Holiday, not snow, to keep schools closed Jan. 16.
January 15, 2012
Parents and teachers may have averted a major headache as schools will stay closed Monday Jan. 16 to commemorate the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr.
They will all get to stay home instead of having to brave the snow-slick streets on their way to and from school.
The National Weather Service forecast for the night of Jan. 15 calls for snow showers in Snoqualmie, with up to half an inch of snow accumulating. Read more
North Bend honors 3 known for gift of giving
January 11, 2012
Contributed Heidi DeHart, North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing, Nels Melgaard and David Olson (from left) pose after Hearing presented the three North Bend residents for awards honoring their community contributions.
North Bend honored three of its residents for their contributions to the community at the Jan. 3 City Council meeting. Mayor Ken Hearing presented awards for Citizen of the Year and two new awards — Youth Citizen of the Year and Community Spirit.
The Community Spirit award will not be given annually, unlike the other two, and instead will be reserved for special recognition of individuals and groups, Hearing said.
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital commissioners might consider increasing meetings
January 11, 2012
In 2011, the elected board of commissioners overseeing Snoqualmie Valley Hospital held 14 special meetings — meetings requiring only 24 hours of notice to the commissioners and media outlets with a standing request for notice.
The commissioners made big decisions during at least five of the meetings — decisions ranging from approving a $15 million bond sale to approving agreements for construction of the district’s planned $37 million new facility.
Hospital officials say the special meetings were necessary and legal, and that the district operates in a transparent manner.
The district never violated the state’s open meetings law in holding the meetings.
But open government advocates caution that even if there is no intended malice, relying on special meetings can raise barriers to public involvement and accountability.
Y is off to fast start
January 11, 2012
The Snoqualmie Valley YMCA is open and ready for business. The new community center opened Jan. 1, and a grand opening celebration is scheduled for Jan. 21.
The Y’s mix of family-friendly programming has already drawn more than 1,500 members, mostly from Snoqualmie. The new facility is located on Snoqualmie Ridge.
The facility combines several multipurpose rooms and is designed to allow for flexibility in the branch’s programming.
The branch’s most popular room is its family gym, said Dave Mayer, the branch’s executive director.
A Zumba class was working up a sweat in the gym on a Friday morning just five days after the branch opened.
State invites area residents to help plan recreation in Eastside forests
January 11, 2012
Eastside residents and outdoor recreation enthusiasts can offer input Jan. 18 as the state Department of Natural Resources starts collecting feedback for the forested lands stretching from Tiger Mountain to Mount Si.
The state agency is readying for future recreation opportunities on 53,000 acres in natural areas along the so-called Snoqualmie corridor in East King County. The open house is meant to continue the public planning process.
The corridor — a quick jaunt from Seattle and fast-growing Eastside cities — is a popular destination for hikers, mountain bikers and more. Combined, the lands in the corridor form the largest network of natural areas in Washington.
In the past 20 years, the Department of Natural Resources added the amount of land managed in the area. The more recent acquisitions include the Raging River State Forest and the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural Resources Conservation Area. The land under state management includes working forests.
Police identify Seattle officer in drug case as Issaquah resident
January 11, 2012
Police identify Seattle officer in drug case as Issaquah resident
Officials said a Seattle police officer arrested in a drug investigation early Jan. 5 died at a Seattle hospital hours later from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Seattle police said Richard F. Nelson, 50, of Issaquah, was suspected of using crack cocaine, possibly drugs stolen from case evidence. Nelson died at Harborview Medical Center late the afternoon of Jan. 5.
Police booked Nelson into the King County Jail just after 4 a.m. that day and released on him on personal recognizance about 30 minutes later — a normal procedure for first-time drug offenders in King County.
At about 11 a.m., as Seattle Police Chief John Diaz prepared to address journalists about the case, Eastside Fire & Rescue crews responded to a report of a man with a gunshot wound near a North Bend-area trailhead.
Crews responded to the John Wayne Pioneer Trail and rushed the man to Seattle for treatment.
Seattle police officials said Nelson left behind a wife and two teenage children. He joined the force in September 1990 and spent his entire career serving as a patrol officer in South Seattle.
State Parks Commission announces 2012 ‘free days’ for visitors
January 11, 2012
The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday three-day weekend Jan. 14-16 will be the first of 10 “free days” this year when the Discover Pass will not be required of visitors venturing out to enjoy their state parks.
Most of the free days are in alignment with 2012 free days offered by the National Park Service, according to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
The “free days” are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass, a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on state-managed recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources.
The Discover Pass legislation provided that Washington State Parks could designate up to 12 “free days” when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. The free days only apply at state parks.
Department of Revenue offers information to taxpayers
January 11, 2012
The state Department of Revenue created a listserv to better inform taxpayers.
The listserv alerts subscribers to changes in legislation, revisions to tax law, rate changes and any Department of Revenue programs. Join the listserv at www.dor.wa.gov/listserv. Enter your name and email address, select the button for join the “General Information” line, and then click submit.
Under state law, taxpayers must know their reporting obligations. The agency assisted taxpayers in the past by sending information to them as changes occur.
However, due to recent budget cuts, the Department of Revenue is unable to send many of the informational mailings.
Fall City Masons invite public to see installation of 2012 officers
January 11, 2012
The brothers of Fall City Masonic Lodge No. 66 are opening their doors to the community to see the group install its newly elected officers for 2012.
The ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Fall City Masonic Hall, 4304 337th Place S.E., Fall City. RSVP by emailing FCMH-fjsiv@trashmail.net.
The slate of 2012 officers for Fall City is:
- Worshipful Master: Frank J Schumacher IV
- Senior Warden: Henry Fletcher III
- Junior Warden: Corey Birch
- Senior Deacon: Mathew Meyers
- Junior Deacon: Ken Dods
- Senior Steward: Russel George
- Junior Steward: Chad Petrakis
- Tyler: Virgil Scott
- Marshal: Warren Oltmann
- Secretary: David Harris
- Assistant Secretary: Nick Michaud
- Treasurer: Dick Meredith
With the sponsorship of two Seattle lodges, Freemasons founded the Fall City lodge in 1890. At the time, the lodge had to borrow $50 from one of the Seattle lodges to cover the registration fee.
As its membership grew, the Fall City lodge sponsored a lodge in Issaquah and in North Bend. Learn more about the lodge at www.fallcitylodge.com.
Letters
January 11, 2012
Re: The rapping bus driver
Great tool to use to teach students bus evacuations!
Suzanne
Re: Memory of police officer’s killing still lingers in Snoqualmie Valley after more than 60 years
I am Leah Fitzgerald’s great-niece and I would like to thank you for the article in your paper. My aunt is 95 years old and one heck of a lady.
We have been going through her old photos and have so many old photos. This story just happened along at the right time.
I just want to say thank you so much. Born and raised in the Snoqualmie Valley, it is nice to see family recognized in its history!
Sincerely,
Christy Charbonneau-Wright
Re: Last Valley stop for a ‘Wonderful’ ride
Of course I loved this article. My daughter got to share her grief with Zuzu. We always watched this movie every Christmas and love it to this day.
Thank you, Zuzu, for giving love to my daughter. Her brother was her best friend.
Love, Pat Hanner (Matt’s mom)
