With Snoqualmie City Councilwoman Maria Henriksen announcing she would not be running again, three challengers stepped up to the plate for the No. 5 position: Heather Munden, Terry Sorenson and Darryl Wright. However, Wright withdrew his name and the race will not be going to the primary now.

The other race heading into the primary, which whittles the candidate pool down to two, is the Snoqualmie Valley School District school board No. 4 district seat.

Scott Hodgins held that district seat, which roughly covers North Bend. But when the district redrew its boundary lines, that put another sitting school board member, Marci Busby, in his district. Both are going to run for that seat; however, Stephen Kangas and David Spring have also tossed their hats into the ring.

Tavish MacLean, of Snoqualmie, is running uncontested for the newly created District No. 1 school board seat.

Three other Snoqualmie City Council seats will go unchallenged, with incumbents Bryan Holloway, Robert Jeans and Kathi Prewitt seeking another term.

Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson does have a challenger, Ed Pizzuto.

However, a Snoqualmie Valley Hospital board seat is offering perhaps the biggest head scratcher.

Current hospital commissioner Gene Pollard, whose term ends in 2017, has decided to run against incumbent commissioner Kevin Hauglie.

Pollard said he didn’t want to run.

“I wanted someone to challenge him. I want him to be accountable, especially for conflicts of interest,” Pollard said.

When asked what conflicts of interests he was referring to, Pollard said he wasn’t ready to go public with that information yet, but would release a statement later.

Hauglie did not respond to a request for a comment before press time.

Pollard, 78, said he is unhappy with the board’s decision to accept $14 million from the Snoqualmie Tribe for the old hospital building and property, when it had originally agreed to pay $30 million. He voted no on accepting the new agreement.

“I believe sunlight is the best disinfectant and we need sun shining on hospital operations,” he said. “…I’m working toward a transparent district that’s professionally run. Our democracy depends on citizen participation. The hospital district seems to do everything it can to exclude the voice of the people. I’ve never seen a board more incompetent than this one.”

Dick Jones, the current board president, is also up for re-election this year, and Preston resident Dariel Norris will challenge him for that seat.

Norris, 62, also cites a “conflict of interest,” where Jones is concerned, because of his past association with the Snoqualmie Tribe, but she said the district’s $30 million in debt was also a big factor for her running.

She said if the communities had known 30-plus years ago when the hospital district first formed that it would be $30 million in debt today, “I doubt that any of us would have agreed to it.”

Norris said, “It’s easy to complain and easy to be unhappy. But what are you going to do about it? You have to be willing to be a part of the change. Questions need to be asked, and I’m not hearing them being asked or answered in the public arena.”

The rest of the open seats in the Snoqualmie Valley are largely uncontested.

Incumbent North Bend City Councilmembers Alan Gothelf, Ross Loudenback and Jeanne Pettersen are running to retain their seats.

Linda Hamm Grez is running for the Si View Metropolitan Park District position No. 2 seat, and Mark Joselyn is running for the position No. 3 seat.

Incumbent Kathy Lambert will, once again, be unopposed in her run for the King County Council seat representing North Bend, Snoqualmie and the rest of District 3.

The four Ports Commission seats are contested this year.

Sheriff John Urquhart is uncontested in his run for re-election.

County Executive Dow Constantine has drawn three opponents, including Goodspaceguy.

Michele Mihalovich: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

Seattle Times staff reporter

A total of 381 schools received awards, including Chief Kanim Middle School for overall excellence and science, and Snoqualmie Elementary School for high progress, according to a press release from the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The Washington Achievement Awards are based on Washington’s School Achievement Index and recognize elementary, middle school, high school and comprehensive schools. Schools are awarded using performance from 2010 to 2012 on statewide assessments in reading, writing, math and science, as well as on graduation rates.

The new branch will open about 10 jobs to local residents, according to a press release from Chase Bank. The opening was marked by a celebration at the branch May 9, featuring a ribbon cutting with the chamber of commerce.

“Chase is committed to the Pacific Northwest and we are so excited to open our first branch in Snoqualmie,” branch manager Daniel Voyteshonock wrote in an email. “This represents a terrific location for us — one that we’ve been looking to open for quite some time. Customer convenience is a top priority for us, and prior to the Snoqualmie Ridge location, North Bend was the closest location for our customers to do their banking.

“Snoqualmie Ridge is a rapidly expanding area and represents a great opportunity for us to better serve new and existing customers.”

The new Snoqualmie Ridge branch is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. It provides a full range of services, including checking and savings accounts, business banking, mortgages and other loans, and investment products and services.

Approximately 500 projects were on display, and three students from each grade received awards, according to a press release from the school’s PTSA.

