FRAUD | Kenmore financial advisor gets five years in prison [11]
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Groundbreaking | Bothell celebrates new City Hall to be built downtown [15]
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014
Kenmore business owner of 84 years leaves a growing legacy BY SARAH KEHOE skehoe@bothell-reporter.com
W
hen 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 horticulture-
agronomy 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 ]
BY SARAH KEHOE
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 ]
Bothell family receives $10 million settlement for crash on Highway 2 skehoe@bothell-reporter.com
Ostroms celebrates 50 years Todd Ramsey, left, purchased Ostroms Drug & Gift store in Kenmore from his father Dick Ramsey, right, in 1998 and the business is celebrating 50 years in the family. They are holding a copy of one of the original Ostroms’ advertisements from 1964. For the entire story and to learn more about Ostroms’ celebration see page 6. SARAH KEHOE, Kenmore 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
Parks and public spaces levy discussed at Bothell Chamber luncheon Bothell City Manager Bob Stowe provided attendees of the Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce luncheon with information on the upcom-
ing 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 ]
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BY SARAH KEHOE skehoe@bothell-reporter.com