Carport theft

A man who lives in the 700 block of Pickett Avenue Northeast reported that someone entered his carport and stole his motorcycle helmet and a generator.

He believes it happened between April 29 and May 6.

Need glasses

Someone used a vehicle to knock down nine North Bend signs — including stop signs, speed limit signs, parking restriction signs and directional warning signs — along Southeast 140th Street and Southeast Middle Fork Road.

Police believe the incidents happened between May 4 and 6. Police did find a tire tread mark and the incident is still under investigation.

A simple ‘I’m sorry’ would have sufficed

A 23-year-old pedestrian told police a vehicle struck him while it was backing up on Bendigo Boulevard on May 7.

He said the driver got out of the pickup and he thought the man was going to apologize to him for backing into him. Instead, the driver punched him in the face and then drove away. The accident is still under investigation.

DUI

At about midnight May 9, a police officer noticed a driver heading eastbound on East North Bend Way, revving his engine, speeding, swerving in his lane and then driving up on a sidewalk.

The officer stopped Justin R. Beck, 25, of Covington. Beck was arrested for drunk driving and was released to a friend.

Shoplifting

A Famous Footwear employee reported that at about 10:30 a.m. May 10, a white male, wearing a black hoodie, baggy blue jean shorts and old white tennis shoes, hid a pair of Nike Air Max Torch shoes under his hoodie and left the store. The clerk tried to stop the suspect, who ran from the store.

Trust no one

A 62-year-old woman reported to police May 15 that a man saying he was with the U.S. Treasury told her she won a grant.

He asked for her checking account routing number so he could deposit the money. She gave it to him, but then later regretted it and closed her account. The case is still under investigation.

Snoqualmie

Bear escapes

At 4:35 a.m. May 11, a person living in the 34000 block of Southeast McCullough Street reported that a bear was in a trap, but had managed to get out and then went through a garage.

Burning bushes

Officers responded at about 2:30 p.m. May 11 to the 8600 block of Railroad Avenue Southeast to a report of a landscaper burning bushes. Officers contacted the subject and advised him to put out the fire.

Rascally raccoons

A homeowner in the 7000 block of Huckleberry Way Southeast phoned police at 10:41 p.m. May 14. She said she heard noises and thought someone might be in her house. Police did not find anyone suspicious in the home, but did locate a group of raccoons.

Traffic control

Police helped with traffic control at 7:15 a.m. May 16 at Southeast Snoqualmie Parkway and Railroad Avenue Southeast. A school bus had broken down. The students were removed and moved to a new bus.

Fire calls from Eastside Fire & Rescue in North Bend

At 1:23 p.m. May 11, one engine responded to a mistaken report of smoke or gas in the 900 block of Quartz Drive Southwest.

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

So Art Bergschlawiner, sergeant of arms with the legion, figured Flag Day on June 14 would be a fitting time to educate folks about the process, and is telling people where they can bring retired flags.

The legion hall, at 38625 S.E. River St., set up a red mailbox labeled “flags,” where people can drop off any flags — now and long after Flag Day.

Bergschlawiner said few people know that unserviceable and worn out flags need to be disposed of in a reverent manner.

According to the U.S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, also known as the Flag Code, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

If you would like to dispose of a flag yourself, then the most fitting way is to hold your own, private ceremony, he said. After your flag has been burned, the ashes should be buried.

But new concerns about the toxic smoke emitted from burning nylon flags has many patriotic Americans wondering what to do.

That’s where the legion and local Boy Scouts come in.

Bergschlawiner the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have been collecting old, worn out, nylon flags and taking them to a funeral home so that they can be burned in a safe and controlled manner.

He said anyone can drop off any kind of flag at the legion. The Boy Scouts will take care of the nylon flags and the legion will take care of the others. And he said he anticipates Post 79 will hold a flag disposal ceremony in the future.

Rebecca Munson, spokeswoman for the Snoqualmie Police Department, said on April 3 that two 15-year-olds, two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old, could be charged later with malicious mischief in the second degree by the King County Juvenile Prosecutors Office.

She said that during the last year, Snoqualmie parks have been plagued by subjects painting graffiti in bathrooms, on bridges, on signs and in various other city-owned locations.

On March 20th, police were called to the latest graffiti event at Community Park, which resulted in $1,500 worth of damage to the men’s public bathroom, Munson said.

A report by a vigilant citizen and an extensive investigation by Snoqualmie Police officers led to several juveniles being identified as possible suspects, she said.

The investigation is continuing as more suspects are being brought in for questioning, Munson said, adding that officers are working with suspects and parents to determine restitution amounts.

She said, “Approximately 200 of our workers who are supporting a labor dispute in a different part of the country, did not report to work. This is not a local issue, and we are making efforts to quickly resolve the local work stoppage.”

Mulloy said, “There is no labor issue in Washington and our local team is proud to maintain a productive working relationship with our local unions.”

She did not mention North Bend or Snoqualmie as cities experiencing garbage pick up delays, but if your garbage, recycling and/or yard debris service was missed today, you may put up to double the amount next week on their next regularly scheduled collection day.

“A total of approximately 60,000 customers (residential, commercial and industrial) experienced service disruptions today,” she said. “We regret and apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate our customers’ patience as we work through this issue.”

She said, “We will not know until tomorrow morning if the union workers are going to return to work tomorrow. If they do, which is what we hope, the normal Friday routes will be covered.”

(From left) Hunter Malberg, Griffin McLain, Jimbo Davis, three juniors from Mount Si High School football team who will be attending Badger 7 on 7 tournament in Las Vegas.

