OLYMPIA — Cindy Zehnder, the former chief clerk of the House who heads Washington’s TVW state government television, was named by Gov. Chris Gregoire on Thursday as her new chief of staff.
Zehnder takes over the top post on Oct. 1, succeeding Tom Fitzsimmons, who has been chief of staff for the past four years, serving both Gregoire and Gov. Gary Locke before her. The job pays more than $150,000 a year.
Associated Press
Puyallup: Boy’s rabbit stolen from the fair
A boy’s blue-ribbon bunny has been stolen from the Puyallup Fair, the first theft of a show animal at the fair in at least 20 years, officials said.
RJ, a 1&189;-year-old orange Netherland Dwarf rabbit, vanished Sunday afternoon. The plastic tie that was used to keep the door shut on his cage had been cut, fair officials said.
The rabbit won a blue ribbon Friday for Stefan Johnson, a member of the Bunny Bunch 4-H club in Vancouver, Wash., who turned 13 the next day.
RJ vanished while the owner was playing video games and having a snack in the back of the barn. According to a police report, a juvenile witness said a man left the barn with an orange rabbit but couldn’t describe the man. There were no other leads.
Associated Press
Port Orchard: Man who fled jail returns
More than two weeks of unearned freedom ended Wednesday for a 24-year-old man mistakenly released from the Kitsap County jail on Sept. 4.
Michael Zachary Casterline turned himself into the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office bureau in Kingston, said sheriff’s spokesman Scott Wilson.
Also mistakenly released with Casterline was Melinda Ann Hill, 34. She is still at large.
Both inmates were confused by jail staff for two other inmates with identical or similar last names who had been slated for release.
Casterline has the same last name as an inmate who was supposed to be released, and he allegedly forged the other inmate’s name on release papers, Wilson said.
Casterline is charged in several cases of burglary and theft. His bail was set at $86,000, but now he has an additional booking charge of first-degree escape with no bail.
Kitsap Sun
Lake Samish: Puppy shot by neighbor
A 74-year-old Lake Samish woman shot and paralyzed a neighbor’s 6-month-old puppy that had made its way into her yard Friday.
Bandit, a golden retriever, was seriously injured and had to be euthanized.
Evelyn Wade was cited for discharging a .22-caliber rifle in the direction of neighbors — a citation that requires a mandatory court appearance on the misdemeanor charge, said Whatcom County sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jeff Parks.
Wade could face additional criminal charges for harming the dog, Parks said, should prosecutors decide to press charges.
The Bellingham Herald
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