Steve Hunter

The Sounder train pulls into Kent Station Tuesday.  The City of Kent is having a hearing on its 2011 budget Nov. 2

Nov. 2 Kent City Budget hearing will include talk on noisy trains

Kent resident Doug Scharnhorst thinks the city needs to fund a railroad crossing construction project so train engineers no longer have to blow their horns as the locomotive speeds through downtown. Scharnhorst has lived 15 years in the Mill Creek neighborhood, just east of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks. “They go through town all hours of the day and night,” Scharnhorst said. “It’s loud.” Scharnhorst wants the city to include what’s known as the railroad quiet zone project in the 2011 budget. He testified before the Council at a Sept. 21 public hearing and shared the reasons he supports the project during a phone interview. The City Council has a second public hearing for comments about the budget at 5 p.m. Nov. 2 at City Hall.

The Sounder train pulls into Kent Station Tuesday.  The City of Kent is having a hearing on its 2011 budget Nov. 2
Edward Earl Cobb

Seattle man on trial for shooting death of Renton teen at Kent restaurant

The murder trial of a Seattle man accused of shooting a Renton teenager in 2008 at a Kent fast-food restaurant continues this week at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. King County prosecutors rested their case Oct. 26 against Edward Earl Cobb, 20. Cobb is charged with first-degree murder for shooting Chezaray Bacchus, 17, on July 12, 2008 at the Arby's restaurant along East Smith Street.

Edward Earl Cobb

Questions remain in East Hill home invasion: police continue investigation

Kent Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding an early Tuesday morning disturbance at an East Hill home where officers arrived to find three residents detaining a 31-year-old Kent man, who was seriously injured in a fight with the residents.

Kent Police respond to East Hill home invasion; residents detain man

Kent Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding an early Tuesday morning disturbance at an East Hill home where officers arrived to find three residents detaining a 31-year-old Kent man, who was injured in a fight with the residents. Officers were called at about 2:11 a.m. to a house in the 22800 block of 103rd Avenue Southeast, according to a Kent Police media release.

Kent man sentenced to nine years in prison for dealing heroin

A U.S. District Court judge Oct. 22 sentenced a 39-year-old Kent man to nine years in prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin. Ben Hunlock, of Kent, and Victory Hugo Gutama, 45, of Seattle, were arrested March 15 in north Seattle while engaged in a 2-pound heroin deal.

The 2011 Nissan Leaf

Electric vehicle charging stations coming to Kent, rest of Puget Sound area

Expect to see electric vehicle-charging stations popping up next year in Kent and throughout the central Puget Sound area and Olympia. The stations are part of a public-private partnership backed by the federal government to create infrastructure to accommodate the 2011 Nissan Leaf and other new electric vehicles hitting the market later this year and over the next few years.

The 2011 Nissan Leaf
Doug and Maria Nelson of Kent look over a 2011 Nissan Leaf brochure. They plan to buy the new electric vehicle later this year.

Kent couple to be among first to purchase new Nissan Leaf electric car

At Doug and Maria Nelson's Kent home, the debate is on over who will get to drive their as-yet-undelivered 2011 Nissan Leaf electric vehicle. "We'll charge it at night and I'll let Doug borrow it," Maria Nelson said during a recent interview at their home. "We both want the car." The Nelsons are pumped about the first all-electric car made by a major auto company. They paid a $99 deposit last spring to reserve the five-door hatchback and placed an order this fall. They hope to have the car by the end of the year.

Doug and Maria Nelson of Kent look over a 2011 Nissan Leaf brochure. They plan to buy the new electric vehicle later this year.
Seth Frankel

Frankel murder case at a standstill five months after his death

Five months after Seth Frankel’s death, the Auburn Police investigation to solve his murder remains at a standstill. Frankel, 41, who worked for the city of Kent, was found dead May 22 lying on the floor of his Auburn home. He died May 21 from stab wounds to the arms and neck, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. “There is no update; there is no movement at all,” said Auburn Police Sgt. David Colglazier during an Oct. 19 phone interview.

Seth Frankel
Kent resident Katherine L. Matteoni

Local woman, 81, dies in collision Saturday in Kent; family of four taken to hospital

Kent Police continued Wednesday to investigate the cause of a two-car collision Oct. 16 that claimed the life of an 81-year-old woman and sent four people to the hospital.

