Kent Reporter, February 22, 2013

Page 1

INSIDE | City looks at adopting civility laws [5]

.com

REPORTER

NEWSLINE 253-872-6600

KENT

Community | Allegro dancer wins international online competition [8]

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2013

City considers cameras to catch school-zone speeders BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com

The city of Kent might install cameras in the fall to catch speeders of more than 20 mph at as many as three school zones. “It came from me,” said City

Councilman Bill Boyce about the idea to add the cameras. “I think it’s a good thing. I served on the (Kent) School Board for 17 years and it’s all about safety. I’ve seen the cameras in other cities and I asked our police chief why we were not doing that in Kent?”

Just about every city surrounding Kent runs the school-zone cameras, including Auburn, Federal Way, Des Moines and Renton. Seattle added the cameras last year. As chairman of the council’s Public Safety Committee, Boyce

directed Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas and his staff to study what it would take to add school zone speeding cameras in Kent. If approved by the threemember committee and the full seven-member council, cameras could be operational in the fall.

Boyce hopes to get the proposal to the council in April or May. “We’ll pilot three schools to start,” Thomas said. “We’ll do studies before we pick the schools, talk to the Kent School District [ more CAMERAS page 4 ]

South King County cities work to fund repairs to aging freight routes BY ROBERT WHALE rwhale@auburn-reporter.com

SO PAINFULLY CLOSE A despondent Kent-Meridian wrestler Joshua Smith falls to the mat in disappointment after coming up short to Yelm’s Dillon Harris for the 138-pound state championship at Mat Classic XXV in the Tacoma Dome last Saturday. Harris prevailed by a 3-2 decision. For more on the state meet, see page 16. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

Officials abandon efforts to create homeless shelter on East Gowe Street BY MARK KLAAS mklaas@kentreporter.com

Facing strong opposition from business and community leaders, the Kent Homelessness Partnership Effort (KentHOPE) and Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission officials have aborted efforts to establish a shelter on East Gowe Street. Concerned about a growing problem in the city, KentHOPE and the Union Gospel

Commissioners from the ports of Tacoma and Seattle, business owners, labor leaders, and the mayors of Auburn and Kent met at Auburn City Hall to talk about the problems posed by aging freight routes within Green River valley cities. From more than an hour’s worth of give and take at the Feb. 14 meeting emerged something politicians and leaders rarely reach these days — consensus. Consensus, that is, that most of the freight routes along which goods flow from valley warehouses to the two ports — especially to Tacoma — are falling apart Lewis or on the cusp of falling apart, while federal and state governments that once helped cities pay for maintenance and construction plead poverty. Agreement also that if money can’t be found for repair [ more ROUTES page 17 ]

Mission took steps to convert a vacant furniture store into a day center/shelter for the homeless. But the pursuit met considerable resistance from business and community leaders, notably the Kent Chamber of Commerce and Kent Downtown Partnership (KDP). “It became really evident that the chamber of commerce wasn’t really supportive of the idea,” said Paul LaRose, emergency services administrator for Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission who oversees satellite shelters. “We want to work with a community supportive of (the idea). We just don’t want to do it on our own. We want

Kentridge swim coach pushes past disability

[ more SHELTERS page 9 ]

[ more COACH page 4 ]

BY MICHELLE CONERLY mconerly@kentreporter.com

Mike Dobner sits poolside at the coaches table looking up at the scoreboard in the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center as his swimmers approach the blocks. The water splashes in front of him, the fans cheer behind him and the announcer’s voice booms above him. All the commotion doesn’t bother the

Bridging the language barrier: Coach Mike Dobner signs to his swimmers during the state championships. MICHELLE CONERLY, Kent Reporter

Join us for

&"45&3 t ."3$)

Reserve your table today! Brunch & Dinner Specials!

23826 104th Ave. SE Kent

253-852-1144

732585


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.