Kent, Wash. – March 8, 2010 – Kent fire investigators have arrested and charged an adult female with Arson in the first degree following an apartment fire on January 29, 2010.

KENT, Wash. – March 3, 2010 – The Kent Police Department is offering a Community Police Academy class on six Wednesdays, starting March 31st and ending May 5th, 2010.   The Academy offers participants an excellent opportunity to learn more about the daily operations of the police department and its role in the community.

KENT, Wash. – March 4, 2010 – Golfers at Kent’s Riverbend Golf Complex, one of the busiest courses in the state, can enjoy a meal before or after their rounds at a new restaurant beginning this summer.  The Fire Creek Grill closed at the end of February, and a short-term concessionaire is being lined up to provide food and beverages while Kent Parks completes an RFP process for new restaurant management.

March 1, 2010 - KING COUNTY, WA – To help improve cardiac arrest survival in King County, the Bellevue and Kent Police Departments will be participating in a two-year initiative that will equip patrol vehicles with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and dispatch them to cardiac arrest calls along with emergency medical responders. 

Kent, Wash. - March 2, 2010 - Combining humor, exciting tunes, and heartfelt ballads, Men of Worth bring the genuine splendor of Irish and Scottish folk music to Kent’s Spotlight Series on Thursday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m.  The performance will take place at Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center (10020 SE 256^th St., Kent).

The City of Kent is working with a community group to develop an off-leash dog park for East Hill residents and their pets.  After discussions that began in summer 2009, a publicly owned site between Morrill Meadows and East Hill Parks was selected. It will provide approximately three acres for both large and small dogs once developed and fenced.  

KENT, Wash. – February 19, 2010 – To celebrate March as National Nutrition Month, Kent4Health volunteers will be at Top Foods, 26015 104th Ave. SE, each Saturday in March promoting the “Grab & Go Meals” Program.  

KENT, Wash. – Feb. 10, 2010 – The City of Kent introduces a new way for residents and interested parties to receive City news by way of its eNewsletter, Scene. Dedicated to City news, projects and events, the goal of this monthly publication is to help residents and business owners stay connected with the latest “happenings” in Kent.

Kent, Wash. – February 10, 2010 – A toddler has been airlifted to the local trauma center via helicopter following a fall from a second story window in the 11700 block of SE 268 Street at approximately 10:50 this morning.

Covington, Wash. – February 9, 2010 – Building officials are looking into the structural integrity of a Circle K convenience store in the 17600 block of SE 272 St. after a full size pick-up truck crashed into the front of it shortly after 1:00 this afternoon.

Kent, Wash. – February 6, 2010 – A condo fire that was caused by oil heating on a stove top has left two people homeless in the 11300 block of SE 209 Place. 

KENT, Wash. – Feb. 5, 2010 – The City of Kent announces the return of its Neighborhood Matching Grant Program for 2010.  Designated to stimulate community projects that build strong neighborhoods, grants are available to groups of residents who have formed Neighborhood Councils.

Kent, Wash. – January 24, 2010 – One resident narrowly escaped serious injury this evening as fire destroyed the occupant’s townhome.  The lone occupant was treated at the scene and transported to a local hospital for further care.

Kent, Wash. – January 20, 2010 – Two District Commissioners were sworn in last night during a short ceremony that preceded the monthly District 37 meeting of commissioners.

Kent, Wash. – January 19, 2010 – The Kent Fire Department would like to remind area residents that February is Healthy Heart Month.

KENT, Wash. – January 15, 2010 – Kent Police responded to a call of an illegal discharge of a weapon around 2:00 p.m. today at an apartment complex near the 11300 block of Kent-Kangley Road. It was determined that several subjects entered an apartment and robbed the resident at gunpoint of a large amount of marijuana. Soon after the subjects fled the apartment, the resident grabbed a shotgun and chased after them, firing several rounds. No one was hit by the rounds and there were no injuries.

