May 2012

SeaTac City Council members heard a presentation recently by Port commissioner John Creighton on the Port of Seattle’s Century Agenda. The agenda is the Port’s strategic plan for the next 25 years.

Creighton noted the Port celebrated its centennial last year.

The Port will be opening its new five-story consolidated rental car facility on May 17.

The commissioner said the Port plans to add 100,000 more Port-related jobs at Sea-Tac airport and its maritime division while reducing its environmental footprint. He noted that would mean a total of 300,00 Port-related jobs in the region.

At the airport, Creighton said the Port wants to triple its air cargo.

“We can’t do it unless we expand State Route 509,” Creighton noted.

The extension of SR 509 from South 188th Street to Interstate 5 has been stalled for over a decade.

The Port is also seeking to double international air travel going through Sea-Tac with the airport becoming the “Gateway of Choice” for foreign travel.

Deputy Mayor Mia Gregerson asked Creighton about ‘fair wage’ jobs at the Port.

The city of Des Moines is the first in the country to use new “hybrid” hydraulic launch assisted waste disposal trucks and Mayor Dave Kaplan welcomed them with a ribbon cutting ceremony April 24 at City Hall.

Four –year-old Aiden, a Des Moines resident, helped Mayor Kaplan cut the ribbon.

“These trucks will make our air a lot cleaner by lessening pollution,” Deborah, Aiden’s mother said. She is happy to know that her next child will be born in cleaner air.

Des Moines residents started seeing the green CleanScapes garbage trucks last November when they started providing collection service to the community. Part of the contract with the city included using “hybrid” trucks, a requirement they were able to deliver earlier than expected.

The new trucks, also called an HLA truck, store energy when stopping to be used later at takeoff or acceleration. This technology reduces fuel usage by 30 percent and also reduces emission into the air. It also uses compressed natural gas (CNG), a much cleaner burning fuel.

Participants from six churches and students from the Highline Community College Global Health class are participating in the Des Moines CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, May 6.

Funds raised are used for digging wells and sand dams that bring clean water to villages, providing seeds and tools so that people can grow their own food, helping communities and families rebuild after disaster, building schools.

Twenty-five percent of proceeds will help the Des Moines Area Food Bank. To show support or learn more visit cropwalkonline.org. Click on the prompts for Des Moines CROP Hunger Walk.

On CROP Walk Day, participants will sign in at 1:15 pm at the Des Moines United Methodist Church, 22225 9th Ave. S. The 3 mile-loop walk begins and ends at the Methodist Church. Walkers will pass the Des Moines Marina waterfront. Further information is also available by emailing alice.t.mcgregor@gmail.com.

Graham resident Kaylynn Henson works on her personalized teapot creation at Burien’s Moshier Arts Center.

On Saturday, the potters will sell their pottery to the public from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the center, 430 S. 156th St.

With spring fully in bloom check our calendar listings for more fun activities coming up.

D’Marco Mobley sentenced in historic pimp case
On Friday, April 27, D’Marco Mobley, arrested June 23, 2011, was sentenced to 37years in prison for Promoting Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Promoting Prostitution 1st Degree, Promoting Prostitution 2nd Degree, Kidnapping 1st Degree, Robbery 2nd Degree, (2 Cts) and Vufa, or violation of the Uniforms Firearms Act.
Two of the victims reported Mobley to police, saying he confronted them in June at a SeaTac motel. He threatened their lives, choked and slapped them and stole $1,000 from them, charging papers say. They escaped when one woman’s boyfriend showed up, the papers say. His sentencing range is 37 years to 47 years, according to official King County Sheriff spokeswoman Cindi West. The judge deemed it indeterminate, meaning that he will only get 1/10th off for good time, have to go to a special board before release, and could face life in prison. The judge is considering life in prison. No matter what he gets, it will represent the longest sentence in state history for a pimp.

Man on the run caught by K9 unit after swimming across pond

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is recognizing an exceptional Ballard High School student for making significant contributions to intergroup relations at its annual Student Human Relations Program reception on May 10, 2012.

Over 20 Seattle area students will be recognized at the AJC reception, and awarded with either the Max Block Award or a Deborah Rosen Scholarship.

Ballard student Saba Hadush will be receiving a Max Block Award, which was established in 1959 to honor high school students who advanced the principal of justice and equality for all.

For the past two years, Hadush has been actively involved in numerous clubs and organizations at her school including the Black Student Union Club, and the teen suicide prevention club, Student Lives Always Matter. She is also involved in the Making Connections program at the University of Washington's Women's Center, which provides tutoring, SAT preparation, mentoring, college preparation and more.