Sixth-grade winners were Grace Luccio in first place, Gabi Krueger in second place and Jackson Rubin in third place. Seventh-grade winners were Emily Blankenburg in first place, Ben Huard in second place and Andrea Weaver in third place. Eighth-grade winners were Annika Laufer in first place, Teresa Eichler and Sara Panciroli in second place and Kaitlin Chow in third place.

Students were expected to follow the scientific method for a controlled investigation in their chosen topic. The science fair was supported by the school administration and the PTSA.

P.E. — Natalie Guterson

Health — Kelsey Lindor

Language arts — Lydia Petroske

Math — Tessa Gomes

Band — Jonica Beatie

World language — Diana Hruska

Choir — Taylor Clarke

Social studies — Duncan Deutsch

Science — Rachel Massey

Art — Sydney Tulip and Maddy Hutchison

Career technical education — Brittley Barrett

Traffic safety — Brandon Wilson

Gymnastics — Elizabeth Holmes and Hannah Richmond

Boys basketball — Levi Botten

Girls basketball — Katy Lindor

Wrestling — Timothy Corrie

Modeled and demonstrated pride — Kailund Williams

Most improved — Jarred Burklund

Student leader — Ally Pusich

Outstanding student — Warren Sanctis

Classified staff — Heather Meuli

Outstanding teacher — Gail Key

Firefighters will be using small tools and equipment and non-toxic smoke in and around the house.

The firefighters will make every effort to create the least amount of disruption to nearby residents. Residents living in the immediate vicinity will be notified in advance of this training with a flyer attached to their front door, according to the press release.

Call the Snoqualmie Fire Department at 888-1551 for more information.

May 16 - 17, drivers may experience sporadic traffic delays for installation of sanitary sewer lines. Please add extra time to your commute, especially for arriving on time to Snoqualmie Middle School and Mount Si High School, according to a press release from the city of Snoqualmie.

Southeast Cedar Street

May 17 and 20, drivers are asked to limit use of Southeast Cedar Street between Silva Avenue Southeast and Southeast Fir Street due to curb and gutter improvements. Your assistance is appreciated in order to make this project move along quickly, according to the press release.

For more information, contact Kamal Mahmoud, project engineer,
kmahmoud@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us
425-831-4919 Office
425-449-6350 Cell

Gjurasic was nominated by a parent and a student from Snoqualmie Middle School, where she teaches, according to a press release from Macaroni Kid. The award goes to a teacher who has made a difference in a child’s life.

Gjurasic’s nominations called her “energetic and creative,” “dynamic” and “the best fourth-grade teacher.” Gjurasic received a $100 gift certificate to The Flat Iron Grill in Issaquah and a plaque. Nominate your teacher at http://bit.ly/17e95rI.

Seattle Times staff reporter

 As her husband struggled with an intruder inside their North Bend home early May 13, a young mother grabbed a knife and fatally stabbed the man, who may have been the same person who had attacked her hours earlier in a home-invasion robbery.

“From what I understand, it was a pretty brutal battle,” neighbor Steven Vadjinia said. “It’s tragic for the person (who died), but it was a fight for their lives.”

The intruder apparently targeted the home shared by three generations of a family at random, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office. No one in the home knew the intruder, she said.

“The whole scenario is terrible,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Sgt. Cindi West said. “It seems totally random. We don’t see any indication of why this house would’ve been targeted.”

According to the sheriff’s office, the 26-year-old woman, her mother and her 7-month-old daughter were inside the house owned by the woman’s parents when a man in his 40s entered through an unlocked back door a little after 1 p.m. Sunday.

The man punched the younger woman and dragged her by her hair.

“He had a hold of her by her ponytail, so she didn’t get a real good look at him,” West said.

The woman gave the intruder some cash and the man fled, she said.

The woman and her mother called 911, but a sheriff’s K-9 team was unable to track down the intruder.

Then, a little after 1 a.m. Monday, deputies responded to another 911 call from the home in the 10100 block of 420th Avenue Southeast after an intruder had been stabbed. He was pronounced dead at the scene, West said.

The couple told deputies they were asleep when they were awakened by their barking dogs, according to West. The husband got up to let the dogs out and encountered the intruder inside the house, she said.

The two men started fighting and the wife jumped in to help, apparently grabbing a knife from the kitchen, West said.

The intruder was “stabbed more than once,” but West declined to say how many times and where he was stabbed.

Though the couple didn’t suffer any significant injuries, “I wouldn’t be surprised if they were quite sore,” said West. “It was quite the struggle.”

As of Monday afternoon, sheriff’s detectives still hadn’t identified the suspect and a vehicle connected to him had not been found near the house, she said.

Detectives were also trying to determine how the suspect entered the house early Monday, said West, noting that several screens had been removed from windows.

Physical evidence, including possible DNA, was collected from the scene after the initial home-invasion robbery on Sunday, said West.

That evidence is expected to help detectives confirm whether the robber and the dead man are the same person, she said.

