Top 10 most-viewed stories of 2025 at federalwaymirror.com

1. ‘Wind phone’ installed in Federal Way, joining hundreds around the world: Walking along the winding path near Dumas Bay, a visitor might stumble upon a lone wooden box with a telephone inside. The telephone is not plugged in and no dial tone will sound when the receiver is lifted. Instead, the phone is there to act as a physical manifestation of the desire to speak to loved ones who have passed on. The installation is called a wind phone and is modeled after an original telephone of the wind, or “kaze no denwa,” created by Itaru Sasaki in Japan.

2. Case dismissed against Federal Way man who dismembered roommate: A Federal Way man accused of shooting his roommate, then dismembering the body and placing the remains in trash bags inside their apartment in May 2022, had his case dismissed. On Jan. 8, a judge found Nicholas Van Cleave, 47, was incompetent, and his case was dismissed based on medical reports. In May 2022, Van Cleave was accused of killing Richard Lavietes. Van Cleave has a psychotic disorder due to multiple sclerosis with delusions and a mild neurocognitive disorder due to an unknown cause.

3. Man arrested for 2022 Fourth of July shooting in Federal Way: A Kent man pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2022 shooting death of a Federal Way man who had been celebrating the Fourth of July. On Nov. 17, Sir Antonio Agee II, 22, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, amending the charge that was previously first-degree murder. The charge stems from a July 4, 2022, incident where, around 10 p.m., a car Agee was in had been speeding through a neighborhood near the 33400 block of 35th Avenue SW in Federal Way, where Matthew Saelor and others were celebrating. Someone yelled at the car to slow down because there were kids playing in the street, and Agee subsequently yelled expletives and shot at the group, striking Saelor in the head.

4. Federal Way residents still mourn Shari’s closure: Shari’s Cafe and Pies, located in Campus Square on Enchanted Parkway in Federal Way, is officially closed. In 2024, the restaurant chain experienced financial distress, resulting in the closure of 15 of its 20 locations in Washington. According to records from the Washington State Department of Revenue, the restaurant opened its Federal Way location in April 1999 and officially closed in December 2023. As of now, the cafe building and sign are still standing, but the windows are boarded up. The city is looking for new investments to expand the area.

5. Thomas Jefferson HS bowling and baseball coach Joe Townsend dies: The Federal Way community was shaken on the morning of April 30 with news that Thomas Jefferson High School head baseball coach Joe Townsend had died the night before at age 52. Townsend leaves a legacy behind him of teamwork and perseverance. He had been coaching Raider baseball since 2009 and made an impact on every person who came in contact with him. The native of Brooklyn, N.Y., called Federal Way home. He was beloved by coaches and players from across the state.

6. Federal Way Walmart to close Oct. 31: Federal Way’s Walmart location at 1900 S. 314th St. closed to the public Oct. 31. The state’s Employment Security Department reported that about 253 employees worked at the location on South 314th Street. They were eligible to transfer to another store, according to the company. The store’s pharmacy also closed Oct. 31. This was one of two Walmarts in Federal Way. The Walmart Supercenter at 34520 16th Ave. S. will remain open.

7. 19-year-old pleads not guilty to Federal Way shooting death: A Pacific man who shot and killed another at the Campus Green Apartments in August 2023 pleaded guilty to the crime of second-degree murder and now faces up to almost 27 years in prison. On Nov. 13, PJ Langu, 22, pleaded guilty to the crimes of second-degree murder and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Langu’s charges stem from an Aug. 7, 2023, incident at the Campus Green Apartments, 423 S. 325th Place in Federal Way, where Langu shot and killed Tevin Kamau, who was 23 at the time of his death. Langu is accused of shooting Kamau twice in the chest with a handgun at point-blank range prior to fleeing the scene.

8. Federal Way man receives over 60-year sentence for 2018 murders: A Federal Way man convicted of a total of three murders was handed his latest sentence, adding about 60 years to his stay in prison that was previously set to end in 2032. On Nov. 3, Francisco Montero, 27, received a sentence of 727 months in prison (almost 60 and a half years) for the 2018 fatal shootings of 13-year-old Elizabeth Juarez and 19-year-old Eveona Cortez. Montero is also currently serving a 180-month sentence (15 years) for second-degree murder stemming from the fatal shooting of Erasmo Plata on April 12, 2017, for which he was charged in April 2018 and pleaded guilty in 2019. For the deaths of Juarez and Cortez, Montero was charged with two counts of first-degree murder on June 28, 2021. On Sept 23, 2025, Montero was found guilty by a jury of two counts of first-degree murder.