KENT, Wash. – January 13, 2010 – The Kent Police Department is working with the King County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit to search for a missing woman in Kent’s Clark Lake Park. The Marine and K9 Units will search the lake and surrounding park in an attempt to locate Lyubov Lutsyk.

KENT, Wash. – January 9th, 2009 – This afternoon the Kent Police Detectives arrested a male juvenile for the early morning stabbing of a male in his thirties.  Both subjects were at an all night party in a residence in Kent.  Shortly after leaving the residence, the suspect and the victim engaged in a brief argument.

Kent, Wash. – January 7, 2010 – The beginning of the New Year is the time for making resolutions. One that you can pledge and keep for the entire year is to make your home more fire safe. Here are some safety topics from the Kent Fire Department to protect you and your family.

KENT, Wash. – January 8, 2010 - The Kent Police Department is seeking the help of the public locating a woman missing since January 2, 2010.  Lyubov Lutsyk is a 49 year old woman of Ukrainian decent, described as 5’05, 175 pounds, with brown eyes and gray hair. She was dressed in a black hip length coat with a quilted pattern, long skirt and a tan beret style hat.

KENT, Wash. – January 5, 2010 – At its first meeting of the New Year, tonight members of the Kent City Council and Mayor took their oaths of office followed by the election of a new Council President.

KENT, Wash. – January 4, 2010 – At 10:35 tonight fire department units from Kent, Des Moines and South King County Fire and Rescue responded to a report of a bedroom fire in the 25100 block of 22 Avenue South in Kent.  The residents called 911 when they smelled smoke and found a fire in a back bedroom.  They immediately exited the residence.  The first arriving fire department unit reported a small fire in the bedroom which was quickly extinguished.  The Kent Fire Department Investigator determined the cause of the fire to be a space heater which had tipped over and ignited clothing on the floor.  The Fire Investigator estimated the damage at $5,000.00.  The residents were unharmed and have decided to stay with family locally.

Kent, Wash. – January 4, 2010 – Kent Fire Investigators have made an arrest following an early morning porch fire which took place on January 1, at 5:46 AM in the 23700 block of 98 Ave. S.

Kent, Wash. – January 1, 2010 – Two Kent families have been left homeless after an early morning two alarm fire in the 23600 block of 30 Ave. S. destroyed two mobile homes. The fire was first reported at 3:20 AM.

Kent, Wash. – December 30, 2009 – Over 5,000 gifts delivered and over 2,100 children helped: those are the numbers reported by the 2009 Toys for Joy program.

Kent, Wash. – December 27, 2009 – A King County Fire Investigator is currently looking into the cause of a residential fire that was first reported at 2:21 AM in the 12000 block of SE 196 Street.

KENT, Wash. – December 20th, 2009 – Investigation by Kent Police Detectives and Patrol Division has identified the suspect who had engaged in multiple acts of lewd behavior on the bike trail on the city owned wooded property north of Kent Meridian High School and French Field.  The suspect was arrested by the Kent Police mid-afternoon on Saturday December 19th, 2009 at his home nearby.  The suspect, a white male in his 20s, is currently incarcerated pending review and charges by the King County Prosecutor’s Office for Child Molestation and Indecent Liberties.

KENT, Wash. – December 16, 2009 –  At 5:45 this evening a man in his late fifties was struck by a car while attempting to cross the northbound lanes of Benson Road at about the 22000 block on Kent’s East Hill.  The man was not using the crosswalk. The first arriving Kent Fire Department emergency unit found the man lying unconscious and unresponsive in the roadway.  Kent Fire and King County Medic One personnel immediately began resuscitation efforts but the man died of his injuries at the scene.  Washington State Patrol is conducting the investigation.

KENT, Wash. – December 15, 2009 - All four lanes of the new South 228^th Street Grade Separation overpass will open December 15, 2009 following a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate this milestone.

