Kent Reporter, December 16, 2011

Page 1

KENT .com

REPORTER

NEWSLINE 253-872-6600

HEALTHY LIVING | New guidelines for blood pressure levels [6]

Tumbling along | Kentlake gymnast Carissa Payseno leads the way for the FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2011 Falcons this winter [12]

A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

Kent coach charged with crime against student

WEBSITE | Check the website for breaking news, sports stories and weather updates. www.kentreporter.com

Medical marijuana ordinance fails to pass

BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com

BY DENNIS BOX

King County prosecutors Dec. 8 charged a Kent-Meridian High School track coach and teacher with communication with a minor for immoral purposes. Prosecutors claim that Ernie Ammons, 36, of Black Diamond, allegedly sent “sexually explicit” text messages to a 16-year-old girl, a student at the school, according to charging Ernie Ammons papers. “The defendant engaged in sexually explicit text messaging with the 16-yearold victim,” wrote Charles Sergis, senior deputy prosecutor, in the charging papers. “He did so knowing both her age and the fact that she was a former student of his. His actions not only violated

dbox@kentreporter.com

The Kent City Council reflected the split in the city and country over medical marijuana when it voted 3-3 on a collective garden zoning ordinance Tuesday. Without a majority, the ordinance failed to pass. The council passed an CITY OF emergency six-month moratorium in July against the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries and collective gardens. Since the enactment of the moratorium, the city’s Economic and Community Development Committee has taken public testimony, consulted with staff and the legal department as well as discussed zoning ordinances for the collective gardens.

KENT

Christmas Run for Fun

Riley Campbell, a Tahoma High School cross country runner, is the first to finish in the 5k Dec. 10, during the 29th annual Christmas Rush Fun Run and Walk hosted by Kent Parks Recreation and Community Services at the Riverbend Golf Course. CHARLES CORTES, Kent Reporter To view a slide show go to www.kentreporter.com and to buy photos go to the website and click on the photo reprints tab.

[ more CHARGED page 2]

[ more FAILS page 4 ]

Student earns his high school diploma BY SARAH KEHOE skehoe@kentreporter.com

Eduardo Uriostegui’s life could have stopped at 17. He was suspended from high school because of an altercation, he didn’t have enough credits to graduate and was going through personal turmoil. Eventually, an administrator at Kentridge High School told Uriostegui he was no longer allowed to attend. “I don’t know why, but there was something inside of me that was holding me back,” said Uriostegui, now 21. “I didn’t want to learn, I didn’t want to go to school; so there were days I just didn’t show up at all.” But Uriostegui didn’t give up.

“I thought about my mom and how I had made a promise to her that I would make a good life for myself,” he said . “I thought about my future and how I wanted a family and to be able to provide for them. I knew I had to go get that diploma.” Uriostegui enrolled himself at the Kent Phoenix Academy when he was 19. “I was so pleased to discover how nice the teachers and the principal was,” he said. “They not only listened to me and treated me well, but they truly believed in me.” It took Uriostegui seven years to graduate, but he did it this month. “Holding that diploma was the best feeling in the world,” he said. “I felt so grateful to everyone that had helped me out and I felt so excited because I knew my future could finally start.” Uriostegui said he realized the need for a diploma when he was rejected for a supervisor position at a

NEW LOCATION

15423 SE 272nd St., Ste. 110; Kent, WA 98042

[ more DIPLOMA page 9]

SAME NUMBER 253-631-1222

Eduardo Uriostegui, left, receives his high school diploma from mentor Jim Berrios, right, during a school board meeting. Courtesy photo

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