Wire Service

OUT & ABOUT

Calendars are published Wednesdays and Saturdays on a space-available basis. Items for the Wednesday edition must be submitted by noon the previous Thursday. Items for the Saturday edition must be submitted by noon the previous Tuesday.

Grant Higa

Strongman event draws a crowd

The Des Moines Marina was crowded June 7, but the event didn’t call for aquatic sports.

Grant Higa
Kent-Meridian High School senior Michelle Yi

Kent students bring global perspective to city park

Included among the eye candy at the opening of the new Town Square Plaza in downtown Kent June 28 will be a piece of art created by Kent-Meridian High School students — a big piece of art.

Kent-Meridian High School senior Michelle Yi
Mark Haddock

Kent educator never lost his focus on diversity

When Mark Haddock leaves his Kent School District position this year, he’ll leave local schools on a more level playing field than when he arrived.

Mark Haddock
Safety experts crackling over fireworks safety

Safety experts crackling over fireworks safety

Urging the public to stay away from what they say is an extremely dangerous product, national health and fire safety advocates joined District of Columbia fire officials at a press conference Wednesday to denounce the use of consumer fireworks and launch new public-service announcements in advance of the Fourth of July holiday.

Safety experts crackling over fireworks safety

Jaguars, home again in Kent, kick off their football season Saturday night

The King County Jaguars are back home at French Field, and will kick off their 2008 minor league football season on Saturday night.

Bryon Jansen
Bryon Jansen

ON THE SIDE

Rodney Stuckey, a 2004 Kentwood High graduate and first-round NBA draft selection — 15th overall — by the Detroit Pistons last June, recently was named to the 2007-08 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie team.

Woman dies after car plunges into sound

An 86-year-old woman drowned Friday night at the Des Moines Marina after the sport utility vehicle she was riding in drove off the dock and plunged into the Puget Sound.

Kentlake girls basketball coach Scott Simmons has made a practice out of giving back to the community. On June 27 and 28 at Tahoma Junior High

Supplying hope, inspiration

Scott Simmons has lost a pair of uncles to cancer.

Kentlake girls basketball coach Scott Simmons has made a practice out of giving back to the community. On June 27 and 28 at Tahoma Junior High

King County’s cuts to human-service funding unacceptable

Thank you to Kris Hill for reporting on the alarming King County budget shortfall. (June 6 Kent Reporter, page 3, “Cuts to county budget will be ‘deep, searing.’”) In addition to the cuts in the criminal justice system that were noted (about 80 percent of the general fund budget) there is a proposal that ALL health and human-service funding (the other 20 percent of the budget) be eliminated in three years. Yes, that is ALL this funding!

Kathy and Bruce Wandler are all smiles as they embark on their 3

Auburn family biking cross-country to Washington, D.C.

Well-prepared, eager and focused, Bruce and Kathy Wandler embarked on a long-awaited cross country trip Monday. Destination: Washington D.C. Distance: 3,300 miles over 48 days. Consumption: Not an ounce of outrageously-priced gasoline, just plenty of grit and leg power.

Kathy and Bruce Wandler are all smiles as they embark on their 3
Paul Morgan Stetler and Sarah Harlett star in the Seattle Shakespeare Company’s production of “All’s Well That Ends Well.” The play runs through June 29 at Center House Theatre

Shakespeare comes to Seattle Center | Out & About in Kent

A quick look at arts and entertainment events happening in and around Kent, starting June 21.

Paul Morgan Stetler and Sarah Harlett star in the Seattle Shakespeare Company’s production of “All’s Well That Ends Well.” The play runs through June 29 at Center House Theatre

Why we have Miranda rights

Whenever you watch a crime show on TV or in the movies there is almost inevitably that portion of the program where one of the detectives says, “you have the right to remain silent…” It means the cops have got the goods. It creates dramatic finality and seems to suggest that the bad guy is headed for the Graybar Hilton for a long, long time.

Renowned jazz vocalist Greta Matassa performs Thursday in Kent.

Briefly

Jazz musicians and local artists will present their work at An Evening of Jazz and Art at 5:30-8:30 p.m. June 26 at the Kent Senior Activity Center, located at 600 E. Smith St. in Kent.

Renowned jazz vocalist Greta Matassa performs Thursday in Kent.

A GOOD CAUSE

• WHAT: American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Covington, Maple Valley and Black Diamond.

Police conduct booze sting

Kent Police cited five employees at five businesses for reportedly furnishing liquor to minors during a June 14 town-wide compliance check at 21 stores, restaurants and bars.

Meadow Ridge Elementary students crowd around to give first-grader Anthony Rupan fives at a Walk-a-thon event to raise money for the 7-year-old student. Rupan has been fighting a brain tumor for the last two months

Helping one of their own

Meadow Ridge Elementary School students, teachers and parents wore a path around the school June 16 as they braved the heat on their feet for an hour for the benefit of one of their suffering own.

Meadow Ridge Elementary students crowd around to give first-grader Anthony Rupan fives at a Walk-a-thon event to raise money for the 7-year-old student. Rupan has been fighting a brain tumor for the last two months

Kent church celebrates major expansion with open house

Kent Covenant has expanded its facilities, and it's opening them to the community Sunday with a party and free food.

Kent, Des Moines farmers markets open through summer | Briefs

Local farmers offer goods at two local farmers markets Saturdays this summer.