Martial arts supporters plan tournament to support wounded soldiers
April 8, 2011
Local martial arts supporters are getting together to help wounded soldiers in honor of a Snoqualmie Valley resident and Marine who died during combat in Afghanistan.
Eric Ward Memorial Tournament
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North Bend martial arts instructor Jim Curtis and others are organizing a tournament to be held in May.
Tournament organizers hope to raise $4,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project after expenses.
The tournament will be in honor of Eric Ward, a Mount Si High School graduate and Marine. Ward died in combat in Afghanistan in February 2010. It will be held May 14 at his alma mater.
Snoqualmie Valley rally school gets ready to host extreme race
April 8, 2011
Metropolitan King County Council has given the OK for a high-profile rally car race outside Snoqualmie at the former Weyerhaeuser mill site.
DirtFish Rally School is hosting the event, one of three races in the Global RallyCross Championship.
Some of the world’s elite drivers will go head to head at the mill site April 15-16. ESPN has already agreed to broadcast the event May 14.
Local affects of federal government shutdown likely to be limited
April 7, 2011
UPDATED — 2:49 p.m. April 8, 2011
The local affects of a potential federal government shutdown are likely to be limited. Snoqualmie Valley residents could feel the affects of a shutdown mostly in delayed paperwork.
The shutdown could come on Saturday, if Democrats and Republicans are unable to reach a compromise on the 2011 budget. A stopgap spending bill expires Friday.
After that, all non-essential services will be suspended. Post Offices will remain open Medicare and Social Security benefits will also continue.
Minor flooding closes roads but causes no related injuries
April 6, 2011
Ty Hughes, of Fairwood, throws a stick for his dogs, Payton and Kona, at recently flooded Sandy Cove Park in Snoqualmie. By Dan Catchpole
Emergency officials had to shut down several roads March 31 in Snoqualmie Valley due to flooding along the Snoqualmie River. Two roads in the city of Snoqualmie and several roads in unincorporated King County were topped by floodwater.
No injuries related to the flooding have been reported.
Restaurant Black Dog opens with high hopes
April 6, 2011
Snoqualmie’s art scene has a new hangout in the city’s downtown. The Black Dog opened its doors in mid-March. It’s a café by necessity, but in the eyes of the owners, it is venue for supporting the performing arts — while providing good food and drinks.
As with other restaurants in downtown Snoqualmie, the owners will rely heavily on tourists to keep The Black Dog from going into the red. But they want to lessen their dependence on seasonal traffic by expanding the café’s culinary and entertainment offerings.
Jill Brocco (left), Sharon Chapman and CJ Chapman catch up at The Black Dog in Snoqualmie. The three used to be regulars at Isadora’s Café, which closed in December. By Dan Catchpole
The owners — five friends — know the economy is tough. The previous tenant in their location, Isadora’s Café, went out of business at the end of December.
The group isn’t new to the restaurant business. For one, opening The Black Dog is like coming home.
Snoqualmie eyes annexing former mill site
April 6, 2011
Snoqualmie is considering annexing the former Weyerhaeuser Mill site from King County. The site is owned partially by Weyerhaeuser and Snoqualmie Mill Ventures.
The City Council voted to 5-1 at its March 28 meeting to enter into negotiations with the county.
But several council members raised questions about the potential cost of annexing the area, most of which sits in the FEMA floodway.
Mayor Matt Larson’s administration believes the site still offers economic opportunities despite the strict limits on development.
While the city talks with the county about the details of annexation, the Planning Commission will consider the issue and hold public hearings. The commission will make a recommendation on annexation to the council, which will have the final vote on the matter.
School district sending another bond to voters
April 6, 2011
Centerpiece still a new middle school, upgrades
The Snoqualmie Valley School District wants your two cents so they can ask you for two more.
The school bond for a new middle school that failed by one vote in February returns to the ballot April 26 almost untouched.
It differs from February’s proposal by two cents. Interest rates have driven the projected cost to voters from 47 cents per $1,000 of property value to 49 cents. It will last 20 years.
Besides the new school, the bond money would include upgrades such as new boilers at Fall City and North Bend elementaries, a new roof at Two Rivers School, new floors at Opstad Elementary, all-weather fields at Chief Kanim and Twin Falls middle schools and improved sidewalks at Chief Kanim, as well as the introduction of an improved curriculum for science, technology, engineering and math in grades 9-12.
Less than two months since the slimmest loss in the district’s history was certified, district leaders again preached the virtues of the bond.
Automotive journalists put cars through the paces at DirtFish
April 6, 2011
More than two dozen automotive journalists gathered at the former Weyerhaeuser Mill site outside Snoqualmie to test the limits and characteristics of sport-utility vehicles on the market.
After two days of putting the vehicles through the paces, the journalists, all members of the Northwest Automotive Press Association, picked the Jeep Grand Cherokee as the overall SUV of 2011.
The event, known as Mudfest, was held at the DirtFish Rally School, which offers courses on rally car driving.
“DirtFish Rally School offered an ideal location for the acceleration, braking and stability testing as well as the off-road courses,” said Teresa McCallion, the association’s communications director.
The Kia Sportage was named the Best Affordable SUV. The Ford Explorer took the Best Family SUV title. The Volvo XC90 was named the Best Luxury SUV. The Jeep Grand Cherokee was also named the Best Off-Road SUV.
It was the 18th year the association has held Mudfest.
International instability expected to increase state budget woes
April 6, 2011
Washington state’s budget shortfall just got worse.
The state’s Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released its latest revenue forecast March 17, projecting a further revenue decrease of $698 million for the 2011-2013 budget.
State officials now project the budget shortfall for those years could reach about $5.1 billion if current services are maintained, if future promises are met, and wage and benefit increases are paid.
Washington’s chief economist, Arun Raha, said geopolitical uncertainties around the world are to blame for the decline.
Police Blotter
April 6, 2011
Snoqualmie police
Broken taillight leads to DUI
At 3:40 p.m., March 26, police saw a gray Plymouth Voyager traveling east on Southeast River Street with a broken taillight. A status check showed that the registered owner, 42-year-old Trevor Marcus Kennedy Crow had a suspended license.
The driver identified himself as Crow and said he had a suspended license. He was arrested on the suspended license warrant, handcuffed and placed into the patrol car. A strong odor of alcohol was emanating from Crow, and police asked him how much he had had to drink. He said he had had two beers, but a search of his vehicle yielded a six-pack with only two cans left.
After failing sobriety tests, he was cited for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor and driving with a suspended license in the third degree. He was taken to the Issaquah City Jail and booked on these charges.