Vadjinia, the neighbor, said he learned of the first home invasion Sunday after returning home from a Mother’s Day celebration. The young woman’s father told Vadjinia’s father “to be vigilant and on guard,” he said.

“It was so brazen and I just had a gut feeling something wasn’t right,” said Vadjinia, a 50-year-old machinist who conducted his own “security patrols” around his property until about 12:30 a.m. Monday.

He woke up at about 2 a.m. as sheriff’s deputies were again arriving in the neighborhood, a picturesque part of North Bend known as Circle River because the South and Middle forks of the Snoqualmie River create a half circle around a pocket of single-family houses and a handful of farms.

He said the young couple recently sold their house in Bellevue and had moved in with the wife’s parents as they were transitioning to a new home.

The husband, 29, is a firefighter and CrossFit trainer, and both husband and wife are very fit, Vadjinia said.

He said the couple either own or are in the process of opening a gym on the Eastside.

“The guy was either very strong or amped up on something” for him to put up such a strong fight against the couple, he said. “He definitely picked the wrong house.”

Vadjinia said there have been a rash of break-ins and vehicle thefts in the area in the past few months, and he said his own shed was rummaged through.

An overgrown trail, used by local horse enthusiasts, winds behind his house and the one next door.

He suspects the robbery suspect used the trail to access his neighbors’ house unseen.

The river is less than a quarter-mile away and Vadjinia said the site where he and his friends used to attend high-school keg parties has recently morphed into a homeless encampment.

West, the sheriff’s spokeswoman, said deputies who work in the North Bend area are aware of the homeless encampment but cautioned against jumping to any conclusions.

“We don’t know if it was someone from that camp or not. We really don’t know if it’s related,” she said.

Sara Jean Green: 206-515-5654 or sgreen@seattletimes.com. Seattle Times news researcher Miyoko Wolf contributed to this report. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

The proprietors of the single-screen movie house on Bendigo Boulevard were told they must invest in digital projection equipment to meet the requirements of distributors or lose access to the latest film releases. The owners of the 72-year-old theater have turned to the community to save their beloved movie house.

“We quietly hoped that the North Bend Theatre would escape the digital revolution and continue to exist in the world of 35mm film for years to come,” Cindy Walker admitted. “But, such is not the case. Film is rapidly disappearing as movie distributors ramp up their complete conversion to digital distribution and projection of movies.”

Walker also hoped that by the time her one-screen operation was forced to make the switch to digital projection the price of new equipment would drop to a level that would allow independent theater owners to justify the upgrade.

The price of digital projection has dropped in the past five years from more than a half-million dollars to “only” $100,000, according to Walker. That’s still more than her small business can afford.

By Mary Miller
The theater owners have diversified beyond movies, such as hosting acts during this year’s Blues Walk.

A public campaign

Following the lead of other independent theaters across the country, Walker started a very public campaign to raise the needed funds from the community. She has used everything from social media to face-to-face solicitation. In simple terms, she said, the North Bend Theatre needs 1,000 supporters to contribute $100 each.

Walker makes it clear that the North Bend Theatre does not operate as a nonprofit organization, so any donations to help keep the doors open must be considered a gift and are not tax-deductible.

She emphasized that the theater has always been a profitable business, but does not generate the type of revenue to justify the cost of the digital upgrade.

A website dedicated to the cause tracks contributions. Gifts from individuals and local organizations have already amounted to more than 20 percent of what Walker said she needs to keep the doors open.

Donations from the Boxley Music Fund and local patrons Danny and Robin Kolke gave the fund an initial boost. Individual contributions continue to come through the website as well as from local residents who walk up to the box office with a check.

Walk of Fame

Donors who contribute $5,000 toward the digital projector will be remembered with a “Hollywood Boulevard”-style star in the North Bend Theatre Walk of Fame. Other donor levels will be honored with 6-inch and 10-inch engraved bronze stars permanently mounted in the lobby.

“We were pleased to contribute to this worthy cause,” said movie lovers Miriam and Kyle Kroschel, of North Bend. “Here’s to many more wonderful years of entertainment at the North Bend Theatre.”

Regular patrons Jim and Monica Rutherford added, “We love the theater. It’s part of North Bend.”

The upgraded projection system, according to Walker, will allow the intimate venue to screen the latest releases from Hollywood, including those only available in 3D.

“Digital projection produces a stunning image,” Walker said. “Gone will be annoying scratches and shaky movement of film and sound that is often compromised by the constant handling of films.”

The North Bend Theatre opened its doors as an independent movie theatre on April 9, 1941, and has brought films like “The Wizard of Oz” to moviegoers in the Snoqualmie Valley.

The film house underwent a major renovation when it was purchased by the Slover family in 1999. The new owners retained the original art deco style of the movie house while upgrading the lobby, restrooms and concession areas.

The upgrade included a larger screen, a state-of-the-art Dolby Sound System and, ironically, a new 35mm film projector.

