WSDOT announces nightly ramp and lane closures on I-5 between Tukwila and Kent the first week of October. Here’s what to watch for:

I-5 Ramp and Lane Closures near St. Rd. 516 and S. 188th St., Oct. 1 – 5, beginning at 8 p.m. each evening.

Mon., Oct. 1 and Tues., Oct. 2, the three left lanes of I-5 will be closed, the first northbound lane closing at 8 p.m., the second at 10 p.m. and the third near midnight. On Wed., Oct. 3 and Thurs., Oct. 4, the two right lanes will close beginning at 8 p.m., the first at 8 p.m. and the second at 10 p.m. All lanes and ramps will be re-opened by 5 a.m.

Road crews will be installing traffic detection loops under the freeway lanes and rebuilding the shoulders alongside the ramps. For more info. on these closures and others in King County, visit WSDOT online. Call Kris Olson, WSDOT Communications, at 206-440-4475 with questions.

Put June 1 on your social calendar!  At 6:00 pm, the Museum of Flight, located at 9404 East Marginal Way in Seattle will host an event with wine tasting, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a live and silent auction  presented by the Children’s Therapy Center Guild supporting Children’s Therapy Center.

The Museum of Flight has been helping kids fly since 1979 and this event is a way for you and your friends to help in their efforts and have a great time doing it.  For more information, please call 206-764-5700 or visit http://www.museumofflight.org/visit.

An open letter to the public from Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas:

Holidays encourage time with your family and friends. Most people celebrate America’s independence by lighting fireworks on the 4th of July. Many celebrate Valentine’s Day by sending flowers. In addition to the fireworks and flowers, some people celebrate holidays with alcohol too. Unfortunately, these aren’t always responsible celebrations and, we see a spike in impaired driving arrests and crashes. My message to you today is celebrate safely – choose a safe ride home if your celebration involves alcohol.

St. Patrick’s Day is approaching on March 17th. While the holiday is commonly known for Irish culture, corned beef & hash, shamrocks, and wearing green, it is also known for drink specials at bars and restaurants, green beer, fun runs with beer gardens, and a massive advertisement campaign sponsored by the alcohol industry. Unfortunately, some people think luck is on their side and fail to plan ahead before drinking at these events.

Too many times, law enforcement must knock on the door of a home to notify loved ones of the tragedy that occurred. I have seen too many tears shed and too many hearts broken. Alcohol-related traffic crashes don’t only affect the impaired driver; one-third of these deaths are passengers, occupants in other vehicles, or pedestrians. And the societal and emotional costs are never ending.

These deaths and crashes do not need to happen. We all have a role in making our roads safer. Law enforcement will be out for DUI patrols across the State in hopes that our presence will discourage impaired driving and remove dangerous drivers from our roads. Last year in King County, 310 people were arrested for DUI during the St. Patrick’s DUI campaign from March 11-20th. This number tells us there is still much work to do.

If you are going to drink this St. Patrick’s Day, please plan a safe ride home before your party begins. Designate a sober driver, take a taxi or the bus, and help your friends do the same. If you’re planning a party at your house that includes alcohol, you can be held liable if a guest is involved in a DUI crash. Make sure there is plenty of food available, offer non-alcohol drinks, and help guests locate a safe ride home or provide a place for people to stay.

I want to remind you that law enforcement officers from Kent Police and other King County police departments enforce DUI and traffic laws on our roadways as part of Washington State’s Target Zero plan. What is the goal? Zero alcohol-related driving fatalities and serious injuries by 2030. Our officers and troopers participate in DUI emphasis patrols throughout the year and during major holidays, including this St. Patrick’s Day.

Please celebrate safely this St. Patrick’s Day. If your celebration involves alcohol, please choose a safe ride – don’t get behind the wheel. Please keep us from having to knock on anyone else’s door. Be Safe and thanks for reading.

Ken Thomas
Kent Police Chief

At Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke’s annual State of the City address today, Mayor Cooke asked businesses to participate in  helping the city out of the economic downturn.

