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September 17, 2014
Bus route stays in place for next year
Running away with it
By Peter Clark
Metro bus Route 269 received another year’s worth of support from the Sammamish City Council as system cuts loom. A partnership between Sammamish, Redmond, Issaquah and Microsoft has annually committed to funding the route, which winds its way between Overlake and Issaquah through Sammamish along 228th Avenue. During the Sept. 2 council meeting, the city leadership unanimously approved the plan to extend the contract for another year, which would cost the city $56,520. “This was hard work by the City Council going back about five or six years,” Ben Yazici, the Sammamish City Manager, said. “Metro was not interested in sending new bus systems here unless the cities were willing to pay a portion of that. As a result, we established a partnership. We pay about 33 percent of the cost.” Sammamish, Redmond and Microsoft each pay 10 percent of that 33 percent, with Issaquah pitching in another 3 percent. King County Metro Transit picks up the remaining 67 percent. “This route was actually going to disappear,” Yazici said. “This is one of the most successful bus routes we have in Sammamish.” The accompanying agenda bill said ridership increased over the past three years, capping out in 2012 with 625 daily riders. Since the agreement began in 2008, the city has contributed $295,538 to the Route 269 partnership. Yazici said staff attempted to strike a deal with Metro for an extension of the contract for two more years, but were only able to establish an agreement for one. “What this does is keep the Route 269 intact for another year,” Yazici said of the agenda bill. “What happens after that? I don’t know. We’re all working at See TRANSIT, Page 2
By Greg Farrar
Eastlake High School wide receiver Jeffrey Feinglas pushes aside Inglemoor defensive back Kyle Malsam on his way to a 40-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter of a Sept. 11 football game. Feinglas later scored on a 69-yard catch as Eastlake beat Inglemoor, 33-10. See story in Sports, Page 6.
Hearings begin for possible closure of Tiger Mountain school By Neil Pierson
on the issue at 7 p.m. Sept. 17, but board President Marnie Get involved The Issaquah School Board Maraldo said the group hasn’t has yet to set a date for when The Issaquah School set a timeline for deciding the it will consider closing Tiger Board will hold a second pubschool’s future. The board is Mountain Community High lic hearing on the possible required to discuss the issue School, but it began a public closure of Tiger Mountain in public, and Maraldo said it comment period last week that Community High School. would likely hold a work sesbrought dozens of impassioned The hearing is at 7 p.m. Sept. sion to ask questions of Thiele people out in defense of the 17 at the Issaquah School and other officials before alternative school. District’s administration reaching a decision. The first public hearing building, 565 N.W. Holly St. Enrollment at Tiger regarding the possible closure Mountain is about the same as of Tiger Mountain was held what it was 10 years ago, about Sept. 10 and generated com100 students ments from students, parents and teachers. The Thiele said last week that Tiger students public comment period was scheduled to last aren’t keeping pace with acceptable academic 50 minutes, but went nearly an hour longer as standards. While the district’s three compremore than a dozen people spoke about the issue, hensive high schools – Issaquah, Liberty and the vast majority supporting ideas to keep it Skyline – all have graduation rates above 90 open. percent, Tiger’s has plummeted in the past sevIn June, Issaquah School District eral years, from 77.2 percent in 2004-05 to 30.5 Superintendent Ron Thiele presented a plan percent in 2011-12. to close the school for the 2015-16 year and Tiger’s extended graduation rates – students re-open it the following year under a different taking five years or longer to earn a diploma – educational model. District officials point to the have also dropped. All of Tiger’s extended-rate school’s declining enrollment, low test scores students graduated 10 years ago, but less than and low graduation rates as reasons to close. The board will hold a second public hearing See HEARING, Page 3
Police ask for help to solve burglaries Sammamish police have seen an increase in forced, residential burglaries in the north part of the city, particularly east of 228 Avenue Northeast and north of Northeast Eighth St., since Aug. 1. “We have asked our officers to increase their patrols in this area and we’re asking you to help us out,” police said in a social media crime alert. “Pay attention to vehicles or persons in the area that you don’t recognize, particularly if they’re parked in your neighbor’s driveway, or someone’s walking around the yard. “If you see something, call 206-296-3311 to report it to us; we would like to come out and check.” Surveillance cameras captured a photo of a suspect vehicle in one burglary. If you see a car like the one pictured below, a late 1990s silver Mercedes, call. “Have an alarm system? Arm it,” police said in the alert. “Some of these burglaries are taking place in just a 15-minute window.”
Contributed
Sammamish police are looking for a late 1990s silver Mercedes, which may be involved in a string of burglaries on the city’s north side. Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 POSTAL CUSTOMER
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