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TEENS AND TECHNOLOGY PART I | Students living in a virtual reality [2]
BREAK AWAY | Kentlake Falcons take down Auburn Riverside in opener. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011 [12]
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Arteaga recites poem of hope to City Council
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Suspect charged with promoting prostitution Prosecutors allege Seattle man made more than $192,000
BY DENNIS BOX dbox@kentreporter.com
Ramsey Arteaga brought a message Tuesday to the Kent City Council, in verse. Arteaga, a recent graduate of Kent-Meridian High School with plans to attend Green River Community College, recited a poem he wrote concerning drug abuse. Mayor Suzette Cooke said she met Arteaga and A BETTER added she was, “so impressed by his work that was on display and his poem.” Arteaga said the poem was inspired by the difficulties in his life and the effect drugs and alcohol have had on members of his family. “Basically, I want to keep kids off drugs,” Arteaga said. “I want to lead them to a better path. I thought it might be something they could relate to.”
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BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
WAY
Armburst, 5, left, and Emylia Duke, 6, of Kent, put on their clown noses for the The Greatest Frances Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus preshow, Friday, Sept. 2, at the ShoWare Center. CHARLES CORTES, Kent Reporter. To view a slide show go to www.kentreporter.com and to buy photos go to the Show on Earth website and click on the photo reprints tab.
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There’s reportedly plenty of money in promoting prostitution in Kent and the Seattle area, according to charging documents filed against a 32-year-old Seattle man. Shacon Barbee Shacon Fontane Barbee is scheduled to go to trial Sept. 19 in Kent for promoting prostitution, leading organized crime, promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor (under age 18) and several other charges. Barbee allegedly made at least $192,000 as a pimp during one
[ more SUSPECT page 5 ]
School board adopts the 2011-12 budget The members approve $18 million in cuts from previous year with 78 fewer jobs including 10 teachers BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
The Kent School Board unanimously approved a $308 million budget on Aug. 24 for the 2011-12 school year that is $18 million less than last year and includes 78 fewer jobs. Board members had initially approved most of the
cuts at a budget meeting in April because of a reduction in federal and state funding. The final cuts included 39 teachers, but all but 10 of those were hired back to fill other vacancies created by retirements, career and family moves and other attrition, according to an email from Chris Loftis, spokesman for the Kent School District. Other job cuts were among administrators, custodians and other staff. The district has 3,300 employees including nearly 1,700 teachers. “A district this size has a lot of movement everyday,” Loftis said. “We had a lot of attrition with retirements and others deciding to move on.” That led to even a few new hires because of where jobs opened up. “Bottom line, we have 78 fewer positions overall from last year but our normal annual staff turnover
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[ more BUDGET page 10 ]
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Alicia Lee, Kent Elementary School first-grade teacher, greets Lia Saucedo as she settles in for the first day of school, Sept. 1. CHARLES CORTES, Kent Reporter
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