Third small quake hits Valley
January 31, 2012
NEW — 4:42 p.m. Jan. 31, 2012
A magnitude .9 earthquake hit four miles south of North Bend at 4 p.m. on Jan. 30, making it the third small quake to register in North Bend in January.
According to Pacific Northwest Seismic Network’s website, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 12.2 miles. Read more
King County sets up free storm debris collection sites
January 26, 2012
King County Executive Dow Constantine has cleared the way for free disposal of branches, tree limbs and other wood debris left in the wake of recent wind and snow storms, according to a Jan. 26 press release from King County Solid Waste.
“We have made it easy for residents to dispose of debris so they can quickly put the storms of last week behind them and move on with life,” he said. Read more
Storm freezes Snoqualmie Valley for almost a week
January 25, 2012
Photo courtesy of Washington State Patrol An overturned truck stopped traffic on Interstate 90 for 90 minutes Jan. 18, on what turned out to be the beginning of four days of icy roads, closed highways and houses in the dark in the Valley. The driver of the truck was not hurt, and over the course of the storm no fatalities were reported.
A furious mix of snow, wind and ice that paralyzed the Snoqualmie Valley between Jan. 18 and 21 left more than 10,000 people in the dark as tree limbs collapsed and downed power lines.
By the time power returned Jan. 22, the storm had left a trail of mudslides, icy roads, small fires and closed highways.
Cities step in to collect yard debris
January 25, 2012
The storm is over, but now what to do with the downed tree limbs in your yard?
There are a few options, starting with a special storm debris collection from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the North Bend Public Works Yard, 1155 E. North Bend Way.
Cheryl Proffitt-Schmidt, administrative services director for the city of North Bend, said the event is only for North Bend utility customers and citizens must bring a copy of their North Bend utility bill to the collection site.
Allied Waste, now called Republic Services, is helping with the special collection. Proffitt-Schmidt said the collection is only for wood debris from the recent storm, and all limbs and branches need to be cut into 4-foot lengths.
No other form of garbage or recyclables may be dropped off.
“We just knew there was going to be a big need for this,” she said. “It’s only for these two days, but if the floodgates open and two days aren’t enough, then maybe we’ll schedule more days.”
Joan Pliego, Snoqualmie’s communications coordinator, said the city will hold a free collection point for woody debris at the former holiday tree lot, on the corner of Snoqualmie Parkway and state Route 202, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and again on Feb. 4 and 5.
Newspaper’s photo contest deadline is Feb. 3
January 25, 2012
Your time to enter to win $100 for your best photos is nearing the end.
The deadline to enter the SnoValley Star’s Snoqualmie Valley Photo Contest is Feb. 3. Awards of $100 will be presented for the best in each of three categories: Life in the Valley (people), animals/pets and Northwest nature (scenics).
Staff members of the Star will select the best photos and will consider composition, lighting and originality. Photos may not be composites or changed dramatically from the original picture.
Digital files can be sent to photocontest@snovalleystar.com by the deadline. Include the name, address and phone number of the photographer, plus the story behind the photo. All entries become the property of SnoValley Star and its parent company for use in any of its publications.
Winners will be announced in the Feb. 16 issue of the Star.
King County bonds, credit receive high marks
January 25, 2012
Moody’s Investors Service reaffirmed King County’s high bond ratings and restored the outlook for county bonds to stable Dec. 7.
The high credit rating allows the county to borrow money for projects at a lower cost to taxpayers.
“We can be proud of today’s decision by Moody’s, because it recognizes our prudent management to create efficiencies, set aside savings and partner with our employees to reduce costs,” County Executive Dow Constantine said in a statement.
In addition, Standard & Poor’s, another credit rating agency, and Fitch Ratings, reaffirmed high marks for the county.
Moody’s assigned negative outlooks to King County and other governments Aug. 4, following the Aug. 2 confirmation of the U.S. government’s AAA sovereign rating and assignment of a negative outlook. The ratings and outlooks issued by the various credit agencies came before the county’s planned $20 million bond sale to purchase 250 acres of Maury Island shoreline.
Snoqualmie Tribe explores investment in a casino operation in Fiji
January 25, 2012
In its latest business venture the Snoqualmie Tribe is looking all the way to Fiji.
The Fijian government announced Dec. 27 its decision to grant the nation’s first exclusive gambling license to One Hundred Sands, which has announced plans to build a $290 million, five-star luxury casino resort on Denarau Island, in a partnership with the Snoqualmie Tribe.
In a telephone interview, Larry Claunch, chairman of One Hundred Sands, said he and the tribe have been talking for about five months, and while the tribe hasn’t yet put any money into the deal, they are negotiating the tribe’s financial stake. The tribe has committed to joining the venture as a partner, Claunch said, and will have ownership in the casino, as well as an active advisory role.
He said the conversations got started with Snoqualmie Tribal Administrator Matt Mattson first, when Mattson traveled to Fiji and investigated the possibilities.
The new venture is a long way — nearly 6,000 miles — from the tribe’s casino, which opened in 2008 with a $330 million debt.
The tribe swung open the doors right at the bottom of the recession and in the middle of one of the worst winters in years. The tribe’s budget, built on rosier expectations, cratered.
Superintendent’s enrollment predictions leave some perplexed
January 25, 2012
The transformation of the Snoqualmie Middle School building into a ninth-grade campus still does not sit well with some people, despite the prediction by Valley Schools Superintendent Joel Aune.
At the Jan. 12 school board meeting, Aune said the transformation of the building is not a question of if, but one of when.
“If we choose to move forward in the fall of 2013, we have a good deal of work to do in the next 18 months,” he said.
Board member Carolyn Simpson said the board should make the “if” a part of the equation again.
“The original plan never anticipated only two middle schools,” she said. “The original decision to create a freshman learning center anticipated a third middle school being built.”
Two bond measures meant to raise money for a third middle school failed in 2011.
Letters to the Editor
January 25, 2012
Power company needs work
We need a new utility around here. Where else in the country do 300,000 customers regularly lose power and heat during a typical weather event? Here, it happens every few years and is considered business as usual by Puget Sound Energy.
We need a utility that performs regular, routine and preventative tree maintenance, to trim and cull potentially harmful branches and limbs to avoid catastrophe. PSE rakes in its profits, waits for a catastrophe, herds in a few extra workers, and expects to be seen as a hero when power and heat finally return to its beleaguered customers.
No doubt PSE will whine to the Legislature for a rate hike due to its “extraordinary” efforts during the storm, and also, ironically, to pay for the ensuing lack of gas and electricity usage by its customers during this time.
Our local co-op, Tanner Electric, as usual, worked most efficiently and admirably. We can always count on it. When we phoned in for updates, we spoke to a human being. PSE could learn a great deal from Tanner’s model.
Kathy Swoyer
North Bend
Editorial
January 25, 2012
Help local businesses recover from storm
“Support your local business” takes on new meaning when your city becomes a frozen wasteland for three or four days.
While homeowners were struggling to stay warm without power, business owners were wringing their hands over the lost business. Restaurants and markets were particularly hard hit as food went to waste without proper refrigeration. Employees, too, suffered the loss of wages. It was life interrupted, not a fun week.
This week, we can try to make it a bit better for each other. Tip your waiter or other service provider just a little extra. Be sure any purchases you make are done locally to help businesses recoup the lost revenue.
Don’t forget to say thank you to those who are helping out. Offer a cup of coffee to the utility workers repairing lines or clearing trees. Let them know they are appreciated.
This is the Snoqualmie Valley, where neighbors help neighbors. With the usual thoughtfulness for the other guy, we’ll be just fine.
