Covington/Maple Valley Reporter, October 21, 2011

Page 1

REPORTER

COVINGTON | MAPLE VALLEY | BLACK DIAMOND

NEWSLINE 425-432-1209

HEALTHY LIVING| Americans have become more aware of impacts of bad diet [page 10]

WEBSITE | Check the website for breaking CONQUERING CHANGE | Kentwood volleyball squad putting together a run in news stories and weather updates. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011 the South Puget Sound League North [10] maplevalleyreporter.com or covingtonreporter.com

A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

School districts evaluate test scores

Budget weathering the storm for now

BY KRIS HILL

BY KRIS HILL

khill@covingtonreporter.com

khill@covingtonreporter.com

Many families received test scores in late September and parents likely saw improvement in their child’s test scores as well as their schools. Students in both the Tahoma and Kent school districts showed improvement but officials in both districts also continue to focus on areas which could be strengthened.

Covington has weathered the economic downturn and could, with continued diligence, survive until the economy bounces back. That’s what City Manager Derek Matheson told the City Council on Oct. 10 during his 2012 draft budget presentation. As city staff worked on the budget, COVINGTON Matheson said, a handful of themes became apparent. “Bold cuts early in the recession have served the city well and allowed us to continue to provide quality services to the community,� Matheson said. “However, growing expenditures are catching up with flat revenues.� Watching how it spends its money, Matheson said, should

UPS AND DOWNS IN KENT

Singer, left, and Paige Green Dunn try out the new exercise equipment at Les Gove Park Gaining Some Kelly in Auburn on Oct. 15. The pair founded MOMentum, a non-profit that is working to get exercise equipment into 10 parks in the region to help mothers stay active while their youngsters play at view a slide show go to www.maplevalleyreporter.com and MOMentum tothebuypark.photos go to the website andToclick on the photo reprints tab. RACHEL CIAMPI, The Reporter

[ more SCORES page 5 ]

[ more BUDGET page 4]

In the workshop with a real life Santa Claus BY KRIS HILL

khill@covingtonreporter.com

Vern Heinle’s 8-year-old grandson thinks he’s Santa Claus. His wife, Caroline, had a conversation with the little boy not too long ago. “He was convinced, he said, ‘He has a beard, he has a workshop and he builds toys,’� she said. And around the holidays, youngsters in need in the area may well think Vern Heinle is

Santa, because the toy-building 78-year-old Kent resident will deliver 200 handmade wooden cars and trucks to the Forgotten Children’s Fund with some of grandsons in tow. Vern Heinle began building toys for the Seattle-based non-profit four years ago after connecting with Jim Pelletier of Covington. Vern Heinle is a regular at Shari’s on Kent Kangley Road and 132nd Avenue Southeast in Kent,

where Pelletier is the manager, and was encouraged to get involved in the restaurant’s efforts to support the Forgotten Children’s Fund annual Christmas drive. A year ago Vern Heinle told the Reporter that Pelletier’s enthusiasm for the work the non-profit does overwhelmed him. “Over the years, Vern has brought in some of the stuff he’s made, some of the wallets, some of the holsters, some of the jewelry boxes,� Pelletier told the Reporter in November 2010. “The connection was easy. We do a food and toy drive twice a year: Christmas in July and Christmas. In talking about, one Vern walked [ more SANTA page 4 ]

Vern Heinle, a retired carpenter, builds a car out of wood. Heinle donates dozens of handmade wooden toys thanks to Covington resident Jim Pelletier. KRIS HILL, The Reporter

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Children in grade schools as well as high school sophomores in the Kent School District, which also serves students in Covington, made major strides, according to Linda Del Giudice, chief accountability officer . Students in third, fourth, sixth and 10th grades all improved scores on the Measurement of Student Progress and High School


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