Rep. Stokesbary: Legislature supports local projects
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FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2018
New coffee shop helps addicts By Robert Whale rwhale@soundpublishing.com
They advertise themselves as “an army of soldiers,” a fierce, fighting force of recovering family members and recovering addicts. And if you want to hear their stories, seven of the people who in April opened Battlefield Coffee House on A Street in Auburn will unfold the tales, sparing none of the horrors. They’ll talk about drug addiction, theirs or that of loved ones and dear friends – the son’s life lost, the meltdown of a father’s and mother’s trust, the loss of livelihoods and homes, life on the street, the erosion of respect and dignity. They lived it all. But as you learn quickly, co-founders Art Dahlen and Angie Keaty, and managers Jason Churchill, Adam Day, Korby Ercanerack, Kevin Chang, Emily Swanson, and Kristin Fairweather, flat out refuse to live in the past. Instead, they put all of their experience, strength and hope into action, fighting for, and standing with, broken people, people still on their knees. “Battlefield grew out of the need for a place for families of
After 37 years on the force, Police Chief Bob Lee steps away on June 22. By Robert Whale rwhale@soundpublishing.com
Teams must be resourceful and work with people of many walks, cultures and languages to solve problems along the way, like mechanical breakdowns or simply replacing a flat tire. “We’re on our own. … I’m sure we will be using charades, most of the time,” said Madison, a Todd Beamer High School graduate, speaking from Kathmandu, Nepal, where she and her husband are touring. “We heard about past rally teams tying together their engines with shoelaces and Zip ties … and getting
Back in his days at the police academy, Bob Lee once said, few officers-to-be considered working for Auburn because King County was the bigger agency and had more to offer. But four to five months into the job, the fresh-faced, then 21-year-old rookie patrolman changed his mind. Auburn Police “I thought, Chief Bob Lee ‘There’s no way I’m leaving,’ “ Lee told the Auburn City Council in 2016. “It provides everything a young person could want continuing in law enforcement.” Stay Lee did, rising through the ranks from patrolman to sergeant on Feb. 1990, to lieutenant on March 16, 1997, to assistant patrol chief on Dec. 3, 2002 until, on Oct. 1, 2010, he succeeded former Police Chief Jim Kelly, who was leaving to take a job at the SCORE jail. On June 22, Lee retires from the force after 37 years. “I think that over the years, of all the people who have come here, very few have left because it’s an awesome place to work,” Lee said. “I am going to miss him terribly, not only as a police chief but as a friend as well.” said Mayor Nancy Backus. “Our daughters played soccer together for many years, so there is that bond that
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Eager to help addicts and their families turn back addiction at Battlefield Coffee House in Auburn are, back row, from left, managers Adam Day and Korby Ercanerack, co-founder Art Dahlen, co-founder Angie Keaty and her husband, Tim Keaty. Front row, from left, are managers Jason Churchill, Emily Swanson and Kevin Chang. ROBERT WHALE, Auburn Reporter
addicts to get some support,” explained Dahlen, co-founder of Battlefield Coffee House and a recovering heroin addict with 17 years in the field of addiction. Keaty, who co-founded the coffee house, lost her 23-yearold son, Devon, to addiction two years ago June 3, and comes to the task with nine years of
experience. She quit her job to devote all of her time to building the organization from the studs up and working with families. “Addiction showed up and became a big teacher for me, and the education continues today,” Keaty said. In 2012, Dahlen and his wife, Amy, founded the nonprofits
Sober Living and Big Change Recovery Homes. In 2014, the couple assumed operation of Northwest Resources Treatment House and began arranging treatment and housing. “We had Sober Living and the outpatient treatment facility, but See COFFEE, Page 8
Local couple is off to see the whole, wide world Madison and Jake Leland are ready for their next adventure: the Mongol Rally, an international road trip billed as the “Greatest Adventure in the World.” By Mark Klaas mklaas@soundpublishing.com
Hunger for adventure has taken Madison and Jake Leland to faraway lands, majestic sites, moving sounds and
Auburn’s top cop to retire
fascinating people. The globetrotting couple have covered many miles but yearn to take many more roads less travelled. How about an extensive summertime road trip, a daunting task of passing through at least 25 countries sprinkled over two continents? How about consuming more than 10,000 miles, beginning in Europe and finishing in Russia less than two months later? All from behind the wheel of a modest, 20-year-old, Ford Fiesta the couple bought for $100 from “some guy on Facebook.”
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The Lelands – Madison, who grew up in Auburn and Federal Way, and Jake, of Duvall – are about to take their chances in the Mongol Rally, an international road trip that’s described as the “Greatest Adventure in the World.” More of a survival mission than an actual race, the rally can be unforgiving. Rally vehicles have a 1200cc engine limit. On average, about 70 percent of the 300 teams that enter the rally complete the ride, which spans about one-third of the Earth’s circumference. Teams must go it alone, without backup or support vehicles.
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