9. Teen charged for shooting after Uptown Square Apartments homicide: A 14-year-old boy faces multiple charges after he and a 20-year-old were allegedly attempting to rob a 13-year-old girl, who then shot the 20-year-old, killing him in Federal Way. On May 3, the boy and Javier Garcia, 20, approached a group of three girls in the parking lot of the Uptown Square Apartments, 1066 S. 320th St., Federal Way, and told a 13-year-old girl in the group, identified as S.B., that they would blow her head off. According to charging documents, one of the boys then told S.B. to give him her stuff, then attempted to punch her, and then grabbed at her and possibly tried to take off her North Face coat before S.B. pulled a gun out and shot Garcia in the chest. Documents stated that Garcia ultimately died.

10. Human toe found at Dash Point State Park: A Father’s Day stroll at Dash Point State Park turned into a once-in-a-lifetime experience when a man found a human toe on the beach. On June 15, Kevin Ewing from Tacoma said he, his two young kids and his wife were hanging out on the beach when he found what looked like a Christmas package. He opened it with his pocket knife and found a feather, grass that had been burned, sage, lavender, tobacco and a rag with something inside it. “I used my knife to pick the rag up and open it, and it was a severed human big toe that was in there,” Ewing said. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office found that the toe was medically amputated and not related to a death.

Federal Way community members Catherine North and her wife, Char Ashcraft, at the No Kings demonstration in June 2025. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang/the Mirror

Top stories of the year in Federal Way

JANUARY

• City will take ownership of Federal Way Farmers Market: The beloved Federal Way Farmers Market continued under new ownership this year. Founded by Rose Ehl, the farmers market has been a community staple on Saturdays through the summer for the past 21 years. When Ehl began to explore retiring from the market, she and the city both wanted the legacy to continue. The city will took over the ownership of the market this year, starting officially on Feb. 1.

• South King Fire sends firefighting aid to Los Angeles: South King Fire firefighters worked 16 hours a day in Los Angeles County, California, suppressing fires with a truck that drove out of Federal Way. On Jan. 10, SKF announced on Facebook that four of its firefighters in a reserve engine deployed with several other agencies from King County to aid in suppressing the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

FEBRUARY

• City approves acquisition of Steel Lake property: A five and a half acre property on Steel Lake, including what is affectionately known as “the lagoon,” is now owned and protected by the city. On Feb. 4, the Federal Way City Council approved a resolution for an authorization to acquire the property for conservation and future parks use.

• 334 units of new workforce housing open in Federal Way: Multi-Service Center (MSC) and Shelter Resources Inc (SRI) held a grand opening ceremony for the recently constructed 202 units and refurbished 134 units that make up Redondo Heights Apartments on Feb. 25. The new apartments, 27606 Pacific Highway S., in Federal Way, have easy access to the Redondo Park and Ride, a rapid ride line and soon, a light rail station.

Dancers from Northwest Tap perform at the MLK Jr. Celebration in Federal Way on Jan. 18, 2025. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

MARCH

• Best of Federal Way 2025 winners announced: Awards were presented March 12 at an informal open house at the Federal Way Mirror’s office. Federal Way readers chose their favorite restaurants, businesses, community leaders and more.

• FW City Council says no to opening crisis center: The Federal Way City Council chose not to support the application of a crisis center operator to open a facility in Federal Way through county funds. The resolution considered at the March 18 council meeting was: “Should the City support Connection Health Solutions’ Request for Proposal (RFP) response to King County’s call for proposals to operate a Crisis Care Center in south King County?” After an hour discussion, the resolution died on the dais when every council member chose not to make a motion for it and no votes were cast.

