Kent, Wash. – January 4, 2009– An early morning fire in the 23600 block of 127 Court SE has displaced six people. The fire, which was reported at 5:30, was initially reported to be an electrical problem, but was upgraded to a residential fire by the first Kent Fire Department units on scene.

Kent, Wash. – December 24, 2008 – At 7:48 this evening, firefighters from Kent along with King County Medic One units responded to a report of a head-on collision near the intersection of Kent Des Moines Road and Military Road South. 

Kent, Wash. – December 22, 2008 – The holiday season just became a little better for Kent area residents after the Toys for Joy program delivered 6,972 gifts to the Kent Food Bank for local distribution.

Supported by the Kent Fire Department, Kent Firefighters Local 1747, the Kent Firefighters Foundation, City of Kent employees, as well as local residents and businesses, the Toys for Joy program was able to assist those in need this holiday season by providing  toys for thousands of children who might not get a gift otherwise.

Kent, Wash. – December 17, 2008 – Four Kent residents have lost their home following a fire this afternoon in the 10200 block of SE 270 Place.

KENT, Wash. – December 11, 2008 – Mayor Suzette Cooke today issued this statement regarding the City Council’s December 9 passage of the 2009 budget:

Kent, Wash. – December 10, 2008– In light of the high winds and cold weather that are expected in the Puget Sound region later this week, and the typically unpredictable fall and winter months of Western Washington, Kent Fire/Fire District 37 would like to take a moment and remind residents of some winter tips to keep you and your family safe.

KENT, Wash. – December 10, 2008 - About 10:15 a.m. December 10^th, a Kent woman reported that she had seen what appeared to be an abduction of woman on the west hill of Kent. the woman, and a man pulled her into the van. About 8:00 p.m. during further interview to gain as much detail as possible from the woman making the report to police she admitted that there was no gray van. She said the entire story of a woman being accosted and abducted was false. Her motivations for making this false report are not presently known.

Kent, Wash. – December 10, 2008– Kent firefighters and investigators are currently trying to determine what started a house fire in the 4500 block of S. 256 St.

KENT, Wash – December 8, 2008 - The Kent Police Youth Board is working for a better and healthier community through their “Game of Life” Youth Conference held on Tuesday December 9^th  at the Kent Commons, 525  4th Ave North, Kent. The conference is repeated on Wednesday December 10^th  to allow more youth to participate. Conference workshops and activities encourage positive discussions on a variety of teen issues ranging from leadership, traffic safety, going green, and underage drinking prevention. Participants include middle and senior high school students from Kent, Renton and other South King County schools.

Covington, Wash. – December 4, 2008 – A house fire in the 19400 block of SE 267 Street has been ruled accidental by investigators.

COVINGTON, Wash. – December 4, 2008 – Fire investigators are currently sifting through the remains of a home in the 19400 block of SE 267 Street, following a fire which was first reported at 11:20 this morning.

Kent, Wash. – November 28, 2008 – Kent Fire Investigators are currently examining evidence to determine the cause of a fire which took place in a business park in the 6700 block of S. 216 St.

KENT, WA – November 26, 2008 – About 9:40 a.m. Monday November 24^th a man about 50 years old with brown hair robbed the Safeway in downtown Kent.   He approached the customer service desk, asked for a pack of cigarettes and then presented a note demanding all the money in the register. He left the store with cash and a pack of cigarettes.  Two employees followed him into the parking lot and saw him leave in a white car.  They were able to provide the vehicle license number.  

KENT, Wash. – November 25, 2008 - The Kent Police Department has received national recognition for its participation in the 25^th National Night Out (NNO) held in August.  NNO provides a time for neighbors to get to know neighbors.  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.” The Kent Target was a sponsor of Kent’s NNO. The store manager and 20 Target employees visited events.

KENT, Wash. – November 23, 2008 – On November 23, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. Kent patrol officers were dispatched to a reportedly unconscious man in a vehicle at the 23200 block of Pacific Highway South, Kent.  Officers located a vehicle standing in the north bound lanes of Pacific Highway with a male occupant slumped over the steering wheel and unresponsive.  The windows were up and the doors were locked. Officers had to break a window to gain entrance.  The 32 year old man had been shot in the thigh.  A pistol was seen in the vehicle.

KENT, WA – November 20, 2008 – On 12 November 2008 Kent Police were notified that a King County Department of Transportation maintenance person had discovered the body of Andre M. Ramolete, age 24, in a deep ravine next to 272^nd Way, in the 5500 block.  King County Sheriff’s detectives conducted an investigation and the Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy.  They did not find any signs of foul play. 

Kent, Wash. – November 20, 2008 – While returning from another emergency call, Kent Firefighters were the first to spot a house fire in the 800 block of Central Ave. N.

KENT, Wash. – November 15, 2008 – At 10:12 this morning Kent and Renton Fire Department units were dispatched to a house fire at 10806 S.E. 213 St. on Kent’s Easthill.

