As 2014 comes to a close The Reporter looks back at some of the top stories of the year.
1. Mayor Drama
• Maple Valley
After weeks of rumors and speculation, on March 15 some members of the Maple Valley City Council asked Mayor Bill Allison to temporarily step down over allegations of improper communication with at least one juvenile female during his role as a driving instructor.
A 17-year-old female told authorities that Allison, 41, made inappropriate and sexually suggestive comments during her time as his student at the I-5 Driving School. She reported her feelings to a high school guidance counselor. The school contacted the King County Sheriff’s Office about the allegations and detectives started an investigation in late January.
Allison consistently denied any inappropriate conduct to detectives and to The Reporter. The King County Prosecutor’s Office declined to bring a case against Allison in March because of “legally insufficient” evidence. In August, Allison, an instructor at the I-5 Driving School in Maple Valley for more than two years, voluntarily surrendered his driving school instructor license.
• Black Diamond
After 11 turbulent months on the job, Dave Gordon submitted his resignation as mayor of Black Diamond on Nov. 25. Six days later, at a special meeting, the Black Diamond City Council appointed Councilwoman and mayor pro tempore Carol Benson as his replacement. Gordon emailed a statement to The Reporter for the people of Black Diamond saying he made “a very difficult decision” and resigned “due to circumstances beyond my control.” Gordon and the City Council clashed repeatedly during his time in office, most notably over a sexual harassment claim filed against Gordon Feb. 23 by then-city administrator Christy Todd.
Gordon’s relationship with the City Council hit a boiling point in April when Gordon alleged that two council members came to his office and demanded his resignation and threatened his job, marriage and reputation if he did not step down. The council members denied leveling threats, but did say they recommended he step down.
2. Covington City and Council changes
Covington lost its leading staff member when Derek Matheson resigned as city manager in July after being named Kent’s chief administrative officer. The even-mannered city manager worked seven years in Covington, helping to grow the city’s economy, build new streets and bring in businesses. The City Council unanimously selected Regan Bolli for the job in November.
Citing health concerns, long-time Covington Councilman Wayne Snoey announced in December that he’d be stepping down from his post. Snoey first served on the council from January 2002 through March 2004 — leaving for health-related problems — and again from October 2007 to 2014. Snoey battled stage three prostate cancer in 201-12.
The foundation of Maple Valley’s city government also rumbled when Victoria Laise Jonas resigned from her seat in June. Jonas, who was also cofounder and manager of the popular Maple Valley Farmers Market, spent 15 years on the council and stepped down because she was moving out of the city. The council appointed Dana Parnello to replace Jonas in August. Next season the farmers market will be managed by Lee Ellis and Linda Kowalsky.
3. Tahoma basketball coach allegations
Brian Davis abruptly resigned as teacher and coach of the Tahoma boys basketball team in October after allegations of inappropriate conversations and contact with a female student.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is still investigating the allegations against Davis, a psychology and history teacher and boys basketball coach at Tahoma for two years. Emails and notes from the Tahoma School District stated that a 17-year-old female student said she had contact with Davis in and outside of school, as well as on social media, starting in March or April of 2014 and lasting through the summer.
Davis denied flirtatious in-person allegations, stating he only ever gave “side-hugs.” There were no claims of any sexual contact, text messaging or emailing. Tahoma hired Shawn Kilgallon last month as Davis’ replacement on the basketball court.
4. Change in authority at Maple Valley Police Department
Police Chief Michelle Bennett announced her departure from the department in June. She was in her post as chief for most of the last decade.
Bennett was named chief in Maple Valley in 2004 when she was a sergeant. After becoming a captain in 2008 she completed her probationary year at the rank with Precinct 3, then resumed the post of chief in Maple Valley in 2009.
The department named Captain DJ Nesel as her replacement in August. Nesel joined the King County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy in 1991 after serving in the United States Marine Corps as a military police investigator.
A farewell reception for Bennett was held at the Sept. 8 City Council meeting. Nesel took over on Sept. 15.
5. Tahoma School District acquires land for new high school project
The King County Council agreed to sell 35 acres of the Donut Hole property to the Tahoma School District in October. Shortly after the sale was announced, Elk Run Golf Course closed permanently. Elk Run had been in a lease agreement for part of that property for half of their 18-hole course.
In late October, the Maple Valley City Council agreed to sell eight acres of what is known as Summit Park to the school district. The district intends to use the eight acres for parking lots and a bus loop. In exchange for the land, the district is giving the city access to the parking lot for use during non-school hours and activities.