Family ownership tradition

Cindy Walker moved north with her husband and three daughters from Southern California in 1983.

They maintained the theater’s tradition of family ownership when they purchased the iconic business in May 2006. She is proud of the theater’s participation in the community and her personal role in the art community throughout the Valley.

If her campaign to save the theater is successful, Walker said she hopes to maintain special events like the Banff Mountain Film Festival and the International Fly Fishing Film Festival. Walker also has plans to develop her own North Bend Mountain Film Festival and Amateur Film Challenge.

Walker took a deep sigh and smiled when she shared the one upside of operating a single-screen independent theater in an industry dominated by corporate multiplex competitors is that she only needs to raise enough money to purchase one projector.

“We hope to be able to continue to offer the latest movies and popcorn at small-town prices,” Walker said. “Donations will allow the theater to continue to be a viable part of the community for generations to come.”

Dan Aznoff was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the toxic waste crisis in California. He is now a freelance writer who makes his home in Bellevue. Reach him at da@dajournalist.com.

The board at its May 9 meeting set the dates for two public focus groups that will look at school bond options.

At least three board members will attend the focus groups, and each board member will invite members of the community to participate, according to Carolyn Malcolm, public information coordinator for the school district.

“They are by invitation only, because they want to get a representative group,” Malcolm said. “People have been more likely to come if they get a personal letter or call.”

Although participation in the focus groups is by invitation only, the public is invited to observe, Malcolm said. Anyone who is interested in serving on a future focus group can go to www.svsd410.org to fill out a volunteer form.

The proposed bond will help alleviate the growing population at the middle school and high school levels, Popp said. At the focus groups, the three scenarios for the bond will be discussed.

Scenario one will be to expand Mount Si High School and bring it up to 21st century standards, Popp said. In doing that, the freshman campus opening this fall would be returned to its original state as a middle school. A massive high school renovation would be the fastest way to return the high school to a four-year campus, but it requires a larger, upfront investment, Popp said in a phone interview.

Scenarios two and three include improving the high school in phases that would take longer than scenario one, Popp said. That would require a third middle school to be built because the freshman campus would then need to remain as a freshman campus. Both scenarios are similar and involve a slower renovation of the high school in different phases, Popp said.

All three scenarios include the building of a new elementary school, to assist in the growing population, he said. By the school year 2017-18, Washington state will require all public schools to offer full-day kindergarten, and the state will also give schools additional funding to decrease class sizes in grades kindergarten through third, Popp said.

“We as a board are unanimous at building an elementary school,” board president Scott Hodgins said at the board meeting. “Our greatest capacity need is at the elementary level.”

“We need as much massive public input as possible, so when we do put a bond on the ballot, it passes,” Popp said. “We’re not going to make this decision in a vacuum. We have to have community input so it passes.”

Five bonds regarding solutions to the overpopulation problem have been presented on the ballot since 2007. Each time, the bonds have not passed by a very small margin, Malcolm said. The bonds have ranged from $27 million to $200 million, and have included propositions of building a new middle school, building a new high school or focusing on critical needs such as boilers and roofs, Malcolm said. The purpose of the focus groups is to refine the current bond with public input in order to successfully pass it, she said.

The bond and total cost is not finalized, and as of the board meeting May 9, the board has not decided when it would appear on the ballot.

If you go

Community members may still attend and observe the invitation-only focus groups, though they will not be permitted to participate. The focus groups will be held at 6 p.m. May 22 at Mount Si High School library, 8651 Meadowbrook Way S.E., Snoqualmie, and May 28 at a location to be determined.

Megg Joosten: 392-6434, ext. 221, or newsclerk@isspress.com.

CVES second-grader Jacob Crow earned a merit award for “Helping Hands” in the film category.

Art by Joshua Ehrenberg, a second-grader at Fall City

Morgan Bush, a CVES fourth-grader, won an award for excellence for “Wish Upon a Wishing Star” and “Untitled-4” Eagle, a visual arts submission.

Joshua Ehrenberg, a second-grader at Fall City, won an award of merit for his photo “HOT Wheels.”

The purpose of the statewide Reflections program is to give students an opportunity to express themselves through art. Awards are given for merit, excellence and outstanding interpretation in every category. Those receiving the outstanding interpretation award will continue on to the national PTA Reflections for judging.

Crow and Bush were invited along with their families to the state PTA Reflections reception May 5.

All of the Reflections artwork will be displayed in Snoqualmie City Hall, 38625 S.E. River St., and at the Chamber of Commerce, 38767 S.E. River St.

“The board has completed our evaluation process, which has been lengthy,” board president Scott Hodgins said at the board meeting May 9. “We, as a board, are prepared to take action for the extension of Mr. Aune’s contract for three years.”

Aune has recently applied for jobs at two other school districts. Other candidates were chosen for those positions.

