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NEWS | Legislator explains why she voted no for Native American history requirement in schools [9]
VOL. 17, NO. 27
MIRROR
F E D E R A L WAY
DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
OPINION | Cornfield: Gains, losses during never-ending session [6] Roegner: Did they say that? [6] BUSINESS | Port officials talk trade and transportation at Chamber event [10] POLICE | Fast food employee spits into customer’s car during argument over coupon [12]
Community | Youth come FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015 | 75¢ together for first Teen Day [4]
REVIEW | Los Bigotes de Villa Taqueria: A hidden gem with bold style [21]
Federal Way officials eye WSU branch campus BY CARRIE RODRIGUEZ editor@fedwaymirror.com
F
ormer University of Washington Husky Mayor Jim Ferrell hopes to attract his alma
mater’s biggest rival to Federal Way. “Yes, this old Husky is very interested in a relationship with the Cougars,” Ferrell laughed, noting city officials have
had several conversations with Washington State University representatives about potentially locating a branch campus in downtown Federal Way. Last year, the university’s
late President Elson Floyd — who died on June 20 of complications from colon cancer — met with Ferrell to discuss the possibility. “It was very flattering for President Floyd to fly out
and to meet with me last fall here at City Hall about their interests and that’s actually what really took the discussions to a much different level,” Ferrell said. However, those talks
are still preliminary, he emphasized. “Clearly, any conversation that we have with [Washington State University] at this stage is entirely [ more WSU, page 5 ]
Community remembers man killed in high speed motorcycle accident BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@fedwaymirror.com
A 21-year-old Tukwila man was killed instantly after a motorcycle accident in Federal Way Monday evening. According to the Federal Way Police Department, witnesses saw Christian Andrew Sanchez driving between 80 to 100 mph before he crashed on Milton Road South in front of the Wild Waves entrance. Witness Julie Pierce said she, her friend and niece were just ending their day at Wild Waves when they heard a loud sound — Sanchez driving fast down the road. But then he lost control. Pierce said they were in the car facing where Sanchez hit the curb. “A plume of dirt came up and the bike shot to the left and as soon as I saw the plume of dirt, I said ‘Oh, s***,’” Pierce said. “We ran directly to the
MSC raises $121,000 at Mardi Gras event Over 500 people clad in flamboyant Mardi Gras attire attended Multi-Service Center’s annual crab feed and auction on Saturday at the Federal Way Community Center. Participants beat the record high temperatures outside by enjoying chilled cracked crab catered by Cafe Pacific Catering. The event raised over $121,000 to support Multi-Service Center’s programs that provide help and hope for the community. Photos courtesy of Ed Streit Productions and Bruce Honda
Christian Sanchez, 21, was killed in a motorcycle accident on Monday. Contributed photo bike where it rested near a tree.” However, Sanchez wasn’t there. He was about 30 feet to the right with his “body hugging the pole.” Pierce and two other witnesses went to him. One of the witnesses said she was a nurse, Pierce said, and started checking his vitals but there was “nothing.” “After five, 10 minutes, we pulled the helmet off together and he looked like he was sleeping,” Pierce said, adding that her [ more ACCIDENT, page 31 ]
Federal Way parents call on more access to special choice schools BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@fedwaymirror.com
As Tonya Pane took her 15-year-old son to his driver’s ed class, she asked
him what he liked about his school. “What is it that you like about the Federal Way Public Academy? And what do you think of this idea of maybe possibly considering increasing enrollment there?” Pane recalled at a recent school board meeting. “And he said, ‘No, no.
What makes Federal Way Public Academy special is that it’s small. Instead of being in a class with 300 kids, I’m in a class of 60.’” But like the seven other community members, parents and educators who spoke at the school board meeting, Pane pleaded for other options, other pro-
grams — something — to alleviate the dreaded wait list some parents are placed on when trying to get into Federal Way Public Schools special choice programs. These programs include the Federal Way Public Academy and Technology Access Foundation Academy, among others such
as Cambridge Academy for Lakota Middle School, Sacajawea Middle School and Federal Way High School students, STEM programs at Saghalie and Sequoyah middle schools, International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program for Totem and Kilo middle schools and a high school
version for Thomas Jefferson and Todd Beamer. Organized by Don Hyun, also a parent of students in the school district, testimony after testimony echoed during the public comment period at the June 23 school board meeting. “In Federal Way, there [ more SCHOOLS, page 23 ]