Renton Parks Director awarded for dedication to environment

Renton Parks Director awarded for dedication to environment

Renton’s Parks Planning and Natural Resources Director is being recognized for her dedication to the protection of the environment and efforts to ensure parks and open spaces will be enjoyed by future generations, according to the city.

Leslie Betlach was awarded the Washington Recreation and Parks Association’s Citation of Merit for a Professional on Monday.

According to the city:

Betlach has been a long-time advocate for the public benefits of parks and natural areas and has worked with other cities and the department of transportation to interconnect paved and soft surface trails, boardwalks, and water trails to create a non-motorized network for both recreational and commuting uses.

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Rampathon gifts disabled Renton man with new wheelchair ramp

A Renton man will soon have an easier time getting around his home in his wheelchair, thanks to the 19th annual Rampathon event.

Ramp captain Kara Macias, of Chown Hardware, will build a free wheelchair access ramp for Renton Resident Guonei Liang on Saturday.

“Builder captains will lead their teams in constructing access ramps giving recipients the ability to get in and out of their homes with greater ease and flexibility,” says Art Castilleja, the 2012 Rampathon chairman. “For many of them, it will be the first time in years they have not had to rely on family or friends just to get in and out of their homes.”

Since 1993, teams from the Master Builders Association have constructed 320 wheelchair ramps for those in need.
 

Police: Second man arrested for suspected attack on smoke shop owner

Police: Second man arrested for suspected attack on smoke shop owner

Relatives of a man suspected of brutally beating and robbing a South Renton smoke shop owner Wednesday convinced him to turn himself in, according to the Renton Police Department.

Police say Christopher Lockett Jr, the second suspect in the violent robbery, turned himself in at the urging of relatives, after they saw media coverage of the event.

The attack happened around 11:00a.m., when  police say Lockett  and accomplice Joel White entered the store, briefly exchanged words with the owner and then started brutally beating him using a stick, bottles from the store, their fists and feet.

White was arrested Friday afternoon. Lockett has been arrested, and booked into the King County Department of Youth Services detention facility.  
 

Reminder: Farmers Markets opening soon

Reminder: Farmers Markets opening soon

Mark your calendars, the Renton Farmers Market season is near!

The Farmers Market at the Piazza opens June 5 and runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, until Sept. 25.

The Farmers Market at Valley Medical Center opens June 10 and runs from noon to 4 p.m. every Sunday, until Sept. 16.
 

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Winter make-up days delay summer for Renton students

The beautiful weather may be making kids ready for summer, but they’ll be in school a bit longer while they make up for school days lost during the winter.

The Renton School District is reminding parents and kids that May 25 is a delayed-start day, and June 20 and 21 are added days to make up for school cancelations during the January snow storm.

On May 25, schools will start 90 minutes late for all students. Also, only AM kindergarten students attend classes.

Class will be in session June 20 and 21 to make up for closures on Jan. 18, 19 and 20 due to a severe winter storm that blanketed the area with snow and ice, and created power outages in the area.

Each year the district builds at least one snow day into its calendar to make-up for a school closure due to inclement weather. In rare cases where more make-up days are needed, school districts normally add days to the end of the school year, according to the district.
 

Mother's Day means more sun, continues through start of work week

Mother's Day means more sun, continues through start of work week

Happy Mother's Day! 

We are in for some wonderful weather for getting outside. 

Plan on sunny skies today with highs in the mid-70s to low-80s in many spots.  The warmest areas will be in the south Sound.

The strong ridge of high pressure will stay locked in for Monday with highs rising a few degrees.

Even Tuesday is looking mostly sunny with a few high clouds toward the end of the day.  It isn't until late Wednesday that the ridge breaks down enough to allow a stronger onshore flow to bring us more clouds and cooler temps.  By Thursday morning we could even have some areas of mist.

Theron Zahn
The KOMO4 Forecast Team

Police: Shop owner brutally beaten, search continues for second suspect

Police: Shop owner brutally beaten, search continues for second suspect

Renton police are searching for a second suspect involved in a violent robbery earlier this week.

It happened around 11:00a.m. on Wednesday inside a South Renton smoke shop.

Officers say two men entered the store, briefly exchanged words with the owner and then started brutally beating him using a stick, bottles from the store, their fists and feet.

Friday afternoon detectives located and arrested one of the suspects, Joel White, but they continue looking for the second suspect, Christopher Lockett Jr.

Anyone with information on where Lockett might be is asked to call 911. Police say he should be considered violent and dangerous.