Fire destroys apartments in North Bend complex
November 30, 2011
Residents need help getting back on their feet
By Sebastian Moraga Windows were boarded up the day after the fire at the Mount Si Court Apartments.
A Thanksgiving Day fire in North Bend engulfed six apartments and compromised at least four more, City Administrator Duncan Wilson said.
The fire started at about 8:09 p.m. at the Mount Si Court Apartments, 475 E. North Bend Way.
Officials expect hand recount in hospital board race
November 30, 2011
The race for a seat on Public Hospital District No. 4’s board of commissioners is separated by a hair’s width.
Gene Pollard leads Karyn Denton by five votes, according to the final unofficial results posted Monday, Nov. 28. If the two candidates remain separated less than one-fourth of 1 percent of their vote totals when the King County Elections’ Canvassing Board certifies the final result, a hand recount will be automatically triggered, Elections spokeswoman Kim van Ekstrom said.
A difference of about 23 votes or fewer will trigger the recount based on the unofficial results.
Snoqualmie approves annexation agreement with King County
November 30, 2011
Opponents file lawsuit to stop annexation of former Weyerhaeuser mill
Snoqualmie City Council approved the language of an agreement with King County for the city to annex a former Weyerhaeuser mill site in a 5-2 vote at its Nov. 28 meeting.
The vote is an important step in the annexation process, but it remains far from complete. The King County Council must now approve its version of the same agreement. Officials from the county and Snoqualmie will then have 60 days to negotiate a final agreement, which must be approved by the county and city councils.
Local opponents to the annexation have filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court against the city, the site’s property owners and the operator of a rally car school on the site. The opposition, Your Snoqualmie Valley, has asked for an injunction stopping the process and for a judge to order the city to address aspects of the annexation process that opponents say were skipped.
Home Country
November 30, 2011
Slim Randles Columnist
When Pop Walker sneaked out the kitchen door the other day, it affected all of us. He’s been a resident of the Rest of Your Life retirement home for several years now.
He still remembers who said what during combat in Europe, but has a hard time remembering if he’s had breakfast.
The call went out down at the sheriff’s office around 10 p.m. that Pop had slipped through the enemy lines, meaning the kitchen staff, and was on the loose. One of the deputies called Doc, who was a friend of his since forever, and Doc alerted the rest of us.
Editorial
November 30, 2011
Shorter school year saves dollars, makes sense
State lawmakers are trying to close another budget gap — a $1.4 billion shortfall this time. Gov. Christine Gregoire has floated a couple of ideas that would impact education to deal with the budget crisis.
One idea is a half-penny-per-dollar increase to the sales tax, which state legislators and voters must approve to be enacted. The new revenue would be targeted for education.
Another idea to help local school districts deal with looming budget cuts would be for the state to reduce the required number of school days per year. We like the idea, although we acknowledge that it could be a burden for working parents who have to pay for more child care — or would it?
Letter
November 30, 2011
Thanks for the help
To all of the readers who saw the article in the July 14 Snovalley Star, the walking miracle, Misty Si, the 14-year-old black Lab found after 54 days, is doing great.
Misty Si now weighs 65 pounds, eats regular meals, wags her tail and wants to go on walks with us. In this season of thanks, hope, faith and miracles, she represents the best in all of you. Allan Landdeck found Misty on July 4, and she was near death after walking around lost for 54 days. Allan picked her up and carried her down to a house in North Bend.
A wonderful woman named Jackie cleaned her face and called our home to tell us Misty had been found.
We owe so many people a big thank you for all they did to get Misty healthy. Dr. Winnie Peng, with the Alpine Animal Hospital, gave Misty the first emergency care July 4. Dr. Terry Weronko, with the Snoqualmie Valley Animal Hospital, slowly nursed Misty back to her normal self — day after day with special care.
Jackie still comes to see Misty and brings her special treats. Terry Busby, Diane Pobal and Kim Howard still dog sit Misty when needed.
This Valley is known for many things, but for all of you who looked for Misty, put up signs to help find her and called us to ask about her, thank you — you are the miracles — and this Valley is lucky to have so many good people living here.
I am a Valley girl, with a Valley dog, and I am proud to live here.
Cheryl and Steve Hanson
Snoqualmie
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital officials expect to have another year in the black in 2012
November 30, 2011
Reduced expenses and professional fees are helping administrators at Public Hospital District No. 4 keep costs down, according to the district’s 2012 budget summary.
Chief Financial Officer Steve Daniel presented the summary at the Nov. 15 meeting of the district’s board of commissioners.
According to the preliminary budget, hospital officials expect another year in the black. The district had been losing money as recently as 2006, but has posted several healthy financial years.
Snoqualmie River was on flood watch
November 30, 2011
The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for several Western Washington rivers Nov. 22, including the Snoqualmie River.
The NWS flood watch stated that the most likely scenario was minor flooding in some of the more flood-prone rivers in an area covering nine counties of Western Washington.
The flood watch remained in effect until late Nov. 23. A flood watch means a flood may happen but it’s not certain of occurring.
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital receives Stroke and Cardiac Center designations
November 30, 2011
The Snoqualmie Valley Hospital District recently received a Level III Stroke Center and Level II Cardiac Center designation within the new Washington State Emergency Cardiac and Stroke System.
Modeled on the state’s trauma system, the ECS system will fully implement once Emergency Medical Service providers have been trained on patient triage, destination procedures and patient care protocols.
Together, heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of death in Washington. Many people die or are disabled because they don’t get treatment in time.
Police Blotter
November 30, 2011
Snoqualmie police
Drunken driving, too
At 1:05 a.m. Nov. 19, a police car in the 9000 block of Meadowbrook Way Southeast followed a green Toyota pickup speeding in the southbound lane.
When police stopped the car, the officer saw that the driver, Hans C. Moeller, 45, of Preston, had bloodshot eyes and alcohol breath.
After failing field sobriety tests, Moeller was arrested for driving under the influence.
A towing company took his vehicle and police took Moeller to the Snoqualmie Police Department and later to the Issaquah City Jail, where he was booked.
