Posted on by tylershuey

Cougar Entertainment Center exemplifies hard work paying off

The Cougar Entertainment Center is a true definition of unconventional success.

An idea that was thought of while the three soon-to-be owners had drinks and bowled at Zeppos. “You know what would be really cool? Laster tag,” co-owner Alex Woytovech said, who is credited with coming up with the idea.

A simple statement that may have seemed nonchalant at the time, was actually the turning point for something big in their lives.

“Immediately it was a lightbulb in my head and I said ‘yes, that’s a brilliant idea,’” co-owner C.J. Roberts said. “That night I stayed up until like 2 or 3 in the morning just researching about laser tag, how much money it takes, what you could do and what’s required.”

C.J. is married to the other co-owner Quincy Roberts and Woytovech is the brother of C.J. The married couple met in Western Washington, then both moved to Pullman to receive a higher education. C.J. ended up graduating with a degree in Kinesiology and Quincy with a degree in Digital Technology and Culture.

“My degree did help me with opening this business just because it helped with web design, page layout, designing the logo, altering the logo and ads,” co-owner Quincy Roberts said.

The three of the them started to pursue all the logistics on their own to get Cougar Entertainment Center up and running.

“You have to know the right people in order to streamline the process and make it faster,” C.J. said. “We kind of did it on our own and did a lot of research and googled the fuck out of everything.”

When pursuing such an expensive idea at an early age, there is always some second-guessing regarding if this is actually going to work.

“There’s always that amount of doubt because its $180,000 we literally had to borrow and that wasn’t event touching what we had to put in, so all of that was on the line,” C.J. said.

Eight employees make up Cougar Entertainment Center, including the three co-owners. All three of them still run the counters and do janitorial work, citing that they want to lead by example for their other employees.

“If you’re not willing to clean up puke and pee in the bathroom, then how can you expect your employees to do the same,” C.J. said. “We’re going to be down in the trenches like everyone of our employees, which is why they respect us so much.”

Customer service is a quality that they think sets them apart from other entertainment venues in Pullman.

“We actually care, and that’s what I think a lot of business owners don’t do anymore,” C.J. said. “We actually create personal relationships with every single person that walks through those doors.”

Cougar Entertainment Center is closed on Monday and Tuesday strategically because more people come in closer towards the weekend.

“Our peak hours are Saturday’s from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., that’s when we have all of our birthday parties,” co-owner Quincy Roberts said. “Wednesday’s are hit or miss, Thursday’s are kind of consistent, Friday’s are busier towards the end of the night and Sunday’s are kind of medium.”

Cougar Entertainment Center continues to try and be innovative and ahead of the curb, as they are introducing mobile laser tag this Summer. The event consists of going to someone’s home and setting up the course with obstacles. The idea of expansion is something that interests all three co-owners.

“Our ultimate goal is to open up something similar to Dave and Buster’s,” C.J. said. “There’s a lot of opportunities that are still available because of all the expansion going on around apartment land.”

Garrett Williams is the former General Manager of Cougar Entertainment Center and had nothing but high praise for the owners’ determination and innovations.

“Their ambition comes from their drive to always better the community,” Williams said. “They realized that year-round family fun entertainment is a must in Pullman, and aside from bowling or the movies, is very limited.”

C.J. cites the financial status of the company as “comfortable” and “enough to keep our doors open and the bills paid.”

“That’s all we ever wanted,” C.J. said. “We didn’t expect to be millionaires.”

Their business has become sort of a model for college kids looking to start up a unique business right out of college and has provided hope that these things are possible, even when you don’t think you can do it.

“You’re just going to learn as you go, and if you think you have an idea that would work and you think it would be competitive with the market around you and if you do enough market analysis to understand whether or not your business will be successful, then just go for it,” Quincy said.

Woytovech said that “shooting your shot” when you’re young is better than waiting around until your older.

“If you’re going to fail, you might as well fail at an early age while you can still afford to fail,” Woytovech said.

Fortunately for them, failure is no where in sight for the Cougar Entertainment Center.

 

Dec 12 2017

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

600 S. Washington PO Box 47200

Olympia, WA 98504-7200

Dear Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction ,

Pursuant to the state open records law Wash. Rev. Code Secs. 42.56.001 to 42.56.904, I write to request access to and a copy of Cougar Entertainment Center Business License and Alcohol Permit If your agency does not maintain these public records, please let me know who does and include the proper custodian’s name and address.

