April 2007

(Editor's Note: Jerry Robinson visits a former employee and a neighborhood couple this week.)

Meet Bob Kolterman

He and his wife, Martha, have lived by Salmon Creek in Shorewood since the fifties when Bob came to work as a printer, foreman for the White Center News, and Martha embarked on a fine arts career.

Bob is 84 and walks with a limp after an accident on his boat ramp but has a radiant smile anyway.

He and his wife have a home near mouth of the creek and their neighbor on the other side of the creek is the famed Green River Valley developer Mar

Let's examine Ralph Nichols' continuing government phobia through the tale of an average guy sitting down to pay bills. I'll call him, Joe.

Joe flips on KVI Radio or 770 "THE TRUTH" as he settles down at the kitchen table.

He's got a high stack of bills to pay but not as much in the checking account as he once had.

He just got a new lower-paying job.

Think bulging shopping bags, bunches of fragrant flowers and sweet-tasting organic produce. Des Moines' Saturday Farmers Market grand opening is June 2, from 10 a.m.

With a blast of air horns from watching dignitaries, demolition began last week of the old Gottschalk's building to make way for the Burien Town Square. A sales presentation center featuring a full-scale condominium model will open in June. Announcements will begin this spring of businesses that have signed up to be a part of the project. The square is set to have more than 300 condos and apartments, retail shops, restaurants, a new city hall/regional library and public plaza.

After a lengthy debate, SeaTac lawmakers authorized on April 10 a tentative consultant's study on where the city's fire stations should be located.

City Manager Craig Ward told council members it could take a month to negotiate the scope and cost of the study with Emergency Services Consulting Inc.

The council must approve the final contract.

The vote was 4-3 to authorize Ward to negotiate a contract. Mayor Gene Fisher and councilmen Tony Anderson, Chris Wythe and Don DeHan voted in favor.

SeaTac is considering paying for extra patrols by King County Animal Control officers to catch dangerous dogs roaming in neighborhoods and at Angle Lake Park.

The city council's Public Safety and Justice Committee heard from Al Dams, acting director of the county's animal control division, and concerned residents on April 10.

The committee discussion followed complaints, presented March 27 by Angle Lake neighbors during a regular council session, that they and their dogs had been harassed by pit bulls.

SeaTac has a law, enacted in 1991, that requires pit bulls

Burien council members met with the city's planning commission earlier this week to discuss a local transportation impact study.

Transportation impact fees are a major focus of the study.

University of Washington senior Alula Asfaw, a 2003 Highline High School graduate, last week was named recipient of the 2007 Harry S. Truman Scholarship.

The Truman Scholarship is awarded for exceptional demonstration of leadership in public service.

Asfaw was recognized for his involvement in the development of the university's Dream Project, which he began his freshman year.

Back in the 60s and 70s, Dottie Harper was a Highline community household name.

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. Eileen Cody; Rep. Joe McDermott.