Kent, Wash. – December 11, 2009 – As the first big freeze of the winter begins to ease, many residents and businesses will soon discover water pipes damaged by ice that has formed inside them. In some cases, the temperatures have changed enough for leaks to already be apparent.

KENT, Wash. – December 8, 2009 – Kent City Council members passed a 2010 budget that focuses on core responsibilities and is smaller than the 2009 adopted budget by 5.6%.

KENT, Wash. – December 3, 2009 - South King County law enforcement agencies are working hard to ensure this holiday season is a safe one. In December, they will be out on the streets placing extra emphasis on identifying impaired drivers. This is part of the statewide X-52 DUI emphasis patrols. This month also includes the “Night of 1,000 Stars”; each “star” symbolizes the badge worn by an on duty law enforcement officer.

KENT, Wash. – December 1, 2009 - The Kent Police Department received national recognition for its participation in the 26th National Night Out (NNO) in August.  Directed by the National Town Watch Association, NNO is a time for neighbors to come out of their homes and get to know each other. This crime prevention strategy provides the opportunity for neighbors to become familiar with who lives in their community. It also gives City of Kent employees an opportunity to interact with the residents they serve. Potlucks, BBQs, and ice cream socials help draw people out, and city officials, police officers, fire fighters, and other city staff visit neighborhood events to say “thanks” for being partners in crime prevention.

KENT, Wash. - Dec. 1, 2009 - As if the tough economy weren’t enough to worry about, the threat of flooding in the Green River Valley has residents and business owners on high alert.  We’ve got our sandbags, we’ve signed up for CodeRED, and we’ve bought flood insurance.  But none of these measures protects us from sewage backups. 

Some people have the idea that along with flooding comes something even scarier than the flood water itself - geysers of sewage shooting out of their toilets and kitchen sinks just like “Old Faithful”!   We can thank science fiction movies for planting this smelly seed in our imaginations.

KENT, Wash. – NOVEMBER 9, 2009 - We can confirm that the victim in the shooting incident which occurred today here at a business in Kent is 37 year old Mark Owen, son of Lt. Gov. Brad Owen.  Owen is listed in satisfactory condition at Harborview Medical Center.  The 63 year old suspect, a manager at the business, is also at Harborview after turning the firearm on himself.   He is alive but with life threatening injuries.

KENT, Wash. – November 9, 2009 - On 11/09/09 at 1434 hours, Kent Police was dispatched to a shooting incident at Kent Body and Paint located at 831 5th Av. S., Kent, WA.

KENT, Wash. – October 30, 2009 –City crews have completed placement of over 17,000 giant sandbags on the Green River levee in an effort to prevent flooding in the Kent Valley.  Spanning 12 miles on the east side of the Green River, the giant sandbags have raised the height of the levee by three feet to provide additional freeboard, or capacity, to protect the levee from overtopping.

Kent, Wash. - October 27, 2009 – Officer David Beerbower, has been selected as the Washington’s Most Wanted – Officer of the Month for October.  The show, hosted by David Rose seeks the public’s assistance in identifying and locating Washington’s most wanted fugitives.  Each month the show staff reviews various incidents involving law enforcement personnel across the state, whose hard work leads to the capture and prosecution of Washington’s most dangerous criminals. 

KENT, Wash. - October 22, 2009 -  Yesterday afternoon the Kent Police Department arrested a 16 year old suspect involved in a homicide that occurred on Thursday, October 15th. The first suspect, 22 year old Mark McKinney, turned himself in previously. 

KENT, Wash. – October 20, 2009 The Kent Police Department identified 22 year old Mark Anthony McKinney as the suspect in a homicide which occurred in our city October 15, 2009. 

KENT, Wash. – October 19, 2009 - Investigation by Kent Police Detectives have identified Mark Anthony McKinney, a 22 year old Kent resident, as the suspect in a homicide that occurred on October 15, 2009 at approximately 2143. 

