Wire Service

Ball Corporation to close manufacturing plant in Kent

Ball Corporation announced April 23 that it will close its aluminum-beverage, can-manufacturing plant in Kent in the third quarter of 2008. A pretax charge of approximately $12 million ($7 million after-tax) will be recorded in the company’s second-quarter results. On final disposition of the facilities, the closure is expected to be approximately $4 million cash positive inclusive of income tax benefits.

Brad Eller

Fitness center gets new owner – and new philosophy

Kent Women’s Spa & Fitness Center last month saw a spike in its testosterone levels for the first time in two decades.

Brad Eller

The empty road and a full life

Gary Garner says he spent the first part of his life in the pursuit of money and material gain, but he wants to finish life in a much different way.

Police Blotter

Police arrested a man for investigation of vehicle prowl, after he reportedly took perfume and reading glasses at 3:04 a.m. March 20 from a car in the 100 block of North Railroad Avenue.

Elana Klopfenstein

Elana Marie Klopfstein, 8, has been chosen as a state finalist in the National American Miss Washington Pageant.

Elana Marie Klopfstein, 8, has been chosen as a state finalist in the National American Miss Washington Pageant.

Elana Klopfenstein

Nineteen people escaped safely from a fire that struck at an apartment complex

Nineteen people escaped safely from a fire that struck at an apartment complex 10 a.m. Saturday at the Valli Kee apartments in the 23400 block of 104th Avenue Southeast on Kent’s East Hill.

Hearing on recall petition starts Thursday

A date has been set for a hearing on the recall petition against Don Jacobson, the president of Valley Medical Center’s commissioners.

Briefly

Want to put your name on a piece of local history? The City of Kent has scheduled what it’s calling a “Topping Out” ceremony for the upcoming Kent Events Center, and the public is invited.

Radio dramas offered weekly

Radio drama fans of all ages can come together for listening sessions 10:30 a.m. Thursdays at the Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St.

Man arrested after brother says he was choked

A fight between two adult brothers March 24 ended with the arrest of one of them for investigation of fourth-degree assault. The incident took place at a home in the 13100 block of Southeast 258th Street.

Gov. Chris Gregoire opens her campaign April 7 at the Rainbow Cafe in Auburn. On the left is congressman Norm Dicks. On the right is Gregoire’s husband Mike Gregoire.

Gregoire kicks off re-election bid in Auburn

Gov. Christine Gregoire launched her reelection campaign April 7 in Auburn’s Rainbow Café, a few feet from where she once sat after school while her single mother cooked flapjacks and flipped burgers.

Gov. Chris Gregoire opens her campaign April 7 at the Rainbow Cafe in Auburn. On the left is congressman Norm Dicks. On the right is Gregoire’s husband Mike Gregoire.

Clerk stabbed in robbery attempt

Kent Police are searching for a man in connection with an attempted robbery that left a female clerk injured April 8 at the Days Inn motel, 1711 W. Meeker St.

Sentencing scheduled in hate-crime attack

A 21-year-old Kent man, who pleaded guilty to a hate-crime attack against a Kent taxi-cab driver is scheduled to be sentenced at 3:30 p.m. Friday before Judge Monica Benton at the King County Superior Courthouse in Seattle.

Court rules VMC recall petition as insufficient

King County Superior Court Judge Michael Trickey ruled last week that Chris Clifford’s recall petition of Valley Medical Center/Hospital District 1 Commissioner Don Jacobson isn’t sufficient.

Shirt-cutting episode ends in altercation, arrest

A domestic dispute broke out 10:06 p.m. March 31 at an apartment in the 24900 block of 103rd Avenue Southeast, after a woman became upset at her boyfriend for hanging up a phone on her.

Arraignment in stabbing death is April 21

Randall Edward Connor, the man charged with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of a Kent woman last year, is scheduled to be arraigned 9 a.m. April 21 at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

Teen charged in stabbing death

King County prosecutors charged a 15-year-old Burien girl April 15 with second-degree murder in connection with the April 5 stabbing death of a 49-year-old Kent man at his Panther Lake-area home.

Briefly

Randall Edward Connor, the man charged with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of a Kent woman last year, is scheduled to be arraigned 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

Schools chief to retire

Kent School District Superintendent Barbara Grohe last week announced her upcoming retirement, which will be effective June 2009.