Steve Hunter

Kent Predators quarterback Charles McCullum takes the snap in an April 30 game against the Billings Outlaws at the ShoWare Center. McCullum is expected to return for the Predators when they open their season Feb. 25.

Kent Predators will return: New owner believes Indoor Football League can succeed

Jeff Scott bought the Kent Predators Indoor Football League team because he believes it is "a viable product that the community wants." Scott, of Renton, a former owner and coach with the King County Jaguars semipro football team that played in Kent, is the new majority owner who along with four partners helped make sure the Predators will return for the 2011 IFL season.

Kent Predators quarterback Charles McCullum takes the snap in an April 30 game against the Billings Outlaws at the ShoWare Center. McCullum is expected to return for the Predators when they open their season Feb. 25.
Kent Police are looking for Shawn David Gulseth in connection with the death Dec. 21 of a Kent woman.

Man wanted in Kent woman’s death arrested in California

The 40-year-old Kent man charged with first-degree murder for the stabbing death of his Kent girlfriend was arrested Tuesday after officers from three California police agencies found him living under a bridge in the small town of Willits in Northern California.

Kent Police are looking for Shawn David Gulseth in connection with the death Dec. 21 of a Kent woman.
Kent Police are looking for Shawn David Gulseth in connection with the death Dec. 21 of a Kent woman.

Man sought in Kent woman’s death charged with murder

King County prosecutors filed a first-degree murder charge against a 40-year-old Kent man in connection with the stabbing death of his girlfriend, a 45-year-old Kent woman found dead Dec. 21 in her apartment.

Kent Police are looking for Shawn David Gulseth in connection with the death Dec. 21 of a Kent woman.
01/11/11 Kent Firefighters check for any residual ammonia after a leak Tuesday

Attempted ammonia theft reportedly causes Kent leak

The attempted theft of ammonia appears to be the cause of a leak Tuesday morning at the Washington Cold Storage facility in Kent along Railroad Avenue just south of West James Street.

01/11/11 Kent Firefighters check for any residual ammonia after a leak Tuesday
The fate of the Kent Predators Indoor Football League team was still a question Jan. 7. Officials are hoping for a final decision early next week.

Indoor Football League: Fate of Kent Predators remains uncertain

It appears the Indoor Football League won't have a decision about the future of the Kent Predators until Monday or Tuesday.

The fate of the Kent Predators Indoor Football League team was still a question Jan. 7. Officials are hoping for a final decision early next week.
Bel Biv Devoe performs as part of the Ladies Night Out

Ladies Night Out concert series makes return to Kent Feb. 10

Promoter Steve Brown figured a rhythm and blues concert featuring hit bands of the 1990s would be a hot ticket at the ShoWare Center in Kent. But even the sellout crowd of more than 6,300 at the first Ladies Night Out concert Dec. 10 surprised Brown, who runs Ocean Records out of Lakewood in Pierce County.

Bel Biv Devoe performs as part of the Ladies Night Out
Crews from The Sign Factory of Kirkland install the video display board Thursday for the new marquee at the ShoWare Center in Kent. Arena officials expect to start using the display board Friday.

Kent’s ShoWare Center plans to light up marquee Friday

See the sign. Buy a ticket. That's one of the results Colin Campbell expects from the new ShoWare Center marquee as it daily displays constant messages about upcoming Seattle Thunderbirds hockey games and other events at the Kent arena.

Crews from The Sign Factory of Kirkland install the video display board Thursday for the new marquee at the ShoWare Center in Kent. Arena officials expect to start using the display board Friday.
Jorge Luis Lizarraga

Man under investigation in Devin Topps’ death enters plea on multiple charges

A south King County man who is being investigated in the shooting death of former Kentridge High school athlete Devin Topps pleaded not guilty Wednesday to unlawful possession of a firearm and several other charges.

Jorge Luis Lizarraga
Kent Police are looking for Shawn David Gulseth in connection with the death Dec. 21 of a Kent woman.

Kent Police still looking for suspect in woman’s death

The man allegedly connected with the Dec. 21 death of a 45-year-old Kent woman remained at large Wednesday.

Kent Police are looking for Shawn David Gulseth in connection with the death Dec. 21 of a Kent woman.
Travis Poole

Indoor Football League expects to decide fate of Kent Predators by Friday

Indoor Football League commissioner Tommy Benizio said he remained "very optimistic" that the Kent Predators would return for a second season in February. League officials are expected to decide by Friday whether to approve an ownership change that would keep the Kent franchise alive. The Predators are scheduled to open the season Feb. 25 at the ShoWare Center.

