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friday march 30/12
Strategic alliance | Hospital board questions its legality [17]
50 years | Curtis Walker of Kent has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for murdering Reporter Newsline 425.255.3484 12-year-old Alajawan Brown [3]
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Spring sports | Catch up on Renton’s spring sports as teams get into league play [12]
Making a stand in north Renton
Police efforts pay off in neighborhood By DEAN A. RADFORD
North Renton
dradford@rentonreporter.com
At least for now, Sally and Dale Johnson can keep the 6-foot fence they say helps keep crime away from their doorstep and hopefully will slow a bullet. Their home and two others stand behind the fence, on Park Avenue North at North Third Street. Next to the front door is a bullet hole; the wall stopped anyone inside from potentially getting injured. There’s another bullet in the house next door. “It’s the first time Gunfire I felt safe on this has sent property.” Sally Sally diving Johnson on the gated fence along her property for cover in her home or on Park Avenue has forced the couple to spend more time in the back of their house, away from Park Avenue. But the Johnsons remain in their house, hoping their fence will keep them safe, in part from the tavern across the street. Their son recently built a gate for the fence. “It’s the first time I felt safe on this property,” says Sally Johnson, who walks with the assistance of a cane. There’s a sense, from residents
final
The Renton Reporter today concludes its special report on efforts by the City of Renton and the residents themselves to improve the quality of life in this venerable neighborhood between downtown and Kennydale. Today, we look at the police response in the neighborhood and one family’s effort to feel safe . ©2011 HARVEST mAnAgEmEnT Sub, LLc 14795
Your service to our country could be worth thousands. Veterans Benefits Seminar Thursday, August 11 at 1:30 pm Veterans and surviving spouses are invited to learn about little-known VA Aid & Attendance benefits. Thousands are eligible to receive these tax-free benefits, as much as $1,949 per month*.
Hawaiian Luau
Sally Johnson points to a bullet hole next to the front door of her home on Park Avenue North. There’s a similar hole in the blue house next door. Sally and her husband Dale hope a fence will keep crime, and bullets, at bay. dean a. radford, Renton Reporter
Saturday, August 13 at 11:00 am
such as Sally Johnson, from the Police Department and Mayor Denis Law that strides are being made to make residents feel safer in North Renton.
themselves – through no fault of And, beyond public safety, Evergreen hosting own. a Hawaiian residents are eagerlyPlace pitchingis in also their to helpLuau clean up properties that Law with singer Ron Herringpointed and to the pride that many North Renton residents their neighbors, either elderly or Hawaiian dancers. byinAugust 12. show their neighborhood. disabled, simply can’t maintain RSVP
Welcome to Holiday. Welcome home.
“There has always been a strong group of North Renton homeowners who take pride in their homes and work hard to maintain their property,” Law said. He’s seeing “extra activity” in recent months to clean up the area. A special response unit within the Renton Police Department – the same one that has clamped down on illegal activity at the transit center downtown – has walked the streets of North Renton, talking with residents and encouraging them to call 911 when something doesn’t feel right. “Their eyes and ears are important to us when we can’t be there,” said Deputy Police Chief Tim Troxel. The additional police presence in what Law calls “several problem spots” has reduced overall complaints and calls for service. “We plan to continue with these efforts and hopefully the residents will be able to see a measurable
©2011 HARVEST mAnAgEmEnT Sub, LLc 14795
[ more police page 11 ]
Your service to our country could be worth thousands.
Initiative to keep library over Cedar is validated
Veterans Benefits Seminar Thursday, August 11 at 1:30 pm
By TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
Proponents of keeping the downtown library over the Cedar River have gathered enough signatures to keep their efforts alive.
Veterans Benefits Seminar Thursday, April 12 at 2:00 pm
King County Elections Office told the Renton Reporter late Wednesday afternoon the group had gathered enough signatures to validate its initiative. The group now has 6,383 valid signatures, eight more than the 6,375 needed to validate the initiative.
For more information, see our ad o n page 5
With just 10 days to do so, the Citizens for the Preservation of Renton’s Cedar River Library collected an additional 2,108 additional signatures after their monthslong signature drive fell short. The group submitted the last batch of names to City Clerk Bonnie Walton on March 12.
Veterans and surviving spouses are invited to learn about little-known VA Aid & Attendance benefits. Thousands are eligible to receive these tax-free benefits, as much as $1,949 month*. petition asks that libraryperimprove-
The ments for a downtown library occur at Hawaiian Luau the existing location and not other Saturday, August 13 at at any 11:00 am location unless the alternate location is apEvergreen Place is also hosting a Hawaiian proved by a majority of Renton voters. Luau with singer Ron Herring and Next,Hawaiian the Citydancers. Council will how to RSVP by decide August 12. proceedWelcome with thetoinitiative. Holiday. Welcome home.
Evergreen Place Independent Retirement Living
1414 monroe Ave nE, Renton, WA 98056 425-226-3312 | evergreen-place.net
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