News

A tour group strolls past an earthen structure June 16 at Kent's Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Park. The tours was to give the public a chance to learn about the park's creator

Kent receives grant to promote Earthworks bicycle tour

The Kent Arts Commission has received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to develop and promote a 2011 bicycle tour of the earthworks projects located in the Green River Valley, including Kent.

  • Aug 5, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
A tour group strolls past an earthen structure June 16 at Kent's Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Park. The tours was to give the public a chance to learn about the park's creator

Sheriff’s Office looking for second Covington rape suspect

King County Sheriff's Office detectives are looking for a man in his mid-20s suspected in the rape of a 21 year-old woman on July 28 in Covington. The attack occurred just after midnight July 28 near the LA Fitness, 27245 172nd Ave. S.E., according to an Aug. 4 Sheriff's Office media release.

  • Aug 4, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
Barry Lee Saunders

Southcenter Mall murder trial rescheduled

The trial for a Tukwila man accused of shooting a man to death in November 2008 at the Westfield Southcenter Mall has been rescheduled to Jan. 19, 2011 at King County Superior Court in Kent.

  • Aug 3, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
Barry Lee Saunders

Kent firefighters rescue disabled man from house fire

Kent firefighters rescued a disabled man from a house fire in the 10500 block of Southeast 211th Street at about 8:54 p.m. Aug. 1 in what was first reported to be an outdoor smoke investigation.

  • Aug 2, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Crews to build containment wall along Highway 18

Work begins Aug. 2 on State Route 18 near Peasley Canyon in Auburn to permanently repair damage from a large landslide in January that has closed the westbound truck-climbing lane between Highway 167 and Interstate 5.

  • Aug 2, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
07/30/10 Senator Patty Murray unveiled Army Corps plan to repair the Howard Hanson Dam Friday

Army corps reveals new Hanson Dam repair plans to protect Green River Valley

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has decided to install additional drains as well as extend an existing drainage tunnel to repair the Howard Hanson Dam rather than extending a temporary grout curtain. The corps revealed the new plans at a press conference Friday in Seattle organized by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., to announce how the corps would spend the $44 million approved for repairs as part of a $59 billion emergency supplemental spending bill approved earlier this month by Congress and signed July 29 by President Obama.

07/30/10 Senator Patty Murray unveiled Army Corps plan to repair the Howard Hanson Dam Friday
Pat Ellis

Kent car show to raise funds for police support group

Pat Ellis started Cops With Cancer to help make sure Greg Duffin's dream to support his fellow police officers fighting the disease became a reality. Ellis, a city of Kent crisis intervention coordinator and chaplain for the police and fire departments, sat down at a table sandwiched between a 1932 Ford Roadster and a classic Harley-Davidson in the showroom at the Kent Performance Auto Center to discuss the endeavor. The center will host the Second Annual Greg Duffin Car and Motorcycle Show July 31, a fundraiser for Cops With Cancer, a Kent-based nonprofit set up to support officers struck by cancer.

Pat Ellis
Seattle Thunderbirds center Charles Wells heads up the ShoWare Center ice in an Oct. 2 game against the Tri-Cities. The T-Birds open the 2010-11 home season Sept. 25.

Thunderbirds release 2010-11 hockey schedule for Kent’s ShoWare Center

The Seattle Thunderbirds junior hockey team will play its home opener for the 2010-11 regular season at 7:05 p.m. Sept. 25 against the Portland Winterhawks at the ShoWare Center in Kent. The T-Birds, who released their tentative schedule July 28, open the Western Hockey League regular season against the Everett Silvertips Sept. 24 at Comcast Arena in Everett.

  • Jul 29, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
Seattle Thunderbirds center Charles Wells heads up the ShoWare Center ice in an Oct. 2 game against the Tri-Cities. The T-Birds open the 2010-11 home season Sept. 25.
Project coordinator Bruce Axworthy

Lake Meridian group to replace Kent’s popular Meridian Belle boat

Michelle McDowell walked out on the dock behind her Lake Meridian home and looked at the Meridian Belle before crews started to tear apart the 40-year-old boat. "She's just falling apart," said McDowell, who carefully stepped up on the boat but took only a few steps because of the weak floorboards. The boat had once been the queen of the lake hosting dinner parties and even a brass band as it traveled around the lake on Kent's East Hill. But nobody had used the boat for a couple of years because of its bad condition. That, however, is all about to change.

