.com
NEWS | Federal Way teen dead after drowning in Five Mile Lake [2]
VOL. 18, NO. 40
MIRROR
F E D E R A L WAY
DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
OPINION | Editorial Board: The Mirror’s endorsements for Auditor, Supreme Court [4] Roegner: The Trump Factor [4] PHOTOS | Fire department wins Chili Cook-Off [3] CITIZEN OF THE MONTH | Community Garden thriving under Coxes’ leadership [6]
SPORTS | Final defensive stand FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | 75¢ propels Titans over Eagles [10]
COMMUNITY | Police to hold ‘Coffee with a Cop’ event on Oct. 7 [7]
Mayor introduces initial 2017-2018 biennial budget proposal BY RAECHEL DAWSON
expected to adopt the final budget on Nov. 15. Ferrell’s 294-page budget details revenue and expenditures for the $140.84 million proposed for 2017 and $110.57 million for 2018. At the council meeting, Ferrell pointed out the city
rdawson@fedwaymirror.com
Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell presented his proposed 2017-2018 biennial budget to the City Council last week. The Sept. 20 Council meeting was the first of many before the Council is
will not see any layoffs and will stick to their Council reserve policy of 17 percent of on-hand cash reserves, or $9 million in the bank. However, his transmittal letter wasn’t quite as enthusiastic compared to 2014, the last time the Council
Federal Way man charged in woman’s murder
REVENUE
“It appears that the Federal Way and Washington state economies are stabilizing; however, uncertainty is present in the years
BY RAECHEL DAWSON
BY RAECHEL DAWSON
King County prosecutors have charged a Federal Way man with the murder of 33-year-old Tabitha Apling. Rashied Maceo Mitchell, 46, was charged with firstdegree murder, domestic violence in felony violation of a court order, and first-degree unlawful possession Rashied of a firearm Mitchell in a on Wednes2009 mugshot. day in King Ccourtesy of the County Department of Superior Corrections Court. The court set Mitchell’s bail at $5 million. Mitchell is accused of killing Apling, his ex-girlfriend, in front of their two children – ages 5 and 6 months – before turning the gun on himself
Photo courtesy of Richard Blaster
7 for the record books BY JEROD YOUNG
jyoung@fedwaymirror.com
Hailey Still’s ability to score at any moment makes her own teammates nervous. “Where’s Hailey?!” her fellow Thomas Jefferson defenders hollered to one another during the team’s 11-on-11 scrimmage Monday. It’s a reputation the Raiders’ freshman striker earned after breaking the school record for goals scored in a single game. Still netted seven in the team’s 11-1 season-opening win on Sept. 13 over Auburn — her first game as a member of the Thomas Jefferson soccer program. [ more STILL, page 11 ]
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ahead,” Ferrell wrote in the letter. “The local economy experienced slow economic growth this past year with a modest increase in sales tax revenue over 2014.” While building permits have increased compared to 2014, Ferrell said there
are “few major construction projects” expected next year. “As a result, we are forecasting small revenue growth,” he said. “It is not expected that many of our general fund revenue [ more BUDGET, page 21 ]
Man, fatally shot Monday, was on way to visit newborn rdawson@fedwaymirror.com
rdawson@fedwaymirror.com
[ more APLING, page 15 ]
adopted a biennial budget for 2015-2016.
Another family is mourning the loss of a husband, father, brother and son in Federal Way. Just one week after his wife gave birth to their second child, 33-year-old Dennis Sloboda was shot and killed Monday night. He was found in a vehicle in the 32800 block of Hoyt Road Southwest after officers responded to reports of gunshots. Federal Way police are searching for a suspect they believe was involved in a road rage incident that led to the Federal Way resident’s death. However, police could not provide a description of the suspect or vehicle as of Tuesday morning. Dennis Sloboda’s brother, Anton Sloboda, was with him just hours before the murder. “He had his best life right now,” he said. “Ever since he got married in March, he had a baby last week and his wife was in the hospital and he was on his way to the hospital.” Anton Sloboda said his brother came to his house in Browns Point Monday night to prepare for a new job as a limousine driver he was supposed to start on Tuesday.
But when he got there, he Dennis Sloboda pointed out revealed a man had pulled a the suspect. gun on him. The confronta“It was kind of dark. I tion was sparked after the couldn’t really look from man allegedly afar who the guy cut Dennis Slowas,” he said. “I boda off, nearly just saw a white hitting him with shirt. He was his car. Dennis wearing like a long Sloboda said he shirt, like a coat, stopped at a stop and white jeans. sign to figure out He was wearing what was going white clothes and on when he and was just kind of the man, who walking away, and appeared to be then he shows of Asian descent, Dennis Sloboda, 33, some kind of got into an arguwave, some kind was killed Monday, ment. of gestures, some It was then the Sept. 26. Contributed kind of hand photo suspect pulled a gestures.” gun on him. Anton Sloboda “He’s like, ‘Whoa, whoa, said he doesn’t know if the whoa! You want to shoot hand gestures were gangme? You want to shoot related or if he was waving me? Go ahead!’” Anton a gun. Sloboda said. “He just kind Dennis Sloboda had of warned him; he didn’t wanted to borrow his brothshoot him.” er’s gun for protection, but Anton Sloboda said Anton Sloboda convinced his brother left the area him to stay with him a while and drove back roads and before leaving to visit his around a church to “lose the wife and newborn. guy.” “I have a registered gun, “But I guess he didn’t lose I’m not gonna give you the guy,” he said. “He got to anything. It’s in the safe, and the house and said, ‘There’s I was like, ‘You have a famthe guy right there.’ He was ily, you have a kid, you’ve walking toward us.” got to be a father. Just wait The suspect had parked around,’” Anton Sloboda his car at the Browns Point said. “So he listened to me.” Diner parking lot. The two Right before Dennis went up to the balcony and [ more SLOBODA, page 21 ]
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