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COMMUNITY | Citizen of the Month [6]
VOL. 17, NO. 35
MIRROR
F E D E R A L WAY
DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
OPINION | Johnson: A thank you letter to Planned Parenthood [4] Roegner: Clinton led to Ferrell-Hickel key debate [4] SENIOR SPOTLIGHT | Author shares father’s bicycle adventure [14] POLICE | Teenage boy assaults mother [18]
SPORTS | Fall sports previews and CALENDAR | Saghalie Welcome Back BBQ Aug. 28 [26] FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015 | 75¢ schedules [8]
School Local firefighters fight Eastern Washington fires board approves A budget BY RAECHEL DAWSON
rdawson@fedwaymirror.com
rriving in the touristdriven Chelan was eerie. “There was no power and the town and valley was dark,” said South King Fire and Rescue Lt. Tyler Luke. “The darkness and smoke made it difficult to see the scope of destruction.” But the hills were glowing with fire, Luke said, and he and his fellow firefighters had unsettling feeling of what was to come. “As daylight broke and the devastation began to reveal itself, it was a pretty sobering site,” Luke recalled. “Thus far, it has been long hours working in many different areas, helping people and protecting structures however we can.” It’s been nearly two weeks since Luke, Eric Kiphart, Joe Eliasen, Brooks Werner and South King Fire and Rescue Chief Chuck Kahler were deployed to help combat the fires that have overtaken Eastern Washington this summer. South King Fire and Rescue firefighter Randy White has also fought fires as part of the National Guard unit as a Warrant Officer. According to Capt. Jeff Bellinghausen, [ more FIRE, page 2 ]
BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@fedwaymirror.com
The Federal Way Public Schools Board of Education unanimously adopted the 2015-16 budget on Tuesday, the first one “in a number of years” to be balanced, according to school officials. The budget takes in nearly $31 million more in revenue than last year’s for a total of $271.5 million in the general fund. This leaves an estimated $18 million for the beginning fund balance. “I want to take a moment to remind all of us that the only reason we really talk about budgets and the only reason we have money is to help support outcomes for students,” said Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Sally McLean at Tuesday’s board meeting. The additional funding comes in part from an increased revenue contingency, a small increase in federal funding, an increase of $4.7 million of Educational Programs and Operations
Above, South King Fire and Rescue firefighters battle a fire in Chelan. They expect to go home this Saturday after two weeks of deployment. Right, South King Fire and Rescue firefighters (from left) Joe Eliasen, Eric Kiphart, Brooks Werner and Lt. Tyler Luke pose for a photo after working 15 hour shifts to help control fires that have taken over Eastern Washington. More than 16 wildfires have affected close to 600,000 acres of land. For those who want to help, donations can be made to a local Red Cross, the Community Foundation of North Central Washington relief fund, or the Wildland Fire Foundation. Contributed photos
[ more BUDGET, page 16 ]
Community notices increase of aircraft noise BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@fedwaymirror.com
Airplanes go by Bill Brough’s Marine Hills home about every 90 seconds, he says. “I find it unacceptable that I can’t stand outside and talk to my neighbor, I have to wait for it to be gone,” Brough said about
the aircraft noise. At night, Brough said he has to wear earplugs if he leaves his window open to cool his house down during this hot summer. Like many, Brough, a former flight deck designer engineer, is concerned the noise will depreciate his house, which he’s lived in since 1976. “My home has been devalued by $100,000 because of the noise and so has every other home in the neighborhood,” he said.
Neil Corbin, a Twin Lakes area resident for about 22 years, said he has become extremely concerned and anxious about the commercial aircraft flying over his home. “Beginning in 2015, we started experiencing extreme high levels of noise during all hours of the day and night,” Corbin said. “It’s getting to the point where we cannot hear ourselves think.” Michael Kun, who lives near Silver Lake Elementary, said he’s noticed the
noise has gotten worse in the last six months but his several complaints to the Sea-Tac noise complaint line has left him with no response. According to Federal Way city officials, Brough, Corbin and Kun aren’t alone in their concerns. “We had an increase this summer in complaints – neighbors and citizens saying, ‘Wow, it just seems like we’ve experienced more, what seems to be going on?’” said Cathy Schrock, city spokes-
woman. To figure out just what’s been going on, Chief of Staff Brian Wilson reached out to the Port of Seattle, and he and Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell recently met with Port of Seattle representatives. According to Schrock, they learned Sea-Tac Airport’s main runway that has been under construction which has caused an increased amount of planes to utilize the remaining two runways. This has affected the frequency of planes taking off. And because construction is limited to six months – it’s set to be done this October – the Port
of Seattle wasn’t required to do an environmental review. Also within the last five months, the Federal Aviation Administration authorized air traffic to use a global positioning system (known as GPS) for take offs and landings as opposed to fixed locator beacons. “This has resulted in airplanes changing flight patterns,” Schrock said. “Anybody who didn’t have a flight over their house may see more of that now.” The switch to GPS allows airlines to save money on fuel, she added. “By doing it the way [ more NOISE, page 20 ]