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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2013
Mayoral candidates Cooke, Clark discuss coal trains BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke and challenger Tim Clark didn’t give voters much hope as far as the city’s chances to stop 18 additional coal trains from running through
town in the future if a new shipping terminal is eventually built near Bellingham. Cooke and Clark were asked at a Panther Lake neighborhood sponsored candidates forum Oct. 10 at Sunrise Elementary School
what the city could do about coal trains coming through town. “Those of you who know your history know the railroads built this country,” Cooke said. “In my years of working with government and sometimes against
government I have learned about the power of the railroads and in working with the Green River levees and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers I have now determined: “On the right hand of God sits the railroads and on the left hand
of God sits the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.” Cooke’s response received numerous chuckles from the crowd. She said she opposes the additional trains because they would [ more DEBATE page 4 ]
Raplee to seek City Council seat as write-in candidate with city government.” Raplee said she decided last week to run as a writeDebbie Raplee is running in candidate. She will file as a write-in candidate for Tuesday with King County the Kent City Council to Elections, a few days ahead give voters a “reaof the Friday deadsonable alternative” line for write-in over Ken Sharp and candidates. Raplee Bailey Stober. won’t be in the Raplee served Voters’ Pamphlet or eight years on the have her name on council before the ballot. But votlosing in the 2011 ers have the option general election to Raplee to write in a name Bill Boyce. “I’m the only rather than fill out reasonable alternative for the oval next to a name. that position,” Raplee said King County Elections during a Monday phone mails out ballots Wednesinterview. “There are legal day. Voters must postmark issues with one (Sharp) and their ballots by election day eligibility issues for the ofNov. 5 to have their ballot fice with the other (Stober). counted. I have the experience and [ more RAPLEE page 5 ] knowledge and am familiar BY STEVE HUNTER
shunter@kentreporter.com
ROSS COYLE, Kent Reporter
GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE From left, HIllary Baker, Elaine Posey and Lorrie Tucker observe third-grader Kun Tilfas reading out of his new children’s dictionary. Third-grade students in the Kent School District received free
more photos online… kentreporter.com
dictionaries on Tuesday. Local Rotary Clubs distributed around 2,000 dictionaries to elementary schools in the district. This is the sixth year Rotary has donated dictionaries to KSD.
Teaching the teachers BY ROSS COYLE rcoyle@kentreporter.com
When Patti Billet had to write a detailed and technical student improvement plan for her pupils at Kent Mountain View Academy, she
‘American Idol’ star to perform at Kentwood
had her first breakdown after six weeks as a brand new teacher. “This is part of this profession that I have no idea about, I’m expected to know and I have no idea,” she says. [ more MENTORS page 2 ]
BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Langone
Singer Stefano Langone is back in town to give a benefit concert for the Kentwood High School choir as part of
the Kentwood Idol program. Langone, 24, who finished seventh on “American Idol” in the spring of 2011, took a week away from his Los Angeles home to help out the school that prepared him for a music career. “First and foremost I’m coming for Kentwood,” Langone said during a phone interview as he prepares for a [ more LANGONE page 9 ]
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