APRIL

• Bob Roegner, former mayor and columnist, dies: Bob Roegner, a longtime political columnist for the Federal Way Mirror and a former mayor of Auburn, died April 11 at age 76 after suffering from dementia. Roegner served three terms as Auburn’s mayor from 1982 to 1993. In 2006, he began writing a weekly column for the Mirror, “Inside Politics.” His political watchdog editorials were the source of entertainment, education and occasional annoyance for hundreds of community members and public officials up until his final column ran in October 2022.

• Federal Way businesses strategize for FIFA 2026: The shape of FIFA World Cup 2026 is beginning to emerge, and Federal Way business owners are already strategizing on how their piece of the puzzle will help complete the region’s vision. Federal Way business owners met April 22 at the Greater Federal Way Chamber of Commerce to discuss how to prepare for and capitalize on the world soccer competition in the summer of 2026.

• FW City Council supports youth psychiatric facility in split vote: The Federal Way City Council voted 4-3 to pass a resolution in support of the Emerald City Behavioral Health (ECBH) organization to apply to operate the first youth psychiatric residential treatment facility in Washington state. Two weeks earlier, the council declined to vote on a similar resolution to support Connections Health Solutions’ application to operate a facility at the same address, which was remodeled under a King County contract with another operator, then abandoned in 2023. This facility is approximately one block from the Federal Way Community Center.

Former Federal Way Mayor Mike Park speaks at the grand opening ceremony of Hanwoori Garden on June 10. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

MAY

• Multi-Service Center to close food bank due to funding: Starting July 7, food bank distribution will end at the Multi-Service Center (MSC) headquarters on South 336th Street in Federal Way and shift four miles north to their new Redondo Heights Food Bank Market. Originally, the Redondo Heights location at 27606 Pacific Hwy. S. in Federal Way was meant to be an additional food distribution location, but serious deficits in their food bank operations budget caused the need for tough choices.

• Camp Kilworth opens doors to connect a new generation: A new generation of young people will soon have the chance to make memories at the historic Camp Kilworth after it officially reopened on May 7. The opening event was filled with community members with fond memories of time spent at the camp as Boy Scouts and those looking forward to the future. The 25 acres of forest and camp amenities near Dash Point State Park were protected through multiple cohorts of fierce advocates and bureaucratic challenges. The camp has completed phase 1 of restoration, thanks in part to an army of volunteers who put in hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of time and effort.

JUNE

• Ceremony celebrates completion of Hanwoori Garden: After 13 years of work, the Hanwoori Korean Garden will soon be open to the public in Federal Way. A grand opening ceremony on June 10 celebrated the completion of the garden. Inside ornate walls is a traditional octagonal Korean pavillion called a Palgakjeong, a Taegeuk patterned lawn, and plants with Korean and English signage. The garden is located at 550 SW Campus Drive in Federal Way, near the Panther Lake Trail and the King County Weyerhaeuser Aquatic Center.

• New Conna Park sign honors Federal Way pioneer: The park across the street from Silver Lake Elementary School has a new name, a new sign and will soon have new playground equipment and amenities. These updates were kicked off by unveiling the new sign and hosting a groundbreaking on June 18 for Conna Park, located at 1401 SW 325th Place in Federal Way. John Newington Conna was born into slavery in Texas in 1836, and was a veteran in the Civil War. In Federal Way, Conna and his wife, Mary, had a homestead of 157 acres in an area that includes the King County Weyerhaeuser Aquatic Center and the newly renamed park.

JULY

• Soccer tournament draws thousands to Federal Way: Federal Way Memorial Stadium was bursting with the sights and sounds of soccer enthusiasts and the vibrant red, yellow and green of the Ethiopian flag for the weeklong 42nd annual tournament. The Ethiopian Sports Federation of North America (ESFNA) held their event in Federal Way from June 28 to July 5. The total number of attendees was equal to around half the population of the entire city of Federal Way, with an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 guests, according to the organizers.

• Second defendant charged in Federal Way child’s death: Following more investigation, the Federal Way man with multiple child assault charges following the death of his daughter had his charges upgraded, and his girlfriend is now a co-defendant in the case. Woo Jin Hahn, 29, and Cierra Ruby Fisher, 31, who were dating and living in Federal Way, are now co-defendants in the case that followed the death of Hahn’s 5-year-old daughter, where she was allegedly beaten before she died. Amended charging documents allege that three other children — ages 10, 9 and 6, who were also living in the home — were abused by Hahn and one of them by Fisher.

