The Stolen Child Misty Copsey disappeared 17 years ago after a visit to the Puyallup Fair. Police thought the 14-year-old was a runaway. Her mother feared a killer had taken Misty. A battle for the truth has raged ever since. THE NEWS TRIBUNE The Ladenburg legacy For 22 years, John Ladenburg has been commuting from his South Tacoma home to the County-City Building downtown, first as prosecuting attorney and then as county executive. After eight years, Ladenburg is stepping down as the county’s chief executive, and he believes he’s leaving Pierce County a better place than it was eight years ago. Change agents ‘Crossover’ voters — those who went for both Barack Obama and Dino Rossi — show their strength in Pierce County. Soldier suicides The U.S. Army and grieving loved ones struggle for answers about rising suicide rates and what can be done to prevent them. Four families share their stories. More need help, but fewer give For nonprofit leaders, the nation’s economic downturn puts the sad fact of their business in sharp relief: When the need for their help is greatest, their ability to offer it can be the most strained. Tall Ships Festival Tall Ships Tacoma brought dozens of vintage sailing ships and other vessels to town in July. See our coverage of the ships and the festival. When it comes to open government, the system works, but … Local governments generally do well on requests for public records, but there’s still a wide range of compliance – and noncompliance. Chlorine Scare on Tacoma's Tideflats Firefighters failed to anticipate a changing wind in their response to a major chemical leak last year on the Tacoma Tideflats, endangering themselves and area workers. Dispatch logs and interviews detail what went wrong. Point Defiance 2005 marked the 100th anniversary of Point Defiance as a city park.