KENT .com
REPORTER
NEWSLINE 253-872-6600
INSIDE | Couple sentenced for killing Kent woman [3]
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014
Local | City officials discuss, consider local improvement district [2]
nt to the
Suppleme
Enumclaw
Courier
Herald,
Bonney
al Way
d, Feder
er Heral
Lake Couri
Mirror,
Auburn
Reporter,
and Kent
Reporter
INSIDE
Special section EALS D EELS ONWH SHOP
1116734
ES R TAX
LOWE
14
AUGUST 20 UMCLAW
EN
TIFUL
AU • BE
DRIVE
ES R TAX
WE • LO
Enum
claw
RAM GE• DOD EP• R•JE YSLE CHR
TIFUL
AU • BE
DRIVE
School traffic cameras catch nearly 5,000 speeding drivers BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Nearly 5,000 drivers were caught speeding in two Kent school zones during the first six months of the city’s new traffic
camera program. Cameras caught 4,968 drivers breaking the 20 mph limit near Neely-O’Brien Elementary and Sunrise Elementary from January through June, according to Kent Municipal Court records.
The city could receive as much as $869,000 in ticket revenue from the six months when all of the cases are eventually closed. So far, the city has received $482,200 in revenue with 2,965 cases closed. Another 2,003 cases remain open.
The cameras go into operation again when Kent schools open Thursday, Aug. 28. Kent only has cameras at two school zones. Even minus the city costs of $120,000 to operate the program for the six months, Kent could
take in $749,000 when or if all tickets are paid in full. The expenses include $114,000 to Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions (ATS), Inc., which [ more CAMERAS page 4 ]
A memorial emerges for David Christianson, the Shell Station manager, and Carlos Gonzalez, the store’s clerk, who were shot and killed in the parking lot Aug. 20. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter
Man charged with murder in shooting at Kent gas station BY STEVE HUNTER AND MARK KLAAS
ROYAL WATCH
www.kentreporter.com
Kent-Meridian coach Brett Allen leads his football team through preseason drills Monday. Allen’s Royals open the regular season at Battle Ground next Friday. K-M returns home Sept. 13 to take on rival
Auburn for the Taylor Trophy at French Field. The Royals finished in the middle of the South Puget Sound League North Division with a 4-6 record last season. Preview, page 13. ROSS COYLE, Kent Reporter
Candidates vie for votes in tight races BY MARK KLAAS mklaas@kentreporter.com
Knowles
If the August primary is any indication, then the November general election promises to be a
close affair for some local legislative races. Notably in District 47, where incumbent Pat Sullivan (D-Covington) battles Barry Knowles (R-Covington) for state Repre-
sentative, Position 2. Sullivan, who has been in the state House since 2005 and served as its majority leader the [ more CANDIDATES page 8 ]
A 29-year-old Burien man was charged Monday in King County Superior Court with two counts of murder in the first degree with firearm enhancements for last
week’s double homicide at a Kent gas station. The defendant, Leland Russell Jr., is accused in the shooting deaths of two employees of the Shell station – David Christianson, 52, and Carlos Gonzalez, 20. [ more SHOOTING page 5 ]
School officials mum about grievance BY ROSS COYLE rcoyle@kentreporter.com
The Kent Education Association and Kent School District have remained quiet about potential ways to resolve the KEA’s grievance against Mill Creek Middle School. [ more MILL CREEK page 8 ]
JOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR SUN - THURS • 4PM TO CLOSE All Appetizers $6 • Well Drinks $3 • Domestic Drafts $2
KARAOKE in the LOUNGE FRI & SAT • 9PM TO CLOSE
SUNDAY AN-EAT ALL-YOU-C BRUNCH M Suzanne & Jim Berrios, Owners 9AM-1:30P
23826 104th Ave. SE Kent
253-852-1144
1094632