The annual FUSION Summer Arts Gala - themed “Waves of Change” - was held Aug. 9 at Dumas Bay Centre. The event brought in more than $500,000 for local families experiencing homelessness. Photo by Bruce Honda

AUGUST

• City expands access to food vouchers for seniors: City leadership has expanded the number of seniors who will have access to fresh, healthy food through the Federal Way Farmers Market Healthy Seniors Voucher Program. There will now be 60 vouchers available instead of the prior 36, and the value of each voucher has been increased from $6 to $10, according to a decision at the Aug. 12 meeting of the Federal Way City Council.

SEPTEMBER

• Opening of ‘homeless hotels’ pushed back, but moving forward: Will a new emergency shelter and a permanent supportive housing location open before the next severe cold season in Federal Way? Two projects are moving along to transform former hotels in Federal Way, but the latest update from King County is that opening dates have been pushed back from the last estimates shared in March, which initially gave estimates of a fall 2025 opening for both.

• Community celebrates new and improved Illahee Middle School: A ribbon cutting at Illahee Middle School on Sept. 22 marked the completion of the school improvement projects paid for by a 2017 voter-approved bond in Federal Way. The $450 million construction bond was approved by approximately 62 percent of the vote and funded eight projects.

• Specialty grocers thrive as large grocery stores close in FW: Three chain grocery stores have closed in Federal Way in the last six months, including a Grocery Outlet, Safeway and Amazon Fresh. Despite the impact of these closures on the community, Federal Way is not without its food sources. In addition to Fred Meyer, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, another Safeway and even another Grocery Outlet, the city also has an increasing number of small and specialty grocers featuring foods that meet the needs of the diverse community.

Candidates for mayor of Federal Way share their vision for the city at the Federal Way Mirror’s candidate forum on Oct. 18. Here, Susan Honda responds to a question as Jim Ferrell prepares to his answer. Ferrell was elected by voters in November to another term. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

OCTOBER

• ‘South Hill rapist’ leaves Auburn, goes to Federal Way: Registered sex offender Kevin Coe, also known as the “South Hill Rapist” for being a suspect in over 30 Spokane rapes in the late 1970s, moved to the 33700 block of 38th Place Southwest in Federal Way after his release from McNeil Island in October. Coe died Dec. 3.

• Federal Way approves expansion of Flock cameras: The Federal Way City Council approved an expansion of their contract with Flock Safety on Oct. 21, the same day a report from the University of Washington was released that found that Flock surveillance systems expose Washington data to immigration enforcement. Flock Safety cameras and surveillance infrastructure have been in the headlines around the country both for the impact of their systems on crime response, and for data sharing concerns connected to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security.

NOVEMBER

• Flag policy change gets community pushback: A ruling to end the flying of “non-governmental flags” brought inflatable frogs and passionate speeches at the Nov. 4 meeting of the Federal Way City Council. More than a dozen community members shared why they felt it was important to continue flying flags celebrating history and culture at City Hall, while others spoke in support of the city council’s action.

• Racist language found in FW property documents: Legacies of racial discrimination lurk in the titles of many properties throughout King County. In Federal Way, 288 homes are likely to still have covenants with language limiting the race or religion of who can live on or own the property, although these covenants are not legally enforceable. Federal Way City Council members took the first step to helping property owners remove that language from their property’s documents in a consent agenda item on Oct. 21.

DECEMBER

• Community celebrates new local light rail stations: The light rail stations in Kent-Des Moines, Star Lake and Federal Way officially opened Dec. 6. The new stops on the 1 Line train add almost 8 miles to the route and is the fifth light rail extension in the past three years. The new stations also feature new or increased free parking garages and transit oriented development projects that focus on affordable housing and community needs.

• Wild Waves Theme Park to close in 2026: Wild Waves Theme Park, which opened in 1977 in Federal Way, will close at the end of the 2026 season. Oklahoma-based Premier Parks LLC, the park’s operator, made the announcement Dec. 10. The 70-acre theme park will open for its last season on May 23, 2026, and will close to the public on Nov. 1, 2026.