RECOMMENDATION | Planning Commission gives green light to loosen parking requirements in Kirkland [11]
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Driver | Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver didn’t hold anything back as the guest speaker at this year’s Hopelink luncheon when he talked about his struggles before his football career [12]
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Juanita High students arrested for sexual assault Victim is special-needs student, case referred to prosecutors for charges BY TJ MARTINELL AND MATT PHELPS Kirkland Reporter
A
n official with the Kirkland Police Department has confirmed that the victim
of a sexual assault at Juanita High School on Oct. 22 is a special-needs student. Four Juanita High School students have been arrested for allegedly assaulting the 18-year-old
male student in a locker room. Kirkland police are still investigating the incident but have also referred the case on to prosecutors for charges. A district employee, who did not want to be
named and was the first to confirm to the Reporter that the victim is special needs, also said that the suspects are all freshmen at the high school. The arrests were made
Oct. 23 after the victim and his family told police officers that he was assaulted by several younger male students. The male students were identified and arrested. They were interviewed and released to their parents later that day.
“Students who interrupted the situation put a stop to it, as well as reporting it to adults,” Juanita High School Principal Gary Moed said in a letter to parents. “On Thursday morning, the Kirkland police depart[ more ASSAULT page 3 ]
New store offers style with a purpose BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
Manager Bri Welk helps stylist Gabby Bontrager try on different clothes at Purpose Boutique’s new store in downtown Kirkland off Central Way. It is the second store for the business, which first opened in Bremerton last year and specializes in offering affordable clothing and jewelry while being ethically responsible with the source of their products. The owners also donate a portion of the profits to charity. TJ MARTINELL, Kirkland Reporter
Purpose Boutique’s owners hope to repeat their successful combination of clothing and charitable giving in Kirkland as they’ve had in Bremerton. The grand opening of their second store is an indication of the business’ popularity after being open for a little more than a year at its first location. Founder Christie Johnson and co-owner Amy Welk believe the affordable clothing and strong focus on the organizations they support will appeal to Kirkland residents looking to make more ethical and responsible purchases. Both Johnson and Welk described the clothing selection as ranging from
stay at home to cocktail dresses, and the styles carry a blend of southern formality and northwestern edginess, according to Johnson, a native of Charlotte, N.C. Johnson said she first opened Purpose Boutique with her husband, Flip, and friend Ashleigh. At the time, she had a one year old and three year old to take care of, which she said proved to be a challenge, especially when Flip, who is in the Navy, was gone on deployment. Eventually she opened a store when she felt there was enough support, but also felt it was a step of faith - a step that found solid ground. She said they met their first month’s sales goals within [ more PURPOSE page 3 ]
City of Kirkland narrows possible sites for new fire station down to two BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
The city of Kirkland has narrowed the possible sites for Fire Station 24 to two, both of which are within .7 miles away from Station 27. What will prove difficult, however, is closing the gap between the city’s current funds and the costs of purchasing the site and constructing the new fire station. Both sites
are located in the Juanita neighborhood. The council will discuss the matter during a study session at its Nov. 18 meeting. The two sites being considered by the city, 9950 NE 132nd St and 10007 NE 132 St, are located roughly two miles away from where Station 24 is now, just west of Fairfax Hospital and north of Juanita Elementary. They are .6 and 1.4 acres respectively. The first site would
cost $6.7 million to purchase, while the second site would cost approximately $7.8 million. The cost to build them would be $5.6 million and $5.8 million respectively. While the consolidated station option would provide better coverage and service to most people in Finn Hill, the study concluded
areas around Holmes Point, where Station 25 is located and receive fewer calls, would have reduced response times. The plan ultimately recommended the dual option because it provides “improved service to north Finn Hill, while maintaining the current service to south Finn Hill,” according to the July
2014 city memo. Kirkland Fire Chief Kevin Nalder also said the long-term plan is to relocate Station 27 east of I-405, where there is only one station currently. In the event of a disaster cutting off access to the eastside of the city, he said it would significantly impact the department’s ability to respond. He also said the new station would be the most
strategic in the city in what he described as the epicenter of call volumes. Station 27 currently receives more calls per year, 3,800 according to Nalder, than any other fire station in King County. “It’s in the need of some support,” he said. “Even in the interim, the support will take a bit of the burden off of station 27 until we can move forward with our [ more FIRE page 9 ]