Davis is a wide receiver and cornerback, Malberg is a wide receiver and safety and McLain is a tight end and defensive end.

Kinnune said the three are playing on two different teams at the Las Vegas event. Malberg is playing for a team that was put together by Scout.com, while McLain and Davis are on a team that was selected by Barton Academy.

Kinnune said almost every state will be represented at the event and some of the country’s top athletes will be in attendance, along with top college scouts in the stands taking it all in.

“These student athletes have made this opportunity for themselves,” said Kinnune. “The exposure this event offers should open avenues they didn’t have before. I am proud that they took it upon themselves to seek out opportunities to improve their chances at playing college football.”

Initially, the area was closed while federal and local teams conducted an investigation into the cause of the crash, according to a DNR press release. The area remained closed so that a helicopter salvage operation could remove the wreckage safely without risk to the public. Recovery efforts have been delayed due to winter weather conditions and poor visibility.

DNR anticipates the plane wreckage will be removed prior to Friday. However, if efforts to remove the wreckage are postponed again, DNR will still reopen the area. The agency may need to close Mount Si NRCA for one day in the future to enable the salvage operation to take place safely.

“Public safety was our main reason for keeping the area closed during the attempted salvage operation,” said Doug McClelland, assistant regional manager with DNR. “We know how much the public enjoys visiting the Mount Si area. We appreciate everyone’s patience.”

According to a chamber press release, the event is being held at the Black Dog Restaurant in Historic Downtown Snoqualmie, but is being expanded to include a “Bite of the Block,” with sample foods and products from neighboring businesses.

“We encourage the community to come down and sample what these family-owned businesses have to offer,” said SVCC CEO Kevin Dwyer. “There is a lot going on here.”

Participating businesses include the Snoqualmie Falls Candy Factory, La Fogata’s Mexican Restaurant, Gian Franco Ristorante, The Bindlestick, Down to Earth Flowers and Gifts, Snoqualmie Market and others.

The Chamber After Hours will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Feb. 29th. Cost is $10 and it’s open to the public. Call the chamber office at (425) 888-6362.

A rising Snoqualmie River forced road closures in the Valley Feb. 22.

According to the Regional Public Information Network, flooding had closed Meadowbrook Bridge between Park Avenue Southeast and Reinig Road Southeast, Mill Pond Road between Reinig and Southeast Mill Pond Road, Reinig  between 396th Drive Southeast and Southeast Mill Pond Road, and Northern Street at the 38300 block.

The City of Snoqualmie activated its Emergency Operations Center Feb. 22, to answer residents and business owners’ questions and concerns about flooding.The center’s phone number is 425-888-5911.

Meanwhile, the Washington State Department of Transportation stopped eastbound traffic on I-90 at milepost 47 near Denny Creek to clear out several spun out vehicles near the summit of Snoqualmie Pass. As of 12:47 p.m. Feb. 22, the pass had reopened.

An email from the city stated that residents and businesses in the 98065 zip code may gets bags of sand free at the Public Works building, 38194 S.E. Stearns Road, from 7 a.m.-4 p.m.

Heavy rains brought flood alert levels for the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers to Phase 3, according to the regional monitoring website.

The sum of the three forks of the Snoqualmie flowed at just below 21,000 cubic feet per second, as of 10 a.m. Feb. 22.

At 20,000 cfs, the flood threat is upgraded to Phase 3, where varied flooding may occur across the Valley.

As of 1:45 p.m. Feb. 22, the water had receded to about 15,780 cfs, but the Phase 3 status remained  unchanged.

The National Weather Service forecast for Snoqualmie and North Bend called for heavy rains through Wednesday night and rain mixed with snow until Friday, then more rain through the weekend.

In the lower Valley, as of 6:30 p.m., the Regional Public Information Network stated that the Tolt flowed at 5,350 cfs. As of 10:15 p.m. Feb. 21, that level had risen to 5,740 cfs. Phase 3 for the Tolt is at 5,000 cfs.

Water over the roadway had closed Walker Road between West Snoqualmie River Road Southeast and State Route 202.

King County Road Services Division advised motorists to expect weather-related road problems until conditions improve. Motorists should never drive around road closure signs or through deep, standing water.

Driving through flood water can stall your vehicle or cause you to lose control of it, which may be fatal

Water may take days to recede from roads, so motorists planning to travel in flood-prone areas should know alternate routes.

Stay tuned to www.snovalleystar.com for further updates.

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a flood watch for many Western Washington rivers, including the Tolt and Snoqualmie.

Heavy rain in the mountains late tonight through Wednesday morning is likely to cause flooding on some rivers, according to the alert.

The flood watch area, in effect from Tuesday afternoon until Thursday afternoon, includes Grays Harbor, Clallam, Jefferson, Skagit, Whatcom, King, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston Counties.

Flooding is possible on virtually all rivers flowing out of the Cascades and Olympics, and a flood watch is in effect for all main stem rivers, according to the alert.

The alert said the heaviest rainfall, between four and seven inches, is forecast in eastern King and Snohomish Counties.

According to the alert, the rivers at greatest risk of major flooding are the Stillaguamish, Skykomish, Tolt, Snohomish and Snoqualmie Rivers.

Larson (see letter to the editor Feb. 2)? Oh, that’s right, we relied on our stellar Snoqualmie Public Works staff to keep our roads and drains clear.

We relied on our Snoqualmie Emergency Communications Support Team to voluntarily staff the Emergency Operations Center and give the public a human voice to talk to when they called in with their questions and concerns.

