Guest Column: Thanks, and we’re glad it’s over

By District 5 Lt. Laura Hanson, public information officer

Lewis County Fire District 5 would like to sincerely thank the voters who voted yes for our levy lid lift request. We appreciate their continued support as we move forward in these difficult economic times.

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Laura Hanson

That stated, we are relieved. Our staff have suffered from angry folks demanding we no longer run our vehicles in parades, that we don’t “deserve” a levy lid lift, and other clearly personal attacks.

It’s disappointing but the anger about “taxes” in general was clearly and resoundingly delivered.

We remain the third busiest fire district in Lewis County. That is an irrefutable fact. We have the lowest tax rate in the county. Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements have decreased. Fuel and operating costs have and will continue to increase.

District 5 will continue to provide service within our boundaries with the funding appropriated.
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Note: Two fire measures falling short

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Napavine area fire department’s ballot measure was overwhelmingly rejected by voters.

Only about 27 percent of folks marked yes on their ballots for the fire levy lid increase. It needed just a simple majority to pass.

While 633 voters favored the measure, 1,731 said no.

The Randle area fire department’s EMS levy is failing as well, according to preliminary numbers released last night by the Lewis County Auditors Office election department.

Just over 56 percent of voters said yes to the request, but it needs a 60 percent supermajority to pass.

Some 354 citizens favored it and 277 rejected the regular levy for Lewis County Fire District 14.

There are still ballots to be counted and updated results will be released Friday, according to elections supervisor Mariann Zumbuhl.

Some 65 percent of Lewis County registered voters had returned their ballots through yesterday, but the counts released last night reflected only 55 percent of registered voters’ ballots.

The election will be certified and final on Nov. 23.

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Look at all the preliminary election results available on the Auditors Office website.

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