Break-in rumors are exaggerated
May 23, 2012
North Bend and Snoqualmie yahoo groups are abuzz with reports of a rash of residential break-ins and shady solicitors, and a possible connection between the two.
But local law enforcement wants residents to know that although there may have been a connection in one break-in, not all door-to-door solicitors are thieves. Read more
Cancelled events pile up on eve of snowstorm
January 17, 2012
Besides schools, which remained closed Jan. 17 and cancelled all activities, a handful of entities and community groups chose to either cancel meetings or wait and see if the snow would allow them.
The SnoValley Youth Council informed the community that if schools remained closed Jan. 18, it would postpone 6:30 p.m. meeting.
The council had scheduled to host the meeting at Mount Si High School. Read more
Snoqualmie and police guild enter mediation to settle economic differences in new contract
November 10, 2011
Snoqualmie and the Snoqualmie Police Guild have gone to mediation over wages and benefits in a new contract after several months of negotiations. The two sides have reached tentative agreements on non-economic issues.
A representative from the Public Employment Relations Commission is handling the mediation.
Snoqualmie Planning and Parks Committee adopts preliminary timeline for annexation process
August 17, 2011
Snoqualmie’s Planning and Parks Committee has approved a preliminary timeline for moving forward with the city’s proposed annexation of a former Weyerhaeuser mill site. The non-binding timeline will be presented to Snoqualmie City Council at its Aug. 22 meeting. The council can amend the schedule as necessary.
According to the preliminary timeline, the council would not take action on a Pre-annexation Agreement between the city, and the current owners and occupants of the mill site. If the City Council follows the proposed schedule, the annexation would be finished by November.
Snoqualmie says no environmental review required for proposed mill annexation
July 27, 2011
Snoqualmie has determined that no environmental review is needed for the proposed annexation of the former Weyerhaeuser mill site. Previously, city officials had said that they didn’t expect the proposed annexation would require a review based on state guidelines. Opponents to the annexation have called for a full environmental review at several public hearings.
The mill site currently sits in unincorporated King County. Snoqualmie and the county began negotiating transferring the site into the city through interlocal agreement in late March. The city signed a pre-annexation agreement with the site’s current owners — Weyerhaeuser and Snoqualmie Mill Ventures — in June.
City and school board at odds over mitigation fees in Snoqualmie
June 29, 2011
Snoqualmie Valley School Board member Scott Hodgins has said impact fees don’t solve anything.
“Impact fees don’t even come close to the cost of building a new school,” he said.
And yet, Hodgins and the rest of the board bristled, again, at the Snoqualmie City Council’s opposition to increasing impact fees.
Opposition grows to proposed former mill site annexation
May 25, 2011
Warren Rose listens to his children practice outside his family’s home on Indian Hill in unincorporated King County. Rose, some of his neighbors and some Snoqualmie residents say that noise from the nearby DirtFish Rally School is hurting their quality of life and property values. By Dan Catchpole
Walking around Warren Rose’s property on Indian Hill outside Snoqualmie, there is the steady hum of distant traffic from the Valley floor.
That is white noise, drowned out by birds chirping or trees rustling in the wind. What bothers Rose and his family is the roar of motors from their neighbor at the bottom of the hill, DirtFish Rally School.
Snoqualmie’s proposed annexation of former Weyerhaeuser mill site meets increasing opposition
May 18, 2011
A proposal for Snoqualmie to annex a former Weyerhaeuser mill site in unincorporated King County is meeting increasing opposition from nearby residents.
Opponents say the mill site’s current occupant, DirtFish Rally School, is hurting their quality of life and lowering property values, among other concerns. They want city or county officials to muffle noise and other impacts from DirtFish.
The school says that it is operating within county guidelines.
Paperwork dispute between state and Snoqualmie delays FEMA housing grants
May 12, 2011
On Jan. 7, 2009, Lois Nicholas came home from an event at Snoqualmie Methodist Church and found a note on her door: She had an hour to evacuate her home.
The Snoqualmie River was quickly rising and threatening to flood the area.
The 85-year-old woman moves deliberately with a cane. She and her live-in caregiver rounded up their cat and three lap dogs, and left for North Bend, where Nicholas’ son lives.
Lois Nicholas is waiting for the state and city of Snoqualmie to resolve a dispute over paperwork so her home can be elevated. In 2009, it was inundated with 18 inches of flood water. By Dan Catchpole
The river rose, inundating her home on Southeast Northern Street with 18 inches of flood water.
“The refrigerator in our garage almost floated out the door,” Nicholas said.
It was three months before she could move back into her home.
She still lives in the same house, about 100 yards from the river.
Local affects of federal government shutdown likely to be limited
April 7, 2011
UPDATED — 2:49 p.m. April 8, 2011
The local affects of a potential federal government shutdown are likely to be limited. Snoqualmie Valley residents could feel the affects of a shutdown mostly in delayed paperwork.
The shutdown could come on Saturday, if Democrats and Republicans are unable to reach a compromise on the 2011 budget. A stopgap spending bill expires Friday.
After that, all non-essential services will be suspended. Post Offices will remain open Medicare and Social Security benefits will also continue.
