About Us

The cities of Covington and Maple Valley officially incorporated on the same day in August of 1997. These south King County cities, along with nearby Black Diamond, maintain roots in a rural lifestyle yet embrace modern technology and economic vitality. Residents enjoy a high quality of living and participate in a variety of natural recreation opportunities, with views of Mount Rainier beckoning in the near distance.

Your Community News Team



Polly Shepherd Publisher
Polly Shepherd
1-425-432-1209 		Polly is the regional publisher of the Kent Reporter, the Covington-Maple Valley-Black Diamond Reporter, the Tukwila Reporter and the Auburn Reporter – all part of the Sound Publishing Group. SHe is also the regional manager for Renton. Polly is on the Kent Chamber Marketing Committee and also is a member of the Kent Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce.
     
Dennis Box Editor
Dennis Box
1-425-432-1209 (ext 5050) 		Dennis Box is the editor of the Enumclaw Courier-Herald, the Bonney Lake Courier-Herald and the Covington/Maple Valley/Black Diamond Reporter.
     
Kris Hill Assisitant Editor
Kris Hill
(425) 432-1209, ext. 5054 		Originally from Bellevue, Kris is a 1996 graduate of Interlake High, and has lived in Maple Valley since 2004. Kris earned a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Washington in 2000. She wrote sports and business stories for the Kent, Renton and Auburn Reporter newspapers from 2003 to 2005 before she was hired as the staff writer for the Covington-Maple Valley-Black Diamond Reporter which first published in September 2005. Kris married the guy she took to her senior prom and has a daughter, Lyla, as well as a beagle and a tabby cat.
     
Katherine Smith Reporter
Katherine Smith
425-432-1209 ext. 5052 		Katherine graduated from Kentridge High and has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Biola University. Prior to working at the Reporter she interned with the Tahoma School District. She covers Maple Valley City Hall, education, business and high school sports, among other areas. A former Jungle Cruise Skipper at Disneyland, Katherine is a Disney afficionado.
     
TJ Martinell Reporter
TJ Martinell
425-432-1209 ext. 5052 		TJ Martinell joined the Reporter in April 2011. He is a graduate of Sammamish High and Eastern Washington University. He covers Maple Valley City Hall, education, business and high school sports, among other areas.