The vote passed 4-1 with board member Carolyn Simpson opposing. Simpson participated by conference call, but did not elaborate about why she voted no.

The new contract is not finalized, but will be by the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year, said Carolyn Malcolm, public information coordinator for the school district. Aune’s base salary is $149,161. His contract has been extended until the 2015-2016 school year.

The event is at 6:30 p.m. May 25 at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, 36005 S.E. Ridge St., Snoqualmie, according to a press release from the senior center.

Tickets to Fashionation are $45 and include hors d’oeuvres, two drinks and a silent auction. A fashion show will feature the latest styles from Christopher & Banks and Birches Habitat.

Proceeds from ticket sales will be used to support the Mount Si Senior Center. The funds raised in the event are critical for both the organization’s immediate local needs and their longer-term goals.

Some of the services of the senior center include providing hot meals and transportation, and various activities and fitness classes for seniors.

Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson awarded members of the Snoqualmie Arts Commission with certificates of appreciation for art rotation at City Hall and the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce, and for leading art events and working with the community via arts April 24.

The next Art Walk planned for Snoqualmie will be from 2-7 p.m. May 31. There will be food, music and entertainment. Artwork from Mount Si High School’s Festival of Arts will be featured at City Hall and chamber of commerce.

Artists from the Mt Si Artist Guild will have a show upstairs above the Candy Factory in Snoqualmie. Local photographer Mary Miller will unveil her “Heart of the Valley” photo taken May 19 at Centennial Field.

He said the girl, who is 4 or 5 years old, crawled out of the window of the family home in the 38000 block of Linden Loop Road at about 5:51 p.m. while the mother was sleeping.

The window didn’t appear to have a screen, Almquist said.

The girl fell about 12 feet onto the family’s van, rather than the pavement, he said.

The mother woke up upon hearing the girl’s cries and rushed her to the house of a neighbor, who happened to be a sergeant with the Snoqualmie Police Department, Almquist said.

An ambulance then rushed the girl to Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, but there was nothing wrong with her and they were back at home early that evening, Almquist said.

“It was a miracle,” he said.

Michele Mihalovich: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

“It’s so important to get out and feel and move, and feel good, feel sensual, feel empowered, feel beautiful, feel connected with other people and with the music and with the band,” Nunn said. “There’s a release in that that to me is living, whether I’m doing a concert or whether I’m in the audience. The energy in the concert is a circle … it’s better than any drug that I’ve ever had.”

Nunn joined Berlin in 1979 and the band worked together until 1986, when Nunn took a break, working on other albums, getting married and finding the life she said she didn’t have when working with the band. In 1998, she reformed Berlin, and the band has been together ever since.

“For a long time I lost the thread, but I got inspired by what was happening,” Nunn said. “By the late ‘90s, dance music had really moved forward. I really fell in love with what was happening and felt I really had something to say.”

The band’s music is electronic, Nunn said, because it is her favorite. The concert will have Berlin’s hits as well as new songs from their upcoming album, “Animal,” which is scheduled to be released in September. The band will also debut its new single, “It’s the Way,” which they haven’t yet played live.

Though Nunn loves all her songs, she said the band’s most popular songs include “Take My Breath Away,” from the “Top Gun” soundtrack, “The Metro” and “Sex.”

“The Metro” was written at a time when the band was trying to find their signature, Nunn said.

“When we finished ‘The Metro,’ everybody in the band was like, ‘That’s it. That’s what we’re going to be,’” Nunn said. “It just gelled everything we wanted to be in that time.”

Nunn said she is a lyricist, and her inspiration comes from the sound of the music before she even listens to the words.

“If the music draws me in, I want to hear what they have to say,” she said. “The music calls to me what it’s going to be about and then I’ll find something in my life that will match the feeling of the music.”

If you go

Berlin, 7 p.m. May 19, $47 to $73, Snoqualmie Casino Ballroom, 37500 S.E. North Bend Way, 888-1234

www.facebook.com/berlinofficialband

Very few small-town movie theaters have survived the public’s modern love of technology.

Bigger, brighter, flashier, faster … that’s how we roll today.

And yet, the 72-year-old North Bend Theatre has been lovingly tended to by multiple owners, and has thrived.

The outside and portions of the inside still have that old Hollywood charm, along with modern conveniences such as upgraded concession areas and a state-of-the-art Dolby Sound System. You also get to enjoy box office movies at the same time as the rest of the nation, rather than waiting weeks or months after the big openings.

All of that could change if owners Cindy and Jim Walker don’t upgrade to a $100,000 digital projector. Distributors say they must upgrade or lose access to the latest film releases.

Cindy Walker said the theater does generate money, but nothing along the lines of $100,000. The Walkers are turning to the community for help in order to keep their doors open.

The theater has done more for the community than just offer new releases. Multiple community events are held there. It was one of the venues for the recent North Bend Blues Walk.

