Kent Reporter, April 03, 2015

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INSIDE | Police working to build trust with the public [3]

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Sports | Fleming steps into leadership role for rebuilding Chargers [13]

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

House committee approves WHL bill BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com

The state Legislature took another step this week toward approving a bill that clarifies Western Hockey League players are amateur athletes and not paid employees who should be paid minimum wage and fall under state

Calvin Watts, the Kent School District’s new superintendent, speaks at a public forum. COURTESY PHOTO,

child labor laws. The House Labor Committee voted 5-2 on Monday in Olympia to move Engrossed Senate Bill 5893 to the full House, although other committees are expected to look at the bill as well before it goes to a full vote. The Senate approved the bill 47-0 on March 3.

“There is still work to be done on this and it can be amended as the bill moves forward,” said state Rep. Mia Gregerson, D-SeaTac, and Labor Committee vice chair, in a phone interview. “I think we need new legislation that will protect facilities [ more BILL page 4 ]

Kent School District

Watts chosen new superintendent BY HEIDI SANDERS hsanders@kentreporter.com

Calvin J. Watts, an assistant superintendent for Gwinnett County Public Schools in Suwanee, Ga., will be the Kent School District’s next superintendent. The Kent School Board announced the decision at its March 25 meeting. Watts said he is looking forward to continue his career in Kent. “I was both humbled and honored by the invita-

tion to serve as the next superintendent of the Kent School District,” Watts said in a written statement. “I share the school board’s strategic focus on increasing and supporting the achievement of all students, and I look forward to working with and leading a staff of professional educators who are dedicated to serving the many communities that make up our fine district.”

Greg Whitcomb, Kent Little League president, and the rest of the volunteer board vow to move on in wake of an upsetting, financial setback. STEVE HUNTER,

[ more WATTS page 3 ]

Kent Reporter

Rally time for Kent Little League Big boost The Boy Scouts of America in Kent and throughout the Puget Sound area collected nearly 100,000 pounds of nonperishable food items in its Scouting for Food drive. Story, page 2.

Organization recovering from loss of more than $200,000

COURTESY PHOTO

BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com

Kent Little League leaders continue to dig in at home plate as they dust themselves off after the loss of more than $200,000 from the organization’s bank accounts. The anger still simmers among board members after the theft charges filed in January against Kevin L. Baker, a former league treasurer who allegedly embezzled $226,515 over a 16-month period in 201213 from the youth baseball and softball

group. Baker pleaded not guilty to the charges in January and faces a court hearing on April 6 when a trial date could be set or attorneys could ask for more time to prepare the case. Despite the financial blow, league president Greg Whitcomb and the rest of the 16-member volunteer board are turning their anger into action in an effort to rebuild the league that first came to Kent about 30 years ago. “We had to make a decision when this [ more LITTLE LEAGUE page 4 ]

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