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VFW | Lake Washington post prepares 15,000th care package for troops [11]
Golf | Kirkland Chamber to hold Peter Kirk FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2014 Classic at Inglewood Golf Club [8]
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Submarine | Veterans hold Tolling the Boats ceremony at Marina Park [2]
Investigation of firefighter reveals previous arrests for prostitution Charges in a 2012 Seattle prostitution sting dismissed with prejudice BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
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Kirkland firefighter recently involved in a prostitution ring had prior run-ins with the law. In 2011, he was arrested during an undercover sting operation in Seattle, though
the charges filed in 2012 were later dismissed with prejudice after he had met conditions as the result of a dispositional continuance. Michael Aguilar Varela, 52, was arrested in November 2011 and charged with a misdemeanor for patronizing prostitutes after he contacted
two undercover Seattle vice cops thinking they were prostitutes, according to police documents obtained from a public information request by the Reporter. Aguilar Varela has been on paid administrative leave since April. The Kirkland Fire Department and the city of Kirkland
declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation into Aguilar Varela. However, Kirkland Fire Chief Kevin Nalder did state that department personnel did not know about the incident until after the investigation began. The Kirkland firefighters’ union, IAFF Local No. 2545, did not respond to a request for comment. One of the undercover
cops, who went by the name “Sara,” was contacted by Aguilar Varela after she posted an advertisement on Backpage. com. Aguilar Varela allegedly inquired about her “2 girl special,” which would have involved another undercover vice cop. He allegedly asked about the cost, as well as any “reviews” she had received from previous clients. He told her he wanted to think
about it, according to police documents. He later called Sara back and said he wanted to see her but wasn’t certain about the “2 girl special.” Meeting both undercover cops in a room at an inn on Alaskan Way in Seattle, Aguilar Varela discussed with them his preference for “TNA Board,” another website that posts prostitute [ more FIRE page 6 ]
World Series finishes with a flurry despite low attendance Host team ousted from championship tournament during first round direction. “The level of play was as high as past years but more The Junior Softball World teams were at that high Series (JSWS) came to a close level and all teams were Saturday with the East U.S. competitive with each other,” team from Greensburg, Penn. Chadwick said. “There was defeating Mexicali, Mexico, no ‘weak’ team.” 6-2, for the championship Many of the foreign teams in front of an were stronger this internationally year including televised audiMexico, which ence on ESPN made it to the News from finals, and Italy, Everest Park in which finished Kirkland. third overall. The event was “I actually felt a success for the the overall qualcity of Kirkland, ity of play was bringing in better with more thousands of continuation spectators and plays on defense,” international Steve Allen with exposure. Overthe JSWS said. “I all, though, the think the games number of specas a whole were tators was down more interestfrom previous ing due to better TORI BIVENS tournaments. pitching and “A rough defense.” estimate would The host team from put it at about 4,900 this year,” Kirkland showed well for the JSWS tournament director third year in a row. Despite John Chadwick said. “That is being eliminated from the down about 25 percent from championship tournament past years.” during the first round of the All 16 years of the tournachampionship bracket, the ment have been played in host team finished pool play Kirkland under Chadwick’s [ more SOFTBALL page 10 ] BY MATT PHELPS
mphelps@kirklandreporter.com
The return of a President
Former front man for the rock group Presidents of the United States of America, Chris Ballew, returned to Kirkland Monday at Juanita Beach Park. The Caspar Babypants’ show was a part of the Kirkland Summer Concert series and drew hundreds of kids from around the area. Ballew has been doing children’s music for more than five years. A documentary on Ballew’s transition and current “job” is currently being filmed. TJ MARTINELL, Kirkland Reporter
Kirkland Chamber hosts discussion on higher education BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
As the cost of tuition for higher education increases, Kirkland and Bothell colleges are attempting to find ways to address student and parental concerns. The presidents from Cascadia Community Col-
lege, Northwest University and Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWIT) discussed the future of education and how it is affecting the institutions during a Kirkland Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Aug. 14. Dr. Jim Heugel, the provost at Northwest University, said one of the
biggest questions being asked is whether or not college is regarded as worthwhile by parents. He stated that despite the recent increases in college costs, the amount the university receives from students has not changed. The problem, he said, is that parents and students continue to expect better
amenities and services each year. He also mentioned student safety, particularly sexual assault, has become a frequently discussed topic and that colleges now engage in their own disciplinary process whenever there is an allegation of assault. As a result, [ more HIGHER ED page 3 ]