by Brad Wong
seattlepi.com
May 25, 2007

                                            
A "Schrammie," the bobble-head doll that television commentator Ken Schram hands out to blundering public officials, won a dubious achievement of its own Friday morning: Forcing the evacuation of 350 state employees.

After a package containing the doll was found in the mailroom of the Department of Corrections headquarters and deemed suspicious, the Tumwater building was evacuated. Workers stayed away from their offices for about 45 minutes.

"I'm going to have to wind up giving myself a 'Schrammie' for crying out loud," Schram joked. The package came from KOMO-TV headquarters, the station confirmed. It was addressed to the Department of Corrections secretary, Harold Clarke, Washington State Patrol Sgt. Ted DeHart said.

Schram sends the dolls to people who he thinks have done something dubious.

  
    KOMO-TV
"It had the classic indicators of a suspicious package," DeHart said.

It lacked a return address and contained a handwritten mailing label. The package also had stains on its outside, which could have indicated that the item inside had leaked, he added.

"Hopefully, in the future, they'll send out their awards so they can be traced."

Schram had instructed that a "Schrammie" be sent to Clarke because he was concerned about 83 felons who were released from prison, said Jimm Brown, a KOMO/4 spokesman.

An intern sent the doll that showed up in Tumwater. Brown said it was an error that the package lacked a return address.

"To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time that the bomb squad was called in when we sent a 'Schrammie,' " he said.

Schram was taking the blunder in stride, saying that he was partially amused, embarrassed and perplexed.

"I am big on taking responsibility. I didn't mail it. But it's my 'Schrammie,' " he said.

"I don't know if I'll award it to myself and share it with somebody. I haven't figured it out yet."

He said he was sorry about what happened. In a commentary on KOMO's web site Schram promised 35 dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts to the officers who investigated the package.

Schram, who started sending the dolls in 2006, learned of the Friday evacuation while he was on a talk show with John Carlson on KVI-AM.

"He was giddy with the idea, just laughing on the air, giving me all sorts of grief," Schram said.

State officials heard about the package, which was in the mailroom of the Goodrich Building, shortly before 9 a.m.

The Washington State Patrol dispatched its bomb squad. A bomb technician opened it and discovered the bobble-head doll. A State Patrol trooper has called Schram to discuss the incident.

Viewers have discussed it with Schram, too. One e-mail expressed sorrow that the bomb squad did not blow the doll to bits.

"Because watching pieces of you flying around would be fun," Schram said, summarizing the message.

Schram will press on. And the Schrammies will be in the mail,

"Hell, yeah," he said.



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P-I reporter Brad Wong can be reached at 206-448-8137 or bradwong@seattlepi.com.

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