We relied on neighbors checking up on neighbors for health and safety.

We relied on the city assisting us by giving us a method of disposing of the many branches that littered our yards.

Yes, the YMCA and Snoqualmie Community Center was a piece of the puzzle that is the bigger picture, and I thank them for doing what they were designed to do (community shelter was built into the building and, as this is a new building, should not have been a burden for those operating in it), but I also give a big shout out to another fine example of how this is a community that works together — not a building.

Karen Ann Wilder
Snoqualmie

You inspire us with your beautiful images of the people who live, work and play in the Valley. And it is obvious that you are lovers of wildlife and your pets.

But it is the Northwest nature photos that really take our breath away.

We didn’t realize the many ways to look at Mount Si — through the seasons, from the river’s edge, reflected in water and with stunning cloud formations.

And the sunrises and sunsets taken from the porches at Snoqualmie Ridge leave no doubt why homebuyers have flocked there. Another photo favorite is Rattlesnake Lake — for swimming, kayaking, hiking or just meditating. The January snowstorm added a fresh batch of winter scenes. Stunning photos all!

Mount Si High School photography students sent many wonderful photos. We hope they learned that a photo is so much more than a memory!

Just as enjoyable are the stories that came with entries.

“Being one of the oldest of 10 children, there is always someone willing to dress up and pose!” Phoebe Johanson wrote about her little sister’s charming photo.

“We had a slow time attracting hummingbirds in North Bend. So we kept the food flowing and our little friends kept coming,” Alan Hendrickson wrote.

Stephanie Koplin’s scenic sums it up well.

“When you want to get away you just load up the dog and drive as far as you can. Life is just a little slower when you take in your surroundings and have no cellphones ringing, no text messages and no TV noise,” she wrote. “Very simple, and that is why I love this picture and the Valley so much.”

Winners are in this week’s Star and on our homepage in a gallery. But with nearly 300 entries, we’ll try to find room for photos in the months ahead.

Congratulations to North Bend and Snoqualmie on doing a great job of building community pride. And congratulations, winners!

The Snoqualmie Valley YMCA and Community Center held its long-awaited dedication ceremony Feb. 11, weeks after a snowstorm postponed the ceremony and subjected the place to its first test.

Scores of people sought shelter at the YMCA in mid-January while downed trees kept most of the Valley in the dark.

“It got put to the test a little quicker than we would have liked,” said Dave Mayer, executive director of the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA, which opened for business  Jan. 1.

Kristy Johnson, Zumba instructor, helps her class get the blood pumping in the Family Gym during the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA and Community Center's open house activities Feb. 11. By Greg Farrar.

Mayer called the building a beautiful facility that will last a lifetime.

He received a symbolic key that went from dignitary to dignitary during the ceremony. Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson said it was a symbol of the city handing over control of the facility to the YMCA.

Bob Gilbertson, who received the key from the mayor and handed it to Mayer, predicted the building will waste no time becoming a community fixture.

“I would like to talk to people a year from now or two months from now,” said Gilbertson, chief executive officer of the YMCA of Greater Seattle, “and see if they even remember what it was like before the YMCA was here and the community center was here.”

Valley children took to the building immediately, coloring, shooting baskets and running around.

Some children even wondered when the grown-ups would get around to improving the brand-new building.

“It’s nice,” said 9-year-old Natalie Swanda, shooting hoops with her sister and dad. “I like the louder rooms better, but they should be placing a swimming pool.”

Larson said the community must grow used to having the YMCA around before talk of a swimming pool can begin.

“It would be best to let the community take a deep breath, have their fears about traffic and impact on the business community addressed before we can talk about a second phase,” he added.

Since it opened, the Valley branch of the YMCA has added about 2,500 members.

Even those for whom a Valley YMCA membership would be impractical praised the new addition to the area.

“It’s something that this community has been very enthusiastic about,” said former Valley resident Sharon Lee, who lives in Nova Scotia and whose daughter still lives on the Eastside. “We have had fundraisers for a Y for five to 10 years and we still don’t have one.”

The surprise honor came about at the Annual Awards Luncheon hosted by the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Snoqualmie Mayor Matthew Larson and North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing read a joint proclamation about Battey’s accomplishments throughout the years, which include:

•  serving on the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum Board for 20-plus years;

•   involvement with the acquisition of Meadowbrook Farm and serving as secretary for the Meadowbrook Farm Preservation Board since its inception, providing tours and history lessons to hundreds of citizens;

•   serving as co-chairman for the 1989 Centennial Celebration Committee for Snoqualmie and North Bend;

•   serving on the Snoqualmie Planning Commission for 10 years;

•   presenting the “History of Snoqualmie” at the Citizen’s Academy for the past five years;

•  being a member of the Snoqualmie Valley Veterans Memorial Committee;

•   serving as a Red Cross shelter manager from 1991-2001;

•   compiling a list of names reflecting important people in Snoqualmie’s history used to select names for the new streets in Snoqualmie Ridge;

•   willingly sharing his knowledge and expertise providing historic information and resources for the creation of countless local publications, including the 2007 book “Vanished: A Lifestyle in the Snoqualmie Valley,” by Ward Keller.

Hearing read the proclamation again at the Feb. 7 City Council meeting, declaring it a “lifetime achievement award.”

Battey, who lives in Snoqualmie, stood before a packed room at the meeting and said, “To be honored for what you really love doing is a blessing.”

