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CRIME NEWS | Human bones identified; Korean nightclub madam is sentenced [2]
VOL. 15, NO. 9
Mirror
F E D E R A L WAY
division of Sound Publishing
OPINION | Roegner: Are you willing to pay more taxes? [4] Jarvis: My $10,000 bet on future performing arts center [4] BUSINESS BUZZ | Big Lots will close its Federal Way location on April 15 [3] SEX IN THE SUBURBS | Positive support from adults is crucial for gay students [5]
SPORTS | Pac-12 swimming and diving FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 | 50¢ championships come to town [13]
CALENDAR | Upcoming events include annual Polar Bear Plunge at Redondo [8]
Baden Schools face murky budget outlook Sports leaves NEWS quietly By GREG ALLMAIN
gallmain@fedwaymirror.com
This year is no different than recent years when it comes to the 2013-14 budget planning for Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS), although state education funding and politics create a murky picture of what’s ahead.
“Obviously, for those of us in McLean was referencing last the K-12 community, we believe year’s State Supreme Court decithat the Legislature’s response sion on inadequate education to the McCleary decision funding. “The question right EDUCATION now, that we all have, is will should be a significant factor in their budget developit be?” ment,” said Sally McLean, McLean noted that the assistant superintendent of state’s Economic Forecast business services, at the school Council had predicted a “$2 board’s Feb. 26 meeting. billion-ish” budgetary shortfall,
without addressing the McCleary decision. “So the state, even though we continue to see some modest economic recovery signs, will still have a $2 billion gap predicted in the (2013-15) biennial budget without addressing McCleary,” she said. In addition, Washington voters [ more SCHOOLS, page 12 ]
By ANDY HOBBS
Student safety discussion continues
editor@fedwaymirror.com
After 20 years in Federal Way, Baden Sports Inc. moved its world headquarters so quietly that city officials found out after the fact. The company specializes in sports equipment like basketballs, footballs, volleyballs, playground balls, baseballs and axehandled bats. In December, Baden upgraded to a bigger space in Renton, the city where the family-owned company first launched in 1979. Baden needed a larger facility and “couldn’t find one in the immediate Federal Way area that met our needs,” said Steve Thompson, chief operating officer. “We had basically outgrown the building there.” In 1993, Baden opened a nearly $3 million factory and warehouse in Federal Way with 70 employees. Annual revenue in recent years has been reported between $27 million and $36 million, according to online sources, and the private company employs about 90 people. The 60,000-square-foot Federal Way facility now sits vacant at S. 341st Place and 21st Avenue S., [ more BADEN, page 10 ] NEWSPAPER RACKS: To see a list of rack locations for the print edition of The Mirror, visit federalwaymirror.com/about_us.
By GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@fedwaymirror.com
Jo Ann and Dan deLeon are pictured with King County Sheriff Deputy David Lyon at an awards ceremony Tuesday at South King Fire and Rescue’s station on South 312th Street. Jo Ann saved her husband’s life last summer when he suffered a heart attack. ANDY HOBBS, The Mirror
Quick-thinking citizens save lives By ANDY HOBBS editor@fedwaymirror.com
When the 4-year-old boy stopped talking and went unconscious, his mother sought a neighbor for help. Lina Yefimchuk had just finished a CPR class the week before. The boy was turning blue and suffering seizures. Yefimchuk knew right away that he was choking. She performed the Heimlich maneuver and
dislodged a piece of sandwich from his throat. “He came alive,” she said, describing the moment she cleared the boy’s airway. Anatoliy and Oksana Korets, who live near Five Mile Lake in unincorporated King County, are grateful Yefimchuk was home to save little Brian’s life last July. “We’re blessed to have each other next door,” said Anatoliy Korets after his
neighbor was honored Tuesday by South King Fire and Rescue. “Thank God it was one of those times she was home.” South King Fire also recognized heroes in two other life-or-death situations from 2012. On Sept. 22, Buckley resident Donald Ymer was eating lunch at Old Country Buffet in Federal Way when he noticed a man choking. [ more HEROES, page 11 ]
Pictured: Lina Yefimchuk and Donald Ymer each used the Heimlich maneuver to save a life.
From tighter security and more cameras to anti-bully awareness, Federal Way’s conversation about school safety in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy continues. Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) Deputy Superintendent Mark Davidson gave a security update at the school board’s Feb. 26 meeting. Davidson touched on what the district has been doing since the fateful events in Newtown, Conn., last December. Security audits have been taking place at all of the district’s elementary schools, and those audits are now being done for the secondary schools. Dave Remmem, safety and security manager for FWPS, is currently doing safety audits at each school, Davidson said. “He’s completed the audits at the 23 K-8 (schools) we have,” Davidson said. “He’s now working with the secondary schools, and once that’s completed, Federal Way Police Department, school security and each principal will be working together on the plans [ more SAFETY, page 12 ]