A disgruntled boyfriend slams his SUV into some cars in Federal Way, a fire at an electrical substation disrupts power and there is a crackdown on graffiti.

These are the stories that make the news locally.

But when something happens to someone who lives on the streets of our cities and towns, it is less likely to be newsworthy or of any interest.

A column I wrote last week about Super Dave and his dog Jade had an unfortunate addition just before press time. It seemed that a callous motorist had hit and killed Jade and had then left the scene.

The sad news of Super Dave's loss of his companion animal came in an email early, two mornings after I'd visited them, and it shocked me.

Susan Mann, a member of the local church, Christ The King Bible Fellowship, gave my editor the news, and in the email, said that we could find Super Dave at the New Horizon Motel where church members had donated enough money to get Dave a room for a couple of nights.

She also said that Super Dave often came to have meals at the Bible Fellowship just off Pacific Highway on 336th.

Going to meet Susan and Dave at the Bible Fellowship, for some reason I flashed back on a comic book episode that had impressed me when I was in junior high school.

A Superman issue, the storyline had Superman going back in time to Krypton, the planet he was born on.

His father, Jor-El was explaining how their world used to be a true utopia and that they had everything they needed.

Jor-El said to his son, who was then still named Kal-El, that there were no needy persons among them because fruit trees had been planted to prevent hunger and shelter was easily found and free.

The juxtaposition of that revelation, coupled with Super Dave's unsheltered situation, along with Superman's own state of homelessness was not lost on me.

Still stuck in the seventies, I can't help but hear the Jerry Jeff Walker song, 'Mr. Bojangles' in my head, such a terrifically sad and beautiful song and so suitable to Super Dave, and to anyone who doesn't have a home.

I knew a man Bojangles and he'd dance for you

In worn out shoes

With silver hair, a ragged shirt, and baggy pants

The old soft shoe...

He looked to me to be the eyes of age as he spoke right out

He talked of life, talked of life, he laughed

clicked his heels and stepped

He spoke through tears of 15 years how his dog and him

traveled about

The dog up and died, he up and died

And after 20 years he still grieves...

Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles

Mr. Bojangles, dance...

At the table with Susan, she told me that Super Dave was not sure now if someone in a car had hit Jade or if she had just passed away from old age. Super Dave arrived after a few minutes and it was obvious that he was well known by the greetings from everyone in the building.

He sat next to me and Susan and the others fussed over him with questions and got him a plate of food.

I asked Dave about the car incident and he hung his head and told me that he wasn't sure what happened.

In truth, the details are less important. Jade was quite old for a dog at 13, but it is still a difficult thing for anyone to lose a close friend.

Before I left the Bible Fellowship, Susan introduced me to Pastor Floyd and I met some of the people who benefited from the good work the fellowship does there.

Susan told me that Banfield Pet Hospital on 317th took care of Jade after she had passed, for no charge and that an anonymous gift giver from Christ the King would be taking Super Dave to the Humane Society for an adoption meeting to see about a new dog.

If Dave is approved, Susan said, the dog will be spayed or neutered at no charge and Twin Lakes Veterinary will provide an open-ended account for animal care and food for Super Dave's new friend.

I promised Susan that I would make mention of what her Church does for the community. It's very good stuff.

The South Sound Dream Center (along with Federal Way's Americorps) is currently raising funds for a Drop-In Center at the Bible Fellowship in Federal Way.

Their goal is to provide shelter for the low income, homeless, and people in crisis and Susan is concerned that not enough is coming in yet in the way of financial donations.

Susan told me that, aside from a Battered Woman's Shelter in the south end, there are currently no places offering shelter between Tacoma and Seattle.

The Sound Sound Dream Center is doing tremendous good. In her latest email, Susan wrote, "SSDC Feeds over 350 people on Saturdays in the Federal Way area with sack lunches we make at NW Church and about 150 in the Auburn area on Saturdays from the dream center office located in Auburn."

That's outstanding work.

"More importantly," Susan writes, "the people we have come to know can count on us each week and we are able to offer love and support where we can, to help them in their current situations, with the goal of transforming their lives back into stability and living ,rather than survival."

Susan told me that there will be an Easter Pancake Breakfast on March 7 at 10:30 am at the Bible Fellowship on 336th.

It's easy to find. Just turn west off of Pac Highway and it's on the right side.

Susan signed off with this request; "Our ultimate goal is to get enough money to help all of the south sound with outreach and support."

Their mailing address is PO Box 23328, Federal Way, WA 98093. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and their number is (253) 288-1806 for people in need.

For more information, you can go online at http://www.loveincfedway.org/

For information about Americorps: http://www.fwps.org/dept/volunteer/acfw.html

1989's "Homeless For The Holidays" from Adventures of Superman #462 (written by Roger Stern)