Twenty years ago, people would come to church every week to learn, sing, and leave happy. Today we can learn and sing along with the world’s best listening to our iPods or by streaming live church services on the internet. We used to save up all our spiritual questions for Sunday and ask the pastor, but now we can “Google” them on our phone. And you may have noticed that there is an overwhelming population of us who believe that God still loves and talks to us even if we don’t go to church. So, this causes many of us to ask “Why even have churches then?”
Barbara Jeanne Anderson, a Kentlake High School math teacher, pleaded not guilty in superior court today to a charge of first-degree sexual misconduct.
The King County Prosecutor’s Office filed the charge, which is a class C felony, against the 37-year-old teacher alleging she had sexual contact with a 17-year-old male student in her class.
The Sierra Club South King County group and Friends of Soos Creek Park, in coordination with King County Parks, gathered Saturday morning for the 16th semiannual restoration of Soos Creek Park and Trail.
United Way of King County is reporting lower than usual volume and wait times at its 18 free tax preparation locations.
The program is designed to help low and middle-income families prepare their income tax forms, take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other tax credits while avoiding fees associated with commercial preparers.
April is Disaster Preparedness Month and the King County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) urges citizens to take simple steps to prepare for earthquakes, floods, man-made disasters and other emergencies.
“We can’t stop disasters from happening, but we can prepare to survive them,” says OEM Director Hillman Mitchell. “Now is a perfect time to think about what you would do if a large disaster were to strike our region.”
Students in the class of 2011 showed off their wide variety of senior projects during the open house in the Tahoma High gym March 25.
Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Jeffrey C. Gebhardt graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas
I can’t tell you how many years I have waited to become a grandmother. I had just about lost hope when, approximately two years ago, our daughter and her husband told us they had started the adoption process. Then the waiting began. Last October, they finally got the referral for a baby boy born in South Korea on Feb. 28, 2010. We received four pictures and his history. Then a new wait began. Fortunately, monthly medical reports were sent and a few more photos but the wait was difficult for all. We missed his first Christmas and his first birthday and were afraid we’d miss other important firsts but the call to travel finally came the morning of March 11. By March 14 we were on a plane headed for Seoul, South Korea.
Rain or shine the annual “Hooked on Fishing” Opening Day Trout Derby will go on April 29-30 at Lake Wilderness.
Growing up, my mom and I were never really able to connect.
As I worked on the “Under the Influence” series about teen drug and alcohol use in Maple Valley I spent quite a bit of time talking about my mom, who has been in recovery my whole life, as well as reflecting on my childhood.
As the opening of the third season of the Maple Valley Farmers Market approaches there are many new pieces falling into place.
Victoria Laise Jonas, president of the market’s board, said in an e-mail interview that this year a market day supervisor will be hired to assist her with “operations of the market, with set up and take down, supervising our student interns, etc.”
Growth Management Hearings Board denies motion to invalidate ordinances approving Black Diamond developments
Rain or shine the annual “Hooked on Fishing” Opening Day Trout Derby will go on April 29-30 at Lake Wilderness.
Organized by the Maple Valley-Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce since 2003, the fishing derby has become a renewed tradition in Maple Valley, explained Sue VanRuff, executive director for the chamber.
Kent School District parents and teachers told the Kent School Board Tuesday night to save elementary music and physical education programs and find somewhere else to cut the 2011-2012 budget by $6 million.
Speaker after speaker at the Community Budget Session and Public Hearing at the Kentwood High School gym objected to district proposals to cut the elementary school physical education program for a savings of $2.48 million and the elimination of elementary school music programs for a savings of about $3.8 million.
A Bonneville Power Administration worker last week discovered thieves had broken into a Bonneville Power Administration substation near
BPA and law enforcement officials are investigating, and the BPA is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Covington and Maple Valley police blotter from March 21-28
Slowly but surely Tahoma High School is embracing green practices that are good for both the environment and the school district’s bottom line.
The Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council next monthly meeting is scheduled for 7-9:30 p.m. Monday, April 4 at King County Police Precinct No. 3.
All members of the public are invited to attend. During an open comment period at the start of the meeting members of the public can address the council on local issues of importance to them.
Steven Morriss, 15, was awarded his Eagle Scout rank on Feb. 27 at a board of review. He has been a member of Troops 787 and 707 (Maple Valley’s oldest troop), since he was 8 years old. He earned his Arrow of Light, the highest rank for a Cub Scout. He has completed 22 merit badges and has a goal to do more merit badges and service, which will earn him additional palms. He accomplished his final eagle requirements on his own time frame.
Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety firefighters responded to a Saturday morning house fire and discovered a suspected massive marijuana growing operation occupying three floors of the home.
Nearly 900 marijuana plants were found with an estimated street value of $900,000. Each plant is consider to be worth about $1,000. Samples have been sent to a lab to confirm the plants are marijuana.
