Snovalleystar012717 by The Issaquah Press

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED NEWSPAPER SERVING SNOQUALMIE AND NORTH BEND

SNO★VALLEY

STAR

GRAPPLERS GROUNDED Mount Si wrestlers fall to Woodinville Page 7

Star to close shop, ending 9-year run

Valley newspaper falls victim to shrinking revenue; final edition to be published Feb. 24 SnoValleystar

The Issaquah Press Group, which publishes the SnoValley Star, The Issaquah Press, the Sammamish Review, the Newcastle News and theeast-

side.news website, announced the company will cease operations Feb. 24. In a letter to readers and advertisers, General Manager Charles Horton wrote: “After several months of exploring

different paths for a sustainable future, we came to this difficult conclusion.” The SnoValley Star was founded as a weekly newspaper in March 2008. Its final edition will publish Feb. 24.

The Issaquah Press Group’s affected employees include seven in the newsroom, four in advertising and one in operations. They were informed of the closure by Horton during a noon meeting Jan. 19. “I’m sorry we weren’t able to get where we needed to be,” Horton told employees. In the letter to readers and advertisers, Horton said the

company, which has been owned by The Seattle Times Co. since 1995, had rolled out newsroom and advertising initiatives with the hopes of turning around the company financially, but, even with deep expense cuts, it “wasn’t enough to overcome revenue losses that began over six years ago.” SEE CLOSING, PAGE 8

Grizzly bear repopulation proposed BY STUART MILLER smiller@snovalleystar.com

STUART MILLER | smiller@snovalleystar.com

While city officials have tried to keep development in the Ridge business park discreet in the past, like for the new Safeway and Bartell Drugs buildings (pictured), the length of a proposed Hilton hotel would run along the parkway, less than 15 feet from the sidewalk at points.

Discussion builds over Ridge development BY STUART MILLER smiller@snovalleystar.com

City of Snoqualmie is asking the public to weigh in on plans for a large new hotel and retail area on Snoqualmie Ridge that is seen by some as a fundamental shift in the development strategy for the business park.

“It appears to me this would be the most dominant feature on the parkway,” Planning Commissioner Joe Larson said during a Jan. 17 discussion at a meeting of the commission. “It’s a shift from what we’ve tried for in the past on the parkway.” Larson noted that while the city went to great lengths to

make the Safeway and Bartell Drugs buildings planned for the business park more discreet, the proposed 99-room hotel and adjacent retail building would be featured prominently at its location off Southeast Center Street, paralleling Snoqualmie Parkway. Developers of the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton have

requested that the required 50-foot buffer zone between the parkway and any proposed structures be amended to a 15-foot “average” distance. Some commissioners, such as Steve Smith, expressed confusion at how the average distances were calculated. SEE RIDGE, PAGE 3

A plan to restore wild grizzly bears to the North Cascades, including areas as far south as Snoqualmie Pass, was recently released to the public by the National Park Service. There are thought to be very few, if any, grizzly bears left in the United States portion of the North Cascades. The population was listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act in 1975, and there’s been no confirmed evidence of grizzly bears in the U.S. portion of what’s known as the North Cascades Ecosystem since 1996. In the last decade, all four detections of grizzlies in the North Cascades Ecosystem have been in British Columbia. Recent scientific modeling suggests the U.S. portion of the ecosystem has enough habiSEE BEARS, PAGE 5

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

SNOVALLEY STAR

Utility district’s general manager pleads guilty to theft

BY STUART MILLER

smiller@snovalleystar.com

North Bend resident Terrance Lenihan pleaded guilty Jan. 6 to charges of misappropriation of public funds, first-degree theft and second-degree theft stemming from his actions as general manager of the Snoqualmie Pass Utility District. Lenihan, 57, had worked at the utility district, which manages water and sewer services around Snoqualmie Pass, for 31 years before a 2015 investigation by the state Auditor’s Office turned up evidence that multiple items had been purchased, sold or used in an inappropriate or fraudulent manner, according to reporting by the Ellensburg Daily

Record. The audit turned up $20,515 in misappropriated assets, $8,812 of questionable assets and $12,507 in questionable purchases of pipe-related materials, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Record. Lenihan admitted to using plastic culvert piping purchased with SPUD funds in the Mountain Creek Development at Silver Fir on Snoqualmie Pass. A business group out of North Bend, Silver Fir Properties LLC, is building the development. Silver Fir Properties has four governing persons listed in state records, including Lenihan, Robert Frishholz from Seattle, Dan Brewster from North Bend and North

