The Mount Si High School Wildcats baseball team, which had been battling it out with Lake Washington for a first place standing, has finally reached the coveted position.

They ended the season with a 12-2 conference record, compared to Lake Washington’s 10-3.

Mount Si won its first KingCo 3A tournament game, 6-1, against Liberty High School on May 10. And on May 11, the Wildcats scored another win, taking Lake Washington, 3-2.

Upsets in other 3A districts moved Mount Si, with an overall 19-3 record, to the top spot in rankings this week.

The undefeated Seattle Prep lost its last two games and Mount Vernon, which started the year 20-0, suffered its first loss in a game against Mountlake Terrace in the Northwest 3A District title game.

The Wildcats are heading to their second straight trip to the state playoffs, and the defending champions will play at 11 a.m. May 19 at Wheeler Field, 500 Pioneer Way in Centralia.

Softball report

The softball team ended the season with an impressive 11-2 conference record, and is No. 2 on the leader board, right under the undefeated Juanita Rebels.

The Wildcats won their first KingCo 3A tournament game, 7-1, against Liberty High School on May 10.

The second game didn’t go so well. The Wildcats lost to Lake Washington, 4-2, on May 11.

But they did make it to districts and will face off against West Seattle at 2 p.m. May 17 at the Lower Woodland Park ballfields, 5900 W. Green Lake Way N. in Seattle. That is a must-win match. If the Wildcats lose, they will not be going on to the state tournament.

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

Donald R. Jones, a 52-year-old North Bend man, died in a single-vehicle accident at about midnight May 12 on Interstate 90, according to a press release from the Washington State Patrol.

The state patrol said the vehicle, a turquoise 1994 Jeep Wrangler, was traveling west on the interstate near Exit 31 when it veered right and struck a tree.

According to the press release, drugs or alcohol may have been a factor and the accident is under investigation.

The Snoqualmie Fire Department will have two engines on site during the display, according to a press release from the city of Snoqualmie.

The press release also noted that within Snoqualmie city limits, fireworks may be discharged only on July 4 from 6 – 11 p.m. The Snoqualmie Tribe is recognized by the federal government as a sovereign nation and, therefore, is not subject to the Snoqualmie Municipal Code.

Reservations with Snoqualmie Casino’s Terra Vista restaurant are available online at http://snocasino.com/dining/terravista for those interested in a meal and a show the night of the event.

Call the tribe at 292-3759 for information about the fireworks.

Contributed by Julie Michelle Moshay Julie Michelle Moshay, 55, of North Bend, stands in front of the MS Paul Gauguin in Tahiti. She was invited to give a series of lectures about Gauguin’s life and artwork aboard the ship.

There is more than meets the eye when you look at Julie Michelle Moshay.

If all you see is a waitress at the Country Pride Restaurant in North Bend’s “Truck Town,” then you’re missing a lot.

She’s the landscaper at the restaurant, and her co-workers call her the hummingbird whisperer because of her ability to feed the skittish birds right out of her hands. She also organized North Bend’s recent first cash mob.

But Moshay’s ability to see more than meets the eye is what landed her on an all-expense paid voyage on the luxury liner MS Paul Gauguin in Tahiti, where she gave a series of lectures on Gauguin’s life and artwork.

Gauguin, who was born in Paris in 1848 and died in French Polynesia in 1903, is famous for his vibrantly colored paintings of Tahitian women, and some art historians consider him to have been an early influence on Pablo Picasso. Plenty has been written and documented about the post-impressionist artist — except for one little detail — hidden faces in many of Gauguin’s paintings, according to Moshay.

She does not have any formal training in the arts. Moshay said she used to work as an advertising sales representative at a newspaper in California. One day in 1997 a co-worker, Peter Teekamp, confided to her that he’d discovered hidden faces in Gauguin’s artwork that no one else had found, and he asked for her help in validating the discovery.

“Well, if you make a statement like that, you can bet I’m going to look into it to see if it’s true,” she said.

Moshay, 55, got her hands on everything she could read about Gauguin and his paintings, a collection of about 100 books, and couldn’t find any references to the hidden faces except for a few noted “obvious faces.”

Moshay and Teekamp worked together for years to document the findings, which can be viewed at               www.PassItOnArtHistory.com. In 2007, they were invited to lecture about Gauguin on the ship named after him.

Moshay said that most recently, she’d been goofing around on Google and saw that the boat had new owners who lived in Bellevue, so she contacted them and submitted a proposal for a lecture series.

Moshay’s two-week trip to Tahiti occurred in April.

“It was the highlight of my life,” she said. “If you’re going to talk about a misunderstood artist, who I am passionate about, what could be more fitting than sailing on a ship named for him, on an island where he painted many of his pieces, and encouraging people to take a closer look at his work?”

Workers from the state’s Department of Natural Resources and King County Parks destroyed the multilevel, 30-foot deep bunker on Rattlesnake Ridge that Keller killed himself in on April 28.

Photos contributed by Washington’s Department of Natural Resources Workers from King County Parks and the state’s Department of Natural Resources spent May 1-2 dismantling Peter Keller’s 30-foot-deep bunker, located on Rattlesnake Ridge.

Doug McClelland, assistant region manager for the department, said that after law enforcement collected all the evidence needed from the bunker, such as guns and ammunition, workers started bagging up everything else May 1.

He said about 25 black plastic garbage bags filled with plastic bottles, plumbing pipes, clothing, food, bedding and oils were removed from the bunker before workers started demolishing the structure.

Workers used chainsaws to cut logs supporting the bunker into 2- and 3-foot long sections and tossing them and dirt into the hole, McClelland said.

He said the inside of the bunker looked like you were standing in a log cabin, it just happened to be encased in soil except for the opening and a small section of the roof.

The standoff between law enforcement and Keller, accused of shooting his wife, daughter and pets, and then trying to set the house on fire to cover up the killings, made national news.

McClelland said the bunker had to be destroyed because its history would have made it an “attractive site that people would have wanted to hike to.”

“It was a public safety issue,” he said. “But also, it was located in a Natural Resources Conservation Area and we want to keep the area natural. I think we can agree that a bunker doesn’t fit that criteria. Now it’s all filled in and can start going back to its natural state of trees and ferns.”

The National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., elected 84 new members and 21 foreign associates from 15 countries in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

Those elected bring the total number of active members to 2,152, according to a press release from the nonprofit organization.

Contributed Evan E. Eichler reviews some scientific information in a laboratory.

An Act of Congress, signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 at the height of the Civil War, called upon the academy to provide independent advice to the government on matters related to science and technology.

Eichler, 43, wrote in an email that his appointment was based primarily on his work on human genome “hotspots,” regions of instability in our genetic code that could predict diseases such as developmental delay, autism and epilepsy.

“Our work suggests that about 10-14 percent of these diseases are caused by mutations that arise specifically in these hotspots — this is significant because it is thought that 1 out of 50 births in the U.S. suffer from one of these diseases,” he wrote. “Our lab has identified six new syndromes where recurrent gains or losses of DNA … lead to children with autism and developmental delay. “

Eichler’s wife Marla said her husband received a 6 a.m. phone call May 1 from colleague Mary-Clair King, who nominated him in 2009.

“He was shocked and honored all at the same time,” she said. “A smile and a look of amazement and disbelief were on his face … He was bombarded with emails immediately from colleagues, so we realized that it really had to be true, even before the official announcement.

“He is very honored and humbled by this recognition and appointment from fellow scientists,” she added. “He has spent his life, his interest in genetics began at age 12, being dedicated to helping others through his work, and I am very pleased that he has been recognized for all his hard work.”

