Authorities were investigating the cause of a house fire that claimed one life last Friday.
Valley Medical Center’s mIdwives deliver 500th baby
Police began the annual Party Patrol began last Friday evening with the goal of curtailing drinking and driving by teenagers.
The patrol, operating from the department’s Maple Valley precinct, will continue for at least several weeks, officials said – and with good results, if past years are an indication. Since the patrols began in 1998, there have been no deaths or serious injury accidents involving juveniles and alcohol in the patrol’s area, a Sheriff Department spokesman said.
Authorities were investigating the cause of a house fire that claimed one life last Friday.
The fire, in the 39000 block of 258th Avenue Southeast, was reported at 2:53 p.m. While battling the two-alarm blaze inside the single-story dwelling, firefighters found the body of a female in the kitchen. They removed her from the home but weren’t able to revive her, according to Kyle Ohashi, a spokesman for Fire District 37/Kent Fire Department.
A listing of community events in the Covington area.
Seattle School District teacher Nicole Johnson, 27, doesn’t want teens to make the mistake she made in high school — the mistake of staying silent.
Those years for Johnson were shrouded by an abusive relationship, she told a group of Kent School District students May 30, and its effects stayed with her for years after.
Maple Valley student honored in National Literacy Challenge
Local organizations are joining forces with the Maple Valley Police Department and Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety as the departments prepare to host the annual Bicycle Safety Rodeo this month.
The public can have breakfast next Wednesday with city manager Anthony Hemstad to discuss economic development or any other issues, city officials said.
Breakfast, costing $12.25 per person, will start at 7:45 a.m. on June 11 at Lake Wilderness Grill and will cost $12.25 per person. It’s the second such breakfast event of the year.
News briefs for Covington and surrounding areas.
As Maple Valley Food Bank and Emergency Services is celebrating putting the finishing touches on its renovated facility, the non-profit agency is feeling the pinch of a sluggish economy.
Volunteers and other community members celebrated the grand opening of the facility, which doubled in size when initial construction was complete 2 years ago, on Friday with a ribbon-cutting and open house.
Landowners can learn about stewardship and tax-incentive programs to help them maintain and improve farms and forest land during a free presentation June 9 in Ravensdale. It’s scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. at Gracie Hansen Community Center, 27132 SE. Ravensdale Way.
Registration is at (206) 297-8141 and sue@cedarriver.org.
State Rep. Geoff Simpson filed Tuesday for re-election in District 47, joining other candidates in the Covington, Maple Valley and Black Diamond areas who this week formally entered races for the Legislature.
There won’t be enough money in the King County budget for 2009 and likely well beyond, so officials expect “deep, searing” cutbacks will be required, particularly of the county’s criminal justice systems.
Each department is expected to cut 8.6 percent of their budgets, which will total about $33 million across seven criminal justice departments, due to a $68 million shortfall in the county’s overall 2009 budget.
Charges against state Rep. Geoff Simpson, alleging that he assaulted his ex-wife in April, have been dropped.
Covington’s city prosecutor, Thomas Hargan said, “I dismissed the charges (on May 28) without prejudice based on insufficient evidence going forward.”
Poets and poetry lovers came together recently to celebrate the art of the well-placed word and to honor winners of a tri-library poetry contest.
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The Kent School District’s 28 elementary schools will send teams to the district’s Battle of the Books competition this Friday at Glenridge Elementary School.
King County might ban its agencies from buying bottled water while at work.
In an effort to reduce what it calls environmental impacts and to save money, the County Council is considering an end to the purchase of single-serve bottles of water.
The council’s General Government and Labor Relations Committee last Thursday gave preliminary approval of the new rule, which requires a full council approval, tentatively set for June 9, before taking effect.
