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INSIDE | UFO sightings reported over valley skies [5]
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2012
Sports | Royals’ Watson signs volleyball scholarship with Eastern Washington [10]
Community | GRCC’s Fall Diversity Festival shines [9]
City will follow new marijuana law BY STEVE HUNTER
Prosecutor: previous cases still stick
shunter@kentreporter.com
Kent Police and prosecutors plan to follow the new state law that became effective Thursday, Dec. 6 and no longer pursue any new possession cases
of an ounce or less of marijuana. The city prosecutor still plans to pursue marijuana possession cases of one ounce or less already in the municipal court system. Although 55 percent of Washington
voters chose to approve Initiative 502 – which legalizes possession of up to an ounce for adults older than 21 – the drug is still illegal at the federal level. And with the feds still mum on whether they will continue to enforce
INSIDE Kent attorney weighs in on new marijuana law, page 5
their marijuana possession laws in Washington – as well as in Colorado, which also voted to approve recreational use – it’s up to local officials to decide how to handle legalization. [ more LAW page 4 ]
Council’s budget vote to include new cable utility tax, higher permit fees to the council in October that included a proposed business and occupation The Kent City Council (B&O) tax. Cooke also will vote on a new slashed 20 jobs cable television on Nov. 1 to cut utility tax, higher expenses and help developer permit balance the budget. fees and an increase Council members in the city’s internal in October apwater and sewer proved a B&O tax utility taxes when it starting Jan. 1 that considers the 2013is projected to bring Higgins 14 budget at 7 p.m. in about $5 million Tuesday, Dec. 11 at a year to help repair City Hall. city streets. The council has had “I expect we will pass numerous workshops over it,” said Council President the last couple of months to Dennis Higgins in a phone hash out a budget based on interview Tuesday about the Mayor Suzette Cooke’s pre[ more BUDGET page 15 ] liminary budget presented BY STEVE HUNTER
shunter@kentreporter.com
Counselor tackles parent, adult-child relationships in book
WINTERFEST
BY TRACEY COMPTON
Marra Henley, above, and her daughter, Madisyn, 2, pets Matyja the llama during the 31st annual Kent Winterfest at Town Square Plaza last Saturday. Right, people gather around Santa Claus for pictures and holiday wishes after the Winterfest tree lighting. Winterfest, a community celebration put on by the Kent Lions, drew thousands of people to the heart of the city. CHARLES CORTES, Kent Reporter
tcompton@rentonreporter.com
Some parents today are faced with the tricky situation of adult children returning home to live with them. Because of the economy and different generational parenting styles, it’s become even more common to find multigenerational
With DJ/Karaoke host.
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[ more AUTHOR page 2 ]
Celebrate
GOLDEN STEER CAN THROW YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY! PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE IN THE LOUNGE!
households. This topic and navigating parent and adult-child relationships is the subject of a new book by a Kent mental health counselor and author. Linda Herman’s book, “Parents to the End,” will be on store shelves Jan. 1. She will make an appearance at retail store Coldwater Creek in Kent Station for
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