July 2008

Where can we find some "great" high schools?

Perhaps this is one of the greatest problems we face in Federal Way.

We seem to have very little knowledge of what is being done in some of the finest high schools in the United States.

This, I believe, leads to some pretty fuzzy "visions" of where Federal Way might want go to arrive at a point where their schools are highly regarded by both college admissions officials and employers.

Locally the University of Washington puts out a rating for each high school in Washington that sends five or more kids to t

I'm no math whiz, so fortunately for me the calculation was an easy one.

My wife had driven our family gas-saver out-of-town, leaving me with 925 miles to cover to my destination in Montana, and only my glutinous V-8 SUV to get me there.

My 1996, black, two-door Tahoe manages an unimpressive 450 miles on a 27-gallon tank, given highway travel speeds and a moderate load.

To the Editor:

A number of guest opinions and letters to the editor have appeared recently in The Federal Way News about the City's decision to disclose a report relating to the Federal Way Municipal Court.

I want to make sure the record is clear.

In February, the City received a public records request for a report about the court. Good open government practices and public disclosure laws require the City to release records unless they are exempt from disclosure.

The City determined the report was not exempt and should be released.

The Washington State Patrol was able to quickly recover a stolen motorcycle last week, even though the vehicle had been hidden inside a garage at the suspect's Federal Way residence.

Signals from a LoJack system installed on the bike were received in a WSP aircraft, and the pilot was able to pinpoint the specific residence where the stolen bike had been stashed.

The recovery took just 33 minutes from the time the vehicle was listed as stolen.

"If you steal things from people, we're coming after you," said Lt.

Lorri Ericson, the current planning and research/administrative services manager for the Puyallup Police Department, has been named assistant city manager of Des Moines.

Ericson "brings a wealth of public sector experience and knowledge to our team," City Manager Tony Piasecki said recently in announcing her appointment.

City, regional and state officials joined in a ribbon cutting last week to mark completion of phase one of Des Moines' 16th Avenue South Improvement Project.

Mayor Bob Sheckler noted that even as construction costs skyrocket, the $5.8 million project was completed "quickly, smoothly and within budget."

Work was finished a month ahead of schedule, "which means an awful lot to people who were affected by the project," Sheckler said.

Phase one, which encompasses a mile of 16th Avenue South Street from South 260th to South 272nd Street and goes past Woodmont E

Masters times offered

The Federal Way Masters swimming team for ages 19 and over is now offering three workout session times at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center located at 650 SW Campus Drive in Federal Way.

Monday through Friday a 5:30-6:45 a.m. and a 7-8 p.m.session are offered, with a 6:50-7:50 a.m. session taking place Tuesdays and Thursdays. A 10:15-11:15 a.m. session is offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Saturdays an 8-9 a.m. session is held at the Kenneth Jones Pool (Federal Way High School).

Members are required to join U.S.

When the decision was made to rebuild Mount Rainier High School, funding was not available for a new track.

Over the past three years, Ray Prentice, parent of Mount Rainier graduate Ryan Prentice, and others have worked to gather the funding to give the students and the community a track,. Their persistence appears to have paid off.

Prentice said he expects the new track to open on Sept. 17. The track will be named after former Mount Rainier coach Jim Kennett.

"It's overwhelming, " Kennett said.

When you hear someone talk about the "dark years", you may have visions of the Great Depression, or maybe of when the bubonic plague swept across Europe.

When I talk about the "dark years," I am talking about something far scarier, far more fearsome.

Yeah, I am talking about Barney, the purple dinosaur.

My three children all loved that guy - and I can still remember wanting to pop champagne when the last child said, "Naa, I don't like Barney anymore."

Maybe it wasn't really Barney's fault entirely - after all it's not easy to watch a video - any vide

Fireworks watchers got a colorful vantage point from Alki Beach near 55th Street SW Friday night. Looking toward the northeast horizon the "4th of Jul-Ivars Fireworks Show" over Elliott Bay was big, boastful and traditional. From the same spot on the Alki sand ooh'ers and ah'ers also enjoyed the more geometric display of the "WaMu Family 4th" Fireworks Show" on Lake Union, which appeared to the right.

"Lake Union's show rocked," enthused Courtney Tomson.