July 30, 2025
ISSUE 31
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Study assesses solar potential at county sites By The Tacoma Weekly In fall 2024, two Pierce County departments were awarded grant funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce Clean Energy Program. Pierce County Facilities Management was awarded $160,000 to study the feasibility of implementing solar energy and battery storage systems at countyowned facilities. Pierce County Planning and Public Works (PPW) was awarded $2.3 million to construct a large-scale solar innovation project on the site of the closed Purdy Landfill. Both initiatives align with Pierce County’s ongoing efforts to enhance sustainability and reduce its environmental footprint. The Pierce County Solar Feasibility Study evaluated 33 county-owned facilities to identify and analyze the top five sites for rooftop solar installations based on technical, financial, environmental, and community benefit criteria. The results of the study will help the Facilities Management department and county plan, budget, and apply for grants for future solar energy projects. The PPW solar innovation project will supply clean, renewable energy to the Key Peninsula community. Due to the industrial nature of solid waste functions at the site, the closed landfill has limited redevelopment options. A ground-mounted solar array on the landfill, which operated from 1941 to 1989, is an ideal use for the property to continue providing value to the community. Revenue from the power generated by the project will be reinvested by Pierce County to benefit lowincome residents on the Key Peninsula. To learn more about solar energy resources and the work Pierce County is doing to be more sustainable, visit piercecountywa. gov/8649/Solar-Energy. Solar energy is a sustainable, renewable resource that improves environmental quality. By generating your own solar energy, you can reduce or in some cases eliminate monthly electricity bills. There are also federal and local incentives to help you pay for your solar system. Solar systems distributed around our community support the electric grid during peak demand events like heat waves, and when paired with batteries offer backup power during outages. The results of the Pierce County Solar Feasibility Study are now available for the public to review at tinyurl.com/y97jtdzh. The Clean Energy Grant program is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington's climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving health. Information about CCA is available at climate.wa.gov.
COURTESY RYLEA FOEHL
Eatonville’s six UCA All-American nominees proudly display the pins they received, symbolizing their prestigious nominations. From left: Trinity Wood, Madi McChesney, Lila Mahon, Makayla Wood, Alyssa Jacobs and Lydia Topalanchik.
Eatonville cheer earns six All-American nods By Skip Smith Contributing Writer
The Eatonville High School cheer team brought the heat to the 2025 Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) summer camp, held at the University of Puget Sound. For four intense days, the Eatonville squad put in work, grinding through choreography, mastering cheers, and pushing their limits. It paid off in a big way: the team earned blue ribbons across the board in daily evaluations for sideline cheer, dance, and game-day performances. They also claimed third place in the Large Spirit Division for their final camp routine, complete with dance and pyramid, and fourth in sideline, cheer, and band chant. “This camp was jam-packed,” said head coach Rylea Foehl. “The girls were nonstop
from 7 a.m. to almost 10 p.m. each day. That’s hard for even seasoned cheerleaders, but for a team where half have never cheered before; what they accomplished was incredible.” Adding to the week’s highlights, Eatonville had six athletes nominated for UCA All-American honors — Madi McChesney, Trinity Wood, Lydia Topalanchik, Makayla Wood, Alyssa Jacobs and Lila Mahon. Of those, four were selected as official AllAmericans: Madi, Trinity, Makayla and Lila. “Being nominated is an honor in itself, but winning? That’s something else entirely,” Foehl said. “Every detail has to be perfect. These four girls showed exactly what Eatonville cheer is made of.” Foehl added that junior McChesney is now a two-time All-American, joining three seniors who closed out their final UCA camp with an unforgettable performance. Seniors Trinity, Makayla, Alyssa, and Lila led the team with heart and intensity. “This camp was especially meaningful for them,” said Foehl. “They set the tone for the younger girls and led with grace under pressure.” The team also won the coveted Spirit Stick every night of camp, a nod to their energy, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship. On
the final day, they were honored with the take-home Spirit Stick, an award that recognizes a team's lasting impact on the camp community. “Camp is emotionally draining and physically exhausting,” said Foehl. “The sun was blazing, and the schedule was relentless. But this team never let up. They pushed through everything together. That’s what makes this group so special.” With the cheer program doubling in size over the past year, Eatonville was able to field both JV and varsity squads—though they competed as one team during camp. Foehl credits their unity, resilience, and support for one another as key ingredients to their success. “This is one of the largest teams Eatonville has seen,” she said. “And for having so many fresh faces, they pulled off major success. We’re building something real here, something people in town are noticing.” The 2025-26 season is just getting started. “I don’t know if words can ever fully express how proud I am,” Foehl said. “These girls worked so hard, and they deserve every ounce of recognition. Eatonville Cheer is no longer just something extra. It’s becoming something extraordinary.”