REPORTER
COVINGTON | MAPLE VALLEY | BLACK DIAMOND
NEWSLINE 425-432-1209
IN CLASS | New principal drawn to Kentwood thanks to reputation [page 3]
WEEK ONE FOOTBALL RECAP | Kentwood comeback, Tahoma crushes FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 K-M, Kentlake stunned on the road [10]
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
University center could fill the gap
City Council votes to meet twice a month
BY KRIS HILL
BY KATHERINE SMITH
khill@covingtonreporter.com
ksmith@maplevalleyreporter.com
Covington leaders want to bring higher education opportunities to the city and are learning about the best way to do so. A group of city staff and representatives from local technical and community colleges visited the University Center of North Puget Sound Sept. 5. Started more than a decade ago, the University Center partners with eight public and private COVINGTON universities to offer programs in an area which was previously underserved. Gretchen Rowe, associate dean of University Center, provided the visitors from southeast King County with a wealth of information about the institution followed by a question and answer session
The Maple Valley City Council voted Monday night to reduce the number of required monthly meetings from three to two by eliminating the regular study session. The council vote was split four to three with Mayor Bill Allison, Sean Kelly, Noel Gerken and Erin Weaver voting in favor of the change and Deputy Mayor Victoria Jonas, Linda MAPLE Johnson and VALLEY Layne Barnes voting against. The idea of reducing the number of council meetings from three a month to two a month was raised in June at the City Council retreat. A public hearing was held on the matter Aug. 5 when residents spoke against the idea, citing concerns
[ more CENTER page 6 ]
Pumping Up The Crowd
Natalie Burton leads the Kentwood student section in a cheer during the first football game of the season against Auburn Sept. 6 at French Field. Led by senior Brandon Sytsma, the Conks came from behind in the fourth quarter to defeat the Trojans 29-19. KATHERINE SMITH, The Reporter To view a slide show go to www.maplevalleyreporter.com.
Vine Maple Place works to help families sooner BY KRIS HILL khill@maplevalleyreporter.com
Vine Maple Place has helped single parents transition from homelessness to stability for more than a decade but staff of the Maple Valley-based nonprofit wants to do more. Kathi Ridge, manager of development for VMP, explained they wanted to do more as a response to the growing need in the com-
munity. “What we really wanted to come up with was a way to make a bigger impact on family homelessness in the community,” Ridge said. It takes a long time to bring a family out of homelessness, it takes a lot of money and it takes a lot of effort.” This came as a result of discussions in meetings to strategize about the organization’s future. There was revenue in reserve and
[ more MEET page 6 ]
the idea was to come up with the best way to use the money in the long term. About two years ago, Ridge said, a few of the staff met with the board of directors, then separately with pastors in the community — since its inception Vine Maple Place was supported by an alliance of area churches — and then with the nonprofits employees. Each group independent of one another came up with the same idea: catch a family in a safety net before they become homeless. “Then we’re not limited by brick and mortar (housing availability),” [ more FAMILIES page 7 ]
Do You Hear, But Not Understand? Free Hearing Consultations and Factory Authorized Discounts on Digital Hearing Aids of up to $500 OFF MSRP until September 20th. Call Today! (253) 236-3175 www.AscentAudiologyCovington.com