All Stories - Federal Way Mirror

World Vision sends supplies to Oklahoma tornado victims

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

Federal Way-based World Vision is loading trucks with supplies to assist the victims of a powerful tornado that ravaged Oklahoma.

Airplane noise: Is relief in sight for Federal Way residents?

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

Longtime Federal Way resident Scott Chase bought his house 23 years ago. He never could have predicted that the airplane noise over his house would become such an issue.

3,300 lose power in Federal Way, including three schools

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

Puget Sound Energy is investigating the cause of two separate power outages affecting 3,303 customers in Federal Way and 326 customers in Poulsbo this morning.

Man admits having multiple personalities | FW crime blotter

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

At 7:38 a.m. May 17 in the 35000 block of 16th Avenue South, the subject walked into a local high school, saying his mother abused him and stole his name.

ELECTION 2013: List of candidates in Federal Way races

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

Here is the final list of candidates for the 2013 elections in Federal Way. The primary election (for races with three candidates or more) is Aug. 6. The general election is Nov. 5.

ELECTION 2013: Griffin forgoes re-election to school board

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

School board member Angela Griffin, who was first appointed to position four in 2008, has announced she will not seek re-election. Griffin was recently a finalist and interviewed for a vacant position on the Washington State Board of Education.

City to host public meeting on proposed arts center (PACC)

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

An informal public meeting of city center business and property owners and managers will begin at 5:30 p.m. May 23 The Commons Mall across from Famous Footwear. The purpose is to discuss the performing arts and conference center proposed for the former Toys R' Us site on 20th Avenue South.

King County Metro bus service faces 17 percent cut

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

For Federal Way, a total of 11 of the 19 routes that serve the city could be either eliminated or reduced/revised.

Education funding: FW schools brace for state budget impact

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

With Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) Superintendent Rob Neu set to give his final recommendation for a budget at the May 28 board meeting, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Sally McLean gave a quick review of the budget planning process to date.

Communities In Schools raises $55,000 | Kim Egge named mentor of the year

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

Communities In Schools of Federal Way netted more than $55,000 during its 2013 fundraising breakfast May 17 at the Weyerhaeuser campus.

SOFTBALL: Beamer is state-bound for first time in school history | Slideshow

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

For the first time in the history of Todd Beamer High School, the softball team is headed to the state tournament.

STATE TRACK: Federal Way Eagles win boys and girls titles

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

It wasn’t as easy as everybody thought it would be for the Federal Way High School track and field teams. But both the Eagle boys and girls won titles at the Class 4A West Central/Southwest District Championships, held Friday and Saturday at Kent’s French Field.

GIRLS TENNIS: Jefferson and Beamer send doubles teams to state tournament

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

Beamer's Hoefel and Bowman and TJ's Park and Lee advance to the Class 4A State Girls Tennis Championships.

STATE BASEBALL: Decatur loses seventh-inning heart-breaker to AMountainview, 9-8

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

It was a heart-breaking way for the Decatur High School baseball team to end its most successful season in 24 years

STATE SOCCER: Jefferson gets late goal from Madsen, advance into semifinals | Slideshow

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

It was a game that seemed destined to wind up in overtime and eventually a penalty-kick shootout.

STATE SOCCER: TJ advances into quarterfinals for first time since '05 with 5-2 win; Eagles ousted

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

Despite being the most dominant boys soccer program in the history of Washington, the Thomas Jefferson Raiders have struggled getting out of the first round of the state tournament.

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Federal Way's Raven Benton inks with Long Beach State

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

Federal Way High School senior Raven Benton will be headed south to play her college basketball.

BOYS SOCCER: Pelogi scores game-winner, sends Eagles to state; Jefferson stays unbeaten

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

The Federal Way boys soccer team needed some late heroics to advance into the Class 4A State Tournament and they came from senior Odasson Pelogi.

BASEBALL: Decatur headed back to the state tournament for the first time since 1999

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

For the first time since 1999, the Decatur baseball program will play at the state tournament. The Gators guaranteed a berth in the 16-team Class 3A state with a pair of wins Saturday at the West Central/Southwest District Tournament at Tacoma's Heidelberg Park.

SOFTBALL: Beamer grabs SPSL's third seed into district tournament; TJ done

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:19 PDT

The Todd Beamer softball team split a pair of games Friday to snag the South Puget Sound League's third seed into districts.

Blue Poppy Day brings local arts to Rhody Garden

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

Blue Poppy Day will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 18 at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.

Mother's Day weekend 2013 activities and entertainment

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

The market will kick off its 2013 summer season on Saturday, May 11. The opening ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at The Commons mall’s southwest parking lot.

Wild Waves Theme Park will open for Cinco de Mayo

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

Wild Waves Theme Park in Federal Way announced it will open early this year to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on May 5.

'It's Only Rock and Soul' features auction for drumheads signed by Pete Best, Mick Fleetwood, Hal Blaine

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

In a musical tribute to classic rock and soul, Centerstage Theatre will auction off autographed drumheads by three of rock's most famous drummers.

