All Stories - Renton Reporter

Renton car show returns for 18th year

Hot rods, muscle cars, low riders and tricked-out trucks. These are just some of the more than 300 rigs that will line the streets of downtown Renton Sunday. The occasion? The Return to Renton 2008 18th Annual Benefit Car Show and Cruise.

Renton police seeking SUV in accident June 26

Not every day are deputies with the King County Sheriff’s Office dealing with criminals. On a recent Saturday, a sheriff’s deputy and a wildlife officer from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife worked together to hopefully reunite a fawn and its mother southeast of Renton.

King Co. Sheriff's deputy, state wildlife agent re-release fawn into woods

To promote pedestrian safety during summer school and before local children start school in fall, the City of Renton has installed the first speed camera at McKnight Middle School and a stepped-up enforcement campaign against drivers who speed, run red lights, and do not stop for school buses.

Renton installs speed camera at McKnight Middle School

City staff is currently conducting a census of the newly annexed 374 acres south of Maple Valley Highway. The land, formerly called the New Life-Aqua Barn annexation, stretches almost to 184th Avenue Southeast. This land became part of Renton June 9.

Census of recent annexation could push Renton pop. over 80K

A generous community has helped ease the financial pain inflicted on 83-year-old Alvina Popke by a unscrupulous scam artist. A fund was set up at US Bank to help raise money to offset Popke’s loss. About $665 was raised from 10 donations. Because the donations are kept private, Popke can’t thank each donor personally. But, she wants everyone to know the money will help.

Community donates about $665 to Renton senior scammed out of savings

Work is under way on rebuilding the longtime McDonald’s restaurant on Rainier Avenue that was destroyed in a spectacular fire in December. Rainier Avenue that was destroyed in a spectacular fire in December. The nearly 4,000-square-foot restaurant is expected to open in late September, according to George Kobory, the project superintendent for Spectrum Enterprises of Lakewood, which is building the restaurant.

Classic Renton McDonald's destroyed by blaze to reopen in September

Beginning June 29, people looking to adopt a new pet or retrieve a lost one will soon have even more opportunities to search the King County Animal shelter in Kent.

County animal shelter in Kent expands hours

The 23rd Annual IKEA Renton River Days kicks off July 23 and continues July 25-27. The theme for this year’s festival is “Explore the Heart of Renton.” River Days got its start in 1986. The festival includes stage entertainment, food, arts and crafts, recreation and special features for kids.

Renton River Days returns July 23

About 1,000 graduating seniors from Renton and surrounding high schools got a late-night helicopter ride over Renton, part of their graduation-night celebration. The idea was to keep them busy – and safe – on what can become a dangerous night of unsupervised partying. “We look at potentially keeping 1,000 DUIs from happening,” said Michael O’Leary, owner of AirO Inc., which offered the four-minute flights through the grad-night packages typically organized by parents of the seniors. But the noise from those dozens of helicopter flights over six nights has generated enough complaints from those trying to sleep that O’Leary will meet with Mayor Denis Law about the future of the flights.

Renton grads' week of helicopter flights draws noise complaints

Seattle Majestics undefeated so far in Independent Women’s Football League

Campy Campolo doesn’t always have the best view of the football action. By design, someone’s often right in her way.

Renton card shop owner reflects on 20 years of business

To some, a 1985 Topps Alvin Davis card doesn’t mean much. Its worth is less than a dollar, and this one isn’t even in mint condition. To Don Joss, that card means nostalgia. Memories versus dollars and cents. Or even collecting for joy versus collecting for profit. That’s the power of trading cards. To many they’re more than simple pieces of cardboard smeared with pictures, names and statistics. They’re a glimpse of personal history.

Renton Little Leaguers mop up area teams

For every baseball player, Major League dreams start on Little League diamonds. Little League is where players hone their skills: How to bat, how to throw, how to field and for some select Renton Little Leaguers, how to win. Renton Little League Cardinals teams swept the Minors and Majors titles in the District 7 Tournament of Champions competition on June 15. District 7 includes areas around Renton, West Seattle, Seatac and Des Moines.

Renton Taekwondo team headed to Jr. Olympics

Taekwon do is loosely translated as “the way of the first and foot” from Korean. Renton Taekwondo Athletics is an Olympic-style sport Taekwondo team. The team is a mix of fighters of all ages that travels to competitions around the country and practices at Lee’s Martial Arts in downtown Renton. The team’s season will come to an end when it travels to Detroit July 1-6 for the USA Taekwondo Junior Olympics, where the fighters will have a chance to put all of their practice to the test.