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

Costume designer Barbar Blunt, right, works on clothes of Anna Boranian, cast member of "A Man for All Seasons." By Sebastian Moraga

Thomas More, the adviser to King Henry VIII who died for refusing to become a yes-man to the bearded British king, is the central character in “A Man for All Seasons,” playing in March with Eastside actors at Snoqualmie’s Black Dog Cafe.

“Even though they say he was a saint, he was very human. He was seeking truth and beauty,” said Issaquah’s Patti Penner, who plays Alice More, Thomas’ second wife. “I think this story says human beings are filled with conflict, life is a journey with lots of battles and many of those battles are within one’s soul.”

More got in trouble when he refused to sign a letter asking the Pope to annul Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon so the king could marry his mistress’ sister, Anne Boleyn.

He later skipped Boleyn’s coronation and declined to sign an act that would make Boleyn’s daughter next in line to the crown, instead of Catherine’s. He was jailed, tried for treason and beheaded.

“He remained true to himself,” said North Bend’s Rene Schuchter, who plays More.

More died in 1535 and was canonized as a Catholic saint 300 years later.

The lessons of his stand and demise remain timely, said Susan Bradford, the play’s director, also an Issaquah resident.

Actor Rich Wiltshire agreed.

“It can fit anytime,” said Wiltshire, who plays Thomas Cromwell, engineer of the king’s split with Catherine and subsequent marriage to Anne. “You’re always going to have people who stay true. You see it all the time.”

“A Man for All Seasons” first hit the airwaves as a radio play in the 1950s. In 1966, the movie version won six Academy Awards. Then, in 1988, Charlton Heston directed and starred in a made-for-TV remake.
“Heston said it was the best thing ever written since Shakespeare,” Penner said.

Actors in the play sound thrilled with the idea of telling the story of someone they see as a model for today.

“The Thomas Mores of the world haven’t gone,” said Cameron Wolf, who plays an assistant to Signor Chapuys, the French ambassador who took up the cause of poor, jilted Catherine of Aragon. “There’s plenty of people standing up for their beliefs. You can say the Occupy Wall Street people are all Thomas Mores.”

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

The Snoqualmie Arts Commission will dedicate a new piece of public artwork at 10 a.m. Feb. 11  on the front steps of the Snoqualmie Community Center,  35018 SE Ridge St.

The sculpture, titled “Tah Dah,” stands 18 feet high with the top section revolving in the wind.

New Snoqualmie artwork

The dedication will occur just prior to the grand opening of the Snoqualmie Community Center and Snoqualmie Valley YMCA open house.

According to a Feb. 7 press release from the city of Snoqualmie, “Tah Dah” is one of more than ten works of public art in Snoqualmie. The two most recent works are in Snoqualmie City Hall – a glass mobile by Eden Rivers and a vitreous enamel mural of Snoqualmie Falls by Kathleen Frugé-Brown. Also at City Hall is a panel of five murals by Snoqualmie artist Dick Burhans depicting the Snoqualmie Valley timber industry.

Learn more about the Snoqualmie Arts Commission and artwork in Snoqualmie by contacting Nicole Sanders at nsanders@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us or 888-5337.

Free drop-off of wood debris from the recent storm is available Feb. 4 – 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of Snoqualmie Parkway and State Route 202.

No leaves, sod, grass clippings, food waste or animal waste will be accepted, nor construction debris or any other type of solid waste.

This service is offered courtesy of the City of Snoqualmie and is open to Snoqualmie residents and businesses. King County is offering other free drop-off points for citizens of greater King County. Check locations and times at www.kingcounty.gov.

The Snoqualmie Parks & Recreation Department will host a free 45-minute workshop for homeowners on how to assess tree damage and take corrective steps that may salvage limbs that are not too badly damaged. The workshop will be on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1:00 p.m. at the Snoqualmie Community Center/ YMCA, 35018 SE Ridge Street on Snoqualmie Ridge.

Also, soft-surface and wood-chip trails damaged by the recent winter storm have been cleared and are open for use.
For more information, contact Joan Pliego with the city at 888-1555, ext. 1125 or go online at www.cityofsnoqualmie.org.

Free wood debris recycling will be available on Feb. 4-5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to all King County residents at four locations: Cedar Falls, Enumclaw, Kent and Shoreline.  See below for full details and contact information.

Locations:

·        Cedar Falls Drop Box, 16925 Cedar Falls Rd., North Bend

·        Enumclaw Recycling and Transfer Station, 1650 Battersby Ave. E, Enumclaw

·        Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station, 2300 N 165th St., Shoreline

·        Kent’s Russell Road Park, 24400 Russell Rd., Kent (external)

Details: These events are open to King County residents only. No contractor or commercial loads at the Kent location. The collection sites and events are exclusively for wood debris from the recent storms. Stumps, logs and limbs no longer than six feet in length are allowed. Please place material on a tarp or sheet of plywood for ease of removal.

Restrictions: No brush, leaves, grass clippings, sod, soil, construction or other debris. People bringing wood debris are reminded to secure their loads.

Contact information: King County Solid Waste Division – 206-296-4466
Website: http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/garbage-recycling/storm-debris.asp

“We have made it easy for residents to dispose of debris so they can quickly put the storms of last week behind them and move on with life,” he said.

Free wood debris recycling for King County residents will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 28-29, and again on Feb. 4-5 at four locations:

·         The Shoreline, Enumclaw and Cedar Falls solid waste facilities. For directions and hours, visit http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/index.asp.

