Redmond Reporter, December 05, 2014

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FEATURE | Locals perform in Emerald Ballet Theatre’s production of ‘The Nutcracker’ [6] CRIME ALERT | Redmond Police Blotter [5]

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

NEWS | People voice opinions on ‘It’s OK to say, Merry CHRISTMAS’ signs [3]

Rev. Jackson, Gov. Inslee call for STEM diversity at summit ANDY NYSTROM anystrom@redmond-reporter.com

Rev. Jesse Jackson addresses the crowd at the Washington STEM Summit 2014 on Tuesday at Microsoft. ANDY NYSTROM, Redmond Reporter

When Rev. Jesse Jackson stepped up to the podium, people leaned forward in their chairs and listened intently to his thoughts about education. As he locked eyes with more than 320 educators and business leaders at Tuesday’s third annual Washington STEM Summit 2014 at the Microsoft Conference Center, the civil rights leader recalled one of his grade-school teachers believing in her students dur-

ing a rigorous math lesson. “You must never teach down to our children and have low expectations of them,” Jackson — an unannounced guest at the summit — told the crowd during the morning group session. “There’s nothing that you cannot learn given the opportunity. Tell (your students) over and over again that deep water does not drown you — you drown when you stop kicking, you drown when you give up, you drown when you surrender.” Jackson was in Seattle to discuss the

need for high-tech companies to employ women and minorities and added another stop to his visit by joining Gov. Jay Inslee at the summit in Redmond. Prior to Jackson’s speech, Inslee addressed the crowd about improving students’ involvement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. “(Jackson) and I both support the need for more women and more children of color to enter into STEM fields. [ more STEM page 11 ]

Redmond Lights set for tomorrow

Ferguson incident hits home Community members discuss Missouri shooting, race and the future SAMANTHA PAK spak@redmond-reporter.com

On Monday morning, students and staff at Redmond High School (RHS) arrived on campus to find the main entry covered in sidewalk-chalk writing. The messages were in response to the St. Louis County grand jury’s decision to not indict officer Darren Wilson after he shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown in August in Ferguson, Mo. One read, “RHS stands with Ferguson,” while another read, “Black lives matter.” Others referenced statistics about black men, crime and the police.

PEACE OFFICERS

These messages have not been the

A scene from last year’s Redmond Lights. Reporter file photo

Messages such as this appeared in the entryway of Redmond High Monday. Other messages included statistics about black men, the police and crime. SAMANTHA PAK, Redmond Reporter only way the Redmond community has responded to the events in Ferguson. On Nov. 25 — the day after the grand jury decision was announced — the Redmond Youth Partnership

Advisory Committee (RYPAC) hosted a discussion on the topic. About 10 people attended, including a few teens, City of Redmond staff [ more FERGUSON page 9 ]

The City of Redmond’s annual Redmond Lights winter festival will be from 4–8 p.m. tomorrow. The annual event celebrates the city’s cultural diversity with traditions, activities and fun for all ages. The event begins at Redmond City Hall at 4 p.m. with free entertainment, a bonfire, food and activities, including the dissemination of the 2014 Redmond Lights blinkers (while supplies last). Redmond Mayor John Marchione, along with Santa, will light the campus before departing on the luminary walk. The walk meanders down the Redmond Central Connector to Redmond Town Center with performances and light displays along the way. For more information, visit www.redmondlights.com.

Store employee spots fugitive, alerts police and arrest is made ANDY NYSTROM anystrom@redmond-reporter.com

Small Business Saturday turned into an intense scenario at the Ulta Beauty store in the 17100 block of Redmond Way. At about 5:20 p.m. on Nov. 29, six units from the Redmond Police Department (RPD) descended upon the retail shop after an employee recognized

one of the customers from Washington’s Most Wanted Facebook page and called police. RPD officers took into custody 18-year-old fugitive Precious Shabazz, who was wanted in a number of crimes in King and Pierce counties, including a violent Nov. 5 downtown Seattle robbery where she kicked and punched a store employee, according to Janessa Rosick, public

information coordinator for the RPD. When officers arrived, Shabazz and her accomplice bolted from the store. While she was being chased, Shabazz slowed down and was captured, but her companion escaped. “There was no struggle,” Rosick said of Shabazz’s arrest. Redmond police notified the Seattle Police De-

partment and transferred Shabazz into their officers’ custody and she was booked into King County Jail on investigation of robbery. After RPD officers caught Shabazz, they found her in possession of stolen items, including perfume and cosmetics products. Rosick said the employee wasn’t aware of any shoplifting, she just matched Shabazz’s online photo

with the customer browsing in the store. “It’s one of those cases where people do what we ask them to do: If you see anything suspicious, call 911,” Rosick said. Shabazz’s accomplice is described as a black male, 5-foot-10 and in his late teens or early 20s. Officers set up a perimeter around the area, but didn’t locate him. Redmond police are

assembling a photo lineup to show the reporting party. The Ulta employee and manager declined to be interviewed for this story. Reporter readers praised the employee’s actions on its Facebook page: “Nice work of the employee for being so alert!” “That’s impressive!” “Handled!!!”


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