Project coordinator Bruce Axworthy
National Night Out organizer Janet Nance and her daughter Genevieve

More than 80 Kent neighborhoods ready to gather for National Night Out

Janet Nance discovered planning became much easier this year for the annual National Night Out gathering Aug. 3 at the Pheasants Hollow neighborhood in Panther Lake because the area has annexed into the city of Kent.

National Night Out organizer Janet Nance and her daughter Genevieve

Sheriff’s Office looking for Covington rape suspect

King County Sheriff’s Office detectives are looking for a 51-year-old man suspected in the rape of a woman earlier this week at a Covington house. After the alleged assault the man reportedly made the woman drive to an ATM in Renton and withdraw money. He then stole her car, according to a Sheriff's Office media release.

  • Jul 28, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
Water is released out of the Howard Hanson Dam that helps protect the Green River Valley from flooding.

U.S. House approves $44 million for Hanson Dam repairs to help prevent flooding

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 308-108 Tuesday to approve a $59 billion emergency supplemental spending bill that includes $44 million to repair the Howard Hanson Dam that helps protect the Green River Valley from flooding.

Water is released out of the Howard Hanson Dam that helps protect the Green River Valley from flooding.

Kent man pleads guilty to sexual exploitation of girls in Cambodia

A 59-year-old Kent man pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle to sexual exploitation of a child in connection with his January trip to Cambodia to have sex with underage girls. Craig Thomas Carr faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years in prison as well as lifetime supervised release, according to a U.S. Attorney's Office Western District of Washington media release.

  • Jul 27, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Kent city officials urge owners to license pets

Owners of unlicensed dogs and cats have until Oct. 1 to register their pets in order to avoid a fine. The city of Kent has started a campaign to get owners to license their pets as part of the new Regional Animal Services program that serves King County and 27 cities.

  • Jul 27, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

POLICE BLOTTER: Man arrested for punching girlfriend

AssaultKent Police arrested a 25-year-old man for investigation of provoking assault, obstructing justice and resisting arrest in connection with a fight with a 34-year-old man… Continue reading

  • Jul 26, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Council delays vote on measure that would tack fees to vehicle licenses

The Kent City Council did not take any action at its July 20 meeting about whether to form a transportation benefit district in order to charge Kent residents an annual city vehicle-license registration fee that would cost anywhere from $10 to $20, and would be used to fund city street projects.

Des Moines sailboat races to help local charities

Take your sailboat to join the race or just watch the races each Thursday from July 22 through Aug. 12 on the Puget Sound in Des Moines. The fifth annual Mid-Sound Summer Sailing Social raises funds for Hospitality House and the Des Moines Food Bank. The fun races are hosted by the Three Tree Point Yacht Club, The Poverty Bay Power Squadron and the Des Moines Marina.

  • Jul 24, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Kent sets public hearing about height restrictions

Residents can testify about a proposed height restriction and other amendments to the city of Kent's Downtown Commercial Enterprise Zoning District at 7 p.m. July 26 at the Council Chambers at City Hall, 220 Fourth Ave. S.

  • Jul 23, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
The U.S. Senate passed a bill July 22 that includes $44 million for repairs at the Howard Hanson Dam that helps protect the Green River Valley from flooding.

U.S. Senate approves $44 million for Hanson Dam repairs; bill now goes to House

The U.S. Senate passed by unanimous consent a $60 billion emergency supplemental spending bill July 22 that includes $44 million to repair the Howard Hanson Dam that helps protect the Green River Valley from flooding. The bill now goes back to the House for consideration. The House is expected to consider the bill soon because Congress is scheduled to take its August recess Aug. 9 to Sept. 12.

  • Jul 23, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
The U.S. Senate passed a bill July 22 that includes $44 million for repairs at the Howard Hanson Dam that helps protect the Green River Valley from flooding.

Teacher with ties to Kent, Renton schools enters plea to sexual misconduct

A former teacher in the Kent and Renton school districts pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a charge of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor for reportedly having sex with a 17-year-old male student last month when she was a teacher at Garfield High School in Seattle.