Evan and Marla Eichler, originally from Canada, moved to North Bend in 2004 after living in Texas, California and Ohio.

They have four children: Matt, a Mount Si High School senior; Ehren, a sophomore at Mount Si; Teresa, a seventh-grader at Twin Falls Middle School; and Jacob, who is in preschool.

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

North Bend Police Chief Mark Toner said his deputies collected 68 pounds, while Snoqualmie Police Chief Jim Schaffer said his officers collected 87 pounds.

Contributed by Snoqualmie Police Department Snoqualmie resident Betty Morgan drops off medication to Snoqualmie Police Officer James Sherwood at the April 28 drug collection site.

The one-day effort was intended to bring national focus to the issue of increasing pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse while giving the public the opportunity to safely dispose of medications without contaminating the environment or water systems.

Toner previously said the service is offered as a public safety measure because prescription drug abuse is a serious and growing problem in the area.

The majority of overdoses, a leading cause of accidental deaths in Washington, involve prescription opiates.

Toner said having those kinds of drugs in your home that aren’t being used “may be a driver behind some burglaries, when suspects target homes with the knowledge that the occupants are likely to have them.”

Three out of five teens report that prescription pain pills are easy to get from their parents’ medicine cabinets, and that it’s surpassing marijuana as a teen’s drug of choice, Toner said.

Extra medicine lying around the home may be “shared” with other people that could have adverse effects, or they could be stolen by houseguests or an intruder and used to facilitate illegal drug use, he said.

Last year, law enforcement officials in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington collected 21,500 pounds of unused pharmaceuticals that homeowners didn’t quite know what to do with.

Toner and Schaffer said this year’s numbers are still being tallied, so the total pounds for the entire region won’t be known until later.

If you weren’t able to make it to the collection sites April 28, you can drop off unused or expired medications to either police department during business hours.

The King County Sheriff’s Office in North Bend is at 1550 Boalch Ave. N.W. It’s open from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and 1-4:30, Monday through Thursday, and from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Friday.

The Snoqualmie Police Department is at 34825 S.E. Douglas St., and the hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Come explore the topic of “Generations in the Workplace” with Kim Arellano at the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce’s next Education Series program from 7:30-9:30 a.m. May 10 at the DirtFish Rally School Conference Room, 7001 396th Drive S.E., Snoqualmie. The cost is $10 for members and nonmembers. Register online at www.snovalley.org or by phone by calling 888-6362.

Arellano is a chamber member, human resource consultant, facilitator, keynote speaker and radio host.

“We’ll look at the generational differences, challenges and how different perspectives and stereotypes influence collaboration and productivity in the workplace,” Arellano said. “You will leave with a better understanding of how your coworkers, employees and clients think, and what things you can do to communicate and partner better.

“Each generation brings a wealth of different perspectives and talents that are a culmination of experience gained by living through the times.”

I am dumbfounded by groups in America stating they are suppressed by the government and corporate greed. Gratefulness is being lost to entitlement, compassion to self-absorption. I am asking for us all to take a closer look at what we have here and what suppression looks like outside the comforts of America.

Imagine living in a small town in the mountains where an army comes in and wipes you out. Imagine soldiers taking your house, killing your neighbors, forcing your family into labor, raping your sister. Or maybe your small town is wiped out, everyone who does not run is killed and everything is burned up. You are alone: no family, friends, church, community, and certainly no government to help. That is government suppression.

I’m not sure why, we in America aren’t informed much about these tragedies. Maybe because there’s not enough drama or human lives lost, there is no easy solution or someone has decided it’s not our concern. I have been informed and I can’t ignore it. We have the capacity to create a community for those in Burma whose community has been annihilated.

The Snoqualmie Valley Alliance is financially supporting the Bueng Klueng Hostel in Thailand. The hostel provides shelter, food, clothing, medical care, education, safety and hope to children who have lost their families because they existed in that small town the Burma Army wiped out. Only $18,000 per year is needed to operate the hostel, which can care for 50 children.

Bite of the World is an annual fundraising event showcasing food from around the world, music, and silent and live auctions. This year, 100 percent of all proceeds go directly to the Bueng Klueng Hostel. More information on the Bite of the World and donation opportunities can be found at www.svaonline.org. You can also find more information about Burma from the Free Burma Rangers by visiting their site at www.freeburmarangers.org.

Wendy Eckman

North Bend

Keep playground alive

Sno-Valley Indoor Playground’s annual Safety Fair, held May 4, was a rousing success, if you ask the little folks who lined up to explore a real fire truck and a sheriff’s car! Fifty free bike helmets were distributed to local families, complimentary child car-seat safety checks were provided and there were bags of information and coloring materials for each family.

We’d like to thank the professionals who made it a great experience for the youngest members of our community: Eastside Fire & Rescue, the city of North Bend Police/King County Sheriff’s Office and the “Car Seat Ladies” (Sue Emery and Kathy Kruger).

As the Indoor Playground winds up its season before summer vacation, we are looking for new parents to join our all-volunteer board to keep the nonprofit playground operating. Email us at SVIndoorPlayground@gmail.com if you want to keep this great community organization alive and vibrant.

Jaymie Blatt, president

Sno-Valley Indoor      Playground Board

Too many intruders

On May 5, I was unable to reach my home as I returned from shopping in Issaquah because the Volks March had Reinig Road closed. I wish all these people from the city would just go home and stay out of our Valley.

John Gaines

Snoqualmie

Everybody knows where the mayor, city councilmembers and planning commissioners live. Those elected and appointed officials will tell you that constituents have no problem calling them, day or night, to voice their opinions or dissatisfaction about something happening in the city. Angry emails and Letters to the Editor are par for the course.

People get involved in politics for a lot of reasons. Sometimes, it’s in their blood — they come from a long line of civic-minded family members. Sometimes, it’s out of pure frustration with current leaders and how they are handling community matters or dealing with the public.

But sometimes a noble cause drives a person to jump into the hotbed of small-town politics. Such is the case with 16-year-old Aubrey McMichael, of North Bend, who was appointed to the city’s Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission on April 17.

McMichael said she loves the city parks and wants to help keep them beautiful.

“I also think it’s important to have a teen’s perspective on the board,” the Mount Si High School sophomore said.

She said as much to the council after it confirmed her for the full-voting-rights youth position, but also said she was looking forward to seeing how government works first hand.

Seeing the process could be a life-changing, positive event for her. She could love it so much that she continues to pursue a political career: earning a political science degree, campaigning for elected positions, developing a platform to sway voters, creating laws that protect human rights, seeking the office of the President of the United States.

Or she could be bored to death by the never-ending meetings, seeing that the wheels of government turn oh-so-very-slowly, or learning that compromise can often be a bitter pill to swallow. We hope, though, that she loves it and wants to continue after her term ends in August.

Afterwards, Mayor Ken Hearing read a proclamation, naming 2012 as the Year of the Girl.

Contributed by city of North Bend North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing (left), presented Natalie Brookes (center) and Taylor Wiles (right), from Girl Scout Troop 442, with a proclamation naming 2012 as the Year of the Girl.

The proclamation read:

“March 12, 2012, marks the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, which began in 1912 when Savannah, Ga., native Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low gathered 18 girls to provide them the opportunity to develop physically, mentally and spiritually;

“For 100 years, Girl Scouting has helped build millions of girls and women of courage, confidence and character who act to make the world a better place;

“Today, more than 50 million American women are Girl Scout alumnae, 3.3 million girls and adult volunteers are active members and Girl Scouts is the largest member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, a global movement comprised of more than 10 million girls in 145 countries worldwide;

“394 girls from our local Service Unit 442, comprised of Snoqualmie, North Bend and Fall City, and more than 100 dedicated adult volunteers, are proud to be a part of the Girl Scout tradition in our community;

“The Girl Scout Leadership Program helps girls discover themselves and their values, connect with others and take action to make the world a better place;

“Our community has benefited significantly through countless troop community service activities and the major project efforts of individual girls pursuing their Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.”

Hearing proclaimed 2012 as Year of the Girl and applauded the Girl Scouts of the United States of America for their 100 years of leadership and expertise as the voice for and of girls, the Girl Scouts of Western Washington for providing the local support for Girl Scouting in the community and the Girl Scouts of Snoqualmie Valley for their courage, confidence and character to act to make the world a better place.

You get on outta here

A clerk at Edgewick Inn asked police on April 24 to get two transients sleeping in the staircase at the hotel to move along.

Daylight theft

A man who lives in the 4000 block of Southeast Tanner Road reported to police that power tools had been stolen from his fenced-in shed in his backyard at about 2 p.m. April 23. The man’s neighbor saw a man and woman, in their 20s pull up in a blue Honda, go into the backyard and then leave.

Up to no good

A resident at the Mount Si Trailer Park told police that he heard noises outside his trailer at about 4 a.m. April 22. When he went outside to investigate, a 6-foot-tall, heavy-built man was standing by his tile saw. The man ran off.

Wannabes

The director of the Northwest Railway Museum called police to report graffiti on a train bridge. The graffiti occurred between April 22 and 25. The incident report read, “Unknown if this graffiti was created by real gang members or gang wannabes.”

Snoqualmie

Anti-bullying protestor

At 2:23 April 27, police were called to Mount Si High School to warn a person that he or she would be removed from the school if he or she continued to randomly confront people about bullying. The person was not there when police arrived.

Mud pies

Unknown children threw mud on the side of a home located at the 6000 block of Salmon Berry Court Southeast on April 27.

Fire calls from Eastside Fire & Rescue, North Bend

At 9 a.m. April 27, EMS responded to a medical call in the 1300 block of La Forest Drive Southeast.

At 9:37 a.m. April 27, a fire engine responded to a smoke scare in the 46000 block of Southeast Mount Si Road. It was a false alarm.

At 4:33 p.m. April 28, a fire engine responded to a smoke scare in the 100 block of Southeast 140th Street. It was a false alarm.

At 8:50 p.m. April 28, five fire engines responded to a vehicle accident with injuries in the 43000 block of Southeast 177th Street.

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

The Falls Avenue Southeast and Southeast Cedar Street Rehabilitation and Infrastructure Improvement Project is on the horizon. Local residents and businesses are invited to view and discuss project plans at an open house from 6-9 p.m. May 16 in the Snoqualmie City Hall Council Chambers at 38624 S.E. River St.

The locations of general infrastructure improvements currently proposed are as follows:

• Southeast Cedar Street from Silva Avenue Southeast to Southeast Fir Street
•  Southeast 90th Street from Railroad Avenue Southeast (state Route 202) to Falls Avenue Southeast
•  Entire width of Falls Avenue Southeast from Southeast 90th Street to the intersection of Southeast Beta Street
•  Southeast Epsilon Street from Schusman Avenue Southeast to Falls Avenue Southeast
• Southeast Beta Street from Schusman Avenue Southeast to Railroad Avenue Southeast (state Route 202)

During the project, the existing roadway, including curb, gutter, planter and sidewalks, will be removed and replaced. Sidewalks, sidewalk ramps and street signs will be evaluated for compliance, constructed and installed per standards and guidelines. The storm drainage, water main and sanitary sewer lines will be evaluated and replaced where needed.

Preliminary designs will be displayed at the open house for viewing. City staff members from the Planning and Public Works departments will be available to discuss design plans, as well as designers from KPG, which worked on Phase I of the recent Town Center Infrastructure Improvement Project and will continue work on Phase II in addition to this project.

Questions may be directed to Kamal Mahmoud, city of Snoqualmie project engineer, at 831-4919 or kmahmoud@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us.

Two groups of longtime friends, Mount Si Senior Center members and the area’s Girl Scouts, renewed their friendship with an annual afternoon tea in North Bend on April 20.

It was the 11th edition of the tea, where the Girl Scouts prepare and serve food for senior citizens, including B.J. Libby, the center’s director, who is also a Girl Scout.

“Some of the best years of my life,” Libby said of her time as camp counselor for the Girl Scouts.

By Sebastian Moraga Girl Scouts from the Valley hosted the 11th annual Girl Scout Tea with the members of the Mount Si Senior Center. Natalie Brookes and other older Girl Scouts began the tradition more than a decade ago and as they prepare to graduate high school, they passed on the teapot to younger Girl Scouts like Lindsey Flanagan.

Reminiscences aside, a mixture of joy and melancholy reigned during the tea. The first generation of girls to serve the tea 11 years ago is graduating high school this year. This was their last tea.

“They were in the second grade when they started,” said Jo Ann Brookes, troop leader for Girl Scout Troop 41784.

Taylor Wiles, one of the graduating seniors, has participated in the last five teas. She said she likes the camaraderie that builds between women and women-to-be, sometimes standing decades apart.

“They are hilarious ladies,” she said. “They are pretty fantastic. I really would not want to do this tea if it weren’t for them. I wouldn’t keep coming back every year if we didn’t have the same ladies coming back.”

Carmen Krochel highlighted the things she had learned from some of the senior citizens over the years, remembering a chat she had with one of them, a onetime resident of an Issaquah very different from today’s.

“She lived there before there were any stores,” Krochel said. “She had to go to Seattle if she wanted something.”

As the graduating Girl Scouts chatted at one table and the grownups talked at another, younger Girl Scouts looked on, some amused and some awed.

Wiles said younger Girl Scouts should continue with the tradition, even as their schedules get busier and they get older.

“It is a bit of work,” she said, later adding it gives girls a chance to leave their comfort zone.

“Little girls especially, and a lot of teenagers, don’t get the chance to talk to adults outside of their family. That kind of interaction is interesting. It’s rewarding,” Wiles said.

Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com.

Place ingredients for icing in a medium-large bowl and set aside while butter and cream cheese come to room temperature.

Syrup ingredients:

4 ounces cream cheese

4 tablespoons butter

Lemon coconut pancakes with cream cheese syrup

3 cups powdered sugar

Juice of half a lemon

Zest of lemon (optional)

Dash of salt

Few drops of water if needed to reach the consistency you would like

To make these fresh, sweet puffs of perfection, begin by measuring out the dry ingredients and set aside.

Dry ingredients:

1 cup flour

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Place wet ingredients into a medium-large bowl.

Wet ingredients:

1/2 cup milk

2 large eggs

Zest of 1 to 2 lemons

3/4 cup juice from 1 to 2 fresh lemons (Use water to fill 3/4 cup measure to make up for any shortage in the amount of lemon juice.)

Sift all dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir well. Stir in 1 cup of sweetened coconut.

Give your batter a sniff. There it is. That is spring in a bowl. You’re welcome.

Preheat a good quality nonstick pan on just below medium-low heat.  Allow batter to sit while pan preheats and then use a 1/4 cup measure to scoop batter into pan then smooth the pancake out just a bit.

Tips for how to cook a perfect pancake:

Never use a scratched nonstick pan. Keep your nonstick pans in a special location all their own to prevent scratching and only use plastic and wooden utensils when cooking with them.