A documentary was recently shown and a discussion followed about plastic bag bans.

A local insurance man threw a holiday thank-you party for the community. Lots of fundraisers are held there, as well as birthday parties.

Cindy wants to maintain special events like the Banff Mountain Film Festival and International Fly Fishing Film Festival, and plans to develop her own Mountain Film Festival and Amateur Film Challenge.

We want to see this charming landmark, which brings the community together in so many ways, continue to be a part of the fabric of North Bend life.

The Walkers need 1,000 $100 contributions. They are not asking for anything more than they need, just hoping that the community appreciates the theatre enough to step up with their wallets and checkbooks.

If you want to help save the North Bend Theatre, you can make a donation at www.gofundme.com/2b5f9c.

Slim Randles
Columnist

I heard the rumor down at the feed store, later in the afternoon. We had a real live Sherlock Holmes in our community, and he was our local barber, Curtis Naismith.

“What do you mean?” I asked Julie, the stout girl hired to carry 100-pound sacks of grain out to waiting trucks.

“Curtis can tell,” she said. “He can tell where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing, and it’s a kind of magic, like that e.s.p. stuff.”

This was big news here, of course, and I had to go see for myself. I was getting a little shaggy, so it was time I went down there for a trim and some lilac water anyway.

Curtis wrapped the paper hangman tight around my neck and started the clippers.

“Curtis, I hear you’re a detective,” I said.

“Always wanted to be,” he said. “Always wanted to be. Then, I got in here with my dad all those years ago, you know. Been here ever since.”

“But I understand you have e.s.p. or something.”

He laughed.

“Of course not. It’s just that I’ve been studying detective methods for a long time. I can sometimes tell what people have been doing.”

“Well … how about me? Can you tell me what I’ve been doing?”

“Let’s see.”

He stopped the clippers and stepped back and looked at my head.

“I can tell you went to Oakhurst about three weeks ago,” he said. “And you visited Charlie Taylor while you were there.”

“You know,” I said, “that’s right. I did. But how did you know?”

He laughed.

“Nobody does ears like Charlie. He’s a good barber, and he always leaves a clear path around the ears, sloping steeper in front of the ear than behind. And … since you have about three weeks’ growth of hair since Charlie saw you …”

I still think there’s some e.s.p. in there somewhere.

Brought to you by “The Backpocket Guide to Hunting Elk.” Read a sample of the download book in time for Father’s Day at www.slimrandles.com.

King County’s Road Services Division will close lanes between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to allow crews to complete safety improvements along the roadway, according to a press release from the King County Department of Transportation.

Work will include the installation of raised pavement markers, the application of sealant to existing rumble strips and centerline striping to improve safety. The closures will occur on North Bend Way between Interstate 90 and the North Bend city limits.

Motorists should expect delays of up to 10 minutes while work is underway.

McGavran was elected as vice president of the School Nurse Organization of Washington, which is made up of more than 500 school nurses across the state, for a two-year term.

McGavran also received a special award for her work organizing the School Nurse Organization of Washington’s two-day conference March 15-16.

Alan D. Morris

January 22, 1947 – April 20, 2013

Alan D. Morris, of Carnation, made his peaceful transition on Saturday, April 20, 2013, after a valiant battle with cancer.

He is survived by his wife Patricia E. Morris, of Carnation; a daughter, Airen B. Perry (Matthew Perry); two grandsons, Tyler and Carter Perry, of Snohomish; his mother Pauline D. Morris, of Fort Myers, Fla.; and brother Gary W. Morris (Linda Morris), of Lake Tapps.

Alan loved to play golf, go fishing with his buddies, play with his grandchildren and cook special gourmet holiday dinners. He served the city of Carnation as city councilman and became the mayor. He was also on the board of trustees at Snoqualmie Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hopelink to benefit the Sno-Valley Foodbank and Emergency Services of Carnation. Checks should be made payable to Hopelink, noting that they are in Memory of Alan Morris, and sent to: Hopelink Development Office, 10675 Willows Road N.E., Suite 275, Redmond, WA 98052.

A celebration of life will be scheduled in the future in living loving memory of Alan Morris. See his obituary online at http://bit.ly/ZL44lu.

During the emphasis, troopers will team up with truck drivers and ride with them in their trucks. When a trooper spots a car speeding, cutting others off or driving aggressively around a truck, the trooper will radio ahead to fellow officers to stop the motorist.

“We continue to see passenger car drivers as the main cause of most truck involved collisions,” said Captain Jason Berry, Commercial Vehicle Division commander. “People need to understand they have to give these big trucks plenty of space. When there is a car-versus-truck collision, there’s a good chance the people in the car will be injured,” he said.

This weeklong emphasis is part of a Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks Project that has troopers conducting four weeklong emphases that began in September 2012 and will continue through May 2013.