·         At Kent’s Russell Road Park, 24400 Russell Rd., Kent. Clean wood debris will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

“People living in our unincorporated and rural communities are facing numerous challenges in the wake of the wild weather of the last two weeks,” said Metropolitan King County Council Chair Larry Gossett. “This is one way to ease the financial burden that will come with cleaning up the damage to their homes and property.”

“In the aftermath of a major storm, it is important that King County work with citizens who are doing their part to recover,” said Councilmember Reagan Dunn, who represents Southeast King County. “The people who are bringing in debris from the storm are often not just helping themselves; they are also pitching in and helping their neighbors as well. I applaud the decision to help citizens recycling this wood debris.”

“Some rural residents in areas with more trees suffered significant hardships in the aftermath of last week’s severe winter storms,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, who represents northeast King County. “Much of the damage was not covered by homeowners insurance, but they can take advantage of this opportunity for free disposal of waste wood. Those who incurred storm-related costs and damages also are reminded to report them at www.kingcounty.gov/damage.”

“The recent winter storms downed trees and branches, leaving significant debris in their wake,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, who represents North King County. “Waiving the fee for storm-related debris at the Shoreline Transfer Station will assist north end residents who are cleaning up after the storms.”

“There are neighborhoods in Kent littered with tree debris from not only the snow and ice storms of last week, but the high winds that have come through the region this week,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson who represents Kent on the County Council.  “Free recycling for area residents demonstrates a high level of responsiveness from County government following these major storms.”

The collection sites and events are exclusively for wood debris from the recent storms. Stumps, logs and limbs no longer than six feet in length are allowed – no brush, leaves, grass clippings, sod or soil can be accepted. These events are open to all King County residents. People bringing wood debris are reminded to secure their loads.

King County Solid Waste Division Director Kevin Kiernan says residents have several additional storm debris disposal options available, including curbside recycling (yard waste cart) and commercial recycling companies that charge a fee for their service, but may prove to be more convenient for some residents.

Storm debris disposal information is available online at http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/index.asp, or by calling the recycling hotline at 206-296-4466 or 1-800-325-6165 ext. 64466.

There are a few options, starting with a special storm debris collection from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday at the North Bend Public Works Yard at 1155 E. North Bend Way.

Cheryl Proffitt-Schmidt, administrative services director for the city of North Bend, said this event is only for North Bend utility customers and citizens must bring a copy of their North Bend utility bill to the collection site.

Allied Waste, now called Republic Services, is helping with the special collection. Proffitt-Schmidt said the collection is only for wood debris from the recent storm, and that all limbs and branches need to be cut into four-foot lengths.  No other form of garbage or recyclables may be dropped off.

“We just knew there was going to be a big need for this,” she said, “It’s only for these two days, but if the floodgates open and two days aren’t enough, then maybe we’ll schedule more days.”

Joan Pliego, Snoqualmie’s communications coordinator, said the city will hold a free collection point for woody debris at the former holiday tree lot, on the corner of Snoqualmie Parkway and State Route 202, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Feb. 28 and Feb. 29, and again on Feb. 4 and 5.

She pointed out that the collection is only for Snoqualmie residents and that no leaves, sod, grass clippings, food or animal waste will be accepted

Sammamish is also holding a special storm debris collection this weekend. Mike Keller, the parks resource supervisor, said he’s expecting a pretty big turnout.

“We’ve held these after storms in the past and easily collect hundreds of yards,” he said.

Again, this is only for Sammamish residents and only tree branches and yard debris will be taken. Collections will be held at Beaver Lake Park ball fields, 2526 244th Ave. S.E., and East Sammamish Park, 21300 N.E. 16th St.

Collections will be held on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

If you’re not a local resident, Doug Williams, spokesman for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, said garbage haulers have told him that customers may set out twice the normal amount of trash at no extra charge on the next regular collection day.

He said the county is not offering any special collections for storm debris.

“We want everyone to be able to clean up the mess this storm left us, but try and get another use out of it such as firewood,” Williams said.

He also said the county’s website offers a list of companies that remove downed trees and fallen tree limbs, and then recycles the waste, usually for landscaping uses.

That website is: http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/wdidw/material.asp

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

Thousands of people across the Valley had power restored Jan. 22, according to the website for Puget Sound Energy.

Snoqualmie Valley schools will reopen on normal hours Jan. 23. Heat and power have returned to all Valley schools, a press release stated. If anything should change overnight, the Valley school district advised checking online at www.svsd410.org. Unless posted otherwise, classes will go on as scheduled.

The district will make up for the four lost days at the end of the school year. The last day of school is now June 15.

The recovery from the long week of icy roads, blackouts and collapsed tree limbs began around Jan. 20, with Snoqualmie Parkway reopening after a two day closure.

As of Jan. 22, both State Routes 202 and 18 have reopened. In Snoqualmie, Tokul Road and Lake Alice Road have also reopened. In North Bend, Southeast Edgewick has reopened, as well.

Snoqualmie’s North Fork Road Southeast remains closed at the 7200 block as of Jan. 20.

Fall City’s Neal Road Southeast remains closed 200 feet from the intersection of State Route 203. That closure predates the storm.

The city of Snoqualmie issued an e-mail asking residents to clear ice and debris from storm drains, as Snoqualmie Public Works crews work on this issue but needed the residents’ and business owners’ help to reach all affected drains.

At Snoqualmie Pass, as of 8:31 p.m. Jan. 22, eastbound traffic on Interstate 90 is stopped at milepost 56 and westbound traffic is stopped at milepost 61, due to avalanche control. It’s snowing with gusty winds west of the summit.

