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EDUCATION NEWS | Washington joins coalition on child development [2]
VOL. 13, NO. 390
MIRROR
F E D E R A L WAY
DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
OPINION | Roegner: Speculation on election results [4] Letters: Topics range from elections to doing business in the city [4] CRIME BLOTTER | Suspect asks a local security guard to expose himself [3] CALENDAR | Check out a charity book sale at the Federal Way Regional Library [6]
SPORTS | Prep wrap includes updates WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2011 for cross country and football [10]
IN OTHER NEWS | Four local retailers are caught selling tobacco to minors [9]
SkyMan: Federal Way’s superhero County takes on
mitigation role for wetland projects
He helps the homeless and even breaks up muggings BY GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@fedwaymirror.com
Skyler Nichols, also known as SkyMan, is Federal Way’s very own Real Life Superhero. Nichols, who recently made an appearance during Federal Way’s Recycle Palooza, hopes to help his hometown in whatever way he can through his alter ego of SkyMan, the Tri-Colored Crusader. Nichols decided to try and help in Federal Way, after being an active member of the Seattle group of Real Life Superheroes (RLSH), whose most famous member is Phoenix Jones. “I’ve been operating “I’ve stopped in the greater Seattle/ a few King County area for muggings, just by my 18 months now, and presence, I live here in Federal and my Way, and I’m really trying to become more colorful, local,” he said. “I see exuberant Federal Way hurting, costume.” and I’d like to help Skyler Nichols out.” Nichols, 28, says he sees the effects of the economic downturn on Federal Way, and the effect on some of Federal Way’s residents, such as the transient population. He used The Commons Mall as a glaring example of the slow decay that has overtaken Federal Way and many cities in the Puget Sound area. “I grew up in this mall. It used to be filled. Now it’s just got anchor stores that keep it going, like Target and Sears,” Nichols said. “It’s sad, this place. You walk through it, there’s so many empty storefronts. Suburbia in general. Auburn, Kent, Burien. We’re all hurting.” With Phoenix Jones more well known as being a “crime fighter,” Nichols is more interested in helping those who are vulnerable, like the homeless. His own experiences of not having a roof over his head have led him to try and help the most disadvantaged in the area. “I want to help people…I consider
BY GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@fedwaymirror.com
King County Executive Dow Constantine recently announced a proposed mitigation credit program when it comes to developers and their impact on local wetlands. According to the executive’s office, the program — the first of its kind in the state — would allow de-
velopers to pay a fee to the county instead of completing individual mitigation projects when their projects affect wetland areas. “With this proposal, we couple greater predictability for builders to greater certainty that we will successfully protect and restore streams and wetlands,” Constantine said. “This approach affirms King [ more COUNTY, page 8 ]
Human trafficking: one local mother’s worst nightmare BY ANDY HOBBS editor@federalwaymirror.com
Skyler Nichols, also known as SkyMan, is Federal Way’s very own Real Life Superhero. Nichols, pictured outside The Commons Mall, is more interested in helping those who are vulnerable, like the homeless. GREG ALLMAIN, The Mirror myself a humanitarian first as a real life superhero. One of the reasons I decided to start with charity work and homeless outreach is it was simple, and it was what I could do,” he said. “I was homeless for a time in 2003. I was so drug addled and not wanting to hurt my father anymore, I went and slept under the viaduct for four months. And it’s just…I see
these people hurting.” Nichols is more focused on helping those who can’t help themselves. He said he has patrolled the streets and has even broken up a few muggings in his patrols. “I have done my fair share of patrolling, so I know what street crime is about. In fact, I’ve stopped a few [ more SKYMAN, page 2 ]
Nearly four years ago, Danica Childs disappeared at age 17. Her last known whereabouts: a Kent motel associated with drugs and prostitution. Dianne Zoro and her children lived in an apartment near 272nd Street and Pacific Highway South — a Federal Way intersection notorious for prostitution activity. Months before vanishing, Danica began dating a man she met on the bus. He was rumored to be a pimp, Zoro learned, and Danica was starting to hang out with “the wrong people.” In hindsight, that was yet another red flag from her at-risk daughter that
Zoro wishes she would have taken more seriously. Danica had no history of running away. Despite a few behavioral issues, she seemed to be on the right track with high school graduation on the horizon, Zoro said. Shortly before disappearing, Danica was [ more TRAFFICKING, page 7 ]
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