Update on Britt case
On April 29, the Washington State Department of Health suspended the license of certified nursing assistant Joseph N. Njonge, who pleaded not guilty in the first-degree murder of Twin Lakes resident Jane Carol Britt.
Njonge is unable to work in his profession until the charges are cleared. He has until May 9 to request a hearing on his suspension and until May 19 to respond to the charges.
Njonge was a nursing assistant at Garden Terrace Alzheimer’s Center in Federal Way, where Britt’s husband resided. He is accused of killing Britt in the facility’s parking lot after she left the center late March 18. Britt’s body was discovered in the trunk of her car, still parked at the care facility, on March 19.
A DNA sample under Britt’s fingernails connected Njonge to the slaying.
Weyerhaeuser theft charges
Former Weyerhaeuser Company employee Dyana Cabuang of Tacoma has been charged with 116 counts of theft in the first degree and two counts of theft in the second degree, for authorizing and cashing fraudulent checks made payable from the company’s account.
While working for Weyerhaeuser as a research specialist, Cabuang was given authority to approve invoices and submit them for distribution of funding to clients who performed work for the Market and Economic Research group. While in this position, Cabuang manufactured 266 fictitious invoices between December 2003 and September 2007, according to court documents.
Beneficiaries of the invoices were Lena De La Fuente of Des Moines, who was later discovered to be Cabuang’s sister, and Cabuang, under the false identity of Dana Magno, or DEMC, according to court documents. The women collected $481,060 from Weyerhaeuser by submitting the false invoices to the accounts payable department.
De La Fuente is charged with 92 counts of theft in the first degree and two counts of theft in the second degree, according to court documents. Arraignment for both women is scheduled for May 8.
Cabuang began her employment with Weyerhaeuser in March 1983 and voluntarily resigned October 2007. She has no prior criminal history, according to court documents.
Buds and Blooms
The city’s first Buds and Blooms garden festival will take place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10-11 at various locations throughout the city.
The Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden, PowellsWood garden, Federal Way Farmers Market and West Hylebos Wetlands Park will all feature events. Admission ranges from free to $5 per person. For specific event times and more details, contact the gardens individually.
Pacific Rim Bonsai Garden can be reached at (253) 924-6206. The Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden can be reached at (253) 838-4646. PowellsWood garden can be reached at (253) 529-1620. West Hylebos Wetland Park can be reached at (253) 874-2005. The farmers market will be in operation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in front of Sears in The Commons parking lot, 928 S. Commons.
Pac Highway construction
• SCI Infrastructure will break and continue setting forms for the wall fascia panels for the wall near the Overlook Condominiums, 29645 18th Ave. S., on May 5. Concrete will be poured on Fridays. Forms will be broken free and reset the following week for the next Friday pour. The final concrete pour is scheduled for May 23.
• The electrical subcontractor continues to install the new signal components for the South Dash Point Road and Pacific Highway South intersection. The signal mast arms will be erected on May 28.
SCI will install blocks on walls just north of the Dash Point Road Shell station at the south end of the View at Redondo Apartments, 29421 Pacific Highway S., at least through May 16.
• SCI will continue constructing concrete accesses behind the new curb cuts at least through May 16. Properties with two driveways will see one driveway poured at a time. Properties with single driveways will see one half of the driveway poured at a time. The concrete must cure for three days before traffic can be placed on it. Concrete work could be delayed due to wet weather conditions.
• The week of May 5, SCI will be grading driveways and parking lots in preparation for paving. Most of this effort will be at Western Union Checkmate, 28722 Pacific Highway S., Thomas Kincade Gallery and Gifts, 29001 Pacific Highway S., and Guys and Gals Hair Design, 29005 Pacific Highway S. These driveways will be paved between May 8 and May 12
• SCI will prepare the roadbed above the wall near the Soundview Apartments, 28425 18th Ave. S. for paving beginning May 2. Paving is scheduled between May 8 and May 12, but could be delayed due to wet weather. SCI has begun installing hangers for the traffic barrier that will be mounted above this same wall.
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