Don’t use too much sugar. Too much sugar in the batter will make the pancakes burn.

Preheat your pan. If you’re not sure what temperature will work best on your stove, try low and slowly work your way up one smidge at a time until you find a heat that is perfect for pancakes and then remember it for the future. You can’t speed up the cooking time by using a higher heat or they will simply burn.

Low and slow. Cooking at a low heat does two things. It helps the bottom not to burn before the inside finishes cooking and it helps the pancake to rise a bit.

Wait for the bubbles. When the bubbles start to form in the middle of the pancake and start popping around the outer edges, it’s time to flip.

After pancakes are cooked, blend syrup ingredients with hand mixer. Heat the syrup on low heat while continuously whisking until creamy, melted and warmed. If needed, add a few drops of water at a time after it’s cooked to make it the consistency you’d like it to be. Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint or a fresh pansy for a beautiful touch.

This recipe makes four 8-inch pancakes or eight 4-inch pancakes. In my opinion, the eight 4-inch pancakes taste considerably better.

Deanna Morauski owns, operates and cooks at the Old Hen Bed and Breakfast near North Bend with her husband, John. She also blogs about food and cooking at www.thecleverculinarian.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/clvrculinarian.

“So far, I’ve only caught rocks and seaweed,” said the 7-year-old from Kirkland.

Two of the three ponds behind the Snoqualmie Police Department on Douglas Avenue were lined with young anglers trying their luck at the May 5 derby.

At stake were prizes, like poles and fishing gear — not to mention bragging rights.

By Michele Mihalovich Doug Turnure (left) watches his son D.J. Turnure, 6, practice casting at the 63rd annual Kid’s Trout Derby in Snoqualmie. The Mount Si Fish and Game Club put on the derby.

Ruby Richter, 9, of Issaquah, came with the goal of winning, like she’d done in years past. But it wasn’t to be.

Prizes were awarded for the four fish that weighed the most for each age category from 5- to 14-year-olds, and her fish got bumped off the board.

The competition began at daybreak, and organizers who showed up at about 5:30 a.m. to set things up found children already casting lines.

Ericka Scholz of Normandy Park, one of the early birds, brought her twin, 6-year-old daughters.

By 9:30 a.m., not one fish had hit the girls’ Barbie and princess fishing pole lines.

“But we remain optimistic,” Scholz said.

Byron Brown, 5, of Snoqualmie, had no trouble whatsoever landing a fish — and not just any fish.

The shy little fisherman hooked a 2-pound, 10-ounce trophy trout, not only winning first place in the 5-year-old category, but landing the biggest fish of the derby.

This is the third year Brown has competed in the derby.

His uncle Chad Charbonneah has been bringing the seasoned pro to the derby to “teach him how to fish and learn values and good sportsmanship.”

It seemed to be working, because Brown left with a bag of fishing gear.

Garry Trussell, president of the Mount Si Fish and Game Club, said the derby is a fun way to get children interested in the sport of fishing.

“These kids are the future of fishing,” said Milton Keizer, a club member. “And it’s a day they will remember the rest of their lives.”

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

He was born in Issaquah on Dec. 2, 1920, graduated from Issaquah High School in 1939 and then served in the United States Navy during World War II. Joe was a retired meat cutter and worked for years at Tony and Johnnies Supermarket on Front Street.

Throughout his life Joe enjoyed pheasant hunting with friends and family; he also loved the game of golf.

Joe is survived by his wife Eleanor, of North Bend; sons Steve (Nadine), of Reno, Nev., and Don (Linnea), of Sammamish; daughter Jan (Brian) Jeffers, of Issaquah; and two grandchildren.

Per Joe’s request, no service was held; he was interred at Tahoma National Cemetery.

Arrangements were made by Flintoft’s Funeral Home & Crematory. Friends are invited to share memories in the family’s online guest book at www.flintofts.com.

Photos by Sebastian Moraga Makena Lau, of Fall City Elementary School, stands next to her drawing of pink and yellow flowers.

Where we see art, Bryce Meserve sees freedom.

“It’s uninhibited,” said Meserve, an art teacher at Mount Si High School. “They just want to create.”

They, in this case, are the elementary school students from the Snoqualmie Valley School District who presented their art during the district’s art show at the high school May 4.

Meserve marveled at how little difference existed in some cases between the elementary school students’ art and the older students’ art. But above all, he praised the youngest children’s creative freedom.

“They don’t really care what it’s going to end up looking like, and it often ends up looking good because of that,” he said.

High school and middle school students also presented art during the show. The older students tend to be more self conscious about their work, Meserve said.

“They don’t want to screw it up,” he said. “So they either stop drawing or painting, or they are really nervous and they don’t want to try new things with their art.”

During the show, parents marveled at the array of talent, and were even surprised by what they saw.

“I have never seen him do a human,” said Paige Dolecki, staring at a self-portrait of middle-schooler Spencer Dolecki, her son.

The art show displayed the district’s range of visual arts talent from kindergarten to 12th grade, said Ruth Huschle, a Snoqualmie Middle School art teacher and the show’s coordinator.

“A lot of the kids we showcase in this event aren’t kids that necessarily that get a lot of recognition in a lot of other places,” she said.

Students had received a postcard at home telling them they would represent their school at the show.

“It feels good,” said third-grader Makena Lau, who drew with crayons a landscape of pink and yellow flowers. “It feels good that other people can see my art and I can see what they think of it.”

Some didn’t even know about a postcard and instead found out through Huschle.

“A student called her mom and said, ‘Mom, guess what? My portrait got chosen to be in the art show.’ She was just thrilled,” Huschle said. “For some kids this is the thing that is their standout thing. They may not be super-strong athletes, but this is their really strong thing, so it’s a really special event.”

Children did not compete for spots in the show. Instead, teachers chose from works the students had done throughout the year. Lau’s flowers were at least a month old, for example.

“A competition changes the dynamics and it’s not really what this is about,” Huschle said. “It’s really about showing what we do in the district as far as the visual arts go.”

Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com.

A senior in high school building a bright future with the sounds of his instrument, Bumgardner declares the trombone to be “lame” without sounding clichéd or like a too-cool-for-school teenager.

“You don’t have nearly as much freedom as you have with other instruments, just because of the nature of it,” he said. “Just because it’s really difficult.”

That’s what keeps it a challenge for Bumgardner and what keeps him enthralled with it.

Contributed Matt Bumgardner, a senior at Mount Si High School, will perform in Japan and in the Monterey Jazz Festival this summer.

“There’s a bunch of good pianists, there’s a bunch of good drummers, there’s always going to be way too many saxophonists,” he said. “But when you can find a trombonist who can really find their own unique voice in the instrument, that’s really cool.”

Mount Si High School music teacher Adam Rupert has called Bumgardner the best jazz trombone improviser in the nation.

This after his trombone-playing prowess took Bumgardner to places like the Grammy Awards in California and before it earned him tickets to Japan this July through the Monterey Jazz Festival.

“They have auditions from around the country,” Bumgardner said of Monterey, “and they pick out a big band and then every summer they have a tour. Last year, they did kind of a West Coast tour and this year they are doing Japan.”

Then in September, the band, including Bumgardner, will play at the actual Monterey Jazz Festival.

An incoming freshman at the New School of Music in New York, Bumgardner said the important thing is not where he goes or will go, but whether he learns once he is there.

“Anytime I get the chance to play with people who are better than me, whether it’s professionals or other students, that really helps a lot,” he said. “It keeps your ego from getting too big and it keeps you working hard.”