Bend City Councilman Trevor Kostanich. “It was a surprise,” Kostanich said about learning of Lenihan’s charges. “It’s always been the intent for myself, and the overall partnership, to do everything right.” Kostanich said he did not learn the materials were stolen until charges were filed against Lenihan. The culvert piping is already in the ground at the Mountain Creek development. “My understanding is any payment due is being resolved between Terry Lenihan, Snoqualmie Pass Utility District, and Kittitas County as part of the final resolution of the matter,” Kostanich said in an email. “I personally

Small earthquake shakes North Bend

activity was detected just very near the first shake. south of Interstate 90, 9.3 The seismic network miles west of Hyak and reported a magnitude of A 3.1 magnitude earth11.2 miles southeast of 1.9 at an estimated depth quake was recorded early North Bend, according of 0.09 miles. Sunday morning about 11 to the Pacific Northwest miles from North Bend. Seismic Network. It was Valley winter There was no damage estimated to be 2.22 miles shelter relocates reported from the quake, deep. The Snoqualmie Valley but many people reportA second quake was Winter shelter transiedly felt the tremor. recorded several hours SANDY/LAURA F.noPROOF.SV.CMYK. tioned to a new location The morning’s seismic later with epicenter PDFan 1130 LAM 02.17996.FRI.0113.3x6.LAM

believe this was an oversight on Mr. Lenihan’s part.” Lenihan also pleaded guilty to purchasing with SPUD funds a new John Deere 4300 tractor in 2012 and taking it home. He also admitted he bought a used 16-foot flatbed TrailMax trailer with SPUD funds and took that home too, even registering it in his name, according to the Daily Record. Kittitas County prosecutors originally charged Lenihan with eight counts of misappropriation of accounts, firstdegree theft, three counts of second-degree theft and two counts of third-degree theft, to which he pleaded not guilty. Some of the original charges stemmed from evidence found by auditors that

Lenihan sold a SPUD-owned Jeep to a family member for $2,600 without authorization. There was no record of that sale, or any related deposit of funds into any state account, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Record. According to court documents, after the audit started, things such as a rock rake, a rototiller and a generator began showing up at the SPUD facility that had never been seen there by SPUD water distribution manager Gannon Geiger. Lenihan could face nine months in jail for his crimes, according to the Daily Record. His sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 27 in Kittitas County Superior Court.

in North Bend Jan. 19. the hot meal and warmth thanks to recent renewed Mount Si Lutheran of the shelter, but must cooperation between the Church will now host leave by 10 p.m. Shelter city and shelter organizthose in need of a warm workers can point minors ers. place to sleep from 8:30 toward helpful services if Donations of food, p.m. to 7:30 a.m. through requested. warm clothing and March 4. Hot dinners are Though it will be the hygiene products are also provided nightly. winter shelter’s fifth year needed, as well as volunThanks to a newly at the church, this year teers to help out at the launched program, unac- will be the first time the shelter and cook a hot companied minors are shelter has a city permit meal for the roughly 20 welcome to partakeSANDY/LAURA in to operate in North Bend, guests F.ePROOF.SV.CMYK. RVS 0116 RVZper night. 04.18516.FRI.0127.3x6.LAM

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SNOVALLEY STAR

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“How do you calculate that? It seems … squishy,” Smith said at the meeting. Comissioner Tom Tice said he did not feel comfortable with the proposed buffer, expressing it should be at least 20 feet from the property line in order to allow space for landscaping to provide a visual breakup from the property. The original 50-foot buffer requirement was set in place when the city expected the 01.17964.FRI.0105.2x2.LAM area to be full of warehouses, Snoqualmie Senior Planner Ben ~ Broker~ Swanson said. It would have allowed for plenty of shielding landscape features in front of the structures. Direct 425-922-3995 There was discussion Office 425-392-6600 of placing picnic tables, christywebb@windermere.com benches, paths and other www.christywebbhomes.com features in the buffer SCOTT Z.FINAL.SR.CMYK.PDF 0123 LAM

issued, the Planning Commission and the City Council will have to approve the amendments to city code, allowing for the buffer zone reduction and other changes. A public hearing for the development will be held Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. at Snoqualmie City Hall. Verbal comments can SCOTT Z.noPROOF.SR.CMYK. PDFat1226 be made theLAM hear-

