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INSIDE | Kent to keep an eye on other cities’ marijuana lawsuit [3] Binetti | Water your thirsty rhodies, azaleas in dry August [12]
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2014
7 gang members convicted in car show shooting
ShoWare loses $319,963 in first 6 months of year BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
A costly repair to the ShoWare Center’s ice plant equipment led to higher losses than expected in the first six months of this year. The city-owned arena lost $319,963 for the first two quarters of 2014, according to the ShoWare Center income statement released last month. The arena had expenses of $1.35 million and income of $1.03 million. Expenses were
BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Seven gang members connected with a July 2011 shootout at a Kent car show at a West Hill strip mall have been convicted on a variety of charges. The last two of the defendants recently pleaded guilty, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Twelve people were injured during the shootout at the La Plaza strip mall, 23311 Pacific Highway S. About 250 people attended the lowrider car show. Another person was injured later that night in a retaliatory shooting at a Kent East Hill apartment. Of the 13 victims, seven were gang members, according to Kent Police. None of the injuries were life threatening. The convicted men were identified as members of the Playboy-Surenos street gang. Kent Police detectives led the effort, but nearly a dozen police agencies contributed to the investigation. Detectives, despite facing a chaotic crime scene and uncooperative witnesses, were able to build a solid case, according to prosecutors. [ more CONVICTIONS page 2 ]
$132,186 or 10 percent over budget, said Mike Miller, chairman of the Public Facilities District board that helps oversee operations of the 6,100seat arena that opened in 2009. “The compressor (which makes the ice for the arena floor) repairs were the primary problem in the repairs and maintenance area with costs in excess of $100,000 over budget in the first six months,” Miller said [ more SHOWARE page 4 ]
Gregerson, Burrage advance in House District 33 race BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Resourceful rescue Behind the muscle of their ladder truck, Kent firefighters secured and lifted a man Tuesday afternoon from the Green River shore after a woman and man had rescued the man from the river. A passerby called 911 at about 4 p.m. to report a possible drowning in the 22000 block of Frager Road. More details, page 3. STEVE HUNTER, Kent Reporter
Mia Gregerson and Jeanette Burrage will face off in the November general election in a House District 33 legislative race after both easily defeated Kent’s Les Thomas in the primary election on Tuesday. Gregerson, D-SeaTac, who currently holds the Position No. 2 seat, leads the race with 6,638 votes (49.51 percent). Burrage,
Gregerson Burrage
R-Des Moines, has 4,999 votes (37.29 percent). Thomas, a Kent City Councilman who ran as an independent, has 1,738 votes (12.96 percent). “It goes to show all of [ more PRIMARY page 4 ]
Wilson Playfields are back in the game Complex receives $1.7M worth of new synthetic turf BY MARK KLAAS mklaas@kentreporter.com
One of Kent’s most heavily used and year-round multisports facilities wears a new rug. The welcome mat was infor-
mally put out to the public Friday at the popular Wilson Playfields baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse complex on Kent’s East Hill. The city of Kent and its contracted crews recently completed installing $1.7 million worth of new synthetic turf, just in time to welcome the return of soccer and other league play.
All told, 225,000 square feet of Classic HD, the latest slitfilm fiber from FieldTurf, was placed throughout the complex, according to Brian Levenhagen, Kent Parks planner and project manager. The makeover was completed on schedule, city officials said. [ more PLAYFIELDS page 14 ]
Kent’s Wilson Playfields, a popular multi-sport facility, opens Friday to the public with new turf. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter