EFR encourages people to turn back clock, change smoke detector batteries
October 30, 2009
NEW — 12:08 p.m. Oct. 30, 2009
Eastside Fire & Rescue is part of the national Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery campaign. The effort encourages people to change smoke detector batteries when they turn back clocks Sunday at the end of Daylight Saving Time.
EFR firefighters will remind people to check the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors today. Crews will be stationed from 4-5 p.m. at the North Bend QFC at 460 E. North Bend Way, handing out safety information, stickers for children and free smoke detector batteries.
“Batteries may not last all year long,” firefighter Mike VanDenBergh said. ”It’s good to change them every six months.”
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday.
Lights on for safety at Mount Si High School’s auto shop
October 29, 2009
NEW — 5:00 a.m. Oct. 29, 2009
High school students are fixing and replacing vehicle headlights, tail lights and overhead lights for free from 8:30 a.m.—3 p.m. Oct. 31 at Mount Si High School’s automotive shop, 8651 Meadowbrook Way S.E., Snoqualmie.
At Lights on for Safety, automotive students and SkillsUSA members will not only check, reposition and replace lights in cars and trucks but also check car batteries. All services and materials are free and no appointment is necessary. Read more
Flood threat in Snoqualmie Valley comes early despite prediction for mild winter
October 28, 2009
NEW — 3:28 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Heavy rains raised concerns over flooding in the Snoqualmie Valley the morning of Oct. 26, but by lunchtime officials announced the threat was diminishing.
No damage from the heavy rain had been reported in Snoqualmie by the next day, but city officials are concerned about the timing of the first warning of the flood season. Read more
Muckleshoot Tribe hunts black bears in Valley
October 28, 2009
Between 25,000 and 30,000 black bears live in Washington, according to estimates by the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. Photos.com
The Cedar River Watershed is normally closed to hunters, but for three weekends in October, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe was allowed to hunt up to nine black bears. Read more
Luring tourist dollars to Valley
October 28, 2009
UPDATED — 9:00 a.m. Nov. 9, 2009
After two weeks in Seattle, Phra Charoen and Phiriya Phahondon spent the last few days of their vacation exploring the Snoqualmie Valley before returning home to Thailand.
The two international visitors are exactly the type of consumers that many Snoqualmie Valley cities and businesses want to target—travelers with disposable income who come for the twinkling city lights of Seattle but stay for the adventures and beauty to be had in eastern King County. Read more
School Board sends levies to voters
October 28, 2009
Snoqualmie Valley School Board members voted to put two, four-year levy measures before voters Feb. 9. The two replacement measures — a $9.9 million technology levy and a $57.5 million maintenance-and-operations levy — would sustain funding in those areas through 2014. Read more
Bomb scare at Snoqualmie Middle School prompts evacuation
October 28, 2009
A bomb scare set off an evacuation at Snoqualmie Middle School Oct. 21.
At noon, an SMS student found a note in a hallway that said a bomb was set to go off at 12:20 p.m. that day. The student reported the note to authorities, who called police and evacuated the building before 12:20 p.m. Read more
General election — Tuesday, Nov. 3
October 28, 2009
Two candidates are vying for position no. 5 on the Snoqualmie City Council in the Nov. 3 general election. Here are the candidates’ positions on some local issues.
Answers were limited to 25 words.
Two sides of the public coin
October 28, 2009
I-1033 will handcuff cities
First, like most of you, I believe that state and federal spending has grown out of control and neither major political party seems interested in putting on the brakes.
Second, as I understand Initiative 1033, property taxes will be frozen at 2009 levels and any new revenues received by the city will mean a credit to your property taxes. The exceptions to this are that the rate of inflation will raise that baseline as will any increase in tax base due to population growth. Read more
Letters
October 28, 2009
Proposed community center is too big for Snoqualmie
I was on the council during the planning and ultimately the approval of Snoqualmie Ridge. When we envisioned a community center, it was supposed to be a place for citizens such as our youth and elderly to get needed services.
We are still a very small town that can’t sustain the operating costs it takes to run the proposed project.
Although we have partners that are willing to help now, there is no guarantee those partnerships will still be there in years to come. If we had to maintain it on our own, we would have to make difficult cutbacks that could include reduction of public safety.
We twice voted down the proposed community center. I disagree with the mayor and City Council on going forward with a center with a pool. I believe they have our best interests at heart, but we should respect the wishes of the voters. Again, I am not against a community center, but the project proposed is not realistic for our population.
Terry Sorenson
Snoqualmie
Good Samaritan in our midst
We who work or live in the Snoqualmie Valley have a young man in our midst that we need to recognize. His name is Jonathan Laine.
Jonathan showed clarity of mind and spirit that few young men at his age display, when he dove into the Snoqualmie River two weeks ago to try and find the man he heard yell for ‘help.’ Jonathan was sitting in the dentist’s chair when he heard the cry, and after diving in, spent nearly 30 minutes in what was quite likely 45 degree Fahrenheit water, trying to help someone he didn’t know. I know this because I watched him from the bank.
There were a number of citizens on both sides of the river, as well as the first responders trying to see the man in the water.
Jonathan, who was actually in the water, was the only one not wearing cold-water gear. While this didn’t turn out the way that Jonathan would have liked, he should know that we saw him give all he could, and I for one hope Jonathan is somewhere close if I ever need a Good Samaritan.
Randy Popp
Fall City
‘Yes’ for Henriksen
During the past ten years, I have had an opportunity to work with both Terry Sorenson and City Councilwoman Maria Henriksen. While I respect Terry’s genuine passion and concern for the city, Maria offers Snoqualmie voters the best choice for council position no. 5. During her six years of service, she has proven to be an effective and influential leader on the council. I am grateful that she is willing to continue her service. Please join me in re-electing Maria Henriksen.
Matt Larson
Snoqualmie Mayor