In the first weeklong emphasis in September 2012, troopers contacted a total of 485 drivers; 280 tickets were issued and troopers conducted 18 commercial motor vehicle inspections. In the second emphasis in December 2012, troopers contacted 502 drivers; 286 car drivers and 23 commercial motor vehicle drivers received tickets for driving aggressively around other big trucks.

Most collisions involving commercial motor vehicles that occur in King County happen on the interstate and state routes. Officers will patrol Interstate 5 from Seattle to Federal Way, Interstate 90 from Seattle to North Bend, Interstate 405 from Bellevue to Tukwila, state Route 167 from state Route 18 to I-405, and state Route 18 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., during the times most collisions occur.

Don’t wash my windows

Police were flagged down at 10:31 a.m. April 26 on Southeast North Bend Way. A woman reported that while she was cleaning a house, a “window washer” climbed in the window.

Oops, wrong car

Police took a report at 4:16 p.m. April 26 from a witness who saw someone stealing a car on Stow Avenue. The witness saw an unidentified white male open the driver’s side door of a vehicle and drive away. The owner of the vehicle was the only one in possession of the keys.

Speeding in the rain

Police responded at 2:53 p.m. April 27 to a report of an accident on 452nd Avenue Southeast. A vehicle, which police said was driving too fast for the weather conditions, crossed the centerline and collided head-on with another vehicle. One passenger was transported to Swedish/Issaquah for injuries.

At least there’s no snow

Police responded at 4 p.m. April 27 to a call regarding a vehicle stolen from East Park Street. A resident reported that when he arrived home, his snowmobile trailer and two snowmobiles had been stolen from his driveway. They had been chained to the trailer.

Sugar rush

A police officer was approached at 7:15 p.m. April 27 at QFC on East North Bend Way to report a theft of a candy bar. Police located the suspect, a 17-year-old male who had already “dumped the candy bar.” The suspect apologized to the employee who reported the crime.

Darned kids

Police received a call at 6:11 p.m. April 26 about a group of juveniles smoking marijuana on East North Bend Way.

Lock up your possessions

Police took a report at 9:10 p.m. April 28 of a larceny at Mount Si Transitional Health Center on Cedar Avenue South. A resident reported that someone opened his unlocked fire box and stole 10 AA batteries, an eight-piece set of stainless steel flatware and two printer cartridges. The total value of stolen items was $111.

In need of a ride

At 11 a.m. April 28 at a complex on Healy Avenue South, police took a report of a stolen vehicle. A 1994 Nissan Pathfinder was stolen in the night.

He’ll be walking now

Police were dispatched at 12:40 p.m. April 28 to an alley on East North Bend Way, where a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta had been stolen.

Oops, didn’t see you there

Police took a call at 5:24 p.m. April 28 regarding a semi-truck, which hit a parked, unoccupied vehicle on Southeast North Bend Way. The driver did not appear to be leaving a note regarding the accident. Police advised the caller to ask the driver if he knew he hit the vehicle. Both drivers exchanged information.

Sneaking change

Police received a call at 11 a.m. April 29 from someone at Two Rivers School, reporting that drug paraphernalia had been found on school grounds. Police disposed of the items.

It’s a good deal

Police responded to a call at 1 p.m. April 29 regarding a woman walking around trying to sell a “weed eater” for $20 on East North Bend Way. Police suspected the “weed eater” was stolen. Police located the “weed eater” but not the woman attempting to sell it. It was valued at $100.

Taking a joy ride

Police took a report at 10 a.m. April 30 of an auto theft from Janet Avenue North. The owner locked the doors of her 1994 Toyota, but someone broke into the vehicle overnight and drove off.

Don’t leave your guns lying around

Police responded at 5:01 p.m. April 30 to a concerned citizen who located a gun in a bag at Si View Park. The bag also contained receipts and cologne. Before police could arrive, someone picked up the bag and left the park.

A bigger paycheck

Police took a report at 10:30 a.m. May 1 from an employee of Safeway in North Bend. The employee reported that the register had been coming up short, and upon reviewing security CDs, she discovered an employee pocketing money instead of putting it in the register. The employee had stolen $260 over the course of the past two months.

That will leave a mark

At 12:30 p.m. May 1, police observed gang graffiti on a building on Main Avenue South. The letters “SSL 13” and “SSL 13 SUR” were painted in two places in an alley. According to police, “SSL” stands for Southside Locos, a criminal gang in King County.

Snoqualmie

Strange place

to park

Police responded at 8:40 p.m. May 9 to Southeast Isley Street, where a gray van and a motorhome were parked. Police contacted workers who were staging for a paint job in the area.

Out for a run

At 8:52 p.m. May 9, police were dispatched to Snoqualmie Parkway Southeast and Orchard Drive Southeast for a report of two black bears running across Snoqualmie Parkway. Police were unable to locate the bears.

