Renton School Board to consider middle school boundaries
February 1, 2013
NEW — 3:25 p.m. Feb. 1, 2013
The Renton School Board will consider a proposed map of middle school boundaries at its regular Feb. 6 meeting.
All Renton School District middle school students that reside in Newcastle will attend the new middle school when it opens in 2016, based on preliminary boundaries.
Construction of the new middle school, on the site of the current Renton Academy, 6928 116th Ave. S.E., means boundary changes for the district’s three other middle schools as well.
With the proposed boundary changes, more than 1,100 middle school students will change schools when the new one opens in 2016. More than 750 of those students will be moving from McKnight Middle School to the new middle school. Read more
Chamber hosts local sports reporter
February 1, 2013
NEW — 2:50 p.m. Feb. 1, 2013
Newcastle resident and award-winning sports radio host Bill Swartz will be the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce’s featured speaker at its Feb. 13 luncheon.
Swartz will talk about all things Seattle sports, from the Seahawks’ exciting play this season and the potential return of the Sonics, to an early outlook on the Mariners’ chances in 2013.
“Come to lunch and get a current perspective on Seattle sports so that you can sound like an informed sports enthusiast in your business and social circles,” Peter Zevenbergen, chamber president, said in a statement.
Lunch begins at 11 a.m. at Tapatio Mexican Grill, and costs $20 for chamber members and $25 for nonchamber members. The lunch includes food, tax and gratuity.
Attendees are asked to RSVP by emailing MonthlyLunch@newcastlecc.com.
Tapatio is at 6920 Coal Creek Parkway S.E.
Learn more at the chamber’s website, www.newcastlecc.com.
Newcastle’s Mandy Schendel places in top 10 at Miss America Pageant
January 31, 2013
By Joe Whiteko
Miss Washington, Mandy Schendel, of Newcastle, accepts her award as winner of the Lifestyle and Fitness category after modeling a strapless white Catalina swimsuit at the Miss America pageant.
What young girl hasn’t dreamt of being a fairy princess or a beauty pageant queen? For most, they settle for the opportunity to shake the hand of one at a theme park or watch them as they wave in a parade.
This is not the case for Newcastle’s own Mandy Schendel, a 2008 Hazen High School graduate. She has gone the distance and lived out those dreams.
Council begins with a retreat
January 31, 2013
City Council retreat discusses budget, Parks Commission
The Newcastle City Council met for its annual beginning-of-the-year retreat at The Golf Club at Newcastle on Jan. 24.
The City Council was not allowed to take any action during the retreat, but council members used the five hour meeting to discuss city business in a more informal setting, with City Manager Rob Wyman and Sara McMillon, the city clerk, as the only other city officials in attendance.
The topics ranged from a brief exploration of police level of service, to discussion of the city’s pavement management policies. A proposal to restructure the Parks Commission and talk about the city’s budget policies dominated most of the discussion at the meeting, though.
Culvert project will cause lane reductions on parkway
January 31, 2013
A city of Bellevue project to replace an aging culvert underneath Coal Creek Parkway will reduce a portion of the busy arterial to one lane in each direction, beginning at the end of April.
The culvert will be replaced with a 39-foot-wide bridge that is expected to protect the roadway, improve public safety, provide a new pedestrian walkway and improve fish passage, project engineer Bruce Jensen said in a Jan. 15 presentation to the Newcastle City Council.
The project requires two phases of construction during which Coal Creek Parkway will be reduced to one lane in each direction between just south of Forest Drive and just north of Southeast 60th Street.
During the first phase, April to November 2013, crews will build the west half of the bridge and relocate underground utilities.
City contracts for development review
January 31, 2013
The Newcastle City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city to contract with a consultant that will provide development engineering review for the year.
The Public Works Department, in particular Assistant City Engineer Kerry Sullivan, is expected to bear the brunt of what will be a busy 2013.
With an increased pavement rehabilitation program, two sidewalk projects and an anticipated need for more development engineering review in 2013, Public Works Director Mark Rigos requested the extra support to assist with the department’s workload.
City Manager Rob Wyman and Rigos interviewed three candidates to provide part-time development engineering review, settling on Bruce N. Johnson, a professional engineer, as the preferred choice.
City Council hosts special guests
January 31, 2013
The Newcastle City Council will welcome King County Councilman Reagan Dunn and Miss Washington Mandy Schendel to its Feb. 5 meeting.
Dunn, the county council’s representative for Newcastle, will deliver his annual state of the county address at the meeting.
The City Council will honor Newcastle’s Schendel with a proclamation recognizing her performance at the Miss America competition on Jan. 12.
Man robs KeyBank branch
January 31, 2013
The Newcastle branch of KeyBank was robbed at about 2:30 p.m. Jan. 16, according to a statement from Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine.
The suspect robbed the bank branch at 6917 Coal Creek Parkway S.E.
Contributed by Crime Stoppers
This unidentified man is suspected of robbing Newcastle’s KeyBank at 2:36 p.m. Jan. 16.
He is described as a 5-foot, 5-inch to 5-foot, 7-inch, 180-pound black man in his 30s or 40s.
Longtime parks commissioner resigns
January 31, 2013
After nearly nine years of service as a member of the Parks Commission, Andrew Shelton resigned from his post at the group’s Jan. 9 meeting.
Shelton’s term was set to expire in September 2013, but the resignation is effective immediately after he seized a new job opportunity that will transport his family to Billings, Mont.
Andrew Shelton
“You know, we will certainly miss Newcastle,” he said. “My wife grew up in Newcastle way back before it was Newcastle and I grew up in Kirkland, so we are locals. I just didn’t have the luxury of time to serve out the remainder of the term, unfortunately.”
Both Newcastle school districts seek new superintendents
January 31, 2013
Superintendent Steve Rasmussen intends to retire June 30 after leading the Issaquah School District for six years.
He announced the decision Jan. 9 to the Issaquah School Board.
Steve Rasmussen
“I have been lucky in life and have been able to do what I chose to do, and that is being a teacher,” Rasmussen said after the board accepted his resignation. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve with you.”
Rasmussen’s retirement caps off a 40-year career in public education in Washington that has included teaching, coaching and leading three school districts.