Bumgardner said all of these trips make for a busy and stressful schedule.

“But it’s a good busy and a good stressful,” he added. “I’d rather be busy doing all these things than not do any of it at all.”

Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com.

Loves every day she gets to spend with her 5-year-old grandson Landon. And struggles to keep his world normal.

Baker is Landon’s primary caregiver. Has been for a year and a half, while Baker’s daughter tends to serious health issues.

Watching Landon grow feels great. Watching him feel like Mom left him hurts.

Caregivers endure similar combinations of pain and joy when raising the child of a relative.

“They love the child, but there’s definitely a bit of grieving because things aren’t going according to how they had thought,” said Emili Fletcher, family support manager at Encompass, a nonprofit family services organization in North Bend that offers resources for kinship care.

Most kinship care involves grandparents, Fletcher said. Sometimes even great-grandparents participate.

“Relative caregiving can be generational,” she said, “where it can be the third time that it happens. It’s a really unique situation, but it can happen.”

People in caregiver roles require multiple help, from legal advice to diapers and wet wipes, Fletcher said. Baker said many grandparents don’t realize help exists.

“We are not therapists,” Fletcher said. “We offer support and validation and empathy, but we are not therapists.”

Sometimes, people just like to know they are not alone.

“The Encompass people are fabulous,” said Baker, who will contribute to an Encompass blog with stories about raising Landon, an Encompass student.

Kinship caregivers remain optimistic, sometimes only to protect children from worry.

“They are all for unification. They are all really good with the kids,” Fletcher said of kinship caregivers.

Until unification occurs, they have to deal with diapers and plans changing all the time.

Baker said this is not how she pictured her golden years.

“You were picturing cruises,” she said. “And now you’re at a T-ball practice again.”

Instead of cruising, Baker and her husband find themselves navigating a child’s foundational years, while their buddies enjoy wine tastings.

On the downside, they have to witness their adult child being unable to be a parent and their grandchild struggling to understand why Mommy is not around.

On the upside, they know that the time they are giving up allows their daughter to get healthier and their grandson a chance to develop.

“We are providing a safe, stable home for him,” she said. “And it’s crucial at this time in his life.”

Besides, she said, life is more than just entertaining yourself.

“Just seeing how hard that caregiver works to make that life for that child,” Fletcher said. “They are all very compassionate people, but they are sacrificing, definitely.”

Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com. 

By Calder Productions Mount Si High School’s Davis Karaica, right, battles for a ball against Juanita High School’s Jon Ellis on May 7. Karaica scored one of Mount Si’s two goals in a 3-2 loss to the visiting Rebels.

It’s over.

Ahead 2-0 in the first half, the Mount Si High School Wildcats’ boys soccer team surrendered momentum at the edge of halftime and never quite got it back.

The team who finished a point short from an outright berth to state gave up a goal with seconds left before the break and watched as Juanita mounted a second-half comeback to win, 3-2, in Snoqualmie.

“I don’t know what to say,” Wildcats head coach Darren Brown said. “This isn’t the way it was supposed to be.”

The loss ended the season for the Mount Si players including several seniors so talented, they had the Wildcats faithful and themselves thinking state from before the season’s first game against Issaquah.

“This was going to be the year,” assistant coach Ben Tomlisson said.

Instead, the season ended two weeks too early, with players collapsing in tears and Brown, 2012 KingCo Conference Coach of the Year, shaking his head at the idea of Sammamish and Juanita moving on. Mount Si was a combined 4-0 against Totems and Rebels during the season, though the Wildcats never won by more than one goal.

The game started with Mount Si setting the pace, with quick runs along the flanks. Juanita limited itself to counterattacks via Javier Macias and Genki Marshall. Still, nobody seemed too surprised when Mount Si’s Davis Karaica received a through-ball on the right wing from Dane Aldrich, and then nailed it low and past the keeper for the 1-0.

The game’s rhythm did not diminish and Wildcats keeper Hunter Malberg rose as one of the standouts of the first half, stopping a point-blank shot two minutes later.

Then, with a minute left in the half, Mount Si’s Chace Carlson housed an assist from Tyler Cruz, and channeled Brazilian star Roberto Carlos to fire a no-angle shot from 10 yards out on the right flank. The shot, intended as a cross, instead bounced off the right upright before going in — 2-0 Mount Si.

Fans had barely enough time to sit back down from celebrating Carlson’s jewel of a goal when Juanita’s Nick Horne left things 2-1, with a goal eerily similar to the second Mount Si score.

Although the second half started with Mount Si laying siege to Juanita’s goal, the Rebels successfully slowed the tempo down. Trusting more in their counterattacks and aided by a lenient referee, the scrappy Rebels tied the game with nine minutes left and then took the lead with four minutes left.

“It’s unfortunate how the game turned out,” senior midfielder Nate Popp said, later adding, “It’s unfortunate we couldn’t score another one, put them 3-1 down and then crush their spirits.”

Brown agreed.

“We had opportunity after opportunity after opportunity,” he said. “You leave any team, I don’t care who you are facing, with a 2-1 lead and they are in the ballgame.”

Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

“Nobody sits on the sidelines,” he said.  “Everybody races on race day.”

Therrein, the coach of an Eastside composite competitive high school mountain biking team since the Washington High School Cycling League’s inception two years ago, said he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The team took second place overall out of 19 teams at the Washougal MX Challenge on April 15 in Washougal.

Contributed Eastside Composite team member Silas Harrison navigates a curve in the trail during the Washougal MX Challenge on April 15 in Washougal, Wash.

Members of the team include four Mount Si High School students, as well as athletes from Issaquah, Skyline and Mercer Island high schools.

The Mount Si students are freshmen Nate Lewiston, Nick Larson, Joe Steenvroode and sophomore Boone Hapke.

Hapke finished the sophomore boys race in 58 minutes, 38 seconds, while Steenvroode, Lewiston and Larson finished the freshmen boys race in 47:48, 56:07 and 1:02:05, respectively.

The team competed for the third time this season at the Fort Steilacoom Invitational on April 29 in Lakewood before planning to attend the state championships May 20.

The team practices three times a week at various locations, including Duthie Hill Park, Grand Ridge Park and Soaring Eagle Park and includes riders from the freshman to varsity level for girls and boys.

Each race takes place on a cross-country course between four and five miles long, taking about an hour and 15 to an hour and 30 minutes to complete.

Therrein said the team focuses on strengthening skills in two areas: safe bike-handling skills and physical fitness.

“For us, it’s a no-cut sport,” he said. “We welcome anyone that wants to join the team. For our team, we have people that are brand new to competitive cycling. Some of them have never ridden a mountain bike or had never ridden a bike on a trail in their lives.

“We’re all out there together,” he said. “When the boys are out there racing, the girls are cheering them on. When the girls are out there racing, the guys are cheering them on. We encourage all of the families to come to events … it’s a very supportive environment.”

The team’s success wouldn’t be possible without Compass Outdoor Adventures, which provided bicycles to some of the team members who didn’t have them, and Gerks Ski and Cycle, which provides maintenance for the team at a discounted rate, Therrein said.

Christina Lords: 392-6434, ext. 239, or  newcastle@isspress.com.

If so, May 12 will remain a milestone for the Mount Si Lacrosse team regardless of how their game ends.

The three-year-old team will play its first playoff game that day against either Garfield or Three Rivers at home.

Game time will be posted at www.mountsilacrosse.org.