I agree to pay any reasonable copying and postage fees of not more than $20. If the cost would be greater than this amount, please notify me. Please provide a receipt indicating the charges for each document.

As provided by the open records law, I will expect your response within five (5) business days. See Wash. Rev. Code Sec. 42.56.520.

If you choose to deny this request, please provide a written explanation for the denial including a reference to the specific statutory exemption(s) upon which you rely. Also, please provide all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material.

I would note that violation of the open records law can result in a fine — payable to me — of up to $100 for each day that I am denied access. Litigation costs, including reasonable attorney fees, may also be awarded. See Wash. Rev. Code Sec. 42.56.550(4).

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Tyler Shuey

1365 NE Brandi Way Churchill Down apt # MTH4

3608601094

 

Sources

  • J. Roberts- co-owner of Cougar Entertainment Center- (509) 339-6114
  • Quincy Roberts- co-owner of Cougar Entertainment Center- (509) 339-6114
  • Alex Woytovech- co-owner of Cougar Entertainment Center- (509) 339-6114
  • Garrett Williams, former GM of Cougar Entertainment Center- (509) 952-0656

 

I always have problems uploading my audio file of the interview. Ill try and send you an email of it. I can also meet with you and show it to you for proof.

Posted on by tylershuey

Final Story Pitch

First off, I had to copy and paste my records request because it wouldnt let me save it so I couldnt attach it to my blog post.

Nov 28 2017

Washington State Office of Financial Management

Insurance Building, Suite 300 P.O. Box 43113

Olympia, WA 98504-3113

Dear Nathan Sherrard, Public Records Officer Washington State Office of Financial Management ,

Pursuant to the state open records law Wash. Rev. Code Secs. 42.56.001 to 42.56.904, I write to request access to and a copy of The Business License of Cougar Entertainment Center, this may be a government record. I know this place was recently opened in the last 10 years or so. I think two males run the business but I do not know their names. I am interviewing one of them later today. If your agency does not maintain these public records, please let me know who does and include the proper custodian’s name and address.

I agree to pay any reasonable copying and postage fees of not more than $10. If the cost would be greater than this amount, please notify me. Please provide a receipt indicating the charges for each document.

As provided by the open records law, I will expect your response within five (5) business days. See Wash. Rev. Code Sec. 42.56.520.

If you choose to deny this request, please provide a written explanation for the denial including a reference to the specific statutory exemption(s) upon which you rely. Also, please provide all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material.

I would note that violation of the open records law can result in a fine — payable to me — of up to $100 for each day that I am denied access. Litigation costs, including reasonable attorney fees, may also be awarded. See Wash. Rev. Code Sec. 42.56.550(4).

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Tyler Shuey

1365 NE Brandi Way Churchill Down apt # MTH4 Journalism student at Washington State University

3608601094

My Pitch:

Upon thinking about my final story ideas, I wanted to do a business profile for a place that offers some sort of entertainment. Naturally, that borught me to Cougar Entertainment Center. This business was recently opened about 10 years ago or so by two male WSU graduates. They offer laser-tag and mini golf while also serving up birthday parties. They also serve food, drinks and beer. I want to find out how this idea came about to them as college students and what steps they took to complete this. I want to know what sort of business they get and if its consistent. I want to know if there is any other places like them in the region and how they market themselves for business. I want to see where they are financially and how sustainable this business might be and how long they foresee this place being around. Lastly, I want to find out what inspires them to do this. I interviewed all three of the owners today. It wouldnt let me attach the audio file of the interview but I can let you see it in class or email it to you.

Sources:

Quincy Roberts- owner (already interviewed)

CJ Roberts-owner (married to Quincy) already interviewed

Alex Woytovech- owner (brother of CJ) already interviewed

Garret Williams- former GM of Cougar Entertainment Center (509) 952 0656 (still need to interview)

Posted on by tylershuey

“Slinkey the Clown”commits himself to community

“Slinkey the Clown” is 80 years old and still tying balloons shaped as animals in his home for whoever wants them.

“This is something I still love to do,” Ja Link Ka Fountain said, a.k.a “Slinkey the Clown”. “I’d rather be clowning than golfing.”

