Lake Tapps will rise about four inches to roughly 543 feet by Sept. 26.

That will bring the popular East Pierce County reservoir – which is owned by Cascade Water Alliance – to full recreational level, showing “both the homeowners and Cascade what the water level will be when Cascade is providing municipal water supply,” the group wrote in a news release.

Immediately after the water goes up, it will be brought down to about 542.5 feet, and will remain there through October, Cascade said.

Then the drawn down for winter will begin, Cascade said, adding it will …

Read more »

Bonney Lake Mayor Neil Johnson is expected to undergo a stem cell transplant in Seattle tomorrow.

The 46-year-old, who was diagnosed in February with chronic myelogenous leukemia, will likely spend two to four weeks in the hospital and one to three months in out-patient care, City Administrator Don Morrison said in an interview today.

Johnson isn’t resigning his post, and expects to be able to communicate with city officials by phone and email throughout the recovery process, Morrison said.

“He’ll still be in control (of the city),” Morrison said.

Johnson won’t be able to attend some council meetings, but the …

Read more »

East Pierce Fire & Rescue will dedicate a memorial wall honoring the life of its late fire chief during a ceremony Tuesday on the third anniversary of the man’s death.

The public is invited.

The ceremony is 8:30 a.m. at the headquarters station, 18421 Old Buckley Highway, Bonney Lake.

Chief Dan Packer, 49, died in 2008 while helping battle a wildfire in northern California.

The memorial wall includes display cases with items from his personal and professional lives, the department wrote in a news release.

At the start of the ceremony, dispatchers will broadcast a message about Packer to all …

Read more »

A ceremony is planned this afternoon to mark the opening of Bonney Lake’s new Justice Center. The ribbon cutting is 4:30 p.m. at the 22,600-square-foot facility at 9002 Main St. E.

The building will hold the municipal court and city departments including the mayor’s office. The City Council also will meet there until a new City Hall building is constructed. The building also has commercial space to lease.

Design started in 2008 and ground was broken the following year.

A dinner and silent auction to raise money for Bonney Lake Mayor Neil Johnson, who’s battling cancer, is 6:30 p.m. May 18 at Swiss Park, 9205 198th Ave E., Bonney Lake.

A bone marrow donor drive also will be held during the event.

Johnson, 46, was diagnosed earlier this year with chronic myelogenous leukemia, which affects the blood and bone marrow.

He’s undergoing chemotherapy and needs a bone marrow transplant.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. They’re available here.

Donations also can be made at Harborstone Credit Union, 20608 State Route 410 E., Bonney Lake. …

Read more »

Bonney Lake’s mayor will be cutting back on public events while he battles cancer.

Neil Johnson, who has been in the post since 2006, has chronic myeloid leukemia, which affects the blood and bone marrow.

The disease is treatable, and Johnson’s prognosis is good, said City Administrator Don Morrison.

Johnson couldn’t be reached for comment, but he said in a statement provided to The News Tribune that, “I am confident that I will have a full recovery and be able to get back to living a normal life before long.”

He was diagnosed earlier this year and may require a …

Read more »

The Bonney Lake City Council could decide as early as next week whether to move from a ward to an at-large system for council elections.

The council Tuesday night  tabled an ordinance that would have done just that, but the item will be back on the agenda next week.

Under the existing system, most council members are elected from within designated geographic boundaries, or wards. An at-large system would mean all council members would be elected in citywide votes.

Mayor Neil Johnson said it’s an important issue, and the council “wants to make sure citizens get involved” before making a …

Read more »