Library Vote The Lake Stevens Library vote shows promise for a future election to build a new library. READ MORE ON Page 12 March 15, 2017 Edition 2 Issue 19 PO Box 349 Lake Stevens, WA 98258 LakeStevensLedger.com KIDNAP SCAM Snohomish County Sheriff’s office warns against a new kidnapping scam victimizing citizens. Read more on page 9 FIRE PLAN Lake Stevens Fire’s Strategic Plan is almost complete. Find out what the highlights are Read more ON PAGE 6 kieta update The death of Ben Kieta is still being investigated by the LSPD and other law enforcement offices. Read more on page 3 The Miss Aquafest Pageant crowned a new 2017 royalty court on Saturday, March 11 at Lake Stevens High School. Twenty contestants competed for several titles from ages 6-18. Contributed photo SEE VAPING ON page 2 pam stevens Marcia and Phil LaBossiere with their grandchildren including their granddaughter who is the main character in their new book. Contributed Photo pam stevens Legislature Senator Hobbs and Rep. Harms- worth working on bills from towing restrictions to college for National Guard. Read more page 5 New Miss Aquafest 2017 and royalty crowned SEE ROYALTY ON page 2 Marcia and Phil LaBossiere live in Lake Stevens and have raised two sons who both served in the military and have suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. “As parents we have endured five deployments between our boys. One son is forever 26 years old and the other was medically retired at the age of 24.  He suffers with PTSD, as well as a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). He is now 31 years old,” the LaBossieres said. “When Veterans are in pain, whole families are in pain too.” The couple has written a book entitled, “Where Is My Daddy Now” which takes place at the Tahoma National Cemetery where a little girl is visiting her Daddy’s grave and starts asking questions about where he is. “He struggled with PTSD and served three tours in Iraq only to lose his life in his home town of Lake Stevens,” the La- Bossieres explained. This is the first book the couple has writ- ten. The children’s book has spe- cial meaning to the couple and their family. “This story is about our granddaughter who lost her Daddy at age five due to (PTSD) Post Traumatic Stress caused by his military service in the Iraq War. He served three tours in Iraq post 9/11,” they said. The story takes place at the Local couple shares their experiences with PTSD through new children’s book cemetery on Memorial Day when she was 7 years old. “We wanted our grand- daughter to see all the graves decorated with flags so she would know that her Daddy was a hero. She had a very spe- cial moment with him and then ran off to play when she sud- denly stopped to ask some very serious questions about where his body was which started the dialog for this book,” Marcia said. “She wanted to know how he could be in two places at once. Was he an angel? Would she ever see him again? What is a spirit? Do I have a spirit?” Not only did they want to educate their readers of ex- actly what PTSD is and who it affects but they also wanted to show readers how it felt for their granddaughter to lose her daddy in such a difficult way. “We wrote this book first to show the heart of this little girl who desperately missed her Daddy. When we shared her story with others, we were encouraged to share it because it could help many people,” Marcia explained. “It por- trayed a different perspective on this kind of devastating loss through a child’s eyes.” We also wanted to educate people on what PTSD is and who it affects? It is not just a Veteran’s illness. We wanted to bring awareness to the pub- lic as well as the medical field that it is far reaching and af- fects whole families in differ- ent ways. We have all experi- enced trauma in our lives at some time, not all will experi- ence PTSD, but it needs to be acknowledged for what it is. No one should be denied help. Children process trauma dif- ferently than adults. The proceeds from their book will be going to help chil- dren who have been diagnosed with PTSD. “We found it difficult to find people willing to counsel chil- dren with PTSD. It is also diffi- cult to diagnosis PTSD in chil- dren, it is often misdiagnosed and therefore mistreated. Chil- dren are the forgotten victims of this often-misunderstood disorder,” Marcia said. PTSD seems to be appearing in children more than in past generations because of all they witness on television and even within their communities. “The children of this gen- eration are no longer innocent to world trauma. We have all been forced to face it on a reg- ular basis; from TV violence to violence in our streets, dis- respect for authority, school SEE PTSD ON page 2 Aquafest 2017 is off to a great start with the crowning of a new Miss Aquafest Royalty on Saturday, March 11 at Lake Stevens High School. Judges Mayor John Spen- cer, Rep. Mark Harmsworth, past Miss Aquafest finalist Courtney Curdy, local busi- ness woman Reshal Ploeger and American Cancer Soci- ety community relationship manager Ilene Levering had to choose from 20 contestants in five age categories. Contestants were judged on their interview skills, personal introduction, casual wear, on stage questions and formal wear. Their time doing com- munity service was also a fac- tor in judging. At the end of the pageant Mistress of Ceremonies Janice Huxford announced the win- ners. This year’s Miss Aquafest (16-18 years old) is Alexa De- Merchant and Ambassador Kayla Kalin took second place. Miss Teen Aquafest (14-15 , OCR Text: Library Vote The Lake Stevens Library vote shows promise for a