Kent Reporter, December 06, 2013

Page 1

INSIDE | Three local businesses apply for marijuana retail stores [5]

.com

REPORTER

NEWSLINE 253-872-6600

KENT

Sports | Kentwood soccer star to try her hand at collegiate rugby [10]

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2013

Panel OKs new hires, field turf replacement BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com

A Kent City Council committee voted 2-1 to approve in 2014 new police and jail hires, replacement of the Wilson Playfields synthetic turf and hiring a consultant to help bring more retail business to town.

Council President Dennis Higgins and Les Thomas voted for the budget adjustments at the Tuesday meeting of the Operations Committee. Jamie Perry voted against it. The budget adjustment ordinance goes to the full council for approval at its 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 meeting

at City Hall. The council has a $1.9 million surplus heading into the second year of the 2013-14 budget. The committee voted to spend about $1.2 million with the rest going to pay down internal debt if the money is still there by the end of 2014.

INSIDE

Higgins said the council understands the $1.9 million is a one-time surplus. That extra is on top of the cash set aside in a reserve fund of $4.4 million and a contingency fund of $1.5 million for unanticipated costs.

The 33rd Legislative District Democrats nominated Kent City Councilwoman Elizabeth Albertson Tuesday night to fill the state House seat being vacated by Dave Upthegrove.

[ more BUDGET page 4 ]

See story, page 4

Frager Farm Stand shooting remains under investigation BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com

ROOFTOP RESCUE Kent firefighters rescue an injured worker Tuesday from The Platform Apartments under construction at West Smith Street and Fourth Avenue North. The man suffered non-life threatening

injuries. Firefighters used their aerial ladder truck and a rescue basket to remove the construction worker. The man was working on the roof of the five-story building. ROSS COYLE, Kent Reporter

Plans moving ahead to open charter school BY ROSS COYLE rcoyle@kentreporter.com

Adel Sefrioui is hoping to open a new public charter school in Kent. The Excel Public Charter School,

under consideration with 18 other charters, would take state funding but operate independently of the Kent School District. Assuming the proposal is approved by the Washington Charter School Commission, it will

SANTA’S HERE DEC. 14 BRING YOUR CAMERAS AND TAKE PICTURES WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY! 9AM-1PM

be up and running by the 2015-2016 school year. Charter schools, first legislated in 1991 in Minnesota, provide more

The shooting death of an alleged burglar by a Kent property owner on Oct. 2 remains under investigation by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. A deputy prosecuting attorney is reviewing the shooting, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Detectives for the King County Sheriff ’s Office turned over their investigation last week to prosecutors of the Frager Farm Stand shooting, said Sgt.

Cindi West of the Sheriff ’s Office. “They (prosecutors) will have to review it then make a decision regarding charges or not (against the shooter),” West said in an email. “They can also send it back to the detective to get more info before making a decision.” The 64-year-old property owner has not been arrested in the case. He shot and killed Pablo Young, 19, after Young and Dylan M. Taylor, 21, reportedly broke into the Frager Farm Stand office in the 25100 block of Frager Road [ more SHOOTING page 5 ]

Kent Winterfest lights up Saturday REPORTER STAFF

It’s a Christmas gift from the Kent Lions to the community. Kent Winterfest – featuring a Kids’ Mini Santa Parade and a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony – lights up the downtown

area Saturday. Winterfest runs 3:30 to 9 p.m. in the Town Square Plaza and Kent Station area, corners of Smith Street and 2nd Avenue. The Santa Parade begins at 4:30 p.m. at the [ more WINTERFEST page 5 ]

[ more CHARTER page 2 ]

SERVING

ST, BREAKFA & H C N LU Suzanne & DINNER Owners Jim Berrios,

23826 104th Ave. SE Kent

253-852-1144

882754


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