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Friday OCT 14/11
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Development looms at drive-in site Poor economy, Public hearing Monday neglect, breed big problem – abandoned cats By ROBERT WHALE
rwhale@auburn-reporter.com
The sign out in front of the Valley 6 Drive-In Theaters says, “closed for the season.” Events under way right now, however, might soon tell if the Valley 6
– one of only six of its kind remaining in the state – has shown its last picture show. An ordinance and a master development agreement between the owners of the property, the Robertson Properties Group, and the City of Auburn specifying how the site is to be developed, is making its way through various City subcommittees to an up-
or-down City Council vote, possibly by this fall. Council approval would allow the RPG to begin offering about 70 acres of property, that is, the Valley 6 site and several adjacent properties at the city’s north end, for office, retail and residential development.
[ more theaters page 7 ]
animals, especially cats,” Welker said. “But in the last year-and-a-half, it has been devastating. There are so many stray animals out there, particularly cats, that I wouldn’t even begin to know where to start to name a number. And Auburn happens to be one of the worst places.” How bad is it? MEOW, a large rescue organization in Kirkland, has a 150-cat waiting list. The Humane Society in Bellevue, which adopted out 250 cats in September, has a 6-to-12 month waiting list. Homeward Bound doesn’t even bother to make a waiting list anymore. The poor economy has much to do with the uptick in the feline misery index.
By ROBERT WHALE rwhale@auburn-reporter.com
Connie Welker, a cat lover all her life, joined a local cat adoption organization four years ago. But Welker doesn’t especially want the public to know which one right now. And when you hear what she deals with every day, you’ll know why. Welker has a big problem, but cats aren’t it. People are her migraine. Stark human irresponsibility is cramming shelters, rescue organizations and humane societies past the bursting point with felines, creating a terrible situation in King County and across the nation. “It was bad to start with because I didn’t realize there were that many
Local cast presents ‘Oz’
Out of his gourd
Robin Halbert, owner of Proper British Bacon and Meats, displays his gigantic, awardwinning, marrow at his Auburn shop. The marrow, part of the squash/zucchini family, tipped the scales at 87 pounds, setting a state record as recognized by the Pacific Northwest Giant Pumpkin Growers. Halbert’s entry broke the previous mark of 69 pounds held by grower Erin Huff of Aberdeen. “I did it for fun,” said Halbert, one of the state’s top pumpkin growing competitors. “I didn’t know it would get out of hand.” MARK KLAAS, Auburn Reporter
Auburn’s Cindy Ross tries a 1947 Mark V helmet and diving suit on for size. Dressed in 190 pounds of gear, the vintage suit-clad Ross was submerged in 10 feet of water at Lake Stevens. COURTESY photo, Bill Battan Photography
By SHAWN SKAGER sskager@auburn-reporter.com
The Auburn Community Players takes audiences over the rainbow
[ more CATS page 2 ]
with the troupe’s presentation of the musical, “The Wizard of Oz”. The classic premieres 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Auburn Avenue Theater. “Oz” evening performances continue Saturday, and next weekend, [ more ‘OZ’ page 12 ]
TAKING THE PLUNGE WITH HER PASSION Career switch rewards bold businesswoman BY MARK KLAAS mklaas@auburn-reporter.com
Seeking adventure and a change of pace, a more robust life and less grind, Cindy Ross found what she was looking for in the world of commercial
diving. No small leap of faith for a 30-something, former car saleswoman. “My passion is teaching, and diving is just a real cool thing to teach,” said the Auburn woman. “(Diving) has a lot of life-changing applications for people. It opens up a world that not a lot of people can go to.”
Indeed, only a tiny percentage of the world’s population ever explores the wonders of the watery world. Today Ross helps train others, from recreational scuba divers to weekend snorkelers, to reach new depths and reach them safely. [ more GIRLDIVER page 15 ]
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