“This is your city,” Mayor Cooke said. “Be a part of the solution.”

Mayor Cooke was referring specifically to the city’ significant revenue losses – including a 32% reduction in sales tax revenue and a 75% reduction in real estate tax revenue. The city’s administration and seven-member Kent City Council have been tasked with finding ways to continue offering critical services with fewer staff and less money. Among the creative solutions being considered are imposing a local Business & Occupation (B&O) tax and creating a transportation benefit district. Mayor Cooke asked businesses to stay or become engaged with the city to help it find solutions for expensive problems like the$3 million price tag to remove sandbags along the Green River.

The two-term Kent mayor highlighted several projects in the works, including the Kent City Center project which will replace the now-demolished parking garage that was located at Smith and Fourth in downtown Kent.

“It was such a dream that went awry,” she said.

But she is encouraged to see Kent City Center in the works, a five-story, 164-unit mixed use building go up to include residential units with corresponding parking, lower level retail space and 35 parking stalls for downtown shoppers and visitors. In addition to this project, the economic development department is working on a bid to the GSA and FAA to bring a 2,000 employee facility to downtown Kent. There are other properties under consideration, including nearby Renton, but the Mayor is optimistic that Kent will be considered a strong candidate.

Another portion of her discussion focused on infrastructure and the importance of maintaining and upgrading it as needed. With nine top tier suppliers to Boeing in Kent, Mayor Cooke stressed the importance of being smart with our educational and infrastructure decisions, particularly in meeting the needs of the aerospace industry.

“We cannot let our infrastructure deteriorate,” she said.

Inviting Kent Chamber president-elect Ken Sharp and executive director Andrea Keikkala, Kent City Council President Dennis Higgins, KDP president Dawn Colston and executive Barb Smith to join her on stage, Mayor Suzette Cooke urged each of them to be part of Kent’s solution, asking each of them to hold hands and recite their commitment to the City of Kent.

She closed with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.:  “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”

Thanks to Public Health of Seattle & King County for these tips on winter weather safety.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill you. Carbon monoxide gas comes from burning fuels such as gasoline, propane, oil, kerosene, natural gas, coal or wood.

Prevent poisoning from carbon monoxide:

• Only use a generator outdoors and far from open windows and vents
• Never use a generator or portable propane heater indoors, in garages or carports
• Never cook or heat inside on a charcoal or gas grill.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen suddenly and without warning. Physical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include splitting headache, nausea and vomiting, and lethargy and fatigue.

If you believe you could be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air immediately. Call for medical help from a neighbor’s home. The Fire Department will tell you when it is safe to re-enter the home.

For a full list of carbon monoxide prevention tips and other safety and disaster information in English and other languages, visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/disaster

If you have a power outage, use safe ways to stay warm:

• Find places where you can go to get warm, such as the home of friends and family whose homes have power. Many cities have opened centers where people can go during the day to stay warm. Center locations can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/safety/prepare
• Wear several layers of light weight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Wear hats, mittens, and blankets indoors.
• Close curtains and cover windows and doors with blankets. Everyone should try to stay together in one room, with the door closed, to keep in body heat.

• Check on elderly friends, family, and neighbors to make sure they are safe.
• Watch your footing on surfaces that may be icy and slick, and wear shoes that provide traction.
• Be careful not to overexert yourself when shoveling snow, especially if you have heart disease or high blood pressure, as the cold weather puts extra strain on your heart.
• Do not sled on streets or on slopes near streets, ponds, or streams.
• Avoid driving if you can. If you must drive, allow safe stopping times and distances.

• Warn others about carbon monoxide poisoning. Share the information with neighbors, friends, family and community groups.
• Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially if they are elderly or if you think their power might be out.
• If you know someone who has lost electricity, invite them to your home to stay warm.