KENT, Wash. – November 14, 2008 – Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) Corporate Headquarters has once again been named the Kent Green Business of the Year.

KENT, Wash. – November 13, 2008 – At 5:41 this evening Fire Department units from Kent, Renton, Federal Way and the City of SeaTac responded to a report of a house fire at the Reserve at the Riverview development in Kent.

Kent, Wash. – November 10, 2008 – At 4:46 this afternoon, the Kent Fire and Police Departments, along with King County Paramedics, responded to a report of a multiple vehicle crash at the intersection of S. 212 Street and 84 Ave. S.

Kent, Wash. – November 7, 2008 – Firefighters and Police have temporarily suspended operations to recover a car, possibly containing two young children, after the car plunged into the Green River at approximately 8:30 this morning.

Kent, Wash. – November 7, 2008 – At 6:00 am, Kent firefighters rescued a man whose car had become stalled in flood waters in the 22000 block of 76 Ave. S.

KENT, Wash.  – November 5, 2008 -  A 24 year old Kent man left his home on October 20th and has not been seen since.   He has a history of mental problems, and drug and alcohol abuse.  He has thoughts of suicide when not taking his meds.  He was released in September from Western State Hospital.  His cell phone has been turned off since Oct 21, and he has not been located in any public facility. 

KENT, Wash. – November 4, 2008 – Staff from the City of Kent, Seattle Thunderbirds, Kent School District and M.A. Mortenson Company won the Silver Circle Award in the Special Events Category for its “Shoot the Puck” event kicking off the construction of the Kent Events Center. 

KENT, Wash. – October 25, 2008 – Ten Kent Fire Department and two paramedic units were dispatched at 11:07 to the confirmed residential fire on Kent’s East Hill.  Upon their arrival they found the home with flames showing on at least two sides and heavy smoke showing from much of the structure.  The home suffered significant damage to both interior and exterior surfaces.  Property and contents losses are not available at this time.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

KENT, Wash. – October 23, 2008 – The driver of the car on the bottom had promised her parents not to text and drive.  Her first comment to the responding officer was:   “But officer, I just looked down to read a text from my boyfriend.”  She was lucky not to have been seriously injured.  The driver in this case in was 16 years old. But distracted driving effects any age.

Kent, Wash. – October 15, 2008 – At 5:49 am, firefighters from Kent and Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to a report of a house fire in the 700 block of 2 Ave. N., in downtown Kent.

KENT, Wash. – October 10, 2008 – At 9:00 this morning Kent Fire Department emergency units responded to a report of an apartment fire at the Hidden Ridge Apartments on Kent’s East Hill.  The caller told dispatchers there was smoke coming from a bedroom window on the first floor of the two-story building and there was no answer when neighbors knocked at the front door.

KENT, WA – October 7, 2008 – Citing the instability of the economy, Mayor Suzette Cooke presented what she calls a “hold-the-line” budget for 2009 at a meeting of the Kent City Council today. 

KENT, WA – October 7, 2008 - The City of Kent today agreed to terms for a facility naming rights partnership with ShoWare™ by VisionOne.  ShoWare will also be the exclusive ticketing service for the new home of the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Puget Sound region’s newest, and the nation’s first “green” entertainment venue.

Kent, WA – October 3, 2008 – On October 8, 2008, the Kent Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), which is a part of Kent Emergency Management, and Univar USA will be conducting a hazardous materials leak simulation at Univar USA’s Kent facility.

KENT, WA – September 22, 2008 - Neighborhood livability and economic development are expected to top the list of discussions with council members at a special Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, October 14, 5:30 P.M. at Fire Station 73, 26512 Military Road South.

KENT, WA – September 10, 2008 – Early this afternoon Kent Fire Department units responded to a fire alarm at the Signature Pointe Apartments in downtown Kent.  Initial information received by the dispatcher reported smoke and flames were visible from a second floor window and the building was being evacuated.

Covington, WA – August 18, 2008 – Kent Fire Investigators and Rainier Wood Recyclers Inc. are asking for assistance from the public in connection with the recent wood debris fire at the Rainier site which began on August 5, 2008.

KENT, WA – August 19, 2008 -  Homeowners in the Canterbury Neighborhood Council gave their neighborhood a boost when they installed a new entrance sign, lighting and landscaping after being awarded a grant from Kent’s Neighborhood Program. 

KENT, WA – July 30, 2008 – In an email this week to city staff, Mayor Suzette Cooke requested staff to conserve budgeted expenditures in the current fiscal year.  The notification came in advance of budget presentations by department directors in planning for 2009.

 KENT, WA – June 16, 2008 – Looking for some fun on Saturday, June 28th?  Want to be one of the first to see Kent’s newest downtown attraction? Come to the Party at the Plaza! Kent4Health will host the first of a series of fun, healthy events Saturday, June 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the grand opening of Town Square Plaza, located at the corner of Smith Street and Second Avenue.
 
The line-up of activities includes live music, clowns, acrobats, wellness vendors, health screenings, hula hooping, games and prize drawings.