Prior to the stoppage, traction tires were required and chains were required for vehicles over 10,000 pounds in gross weight. Oversized vehicles were prohibited.

Still, thousands of people remain in the dark across the Valley, according to the website for Puget Sound Energy.

Even as the snowfall stopped, calendars, plans and schedules kept collapsing. The latest victim was the Jan. 21 grand opening of the Snoqualmie Community Center and the YMCA. The city has yet to reschedule, according to a press release from Joan Pliego, public information officer for the city of Snoqualmie.

On a bit of good news, Pliego added that after a two-day closure Snoqualmie Parkway reopened Jan. 20.

The city called on its residents to clear ice and debris from storm drains, as Snoqualmie Public Works crews work on this issue but needed the residents’ and business owners’ help to reach all affected drains.

According to the King County Road Alert email, several roads elsewhere in the Valley remain unusable as of Jan.20.

State Route 202 remained closed from Snoqualmie’s Salish Lodge and Spa to Fall City. State Route 18 is closed both ways from Snoqualmie to Southeast 231^st Street, milepost 16 in Maple Valley.

Lake Alice Road and North Fork Road Southeast in Snoqualmie remain closed due to downed trees.

Tokul Road Southeast between Southeast 53^rd Way and Southeast 60^th Street is also closed.

In North Bend, Southeast Edgewick Road from 464^th Way to the end area remains closed.

In Fall City, Neal Road Southeast remains closed 200 feet from the intersection with State Route 203.

At Snoqualmie Pass, a power outage west of the summit has made chaining up a more dangerous job than usual.

At 11:45 p.m. Jan. 20, the Washington State Department of Transportation stopped traffic at milepost 56 and westbound at milepost 61, for avalanche control.

Lastly, Eastside Fire & Rescue reported a minor fire in North Bend left no injuries. At 2:53 a.m. Jan. 20, firefighters arrived at the 45100 block of Southeast 130^th Place. Occupants of the house told authorities they had placed candles on a cardboard box when the fire began. According to an EFR press release , nobody was injured and the building suffered minimal damages.

According to Puget Sound Energy, 603 customers in Fall City, 4,953 customers in North Bend and 5,148 in Snoqualmie have suffered power outages in the last 24 hours.

The city of Snoqualmie has closed Snoqualmie Parkway in both directions at Fisher Avenue due to downed power lines across the roadway, a city email stated.

The email added that police and fire units have arrived on scene and it’s unknown how long the street will be closed.

State Route 202 in both directions from Fall City to Snoqualmie has been closed due to a landslide.

In North Bend, fallen trees closed Southeast Edgewick Road from 464^th Way Southeast to the end area.

In Fall City, Neal Road Southeast is closed 200 feet from the intersection of State Route 203.

State Route 18 is also closed from Auburn to Issaquah-Hobart Road in both directions

Lastly, westbound Interstate 90 is closed at Snoqualmie Pass for avalanche control and between Cle Elum and Ellensburg due to multiple collisions. Eastbound, the pass and the highway remain open, though traction tires are required.

The Snoqualmie Valley School District cancelled classes for the third consecutive day. Mount Si High School will extend the semester and Finals Week to accommodate any lost days.

The Finals Week schedule will go as follows

On the first full day back: Language Arts, World Languages and CTE

On the second full day back: Social Studies and Science

On the third full day back: Math, Physical Education, Arts and TSE

No finals on Friday.

They will all get to stay home instead of having to brave the snow-slick streets on their way to and from school.

The National Weather Service forecast for the night of Jan. 15 calls for snow showers in Snoqualmie, with up to half an inch of snow accumulating.

On Martin Luther King day, chance of precipitation will reach 80 percent, with up to an inch of snow accumulation possible. That night, up to three inches of snow may fall.

In North Bend, expect a little more snow early on, with up to four inches falling by Monday night.

The Valley will see snow all the way until Wednesday night in North Bend, with possible accumulation of five to seven inches in Snoqualmie and nine in North Bend.

According to the Seattle Times, state’s department of transportation anticipates no avalanche-control measures on Interstate 90, given the thinness of the mountain snowpack

As of early evening Jan. 15, Snoqualmie Pass had no chain requirement in place. Oversized vehicles were prohibited.

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

As of 11:01 a.m. Nov. 23, most Western Washington rivers are cresting, and the Snoqualmie is expected to crest just below flood stage.

As of 6 p.m. Nov. 23, King County has issued a  provisional Phase 1 alert, with the caveat that no flooding typically occurs on Phase 1.

The National Weather Service flood watch stated a possibility of minor flooding exists Nov. 23 at night or Nov. 24 in the morning on the Snoqualmie River, as the crest moves downstream through the lower reaches.

The flood watch will remain in effect until early Nov. 24, and it will affect King, Lewis, Snohomish and Thurston counties. Clallam, Jefferson, Mason and Grays Harbor counties are no longer under flood watch.

A flood watch means a flood may happen but it’s not certain of occurring.

According to the King County website, at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 23 the sum of the flows on the Snoqualmie River’s three forks was 8,640 cubic feet per second.

At 6,000 cubic feet per second or Phase 1, the county issues an internal alert.

At 12,000 cubic feet or Phase 2, flooding may occur in the Valley’s lowlands.

At 20,000 cubic feet or Phase 3, flooding of varied depths occurs across the entire Valley.

At 38,000 cubic feet, some residential areas may experience dangerous high velocities and flooding of homes.

Check back often at www.snovalleystar.com. for further updates.