If power goes out where you live, keep food safe:

• Keep the doors closed on your refrigerators and freezers as much as possible. This keeps the cold air inside. A full freezer can stay at freezing temperatures about two days; a half-full freezer about 1 day.
• If you think the power will be out for several days, try to find some ice to pack inside your refrigerator. Keep raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods.
• Refrigerated foods should be safe as long as the power is out no more than a few hours and the refrigerator/freezer doors have been kept closed. Throw away foods that spoil easily (such as meat and fish) if they warm up above 41º F.
• Frozen foods that remain frozen are OK to eat. If potentially hazardous foods are thawed (such as meat and fish), but are still cold or have ice crystals on them, use them as soon as possible. If potentially hazardous foods are thawed and are warmer than 41º F, throw them away.

Seattle, Washington, September 8, 2011 – True to the company’s motto “Movers Who Care,” TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Seattle recently participated in two local events, showing their commitment to the communities they serve.

The first event was Big Truck Day, an annual event hosted by the City of Redmond. Now in its ninth year, Big Truck Day was held August 26 and featured 22 big trucks including police cars, an armored vehicle, a recycling truck, a school bus and a moving truck from TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Seattle. More than 215 kids participated in this year’s event which was held at Farrel-McWhirter Parker.

“It’s an opportunity for kids to get up close and personal with the big rigs,” explains Cindy Johnson of the City of Redmond. “TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Seattle was a great addition to our event. They had these darling little moving boxes shaped like houses.”

Tera-Rose Layton and Anthony Clendenen of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Seattle participated in the event as well, passing out the moving boxes and letting the children and parents walk inside the truck. Layton says the kids enjoyed running up and down the ramp into the truck, as well as getting “hands on” experience inside and receiving the moving boxes for their own personal treasures.

In addition to Big Truck Day, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Seattle participated in Kent Downtown Partnership’s (KDP) first ever Hot Rod & Custom Car Show on August 27. As a member of KDP, owners Rick and Glenna Clendenen wanted to support the event which drew 75 cars and brought residents and visitors to downtown Kent. They passed out cup holders, pens and other goodies to attendees.

“This is one of the reasons we love TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®,” says Rick Clendenen. “We not only get to know and help our customers, but we can also be active in communities in the Seattle area.”

To learn more about TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Seattle, visit them online at http://twomenandatruckseattle.com or call 253-656-4322.

The Seattle area franchise of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is owned by husband and wife team Rick and Glenna Clendenen. Originally from the Midwest, the couple moved to Western Washington to expand the popular moving franchise. The firm serves the Seattle area out of offices located in Kent and Kirkland. In addition to back-to-school moves, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK© offers a full-range of residential and commercial moving services including senior move management. The company also offers packing services, supplies and workshops.

For more information, contact:

Rick Clendenen
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK©
253-656-4322
Rick.Clendenen@twomen.com
http://facebook.com/twomenandatruckseattle
Twitter:  @TMAATSeattle

From the City of Kent:

The public is invited to weigh in on Kent’s Comprehensive Plan and City Code by September 1, 2011.  The City needs input on what the Economic and Community Development Department should focus on in the coming year. 

“We need to know if the comprehensive plan and development regulations create any barriers to the city growing responsibly, equitably, and with environmental and neighborhood sensitivity,” said Fred Satterstrom, Kent’s Planning Director.  “This is the community’s opportunity to participate in making changes.” 

This annual review looks at the challenges that the City’s planning documents, land use plan and zoning maps, and regulations present to economic development and neighborhood vitality. 

The following online tools can help people to weigh in on this annual update.  The public is encouraged to visit the following links:

Submit a request for changes.

View additional details on creating a docket (or list) of suggested changes.

View the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Plan Map and Zoning Districts Map.

Come and join the fun on August 20 with host Pacific Cascade Mustang Club.  The 2011 Classic Ford Show and Mustang Roundup will be held at Bowen Scarff Ford Lincoln, 1157 Central Ave. N. in Kent.  Spectators are always welcome!

