Federal Way Mirror, June 27, 2014

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FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 | 75¢

BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@federalwaymirror.com

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BY GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@fedwaymirror.com

[ more PARKS, page 5 ]

7pm

WANTED | Fugitive wanted by U.S. Marshals [11] SCHOOLS | Grading committee delivers first update [26]

RED WHITE & BLUES | Your guide to Federal Way’s July 4 celebration [13-18]

City considers art on utility boxes to deter graffiti

Two parks to open in July

Federal Way is set to open one new park, and “re-open” a well-known feature of a second park next month. “The date has been selected as Saturday, July 12 to start at noon and go through 3 p.m.,” said John Hutton, interim parks director, of the Town Square Park in downtown Federal Way. “We’ll have great stuff for you to do there. We’ll have bounce houses, three live bands, including Federal Way’s own Don Peterson, who is a top-notch Elvis impersonator.” The two other bands are The Louisiana Experience and The Hitmen, both of which Hutton characterized as great local “headliner” bands during his presentation to the Federal Way City Council on June 17. Along with music, there will be family games, food trucks, face painting for children, arts and crafts for kids, and a number of raffles with prizes from local businesses and organizations. “It’s evolving, we just keep adding and adding and adding to this event, it’s going to be a really fun event,” he said. The “re-opening” in July will be for the Family Funland play structure at Steel Lake Park. That event is scheduled for 12 p.m., Wednesday, July 16. The play structure was in “absolute need of

COMMUNITY | Citizen of the Month keeps Hylebos pristine [4]

VOL. 16, NO. 26

MIRROR

F E D E R A L WAY

DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

OPINION | Meet Mirror’s new intern Alisa Gramann [6] Roegner: Mayor spurs visible symbols of progress [6]

A mini-mural on the outside of a utility box in Boise, Idaho. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

hile in California a few months ago, Federal Way Arts Commission member Gary Gillespie saw big metal utility boxes that were painted. “It made it look like the community cared,” he recalled. Gillespie initially had interest in incorporating murals in Federal Way but discovered the city didn’t have the space for the large pieces of art.

But the utility boxes sparked an idea. Gillespie did some research and realized utility boxes have been painted on for some time and it was happening all over the country. He said while the idea isn’t new, it’s fairly new to the Northwest. He only knows of a couple in Seattle. Gillespie brought up the idea in an Arts Commission meeting, which was met with positive feedback. He then met with Mayor Jim Ferrell, who sug-

gested he present it to the Federal Way City Council. “This is an intriguing idea and a fresh take on community beautification by creating graffiti-proof art installations where now we have unattractive utility boxes,” Ferrell said. “All of us have a role to play in realizing the city we want to have. Gary deserves a lot of credit for leading the way on this idea. I’m excited to see where it leads.” [ more GRAFFITI, page 3 ]

Firefighters rescue dog ‘hero’ from house fire Chihuahua alerts couple to fire but gets caught in burning home BY ALISA GRAMANN agramann@fedwaymirror.com

A couple suffered minor to moderate smoke inhalation and one of their dogs died when the Federal Way residents’ house caught fire on Wednesday morning. South King Fire and Rescue firefighters put out the flames at the home, located on south 329th Street and 29th Avenue. But firefighters say the couple’s Chihuahua also helped to save the couple. One of the couple’s three dogs alerted them to the fire and they escaped with one dog through the bedroom window, said Ed Plumlee, South King Fire and Rescue assistant chief. Another dog died in the fire. The third dog, which alerted them to the fire, did not make it out with the couple and was thought to have died as well, Plumlee noted. However, when firefighters arrived they found and rescued the dog. Investigators at the scene were unsure what caused the fire, but it may have started in the garage, Plumlee said. The house was significantly damaged and the house next door also had some exterior damage, as well as damage to the garage and attic, he added.

Above, A South King Fire and Rescue firefighter embraces a Chihuahua that firefighters saved from a burning Federal Way home on Wednesday morning as one of the residents of the home looks on. Firefighters say the dog alerted the couple who live in the home of the fire but the dog became trapped inside. One of the couple’s other dogs died in the fire. Left, Flames engulf a Federal Way home on South 329th Street and 29th Avenue, as firefighters work to douse the fire. The home was significantly damaged in the fire, which fire officials believe may have started in the garage. COURTESY OF SOUTH KING FIRE AND RESCUE

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