Fun Brick needs 'champion' investor for man's charity idea

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

As they get older, the couple is continuing to explore ways to give back to others and the community, and hope to do so with a product called the Fun Brick.

Kent entrepreneur helps disabled people with the art of origami

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

With a fold here and a bent corner there, entrepreneur Lindy Styer is helping disabled people throughout South King County with origami, the Japanese art of turning paper into decorative shapes and figures.

For some, ‘buying local’ clashes with schedules

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

Federal Way resident Anna Rodriguez steps off her bus from Seattle, tired and frustrated. Inside her red purse, she has a growing list of errands to run at local stores — with no way to cross them off.

Race for the Cure: Margie Walter inspires friends and family

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

The friends and family of Margie Walter made quite the splash in 2011 when their team of more than 200 members participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event.

Where's the best pho restaurant in Federal Way?

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

With close to a dozen pho restaurants to choose from in Federal Way, The Mirror set out to find the city's best.

Backyard chickens: City hosts workshops on 'green living'

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

The City of Federal Way is hosting a free "Backyard Chickens" workshop on from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at City Hall.

Gluten Free Foodies

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

Contraception: Plan A is even better than Plan B | Johnson

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

Recent publicity about Plan B and other generic emergency contraception products has been controversial.

Gang crime in S. King County | Shiers

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

This cartoon by Frank Shiers was printed in the May 17, 2013, edition of the Federal Way Mirror.

Political jargon 101 | Bob Roegner

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

With the Legislature back in session and Congress in its typical disagreeable mood, I thought it might be helpful to review political terms you may be hearing.

Brave FW bus driver blocks boy's bullets | Nandell Palmer

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

I don’t know about you, but for the past few months, there seems to have been an Armageddon of sorts playing out across America: Sandy Hook, Boston bombing, Federal Way shootings, kidnapping victims in Cleveland, Ohio, and the list goes on.

Budget snails in Legislature | Shiers

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

This cartoon by Frank Shiers was printed in the May 10, 2013, edition of the Federal Way Mirror.

Cheers n' jeers: Mother's Day weekend edition | Editorial

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

• Cheers to all mothers on Mother’s Day and any other day. Without you, there’s no us.

Federal Way finally has a mayor race in 2013 | Roegner

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

Like the ripples of a stone cast into a pond, the reverberations from the Pinewood Village Apartment murders continue to impact local politics.

Light rail vs. Federal Way | Shiers

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

This cartoon by Frank Shiers was printed in the May 3, 2013, edition of the Federal Way Mirror.

Federal Way's post-tragedy breakdown | Rudi Alcott

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

As we move on as a community from the horrific events on April 21 that left four innocent victims and the perpetrator dead, I am reminded of the five stages of grief — denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

Sex column vilifies Hobby Lobby

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:20 PDT

Why vilify a business owner and his company simply because he chooses to run his business contrary to her beliefs and moral compass?

Legacy Committee will preserve memories at FWHS | Letters

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:21 PDT

In anticipation of this exciting groundbreaking event, Federal Way High School is forming a “Legacy Committee.” Like the fall season, this group will identify ways to celebrate the life and times of the 18,000-plus amazing graduates who have roamed the halls of this school since 1938.

We want more good restaurants in Federal Way | Letters

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:21 PDT

We've lived in Federal Way for nine years now, and are disappointed at the lack of choice when we want to eat out. We usually have to go elsewhere.

Lane changes on SW 336th St. and 21st Ave. SW | Letters

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:21 PDT

Please explain how the lane changes on 336th Street SW are going to improve traffic flow and access to the businesses through the Twin Lakes corridor.

Federal Way kids care about more than cellphones | Letters

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:21 PDT

Let’s not group them all together as a bunch of kids who care about nothing except themselves and their cellphones.

Let's support Federal Way's long-term interest | Letters

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:21 PDT

The alchemy of making a community, city or major metropolitan area serve its residents and business well in the present while striving to be economically attractive for growth is a challenge all cities face.

Where is Skip? | Letters

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:21 PDT

One thing has become very clear to me since Federal Way changed to an elected mayor system of government. The guy that won chose to let others do his thinking and talking for him. He chose to use other people to deliver his "message," whatever that is.

Healing was goal in response to deadly shooting | Letters

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:21 PDT

Last week, The Mirror published an article critiquing our community’s response to the Pinewood Village Apartment shootings. I found it to be unfair.

Mirror publisher misses the boat | Letters

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:21 PDT

Not just a “stringer” for The Mirror but the publisher himself, Rudi Alcott, seems to have gotten way off track in the “post tragedy breakdown” he has manufactured in his recent comments in The Mirror.

Ode to the new FWHS | Letters

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:21 PDT

In response to FWHS graduate Paige Edmiston's essay, "Reinventing the Patriot" and to the certain individual who deemed FWHS unworthy of the levy that would rebuild our school because we, as students, will never amount to anything.

City rebuts Czar again, says PACC will be built without debt | Letters

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:21 PDT

In Matthew Jarvis’ latest column on the proposed performing arts and conference center (PACC), he mixes apples and oranges and comes up with a red herring.