By Greg Farrar Beau Bachand, Mount Si High School midfielder, scores a goal against Roland Deex of Liberty High School during the third quarter for a 5-0 lead on the way to the Wildcats’ 11-3 lacrosse victory May 2.

The playoff berth crowns a terrific season for Mount Si. They won two combined games in their first two seasons. This year they have won 10 of 13.

“The season was a great success,” head coach Woodroe Kiser wrote in an email. “Our goal this season was to get to the playoffs so it was a success. We have a new goal now of winning this playoff game.”

Mount Si’s rise from winless in year one to playoff hosts in year three has caught the attention of other teams, Kiser wrote.

“Most of them want to know our secret for building the program,” he wrote, later adding. “Several of the coaches love how this program has grown. They love that we play fundamentally sound lacrosse.”

The keys, Kiser said, are having a clear goal, sticking with fundamentals of the game and making it fun.

“Realize that it isn’t easy,” he added. “It’s going to be really tough for a while.”

A solid youth program helps, too.

“You have got to have players in the pipeline,” he wrote.

A playoff year for the varsity will raise the expectations at the JV and C levels, he added.

The C team has struggled but the JV team had a 5-2-1 record entering their season finale against Gig Harbor.

The varsity team closed the season winning four of the last five matches, including road wins against Liberty and Gig Harbor.

Success like this does not happen in a vacuum, team captain Andrew Bottemiller said after the Liberty game. The team has worked for it.

“One thing that has helped us a lot is this is the first year where many of the players played in leagues other than spring league,” said Bottemiller, a senior. “We played during the summer and that helped us. Everybody got better individually.”

As a group, the team has improved, too.

“The difference is our chemistry,” freshman Tyler Smith said.

Kiser agreed.

“We have more game MVPs than season MVPs,” he said. “We are a team and from week to week different players have excellent games. If they key on one or two players, we have others that can pick up their games.”

The winner of the May 12 game will play the winner of a May 11 contest between Snohomish and Roosevelt, May 18, in the state quarterfinals.

Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com.

•  North Bend Public Health and Safety Committee, 4 p.m. May 8, City Hall, 211 Main Ave. N.
• North Bend Planning Commission, 7 p.m. May 10, City Hall
•  North Bend Community and Economic Development Committee, 1:30 p.m. May 15, Community and Economic Development Department, 126 E. Fourth St.
•  North Bend Finance and Administration Committee,    4 p.m. May 15, 4 p.m. City Hall
• North Bend City Council, 7 p.m. May 15, Mount Si. Senior Center, 411 Main Ave. S.
•  North Bend Transportation and Public Works Committee, 3:45 p.m. May 16, Public Works office, 1155 E.  North Bend Way
•  North Bend Economic Development Commission, 7:45 a.m. May 17, 126 E. Fourth St.
•  Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Board meeting, 6:30 p.m. May 10, Snoqualmie City Hall, 38624 S.E. River St.
• Snoqualmie City Council, 7 p.m. May 14, Snoqualmie City Hall
•  Snoqualmie Community and Economic Affairs Committee, 5 p.m. May 15, Snoqualmie City Hall
•  Snoqualmie Arts Commission, 6:30 p.m. May 15, Snoqualmie City Hall
• Snoqualmie Economic Development Commission,     8 a.m. May 16, Snoqualmie Valley Hospital District Office, 34929 S.E. Ridge St.

Music/entertainment

• Benefit for Bead for Life and the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank, 4 p.m. May 10, The Black Dog
•  Alexey Nikolaev and Chuck Kistler, 7 p.m. May 10, Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way
•  Dar Stellabotta will perform at the Black Dog Café in Snoqualmie at 7 p.m. May 10.
•  Forrest Roush, 8 p.m. May 11, The Black Dog
• Vintage Jazz Quartet,       7 p.m. May 11, Boxley’s
•  Poetry Alive, 6-9 p.m. May 11, The Black Dog
•  Leah Stillwell Quartet,     7 p.m. May 12, Boxley’s
•  Charlie Loesel, 8 p.m. May 12, The Black Dog
•  Left Coast Gypsies, 8 p.m. May 12, Snoqualmie Taproom and Brewery, 8032 Falls Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie
•  Jon Hamar Trio, 6 p.m. May 13, Boxley’s
•  Carolyn Graye’s Singer Soiree, 7 p.m. May 14, Boxley’s
•  Future Jazz Heads, 7 p.m. May 15, Boxley’s
•  Bob Hammer, 7 p.m. May 16, Boxley’s
• Chris Clark and Darin Clendenin, 7 p.m. May 17, Boxley’s

Events

•  Teen Late Night at the Y includes classic movies, trivia challenges, ping pong, Kinect tournaments and board games, 7-10 p.m. May 11, 35018 S.E. Ridge St. Free to all teens. Participants must register beforehand.
•  Adult hike, 9 a.m. May 12, 8-mile roundtrip around the Valley. Meet at the YMCA lobby, 35018 S.E. Ridge St., Snoqualmie. Free to the community.
• Community Barbecue, 11 a.m. May 12, Snoqualmie Community Park, 35016 S.E. Ridge St. Residents of Snoqualmie welcome Waste Management as their new service provider for recycling, garbage and composting.
• Walk to the Big Cedar, 10 a.m. May 12, Meadowbrook Farm, 1711 Boalch Ave. North Bend. Hike to see a 500-year-old 9.5-foot diameter tree.
•  Gravity Fest, featuring local teen bands, 7:30 p.m. May 12, Si View Community Center, $6 admission
•  Quiet Water: Exploring Wetland Ecology, 9 a.m. May 12, Cedar River Watershed Education Center, 19901 Cedar Falls Road S.E., North Bend. Fee: $15. Call 831-7390.
•  All Comers Fun Meets,     2 p.m. May 13 and 20, Mount Si High School. This is a chance for children ages 3-14 to participate in up to five events, including sprints, runs, long jump and javelin. Register online at        www.siviewpark.org. Call 831-1900. $5 drop-in fee
• Mother’s Day Tea and Talks, 10 a.m. May 13, Cedar River Watershed Education Center. Free to the public. Watch a slideshow about the watershed, stroll around and learn about Rattlesnake Lake, discover fun tidbits about moms (human and otherwise) in the watershed.
• Reptile Man at Si View, 7 p.m. May 18, arts and crafts show and dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. Scot Petersen helps children get up close and personal with 15 live reptiles from around the world. A donation of $10 per family is suggested.
•  Fundraising plant sale and raffle, 9 a.m. May 19, Mount Si Senior Center, 411 Main Ave. S., North Bend. Funds will help Mount Si High School students pursuing careers in botany.
•  Art opening for Jennifer Stewart, 7:30 p.m. May 19, The Black Dog
•  Print-making, 10 a.m. May 19, Cedar River Watershed Education Center. Fee of $15 for a parent with a child; $7 for each additional child. Participants will gather leaves and use nontoxic inks and a portable press to make prints for notecards or to take home.
•  SnoValley Indoor Playground, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays when school is in session, Si View Community Center, 400 S.E. Orchard Drive. A donation of $1 per child per visit is appreciated.
•  Sallal Grange Community Games Night, 7 p.m. last Wednesday of each month. Please consider bringing a small monetary donation to help the Grange keep organizing events like this, www.sallalgrange.org.
•  Carnation Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m., every Tuesday from May to November, fresh food from family farms and small producers, including vendors from the Upper Valley, downtown Carnation
•  Watercolor exhibit at Mount Si Senior Center through June 9, artists range from high-schoolers to senior citizens, 411 Main Ave. S., North Bend

North Bend Library

The following events take place at the North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St.