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From Page 1

zone. The move could apply to capital projects, help blend the patio areas public safety and services outside the development’s for residents.” It may planned restaurant and also attract businesses to retail with the parkway vacant lots and buildings sidewalk, creating a more in the business park, the inviting atmosphere for city said. foot traffic along the Mayor Matt Larson parkway. has said in the past that An indoor pool that the city will need a new, was originally planned reliable source of tax dolfor the hotel has been lars as large residential struck from the most development on the Ridge recent plans. nears completion. In a news release, the The developer hopes to city said that the develget building permits by opment could benefit April 30, break ground in Snoqualmie by creating May and finish the hotel a “significant source of by June 2018. revenue for the city to Before permits are LAURA D.noPROOF.SV.CMYK.PDF-JAN 1205 LAM

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

Valley View

OPINION

SNOVALLEY STAR

Naysayers’ pessimism has been proven correct

BY STUART MILLER

ince the first college journalism course I took in 2011, it has been repeated time and time again to me that the newspaper industry is changing, that print is dying, and “good luck.” I’ve heard it from teachers, friends, peers and others. Still, I never thought the day would come when The Issaquah Press shut down. The Press itself has Stuart Miller been publishing nonstop since 1900, and it became a four-newspaper operation that grew to include the SnoValley Star in 2008. I might be nostalgic, oldfashioned or just weird, but I’ve always liked holding a printed newspaper and reading it. It’s a nice respite from the blue light of the computer screen I stare at all day. It also smells nice, and can be used for wrapping paper or a napkin. They don’t call them “news rags” for nothing. As a relative newbie at the Star and the Issaquah Press Group — I started in June 2016 — my experience has been much different from earlier reporters. I’ve heard from my longstanding coworkers that the Star once had two reporters and its own editor. I am now the only reporter dedicated to Snoqualmie Valley, though I do get help now and then from our other reporters. My editor, Scott Stoddard, oversees all four of our publications. We’ve cut back financially quite a bit from the old days, but we still couldn’t make it work. We’ve never required a subscription fee for the paper deliv-

STUART MILLER | smiller@snovalleystar.com

The first edition of the SnoValley Star in 2008 reatured full pages of print ads.

eries, nor instituted a paywall for online content. We’ve basically relied on advertising dollars to keep the papers printing and the websites publishing. Local news is a valuable niche. Who else will sit through countless hours of city meetings, dig through files and bother strangers for quotes? The Seattle Times is great for regional news, but only touches the Snoqualmie Valley or Issaquah when something major happens — not the local need-to-know scoops like how the county wants to tax your septic system, or how your greenbelt is slated for development. I am aware that we have com-

SNO★VALLEY

STAR Published every Friday by The Issaquah Press Group 1085 12th Ave. NW, Suite D1 | P.O. Box 1328 Issaquah, King County, WA 98027

petitors in town. That competition has kept me on my toes. It’s kept me sharper and more diligent than I would be otherwise. At this point, I’m rooting for anybody in the industry. With instant, constant internet access and what seems to be a general focus on national and world news, I sure hope that those who value local journalism will step up to support those who are left. It’s not just local weeklies that are struggling — our owner, The Seattle Times, is shrinking its newsroom by 23 employees in the near future. I can’t blame anybody for consuming a product that is presented to them for free. But hope-

fully the Issaquah Press Group’s closure will wake some people up to a fact that many newsreaders in this world have forgotten: You get what you pay for. Email reporter

Stuart Miller at smiller@snovalleystar.com. Valley View is a weekly column by SnoValley Star reporter Stuart Miller. It does not necessarily represent the editorial views of the newspaper.

HAVE YOUR SAY Something on your mind about your city? Tell us about it. Send letters to the editor via email to editor@snovalleystar. com. The SnoValley Star welcomes comments to the editor about local issues — 300 words at most, please. We may edit them for length, clarity or inappropriate content. Include your phone number (it will not be published). Email is preferred, but you can also mail your comments to: Editor, SnoValley Star, P.O. Box 1328, Issaquah, WA 98027

STAFF Charles Horton.......................................General manager Scott Stoddard...............................................................Editor Stuart Miller............................................................. Reporter Neil Pierson.............................................................. Reporter Greg Farrar.....................................................Photographer

CORRECTIONS We are committed to accuracy at the SnoValley Star and take care in our reporting and editing, but errors do occur. If you think something we’ve published is in error, please email us at editor@snovalleystar.com.