There will be a free barbecue, raffle, great cars and great people too.  Online preregistration is required, $20 per car, payable at the gate.  Includes dash plaque and t-shirt and awards for all class winners.

Registration opens at 8:00 am; show starts at 9:00 am and ends at 3:00 pm.  Please contact Mark Palmore at 253-852-1480 or Tom Rowley, Mustang Club President.

DUI Patrols on statewide from March 11 – 20, 2011

Law enforcement throughout King County will be out on the roadways between March 11 and 20 to arrest drunk drivers who are out partying during the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Participating in these St. Patrick’s Day patrols are the Algona, Auburn, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Burien, Clyde Hill, Covington, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Newcastle, Normandy Park, North Bend, Pacific, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, Seatac, Seattle, Snoqualmie and Tukwila Police Departments, and the Washington State Patrol.

Last year, during this same time period, a total number of 281 DUI arrests were made in King County.

In Washington State, the most frequent factor contributing to traffic deaths is still driver impairment. In 2009, traffic crashes killed 491 people on Washington’s roadways.  Impaired drivers accounted for 53.8 percent of the total (264 deaths).

“Drunk or drugged driving remains the leading cause of death in traffic crashes. These preventable crashes can be eliminated if everyone works to become a part of the solution,” said Lowell Porter, Director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

Another factor is the time of day that traffic deaths involving impaired drivers occur. More than two-thirds of impaired-driver-involved fatal collisions occurred during nighttime hours (6 pm to 6 am) in Washington (67.4 percent from 2000-2009).

For additional information about the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, visit www.wtsc.wa.gov.

“Updated 3/1/2011. The family of the Kent Police Officer Rob McCuistion has invited the public to attend a memorial celebration of Rob’s life this Saturday March 5, 2011. Services will start at 11:00AM at the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 19800 108 Avenue SE, in Kent. Saturday’s service will incorporate traditional Police Honors while also recognizing Rob’s considerable achievements and contributions in life. “

On February 24th, 2011 Kent Police department lost one of it’s own. Officer Robin McCuistion was driving home early Thursday morning when his car left he roadway on Kersey Way Se in Auburn. The car traveled down a steep embarnkment and struck a tree where he died at the scene from his injuries. Officer McCuistion has been with the Kent Police department since August of 1997 where he spent his career on street patrol and response. He also was a Field Training Officer, working with police recruits preparing them for their street assignments. Officer McCuistion is survived by his wife and three grown children.

The City of Kent is opening the Severe Weather Shelter (SWS) tonight at Kent Lutheran Church for the evenings of Wednesday February 23rd, Thursday February 24th, and Friday February 25th due to predicted dangerously low temperatures and snow.

Kent Lutheran Church

336 2nd Avenue South

Kent, WA 98032-5849

9 P.M. – Check-in and registration

7 A.M. – shelter closes, clients must vacate

Priority is given to homeless families with children who are living on the streets or in vehicles, but the SWS is also available for single women and men (separate sleeping space has been prepared for single men, women, and for families with children). The SWS will be operated by Catholic Community Services staff, and volunteers from Kent Lutheran Church and the Kent community.

The SWS will open at 9 P.M. Clients must register at the door. As with all shelters, rules for the health and safety of all clients and staff and the broader community will apply.

Please help distribute this announcement.

City of Kent, Housing and Human Services

253-856-5070

February 1, 2011

To Whom It May Concern,

I attended the Economic Development Committee meeting held on January 24, 2011, and was pleased that the board is willing to review the Traffic Mitigation fees, as to the effect they will have in attracting new business in Kent.

I do feel however the graphs, showing new investors in our city, to be a bit deceptive.

First of all, Redmond should not have been included. It is not in the same economic situation as the valley cities and it skews the results.

Secondly, without Redmond, Kent would have the highest utility rates due to the exorbitant drainage fees. Kent collects approximately. $1,027,380.00 per month from commercial accounts, $260,000.00 per month from residential accounts, and $29,000.00 from the state just for storm drainage. Of the 1,316,183.94 funds collected each month for storm drainage, business are paying 78% of this amount. If our property were in Auburn, we would pay $249.00 per month. If in Renton, it would be $288.00 per month. Here in Kent, we pay $746.00 per month.

