Biendl run raises more than $9K

About 500 people gathered Jan. 26 for the third annual Jayme Biendl Memorial 5K run and walk, according to Monroe police. In all, more than $9,200 was raised — with more coming in — for the Behind the Badge Foundation to assist other law enforcement families.

Biendl, a corrections officer at the Monroe Correctional Complex, was strangled to death on Jan. 29, 2011. Byron Scherf was convicted of the murder.

Lake Stevens officer to aid U.S. marshal

Officer Daniel Planalp, 30, a seven-year veteran of the Lake Stevens Police Department, was sworn in Jan. 24 as a special deputy U.S. marshal by David Miller, the United States marshal for the Western District of Washington.

Planalp has been a member of the U.S. Marshal’s Snohomish County Violent Offenders Task Force since October 2013. The Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is a multidistrict partnership encompassing the U.S. Marshals Service Districts of Alaska, Oregon, Eastern and Western Washington. The Sheriff’s Office is one of the partners.

“We are very proud of Officer Planalp and excited to have an opportunity to partner with the U.S. Marshals, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and our neighboring jurisdictions to provide this regional service to the community,” said Interim Lake Stevens Police Chief Dan Lorentzen.

Lynnwood officer honored by VFW

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1040 awarded this year’s Law Enforcement Gold Medal award to Lynnwood Police officer Robert (Todd) DeGabriele in a ceremony held at the Lynnwood Police Station.

DeGabriele has served as an acting sergeant. He recently served on a committee that enhanced the efficiency of the police department’s paperwork process. He is a 13-year veteran of the police department, serving with distinction as a field training officer and firearms instructor in addition to his regular duties as a patrol officer.

Snohomish Scouts earn Eagle rank

On Feb. 1, Boy Scout Troop 50 of First Presbyterian Church in Snohomish honored four boys with its Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Alex Trimble, Drew Cameron and Tanner Phelps are lifelong friends, 15 years old and freshmen at Snohomish High School. Travis Phelps (Tanner’s older brother) is almost 17 and a junior at the high school.

All boys are active in the community and worked with Mike Johnson and the city of Snohomish to complete their Eagle Projects. Alex installed a rock-art stepping stone project on the shores of Blackman Lake at Hill Park. Drew built two horseshoe pits at the Snohomish Senior Center. Tanner constructed steps that lead from the boat launch at Blackman Lake to Ferguson Park. Travis worked on the Union Avenue-Pocket Park pavement project.

Mayor, wife chosen for top Lions award

This year’s Lions International Medal of Merit Award will be presented Feb. 6 to Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson and his wife, Vikki, particularly for their work with youth and other charitable causes.

“The Stephansons’ dedication to helping make Everett a better place to live has earned them the respect of the community and this award,” said Kathleen Dale, president of the Everett Central Lions.

The award is one of the most prestigious awards bestowed by the Lions and given to those who have raised their families and managed their careers with moral integrity, and who have given back to the community.

The reception and award ceremony fundraiser will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center at Comcast Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave. Speakers are to include Bob Drewel, Jim Langus and Jim Stephanson. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Sherwood Community Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities and the Lions free vision and hearing services project. The public is invited.

Tickets are available at 425-387-9256. The event is sponsored by Everett Central Lions Club.

VOA able to help more families than expected

Volunteers of America Western Washington provided assistance to more than 4,000 people across the region this past holiday season, reaching more families than projected.

Thanksgiving food baskets were distributed to 615 households, Christmas dinner fixings to 884 households, and Christmas gifts to 1,589 households, including 4,321 individuals, of which 1,359 were children and 29 were adults with disabilities.

The holiday giving program was made possible by food and toy drives, individual sponsorships, giving trees and Santa’s Workshop in King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties.

Among Snohomish County donors, the Amalgamated Transit Union 883, in association with Fred Meyer and Everett Transit, provided substantial support by collecting more than 5,400 pounds of food, $21,000 worth of toys and $1,100 in cash donations through the “Stuff A Bus” charity food and toy drive.

Stellar Industries orchestrated vital food and toy drives, while Jackson High School and the Edmonds Parks and Recreation Department each collected more than 200 toys.

Cascade High School, Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Advent Lutheran Church, and Everett High school all sponsored over 100 families. Additional support came from the city of Edmonds, the Frances Anderson Center, Central Lutheran Church, Cascade View Presbyterian Church, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, Snohomish High School, and Delta Community Baptist Church.

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