A simple answer to pot confusion
July 27, 2011
There is one sure-fire way to end all the confusion over conflicting marijuana laws. Legalize it.
North Bend just placed a moratorium on collective marijuana growing operations because the state and the feds have different ideas about what should be allowed and they don’t want to be caught in the middle. It was a prudent response to a confusing situation.
Meanwhile King County has decided not to bother with any sort of regulation. So North Bend residents — with the proper medical documentation — can head over to a friend’s house in unincorporated King County and grow all the pot they want.
Whether or not they can bring it back into the city becomes a bit of a grey area.
All of this is just absurd.
In 1992, “inhaling” was an important distinction that caused a ruckus for then-candidate Bill Clinton. In 2008, Barack Obama admitted he inhaled and nobody cared anymore.
We’ve come a long way in popular opinion and it’s time for the laws to catch up.
Police & Fire
July 27, 2011
North Bend Police
A bad night, indeed
At 11:15 p.m. July 8, police saw a white Dodge pickup westbound on Southwest North Bend Way. The truck swerved to the left at a sharp angle then corrected back. Then the vehicle crossed the fog line and corrected back. This happened once more before the police turned on their emergency lights. The truck finally came to a stop on Ethan Wade Way near Snoqualmie Valley Hospital. The driver, David Wayne Rogers, 50, told police he was having a bad night, was crying and that’s why he was swerving. Police could detect a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle. The driver said he had had two glasses of wine earlier.
After failing sobriety tests, he was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to the Snoqualmie Police Department, where he failed breath tests. He was later transported to the North Bend substation and released at his address.
From Dixie with love
July 27, 2011
For Eddie Grossie, it’s a family venture. For Greg Stiber, it’s a family concern.
Grossie’s parents and brother started coming to the Snoqualmie Valley from Charleston, S.C., 12 years ago to sell cherries they bought in Wenatchee.
His parents and his brother have died, but Grossie, now a construction subcontractor and a married father, keeps returning. Same spot in the same city, Snoqualmie, every year.
“It’s probably the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen,” he said. “I’ve been all over the U.S. and I really love this place.”
Cindy Luther sells cherries, among other sweets, from her fruit stand near Interstate 90 in Snoqualmie. By Sebastian Moraga
Stiber, however, had never sold cherries until now.
A college sophomore, he said his mom dreads having him so far from their Perryville, Ark., home 40 miles west of Little Rock.
“I have been gone from home for three months,” he said. “I’m all right, though.”
Before coming to North Bend a month ago, he worked in California.
Stiber stays dry under the cherry tent. Although a few drops land on him, he keeps smiling. He knows that Perryville is baking under 100-degree heat and 70-percent humidity.
Sample Snoqualmie serves up local offerings
July 27, 2011
Snoqualmie businesses have a lot to offer the city’s residents, and city officials are helping to make sure the two know about each other.
Jody Sands (left) and Wendy Thomas share a smile during 2010’s Sample Snoqualmie. Contributed
Saturday is the second annual Sample Snoqualmie, which showcases local businesses. The event also offers live music, raffle prizes, food, a beer garden, and crafts and games for children. Music will be provided by Thomas Starks, Joie Calio and the Washing-tone-iacs.
Ronald Bruce Reinhardt
July 27, 2011
Ronald Bruce Reinhardt, of North Bend, passed away Wednesday, July 6, 2011, in Snoqualmie. He was 65.
Ron was born Oct. 3, 1945 in Minneapolis, Minn., to Bryson and Irma Reinhardt.
He was raised primarily in Monterey and Laguna Beach, Calif., and graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1963.
After high school, Ron was inducted into the United States Army.
He served as a medic in Vietnam, where he befriended, aided and saved the lives of many soldiers.
King County advises keeping your pet’s shots up to date
July 27, 2011
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is a saying that applies to the health of your pets as much as it applies to you, according to the Regional Animal Services of King County.
Routine immunizations are important to the life and health of your furry friends.
“Vaccines are one of the wonders of modern medicine,” said Sue Moriyasu, veterinary medical director at Regional Animal Services. “Just as in humans, initial immunizations and boosters are vital to ensuring that your pet lives a long, healthy and happy life.”
The list of vaccine-preventable animal diseases is long, county officials said, but they reported that two illnesses seem to be making their way through the county: panleukopenia, or feline distemper, and parvovirus in dogs.
The closely related viruses spread easily, are resistant to most disinfectants and can live on contaminated surfaces for years. Illnesses caused by the viruses often are fatal to kittens or puppies.
Symptoms of both illnesses may include diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite and lethargy.
Moriyasu said the viruses never would be eliminated from our environment, making the best treatment easily available and highly effective vaccinations.
Gary Wright is still the ‘Dream Weaver’ at casino Hippiefest
July 27, 2011
Talking to Gary Wright is like taking a course on the past 40 years of popular music.
Not only did he reach the music world’s stratosphere in 1976 with his song “Dream Weaver,” but he pioneered the use of the synthesizer in music.
And not only is he playing in a world tour with former Beatle Ringo Starr, but he’s also playing in this year’s Hippiefest on Aug. 6 at the Snoqualmie Casino.
“I love performing,” he said by phone from Berlin. “I have done it since I was 11 years old. I love to go out and uplift people.”
Rock legend Gary Wright performs his greatest hits, including ‘Dream Weaver,’ at Hippiefest, Aug. 6 at Snoqualmie Casino. Contributed
This is Wright’s first time in Snoqualmie, although he is no stranger to Washington. He performed in the state last year with Starr, he said.
This time, Wright will share the stage with Dave Mason, Mark Farner, Felix Cavaliere and Rick Derringer.
“Each artist gets up and does between four and six songs,” Wright said. “I may play some of Rick Derringer’s songs, we might do “Feelin’ Alright” with Dave Mason, we kind of mix it up.”
When he is not performing or working in the studio, Wright pays attention to what’s popular nowadays.
Snoqualmie fishing guide Derek Young named Guide of the Year
July 27, 2011
Derek Young, recently named The Orvis Co. guide of the year, holds a trout he caught on a recent trip. Contributed
NOTE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly had Mr. Young saying his job was intimidating and frustrating. It has since been corrected.
To Derek Young, living the dream is hard work.
He ditched the cubicle for the river, the personnel files for a fly-fishing line, and he now makes a living by fishing and teaching others to fish.
Little Si hike leads to spectacular view of mountains, valley
July 27, 2011
As hikers approached the final uphill stretch of the Little Si trail, the downy woodpecker curiously peered around a tree and scooted up the side, pecking lightly at the bark.
People continued up the minor switchback and the black-and-white bird with a red crest spread its wings and swooped over to another tree near the trail. It seemed used to the regular foot traffic as it alertly spied on passers-by from just a few feet off the trail.
While the woodpecker might be the only wildlife you encounter during a trip up the rocky mountain face, the 4.4-mile Little Si trail will make you want to return — and probably soon.
Beth and Duane Carlson, of Bellevue, have come back a dozen times, they said while basking in the midday sun July 6.
Bob Dubose and Kyoko Maruyama, both of Bellevue, enjoy the view from the top of Little Si after their July 6 hike. By Christopher Huber
The couple was planning to catch up on some yard work that morning, but the limited prospect of having another 80-degree day like this turned their thoughts toward the mountains.
“I was like, ‘You know what, let’s go hiking,’” said Beth, an avid outdoorswoman at 60.
And although he wanted to get work done in the yard, Duane said it didn’t take much convincing to change his mind.
“It took her two sentences to talk me out of doing yard work,” said Duane, 71, a retired doctor.
The Little Si trail, one of the more popular hikes in King County, along with the famed Mount Si trail, starts out steep, levels out a bit and tests hikers of all ages with a steep and rough finish.
Sheriff’s Office gets good marks on handling misconduct issues
July 27, 2011
The King County Auditor’s Office gave high marks to the county sheriff’s department for the frequency, severity and handling of misconduct issues in a report released July 11.
The report looked at misconduct, use of force and complaints from 2006 to 2010. It also examined the outcome of the department’s internal investigations of complaints.
King County Sheriff’s deputies received complaints regarding their use of force at a rate below the national average reported by the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics.
According to the auditor’s findings, the sheriff’s office received 1.3 complaints for every 100 sworn officers. The national average is 6.6 complaints for all police agencies and 9.5 for large agencies.
Of the department’s 706 sworn officers, 96 percent had no complaints filed against them.
Seventy percent of sustained complaints against officers during the five-year period were filed by employees of the sheriff’s office.