Fountain has served as one of the local Pullman clowns since he earned his clown degree back in 1999 from the Pullman Senior Center, one of 16 clowns who graduated with him. Fountain was first told about the clown classes through a club called Toastmasters, an organization dedicated to members serving their communities.

“It was just a fluke,” Fountain said. “It sounded fun”.

“Slinkey the Clown” was born as Donald Warren in Pullman, 1936, and has lived here his whole life. He attended Pullman schooling and graduated from Pullman High School in 1955. Three days after graduating high school, Warren worked as a painter for Washington State University facilities for 27 years up until 1982.

Warren was also a married man with two children. His wife died in 1985.

After the death of his wife, Warren naturally went through some difficult times, but found spirituality as a way to navigate him through the rest of his life. In 1992, Warren legally changed his name to Ja Link Ka Fountain, which translates into cosmic genius. Fountain credits this new frame of mind to his clown success.

“I live in the moment and am very spontaneous,” Fountain said.

With a new-found name and identity, Fountain became an instant hit as a clown after graduating clown school. “Slinkey the Clown” has performed all over the country throughout his years as a certified clown, ranging from cities like Manhattan to Cabos San Lucas in Mexico.

Fountain recalls one of his more memorable and laughable experiences during one of his first performances in the Lewiston Roundup Parade in Idaho.

“I was playing with a slinkey and I tripped walking across the street to the other side and my left-hand lands in horse manure,” Fountain said. “I smell my hand and say, ‘this hand smells like money’; no one would give me a high-five.”

One of “Slinkey the Clowns” best traits include adapting to what happens around him and playing it off in a funny way.

“You can change the whole persona of the room,” Fountain said. “What people think of me is none of my business.”

Fountain attributes Red Skeleton as his biggest role model.

“He’s funny and does weird things, I attempted to portray him,” Fountain said. “He’s very spiritual and does a lot of different routines and characters.”

One of Fountain’s best friends is Steve Bell, the Senior Program Coordinator for the City of Pullman. They have known each other since Bell started working for the city back in 2008.

“He is available for any special event and really goes all out to entertain anybody,” Bell said. “Every holiday he has a different costume on; he’s an asset to us.”

Another friend of Fountain’s who knows all about his performances is the Executive Director of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, Marie Dymkoski. She has known Fountain for since 2007.

“I am so pleased with the way he’s made himself available for community events,” Dymkoski said. “The makeup is just an added feature; some people think he’s weird because he’s a clown but he’s just a really genuine person.”

“Slinkey the Clown” has many props for his performances. He mainly blows up balloons of different types of animals and gives out stickers with witty messages. Fountain owns 16 costumes and three pairs of clown shoes. Of those costumes, he has ones for different holidays and themes including Independence Day, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween and Christmas.

Regarding the future of “Slinkey the Clown”, Fountain pledges that no end is in sight.

“I want do this as long as I can.”

Simple words from a simple man, all Fountain wants to do is bring joy to the community and he has already done that and more.

 

Sources:

  • Ja Link Ka Fountain, clown- (509) 332-1435
  • Steve Bell, Senior Program Coordinator for City of Pullman- (509) 338-3307
  • Marie Dymkoski, Executive Director of Pullman Chamber of Commerce- (509) 334-3565

I sent you some photos of his place, I also have B-roll footage I can show you in class. I tried to attach it on here but it says my videos contained too much data.

Posted on by tylershuey

Profile story proposal

Explanation: I intend to do my profile story on Slinky the Clown, the local clown for Pullman. I thought this would be a really interesting and fun profile knowing that this is not something we think about everyday.

Intentions: I want to know what this guy’s everyday life is like and how he goes about being a clown as his profession. I want to know the different kind of perfromances he does and how he got into the business, as well as how long he’s been doing it. I also want to know about the clown perfroming industry as a whole and if its in decline at all.

Why Now: The timing is quite ironic because it is Halloween season and many people hate the sight of clowns right now. I want to touch on how he potentially deals with slow business during this time of year and if he goes to any haunted houses locally as an “evil clown”.

