February 2006

On March 14, voters will decide on a $148 million bond measure to rebuild five Highline School District elementaries and finance other district upgrades.

The measure would pay for the rebuilding of Shorewood in Burien, Midway and Parkside in Des Moines and Marvista in Normandy Park.

SeaTac’s McMicken Heights would also be rebuilt using state matching funds.

In addition, the bond would pay for $3.3 million in renovations to Camp Waskowitz, $2.2 million in security improvements for secondary schools, $9 million in technology upgrades, an

Burien council members decided on Feb.

Two months after Washington’s statewide smoking ban took effect, some Highline area businesses are feeling its impact.

Although it’s still too soon to tell what effect the ban will have at some businesses, others were feeling its effect within days of the new prohibition on smoking in public places.

“We’ve seen business decrease about 40 percent almost immediately after the ban,” said James Rowland, top bartender for the Dugout Lounge in Des Moines.

The state House of Representatives has voted to require civics exams for students in elementary, middle and high school.

House Bill 2579 is now under consideration in the Senate.

Unlike the WASL, however, these will be interactive project-based assessments scored by teachers in the classroom.

“A healthy and accountable democracy relies upon an informed and engaged electorate,” said the measure’s sponsor, Rep.

Highline-area residents can take unwanted bleach, bulbs, batteries and more to the King County Wastemobile in Des Moines Friday, Feb. 24-Sunday, Feb. 26.

The Wastemobile will be located in the north parking lot of Des Moines Marina from 10 a.m.

Make A Joyful Noise! is the ultimate celebration of gospel music!

Whether you are a church goer or not, this concert, which will be presented by Paul Galvan Productions on Friday, March 3, offers good old-fashioned family entertainment.

The 7:30 p.m.

The Times/News presents a weekly summary of actions on bills by Highline-area legislators.

For complete information, go to www.WashingtonVotes.org -- a free, non-partisan website with plain-English explanations of bills and a record of each legislator’s votes -- which is the source for this report.

Highline is represented by:

District 11 -- Sen. Margarita Prentice; Rep. Zack Hudgins, Rep. Bob Hasagawa.

District 33 -- Sen. Karen Keiser; Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, Rep. Dave Upthegrove.

District 34 -- Sen. Erik Poulsen; Rep.

drunk driving charge

Vili Fualaau, the husband of convicted sex-offender Mary Kay Letourneau, was arrested Dec. 22 on suspicion of drunk driving, it was made public recently.

Fualaau was pulled over along Des Moines Memorial Drive around South 190th Street for speeding.

John F. Kennedy held off an aggressively, determined opponent and its own mistakes to escape with a 49-42 quarter final win against Mount Rainier in the Class 3A West Central District girls basketball tournament on Thursday at home.

Despite 20 turnovers, the Lancers (18-3) moved into a Saturday (after press time) winners bracket semifinal against Lindbergh for an automatic berth at state. Kennedy won both regular season meetings.

Another Highline schools bond election is coming up in less than a month.

On March 14, Highline voters will be asked to approve a $148 million bond to build schools in Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park and SeaTac as well as finance other district upgrades

Beyond the five schools (two in Des Moines), this measure is loaded with other goodies that should appeal to varied voting segments.

There’s money in the bond to rehabilitate Camp Waskowitz, add camera surveillance systems and fencing to secondary schools, upgrade technology, repair school roofs and