Bellevue Police arrest Newcastle postal worker for assault
October 3, 2014
NEW — 4:10 p.m. Oct. 3, 2014
Bellevue Police arrested a 55-year-old postal worker from Newcastle for assault Oct. 3.
Police responded to the reported assault on 160th Avenue Southeast, in front of Phantom Lake Elementary School, at 11:15 a.m., according to a Bellevue Police Department release.
When officers arrived, they learned a postal worker, driving a marked postal-service vehicle, intentionally hit an individual with the postal vehicle she was driving.
The incident started when the victim allegedly saw the postal worker yelling obscenities at another citizen. The victim became concerned about the postal worker’s behavior, and decided to take a photo of the vehicle in order to file a complaint with the postal service. Read more
‘Little giant’ makes history come to life
October 3, 2014
By Greg Farrar
Rich Crispo, Newcastle councilman, stands next to a display case with Milt Swanson’s coal miner helmet and an information poster honoring the late 95-year-old Newcastle native’s contributions to preserving the city’s history. The Renton History Museum’s Newcastle retrospective exhibit is on display until Feb. 7.
The first thing visitors see upon walking into the Renton History Museum’s Newcastle exhibit is, appropriately, a tribute to a man that means so much to the city’s history. Read more
City looks to add youth voice
October 3, 2014
Newcastle teen leads charge to get peers involved in city government
The Newcastle City Council explored the possibility of adding a youth voice to its government structure at its Sept. 16 regular meeting.
The discussion comes after Newcastle teen James Ricks approached Mayor Steve Buri about the feasibility of creating a youth advisory board to the council.
“I want youth to care about Newcastle,” Ricks said. “Whether that’s evident in service projects, involvement in planning activities or tutoring, I want youth to be involved because they care about the city they live in.” Read more
Newcastle receives $255,000 Lake Boren grant
October 3, 2014
The city of Newcastle received a $255,000 King County Flood Control District grant that will help ease flooding at Lake Boren.
The district’s executive committee recommended Aug. 18 that Newcastle receive a portion of $2.6 million in grants available from a newly created program aimed at reducing the impact of local flooding. That recommendation was approved Sept. 29.
“This grant funding will allow the city of Newcastle to address longstanding flooding issues dating back prior to the city’s incorporation,” Reagan Dunn, King County Councilman representing Newcastle and chairman of the King County Flood Control District, said in a news release.
The city of Newcastle’s Lake Boren flooding mitigation project will receive $255,000 to improve the outlet channel by clearing and removing any overflow blockages at Boren Creek. Read more
Newcastle boy stars in local commercial
October 3, 2014
Contributed
Newcastle resident Max Willoughby, 9, stars in his first TV commercial, a promotional ad for the upcoming Seattle Auto Show.
Newcastle resident Max Willoughby is a performer. Read more
Budget season calendar unveiled
October 3, 2014
It’s that time of year again, as the Newcastle City Council works to set the city’s 2015 budget.
Finance Director Chris Olson unveiled a preliminary budget calendar at the City Council’s Sept. 16 meeting. The outlined plan shows that the City Council will receive the preliminary budget document Oct. 11.
Residents then have three opportunities to offer comments about the budget. The City Council will hold public hearings during its regular meetings at City Hall, 12385 Newcastle Way, Suite 200, on Oct. 21, and Nov. 4 and 18.
The budget is slated for adoption Dec. 2, though dates are subject to change.
Renton Tech named to national top 10 list
October 3, 2014
Renton Technical College was named among the top-10 two-year colleges in the nation, earning the chance to compete for a $1 million prize.
The Aspen Institute first recognized the school as one of the nation’s top 150 in January. The school learned in early September that it was one of the 10 finalists for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
The prize, awarded every two years, is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among community colleges. The winner will be announced in early 2015.
“This is a tremendous honor that recognizes the extraordinary contributions of RTC’s faculty and staff to the success of our students,” Renton Technical College President Steve Hanson said in a statement.
Newcastle at 20
October 3, 2014
Police blotter
October 3, 2014
Loony letter
Newcastle staff alerted police Sept. 2 after receiving a suspicious letter at City Hall, 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200. The letter, titled “Nuclear war is in bible prophecy,” contained odd ramblings about the bible, Satan and the “mark of the beast.” Police reviewed the letter, with a return address from California, and determined there were no explicit threats.
Comb caper
A man was banned from the Bartell Drugs store, 6939 Coal Creek Parkway S.E., after attempting to steal a $2.49 comb Sept. 3.
Anonymous assault
Two women were assaulted by a group of unknown suspects while walking in the 13300 block of Southeast 95th Way between 10:30-11:30 p.m. Sept. 5. The two sisters said a group of people started punching, kicking and pulling their hair. Police met the duo, who said they couldn’t identify any suspects and wouldn’t assist with prosecution, at Overlake Hospital. Read more
Get to know your city
October 3, 2014
The city celebrated its 20th year of incorporation in September, but locals know, at least they should, that Newcastle’s story goes back much farther than that.
Newcastle’s coal-mining history dates back to the mid 1800s, when the city was second only to Seattle in population.
The Newcastle mining site operated for about 100 years, until the mid-1900s. Workers extracted nearly 11 million tons of coal during that period.
Vestiges of that history remain scattered across the city in the form of landmarks such as the Baima House, a century-old company house that used to house miners and their families, and the Newcastle Cemetery, the final resting place for a number of Newcastle pioneers. Read more