Renton, Lindbergh, Hazen grads move on to next level

Three seniors. Three different schools. Three different seasons. One common goal for the future: continue playing. Renton High’s Justin Gunn, Lindbergh’s Patrick Claussen and Hazen’s Nathan Bunch all knew coming into the 2008 season that their teams would look to them for leadership. The three seniors had different levels of success this season, but all are moving on to play at the next level.

Doofers Bar and Grill softball squad is Renton dynasty

A group of local friends that found a way to use softball to stay together and active for decades has found an unexpected side effect: winning, lots and lots of winning. The team, sponsored by Doofers Sports Bar and Grill, has been one of the best teams in the area for quite some time. In fact, the team has won at least one tournament every year since 1979. Pretty impressive for a group of friends simply looking for a way to hang out and stay active.

Renton elem. students' artwork on display at Carco Theatre

The new art show at Carco Theatre features work by the young hands of 13 Sierra Heights Elementary students. The art encompasses a variety of mediums, including cloth blanket, tempura, collage, crayon, watercolor, acrylic, even egg yolk and Kool-Aid. The pieces will be exhibited in Carco’s lobby through Aug. 15.

Out & About in Renton | July 2

A listing of arts and entertainment events happening around Renton.

Out & About in Renton | June 28

A listing of arts and entertainment events in the Renton area.

Out & About in Renton | June 25

A listing of arts and entertainment events in and around Renton.

Out & About in Renton | June 21

A listing of arts and entertainment events happening in and around Renton.

Out & About in Renton | June 18

Arts and entertainment events happening in and around Renton.

Out & About In Renton

Arts and entertainment happenings in and around the Renton area.

Renton hot yoga gym is torturous, but also invigorating

Yoga in an air-conditioned gym is hard enough for someone whose life goal is touching her toes. But yoga in a 105-to-110-degree room? I was expecting the worst.

Renton bank marks 85th anniversary

For 85 years, First Savings Bank of Renton has stayed close to its roots – the people of Renton who need a loan to buy a home. That is the traditional role of the “thrifts,” the savings and loans where people pool their money in their savings accounts and then it’s loaned out to others.

A Blossoming restaurant scene in downtown

Before you even taste anything on the menu at Renton’s newest restaurant, Blossom Asian Bistro, you are struck by how fresh and “pretty” everything sounds on the menu. There’s the Blossom roll, with papaya, sun-dried tomato and Japanese pesto wrapped in soy paper. Or, the bamboo princess roll — a combination of shrimp tempura, cucumber, avocado and daikon, also wrapped in soy paper. The selection of salads and sushimi is also equally fresh and tempting—noodle salads, fresh oysters, seaweed salad and marinated salmon served Japanese style.

Renton's Spotlight Dance Center hoards student experience

A recent ballet rehearsal at Spotlight Dance Center begins with grand plies, stretch plies and just plain plies, all which consist of bent knees and out-turned feet. Then it’s to the bar. This is the warm-up for the upper ballet class at Spotlight Dance Center in downtown Renton. Each of the four girls, ages 14 through 19, has been dancing for 10 or more years.

Renton Chamber of Commerce board member wins Chamber award

The Renton Chamber of Commerce presented its 2008 Business Excellence Awards on June 4, which included naming chamber board member Roxanne Hanson as its volunteer of the year.

Renton's Bob Bridge Toyota wins company award

Bob Bridge Toyota in Renton has won Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.’s President’s Award for outstanding sales and service – now for the sixth time.

The Gallagher family of Renton wins the recycling challenge

After five weeks of sifting through garbage, the challenge is over. The six East Renton Plateau families are done lugging their trash bags to a scale each week. The final numbers have been crunched, and a winner has been determined. And that winner isn’t the early favorite. Five weeks ago, the name on everyone’s lips was Baiba. But after Thursday’s final weigh-in, that name had become Rebecca. And James, Emma, 8, and Owen, 5. Those, plus dog Sophie, are the members of the Gallagher family. And with an 82-percent garbage reduction over the past five weeks, the Gallaghers are the winners of the Renton Neighborhood Challenge, part of King County’s campaign called “Recycle More. It’s Easy To Do.”

