Puget Sound Energy Foundation awards more than $640 K to 161 Washington charities in 2010
December 28, 2010
The Puget Sound Energy Foundation has awarded more than $640,000 to 161 nonprofit organizations in Washington in 2010. Many of the recipients provide human services.
While none of the organizations are based in Snoqualmie Valley, many have done work in the Valley.
Groups that received grants in King County include the East King County chapter of Habitat for Humanity, Eastside Domestic Violence Program, Youth Eastside Services and King County Sexual Assault Resource Center.
Customers of North Bend Post Office irked by problems
December 28, 2010
Missing letters, checks and bills; mail delivered to the wrong address; damaged mail; mail inexplicably returned.
Many residents who receive their mail through the North Bend Post Office say they are fed up with what they call a well-established pattern of poor service.
Still, some residents rave about the resolve and care of their mail carriers, trudging through the Snoqualmie Valley’s often inclement weather to deliver the mail.
The United States Postal Service said that the branch has a good record.
King County leaders credit land-use policies for limiting weather-related damage
December 27, 2010
The Snoqualmie River sloshed into neighborhoods and onto streets in early December, but county leaders credit land-use policies for helping to limit damage from flooding and landslides.
Many areas across the county experienced landslides or flooding Dec. 11-12, but damage to life and property remained at a minimum.
“The damaged homes in King County that were seen in the news were not among those that have been permitted or built in the last 10 years,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said in a statement. “Policies to limit construction on steep slopes and protections for flood hazard areas are doing a better job of making our homes and neighborhoods safer and more resistant to damage from severe weather.”
Governor appoints former candidate to state post
December 27, 2010
Suzan DelBene lost the race to unseat the Snoqualmie Valley Congressional representative, Dave Reichert, in November, but the Microsoft alumna has been appointed to a political post in Olympia instead of the other Washington.
Gov. Chris Gregoire has appointed DelBene as director of the state Department of Revenue, the agency responsible for tax collection.
DelBene has been tapped to lead the department as Gregoire seeks to simplify the tax system.
Controversial flood project helps keep Snoqualmie drier
December 27, 2010
New flood-related projects undertaken in recent years are helping keep residents in the upper Snoqualmie Valley high and dry, but residents in the lower Valley say work on Snoqualmie Falls is making flooding worse for them.
The Snoqualmie Valley Preservation Alliance is suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Puget Sound Energy for work on the Snoqualmie River at the falls, where PSE maintains a hydroelectric plant. The association said that inaccurate models were used to determine the impact two projects at the falls would have on downstream flooding.
The corps ignored a directive from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to analyze the downstream effect of a river-widening project, according to court documents filed as part of the alliance’s lawsuit.
“Our ultimate goal is a plan that wouldn’t help one area with flooding just to push it downstream,” alliance President Geary Eppley said.
Police and fire reports
December 27, 2010
North Bend police
At about 11:52 p.m. Dec. 14, police stopped a car traveling east on East North Bend Way. The car was driving without lights at night. The driver told police his license was suspended, and he could not produce insurance or registration. The driver was arrested and later released. He will be charged with one count of driving with a suspended license.
At about 10 a.m. Dec. 15, a man reported someone had punctured a tire on his vehicle, parked in the 200 block of Bendigo Boulevard South. The damage was estimated at $128. Within the time frame of the incident, a man had been chased off the victim’s property. However, he was not seen puncturing the tire.
Snoqualmie police
At 11:55 a.m. Dec. 10, the owner of a business in the 9000 block of Railroad Avenue Southeast told police an ex-employee was causing trouble, showing up at work and wanting his tools back. The owner was refusing because the man had not called ahead, so the man had resorted to taking items from the business. He later agreed to have his wife come and retrieve the tools later.
At about 10:39, Dec. 14, a police officer saw a car travel over the center line on Park Street near the intersection of Euclid Avenue. The officer stopped the driver, who told him his license was suspended and that the car was in his mother’s name. The man had a suspended license and also had a misdemeanor warrant for a suspended license. He was arrested and taken to the Issaquah Jail, with the car being released to his mother. After the arrest, the county contacted the dispatch center and revoked its booking request over the warrant, so the man was booked only on charges of driving with a suspended license.
At about 7:45 p.m. Dec. 11, police saw a man driving a 1999 BMW south in the 9600 block of Snoqualmie Parkway. A registration check showed the owner had a suspended license. Police stopped the vehicle and the driver said he had no idea his license was suspended. He was told it was a misdemeanor to drive with a suspended license and that he would receive a criminal citation by mail.
Snoqualmie fire
At 3:26 p.m. Dec. 11, EMTs responded to Fairway Avenue Southeast for a 51-year-old female with a medical problem. She was evaluated and transported to a hospital by private ambulance.
At 3:50 p.m. Dec. 11, Snoqualmie EMTs were assisted by Fall City EMTs for a 20-year-old male on Southeast Gravenstein Court who was having a seizure. He was evaluated and left at home with his caregiver.
At 12:30 a.m. Dec. 12, EMTs responded to Snoqualmie Casino for a 43-year-old male feeling dizzy. He was evaluated and left at the scene.
At 1:33 a.m. Dec. 12, EMTs responded to the Snoqualmie Casino for a 50-year-old male involved in an assault. He was transported to the hospital for stitches to his eyebrow.
At 12:15 p.m. Dec. 12, firefighters responded to the Snoqualmie Middle School for a basketball player that was injured.
At 12:51 p.m. Dec. 13, EMTs responded to Southeast River Street for a 22-year-old female with a medical problem. She was transported to a hospital by private ambulance.
At 4:08 p.m. Dec. 14, Snoqualmie EMTs and Bellevue paramedics responded to Mount Si High School for a medical call. The patient was evaluated and left at the scene.
At 8:34 a.m. Dec. 15, EMTs were dispatched to Southeast Cedar Street for a 26-year-old female with a diabetic problem. She was evaluated and left on scene with family.
TV show offers one more chance to solve Snoqualmie Valley murder
December 27, 2010
Channel 13 aired on its show “Washington’s Most Wanted” Dec. 10 and 11 the story of Tod Berkebile, a Mount Si High School senior whose 1986 murder remains unresolved.
Berkebile’s older sister, Kimberley Berkebile said she hoped a tip to the show could end the 24-year-old wait for justice.
“Someone’s got the information we need,” she said. “These guys have talked to someone or bragged to someone.”
The death of Berkebile, his sister said, was a catalyst for a string of tragedies that befell the family, starting with Kimberley’s father’s suicide.
King Conservation District offers native plants for sale
December 22, 2010
King Conservation District leaders are offering native trees and shrubs for conservation purposes, such as wildlife habitat, windbreaks, hedgerows, reforestation and stream enhancement.
The bare root plants do not come in pots or burlap bags. Instead, teams harvest the plants in winter as they are dormant. The district said bare root plants can be a hardy solution, plus a simple to handle, transport and plant option.
Residents can order plants and then pick them up at the district office in March. Learn how to order at the district website, www.kingcd.org.
King County Council welcomes new member
December 22, 2010
State Sen. Joe McDermott has filled the King County Council seat once held by County Executive Dow Constantine.
County Council members greeted the latest arrival Nov. 24 — a day later than scheduled due to a late fall snowstorm. Clerk of the Council Anne Noris swore in McDermott a day after the county certified the results of the November election.
McDermott represents the 8th District on the nine-member council. The district includes Burien, Vashon Island and West Seattle.
“We must work together to provide meaningful and efficient government services with an eye to the future.” McDermott said in a statement. “We cannot let today’s economic crisis keep us from meeting our commitments in regional planning, environmental stewardship and public safety.”
EFR firefighters pull father and daughter off SUV stranded in floodwater
December 22, 2010
Eastside Fire & Rescue firefighters from Station 87 in North Bend rescued a father and his daughter from their car after it became stranded in floodwaters on Southeast Reinig Road near 396th Drive Southeast during the Dec. 12 flood.
Their car, a Nissan Pathfinder, had stalled in three to four feet of water from the swollen Snoqualmie River, which runs alongside Reinig Road.
Firefighters arrived after receiving a 911 call at 3:32 p.m.
