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COMMUNITY CALENDAR | Check out upcoming events, entertainment [8] MORE ONLINE | Check out our website for breaking news and happening [online]
City pressures Sound Transit for answers
MIRROR STAFF REPORTS
BY GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@fedwaymirror.com
Federal Way resident Chase Puglisi sleds down the steep 16th hole at the Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club on Wednesday afternoon. The hole drew dozens of sledders during this week’s snowstorm. The National Weather Service reported that Federal Way received up to 5.5 inches of snow by mid-afternoon Wednesday. Seattle saw between 2 to 5 inches, while the Tacoma area saw between 4 and 8 inches. Freezing rain followed on Thursday, covering everything in a sheet of ice and contributing to power outages across the city. Federal Way schools were closed all week due to the weather. Temperatures in the Federal Way area are expected to approach the mid-40s this weekend. Visit federalwaymirror.com for the latest news and updates. CASEY OLSON, The Mirror
Federal Way weather report: Lots of snow and ice, no school
Federal Way kicked off another part of the campaign to get answers from Sound Transit regarding light rail. On Jan. 17, the city council unanimously approved a letter to Olympia that addresses Sound Transit’s apparent lack of transparency and forthcomingness regarding light rail. “There are many, many questions that the city has about the money Sound Transit is collecting from Federal Way taxpayers, as well as the level of services being provided, especially in light of the broken promise to bring light rail
to Federal Way,” Mayor Skip Priest said. “Frankly, they are issues important to the entire region.” State Auditor Brian Sonntag’s office recently launched a performance audit on the regional transit company. The audit will focus on discrepancies in ridership statistics and how Sound Transit fulfills obligations to the public. Despite voter approval for the plan in 2008, Sound Transit has announced an indefinite delay in extending light rail past South 240th Street and into Federal Way. Priest said Sound Transit has, for all intents and purposes, seemingly abandoned the South [ more LIGHT RAIL, page 6 ]
Update on fatal police shooting By the numbers: Levy will help rebuild FWHS MIRROR STAFF REPORTS
Due to the change in delivery, your Mirror will arrive between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Fridays. If you do not have your paper by 5 p.m., please call (253) 872-6610 or email us at circulation@federalwaymirror.com.
CRIME BLOTTER | Three men attempt to set playground equipment on fire [3]
SPORTS | Basketball, wrestling update. FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012 Plus: The impact of Jean Licari [10]
Feds bust nightclub over sex trafficking Eight people have been indicted for allegedly operating an interstate prostitution ring at a Korean nightclub in Federal Way. Organizers of the scheme sought Korean females to work as “bar girls” at The Blue Moon, 31140 Pacific Highway S. (near S. 312th St.), where the women entertained male clients and set up meetings for paid sex, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Many of the women were recruited overseas and worked as “hostesses” at the club to repay their travel and living expenses. Charges for the defendants include conspiracy to commit money laundering, visa fraud, harboring illegal aliens, bribery and transportation in furtherance of prostitution. Six of the defendants were taken into custody Jan. 12 and [ more NIGHTCLUB, page 7 ]
LEGACY OF MLK | Federal Way hosts eyewitness from Civil Rights Movement [2]
VOL. 14, NO. 3
F E D E R A L WAY
DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
OPINION | Roegner: Federal Way’s skirmish with Sound Transit [4] Letters: Two views of upcoming school levy proposals [4]
More details are emerging in a fatal police shooting last week in Federal Way. The Jan. 13 incident took place around 1 p.m. when Federal Way officer Stacy Eckert approached two men in a vehicle outside Starbucks on Dash Point Road. The officer was investigating an apparent drug deal. The Federal Way Police Department reports that passenger Maksim Mayba, 21, was warned by Eckert to comply with orders to stop reaching under his seat, or else he would be shot. That’s when Federal Way police say Eckert shot Mayba after he appeared to reach under the seat again. The driver of the vehicle, Gregory Barrager, 21, fled the scene. The vehicle
and Mayba’s body were found abandoned on 31st Place SW near the Quail Run condominiums. Auburn police were able to track Barrager to Des Moines, based on information from family and associates. Barrager is a co-registered owner of the black Infiniti sedan involved in the case, according to Auburn police, who report finding black tar heroin, methamphetamine, prescription pills, a scale and hypodermic needles in the vehicle. Barrager was later arrested for felony eluding and on narcotics related charges, according to Auburn police. Eckert is a nine-year Federal Way police veteran. She was placed on administrative leave, as per policy, while Auburn police investigate the incident. Check online at federalwaymirror.com for any updates.
BY GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@federalwaymirror.com
The vote for Federal Way Public Schools’ two levy proposals is approaching. In a Feb. 14 special election, the district seeks approval for an Educational Programs and Operations (EPO) levy as well as a capital levy. The EPO levy will continue what Federal Way taxpayers are already paying for the general operations
of their schools. The school district seeks a $53 million levy that will last two years. The current levy, which was approved three years ago, expires in 2012. About 80 percent of this levy money goes to basic education. If approved by voters in February, a six-year $60 million capital levy will help rebuild the aging Federal Way High School. Some of the money will be earmarked to help build [ more LEVY, page 7 ]
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