6. Supreme Court denies petition for review
The state Supreme Court denied a petition for review in June filed by Toward Responsible Development over a Court of Appeals decision upholding Kirkland-developer YarrowBay’s plans to build two master planned developments in Black Diamond.
The Land Use Petition Act appeal of the two projects, The Villages and Lawson Hills, was filed in October 2010. It was argued before King County Superior Court Judge Patrick Oishi in August 2012. Oishi dismissed the case and his ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeals.
The two developments are estimated to build about 6,000 residences in the city.
Clearing and grading work began in December 2013 on Villages Phase 1A, about a 93-acre area.
7. Budding pot issues
Officials in Covington, Maple Valley and Black Diamond felt the changes of marijuana legislation along with the rest of the state in 2014. In Covington, the city issued a tenant improvement building permit in November for its first prospective recreational marijuana retail store, the proposed location being 27623 Covington Way SE, next to the Napa Auto Parts store, just south of Costco. The tenant improvement permit is the first step required by the state before inspectors check the store location for compliance with all state regulations.
Over the summer, a group of Maple Valley residents voiced concern and started a petition against the proposed construction of two industrial warehouse buildings that would be used to process and produce marijuana.
Maple Valley Industries LLC applied for a Commercial Site Development Permit to prepare a 6.48 acre site, located in unincorporated King County at a dead end between Southeast 248th Street and Highway 18.
In Black Diamond, city officials revoked the business license of Lady Buds, a community garden management services company that facilitated an exchange between sick patients and medical marijuana growers. The city claimed the shop misrepresented its application and role with marijuana. The owners appealed the decision, saying the city was well aware of the business it was running and renewed their business license once, only to change its mind more than a year later. Among other things, the owners said they believed homophobia played a role in the city’s decision against the business. The business owners withdrew their appeal against the city on April 4, three days before its scheduled hearing.
8. Area Parks closer to completion
Ravensdale Park is nearing completion, with an expected opening date in early 2015.
The Covington Community Park phase one was completed in 2012. Phase two planning began in 2014 with the hope to break ground in 2015.
On the list of projects for phase two are a covered performance stage with a grass seating area, completing the trail system, a tennis court, outdoor fitness equipment, one small and one large picnic shelter, a parking and drop off area, as well as all the related infrastructure.
9. State sports Success
Laura Williams, a senior swimmer at Kentlake, won the 4A state championship in the 200-yard individual medley. She also took third in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Tahoma’s Jessica Miller placed fourth in the 50-yard freestyle and third in the 100-yard freestyle at the state meet. Another Tahoma athlete, Lindsey Hanger, placed sixth in the 100-yard freestyle and seventh in the 50-yard freestyle.
Tahoma’s 200-yard freestyle relay team placed fourth at the state meet.
The Tahoma volleyball team finished sixth at the state tournament in November.
Kentwood boys soccer team finished fourth at the 4A state tournament.
The Tahoma girls and boys cross country teams took home bronze at the 4A state meet.
Kentwood’s Terence Grady placed fifth in the 110-meter hurdles at the 4A state track and field meet. Brandon Stribling, then a junior at Kentwood, placed third in the long jump at the state meet.
Tahoma’s Brock Eager placed third in the shot put at the state meet while Denham Patricelli, then a Tahoma senior, placed first in the javelin.
Kentwood’s 400-meter relay team won third at the 4A state meet.
Danielle Agoh, then a Tahoma senior, took home first place in the triple jump at the state meet.
Tahoma wrestlers finished fifth at the 2014 Mat Classic.
Brock Eager, then a senior at Tahoma, won the national title in the hammer throw.
10. Holiwell charged
Darrion Keith Holiwell, a King County Sheriff’s Office deputy assigned to the Ravensdale firing range, was arrested June 19 and charged with promoting prostitution, theft and selling a controlled substance.
In August the 49-year-old Holiwell pleaded guilty to three felonies in King County Superior Court – promoting prostitution in the second degree, first-degree theft and selling steroids, a controlled substance.
The charging documents stated Holiwell “did knowingly advance and profit from the prostitution” of his wife.
According to the investigators, in 2007 Holiwell “exchanged 63 cases of King County ammunition” during a five month period for $13,240.
He will serve one year and a day in prison for the three crimes and one year of community custody once he is released.
Holiwell began as a deputy in 1995 and was the chief firearms instructor assigned to the Ravensdale firing range. He was also a member of the King County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Team or SWAT.
Honorable Mentions:
• Former Kentwood star Demitrius Bronson signs with the Seahawks.
• Tahoma Superintendent Mike Maryanski retires.
• Covington Town Center takes shape.
