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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2014
Boeing work force shrinks again in Kent with layoffs BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Look for the Boeing Space Center in Kent to keep on shrinking. Boeing announced on Monday that about 2,000 jobs in its
defense division are moving to other cities, mainly St. Louis and Oklahoma City. Most of those 2,000 employees are at facilities in Kent and Seattle. The transition of jobs could take up to three years. “We typically don’t give out
numbers for a specific site,” said Boeing spokeswoman Yvonne Johnson-Jones when asked how many Kent employees are going to be impacted. Boeing sold off 70 acres at the Space Center property in 2013 to
the IDS Real Estate Group and Clarion Partners. Amazon.com, Inc. is building a nearly 1 millionsquare-foot fulfillment center on the property, which also includes the Stryker Business Center at Pacific Gateway. Crews demolished
several former Boeing buildings to make room for the new project. Boeing’s defense business employs about 5,200 in the Puget Sound region and many of those [ more BOEING page 4 ]
Mayor proposes higher B&O tax, new vehicle tab fee BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke wants to increase the business and occupation (B&O) tax and add a $20 per year vehicle license fee to bring in more revenue to help balance the biennial 2015-16 city budget. Cooke presented her proposed budget on Tuesday evening to the City Council, which will spend the next two months deciding whether to go along with Cooke the mayor’s plan or make its own changes. The council is scheduled to adopt the budget in late November or early December. [ more BUDGET page 3 ]
Treasurer allegedly embezzles more than $200,000 from Little League BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
A former Kent Little League treasurer reportedly embezzled more than $200,000 from the volunteer organization over a two-year period. [ more LITTLE LEAGUE page 3 ]
Special visit Country music singer Dakota Bradley leans in for a photo with Kentwood students during his concert at the High School Nation (HSN) assembly Sept. 25. The event provided students with the chance to get
acquainted with music and art tools. The HSN organization, sponsored by several major American corporations, donated $10,000 in supplies and gift cards to the school. Story, page 2. ROSS COYLE, Kent Reporter
East Hill welcomes new Trader Joe’s Long lines: Tuesday’s grand opening of the new Trader Joe’s in Kent drew a good crowd. ROSS COYLE, Kent Reporter
BY ROSS COYLE rcoyle@kenterporter.com
Checkout lines at the new Trader Joe’s in Kent rarely dropped below 15-people deep during the specialty store’s highly anticipated grand opening Tuesday.
Some went as long as 30. It could probably be called a success. The 13,000-square-foot neighborhood grocery store – which features imported and domestic foods and beverages – officially opened this week on the East Hill in the MarketPlace at Lake Meridian shopping center at the northwest
corner of 132nd Avenue Southeast and Kent-Kangley Road. Visitors walked below the store’s many murals, which incorporated Kent cultural icons combined with Trader Joe’s icons. The murals, painted by Trader Joe’s staff, took [ more TRADER JOE’S page 9 ]