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VOL. 16, NO. 44
MIRROR
F E D E R A L WAY
DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
OPINION | Roegner: Predictions for general election in 30th District and beyond [4]
COMMUNITY | Business to help quadriplegic girl [6] CITIZEN OF MONTH | Bob Wroblewski tireless volunteer in Federal Way community [13]
SPORTS | Beamer swimmer FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 | 75¢ makes record time [10]
POLICE | Cleanup crews find dead body in foreclosed Federal Way house [22]
Rep. Roger Freeman dies at 48 30th District legislator remembered as community advocate
BY SARAH KEHOE skehoe@fedwaymirror.com
BY RAECHEL DAWSON AND SARAH KEHOE The Mirror
R
ep. Roger Freeman has died at the age of 48. According to a Franciscan media relations manager, Freeman passed away at 11:50 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way. He had been in the hospital since Tuesday night. Freeman (D-Federal Way) was running for representative Position 2 in the 30th Legislative District against Jack Dovey (R-Federal Way). In April 2013, Freeman disclosed he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and that doctors said the cancer had spread to his liver and his lower lungs. At that time, he endured three chemotherapy sessions with nine more to go. “Roger was a dear friend and colleague,” said Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell. “We worked together as lawyers, as City Council members and in our current roles. He was a true champion, an advocate for everyone and this community has suffered a great loss. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.” City officials said staff is mourning the death of Freeman, who was a former Federal Way City Council member. Officials said the mayor has ordered flags at city facilities and the new 60-foot flagpole at South 320th Street be flown at half-staff to honor him. Freeman began representing
Community to host benefit for girl struck by bus
Rep. Roger Freeman, of Federal Way, died on Wednesday after a long battle with colon cancer. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Federal Way as a member of the city’s volunteer Human Services Commission where he helped lead efforts to organize the community’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event. He was elected to the City Council
in 2010. And in 2012, he was elected to represent the Federal Way area and the 30th District in the Washington state House of Representatives where he served his first term in the Legislature.
Opponent Dovey said he thinks it’s a tragic event and that “we need to do everything we can to support his family.” Rep. Linda Kochmar (R-Federal [ more FREEMAN, page 17 ]
Staff at Life Care Center in Federal Way have stepped up to help a coworker in need. Christine Alcala has been out of work for two weeks watching over her 15-year-old daughter who lies in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center. Her daughter, Juzreel Alcala, was hit by a Federal Way Public Schools bus in front of Federal Way High School Oct. 16. Juzreel was in the crosswalk at South 308th and Pacific Highway South when she was hit, according to police. The district is investigating the incident and the bus driver was placed on administrative leave during the course of the investigation. Federal Way police are investigating the incident and examining all evidence, including details from the bus, video from the street and witness statements, according to Cathy Schrock, police spokeswoman. “Right now there is no obvious fault of the driver or pedestrian,” Shrock said in an email following the accident. “The only question to answer is who had the right of way and this will not be determined until all the evidence can be until all the evidence can be [ more BUS, page 3 ]
Man crashes vehicle into home, truck BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@fedwaymirror.com
A man went to St. Francis Hospital after crashing his vehicle into a house and a SUV.
The crash occurred at around 1:55 p.m. Monday in the 2700 block of Southwest 337th St. in Federal Way. South King Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Chuck Kahler said the man looked to be in his 40s. He clipped the corner as he turned onto South-
west 337th Street and crashed into a one-story single family house and a parked truck. It appears the driver suffered a serious medical condition, the suspected cause of the crash. Kahler said the man was found not breathing and without a pulse but after 30 minutes of aid
his heart started beating again. Cathy Schrock, a spokeswoman for the Federal Way Police Department, said the department would not launch a major accident investigation because it was a medical incident. The homeowners have since been notified.
A driver who suffered a serious medical condition crashed into a Federal Way home on Monday. RAECHEL DAWSON, the Mirror