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CRIME MAPPING | Find out what crime is happening in your neighborhood with new police system [5]
Books on the Bus | King County Metro and FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2012 partners launch new reading program [13]
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Fire | Rooftop fire causes evacuation at Madison House [8]
Bellevue squatter found guilty of trespassing in Kirkland luxury home BY CARRIE WOOD cwood@kirklandreporter.com
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Kirkland jury found a Bellevue woman accused of squatting at a luxury home in Kirkland guilty of first-degree trespassing on Thursday at Kirkland Municipal Court. Jill Lane, 32, was sentenced to 364 days in jail, with 362 days suspended. This means if she complies with her sentence and serves her jail time, she will
not have to serve the additional 362 days in jail. She was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, with $4,750 suspended on the condition that she spends two days in jail and pays a $250 fine and has no contact with the property or property owners. Lane was arrested in June 2010 after she had taken up residence in a lakefront home that was owned by a local bank in Kirkland’s
Market neighborhood. The home overlooking Lake Washington was valued at more than $3 million, but construction had stopped before it was completed and the building had been abandoned and left unsecured for months. At the time, people who occupied the home said they were taking possession under a legal concept known as a “Living Trust.”
A Kirkland police investigation determined that Lane had no authority or permission to be living in the residence. Bank officials and their security team observed Lane living out of the residence for several weeks and reported the trespassing violation to the Kirkland police. This was the first time a case of this nature had ever occurred in Kirkland.
Jill Lane and her attorney, Andrew Magee, at a Kirkland Municipal Court hearing in 2011. REPORTER FILE PHOTO
Threefor-three
Kirkland’s Fourth events celebrate veterans too
Three sets of triplets graduate in class of 2012
BY MATT PHELPS mphelps@kirklandreporter.com
BY MATT PHELPS mphelps@kirklandreporter.com
The chances of a pregnancy resulting in triplets is about one in 8,100. So the chances of having two sets of triplets in the same school is truly rare. But what about three sets? How about three sets in the same grade level? The statistics may be astronomical, but it has been everyday life for three Kirkland families. The Carters, Hobbs and Whites all celebrated graduation with the rest of Juanita High School’s class of 2012 on June 19 at the school’s field house. “They are all like my brothers and sisters,” said Jamie Hobbs. The triplets are a mix of boys and girls within each family. “People ask us all the time ‘why aren’t you identical?’ But that would be really creepy,” said Jamie Hobbs. The odds of having identical triplets are one in 150,000, according to several studies.
The keys to success Lake Washington High School seniors Lucia (Lucy) Bettinger, Jake Betterann (center) and Cody Bernstein share a laugh during the commencement event on June 19 at the Key Arena. For all names of graduating students from LW and Juanita high schools, see pages 10-11. CONTRIBUTED, Steve McCarty The three families have been close from the start. Mother Lynn Hobbs met the Whites during a multiples support group and it gave her some needed confidence. The Whites, who had already had their triplets, Amanda, Chrissie and Paul, several months prior, told Lynn that she would not need a nanny as most were telling her. The Whites had been using a nanny only on weekdays. But the Whites’ words gave Lynn confidence in
her abilities to handle grocery store,” said Lynn. the situation. The Cart“I had to find players also made it through grounds that were fenced without a nanny. in and I always knew “When they were born where the fast food resit was a life-altering “People ask taurants were.” experience,” said For the six kids us all the time Lynn, who has one in the Hobbs and ‘why aren’t older child. “My you identical?’ Carter families, world changed. their journey But that would This is bittersweet. together began in be really They are my bathe Lake Washcreepy.” bies.” ington School Jamie Hobbs But the change District. The with having triplets kids have gone to cannot be underschool together stated. beginning at Carl Sand“I couldn’t go to the burg Elementary, then
Finn Hill Junior High and through Juanita High School. They also live on the same street. “This is very exciting,” said Alex Carter. “It seems like yesterday that we were all in sixth grade. It goes by in a blink. But this is all a part of the end process … It’s been fun. I just think it is a lot better being a triplet because there is a lot more to do and you never get bored. [ more TRIPLETS page 11 ]
The annual Fourth of July parade and fireworks show organized by Celebrate Kirkland has become tradition for many families during the past 13 years. Thanks to some hardworking volunteers, and donations from some of Kirkland’s biggest businesses, that tradition will continue. “Almost an entire generation of children have had Kirkland’s Fourth of July as a serious part of their childhood,” said event organizing chair and Kirkland City Councilwoman Penny Sweet. “These kids are the ones who will require that their own kids have the same kind of experience, wherever they are.” The events will begin at 11:30 a.m. with the annual kids’ parade, where Kirkland youth are invited to participate along the parade route. The experience is a celebration of pride in country. But the Kirkland parade is also a celebration of military veterans. “(The parade will have) the biggest contingent of veterans in any parade [ more FOURTH page 3 ]