Black Diamond police welcome new commander

On July 5 Black Diamond Mayor Carol Benson swore in Lawrence Colagiovanni.

He is replacing Commander Brian Martinez who retired July 15.

Colagiovanni comes to Black Diamond from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office where he spent the last 25 years.

Kent School District teacher named Regional Teacher of the Year

Denisha Saucedo, a teacher at Kent Elementary School, was named 2018 Regional Teacher of the Year by Puget Sound Educational Service District.

She was also named the Kent School District teacher of the year.

Saucedo, a graduate of Kent-Meridian High School, has spent 14 years teaching sixth grade at Kent Elementary.

As regional teacher of the year, she will attend a leadership retreat, a release from the district stated.

Saucedo is now qualified as a candidate for the Washington State Teacher of the Year, which will be announced by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in the fall, the release added.

Formal dedication set for Aug. 7

Students, families and community members will have a chance to see the new Black Diamond Elementary during a formal dedication beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7.

Following a ribbon cutting, the building will be open until 8 p.m. for attendees to walk through.

The new school is 51,725 square feet and includes room for nearly 450 students, a release from the Enumclaw School District stated.

“Touches of historical significance are artfully incorporated throughout, from the beams surrounding the stage to the peaks of the roof. A special project with the Black Diamond History Museum will also make history relevant through photos, artifacts,” the release said.

Students will attend their first day of school there on Sept. 5.

Stretch of Soos Creek Trail to close starting July 31

To maintain public safety, King County Parks is scheduled to repair and pavement overlay of a 2.7-mile-long stretch of the Soos Creek Trail in Kent beginning July 31.

The work will a require closure for approximately three weeks along the trail from south of Southeast 256th Street to Southeast 224th Street in Kent, according to a county media release. The closure is scheduled for July 31 to Aug. 18. The trail will open briefly on Saturday, Aug. 12 for the running portion of the Lake Meridian Triathlon.

Trail users should seek alternative areas for recreation during this time as there are no effective detours to be set in place.

GOT NEWS?

Send community news and notes entries to Sarah Brenden at sbrenden@soundpublishing.com.