Hazen High School sports teams tackle postseason Page 18
Robots compete to clean pretend spill in pool Page 16
June 3, 2011 VOL. 9, NO. 6
City staff post-employment restrictions tightened By Tim Pfarr
Water worries City moves forward to stop Lake Boren flooding. Page 2
The City Council voted May 3 to create a new section of city code that — in some circumstances — restricts former city employees from working for companies with which they negotiated, supervised or approved contracts during their city employment. If the employee takes a job at such a company, he or she would face a $10,000 fine for violating any of four restrictions. According to the new code:
First, for one year after leaving the city, an employee cannot accept a job with a company if he or she approved large contracts for that company and would work on the same project as he or she did at the city. The contracts are considered large if they total more than $100,000 during the employee’s last two years at the city. Second, an employee cannot have a financial interest in any contract that he or she played a role in negotiating, supervising or awarding while working at the city.
Third, an employee cannot accept a job offer from a company if he or she knows or has reason to believe the offer has been made as compensation for his or her work while working at the city. Finally, an employee cannot accept a job offer if the circumstances of the offer appear “to a reasonable person” to have been made as compensation for the employee’s work while working at the city. The rules do not apply to employees who take jobs with government agencies.
Planning to return Carol Simpson to seek re-election to council seat. Page 3
Man with connections Former Seahawks’ coach brings celebrities here. Page 10
Going greener Environmentally conscious schools ramp up efforts. Page 16
Hiron Redmon, Liberty High School sophomore, races to his third-place finish in the 3A 800-meter race at the 3A state track championships May 28 in Tacoma. The Patriots’ boys team took second place overall. Read the story on Page 18.
Contact us: newcas@isspress.com 392-6434, ext. 239
50¢
See ETHICS, Page 6
By Tim Pfarr
Refining the leaders of tomorrow Woman’s nonprofit provides mentors for high school girls When children reach high school, they often start learning from those outside the home. That was the case for Danna Johnston. “When I was in high school, it wasn’t a parent that said, ‘Go to college,” she said. Instead, it was an adviser. After graduating from Franklin High School in Seattle, Johnston attended the University of Washington,
The city’s previous code of ethics bars city officials and employees from general conflicts
Details emerging for Newcastle Days
By Greg Farrar
By Tim Pfarr
Read the new code, section 2.67.020, on the city’s website, www.ci.newcastle.wa.us. Click “City Hall,” “Documents & Press Releases” and “Municipal Code.”
Fourth of July fireworks set at Lake Boren
Track titan
You should know Listen to audio recordings of City Council meetings on the city’s website, www.ci.newcastle.wa.us. Click “City Hall,” “City Council” and “Council Meeting Audio.”
On the web:
majoring in international studies. She then landed a job in finance, where she worked her way up the ladder of success. In 2009 Danna — nine years out of college Johnston — Johnston decided it was time to give back.
Simultaneously, she launched the nonprofit Danna K. Johnston Foundation and the for-profit AloeForMocha Skin Care. The former focuses on helping at-risk youth, and the latter is a line of products that addresses skin care issues specific to people with dark skin. In April, Seattle University recognized the nonprofit with its Red Winged Leadership See FOUNDATION, Page 5
The city’s annual Fourth of July celebration in Lake Boren Park is a go this year, thanks to a $10,000 sponsorship from Lake Boren Townhomes, which opened in April on the north shore of Lake Boren. This year’s celebration in the park will include music from Seattle cover band Shelley and the Curves, food vendors and — of course — a lot of fireworks to light up the twilight sky. The celebration starts at 6 p.m. with fireworks starting at 10 p.m. Don’t forget a blanket. The new playground will be open for children in attendance. “We are extremely excited to be part of the Newcastle community and are happy to do what we can to keep the celebration going,” Lake Boren Townhomes developer Claudio Guincher said in a news release. “Future homeowners will have a front row seat to the fireworks celebration. This is something we want them to be able to enjoy for years to come.” Mayor John Dulcich said he was very grateful for the contribution from the developer. See EVENTS, Page 6