Another former Army Ranger has been sentenced in the 2006 robbery of a Tacoma bank.

Chad Palmer, 22, pleaded guilty almost two years ago and received a sentence of 11 years in prison and five years of supervised release for the robbery of a Bank of America branch on South Tacoma Way. According to court documents, Palmer used an AK-47 assault rifle during the robbery as he and four others escaped with more than $50,000.

More details in a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office are below:

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President George W. Bush was visiting troops at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan yesterday. DVIDS has a story about his stop there, including a quote from a Fort Lewis soldier.

From the story:

Bouras’ sentiments were shared by other Soldiers, Saliors, Airmen and Marines there, including Pfc. Kevin Providence of 3rd Explosive Ordnance Battalion out of Fort Lewis, Wash.

“This was a historical event. He came to address us and thank us for all the work that we are doing over here and our sacrifice and the sacrifice of our families,” said Providence, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native. “It was something I can be thankful for because he came himself. He didn’t send a letter. He didn’t send anyone else. He came himself and said thank you. And I’m thankful to be here serving my country. And I know it’s rough, but it’s the sacrifice we all made.”

Read the whole thing here.

Michelle Kane and her three children arrived at Sea-Tac Airport from their Hood Canal home early Tuesday to board a festively decorated charter bound for Southern California.

“They’ve been looking forward to this all year ¬ really since last year’s trip,” said Kane, 30.

Hers is not a typical American family enjoying a traditional early holiday getaway to Disneyland. The flight was one of six charters stopping in 23 cities Tuesday as part of Snowball Express, a nonprofit that sends children of service members killed in Iraq or Afghanistan on an all-expense trip to the theme park branded as “the happiest place on earth.”

The Kanes needed a big boost of happiness as Christmas approached in 2006.

Two months earlier, Staff Sgt. Joseph Kane had been killed when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in Iraq.

Michelle’s life was in disarray. She and the kids moved to Allyn from Fort Hood, Texas, to be closer to family.

That’s when they took their first ride on Snowball Express.

“This was the first big thing we did since his death,” Kane said. “We were in a jumbled mess. This was really the kids’ Christmas present. It was kind of like their dad’s Christmas gift to them, in a way.”

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