Renton families wrap up recycling challenge June 26

It’s the home stretch in the Renton Neighborhood Challenge, and the competitors are still going strong. Over the past four weeks, the six East Renton Plateau families have reduced their trash by a combined 80 pounds – from just over 146 pounds at the first May 29 weigh-in to just over 65 pounds at last Wednesday’s. Tomorrow, (Thursday) the six neighbors will lug their trash bags to the scale one last time. The family whose trash has lost the most weight over the five weeks wins the challenge.

Search for Renton 'Highlands Man,' Woman may lead to closed grocery store

The leads investigators are following to identify Highlands Man and, now, Highlands Woman, may take them to Johnson’s Grocery, which closed in north Renton more than three decades ago.

Puget Sound global sightseeing group to celebrate 50th anniversary

The Puget Sound See Gulls Trailer Club once did lots of seeing. Once or twice a month the families boarded their motor homes and travel trailers and set off for the ocean, Skagit County, Death Valley, Mount Vernon and even Tahiti. Once there they had cook-outs, played games and held dress-up contests.

South County club offers help for moms of multiples

After discovering she was pregnant, Linda Simpson told her husband James she wanted another baby. With three young children at home, James didn’t like the idea. But Linda challenged him, joking, “Don’t tell me what to do — I’ll have twins!” And she did. Twins weren’t new in the Simpson family. Simpson’s husband James is an identical twin. Her twin daughter Jana later continued the tradition, having a set of twins herself. Still, twins were a surprise for Simpson. She found out only six weeks before giving birth. So she was thrilled to receive an invitation to join Valley Mothers of Multiples Club, Inc., (then Valley Mothers of Twins Club).

A time to cheer Renton grads, passage of school bonds

Hundreds of Renton teens are waking up this morning after one of the most exciting days and nights of their lives – high school graduation. OK, maybe some of them will wake up this afternoon. But the sentiment is the same, following Friday’s day of commencements. For them, it’s the end of 12 years (and maybe 13, if they went to kindergarten) of education that will lead to a college career or directly to work.

Renton man: Home sprinklers a good value

This is a rebuttal to a letter to the editor in the June 21 Renton Reporter. The U.S. Fire Administration, a department of FEMA, estimates the cost of a home sprinkler system at approximately $1 to $1.50 per square foot in new construction as of April 2008. Sprinklering a 2,000-square-foot house would cost $3,000 at the high end, about 0.7 percent on a sale price of $450,000.

Thanks for article on Puget Sound See Gull club

Thank you for the excellent article Emily Garland wrote about our club and also the pictures Matt Brashears took to illustrate it. The Renton Reporter really promoted our club in a positive manner.

Celebrate July 4 safely

Celebrate the Fourth of July and honor our country with patriotism

Renton benefits little from light rail

You chose an interesting political cartoon on June 21, implying that $4-a- gallon gas will push people toward light rail.

'Huck Finn' shows how far country has come

In bringing attention to “Huckleberry Finn,” doesn’t Calista Phair realize that she has stirred up a curiosity about what the book says? Now I’d like to read it again, and that can’t be what she would like.

Renton resident 'delighted' with fireworks ban

As a recent annexee to the city I am delighted to now be protected by Renton’s fireworks ban. Last week’s writer who called limits on fireworks “draconian” was just plain silly. The private, irresponsible and dangerous blow-outs all-to-common in neighborhoods around the 4th of July have nothing to do with real patriotism and love of freedom. They are more related, at any age, to foolish juvenile acting out drawn to loud noises and bright flashes, heedless of the danger and annoyance to their neighbors.

King County budget ‘crisis’ could mean more taxes

The County Council has stated there is a $70 million budget crisis to have cuts in courts and law enforcement. I was surprised by the opinion of Julia Patterson (Renton Reporter, My Turn) about what caused this budget crisis.

In HOT lane move over for ambulance

I am writing in regard to something I observed on the “HOT lanes” on State Route 167.

Thanks to all those who voted for bond

As a new homeowner here in Renton and as someone who voted for improving our schools both in March and in May because I know how important having great schools are for one’s city or town, I just wanted to write and say how excited I am about the outcome, how pleased I am to think about what those funds will do for our kids, teachers, schools, and for Renton, and how proud I am of all the people who got their votes in this time.

Renton fireworks ban is 'draconian'

Your article on June 14 entitled, “A reminder: Fireworks banned in the city” was terribly one-sided. You cite the reduction of property damage and fire calls since the ban was enacted in 2005, but you say nothing of the tens of thousands of people who have had their celebration of their country’s founding destroyed by this draconian ban.