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

The Snoqualmie Valley Veterans' Memorial Park central monument is unveiled Nov. 11 during the Veterans Day dedication ceremony. Four local World War II veterans, Bob Hamerly, Wally Koering, Dave Lake and Jim Posey, uncovered the granite monument with the names of Valley residents who died during wartime. (By Greg Farrar)

Several hundred people gathered in downtown Snoqualmie for the dedication of the Snoqualmie Valley Veterans Monument under gray skies that turned to rain during the ceremony.

The dedication began with the tolling of the bell that rang in the town 93 years earlier to signal the end of World War I.

Snoqualmie Valley lost 12 men in that war. They are among the 77 men and one woman on the monument’s memorial to those who have died while in the U.S. Armed Forces. A temporary stone was in place for the ceremony. The finished memorial will be installed later this winter, said Cristy Lake, a member of the monument committee.

Four local World War II veterans walked slowly to the temporary memorial stone, which was covered by a dark red cloth. The old men pulled the covering off, revealing the names of Valley residents cut down in their youth.

The crowd collectively leaned forward. People whispered the names. Camera shutters whirred. Flashes fired. And a light rain fell.

Two of the Valley’s elected officials – state Rep. Jay Rodne and U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert – read each name aloud. A bell tolled once for each name. At the end of the list, the honor guard of local veterans fired three volleys.

The monument has been years in the making. The effort was driven by a dedicated group of volunteers, including Lake.

It was paid for by money collected from fundraisers, donations and the sales of commemorative bricks. Mr. K’s Construction, a North Bend company, donated labor and materials.

Workers finished at 10 a.m., said Marty Kester, the company’s owner.

Some landscaping still remains to be finished. Given how late it is the fall, the monument’s flowers won’t be planted until the spring, he said.

His crew did plant a blood sycamore in the monument. The sycamore calls back to the now-gone company town of Snoqualmie Falls. In one of the town’s neighborhoods, sycamore trees lined the streets.

Seven men from Snoqualmie Falls died in World War II.

After the ceremony, some people lingered over the memorial stone.

Josh Kepfer stood in the rain, which was coming down heavier, reading over the names. He held his son David in his car seat.

The North Bend man and U.S. Army veteran was thinking of friends he’d lost in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“It’s a lot emotion, a lot of emotion,” Kepfer said.

Dan Catchpole: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com.

A representative from the Public Employment Relations Commission is handling the mediation.

During the talks, the city and the union have signed off on tentative agreements on non-economic issues that will be incorporated into the final collective bargaining agreement. The two sides reached consensus on language regarding the agreement’s duration, vacations, court appearances and disciplinary letters. Under the tentative agreements, the new contract would be in force through 2013.

The city and the union are still at odds over language in a bill of rights for the city’s police officers and a different management rights clause proposed by the city, according to City Attorney Pat Anderson.

Both sides agreed to table their differences until the next contract is negotiated in 2014.

King County Meadowbrook Bridge rises above the Snoqualmie River during the January 2009 flood. Snoqualmie would assume the cost of maintaining the bridge if it annexes the Weyerhaeuser mill site.

Snoqualmie City Council has approved an agreement between the city and property owners of a former Weyerhaeuser mill that paves the way for a vote on annexing the property.

The vote on annexation could come as soon as Nov. 14.

While the pre-annexation agreement passed with unanimous support at the Council’s Oct. 24 meeting, several council members expressed reservations about added infrastructure maintenance costs the city would take on by annexing the property.

After annexation, the city would assume responsibility for maintaining the Meadowbrook Way Bridge, Mill Pond Road and a stretch of Reinig Road.

Maintaining the two roads and bridge could cost Snoqualmie more than $25,000 a year, according to a fiscal impact study by the city. The costs are currently covered by King County.

These added costs come at a time when the city is already struggling to find a way to pay for the upkeep of its existing infrastructure.

“I’m trying to keep an open mind, but I have strong reservations as to this annexation,” Councilman Charlie Peterson said.

“I think you speak for more than one of us there,” said Councilwoman Maria Henriksen.

The city’s administration is firmly in favor of the annexation, arguing that Snoqualmie can absorb the added costs, and the long-term benefits far outweigh the costs.

The fiscal impact study projected that taxes collected by the city from the annexed area would cover the added annual costs.

But some council members don’t want Snoqualmie to assume the multimillion-dollar price tag of rebuilding the Meadowbrook Way Bridge in 15 to 25 years.

Mayor Matt Larson supports the annexation, saying that it will benefit Snoqualmie. The greatest benefit to the city will be having control over what happens on the large industrially-zoned site that sits across the Snoqualmie River from the city’s historic downtown.

The council also approved zoning for the site if it is annexed into the city at its meeting. It would be similar to the existing zoning but slightly more restrictive.

Until 2003, Weyerhaeuser operated a lumber mill on the land.

For decades before, the mill was an economic engine for the Snoqualmie Valley.

City officials hope that it can be again.

In 2010, DirtFish Rally School opened on the site. The business teaches rally car driving.

Questions about whether the business constituted redevelopment of the site prompted King County and Snoqualmie to begin discussing transferring the land to the city.

At the same time, a grassroots group, Your Snoqualmie Valley, formed to oppose the annexation.

At the Oct. 24 council meeting, Your Snoqualmie Valley member Warren Rose said if Snoqualmie votes to annex the property, the group will fight the decision in court.

Many of the group’s members want DirtFish shut down. They say the school is ruining their quality of life and will lower property values.

Other members are concerned that the city is sidestepping its own flood-mitigation policies in the annexation process.

