November 23, 2012 [3]
KENT
LOCAL
www.kentreporter.com
SANTA CLAUS ARRIVING AT KENT STATION SATURDAY, NOV. 24 Santa Claus is coming to Kent Station at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 24. Children can visit Santa’s Cottage on the Fountain Stage in front of AMC Theatres for holiday wishes and photos. The mall is at 417 Ramsay Way. Photo packages range from $20 to $45 with discounts when you bring in a nonperishable food item or new unwrapped toy for the Kent Food Bank. Santa’s hours are: Saturday & Sunday; Nov. 24, 25 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday - Friday; Nov. 28-30 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday & Sunday; Dec. 1- 2 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday - Friday; Dec. 5- 7 4 to 8 p.m. Daily; Dec. 8 - 23 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Extra holiday DUI patrols set through Jan. 1 REPORTER STAFF
To help make Washington roads safe this holiday season, extra officers will patrol roadways in Kent and throughout King County as part of the annual “Drive Sober Get Pulled Over� campaign. Patrols started Nov. 21 and run through Jan. 1,
according to a Washington Traffic Safety Commission media release. The agencies participating in the extra patrols include: The Auburn, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Burien, Clyde Hill, Covington, Des Moines, Duvall, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, New-
castle, North Bend, Pacific, Port of Seattle, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, Seatac, Seattle, Snoqualmie, Tukwila, and Woodinville Police departments and the Washington State Patrol. As an example of what can happen if convicted of DUI, drivers can spend more than $1,200 paying for an ignition interlock device on a vehicle.
The device is about the size of a cellphone with a tube for breath samples. Drivers have to blow into it every time they start the vehicle. The vehicle only starts if there is no alcohol in the driver’s system. Ever since January 2012, ignition interlock drivers have to have a record of clean blows for the last four
months of the restriction in order to get the device removed and be eligible for their regular driver’s license. “This ensures that drivers demonstrate the ability to separate their drinking from their driving,� said Washington Traffic Safety Commission director Darrin Grondel.
Prepare pets for flooding
Hargrove holding slim lead
BY TRACEY COMPTON
State Rep. Mark Hargrove, R-Covington, had his lead drop in a tightly contested race against Kent Democratic challenger Bud Sizemore for the State House District 47 Position 1 seat. Hargrove’s lead dropped to 284 votes through Monday’s tally by King County Elections, the latest count available prior to the Kent Reporter’s press deadline. His lead had been in the upper 300s. Hargrove has 50.21 percent (26,410 votes) while Sizemore has 49.67 percent (26,126) votes. There were 63 write-in votes for 0.12 percent. Hargrove leads by .54 percent. Any office must be recounted by machine [ more HARGROVE page 8 ]
REPORTER STAFF
tcompton@rentonreporter.com
Area officials urge the community not to forget about emergency plans for pets as flooding season is here. Representatives from the King County Flood Control District, Regional Animal Services of King County and the city of Seattle, visited the Pet Adoption Center in Kent last week to stress the importance of preparedness during a disaster. Steve Bleifuhs called out three reasons why having a plan for pets during a disaster is key. He is the river and floodplain manager for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. The first is that flooding is the most common weatherrelated disaster in the area. Second, a plan allows others to rely on you. Last, not knowing what to do with pets is one of the reasons why people don’t follow disaster and storm warnings. Officials remarked that after disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and train derailments in the Midwest, disaster victims did not have a plan for their pets. People often thought they could return for their animals, but the resolution to the
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The Wheedle and Gene Mueller, manager for Regional Animal Services of King County, go over disaster preparedness for pets at a recent hands-on demonstration in Kent. TRACEY COMPTON, Kent Reporter emergency didn’t happen as quickly as they expected. “It’s not that people abandon (their pets). It’s that people think things are temporary and of course it’s always outside of our control what happens,� said Gene Mueller, manager for Regional Animal Services of King County. Mueller asked that people make a pack to move themselves and their pets out of harm’s way during emergencies. Part of doing that involves creating a supply kit for pets full of food, water and any medications for at least two weeks. Included in that kit should be collars with identification and sanitation items. The presentation was part of the Take Winter By Storm
campaign to help residents get prepared before bad weather hits. The hands-on demonstration also unveiled a new emergency, mobile animal shelter called the PETS or Pet Emergency Trailer Seattle vehicle, owned by the city of Seattle. It can accommodate up to 40 animals or critters with crates and supplies in the event of an emergency. The trailer was purchased with funds from a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant. It’s for regional use, but there is a chance that during a major disaster the vehicle will be limited to just Seattle. “The other thing that we have come prepared for, and I know that King County is also prepared for, is we do have supplies that are located
r e t n i W t n e K raft Bazaar The 29th
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Friday, November 30th, 9am to 5pm Saturday, December 1st, 9am to 5pm
Kent Commons at 525 4th Ave. N., Kent Fabulous Handcrafted Gifts and Delicious Food! 0WFS 7FOEPST r " 3BGGMF %SBXJOHT &WFSZ )PVS "ENJTTJPO "HFT 6OEFS FREE XXX TNBMMXPSMEQSPEVDUJPO DPN 696974
throughout the region,� said Kara Main-Hester, manager for city of Seattle volunteer programs and fundraising. “We’re working very collaboratively to use all of our resources to synergize and help people with their pets,� Mueller said. For more information visit, www.takewinterbystorm.org.
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