Brian Beckley

Former competitive skater Sonia Spence

For this Disney on Ice skater, her job is a complete joy

It’s a long way from Nashville, Tenn. to the ShoWare Center in Kent, but it’s just the beginning for Soniah Spence, who will take the ice as part of Disney On Ice’s “Worlds of Fantasy” show.

Former competitive skater Sonia Spence

The Evil (Yankee) Empire strikes again

Last year at this time I was in Philadelphia celebrating a World Series Championship with 2 million of my closest friends. I had high hopes (high, apple pie-in-the-sky hopes) of doing it again this year, but, unfortunately, the New York Yankees were working from a different script.

From left

Boeing brings in big haul to local food bank

Workers from Boeing's Airborne Early Warning and Control team on Friday made a donation of more than 12,000 food items to the Kent Food Bank… Continue reading

From left
From left

Union files grievance against Kent School District alleging low staffing

Just two months after going on strike in part because of class sizes and case loads, the Kent Education Association has filed a grievance with… Continue reading

From left
Kent Food Bank volunteers Roy Padilla

LOCAL HUNGER: The need is growing for Kent Food Bank

It’s been a busy year at the Kent Food Bank, as staff prepare for what is usually their busiest season. “It’s up,” Executive Director Jeniece Choate said of the food bank’s numbers. “It’s definitely up.”

Kent Food Bank volunteers Roy Padilla
Dan Johnson

Two decades of good nutrition: Kent schools’ director of food services retires

The slogan over at the Kent School District’s central kitchen is “We serve education every day” and for the past 21 years Dan Johnson, the director of food and nutritional services, has lived it.

Dan Johnson

Kent School District ends year with $22.6 million balance, Kent Education Association cries foul

The end-of-year reports are in and the Kent School District appears to have weathered this past year's financial storm in pretty good shape, which has prompted officials from the Kent Education Association (the teachers' union) to chastise the district for not spending money it had allotted.

Todd Reber

Reber Ranch celebrates 25 years

A lot has changed in the past 25 years, especially up at the Reber Ranch, where they've watched the city creep closer and closer."Kent's gotten… Continue reading

Todd Reber
From left

In the sky, race means nothing: Tuskegee Airman shares message of hope, triumph with Kent Mountain View students

Back in 1927, when he was 4 years old, William Holloman was swept up in the excitement of Charles Lindbergh’s cross-Atlantic flight and all the attention it brought him.

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Kent-Meridian parent Janice Adams

In their shoes: K-M parents learn firsthand about their kids’ classes

It wasn’t until the teacher started passing out quizzes that parent Kasheen Brown began to worry a little. “I thought they were going to make me take the quiz in geometry,” Brown said with a laugh. “I was worried. It’s been some years.”

Kent-Meridian parent Janice Adams

Kent mayor presents proposed budget; positions to be cut

With revenues expected to continue to fall, Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke Thursday night presented her 2010 budget proposal, which eliminates nearly 56 positions - 24 of them actual layoffs.

Voter pamphlet error: Albertson apologizes, says she didn’t know she could change wording

Kent Council member and candidate Elizabeth Albertson is apologizing for stating in the 2009 Washington state voters’ guide that she is the executive director of the Kent chapter of Communities in Schools, despite being let go from the position in June.

Jim Berrios and Suzette Cooke answer questions at the Kent Reporter Debate Forum Oct. 19 at the Kent Senior Activity Center. Berrios is challenging incumbent Cooke for the city's top position.

Kent Reporter debate has Kent mayor, Council candidates talking it up

Voters from all over Kent turned the Senior Activity Center into the focus of the city's political energy Monday as the candidates for the open positions in city government all gathered for the Kent Reporter-sponsored debate forum. Roughly 300 people filled the senior-center meeting room to watch candidates in three important city races square off.

Jim Berrios and Suzette Cooke answer questions at the Kent Reporter Debate Forum Oct. 19 at the Kent Senior Activity Center. Berrios is challenging incumbent Cooke for the city's top position.

Kent School District preps for threat of Green River flooding

Like many Kent valley businesses, the Kent School District is preparing a plan for what to do with its three valley schools - and the students and teachers in them - if flood waters start to rise this winter.

Kent Council Position 6: Incumbent Albertson squares off against Koepp

Only one city Council incumbent is being challenged this year in the general election, but Councilwoman Elizabeth Albertson is ready for the challenge from political newcomer Geoff Koepp.

Chocolate entrepreneurs Charity Kowalczyk

Xocai Healthy Chocolates: Get your antioxidants, say South King County entrepreneurs

Charity Kowalczyk and her mother Marie Erskine work well together, filling in each other’s gaps.“She’s the smart one,” Erskine said, pointing a thumb at her… Continue reading

Chocolate entrepreneurs Charity Kowalczyk
King County will move animals out of Kent Animal Care and Control Shelter by Nov. 1 because of flooding risk. King County Executive Kurt Triplett has announced that he is providing six months of funding in his 2010 budget to help the county begin a regional process for transitioning out of animal care and sheltering services.

Whistleblower letter alleges neglect at the Kent Animal Shelter

With word that County Executive Kurt Triplett's budget seeks to get the county out of the animal care and control game, one group - including… Continue reading

King County will move animals out of Kent Animal Care and Control Shelter by Nov. 1 because of flooding risk. King County Executive Kurt Triplett has announced that he is providing six months of funding in his 2010 budget to help the county begin a regional process for transitioning out of animal care and sheltering services.
Jordan Schaff

Emerald Park Elementary students jog for dollars, fitness

The school year is off and running at Emerald Park Elementary, where the parent teacher student association hosted its first fundraiser Oct. 2, a Safari Jog-a-Thon that had kids of all ages taking laps around the field behind the school.

Jordan Schaff
The Kent School District's sale of the old Panther Lake Elementary is on hold.

Kent School district plans to sell property hit snag

As students and teachers are getting adjusted to the new Panther Lake Elementary School, district plans to move ahead with sale of the old building… Continue reading

The Kent School District's sale of the old Panther Lake Elementary is on hold.

Flood insurance: Buy it, officials say; but it may not cover all losses

While no one can say for sure if or when there will be a flood this winter, the advice is the same from the governor to the chamber to the city to everyone in between, including Mike Howard, External Affairs Director for FEMA Region 10.