News

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.
Example of the sandbags the City of Kent will use to line 12 miles of Green River levees

Green River Trail in Kent to close – making way for giant sandbags

In an effort to help prevent flooding in the Green River Valley, the City of Kent will place 20,000 giant sandbags along the Green River levee beginning Oct. 7. The bags will be in place by Nov. 1.

  • Oct 6, 2009
  • BY Wire Service
Example of the sandbags the City of Kent will use to line 12 miles of Green River levees
Maple Valley residents boat from their home during the flooding in early 2009.

Floods, disasters and insurance: Kent attorney offers timely advice

As an attorney, I’ve had several people ask me my thoughts on how they might prepare for a flood or other disaster from a legal perspective. As news of the potential flooding in the valley continues, the answer given by our government agencies is: buy insurance.

Maple Valley residents boat from their home during the flooding in early 2009.

Soroptimists asking for warm clothing for children

Through Nov. 15, Soroptimist International of Kent will process donated coats and socks through Kent School District’s PTA Clothing Bank.Your donation provides underprivileged girls and… Continue reading

  • Oct 5, 2009
  • BY Wire Service
King County Engineer Tom Bean talks about the history of the Howard Hanson Dam and the Green River to help people understand the history of flooding and what they have done to prevent flooding

Green River flooding: Have a plan, officials tell Kent residents

Diane Demeerleer remains uncertain about how much flooding to expect this winter at her Kent condominium along the Green River. But if Demeerleer, who lives in The Lakes neighborhood north of the Riverbend Golf Course, needs to evacuate, she's ready to head to her sister's house in Tacoma.

King County Engineer Tom Bean talks about the history of the Howard Hanson Dam and the Green River to help people understand the history of flooding and what they have done to prevent flooding

KING5.com: Kent is prepared for floods, mayor says

Kent residents and city officials met at the ShoWare Center on Saturday to discuss the potential for floods this fall and winter. During the meeting, Mayor Suzette Cooke assured that "not only will we survive, but we will thrive through this." KING5.com has a full wrap and video.

  • Oct 5, 2009
  • BY Wire Service
King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg speaks Oct. 2 at a domestic-violence awareness rally at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

Domestic violence rally in Kent: ‘We have a long way to go’

Carol Greco lost a sister to domestic violence five years ago.Greco, of Federal Way, told the story about her sister to a reporter after Greco… Continue reading

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg speaks Oct. 2 at a domestic-violence awareness rally at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

Instruments from American Idol fans due in October, but it’s not too late to get involved

Band instruments bought with money donated mostly by fans of American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert are expected to arrive in Kent by October 12, but… Continue reading

  • Oct 2, 2009
  • BY Wire Service
City of Kent Parks Planner Lydia Moorehead talks with Kent resident Larry Tukes

Keep up parks before expanding to more, Kent City Parks staff tells Council

Kent city planners want to do more in the next several years to keep up existing parks rather than simply look to add more parks. That's one of the primary themes emerging as city staff update the long-range parks plan along with input from residents. The plan has not been updated since 2000.

City of Kent Parks Planner Lydia Moorehead talks with Kent resident Larry Tukes

Free student immunization clinic is Oct. 7

The Kent School District is teaming with Public Health - Seattle King County to provide free immunizations for all students in the Kent School District. The clinic is made possible in part by a grant from Group Health Foundation.

  • Oct 2, 2009
  • BY Wire Service

County budget hearing set for Kent

Want to tell King County officials when they come to Kent which programs to keep or cut? Residents can comment about the 2010 budget proposed by County Executive Kurt Triplett at a County Council public hearing at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 in Courtroom 3F at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center, 401 Fourth Ave. N.

  • Oct 2, 2009
  • BY Wire Service

Speak your piece Tuesday on the Kent City Budget: Hearing scheduled

Residents can tell the Kent City Council what they want or don’t want in the 2010 city budget at a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 200 Fourth Ave. S.

(From left to right) Zhang Chi

Exchange experience enriched Kent student’s life

Life experiences have a way of twisting our perspectives, forcing us to see what we purposely overlooked before. This summer I was given an opportunity to spend 3 weeks in China, and my way of seeing the world is irreversibly altered because of it.

  • Oct 2, 2009
  • BY Wire Service
(From left to right) Zhang Chi

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.

A general-purpose syringe. The vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus

King County readies for arrival of H1N1 flu vaccine; first batch comes next week

The first, small amounts of H1N1 influenza (swine flu) vaccine have been released by the federal government and will be arriving locally next week in King County for immunization of health-care workers. The larger amounts of vaccine that are needed to begin broader-scale vaccination for people who are at higher risk for H1N1 are projected to begin arriving in mid-October.

  • Oct 1, 2009
  • BY Wire Service
A general-purpose syringe. The vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus
Danielle Patke

Kent schools enrollment down, meaning fewer state dollars

While some schools in the Kent School District are scrambling to make room for larger-than-expected populations, overall enrollment in the district is down so far this year by 130 students, which could cost the district hundreds of thousands of dollars in state funding they are counting on to meet their budget.

Danielle Patke
Tom Oxley with King County Elections looks through a list of ballots that have been electronically scanned and filtered to only include the Kent School District board member race Sept. 9.

Recount shows no change in Kent School Board race

A mandatory recount in the Kent School District Director District No. 5 primary election earlier in September revealed no changes in the vote total to either candidate, meaning Dale Smith, who has unofficially dropped out of the race, will remain on the second ballot line this fall.

Tom Oxley with King County Elections looks through a list of ballots that have been electronically scanned and filtered to only include the Kent School District board member race Sept. 9.

Kent School Board race heads for recount

The race for the second ballot line for this fall's open Kent School Board is officially headed to mandatory recount.King County Elections Officials Sept. 2… Continue reading

  • Sep 30, 2009
  • BY Wire Service
Kent Chamber of Commerce staff smile before the organization's Sept. 2 candidate forum. They are

Kent Chamber of Commerce forum draws a crowd

The Kent Chamber of Commerce conducted an elections forum Sept. 2 for the candidates for Kent Mayor and City Council.

  • Sep 30, 2009
  • BY Wire Service
Kent Chamber of Commerce staff smile before the organization's Sept. 2 candidate forum. They are

What would Jesus do? Well, he can’t run for school board, but he did get a vote

Not sure who to vote for in the Kent School Board race?How about Mickey Mouse?Don't laugh. According to 2009 Primary Election Recount Write-In Report, the… Continue reading