Thirdly, there was no mention of the newly enacted Regional Fire Tax. This new fee for our business is $9,400.00 per year. That amount is hard to afford for us because, since 2008, our business is down 25%. Renton does not have the Regional Fire Tax, so there is no extra charge of this type in Renton.

Also I wonder about the 4.2 million dollars that the City of Kent saved by going to the Regional Fire Authority. Is the monies saved going to defray the expenses or going to hire more employees?

With all these factors, I find it hard to believe any company knowing the above facts would feel welcome in Kent, further hurting our local economy.

If money is needed so badly for roads and storm drainage, why is 25% of the monies collected for these services being spent on a $49,000,000.00 Operational Facility? That the people in this area can ill afford? How much has already been spent on this for Engineering and Utilities? If our roads and storm drainage needs so much repair why is this money used for this new very expensive facility

As a business owner, I strongly urge you to reconsider the TIF and other fees you expect companies to spend to maintain & grow in Kent. In this economy we cannot afford such expenses. Thank you for your time.

Cordially,

Delores Christianson
Owner of Central Avenue Mini Storage (Kent, WA)

Already this week, Kent has experienced a bit of unusual activity.

Starting with the ammonia leak downtown that caused street closures between 6:30 and 10 am yesterday, the week has evolved into a strange snow-rain mix amid speculation that today’s commute will be a bear. Rather than rehash what’s already been said, here are links to the area’s top stories:

Ammonia Leak – Kent Reporter

Ammonia Leak – Seattle Times

Cheaper Garbage Rates beginning April 1

Drive Kent – Driving Conditions

Kent Weather @ Weather.com

KING5 Area Weather

KING5 Closings & Delays

KIRO News Live (video)

KIRO Weather Forecast (video)

Washington DOT Seattle Area Traffic Map (check frequently for blockages and other delays)

Note:  As of 5:11 am, Jan. 12, Kent School District is operating on its planned schedule which includes an early start for KSD elementary school students and a late arrival for middle and high school students.

Kent Police responded to a traffic accident after 3 am on Christmas Eve in the 26600 block of Woodland Way South, where three men received minor injuries. Police on the scene arrived to find a 2008 BMW Sedan wrapped around a large tree, with a driver and two passengers trapped inside. The Kent Police Department used the “jaws of life” to extract the three accident victims. The driver, a 3o-year-old Kent man, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The other two men were transported to the hospital and released with minor injuries. According to a press release issued by the Kent Police Department, the vehicle’s seatbelts and airbags are credited with saving the occupants’ lives. The BMW, which was traveling at a high rate of speed before the crash, was totaled.

For the complete press release, visit the City of Kent website.

Information provided by Sgt. Jarod Kasner of Kent Police Department.

With winter weather upon us unexpectedly, it is hard to know what’s open, what’s closed and what’s coming next. Here are a few local resources to help you sort it all out:

School Closings

Kent School District [Schools are closed Tuesday, November 23.]

Tahoma School District [Schools are closed Tuesday, November 23.]

All School Closings – KING5

All School Closings – KOMO

Road Closures

Kent Road Closures

King County Road Alerts

Seattle Area Traffic – WSDOT

WSDOT Travel Alerts

Miscellaneous

Current Weather – KING5

Current Weather – KOMO

King County Warming Shelters

Metro Transit Alerts

Power Outages & Info. – KING5

Puget Sound Energy

Sound Transit Alerts

Waste Management Service Delays

Winter Storm Prep – Take Winter by Storm

WSDOT – What’s Happening Now?

WSDOT Winter Driving Guide

There has been a steady trend of vehicle prowls and thefts in Kent as of late. Many of these thefts involved vehicles used by businesses. Remember, if you operate vans, trucks, or cars as part of your business, it is just as important to secure these vehicles as it is your personal vehicle.