Kent resident Katherine L. Matteoni
Dennis and Jennifer Weigel of Auburn wheel their daughter Grace

Carpinito’s pumpkin patch puts locals in the Halloween spirit

Stephanie Brace prefers to pick her Halloween pumpkins off the vine. That's why Brace brought her three young daughters on a sunny afternoon last week to the Carpinito Brothers U-Pick Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze along the West Valley Highway in Kent, just north of South 272nd Street across from the Smith Brothers Dairy.

Dennis and Jennifer Weigel of Auburn wheel their daughter Grace

Kent Youth Summit Conference: Share your ideas for keeping Kent kids connected with community

Do you have ideas about providing more activities for Kent youth? Then join the discussion Oct. 21 at the Youth Summit Conference 7 p.m. at Kent United Methodist Church, 11010 S.E. 248th St. The event is sponsored by the church's social-outreach committee in an effort to develop more programs in Kent for children of all ages.

Captain Smartypants

Seattle ensemble Captain Smartypants to perform in Des Moines

Director Eric Lane Barnes promises the vocal comedy ensemble Captain Smartypants will provide plenty of entertainment to its Des Moines concert. "We're a lot of fun and we're musically sound," Barnes said in a phone interview. "We like being goofy." Captain Smartypants, a nine-member ensemble from the Seattle Men's Chorus, performs as part of a Bach to Broadway concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Des Moines United Methodist Church sanctuary, 22225 Ninth Ave. S.

Captain Smartypants
Congressional challenger Suzan DelBene

Congressional candidates DelBene, Reichert, share views with Kent Chamber

District 8 Congressional incumbent Dale Reichert and challenger Suzan DelBene met with the Kent Chamber of Commerce to share their views.

Congressional challenger Suzan DelBene

Good news: Proposed Kent city budget would add new employees, start reserve fund

Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke presented a 2011 proposed budget to the City Council Tuesday that calls for hiring 17 new employees as well as establishing reserve funds of $2 million to help fight Green River flooding and cover lost tax revenues if two state liquor initiatives are approved by voters.

Andre O. Johnson pleads not guilty to charges of animal cruelty during his arraignment Oct. 14 at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

Kent man pleads not guilty in starving death of puppy

A 20-year-old Kent man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge of first-degree animal cruelty for reportedly starving a puppy to death last year in his abandoned apartment.

Andre O. Johnson pleads not guilty to charges of animal cruelty during his arraignment Oct. 14 at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

Kent Predators hire new Indoor Football League coach after Billings team folds

The Kent Predators of the professional Indoor Football League have hired Heron O'Neal, the former Billings Outlaws coach, as their new coach for the 2011 season. O'Neal became available after the Billings team folded last week. O'Neal coached the Outlaws to the 2009 and 2010 Indoor Football League titles. In five years at Billings, O'Neal had a 67-17 record and won three league titles.

Seattle Mist players surround a Chicago Bliss player at a Lingerie Football League game Oct. 8 at the ShoWare Center in Kent.

Kent Police respond to fight among Lingerie Football League fans

Extra police officers were called to help break up a fight among several Lingerie Football League fans after one man reportedly yelled a racial slur at another man during the Oct. 8 game at the ShoWare Center in Kent. Kent Police officers on duty at the women's game between the Seattle Mist and the Chicago Bliss asked for additional units at about 10 p.m. Oct. 8 because of problems with "intoxicated subjects and fights," according to the police report. The game started at about 9 p.m.

Seattle Mist players surround a Chicago Bliss player at a Lingerie Football League game Oct. 8 at the ShoWare Center in Kent.
Kent Police officer Jennifer Prusa checks a database from her patrol car last month

Kent Police working to reduce city crime rate; emphasis patrols, grant dollars to help

Kent Police officer Jennifer Prusa pulled her patrol car behind a woman parked at the McDonald's restaurant parking lot across from Kent-Meridian High School, stepped out and approached the vehicle. "That lady's been sitting here, I'm going to have a chat with her," Prusa said.

Kent Police officer Jennifer Prusa checks a database from her patrol car last month
Candy Bouquet owner Staci Buss

Business expo at Kent ShoWare Center connects local businesses with customers

Bill Riordan found the Allied Waste Services and Kent Chamber of Commerce Business Expo Wednesday at the ShoWare Center a good way to promote the new Mick Kelly's Irish Pub and Restaurant in Kent.

Candy Bouquet owner Staci Buss

Kent man charged with starving puppy to death

King County prosecutors have charged a 20-year-old Kent man with first-degree animal cruelty for allegedly starving a puppy to death in his abandoned apartment.