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LIQUOR THEFT | Number of incidents skyrockets following privatization [2]
VOL. 15, NO. 21
Mirror
F E D E R A L WAY
division of Sound Publishing
OPINION | Roegner: 2013 election field [4] Johnson: Plan A contraception [4] Letters: Preserve legacy of FWHS [4] CRIME BLOTTER | Man with multiple personalities has an arm named Thor [3] CALENDAR | Faith-based service will honor this year’s graduating seniors [8]
SPORTS | Updates on state track, soccer, MENTOR OF THE YEAR | Communities In FRIDAY, May 24, 2013 | 50¢ baseball, softball and tennis action [13] Schools nets $55,000 at fundraiser [10]
Airplane noise: Is relief in sight?
Traffic nightmare on SW 336th St. By GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@fedwaymirror.com
The city recently began a traffic safety improvement project at the intersection of SW 336th Street and 21st Avenue SW.
According to the city, the work is expected to be finished in December 2013. Drivers will need to tolerate the current snarls in traffic in the area throughout the summer. Right now, the city is busy putting in the temporary changes to
SW 336th Street and 21st Avenue SW, which include: • Shifting lanes along SW 336th Street and 21st Avenue SW to allow for construction work along the north side of SW 336th Street, and also on 21st Avenue SW, north of
336th. This configuration is “excepted to last through the summer months,” according to the city’s project update report. • Sidewalk closures may occur, due to the removal of sidewalks [ more TRAFFIC, page 10 ]
By SARAH DIMAKIS For The Mirror
The traditional approach to land an airplane is called the “step approach,” where airplanes drop down, throttle up to maintain altitude, then fall again. The Greener Skies program is updating computers so that planes will be able to fly a “continuous descent,” gliding down in one straight motion. This will save fuel and is more environmentally friendly. It will also concentrate the noise to areas along the SeaTac runways. This is good news to Federal Way residents, especially those living in the Marine Hills neighborhood, who should see an improvement in the noise level within the next few years. Longtime Federal Way resident Scott Chase bought his house 23 years ago. He never could have predicted that the airplane noise over his house would become such an issue. “I’m 50 years old, and I won’t be able to retire [ more NOISE, page 11 ] NEWSPAPER RACKS: To see a list of rack locations for the print edition of The Mirror, visit federalwaymirror.com/about_us.
Kids earn train ride for staying out of trouble
Nearly 30 fifth-graders from Lake Grove Elementary caught an Amtrak train from Tacoma to Portland on May 21 as part of the KOSS (Keep Our Schools Safe) program. Every spring, Federal Way resident Eugene Montgomery treats selected students from local elementary schools to a day-long train trip, along with a T-shirt and goody bag. Students qualify by reading books and staying out of trouble. To learn more or donate, visit www.montgomerykoss.org. ANDY HOBBS, The Mirror
Councilwoman files complaint over mayor’s behavior By ANDY HOBBS editor@fedwaymirror.com
The city hired an investigator to look into a complaint filed against Federal Way Mayor Skip Priest. In response to a public records request by the Federal Way Mirror, the city released a five-page document that was submitted on May 9 by Federal Way
City Councilmember Kelly Maloney. The document details Maloney’s account of a meeting that took place with Priest on May 8. The city also issued a statement to the media to coincide with the release of the document. “It is standard city practice to investigate any internal complaints lodged against employees or of-
ficials,” said city spokesman Chris Carrel. “An independent investigator has been hired to look into the matter, interview witnesses and issue findings.” In the document, Maloney conveys from her point of view a conversation with the mayor in his office at City Hall. The original topic of the meeting was an initiative to bring a college
to Federal Way. The document describes how during their nearly 30-minute meeting, Priest was angry, pounding his fist on the desk and “lacing the ‘F’ word throughout his statements as he was yelling.” According to the document: “I told him he had better back off and stop talking to me that way. (I did not raise my
voice because I wanted to be firm and not escalate the situation.) I told him I wasn’t afraid of him, though clearly he was trying to intimidate me. He sat down. He started crying.” Later in the document, Maloney wrote that Priest said he had gotten angry with her during this meeting because Priest was [ more COMPLAINT, page 11 ]
Please Elect RYAN MILLER for Federal Way City Council (Position 6) “Working Together for a Better Future”
Economy • Downtown • Marketing • Safety • Schools www.ElectRyanMiller.com Paid for by Ryan Miller For City Council, 708 SW 312th St., Federal Way WA 98023. For more information see Page 10.
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