The City of Kent crime stats for the week of Oct. 19th through Oct. 25th had 13 vehicle prowls – 7 in the Valley, 3 in the Panther Lake area, 3 in the East Hill area. During that week there were also 25 vehicle thefts – 4 on the West Hill (park and rides especially!), 10 in the Valley, 2 in the Panther Lake area, 9 in the East Hill area.

The best advice that can be given regarding this subject is to always, always, always remove all your valuables every time you park or else you and your car may end up being another crime statistic.

This Saturday, October 2 Project U(th) is presenting an International Travel Forum at Bittersweet Restaurant, 211 First Ave. So., Kent from 12 – 4 p.m. Lunch will be provided and marble slab ice cream will be available for purchase. Students, teachers and parents are invited to learn more about international student travel. It is completely affordable and teens get to travel with their peers and learn.

Questions? Call Barry Fretwell at 206-7956559

Last week the King County Flood Control District sent out letters to property owners regarding the upcoming flood season. Here is a copy of the letter sent by Julia Patterson, Chair, Board of Supervisors of the King County Flood Control District.

For more information about flood preparedness, visit King County Flood District online or contact the organization via email with questions and comments. For more information about the flood district, visit King County Flood Control.

“September 3, 2010

Help is on the way; stay prepared this flood season!

Dear Floodplain Property Owner,

I’m pleased to share good news with you – President Obama recently signed legislation that funds improvements to strengthen the Howard Hanson Dam, reducing the risk of flooding to the Green River Valley. The funding allows the dam’s operator, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to complete repairs by the 2011/2012 flood season. Once these measures are in place, the Corps believes that the dam could be operated at full flood-control capacity for decades.

Storms in January 2009 weakened the dam, causing the Corps to restrict the water level in the reservoir behind the dam and increasing the risk of flooding in the valley. Given the significant public safety and economic threat that a weakened Howard Hanson Dam would cause, the King County Flood Control District, along with the Corps, Governor Gregoire, King County and valley city elected officials, quickly came together to prepare for the potential impacts of flooding and to advocate for emergency repairs.

Our local congressional delegation responded and we are very appreciative of their efforts to secure the necessary funds to provide additional repairs. The repairs will provide critically needed protection and time for the Corps to evaluate whether additional long-term repairs are necessary. We must all continue to be diligent to protect the people, businesses and infrastructure of the Green River Valley and to minimize devastating economic impacts from potential floods.

What does this mean for you?

While last year’s temporary improvements were successful at lowering the risk of flooding in the Green River Valley, the dam will continue to operate at a limited capacity during the upcoming 2010/2011 flood season. Therefore there is still a heightened risk of flooding. It is important for you to get ready and stay ready.

• Buy flood insurance, if you have not already done so;
• Establish or update an emergency plan for your family, business, pets or livestock; and
• Have emergency supplies on hand.

Please help us spread the word about the continued risk of flooding during the 2010/2011 flood season and the importance of being prepared. Share this information with your family, neighbors, friends and coworkers.

For more flood preparedness information, please go to www.kingcounty.gov/floodplans.  If you have questions or comments please contact info@kingcountyfloodcontrol.org. For information about the King County Flood Control District please go to www.kingcountyfloodcontrol.org.

Sincerely,

Julia Patterson, Chair
Board of Supervisors
King County Flood Control District

The King County Flood Control District is a special purpose government created to provide funding and policy oversight for flood protection projects and programs in King County.  The Flood Control District’s Board is composed of the members of the King County Council. The Water and Land Resources Division of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks develops and implements the approved flood protection projects and programs. Information is available at www.kingcountyfloodcontrol.org.

From the City of Kent:

Westwater Construction will intermittently close lanes in both eastbound and westbound directions, at the intersection of SR 516 (Willis St.) and 4th Avenue for asphalt placement.

Work will occur Thursday July 22nd, 2010 and Friday July 23rd, 2010, between 7:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M.