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Meno works to increase concussion awareness BY KIRK BOXLEITNER kboxleitner@marysvilleglobe.com
SEE MENO, PAGE 2
SPORTS: Arlington grapplers place at Mat Classic. Page 8
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Cascade Valley Hospital’s Dr. Mark Leonard administers a strength test to Grace Meno during a follow-up exam for her concussion.
City reviews finances, grants for 2013, 2014 BY KIRK BOXLEITNER
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Kirk Boxleitner/Staff Photo
ARLINGTON — The city of Arlington looked back on 2013 and ahead to the rest of 2014 during the City
Council workshop meeting on Monday, Feb. 24, as city staff reviewed financial reports and grants for the year ahead and the year behind. City of Arlington Finance
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Vol. 124, No. 32 Kirk Boxleitner/Staff Photo
Snohomish County is contributing $50,000 toward the restroom facility at Haller Park.
Director Jim Chase delivered the financial reports for December of 2013 and January of 2014, noting that the sales tax dollars received in those months were greater than those of the same months in the previous years. “Sales tax dollars received in December, from October sales, were $264,547,” Chase said. “The total amount for 2013 is $192,000 greater than the amount received in 2012, or a 6.2 percent increase. Sales tax dollars received in January, for November sales, were $18,000 more than
the amount received for the same month in 2013.” Property taxes, the third largest form of tax, in 2013 were also ahead of the city’s 2012 collections by 2.2 percent, of which Chase attributed 1 percent to the increase allowed by Initiative 747, with the additional 1.2 percent coming from collections from prior years’ amounts owed, and from new construction tax dollars. “January is historically a slow month for property tax collections,” Chase said. “First-half property taxes are
due on April 30, and secondhalf taxes are due on Oct. 30.” While building permit revenues were budgeted at $300,000 for 2013, they totaled just $193,069 for the year. By contrast, emergency medical services’ transport fees generated revenues of $975,619 in 2013, well ahead the year’s budget of $950,000. “We began 2013 with a beginning fund balance of $377,749 in the general fund,” Chase said. “We ended 2013 with a total of SEE CITY, PAGE 2
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SPORTS: Lady Eagles fall in District Championship. Page 8
ARLINGTON — When Grace Meno suffered a concussion playing volleyball on Sept. 11, 2012, the Arlington High School freshman had to take a year off to recuperate. While she’s still coping with the side effects of the injury, Meno not only returned to school full-time in September in 2013, but she’s since taken up the cause of promoting concussion awareness. After Grace tripped while running, and landed on her head and her hip, she was sent first to Cascade Valley Hospital, then to Seattle Children’s Hospital for three days. “I didn’t connect what had happened to a traumatic brain injury at first,” said Kimberly Meno, Grace’s mom. Grace nonetheless returned to the Harborview Medical Center ER in Seattle the following night because of a seizure. “I had to relearn how to read, write, talk, eat and take a shower, all things I took for granted,” Grace Meno said. “I had speech therapy three times a week for four months. I walked with a cane until I was able to use Abby, my medical alert service dog, and physical therapy to get my balance back.” While Grace and Kimberly Meno were effusive in their praise for the Arlington School District, especially in its accommodations