What was that?

Police responded at 9:41 a.m. May 9 to a report of a loud boom on Southeast Jacobia Street. Police discovered it was a construction crew blasting rock in the area.

Snoqualmie

fire calls

Firefighters responded April 29 to Space Labs on Snoqualmie Ridge for an automatic fire alarm. Upon arrival and investigation, they found a malfunctioning detector.

Firefighters responded May 4 to the Salish Lodge for an automatic fire alarm. The heat in a meeting room malfunctioned, setting off the heat detector. The alarm was reset.

North Bend

fire calls

Three engines responded at 6:19 p.m. May 3 to 451st Avenue Southeast to a motor vehicle accident with injuries.

At 9:25 May 4, two engines responded to a passenger vehicle fire on eastbound Interstate 90 near 468th Avenue South.

Two fire engines responded at 2:11 p.m. May 4 to Railroad Avenue Southeast to a motor vehicle accident with injuries.

Firefighters responded at 10:24 p.m. May 4 to eastbound I-90 for a vehicle fire.

Firefighters responded at 2:24 p.m. May 6 to eastbound 1-90 for a vehicle fire.

Fire engines reported at 9:55 a.m. May 8 to state Route 18 for a passenger vehicle fire.

The Star publishes names of those arrested for DUI and those charged with felony crimes. Information comes directly from local police reports.

Donations of logs, plants, fish, snails and shrimp from all over Washington decorate the tank.

A series of “Can you find me?” signs will hang on and around the tank so the students will be able to identify every animal inside, complete with scientific names. Read about the Greater Seattle Aquarium Society’s project at www.gsas.org.

Spencer Arons, Grace Lis, Sarah Miller and Brett Staude were among 325 semifinalists who reached the third round of judging, according to the Snoqualmie Middle School newsletter.

Letters about Literature is a literary competition sponsored by the Washington State Library and the Library of Congress.

By Greg Farrar
Evan Johnson, Mount Si High School junior, watches his fifth-inning solo home run sail over the fence, as players in the Mercer Island dugout watch the Wildcats’ lead grow in their 3A KingCo Championship tournament game May 9.

New Mount Si High School baseball head coach Zach Habben is already carving out a legacy in just his first year. The Wildcats solidified that legacy, winning a pair of matches May 9 and 10 to win Habben’s first 3A KingCo title.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better first year,” Habben said. “This team has so much talent from top to bottom.”

At the start of the season, Habben said the team sat together and wrote down its goals for the year. No. 1 was finishing first in KingCo for the regular season. Check.

After tying for first, the Wildcats received a first-round bye, with just Mercer Island and Bellevue standing in their way for goal No. 2 — a KingCo tourney championship.

Senior Chase Karis set the tone for the Wildcats, pitching a complete game shutout of the Islanders, giving up just six hits, with three strikeouts against only one walk.

“Chase did really well on the mound,” Habben said. “That really helps.”

Junior Evan Johnson led the scoring attack with a home run, and senior Brian Wooley couldn’t be kept off the bases, going three-for-three with an RBI.

The Wildcats had to gut out a win against the Wolverines. Again, it came down to strong pitching performances.

“We got the hits when we needed them,” Habben said. Senior Connor “Swift battled hard and (Nick) Adams came in to shut the door.”

Swift gutted out four innings, giving up just two runs on four hits and having to work around four walks. The game changer came late. After a leadoff walk, junior Zach Usselmen threw out the runner trying to swipe second base. Mount Si then quickly got the second and third out to end the game.

“It was a huge momentum swing,” Habben said.

The next goal for the Wildcats is within sight, as they are just two more loser-out games away from qualifying for state and a chance to defend their reigning title.

David Hayes: 392-6434, ext. 237, or dhayes@isspress.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

During the May 10 KingCo 3A tournament, the Wildcats secured the No. 2 seed by beating Interlake, 5-4, and losing to Juanita, 9-1.

Coach Larry White said the Wildcats will face off against Ingram at districts at 2 p.m. May 15 at the Lower Woodland Park in Seattle.

This will be a loser-out game, so the Wildcats must win in order to continue toward a state title. If the team does beat Ingram, then at 4 p.m. they will face off against Holy Names, White said.

By Greg Farrar
Hannah Richmond (left), Mount Si High School senior, takes the baton for the anchor leg from junior Jesse Guyer, as their team wins the 4×200 relay May 10 at the 3A KingCo Championships, in a time of 1 minute, 45.51 seconds.

He’s very confident in his team, which has a good mix of seasoned veterans and talented freshmen.

“This has been an interesting season,” White said. “We have battled the elements and the injury bug all season long. But, all in all, we have done pretty well. We have a 14-7 record heading into the district tournament. Things are looking up.

“We do have Paige Wetherbee back in the lineup. She is our No. 1 pitcher and has been injured for most of the season.”