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FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015
Sound Transit delays light rail route decision by one month
Man charged in West Hill shooting death
BY STEVE HUNTER
A 42-year-old man allegedly pistol whipped a 22-year-old Kent man and then shot him three times at close range inside a West Hill apartment last week. King County prosecutors on Monday charged Christopher I. Hutton, whose last known address was a Federal Way hotel, with first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with the June 11 death of JaeBrione Gary at an apartment complex in the 2700 block of South 256th Place. According to charging papers, the killing reportedly might have been to avenge an earlier robbery of Hutton by Gary. Hutton is scheduled to be arraigned on June 29 at the Maleng Regional Justice
BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
shunter@kentreporter.com
The wait’s going to be a bit longer for Sound Transit’s choice on a preferred light rail route and station locations along its SeaTac to Kent and Federal Way extension. The Sound Transit Board, which will pick a preferred route for the more than $1 billion project, decided to postpone a decision to July 23 from June 25 to give it more time to study and hear about the options. The Capital Committee of the Sound Transit Board voted unanimously on June 11 to move the issue on to the full board without a recommendaUpthegrove tion about whether to build the 7.6-mile light rail route along Interstate 5 or Highway 99 and which of nine potential locations for a station in Kent/Des Moines near Highline College. Fred Butler, chairman of the Capital Committee and mayor of Issaquah, said the extra month will give time for more comment from the public as well as the cities impacted by the decision. “I do like that the four cities reached a consensus on a preferred alternative,” Butler said at the meeting. Kent, Des Moines, SeaTac and Federal Way city officials each favor an I-5 alignment to lessen the impact of businesses along Highway 99, said Cathal Ridge,
[ more SHOOTING page 4 ]
Cameras placed in school zones are attracting plenty of violators, feeding a fund to support Kent Police needs.
Saturday market
FILE PHOTO
Kia Xiong prepares freshly cut flowers for sale during the Kent Farmers Market last Saturday. The downtown market is open every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., through Sept. 26. The market offers fresh produce, crafts, food and live music. More photos, page 11. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter
[ more LIGHT RAIL page 8 ]
School board considers school-based health center at Kent-Meridian BY HEIDI SANDERS hsanders@kentreporter.com
Accessing health care might become easier for students at Kent-Meridian High School. The Kent School Board is considering establishing a school-based health center
at the high INSIDE: Kent schools celebrate school, graduation, page 14 which would provide basic health care services and mental health care. Kent Phoenix Academy has a had health clinic on its campus since it opened eight years ago.
Police to spend traffic camera funds on jail, overtime BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Sara Rigel, with Public Health – Seattle and King County, helps oversee 32 schoolbased health centers throughout King County and spoke to the Kent School Board about the benefits of the clinics at the its June 10 meeting.
The Kent Police Department plans to spend up to $845,000 of school zone traffic camera funds on city jail renovations, police overtime costs, a use of force training simulator and traffic safety equipment. The City Council’s Operations Committee approved the expenditures at its
[ more CLINIC page 8 ]
[ more CAMERAS page 4 ]
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