KENT, Wash. – October 14, 2009 – The City of Kent will make complimentary sand and sandbags available to Kent residents beginning Thursday, October 15. Empty sandbags, along with instructions for proper filling and placement, will be available for pick up at the City’s Operations facility located at 5821 West James Street at the following dates and times:

KENT, Wash. – October 12, 2009 – Upon learning that state and county dollars were no longer available to operate Safe Havens, in late 2008 the City of Kent launched a year-long search for funding options for the renowned domestic violence visitation and exchange center.  Time and dollars are running out.

KENT, Wash. – October 5, 2009 – In an effort to help prevent flooding in the Green River Valley, the City of Kent will place 20,000 giant sandbags along the Green River levee beginning October 7.  The bags will be in place by November 1.  

KENT, Wash. – September 18, 2009 – At a time when public budgets are strained, new bus service would be considered quite a coup.  But thanks to voter-approved initiative Transit Now, that’s exactly what residents in west Kent are getting.

KENT, Wash. – September 10, 2009 –Larry Blanchard, who has spent the last decade managing the construction and maintenance of the city’s streets, sewer and water mains is resigning as Public Works Director effective September 30.

KENT, Wash. – August 20, 2009 –Residents within the vicinity of two proposed Cottage Housing Developments are invited to learn what each of the proposed projects include and share their comments at two public meetings. 

KENT, Wash. – July 24, 2009 –The City of Kent has contracted with Emergency Communications Network, Inc. for its "CodeRED" high-speed emergency notification services.

KENT, Wash. – July 17, 2009 – Kent’s Human Services Commission has a new tool to help drive awareness of its “iCan” Campaign.  Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO) today launched its newest digital billboards in Kent and is providing them as a public service. 

KENT, Wash. – June 23, 2009 – With a unanimous vote, the Kent City Council approved an ordinance giving downtown developers of multi-family, mixed-use housing complexes an eight-year property tax exemption.

KENT, Wash. – June 15, 2009 -Judge Glenn Phillips of the Kent Municipal Court was elected President of the Washington State District and Municipal Court Judge’s Association (DMCJA) at the Association’s annual spring conference last week.  Judge Phillips will serve as President for one year. 

KENT, Wash. – June 1, 2009 – At the May 28 meeting of the Special Events Center Public Facilities District (PFD) Board, SMG Events Center Management, Seattle Thunderbirds and City of Kent staff presented a financial and market report showing a $169,923 operating loss during ShoWare Center’s first four months of operations. 

KENT, Wash. – May 1, 2009 - iCan…get help, provide help, and inspire others.  These actions are just a few of the possibilities Kent’s Human Services Commission hopes residents will take to heart with the launch of its “iCan” Campaign.

KENT, Wash. – April 8, 2009 – The economy, neighborhood livability and economic development are expected to top the list of discussions with council members at a special Town Hall meeting on Thursday, April 23, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Training Room at Fire Station 74, 24523 116th Ave. SE.

KENT, Wash. – March 30, 2009 – Buds have appeared on trees and shrubs all over the city, and Kent Parks is readying for another productive season of park improvement projects.  The first is Earth Day on Saturday, April 18 at Lake Fenwick Park, followed immediately by Arbor Day on Saturday, April 25 at West Fenwick Park.  Both parks are located on the City’s west hill.

KENT, Wash. – March 27, 2009 – To make bill payment easier and more convenient for its utility customers, the City of Kent has added online payment to its list of payment options. 

KENT, Wash. – March 24, 2009 – All of Kent’s City employees are giving back to save their fellow employees from layoffs.

KENT, Wash. – March 2, 2009 – Boaters at Lake Meridian Park must purchase launch passes, effective today. The per-launch fee is $5.00, payable at the on-site fee station.  An annual pass, valid through December 31, is $50.00; a semi-annual pass, valid July 1 to December 31, is $25.00. Launch passes are available for purchase in person at the Kent Commons, located at 525 4^th Avenue North in downtown Kent.