.com
FRIEND REQUEST | Firefighter disciplined over Facebook message to patient [2]
VOL. 15, NO. 30
Mirror
F E D E R A L WAY
division of Sound Publishing
OPINION | Johnson: Catholic hospitals vs. public rights [6] Mr. Federal Way: Royal baby and wedding fashion tips [7] CRIME BLOTTER | Neighbor says dog killed chicken, but no witnesses come forward [3] COMMUNITY CALENDAR | Events include annual FUSION summer arts festival [5]
SPORTS | Update on Little League action. PRIMARY ELECTION | Info on candidates FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 | 50¢ Plus: Every baseball player’s dream [15] for city council and school board [10-11]
Beach walker battles Redondo litter By ANDY HOBBS editor@federalwaymirror.com
Sharon Morehouse walks daily along the Puget Sound. When the tide is low, she starts from her home in the Woodmont area of Des Moines and turns around at Blanket Rock near the end of the boardwalk in Redondo. On each of these strolls, Morehouse picks up garbage — and on some mornings, lots of garbage. She is saddened by the glass beer bottles and miscellaneous litter that pollute the rocky seaweed-coated shore. She often finds piles of yard waste such as grass clippings and ivy trimmings that surely came from homeowners who live along the beach. On Monday, Morehouse once again combed the stretch of beach along the boardwalk in Redondo with her walking stick in tow. She pointed out a tree stump where people place plastic bottles and garbage for her to collect. Hanging off the ledge of the boardwalk was a white garbage bag, which Morehouse [ more LITTER, page 14 ]
ELECTION 2013
CANDIDATE FORUM: The Mirror is hosting candidate forums for contested races in the 2013 primary elections. The debate will run 6 to 8 p.m. July 31 at Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club, 3583 SW 320th St. The primary election is Aug. 6. Ballots were mailed to voters on July 17. Read more about candidates in today’s paper. NEWSPAPER RACKS: To see a list of rack locations for the print edition of The Mirror, visit federalwaymirror.com/about_us.
G FREE PARKIN & SHUTTLE
More all-day kindergarten By GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@federalwaymirror.com
Sharon Morehouse collected this garbage in about 20 minutes during her morning walk July 22 along Redondo Beach. ANDY HOBBS, The Mirror
Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) will offer all-day kindergarten (ADK) at 10 more schools for the coming year, thanks to an expanded state budget. While district financial guru Sally McLean had originally only budgeted for Valhalla Elementary to receive ADK this coming year, a small blessing came from Olympia after the Legislature’s budget fight ended earlier this summer. “I did not expect that the final budget would include funding for almost all of the governor’s proposal,” McLean said, referencing Gov. Jay Inslee’s budget proposal, which had been the most ambitious in some regards to education funding. “This was a pleasant surprise.” The 10 schools that will now offer ADK include the aforementioned Valhalla, Panther Lake, Silver Lake,
City attorney apologizes for blocking public comment By ANDY HOBBS editor@federalwaymirror.com
Federal Way’s city attorney has apologized for blocking a citizen from commenting on a cityfunded investigation during a public meeting. At the July 16 city council meeting, Federal Way resident Norma Blanchard spoke during the citizen comment period. As soon as Blanchard mentioned the recent investigation
of a complaint about the mayor, City Attorney Pat Richardson interrupted her to prevent a potential violation of state law: Blanchard: “In the recent investigation by the city, first it was for - “ Richardson: “Point of order. I’m sorry, this is an election year. You can’t talk about individuals.” Blanchard: “I’m not talking about an individual. I’m talking about a situation, Pat.”
Richardson: “Point of order. You can’t use a city facility for this.” The investigation stemmed from a complaint filed by City Councilmember Kelly Maloney regarding Mayor Skip Priest’s behavior. The investigation was conducted in May and cost taxpayers about $5,700, according to the city. Richardson had stopped the investigation after “the investigator became concerned the complaint
was being used for political objectives.” According to this interpretation, moving forward with the investigation would violate state law. This law prohibits the city from using or authorizing public facilities — in this case, the council chambers at City Hall — for comments that address candidates and ballot measures. Both Maloney and Priest are running for election this year. Blanchard followed up
POWELLSWOOD STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
iddle School Sacajawea M Parking Lot Point Road 1101 S Dash
Rainier View, Adelaide, Brigadoon, Camelot, Lake Dolloff, Nautilus and Star Lake. The existing programs at Mark Twain, Olympic View, Sunnycrest, Wildwood, Mirror Lake and Lake Grove will remain in place, according to FWPS. The district also notes that students who were already signed up for ADK tuition programs at Camelot, Brigadoon, Panther Lake, Nautilus or Star Lake will no longer be required to pay tuition. It’s anticipated that with the expected increases in state funding, ADK programs will continue to expand until 2017, when the state hopes to have all schools throughout the state offering ADK. The first full day of kindergarten at the aforementioned schools will be Monday, Sept. 9. All other students in the school district will start school Sept. 4.
SATURDAY, JULY 27 • 9 AM – 5 PM • TELLING ALL DAY LONG • TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED AT THE DOOR POWELLSWOODFESTIVAL.COM
with a phone message to the city attorney’s office to voice her concerns about the investigation. The city attorney’s office then followed up with the Public Disclosure Commission. On July 19, Richardson issued an apology to Blanchard. “I learned that it would not violate state law for you to address the topic of the investigation as long as you avoid delving into the [ more ATTORNEY, page 14 ]