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

	Publisher Polly Shepherd	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.
	Editor Dennis Box 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.
	Reporter Erick Walker 425.432.1209, ext. 5052	Erick grew up on Bainbridge Island, played baseball at Eastern Oregon University, and has been in journalism for 15 years. Before joining the Reporter 2 1/2 years ago he spent a number of years covering prep sports for the King County Journal.
	Assisitant Editor Kris Hill (425) 432-1209, ext. 5054	Born and raised in Bellevue, I'm a 1996 graduate of Interlake High School, now a Maple Valley resident for nearly 5 years. I first was bit with the journalism bug when I was 15 and have been trying to make money at it ever since. I have a communications degree from the University of Washington and have been working in newspapers since 1997. You might see me walking my beagles, Lucy and Langdon, near Elk Run Golf Course or on the Lake Wilderness Trail with leashes in one hand and a BlackBerry cell phone in the other.
	Reporter TJ Martinell
	Reporter Sarah Kehoe 253-872-6600 ext. 5056
	Columnist Ryan Ryals	Ryan Ryals works in Kent and lives in Maple Valley. He writes a weekly column and about the politics and life.
	Columnist Natasha Coddington	Music Notes columnist