Officials from DirtFish say that they are good neighbors.

A sound study of DirtFish that was commissioned by Snoqualmie in August found that the school is operating within legal noise limits.

Dan Catchpole: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com.

While the pre-annexation agreement passed with unanimous support at the Council’s Oct. 24 meeting, several council members expressed reservations about added infrastructure maintenance costs the city would take on by annexing the property. After annexation, the city would assume responsibility for maintaining the Meadowbrook Way Bridge, Mill Pond Road and a stretch of Reinig Road.

Maintaining the two roads and bridge could cost Snoqualmie more than $25,000 a year according to a fiscal impact study by the city. The costs are currently covered by King County.

These added costs come at a time when the city is already struggling to find a way to pay for the upkeep of its existing infrastructure.

“I’m trying to keep an open mind, but I have strong reservations as to this annexation,” Councilman Charlie Peterson said.

“I think you speak for more than one of us there, Charlie,” Councilwoman Maria Henriksen said.

The city’s administration is firmly in favor of the annexation, arguing that Snoqualmie can absorb the added costs, and the long-term benefits far outweigh the costs.

The fiscal impact study projected that taxes collected by the city from the annexed area would cover the added annual costs.

But some council members don’t want Snoqualmie to assume the multi-million dollar price tag of rebuilding the Meadowbrook Way Bridge in 15 to 25 years.

Mayor Matt Larson supports the annexation, saying that it will benefit Snoqualmie. The greatest benefit to the city will be having control over what happens on the large industrially-zoned site that sits across the Snoqualmie River from the city’s historic downtown.

The Council also approved zoning for the site if it is annexed into the city at its meeting. It would be similar to the existing zoning but slightly more restrictive.

Until 2003, Weyerhaeuser operated a lumber mill on the land. For decades before, the mill had been an economic engine for Snoqualmie Valley.

City officials hope that it can be again.

In 2010, DirtFish Rally School opened on the site. The business teaches rally car driving.

Questions about if the business constituted redevelopment of the site prompted King County and Snoqualmie to begin discussing transferring the land to the city.

At the same time, a grassroots group, Your Snoqualmie Valley, formed to oppose the annexation. At Monday’s council meeting, Your Snoqualmie Valley member Warren Rose said if Snoqualmie votes to annex the property, the group will fight the decision in court.

Many of the group’s members want DirtFish shut down. They say it is ruining their quality of life and will lower property values. Other members are concerned that the city is sidestepping its own flood-mitigation policies in the annexation process.

Officials from DirtFish say that they continue to be good neighbors.

A sound study of DirtFish that was commissioned by Snoqualmie in August found that the school is operating within legal noise limits.

Dan Catchpole: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com.

The city will put reflective “No Parking” stickers on the side of mailboxes affected by the ordinance, which the City Council passed at its Sept. 26 meeting.

The prohibition was fueled by complaints from the United States Postal Service that mail trucks have had difficulty parking near grouped mailboxes on the Ridge.

“Sadly, this is a matter of legislating good manners,” Councilman Bryan Halloway said at the council’s Sept. 12 meeting, when the ordinance was introduced.

Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson said that enforcing the prohibition will be complaint driven.

“We won’t be out to browbeat people,” he said.

The ordinance gives police a mechanism to force people to move if they are parked in front of mailboxes.

The proposed map keeps the upper Snoqualmie Valley together in District 3 while rebalancing the county’s population between its nine districts.

Click to enlarge

Public hearing King County Courthouse 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 1 Council Chambers, 10th Floor 516 Third Ave., Seattle

District 3 is currently the most populous of the districts. Several earlier proposals had shifted some neighborhoods near North Bend into District 9 to the south.

That would have been a mistake, North Bend city officials said at the time.

“They identify with us,” Mayor Ken Hearing said.

North Bend officials feared that if the areas were moved to District 9, their residents would become an afterthought for its representative, Reagan Dunn, because the vast majority of his constituents live to the southeast.

King County Districting Committee members unanimously agreed Sept. 19 to release a final proposal for public comment and review. A plan must be adopted by Jan. 15 for the 2012 election.

The King County Charter says districts should be “with compact and contiguous territory, composed of economic and geographic units, and approximately equal in population.” Population data cannot be used to favor or disadvantage any racial group or political party.

The result is fair and balanced across the county, said Council-woman Kathy Lambert, who represents District 3.

The final proposal does change District 3. If the plan is approved, Lambert will no longer represent any part of Kirkland, Woodinville or Bellevue. At least some portion of each city is currently in her district.

“I knew it had to happen. I’m sorry to see those cities go,” Lambert said. “It’s like losing a child to college: You know it’s coming, but you’re sorry when it does.”

Under the final plan, she will continue to represent Snoqualmie, North Bend, Carnation, Duvall, part of Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah and Skykomish.

When drawing district borders, committee members don’t want to create any orphan areas, said Simon Farretta, the committee’s lead staff member.

Residents can share their thoughts on the proposal at a Nov. 1 public hearing in Seattle.

The five-person redistricting committee gathered input at a series of public meetings before releasing its latest proposal. The next hearing is the last step before the committee acts on the proposed map.

“Public testimony raised new ideas and helped us better understand communities of interest,” committee Chairman Terrence Carroll, a retired King County Superior Court judge, said in a statement. “Public input helped members come together around common principles and reach unanimous agreement on a proposed plan three months ahead of schedule.”

The County Council appointed the committee in January.

On the Web
See a map of the King County Districting Committee redistricting proposal at www.snovalleystar.com/tag/redistricting.