future election to build a new library. READ MORE ON Page 12 March 15, 2017 Edition 2 Issue 19 PO Box 349 Lake Stevens, WA 98258 LakeStevensLedger.com KIDNAP SCAM Snohomish County Sheriff’s office warns against a new kidnapping scam victimizing citizens. Read more on page 9 FIRE PLAN Lake Stevens Fire’s Strategic Plan is almost complete. Find out what the highlights are Read more ON PAGE 6 kieta update The death of Ben Kieta is still being investigated by the LSPD and other law enforcement offices. Read more on page 3 The Miss Aquafest Pageant crowned a new 2017 royalty court on Saturday, March 11 at Lake Stevens High School. Twenty contestants competed for several titles from ages 6-18. Contributed photo SEE VAPING ON page 2 pam stevens Marcia and Phil LaBossiere with their grandchildren including their granddaughter who is the main character in their new book. Contributed Photo pam stevens Legislature Senator Hobbs and Rep. Harms- worth working on bills from towing restrictions to college for National Guard. Read more page 5 New Miss Aquafest 2017 and royalty crowned SEE ROYALTY ON page 2 Marcia and Phil LaBossiere live in Lake Stevens and have raised two sons who both served in the military and have suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. “As parents we have endured five deployments between our boys. One son is forever 26 years old and the other was medically retired at the age of 24.  He suffers with PTSD, as well as a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). He is now 31 years old,” the LaBossieres said. “When Veterans are in pain, whole families are in pain too.” The couple has written a book entitled, “Where Is My Daddy Now” which takes place at the Tahoma National Cemetery where a little girl is visiting her Daddy’s grave and starts asking questions about where he is. “He struggled with PTSD and served three tours in Iraq only to lose his life in his home town of Lake Stevens,” the La- Bossieres explained. This is the first book the couple has writ- ten. The children’s book has spe- cial meaning to the couple and their family. “This story is about our granddaughter who lost her Daddy at age five due to (PTSD) Post Traumatic Stress caused by his military service in the Iraq War. He served three tours in Iraq post 9/11,” they said. The story takes place at the Local couple shares their experiences with PTSD through new children’s book cemetery on Memorial Day when she was 7 years old. “We wanted our grand- daughter to see all the graves decorated with flags so she would know that her Daddy was a hero. She had a very spe- cial moment with him and then ran off to play when she sud- denly stopped to ask some very serious questions about where his body was which started the dialog for this book,” Marcia said. “She wanted to know how he could be in two places at once. Was he an angel? Would she ever see him again? What is a spirit? Do I have a spirit?” Not only did they want to educate their readers of ex- actly what PTSD is and who it affects but they also wanted to show readers how it felt for their granddaughter to lose her daddy in such a difficult way. “We wrote this book first to show the heart of this little girl who desperately missed her Daddy. When we shared her story with others, we were encouraged to share it because it could help many people,” Marcia explained. “It por- trayed a different perspective on this kind of devastating loss through a child’s eyes.” We also wanted to educate people on what PTSD is and who it affects? It is not just a Veteran’s illness. We wanted to bring awareness to the pub- lic as well as the medical field that it is far reaching and af- fects whole families in differ- ent ways. We have all experi- enced trauma in our lives at some time, not all will experi- ence PTSD, but it needs to be acknowledged for what it is. No one should be denied help. Children process trauma dif- ferently than adults. The proceeds from their book will be going to help chil- dren who have been diagnosed with PTSD. “We found it difficult to find people willing to counsel chil- dren with PTSD. It is also diffi- cult to diagnosis PTSD in chil- dren, it is often misdiagnosed and therefore mistreated. Chil- dren are the forgotten victims of this often-misunderstood disorder,” Marcia said. PTSD seems to be appearing in children more than in past generations because of all they witness on television and even within their communities. “The children of this gen- eration are no longer innocent to world trauma. We have all been forced to face it on a reg- ular basis; from TV violence to violence in our streets, dis- respect for authority, school SEE PTSD ON page 2 Aquafest 2017 is off to a great start with the crowning of a new Miss Aquafest Royalty on Saturday, March 11 at Lake Stevens High School. Judges Mayor John Spen- cer, Rep. Mark Harmsworth, past Miss Aquafest finalist Courtney Curdy, local busi- ness woman Reshal Ploeger and American Cancer Soci- ety community relationship manager Ilene Levering had to choose from 20 contestants in five age categories. Contestants were judged on their interview skills, personal introduction, casual wear, on stage questions and formal wear. Their time doing com- munity service was also a fac- tor in judging. At the end of the pageant Mistress of Ceremonies Janice Huxford announced the win- ners. This year’s Miss Aquafest (16-18 years old) is Alexa De- Merchant and Ambassador Kayla Kalin took second place. Miss Teen Aquafest (14-15 , Lake Stevens Historical Society,Newspapers,Lake Stevens Ledger,2017,March 15, 2017.pdf,March 15, 2017.pdf Page 1, March 15, 2017.pdf Page 1