Travis Poole
Tonya Goodwillie is owner of the Allegro Performing Arts Academy in Kent whose students will dance in a Burn the Floor showcase Jan. 16 at the Auburn Performing Arts Center.

Kent dance academy Allegro prepares for Jan. 16 showcase

Tonya Goodwillie realizes just how long she's been teaching dance in Kent because some of her students are the children of former students. "They are in their 20s and having kids and bring their kids here," said Goodwillie during an interview Monday at the Allegro Performing Arts Academy along Central Avenue South.

Tonya Goodwillie is owner of the Allegro Performing Arts Academy in Kent whose students will dance in a Burn the Floor showcase Jan. 16 at the Auburn Performing Arts Center.
Michael Tuckman

Sale of Kent Predators indoor football team falls apart; new coach resigns

The Kent Predators of the professional Indoor Football League are looking for a new owner after a deal to sell the team to the Michael Tuckman-led West Coast Sports collapsed just two months before the start of the 2011 season. The Predators also need a new coach. Heron O'Neal has resigned as coach just a month after a Nov. 18 press conference at the ShoWare Center that announced him as the new coach and Tuckman as team president.

Michael Tuckman

Suspect in Frankel murder continues to fight extradition; governors must sign paperwork

It will take at least another four to six weeks before the Portland man arrested Dec. 10 in connection with the killing of a Kent city employee is brought to Washington to face a murder charge.

Devin Topps

Prosecutors file firearm charge against man suspected in Kent’s Devin Topps killing

A 20-year-old man, who Kent Police are investigating in connection with the shooting death of former Kentridge High school standout Devin Topps, was charged Dec. 23 by King County prosecutors with first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Jorge Luis Lizarraga, who had been living in a Des Moines motel over the last few weeks, remained Dec. 27 in the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center jail in lieu of $750,000 bail.

Devin Topps

Kent seeking new police chief

Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke hopes to hire a new police chief to replace outgoing Chief Steve Strachan within the next couple of months. Deputy chief Mike Painter will serve as interim chief starting Jan. 3 until a replacement is hired.

Police Chief Steve Strachan puts on a custom-made Kent Police “Snugglie” from Administrative Assistant Jo Thompson Dec. 17

Kent says goodbye to its top cop, Steve Strachan

Steve Strachan’s work during his 4 1/2 years as Kent Police chief came into perspective for him one morning last week, when he read a department e-mail about a prior day’s arrest. “Two patrol officers doing diligent work put a gang member pimping juvenile girls into jail,” Strachan recalled, during a Dec. 17 interview at his office. “The (three-month long) case started because two patrol officers got information and ran with it.”

Police Chief Steve Strachan puts on a custom-made Kent Police “Snugglie” from Administrative Assistant Jo Thompson Dec. 17
Professional belly dancer Saqra Raybuck of Kent will perform as part of a New Year's Eve Party Dec. 31 at Jimmy T's on the East Hill.

Belly dancing party New Year’s Eve in Kent

Saqra Raybuck promises a whole lot of belly dancing on New Year's Eve in Kent. Raybuck, a longtime belly dance instructor and performer, has organized a New Year's Eve Party from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 31 at Jimmy T's Sports Bar and Grill, 23803 104th Ave. S.E.

Professional belly dancer Saqra Raybuck of Kent will perform as part of a New Year's Eve Party Dec. 31 at Jimmy T's on the East Hill.
Gregory A. Ross

Renton man sentenced to 4 1/2 years for Kent car crash that killed two women

A 32-year-old Renton man was sentenced Thursday to 4 1/2 years in prison on two counts of vehicular homicide for the deaths of two Des Moines women Aug. 24 in a three-car accident in Kent.

Gregory A. Ross

Man arrested in Frankel murder now fighting extradition to bring him to Washington

It will take at least another four to six weeks before the Portland man arrested Dec. 10 in connection with the killing of a Kent city employee is brought to Washington to face a murder charge. William L. Phillip Jr., 30, refused to waive extradition at a Dec. 21 hearing in Portland, according to Ian Goodhew, deputy chief of staff for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Kent man dies in high speed car wreck on East Hill

Kent Police are investigating a 23-year-old Federal Way man for vehicular homicide in connection with a single-car crash Dec. 17 on the East Hill that killed a 32-year-old Kent man, one of his four passengers.