The Puyallup Herald Blog

The Cascade Christian Cougars boys basketball team won four straight games at the Class 1A basketball state tournament in Yakima, bringing home a state championship. Cougars guard Cody Shackett was named the MVP of the tournament.

The Rogers Rams girls basketball team, Puyallup Vikings girls basketball team, Chief Leschi Warriors boys basketball squad and the Cascade Christian Cougars boys squad are competing in their respective state tournaments this week. Be sure to check out the March 10 issue of the Puyallup Herald for a full recap of how they fared in their final competition of the 2009-10 season.

Here is a sidebar piece that will run in The Herald’s March 3 issue regarding the Puyallup City Council’s three-day workshop last week. The piece will run next to the budget story on the front page.

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Failure to post a new, earlier time for two days of the Puyallup City Council’s three-day workshop could be a violation of the state’s Open Public Meeting Act.

According to Tim Ford, open government ombudsman with the state Attorney General’s office, a city is required to post notice on the door of a venue when changing the time of a meeting published in a public notice.

Failure to do so is a violation of the state’s Open Public Meeting Act.

The city of Puyallup did not post a meeting time change notice last week when it decided to meeting a half-hour earlier on the second and third days of its annual three-day retreat.

Under state law, cities must alert local media at least 24 hours prior to any meeting of a council quorum. A notice was given four days prior to the three-day workshop’s beginning on Feb. 22 and listed an 11 a.m. start time. However, several witnesses confirmed the council convened at 10:30 a.m. on both Feb. 23 and 24.

City Attorney Cheryl Carlson said the council announced an earlier start time at the end of the Feb. 22 and 23 meetings. However, no printed notices were posted outside of the meeting hall, violating the law. Carlson also said the council didn’t have to post notices because the workshop was considered one meeting and the breaks were the same as any other temporary adjournment.

Tim Ford, open government ombudsman with the state attorney general’s office, said the incident was “unfortunate” and recommended the council hold the meetings again for the public’s benefit. Ford’s job description doesn’t allow him to make legal judgments or institute penalties against jurisdictions, he said.

State law says that any council member who knowingly attends an illegal meeting is subject to a $100 fine. A lawsuit would have to be filed against the council and a penalty would have to be issued by a Pierce County Superior Court judge.

One high school basketball team in East Pierce County has already clinched a berth in the Class 1A boys basketball state tournament. The Cascade Christian Cougars did that with a convincing victory against Vashon Island on Feb. 20.

Here is a list of local teams still alive in a quest to advance to the state basketball tournament in their respective classifications as of Feb. 23:  Bonney Lake Panthers girls basketball team (3A), Sumner Spartans girls basketball team (3A), Rogers Rams girls basketball team (4A), Puyallup Vikings girls basketball team (4A), Cascade Christian Cougars girls basketball team (1A), Chief Leschi Warriors boys basketball team (2B) and the Puyallup Vikings boys basketball team (4A).

I’m sure hoping the majority of these teams can advance to the state tournament!

One of the biggest wrestling tournaments in the northwest will take place at the Tacoma Dome this weekend. The Mat Classic will draw a wide array of premier grapplers from across Washington. Be sure to check out the Feb. 24 issue of the Puyallup Herald for a full article on how East Pierce wrestlers fared at the tourney.

The Rogers Rams boys basketball team saw its season come to an end after suffering a 73-59 loss to the Bethel Braves in an SPSL South tiebreaker contest on Feb. 9 at Emerald Ridge High School.

It was the final high school basketball game for Rams seniors John Lesage, Kyle Weston, Drew Crowell and Sean Tollan.

Be sure to check out the Feb. 17 issue of the Puyallup Herald for a full recap on this game.

The ninth annual Emerald Ridge High School junior jaguar fastpitch clinic for girls between eight years old and 14 years old will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 20 at Emerald Ridge High School. For more information, e-mail head coach Lynn Wardle at wardlelg@puyallup.k12.wa.us

A trio of East Pierce County teams will look to capture accolades at the Class 4A bowling tournament in University Place this weekend.

The Emerald Ridge Jaguars, Rogers Rams and Puyallup Vikings bowling teams are prepared for the season finale at Narrows Plaza Bowl. The Jaguars are the defending state champions. Be sure to check out the Feb. 10 issue of the Puyallup Herald for a full story on all three teams performances at the state tournament on Feb. 6.

Cascade Christian held on for a dramatic 60-45 win against the Vashon Island Pirates in boys basketball action on Jan 26. Cougars head coach Jerry Williams said It was the first time the Cougars had defeated Vashon in at least three or four years. Be sure to check out the Feb. 3 issue of the Puyallup Herald for a full recap on the game.

The Rogers Rams and Puyallup Vikings wrestling teams will battle for city bragging rights in an SPSL South dual match slated for 7 p.m. at Rogers High School on Jan. 20. The Rams are one of the top-flight wrestling programs in Washington and the Vikings are a steadily improving contender in the SPSL.