Living with flooding, pt. 3: Learning to coexist alongside the river
December 30, 2009
NEW — 11:35 a.m. Dec. 30, 2009
Part 3 of 3
Sara Posey (left) and Matt Hedger, with Snoqualmie City Parks, unclog a storm drain Nov. 13, 2008, as post-flood clean-up starts. Behind them, Snoqualmie Elementary School is still closed. (Photo by Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times)
The communities of Snoqualmie Valley have persevered despite heavy floods. The inhabitants are invested in their neighborhoods and don’t want to leave the area’s beautiful setting. Now, the residents and local municipalities with King County’s help are learning how to live beside wild rivers prone to seasonal flooding.
Together, they are finding a way to coexist with the river.
Small quake shakes Snoqualmie Valley
December 30, 2009
UPDATED — 3:12 p.m. Dec. 30, 2009
Source: Google Maps; Pacific Northwest Seismic Network
A magnitude 2.8 earthquake was recorded at 8 a.m. Dec. 24, centered about two miles south-southeast of Snoqualmie, according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network.
The earthquake occurred about 10.5 miles underground, which is typical for crustal earthquakes, said Paul Bodin, manager of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network.
To all our letter writers, thank you for your words
December 30, 2009
The SnoValley Star thanks everyone who wrote us a letter in the past year. Your written voice provokes, challenges, encourages and builds a stronger community for all.
While we weren’t always able to publish every letter we received, here’s a list of the writers whose letters were printed. Thank you all, and keep them coming. Read more
Let’s resolve to appreciate others this year
December 30, 2009
This is the time of year when the television, newspapers and magazines are filled with advice on how we can make resolutions. We’re instructed on how to lose weight, keep our finances in line and de-clutter our homes.
This is not one of those articles. Read more
Letters, Dec. 31
December 30, 2009
Thank you for flooding series
Thank you for your “Living with flooding series” — investigative, in-depth journalism at its best. Read more
Truckers get sweets and Christmas cheer on the road
December 30, 2009
UPDATED — 8:46 a.m. Dec. 31, 2009
The original version of this story misidentified the name of the truck stop.
Far from home, a truck driver (left) takes a sack of cookies from Tom Kemp at Seattle East Travel Center truck stop the day before Christmas. Kemp is the chaplain for the stop’s Transport for Christ, International chapel. (Photo by Tara Ballenger)
With his suede jacket and cowboy hat to arm him against the cold, Tom Kemp braved the ruthless winds that whipped through the parking lot of Seattle East Travel Center truck stop off Interstate 90′s Exit 34 to deliver homemade cookies to homesick truckers on Christmas.
“If they are out on the lot today, they probably didn’t make it home for Christmas,” said Kemp, the chaplain for the Transport for Christ, International chapel in North Bend, which is in a trailer in the truck stop’s parking lot.
Chamber’s new director shares vision for strengthening Snoqualmie Valley’s business community
December 30, 2009
NEW — 2:55 p.m. Dec. 30, 2009
As the Valley Chamber’s new director, Fritz Ribary is tasked with increasing membership by nearly 33 percent. (Photo contributed)
Beginning Jan. 1, Fritz Ribary—former mayor of North Bend and current commissioner for the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital district—will begin his new job as the executive director of the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce. Read more
4-H program survives county budget cuts for another year
December 30, 2009
NEW — 2:48 p.m. Dec. 30, 2009
Snoqualmie Valley 4-H riders won first and second place ribbons at Donida Farms in March. From left, Evanne Webster rides Eazy, her chocolate Rocky Mountain gaited horse and Shannon Barnhart rides Cody, her gray Arab horse. The 4-H program was almost cut from the King County budget, but it received money for one more year after a rally. (Photo by Michelle Twohig)
King County officials nixed a plan last week to put the local 4-H program out to pasture.
A last-minute, $109,000 infusion from the King County Council will keep the program afloat for another year. The youth organization with agricultural roots now includes offerings in everything from plant science to horse riding to robotics.
Snoqualmie Valley youth learns home schooling can be a high-tech lesson
December 30, 2009
NEW — 2:45 p.m. Dec. 30, 2009
Seventh-grader Sean Pilon works on an assignment from Washington Virtual Academies, known as WAVA. (Photo by Xiomara Pilon)
On a typical school day, North Bend seventh-grader Sean Pilon wakes up at 7 a.m., eats breakfast, plays his electronic games and begins his school day at 8 a.m.
The only untypical thing is that instead of going to school, Sean Pilon learns at home, using Washington Virtual Academies, known as WAVA.
Snoqualmie Valley students excel on state writing test
December 30, 2009
NEW — 2:41 p.m. Dec. 30, 2009
Mount Si High School sophomores Cameron Shand and Abbi Smith write in their journals during language arts class. Elementary, middle and high school students now take writing assessments to prepare them for standardized tests. (Photo by Laura Geggel)
Snoqualmie Valley’s students have written themselves into top place.
Every spring, students in grades four, seven and 10 take a standardized writing test — up until 2009 it was called the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, or WASL.
