Covington/Maple Valley Reporter, February 03, 2012

Page 1

REPORTER

COVINGTON | MAPLE VALLEY | BLACK DIAMOND

NEWSLINE 425-432-1209

WRESTLING | Tahoma wins the Battle of the Bone [page 15]

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

Change of government could be considered

Elementary schools in Covington may close

BY DENNIS BOX BY SARAH KEHOE

dbox@maplevalleyreporter.com

Change may be in the air in Black Diamond according to a city councilman. Councilman Craig Goodwin said by phone Friday there is a possibility a change of government resolution could be considered by the council in May for placement on the general election ballot Nov. 6. The change would be from a strong-mayor or mayor-council form of government to councilmanager. According to state law, the council can BLACK place the meaDIAMOND sure before the voters through a resolution, or a petition signed by at least 10 percent of the voters in the last general city election. According to Goodwin, the plan currently is to bring the issue before the council. Placing the measure on the November general election ballot would save the city money versus placing it on a special election ballot. A simple majority would decide the issue. In the council-manager form of [ more CHANGE page 5 ]

skehoe@kentreporter.com

COVINGTON

Atlas Shrugs

Strongman Grant Higa lifts up an Atlas ball weighing 189-pound as part of a demonstration at Glacier Park Elementary Jan. 27. Higa, a Maple Valley resident, has a daughter who attends Glacier Park. The demonstration was part of a habits of mind assembly. TJ MARTINELL, The Reporter. To view a slide show go to www.maplevalleyreporter.com and to buy photos go to the website and click on the photo reprints tab.

Relay for Life moves location and expands BY KRIS HILL khill@covingtonreporter.com

Change is the unofficial theme of this year’s Covington-Maple Valley-Black Diamond Relay for Life event. Lacy Parker, who is co-chair this year with Janet Swisher, said there are a number of reasons for change. “We decided to go gung-ho and we’re changing a whole lot up,” Parker said. “We want to be

bigger, we want the community to know that we’re here. We’re trying to grow our event.” To begin with, the location has been moved from Tahoma Junior High to Kentwood High, in order for the event to have greater visibility while it’s going on. And it will be earlier in the summer, too, rather than at the end of June it will be June 2-3 on a Saturday and Sunday instead of Friday-Saturday. “We’re trying to make it bigger

The Kent School District is considering closing Jenkins Creek and Cedar Valley elementary schools for the 2012-2013 school year. The decision follows a Nov. 9, 2011, school board meeting where the members decided to look at closing schools in lieu of impending budget cuts. The board will receive written closure analysis from staff and then make a final decision on whether to proceed with the closure process or not during a meetKENT ing Feb. 22. SCHOOLS “Over the last three years, the Kent School District, as well as all school districts in Washington state have experienced funding reductions in state and federal funding,” said Chris Lofits, district spokesman. In the 2010-2011 school year, the Kent School District lost $15 million in state and federal funding. “Given the past funding reductions and anticipated funding reductions from the state for 2012[ more CLOSE page 4 ]

and brighter to show the community that we’re here,” Parker said. “With being at Kentwood we’re going to be more visible.” Trisha Adams, another volunteer with the Relay, has big goals for this year. In 2011 there were 26 teams. Adams would like to see 50 participate. Parker said she and Swisher are aiming for 31 teams. They’re more than halfway there with 21 signed up. “It’s going to be so much fun watching this grow,” Adams said. “Our community is so giving.” A year ago, the event raised [ more RELAY page 4 ]

Brayden Roesller high fives Sparkplug the clown from the Boeing Management Association last year at the Relay for Life event. FILE PHOTO


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