FRAUD | Kenmore financial advisor gets five years in prison [11]
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50 years | Ostroms celebrates landmark year [6]
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014
Parks and public spaces levy discussed at Bothell Chamber luncheon BY SARAH KEHOE skehoe@bothell-reporter.com
B
othell City Manager Bob Stowe provided attendees of the Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce luncheon with in-
formation on the upcoming parks and public spaces levy, coming to the Nov. 4 ballot. A panel of three Bothell residents, Roger Cecil, Jim Freese and Manny Ocampo, who worked to get the measure on the ballot, also gave their
opinions on why the levy is important and why voters should approve the measure. The levy will fund development of two major city parks, anchoring both the north and south ends of the city with recreational and
public space for community events. The first development is to expand the Park at Bothell Landing by providing opportunities for residents, employees and visitors to relax and enjoy the community’s riverfront including a
new bridge to Sammamish River Trail and gathering plaza for community events. The park will also tie seamlessly into the overall fabric of downtown, allowing park users to easily access downtown amenities such as restaurants,
services and shops. Another major city park will be North Bothell Park. Acquisition of a large property in north Bothell and development of a major new park including a new skate park, off-leash [ more PARKS page 9 ]
Bothell family receives $10 million settlement for crash on Highway 2 BY SARAH KEHOE skehoe@bothell-reporter.com
In the heart of the city
Bothell City Manager Bob Stowe addresses a crowd of residents and dignitaries who attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Bothell City Hall in downtown, while Bothell Mayor Joshua Freed looks on. The event was 10 years in the making for the new City Hall building and even drew Congresswoman Suzan DelBene. The new building will cost an estimated $53 million. For more on the event see the full story on page 15. SARAH KEHOE, Bothell Reporter
The members of the Owen family who survived a tree fall incident in December 2012 will receive $10 million from the state of Washington. Tim and Cheryl Owen of Bothell were killed in the crash and the Owen’s three kids Jaime, Jeremy and Jessica survived the incident, but they still deal with medical issues today. Jessie Owen is paralyzed and Jaime Mayer walks with a cane. Jeremy Owen had only minor injuries. Steven Mayer, the Owen’s son in law, was also in the car. He now uses a forearm arm crutch every single day. Their medical bills have been in the millions. The family was headed
to Leavenworth when the tree hit their truck. The family believes that unusual weather in the area should have closed the road. That day there were freezing temperatures and an unusually heavy amount of snowfall on the trees. The family’s attorney said that just three days prior Chelan County issued a Declaration of Emergency as they were taking extra precautions to ensure public safety. It was at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 21, 2012 when a 125-foot-tall tree fell on the family. “They were driving through a potential war zone and had no idea that a bomb was going to fall,” said Karen Koehler, attorney. The Department of [ more OWEN page 3 ]
Kenmore business owner of 84 years leaves behind a growing legacy skehoe@bothell-reporter.com
When Bill Munro thinks of his father Gerald “Jerry” Munro, he sees him kneeling near a flower bed with a huge smile on his face. Jerry passed away at 98
years old on July 10 after spending the morning doing what he loved, working at his nursery. Jerry opened Munro’s Nursery in Kenmore around 1927, where he sold plants and flowers. “His main interests were
plants and people,” Bill said. “He was the chief. He had plenty of things for idle hands to do.” Jerry was born in 1916 on Christmas Eve in Bismarck, North Dakota. His family moved to Queen
Anne Hill in Seattle around 1927. Jerry graduated from Queen Anne High where he participated in football, wrestling and ice hockey. He majored in horticultureagronomy with a minor in
landscaping at Washington State College where he met his future wife, Jean Kathryn Jespersen. While there, he affiliated with Delta Upsilon and was a champion wrestler. He graduated from the
University of Washington, where he followed up with graduate-level studies in cytology and cell structure at Washington State University and always considered himself a life-long Cougar. [ more MUNRO page 2 ]
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BY SARAH KEHOE