(425) 392-6434

Fax: (425) 392-1695 Email: editor@snovalleystar.com Online: snovalleystar.com ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS $52 per year | $96 two years $48 per year for seniors Add $15 outside King County Add $20 outside the state

SNOVALLEY STAR

BEARS From Page 1

tat for roughly 280 grizzlies, from the Canadian border to Snoqualmie Pass. Polling done by Tulchin Research, a polling and strategic consulting firm, found that an overwhelming majority of Washington voters backed science-based recovery efforts for grizzlies in the North Cascades. The restoration plan, currently a draft environmental impact statement, listed some goals for the future: n Restore a grizzly bear population as part of the natural and cultural heritage of the North Cascades. n Provide Pacific Northwest residents and visitors with the opportunity to again experience grizzly bears in their native habitat. n Seek to support tribal cultural and spiritual values, as well as environmental and natural resource objectives related to the grizzly bear. n Expand outreach efforts to inform and involve the public, and build understanding about grizzly bear recovery. Four alternatives were presented in the draft plan.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017 Alternative A is the “No Action” plan, which would not actively relocate bears to the ecosystem and instead focus on education and research. The environmental impact statement states “biological consensus is that grizzly bears in the North Cascades Ecosystem would have difficulty recovering on their own and need some form of human intervention to achieve reproduction and eventual recovery.” Action Alternatives B through D include (B) “Ecosystem Evaluation Restoration,” (C) “Incremental Restoration” and (D) “Expedited Restoration.” The goal of these three plans is to restore a population of at least 200 grizzlies in the ecosystem through the capture and release of grizzly bears from northwest Montana or southcentral British Columbia, or both regions. The action alternatives range from a very slow and measured pace of up to 10 bears planted every five years, to a translocation of 155 to 168 grizzly bears in as short a time as possible. The slower efforts are estimated to reach the goal of 200 bears in 60 to 100 years, while the expedited effort is estimated to reach that goal in 25 years.

JEREMY WILLIAMS | Conservation Northwest

Plans are being considered to relocate grizzly bears, like these pictured in central British Columbia, to the North Cascades.

Scientists agree that the reestablishment of grizzly bears as part of the ecosystem would result in improved ecosystem health over the long term, the environmental impact statement said. A variety of issues and impact topics regarding grizzlies, other fish and wildlife, wilderness character, visitor use and recreational experi-

ence, public and employee safety, socioeconomics and ethnographic resources were also explored in the draft plan. The North Cascades Ecosystem comprises more than 2.6 million acres of federally designated wilderness, according to the draft plan. Some of the habitat is within a few miles of North Bend, as the crow flies. The draft plan calls

for relocation or killing of bears that stray from the designated habitat and into human populations. Public comments for the draft environmental impact statement will be considered through mid-March. One of the eight public meetings on the matter will occur Feb. 24 at the Renton Community Center from 6 to 8 p.m.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

Calendar of events Saturday, Jan. 28 Summer Coat, Winter Coat of the Snowshoe Hare, all ages, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Cedar River Watershed Education Center, 19901 Cedar Falls Road SE, North Bend, 206733-9421 “Change Your Water, Change Your Life” water demo and workshop, 2 p.m.; Ambassadors of Love, 8 p.m., The Black Dog Arts Café, 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, 831-3647 Joe Doria B3 Trio, 7:309:30 p.m., Piccola Cellars, 112 W. Second St., North Bend, jazzclubsnw.org/northbend

Sunday, Jan. 29 Brunch with Bossa in Wonderland, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sun Catcher Workshop with Denise Atkinson, 1:30 p.m., The Black Dog Arts

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Café, 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, 831-3647 Summer Coat, Winter Coat of the Snowshoe Hare, all ages, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Cedar River Watershed Education Center, 19901 Cedar Falls Road SE, North Bend, 206733-9421 Kolke Trio, 6 p.m.; Jam Session, 7:30 p.m., Piccola Cellars, 112 W. Second St., North Bend, jazzclubsnw.org/ northbend

Monday, Jan. 30 Sno-Valley Indoor Playground, for ages newborn to 5, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Si View Gymnasium, 400 SE Orchard Dr., North Bend, $1 donation per child per visit, snovalleyindoorplayground.org Merry Monday Story Time, for ages newborn to 24 months, 11-11:45 a.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554 Study Zone, homework

allowed back into the building.