Next Steps: My beat is arts and entertainment and a clown corresponds quite well with that category. I am interviewing him in person on Wednesday at 3 p.m. He will be in his clown suite and will show me some of his equipment. That will be my B-roll footage as well as shots of his house and property. He said he isn’t performing anytime soon so we can’t get B-roll of a perfromance.

My three potential sources are:

  1. Slinky the Clown, (509) 332 1435
  2. Steve Bell, Pullman Senior Program Coordinator, (509) 338 3307
  3. Glenn Johnson, Pullman Mayor, (509) 338 3316
Posted on by tylershuey

Moos departure leaves uncertainty for WSU athletics

The direction of WSU athletics took a major step backward when Athletic director Bill Moos left for the same position at Nebraska at the end of last week.

Moos didn’t just leave for another AD job; he’s going to a prestigious scene of college sports, especially football, in Lincoln NE. The former Cougar AD signed a five-year contract with an annual base salary of $1 million plus incentives, about double his salary at WSU.

“It’s always been my view professionally that when someone is looking at another job, they’re either running away from something or running to something,” Moos said at his introductory news conference. “Believe me, I have nothing to run away from but wholeheartedly wanted to run to this job.”

Sources close to the situation told the Seattle Times that there was growing friction between the WSU President Kirk Schulz and Moos regarding the athletic departments significant budget deficit and that Schulz thought Moos wasn’t active enough in fundraising efforts. One source also said Moos had asked Schulz for a contract extension twice, but was not granted it.

The athletic department’s fundraising numbers improved every year that Moos was the AD at WSU from $6.75 million in 2010 to $13.1 million in 2017.

 

“I’ve seen the different reports that there was this conversation or there wasn’t,” Schulz said at news conference Tuesday. “I know he did a lot for us here and we had a really good working relationship in his tenure as athletic director.”

The other part of this equation is the future of head football coach Mike Leach. There were plenty of rumors saying Leach would inevitably follow Moos down to Lincoln, due to the good relationship they both have with one another.

“He’s the best AD I’ve ever even met,” Leach said at his weekly news conference Monday. “He in particular made it particularly easy for me to come here because he’s the AD everyone wanted to work for.”

Leach said he was committed to staying at WSU, even with a valuable counterpart leaving.

“I don’t have any plans to do that and they already have a head coach there and he’s a pretty good one in Mike Reilly, I’m sure Bill and Mike know each other too,” Leach said. “I plan to (stay) and have from the beginning, obviously I want the best possible athletic director.”

The last part of that quote could be an instrumental part regarding Leach staying in Pullman. Leah lauded Moos about them always being in sync and on the same page and those are qualities the head football coach is looking for in the next AD.

Although Leach is not a part of the search committee, President Schulz said he would keep the head coach “personally updated” on the search. Leach said he looks for honesty in all circumstances with everyone moving in the same direction in the athletic department.

Meanwhile, WSU introduced interim athletic director John Johnson at an introductory news conference Tuesday. Johnson said he will not be a candidate for the permanent position though he hopes to stay on staff for the new AD.

“Typically in searches…when the interim person is eligible (for the job) other folks may not apply,” Johnson said, explaining why he will not contend for the permanent position. “I think (a wide applicant pool is) very important.

President Schulz and WSU hope to name a new athletic director by February 2018.

 

 

Outline:

  1. Introduce news, what happened, whose affected?
  2. Why it happened?
  • Where does the program go from here?

 

Sources

 

Here’s a link to the Mike Leach news conference I attended on Monday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7nxDshnz9Y

Posted on by tylershuey

Political/Criminal beat note

Upon looking at those pieces of legislation, I knew it was going to be hard to find one relating to my beat of arts and entertainment. There were a few that I saw and I ended up choosing the one about Theatrical wrestling at schools in Washington state. This seemed like an interesting and unique topic as it regards to a certain type of entertainment and theres funding involved. My angle would be to figure out support behind it and how this bill came about and what it will do in the future. I have already reached out to some sources and am waiting to hear back. Here are their names and contact info:

  1. Representative Zack Hudgins of the 11th District (360) 786 – 7956
  2. Alexis Myers- Seattle Times writer ‘aomyers@u.northwestern.edu’
  3. Rey Jaguar of Lucha Libre Volcánica, still trying to find his contact info, could get from Myers.
  4. Thinking of interviewing a local drama or theatre person to comment on where the bill might be put into place in our area.