•  Mount Si Artists Guild exhibit, May 1 to June 15. Themes are “Summer is Coming,” and “Summer in the Valley.” All ages welcome during library hours.
•  Snoqualmie Valley Chess Club, 7 p.m. Thursdays. Learn to play chess or get a game going; all ages/skill levels welcome
•  One-on-one Computer Assistance, 1 p.m. May 16; for adults
• Study Zone, 4 p.m., May 10, 17; 3 p.m. May 15, 22;         7 p.m. May 16; free tutoring for grades K-12
•  Game On! 3 p.m. May 11, 18; play Xbox 306, PlayStation and Nintendo, “Guitar Hero” and “Dance Dance Revolution;” board games and snacks will be available
•  English as a second language classes, 6:30 p.m. May 14, 21
•  Merry Monday Story Time, 11 a.m. May 14, 21; newborns to age 3 with adult; siblings and other children are welcome
• EReader assistance, 6 p.m. May 14. Learn how to download library eBooks to your eReader or computer.
• Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m. May 15, 22; ages 3-6 with adult, siblings welcome
•  Toddler Story Time, 9:30 a.m. May 15, 22; ages 2-3 with adult
• Pajamarama Story Time, 6:30 p.m. May 16; all young children welcome with adult.
•  Special Needs Story Time, 10 a.m. May 12. Stories, songs and activities designed for children with special needs and their families. Program focuses on developmental ages 3-6, though all ages and abilities are welcome.
• In the Garden – Northwest Perennials, with Master Gardener Pat Roone,      3 p.m. May 12
•  SnoValley Writers Work Group, 3 p.m. May 13. Join local writers for writing exercises, critique and lessons on voice, plot and point of view. Adults only. Email snovalleywrites@gmail.com for assignment prior to coming to class.
•  Friends of the North Bend Library meet, 9:30 a.m. May 14

Snoqualmie Library

The following events take place at the Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E.

•  Pajama Story Times, 7 p.m. May 10, 17. All young children welcome with adult.
•  EReader Assistance, 11 a.m. May 10, 17. Learn how to download library eBooks to your eReader or computer.

Submit an item for the community calendar by emailing smoraga@snovalleystar.com or go to www.snovalleystar.com.

Contact the city’s Public Works Department at 888-0486.

By Michele Mihalovich A memorial of flowers and balloons (above) was placed in front of the Keller family’s rental home in rural North Bend on April 24.

Peter Alex Keller ended his 22-hour standoff with police April 28 when he put a pistol in his mouth and pulled the trigger. But with his death goes any possible explanation as to why he shot his wife, daughter and pets.

“I don’t think we’ll ever have a satisfying answer as to why Keller killed Lynnettee and Kaylene,” King County Sheriff Steve Strachan said. “You’d be trying to apply logic to a totally illogical set of actions.”

Strachan said investigators will continue to look at Keller’s possible intent and motivation for shooting his wife, Lynnettee, 41, and his 18-year-old daughter, Kaylene, but he admits they may never find an answer.

The saga that unfolded in front of the nation this week began as a house fire in rural North Bend on April 22.

Eastside Fire & Rescue soon discovered the women inside the rental house, at 47227 S.W. 159th St., not too far from Interstate 90’s Exit 34.

But it became clear that the women did not die in the fire, and that Keller, 41, who also lived at the home, was missing.

Court documents say that Lynnettee, who had been married to Peter for 21 years, was found in her bed with a gunshot wound to the back of the head.

Kaylene was discovered in the top bunk bed of her bedroom, also with a gunshot wound to the back of her head. Documents from the King County Prosecutor’s Office, charging Keller with the killings while he was still missing, said witnesses described Peter as a “doting father.”

Strachan said it’s a small consolation for such violent deaths, “But I’m not aware of any evidence that would suggest they were aware of what was coming.”

Also discovered in the home was the family cat, found shot under the kitchen table, and dog, found shot on the living room couch. Court documents said that Peter rarely went anywhere without his dog.

Police issued bulletins, asking the public for help in locating Keller, who had been described as a person of interest who frequently hiked trails near North Bend. But he was not named a suspect until April 25.

Keller was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and one count of arson for trying to cover up his crime by setting the house on fire, and bail was set at $10 million.

Charging documents said Keller had placed several plastic cans of gasoline around the home, including one directly set on a flaming burner in the kitchen. Those documents also illuminated Keller’s background, describing him as a gun enthusiast, computer repairman and survivalist preparing for the “end of the world” who had a problem with authority and spent eight years carving out a fortified bunker on Rattlesnake Ridge.

Finding that bunker became the main focus of King County law enforcement.

Sgt. Cindi West, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, said photos of the bunker were recovered from a computer hard drive inside the house. Hikers alerted law enforcement that Keller’s red pickup truck had been seen often at the Rattlesnake Ridge trailhead parking lot. Trackers posing as hikers April 26 found fresh boot tracks about 800 yards from a trail that indicated the person walking had been carrying a heavy load.

Strachan said SWAT teams started searching the steep terrain with lots of deadfall at about 5:30 a.m. April 27.

They located the heavily-camouflaged bunker that afternoon and were fairly certain Keller was inside because officers heard movement inside and smelled smoke from a wood-burning stove, he said.

Law enforcement officers used tear gas to try to flush Keller out, and spoke on a megaphone, hoping to get him to come out of the bunker.

Both attempts failed, and SWAT teams, who were surrounding the bunker, hunkered down for the night.

Strachan said officers reported occasionally seeing lights go on and off in the bunker throughout the night, and at one point, heard a popping noise, which they believe was Keller shooting himself.

Officers used explosives to loosen the ceiling of the bunker and were able to peer inside, where they saw Keller’s body, 30 feet below at the foot of the bunker, in a pool of blood with one hand clutching a radio and a pistol nearby, Strachan said.

Inside the bunker, officers found multiple guns, ammunition, bullet-proof vests, water, soda, beans, a generator, fuel and a little trailer.

Strachan said officers will continue to go through the items found in the multilevel bunker.

“We will be doing some follow up,” he said. “We just need to make sure the prosecutor is comfortable with the evidence we have indicating that Keller did commit these murders.”

Go to www.snovalleystar.com to see more photos of the bunker and its contents.

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

That’s why wildlife biologists are asking climbers to avoid the popular Deception Crag Wall just off Interstate 90’s Exit 38 until the end of June.

By Michael MacDonald This female peregrine falcon is not one of the nesting falcons biologists are asking climbers to avoid at Deception Crag Wall just off Interstate 90’s Exit 38. But her expression is a good example of a mother bird’s protective instincts.

Sonny Paz, with the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, said a climber with the Washington Climbers Coalition alerted him to a nesting pair on the steep rock face.

He said peregrine falcons will view climbers near the nest as predators and fly toward them or dive-bomb them, which keeps the birds away from the nest.

If they are away from eggs that need to be incubating, the eggs could fail, Paz said. Or if the adult has to leave hatchlings alone in the nest to fend off predators, then they aren’t getting the attention, food or protection they need.

That concern for the nesting pair is why Paz spent April 26 posting signs asking climbers to avoid the popular climbing spot until the end of June, which is when the young birds should be ready to leave the nest.

Paz said the last time he checked, the eggs hadn’t hatched yet, but that could change any day now.

He said state park officials have said that up to 200 people try to climb the wall each weekend, and he hopes that climbers will comply with the request in order to give the falcons a chance to nest successfully.

The peregrine is no longer considered endangered, but is designated a sensitive species, which requires the U.S. Forest Service to protect its breeding habitat.

