STREAKIN’ THRU STATE
TRAIL BLAZERS
Skyline dispatches another unbeaten foe — Page 9
Octogenarians remain active through hiking — Page 6
The IssaquahPress
Issaquah’s only locally owned newspaper
www.issaquahpress.com
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Talus landslide declared no immediate threat By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com City staffers and paid consultants spent about two hours the evening of Nov. 24 trying to convince the 70 or so residents packed into City Council chambers that the landslide in the Talus area posed no immediate threat. Some in the audience remained doubtful. “I’m still very concerned,” said Talus resident Tina Vieceli following the special meeting. She wondered if the city had an evacuation plan in place. Vieceli said there is basically only one street in and out of Talus. “These are the same people who said Newport Way was safe and did nothing until a child got killed,” said Lester Rodney, referring to the traffic fatality that happened on Newport Way over the summer. The city has taken several steps to address traffic safety on Newport and around Issaquah since that incident. Rodney said he doesn’t live in Talus, but didn’t want the coming holidays marred by a disaster in his hometown. “Nobody needs that,” he said, “especially the people in Talus.”
ON THE WEB The city has dedicated a page on their website entirely to the landslide in the Talus community. Officials say the page will be updated daily, even if there is no new information. Access the page from the city of Issaquah’s home page at www.issaquahwa. gov. On the page, residents are encouraged to sign up for emails on the situation from the city, including any emergency information. Residents with questions can send an email to talus@ issaquahwa.gov.
Councilman Tola Marts asked city consultants the question that probably was on the mind of most people at the packed meeting: Could the landslide become a major disaster as happened in the Oso area in March 2014? City consultants seemed reluctant to totally rule out the possibility, but said the probability was extremely low.
By Greg Farrar
Santa Claus greets children individually as he wades through the crowd at Grand Ridge Plaza after arriving on Eastside Fire & Rescue’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer fire engine Nov. 27 as the Christmas season gets underway in the Issaquah Highlands.
ALL SMILES FOR SANTA
See LANDSLIDE, Page 10
Cannabis Company busted for sale to minor By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com The city’s only recreational marijuana store, the Issaquah Cannabis Company at 230 N.E. Juniper St., was caught by state inspectors selling product to a minor on Oct. 18, according to information obtained via a public records request made of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. The information provided states the store was hit with two violations: one for allowing a minor into a restricted area and for then selling to that minor. According to information released by the state, stores cited for sales to a minor can face a 10-day license suspension or up to a $2,500 fine. The Issaquah Cannabis Company fine was given as $1,000. In an emailed response to Press questions, Issaquah Cannabis general manager Cliff Gehrett did not deny the incident had taken place but asked that his store not be “demonized” because of the problem. “Last month, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board conducted a sting operation whereby the WSLCB sends Investigative Aides (who are 18-20 years of age and who are on WSLCB payroll) to stores and those Investigative Aides attempt to enter and purchase product,” Gehrett wrote. State law restricts persons less than 21 years of age from entering the sales area of recreational marijuana stores. Gehrett said the doorman simply did not do his job the day investigators visited. The investigative aide stated in his report that he was not asked his age upon entering the story, though he was required to show an ID. The aide notes he did not observe the doorman at the store use any ID checking equipment. The aide was able to buy $26 worth of marijuana. “Despite having three days
training on ID checking procedures and despite having no other job besides checking patrons’ IDs upon entering, he still let this particular person, ago 20, past the front door,” Gehrett said. He added the employee was “fired on the spot.” Gehrett also said he beefed up his security measures. Patrons will now have their identification checked at the door and when they make their purchase. “No vertical IDs are allowed – even for patrons who are 21 years of age and older,” Gehrett said. “We are not aware of any store in the state with as strict of standards.” The state issues vertical IDs to those under 21. Gehrett said other than this recent incident, the store has never been found out of compliance. In September, during the first round of compliance checks of retail marijuana stores, state officials ran compliance checks on 157 recreational pot stores. A total of 19 stores sold product to under age investigators. At the time, the Issaquah Cannabis Company passed its compliance check. Gehrett questioned how many times in the last year local restaurants or bars have been cited for sales to minors. “Without a doubt, restaurants in the area have been fined for identical circumstances without a word from the press,” Gehrett said. “To date, we have had the cleanest record for compliance related issues relative to foot traffic and sales.” The Issaquah Cannabis Company opened its door in January. Parent company Reach Island LCC won a state raffle for the only available Issaquah marijuana permit. A second violation for selling to a minor within three years carries a 30-day license suspension with no option for a monetary fine. Businesses who receive three public safety violations within three years face cancellation of their license.
Photos by Greg Farrar
Above, Jordan Heimbinger (left) and Landon Ta, both 4 and both Issaquah Highlands residents, play in snow being made by a portable snow-blowing machine as they wait for Santa Claus to arrive on his sled atop an Eastside Fire & Rescue fire engine. At left, Julia Duarte, 6, of Sammamish, wears Rudolph’s red reindeer nose and Christmas light-decorated antlers as she and about 200 children and their families wait to greet Santa Claus. For more photos from the event, go to www.issaquahpress.com.
Merry Christmas Issaquah keeps roofs over heads By Christina Corrales-Toy newcastle@isspress.com As the world collapsed around him — health issues, a family death — Klahanie resident Giovanni was, like most people, afraid to ask for help. Giovanni, whose last name is omitted to protect his privacy, struggled to pay his rent while a slew of issues impacted his family. As the disabled veteran
battled combat-related injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder, his wife contracted pneumonia. Additionally, it took some time for Giovanni to start receiving his military benefits, which put the family behind on rent. That’s where Issaquah Community Services stepped in.
MERRY CHRISTMAS ISSAQUAH
2015 FUND DRIVE
See FUND, Page 10
New $510,000 skateboard park wins informal council approval By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com During a November hearing on the 2016 budget, City Council informally voted 6-1 in favor of fully funding a new $510,000 skateboard park. “That’s amazing news,” said avid park supporter Theresa Stoppard, who had not heard of council’s action. At this point, the council’s plan is to use $90,000 in park mitigation fees to close the funding gap for the $510,000 skate park to be built in Tibbetts Valley Park near
the Issaquah Park and Ride. The council must still take a formal vote on the budget, likely at their meeting Dec. 7. Though he cast the lone vote against the funding, City Councilman Joshua Schaer said the park has won a high level of support on council as evidenced by the November vote. He did not believe the final vote would go against the park. The council initially funded the skate park at $350,000. However, they were bombarded with support for a more expensive and expansive park carrying a price tag of roughly $500,000.
The bigger design includes benches for watching skaters, benches designers hope parents will put to use watching their children. The secluded location is one knock repeatedly put on Issaquah’s current skateboard park near the Issaquah Community Center. The park has gained a reputation as a location for underage drinking and drug use. A design consultant told council the bigger park would be far more open, inviting and family friendly. See SKATE
PARK, Page 10
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