🎁✨ **Community Gift Wrap Drive** 🎄❤️
Hello Kalama! Shop with a Cop 2024 is just around the corner and we’re excited to spread joy to children in need! We’re reaching out to our amazing community for support in the form of a gift wrap drive.
🌟 **What We Need:**
- Holiday Gift Wrap (any size!)
- Holiday Bows and Ribbons
- Holiday Gift Bags
We all have some lying around, LOL. Even gently used gift bags and partial rolls of gift wrap would be a tremendous blessing. Our kids often like to have their gifts for loved ones wrapped, or even their own gifts wrapped so they have something to open on Christmas morning. Our amazing volunteers wrap these gifts for the kids free of charge!
Your generous donations will help us bring smiles to many little faces this holiday season. Let’s come together to make this a magical time for our kids!
🗓 **Donation Drop-Off:** Nov 18th to December 13th, 9am-5pm
📍 **Location:** Kalama Police Department and Kalama City Hall
Feel free to spread the word and tag your friends! Thank you for your kindness and support! Together, we can make a real difference! 💖🎅🏼
#holidaygiftwrap #SpreadTheJoy2024 #communityspirit #KalamaProud
The Kalama Police Department has welcomed 2 new officers, who were sworn in to office during last night's City Council meeting. Welcome Officer Derek Moore and Officer Tyler Bailey!
Kalama's City offices and the Public Library will be closed on Monday, November 11th, 2024 in observance of Veteran's Day. Thank you to all who have served!
🌟 Thank You, Kalama Community! 🌟
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in last Friday's "Chief's Caribbean Dinner." Your generosity and support helped us raise an incredible $10,097 for the 2024 "Shop with a Cop" program!
Because of you, we’ll be able to sponsor many local children this holiday season, ensuring they receive gifts and joy during Christmas. The department accepts donations all year long, so it's not too late to contribute if you wish to do so. Each $100 raised means another child will have a brighter holiday.
We couldn’t have done this without the amazing spirit of our community. Thank you for coming together to make a difference in the lives of our kids. We look forward to seeing you at future events!
Warm regards,
The Kalama Police Department
Help Us Avoid Spreading Panic Over Hoaxes
We’re aware of new and evolving “threats” circulating on social media platforms and continue to work closely with school officials to fully investigate the reports. Extra safety precautions have been put in place through enhanced on-campus presence and visibility, along with proactive communication. At this time, Kalama Police continue to deem these threats as not credible. The most recent threats were made against schools NOT located in the state of Washington and have simply been re-shared and reposted locally.
Even if threats posted online are not deemed credible, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for students, families, and staff. Your student(s) may have seen rumors circulating online or heard about them while at school. If you talk to your student about these threats, please encourage them not to repost information on their social media accounts. Communication between you and your student about your social media expectations can help your student stay safe, kind, and responsible online.
If you or your student have any concerns about safety, please share them immediately with school officials and law enforcement. Our number one priority is the safety of your children. Thank you for your continued partnership to keep our students safe!
#KalamaStrong
The Kalama City offices & Library will be closed on Monday, September 2nd, 2024 in observance of Labor Day. We acknowledge our hard working, dedicated City employees--including our police department, public works crew, city hall admin team, and public library staff. Each member plays an important role! Thank you for all you do!
As the new school year begins, let’s ensure our students stay safe by following these essential safety tips:
Pedestrian Safety
• Crosswalks: Always use designated crosswalks and obey crossing guards.
• Visibility: Wear bright clothing and make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
• Sidewalks: Walk on sidewalks where available; if not, walk facing traffic.
Bicycle Safety
• Helmets: Always wear a properly fitted helmet.
• Bike Lanes: Use bike lanes when available, and follow traffic signals.
• Visibility: Equip your bike with lights and reflective gear, especially in low-light conditions.
School Bus Safety
• Bus Stops: Arrive early at the bus stop and wait in a safe location away from the road.
• Boarding/Exiting: Wait for the bus to stop completely before getting on or off, and cross the street in front of the bus only when the driver signals it’s safe.
• Behavior: Stay seated, keep noise to a minimum, and follow the driver’s instructions.
Distracted Driving
• Focus: Keep your eyes on the road and avoid distractions such as texting or eating.
• Speed: Slow down in school zones and be prepared for sudden stops.
• Awareness: Watch for children walking, biking, or getting on and off school buses.
Let’s all do our part to create a safe environment for our students as they head back to school. Stay alert, stay safe!
The Kalama City Offices will be closed for the morning on Monday, August 26th, 2024 from 9am-1pm for an all-staff training session. Offices will re-open at 1pm to serve the public.
The upcoming Civil Service meeting will be held on August 22, 2024 at 5:00pm at the City Council Chambers located at 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama.
Chief Herrera gave a fun presentation on government to the local Girl Scouts (and Brownies) today! Not only did they ask about the chief’s donut of choice 🍩, these kids (and parents) also had some really good questions that opened up dialogue about being active and responsible citizens in their Kalama community.