Two King County Sheriff’s Office detectives gave an update of the case to the North Bend City Council at its April 24 workstudy session.

The detectives gave a breakdown of everything that happened the night that led to the death of 30-year-old Joshua Henderson. They also played three 911 tapes and shared details not previously released.

Detective Jim Belford said Henderson had been out drinking with friends and family in Kirkland and Issaquah, and had become so aggressive, the group had been asked to leave both establishments.

On the drive home back to North Bend, Henderson’s aggressive behavior escalated and the people in the vehicle feared for their safety and kicked him out of the car near Exit 31, Detective Jesse Anderson said.

A clerk from the Shell gas station on Bendigo Boulevard spoke on a 911 tape, describing a “dude” who was being rude and verbally abusive to customers.

But when deputies responded to the scene, Henderson, described as standing 6 feet tall and weighing 220 pounds, was gone.

A homeless man named Bradley, who had been sleeping in Si View Park, reported to police the next day that on that evening, he awoke to a man brutally beating him with his fists. He said the man, believed to be Henderson, eventually stopped and left.

Police also discovered a Subaru with a bashed-in front window parked in a residential neighborhood near where the shooting happened. Belford said they know it was Henderson’s handiwork because they found his shoes and wallet near the car.

At 11:30 p.m., King County dispatch received another 911 call, this time from a woman in the 300 block of Fifth Avenue.

Detectives played the 911 tape of the woman’s terrified voice as she described how a man she didn’t know was beating on her front door, trying to get in.

She told the dispatcher she was alone with a sick child, and, “Please, please get here quick. He’s trying to get inside.”

By the time deputies got to her house, Henderson was gone.

Belford said one deputy drove around trying to find the suspect, while the other gathered details from the woman. Moments later, both deputies heard a crash and shattering glass and started moving toward the sound.

That’s when dispatch received the third 911 call, from a woman who told the dispatcher in a hushed, yet calm, voice that an intruder was in her home.

The detectives said “Ken and Lisa” had been sleeping in the master bedroom of Ken’s rental house at the 400 block of Southeast Orchard Drive, when they heard crashing glass and a person in the home.

Henderson had apparently picked up a propane tank and tossed it twice at a sliding glass door of Ken’s living room, shattering it on the second throw.

Lisa, Ken’s girlfriend who was visiting from Oregon, ran through a walk-in closet that led to the master bathroom, where she called 911 on her cellphone.

Detectives say the house was dark, but Ken looked down his hallway from a bedroom and saw a “huge” silhouette of a man walk from the living room to the kitchen.

That’s when Ken screamed at the intruder, telling him he had a gun and for the man to get out of the house.

Detectives say Henderson started walking toward the hallway and Ken, 46, slammed shut his bedroom door, locked it and repeatedly told Henderson that he had a gun and would shoot.

Henderson went into a spare bedroom and started tossing things around, then he walked into another room used as an office and removed his pants. Detectives said Henderson kept yelling, “Where are you? I’m going to kill you.”

Henderson had been involved in a similar incident in 2003 in Prosser when he was 21.

In that incident, Henderson broke into a couple’s home through an unlocked window, stripped off his clothes and wiped excrement throughout the home. He walked out of the home without incident and was arrested later, pleaded guilty and served six months in jail.

The detectives told the City Council that Ken waited in his bedroom with the handgun pointed toward the door and continued to shout for the intruder to leave, warning him he had a gun.

Henderson kicked open the bedroom door and Ken fired four shots from his pistol, all hitting Henderson, who collapsed in the hallway.

Anderson said the prosecutor declined to press any charges because the gun was legal and Ken showed great restraint, and didn’t shoot Henderson until it was absolutely necessary.

He said Ken has never returned to the house, and that friends and family moved his furniture out of the home into a new place.

The investigation is still open, however. The detectives said they are still waiting on the toxicology report, which might take another month. But they do know that Henderson’s blood alcohol content was .240 percent that night.

They are also conducting a DNA test on blood found on Henderson’s pants, which he wasn’t wearing when he was shot. They believe the blood belongs to the homeless man that Henderson beat up earlier that evening.

Michele Mihalovich: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com. Information from The Seattle Times archive was used in this story. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

On March, 1,550 firefighters representing 291 departments from 24 U.S. states, Canada and Germany, competed in the timed race up 69 flights of stairs of Columbia Center in Seattle, each in full gear and self-contained breathing apparati. The event is the largest individual firefighter competition in the world, according to the Stairclimb website.

For three years in a row, Local 2878 firefighters raised more funds than any other team to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, this year raising $39,700.

This year, the event raised more than $1.2 million for the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

Go to www.llswa.org  and click on “Scott Firefighter Stairclimb” for more information and to see photographs of this year’s event.

Cash mobs are typically a covert operation, where attendees are notified by Facebook and Twitter campaigns to show up at a designated business with at least $20 in hand. But since so few people actually know what a cash mob is, SnoValley Star let the cat out of the bag in an April 19 article.

“It’s basically a grassroots movement designed to offer the small, independent business owner a ‘stimulus’ and bring awareness about that business to the community,” said North Bend resident Michelle Moshay, who organized the April 25 event.

The rules are simple, she said.

“Bring $20 to spend, meet three people you do not already know and have fun! That’s it,” she said.

But according to Woodward, some people couldn’t wait for the April 25 mobbing, and started showing up as early as last Friday — with cash in hand.

“A lot of people didn’t even know what a cash mob is. Everyone was just so excited to be a part of this and show support for a locally owned business,” she said.

By Michele Mihalovich Shelly Woodward (right), owner of Selah Gifts, rings up a cash purchase during North Bend’s first cash mob.

But the big cash mob day itself brought in at least a 70 percent increase in traffic from a normal day, Woodward said.

She said a lot of the 50-plus people, a huge number for the eclectic gift shop, were first-time visitors who had never come to her store before.

The traffic in her store also drew people in off the street who wanted to know what all the fuss was about, Woodward said.

According to www.cashmob.com, out of Cleveland, the first gathering called a “cash mob” appears to have been held in Buffalo, N.Y., on Aug. 5, 2011, and was organized by blogger Christopher Smith.

Moshay said her mother helped organize a recent cash mob in Bremerton, where 40 people “mobbed” a local restaurant/general store with about a $1,000 cash infusion.

Moshay said she selected Selah Gifts, pronounced Say-lah, as the first cash mob target simply because she loves the store.

“The first time I went in there, I was just amazed,” she said. “She has so many cool items and I thought, ‘Oh, man, everybody needs to know about this place.’”

The store’s shelves are stocked with jewelry, bath oils, aprons, purses, kid and adult toys, candles, hair bobbles, stickers and books, just to name a few. But let’s not forget one of the hottest selling items — strawberry flavored gummy bacon.

“I can barely keep it on the shelves,” Woodward said.

Helen Jensen, a regular shopper from Snoqualmie, knew she wanted to attend the cash mob.

“I read the article and I just loved the idea,” she said. “I’m a strong supporter of patronizing Snoqualmie Valley businesses. Plus, Shelly’s store has the best bubble bath and note cards.”

The cash mob event fell on the store’s ninth anniversary, which Woodward said was a fitting occasion.

“It was just so awesome to have been a part of this,” she said. “I’m so thankful to Michelle for organizing it, and I’m overwhelmed by how supportive the community was.”

Moshay said she plans to organize monthly cash mobs. And if you want to find out where the next one is, you’ll have to go www.facebook.com/CashMobSnoValley.

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