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FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2013
Cooke raves about ShoWare in State of the City speech BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke sang the praises of the ShoWare Center during her annual State of the City address Wednesday at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Meridian Valley Country Club. Cooke pointed out that there’s been a lot of talk about the city-
owned arena losing $1.3 million during its first three years of operation. But she added it’s because of the arena that Kent attracted a major event such as the Skate America figure skating competition last fall that attracted about 15,000 visitors. “When you look at events like this and what it brings in – this was a special event unlike the Thunderbirds (hockey team) and regular
events that keep our economy going – it brought in $460,000 over three days and (look at) how much that eats away at a $750,000 annual loss,” Cooke said. “I think that’s pretty amazing.” Cooke said more than two million television viewers tuned in to NBC to watch the Pandora Unforgettable
State of the City: Mayor Suzette Cooke addresses the crowd at this year’s speech. STEVE HUNTER,
[ more COOKE page 5 ]
Kent Reporter
Pilot who crashed plane that killed Kentlake swim coach was intoxicated, NTSB report says BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
The pilot who crashed a Cessna 172 plane last year into Mount Si in North Bend that killed himself and both passengers, including Kentlake High School swim coach Seth Dawson, was intoxicated, according to a factual report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Pilot Rob Hill, 30, swim coach at Federal Way’s Decatur High School, had a blood alcohol level of 0.15 percent, according to the report issued last month. The Code of Federal Regulations prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prohibits civil aircraft pilots from flying if their blood alcohol level is 0.04. The FAA’s Civil Aeromedical Institute in Dawson Oklahoma City, Okla., performed toxicology tests on Hill. NTSB investigators determined that “the on-site examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure with the airframe or engine prior to impact,” according to the factual report. Elizabeth Redling, 29, of Federal Way, also was killed in the Feb. 15, 2012 accident. The three were on a “personal sightseeing flight,” according to the report. The plane crashed at about 1:54 a.m. after leaving the Renton Municipal Airport at
‘ You Me We ’ The Kent Elementary Stomp and Dance Team, above, performs on stage during the ‘You Me We ‘ festival at the ShoWare Center last Friday. Fish Johnson from Redline BMX Team, right, performs a trick on his bike. The event featured performances, interactive booths, sports competitions, contests and prizes. RACHEL CIAMPI, Kent Reporter
more photos online … kentreporter.com
[ more CRASH page 8 ]
KENT WOMAN CLEANS UP CANCER, ONE HOME AT A TIME BY MICHELLE CONERLY mconerly@kentreporter.com
Tiffany Janibagian decided that if she were to start her own business, she’d better do her research. Scanning websites, anyone could have missed the small, pink ribbon in the corner of the screen – but not Janibagian. That small symbol made a big
difference to a woman who lost her grandmother to cancer almost 15 years ago. Now, running her own business out of her home on the East Hill of Kent, Janibagian believes wherever she is, her grandmother is proud of her efforts to continue the battle against cancer one clean house at a time. Janibagian and husband Jonathon – Kent-Meridian graduates
– launched Tip Top Cleaning Solutions, a residential and commercial cleaning company, last December, and joined Cleaning for a Reason, a nonprofit organization geared toward helping women fighting cancer.
After witnessing how cancer affected the daily life of her grandmother, Janibagian vowed to help out others suffering from the same disease. “You take for granted all the little things,” Janibagian said. “(My grandmother) was Janibagian always on top of cleaning the house, (but) then she couldn’t anymore because she
was tired or sick.” Living with her grandmother in Panama while her mother served in the U.S. Army, Janibagian would help tidy the house, sweeping behind her grandmother with the toy broom she was given. “For me being an adult, getting the responsibility of [ more CLEANING page 4 ]