Federal Way Mirror, October 09, 2015

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CRASH | Tacoma man dies in six-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 in Federal Way [2]

VOL. 17, NO. 41

MIRROR

F E D E R A L WAY

DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

OPINION | Editorial: Mirror’s editorial board endorses local candidates [6] Roegner: Watch for fire, school races [6] MR. FEDERAL WAY | Council, Lakehaven candidates answer quirky questions [12] POLICE | Women shot in back with BB gun [15]

SPORTS | Federal Way hammers FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2015 | 75¢ Decatur for first win [4]

LAWSUIT | Federal agency sues local business over sexual harassment claims [17]

Council awards bid to construct Performing Arts and Events Center BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@fedwaymirror.com

T

he Federal Way City Council voted 5-1 to award the construction bid for the Performing Arts and Events Center at a council meeting Tuesday night. The bid contract was awarded to Garco Construction, a company based in Spokane with offices in Tacoma. Garco was the lowest

responsive contractor of seven others who bid for the project. Garco bid $24.15 million, including sales tax, for construction of the 41,000-square-foot facility. With a contingency of 7.4 percent or $1.78 million, the total comes to about $26 million of the $32.7 million project budget. “This is an historic night,’” said Mayor Jim Ferrell. “I am pleased with the council’s

decision to award this bid. We are in good shape financially and will continue to pursue multiple means of funding. From public-private partnerships, to our continued pursuit of New Market Tax Credits, I truly believe the [events center] will not only serve as a catalyst for economic development, but will be a place to connect our diverse community through the performances and events

that will be showcased there.” Last June, the City Council approved the budget for planning and construction of the events center after decades of public support for the project. “It’s been a long, long journey to get to this point,” said long-time supporter Joann Piquette, adding that she’s been involved [ more PAEC, page 19 ]

Disabled ‘local celebrity’ dies in Federal Way house fire BY RAECHEL DAWSON

rdawson@fedwaymirror.com

Marie Elaine Adair did what she loved to do — wave political signs in front of WinCo Foods — the morning before she tragically died in a house fire on Oct. 1. Despite being wheelchair bound, the 73-year-old would often take an Access bus early in the morning to meet political candidates, wheeling herself with one foot to go up hills. Once there, she’d stick a sign in the side of her wheelchair and use her only working hand to wave it back and forth. And she did that for Federal Way City Council candidate Julie Hiller hours before South King Fire and Rescue firefighters found her old two-story house, located in the 28800 block of 19th Ave. S., engulfed in flames with no way to

get inside. “I was told that I was the last person she knew that had seen her,” Hiller said, adding that she had only known Adair for a few weeks. But Adair’s impression was lasting. As a new candidate, Hiller said Adair inspired her. “I was just in awe this woman would schedule the Access bus and spend time supporting people because she wanted Federal Way to be a great Federal Way,” Hiller said. “What a gift. She helped me realize why it is that I’m doing this.” Adair’s daughter Jennifer Foster said when her mother was 45, she suffered a brain aneurysm, which led to a stroke that left her hemiplegic. But her hardship didn’t stop her from caring about community issues, such as, most recently, her perceived lack of funding for the Performing

Above, South King Fire and Rescue battle a fully-involved house fire at South 288th Street and 19th Avenue South on Oct. 1 that killed Marie Elaine Adair, 73. Courtesy South King Fire and Rescue Left, Adair sits in her wheelchair holding a sign for a local candidate on the street corner. Contributed photo Arts and Events Center. “She had a keen sense of right and wrong,” Foster said. “That personality … a reformer type of personality. She was in accounting and [miss-expenditures] were alarming to her more so than the average person. She was very sharp, fiscally.” Foster said Adair believed there was insufficient demand for the events center, that it would be a

hardship for taxpayers and that the money would be better spent elsewhere. “[Adair] was actively involved with community issues and politics,” Foster said. “A hard-working contributor to Republican party efforts that she felt were truly sensible and conservative in nature.” Adair advocated not only for Hiller, but council candidate P.K. Thumbi, Sen. Mark Miloscia, Rep.

Chamber hosts 30th District, council candidates BY CARRIE RODRIGUEZ editor@fedwaymirror.com

Candidates for City Council and the 30th

District sounded off on economic development, education funding and more during the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon at the Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club on Wednesday.

www.eagletire.com

PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES

• Incumbent Rep. Carol Gregory and Teri Hickel, who are running for the 30th Legislative District Position 2. Gregory is currently a board member for Federal Way Public Schools, who

FEDERAL WAY (253) 838-2424 1515 SO. 344TH ST.

has held several other positions in education, including director for the Northwest Area Foundation of Burst For Prosperity. Hickel is the former executive director of Advancing Leadership who Mayor Jim Ferrell recently

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Linda Kochmar and even Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, among many others. “I’m still grappling with the loss and yet to come to terms with the reality that she’s no more,” Thumbi wrote in an email. “I had known Marie for some time up to her demise and she was one of my ardent supporters.” Thumbi said she was a loving [ more FIRE, page 3 ]

recognized with a Key to the City. • Lydia Assefa-Dawson (incumbent) and Mark Greene are competing for Federal Way City CouncilPosition 1. Assefa-Dawson was appointed to the council last year to fill a seat vacated by Mayor Jim Ferrell. AssefaDawson serves on the Land

Use and Transportation Committee, the Committee to End Homelessness and the State Advisory Council on Homelessness. Greene has a long-time record of political involvement and most recently lost to Congressman Adam Smith. Greene has a background [ more CHAMBER, page 10 ]

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