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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015
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King County to enforce leash laws at parks and trails SAMANTHA PAK spak@redmond-reporter.com
For the next few weeks, off-duty deputies from the King County Sheriff ’s Office will be patrolling several parks and trails in the area to provide patrons with information about leash laws — as well as to enforce those laws — and other rules intended to keep everyone safe. Doug Williams, spokesperson for the county’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks, said the deputies, who are contracted by his department, are not targeting a particular area and they will be visiting parks and trails throughout the county. He said they want to be able to reach the most people possible and patrols will be primarily on the weekends. “The goal isn’t to write a bunch of tickets,” Williams said, adding that the county has done these types of extra patrols in the past, though it has been a couple of years. “It was just time to do it again.” He said the goal is to just remind people about these laws that already exist.
KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE
Williams said the law is that all dogs must remain on a leash at all times except in designated areas. One of those areas — the only area within King County’s 28,000 acres of parks and open space — is the 40-acre off-leash dog park within Marymoor Park. “It’s a safety issue,” Williams said. He said there has been [ more DOGS page 7]
Redmond High students root for their boys basketball squad during the Mustangs’ 50-47 triumph over Newport High on Tuesday night. See sports on page 10. ANDY NYSTROM, Redmond Reporter
Rooting for their Mustangs
Haggen acquires local Albertsons SAMANTHA PAK spak@redmond-reporter.com
Come next month, the Albertsons at 3925 236th Ave. N.E. in unincorporated King County near Redmond will be converted to a Haggen. Deborah Pleva, spokesperson for Haggen, said a specific date for the change is still tentative, but it is looking like sometime in early March. The Redmondarea store is among 26 Washington stores that will be converted to Haggen stores. Overall, the Bellingham-based company plans to acquire and convert 146 stores in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Arizona in the first half of this year.
Teen center closed for 3 days after small fire SAMANTHA PAK spak@redmond-reporter.com
This Albertsons on 236th Avenue Northeast in unincorporated King County near Redmond will become a Haggen supermarket early next month. ANDY NYSTROM, Redmond Reporter
WHAT WILL CHANGE AND WHAT WON’T
With the conversion will come a number of changes, but one aspect that will not change is the store’s current employees.
Pleva said Haggen has invited all employees to stay on board if they so choose. “That was a huge part for Haggen,” she said. [ more HAGGEN page 7 ]
The Old Fire House Teen Center (OFH) in Redmond was closed last Thursday, Friday and Saturday due to a small fire that occurred in the building’s media lab in the early morning of Feb. 12. Janessa Rosick, public information coordinator for the Redmond Police Department (RPD), said one police unit responded to the fire, which was reported at 3:24 a.m. She said the Redmond Fire Department assisted. The fire was limited to a mixing board in the
room and was contained by the sprinkler system. Rana Shmait, program coordinator for the OFH, said the center was closed just for clean up and there were no safety concerns. Ken Wong, teen programs director for the City of Redmond, added that a show scheduled for last Friday evening at the teen center was moved to the Redmond Senior Center, just as a precaution so staff can finish up cleaning at the OFH. Shmait said there was a dessert-making event planned for last Saturday evening, with the treats being donated to a local women’s shelter. The event was moved to the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center. The cause of the fire is still unknown and Shmait said they are still investigating.