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REP. ANDY HILL | Fully funding schools will take time [4]
Knee | Local doctor among first to be able to FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 make replacement [3]
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Crane | City officials dedicate new sculpture at Kirkland Justice Center [2]
LWSD prepares for new bond measure for JHS, Kirk upgrades New measure would not raise taxes from current levels BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
T
he Lake Washington School District Board of Directors is preparing a possible bond measure for next year that would be used to remodel or replace Juanita High School and Kirk Elementary School, with more bond measures to follow for the next ten
years. A 2016 bond measure would fund the most immediate needs, while other bond measures would possibly be put to a vote in 2018, 2022, and 2026 to fund the longerterm needs. District officials have stated that the bond measures would not increase tax rates and would maintain the 2015 tax rate
over this period of time. Spokesperson Kathryn Reith said this is because other bonds are getting paid off, such as the construction levy passed in 2011 and set to expire in 2017. “So as those expire and past bonds are paid off, taxes would go down if no other measures are passed,” she said. The 2016 bond mea-
sure, expected to be on the April ballot, would be used for construction projects in each of the district’s learning community, the area served by each of the four comprehensive high schools. In addition to projects in Kirkland, the bond measure would also replace or remodel Mead Elementary School in Sammamish, along with replacing Explorer Community School with new
modular buildings. In Redmond, it would fund three new schools in the Redmond Learning Community – two elementary and one middle school, and refurbish the Old Redmond Schoolhouse for use as a preschool center. The future ballot measures would be used
Mistake at Kirkland Cemetery triggers changes
Veterinarians help treat canine Bob, a key part of veteran’s life BY SAMMANTHA PAK Reporter Newspapers
Andrew Brim and his dog Bob recently celebrated their first year together. While this may be an important milestone for any owner-pet relationship, their anniversary was particularly special, considering what the pair have gone through in the last year.
A rare condition One of the most significant events they have gone through was a trip to the veterinarian that led to Bob undergoing surgery to have one of his kidneys removed. It all began in July when the two went for a walk and Brim discovered blood in Bob’s urine. It was “out of nowhere,” he said. Brim, who now lives in Bellevue but has previously lived in Redmond, took Bob to the Redmond-Kirkland Animal Hospital at 7251 W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy N.E. in Redmond, where he was treated by veterinarian Andrea Hoover. After her examination, Hoover said they discovered the cause of the blood was a giant kidney worm. She said this is not treat-
able with medicine, so Bob — who was otherwise healthy — required surgery to remove the worm. “It definitely came as a shock to Andrew as to what was going on with (Bob),” Hoover said, adding that giant kidney worms are extremely rare in this part of the country. They are typically found in warmer climates. Upon hearing Bob’s diagnosis, Brim, who is originally from Prosser in eastern Washington, said he couldn’t speak. He didn’t know what to do. His 2-year-old dog was dying, and working at Housing Hope — an organization in Snohomish County that focuses on providing affordable and transitional housing to low-income populations — Brim wasn’t in a financial position to pay for Bob’s procedure. But then, his parents offered to help pay for the surgery. The procedure was performed at Seattle Veterinary Specialists, a specialty and emergency animal hospital that has locations in Kirkland and Seattle. In addition to his parents’ support, Brim said the staff and doctors at the hospitals [ more VETS page 5 ]
to build three additional elementary schools and two choice high schools. They would also fund the remodeling or replacing of Kamiakin Middle School, Alcott Elementary School, Evergreen Middle School and Smith Elementary School. The district is inviting community members to provide feedback on the draft funding plan, and the district said it would [ more LWSD page 2 ]
BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
Holiday fun on ice Local residents Devin Graupmann and Logan Graupmann perform in Winter Solstice at the Kingsgate Ice Arena in Kirkland earlier this month. The Kingsgate Skating Club hosted the event. The holiday presentation on ice featured skaters from the club. Donations of non-perishable food items or wrapped holiday gifts were collected for Hopelink. LINAE GRAUPMANN, Contributed photo
The city of Kirkland is making changes to its documentation process for the Kirkland Cemetery after a mixup in paperwork caused the man’s remains to be placed in the wrong spot. According to Kirkland Customer Accounts Supervisor, Jay Gewin, the matter was brought to their attention after the family of the deceased complained that their father’s urn was in the wrong spot. Gewin said that somehow the records from 2013 had him in the incorrect location, so when the deceased man’s wife passed away and the family wanted her in the same location. They ended up moving her remains to where the husband’s were, but it was still in the wrong section. “We thought the incorrect location was the correct location… and then [ more MISTAKE page 2 ]