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KP News receives award
By Irene Torres
KP News
The Pierce County Traffic Safety and
DUI Task Force presented its annual awards on Dec. 16 at
the Steilacoom Town Hall. The seasonally-decorated hall
hosted a holiday buffet dinner followed by the “Night of
1,000 Stars” DUI traffic safety awards ceremony. The event
was attended by over 100 people, including six KP News
staff, state Rep. Derek Kilmer, and representatives from
the Washington State Patrol, Pierce County Sheriff’s
Department and local police jurisdictions, as well as
volunteers from the Pierce County DUI Victims’ Panel,
students, and family members of DUI victims.
Awards were given in eight categories ranging from Good
Samaritan to law enforcement.
In the category of media awareness, KP News executive
editor Rodika Tollefson received an engraved plaque for
her work in writing about the dangerous strip of State
Route 302 and the many accidents that plague travelers
there, along with funding issues for fixing the highway.
In announcing the award, Gig Harbor Police Chief Mike
Davis made note of Tollefson’s poignant writing about a
mother’s loss to a drunk driver, as she covered the
dedication of the David Doolittle memorial sign near
Ravensara. In his remarks, he acknowledged Tollefson’s
effective coverage of safety issues, the first traffic
light on the KP, bridge tolls, and ramp meters. David’s
mother, Nadine Doolittle, was also among the many task
force volunteers who were acknowledged for their work to
help prevent drunk driving.
KOMO 4 television news reporter Keith Eldridge was the
other recipient in the media awareness category. Trooper
Dave Bertholf, whose patrol area includes SR-302, was
among the recipients in the law enforcement category. WSP
Chief John Batiste was the keynote speaker, which was
followed by a solemn candlelight vigil. During the vigil,
names were read of those lost to drunk drivers in Pierce
County since 1958, with the sounding of a bell after each
name was read.
The Tacoma Pierce County DUI Task Force was created in
1983 by former Gov. Booth Gardner, who was then the Pierce
County executive, and by then Tacoma Mayor Doug
Sutherland, currently the commissioner of public lands for
the state Department of Natural Resources.
©Copyright 2005-2008, Key Peninsula
News, all rights reserved.
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