Water leak Sizzling burgers causes fire alarm trigger fire alarm malfunction At 5:42 p.m. Jan. 13, Snoqualmie firefighters responded to an automatic fire alarm at the TPC Clubhouse. Upon arrival, an employee informed the crew that the alarm was triggered when they were cooking hamburgers. Nothing unusual was found in the kitchen. The alarm was reset and everyone

At 2:32 p.m. Jan. 12, Snoqualmie firefighters responded to report of a fire alarm and water problem at a residence on Satterlee Avenue Southeast. Upon arrival, they found the homeowner working with a contractor trying to locate the problem. The crew found water leaking

and tutoring help for grades K-12, 3-5 p.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. SE, 888-1223

Tuesday, Jan. 31 Mt. Si Senior Center Explore Trip: Wal-Mart in Covington, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $8.50 for members/$18.50 for non-members, meet at 411 Main Ave. S., North Bend, 888-3434 Looney Tunes by Snoqualmie Strings Youth Orchestra, 7 p.m., Mt Si High School Auditorium, 8651 Meadowbrook Way SE, Snoqualmie, free, suggested $2 individual/$5 family donation, learn more at bit. ly/2klfNw3

Wednesday, Feb. 1 Sno-Valley Indoor Playground, for ages newborn to 5, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Si View Gymnasium, 400 SE

through the ceiling in the garage directly on to a smoke detector, causing it to malfunction. After further investigation, they found the fire sprinkler system appeared to lose pressure when shut down. They secured the water and advised the homeowner to work with her contractor to locate the actual problem. They also advised contacting her insurance agent for further instructions.

False alarms n At 8:51 a.m. Jan. 15,

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Thursday, Feb. 2 Story Times: toddlers ages newborn to 3, 10-10:45 a.m.; preschool ages 3 and older, 11-11:45 a.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 8880554 Study Zone, homework and tutoring help for grades K-12, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. SE, 888-1223 Missoni Lanza, 8 p.m., The Black Dog Arts Café, 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, 831-3647

Friday, Feb. 3 Sno-Valley Indoor Playground, for ages newborn to 5, 9:30-11:30 a.m.,

Garbage can fire investigated At 2:35 p.m. Jan. 16, Snoqualmie firefighters were dispatched to a trash can fire at the Mt Si Mobile Home Park on Southeast North Bend Way. Upon arrival, the crew found an extinguished fire. The trailer’s resident said he came home to find the garbage can at the side trailer already on fire. He extinguished it with the garden hose. The crew found a minor, 12-square inch char on the side

Si View Gymnasium, 400 SE Orchard Dr., North Bend, $1 donation per child per visit, snovalleyindoorplayground.org Valley Animal Partners and Pasado’s Safe Haven present King County Spay Station, low cost spay and neuter event, $10 co-pay for cats/$45 for dogs, Ace Hardware, 330 Main Ave. S., North Bend, learn more at bit. ly/2jqvKga or 360-793-9393 Block Party, build structures with LEGOs for ages 7 and younger, 2:30-3:30 p.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554 Family Fun Night, all ages, 6-8 p.m., Snoqualmie Valley YMCA, 35018 SE Ridge St., 256-3115 Open Mic Night at the Sallal Grange, all ages, 7-10 p.m., 12912 432nd Ave. SE, North Bend, free, 831-1900 Seastar, 8 p.m., The Black Dog Arts Café, 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, 8313647

of the trailer. They also determined that possible discarded cigarettes that landed on the hood of the plastic garbage can caught fire. Just the exterior of the can was melted with nothing on the inside burned. There were an abundance of cigarette butts on the ground near the garbage can. In addition to the above calls, Snoqualmie EMTs responded to 12 medical aid incidents bringing the total number of calls to date to 64. There were 1,122 calls in 2016.

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Snoqualmie firefighters responded to an automatic fire alarm at Taco del Mar on Center Boulevard Southeast. The crew was unable to find a reason for the alarm and the system was reset. n At 7:15 p.m. Jan. 15, Snoqualmie firefighters responded to a residence on Melrose Lane Southeast where carbon monoxide detectors were triggered. The crew used a gas monitor to check for CO but none was found. The homeowner was advised to update his CO detectors.

library, 32627 Redmond Fall City Road, Fall City, free Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., The Black Dog Arts Café, 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, 831-3647

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Orchard Dr., North Bend, $1 donation per child per visit, snovalleyindoorplayground.org Story Time: toddlers ages newborn to 3, 10-10:30 a.m.; preschool, ages 3-6, 11-11:45 a.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. SE, 8881223 AARP Tax Assistance, for adults, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554 One-on-One Computer Help, for adults, 1-3 p.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554 Study Zone, homework and tutoring help for grades K-12, 2:30-4:30 p.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554 Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee meeting, 6-7 p.m., Snoqualmie Fire Station, 37600 SE Snoqualmie Parkway Guiding Good Choices, for parents and guardians of youth ages 9-14, 6-8 p.m., Chief Kanim Middle School

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

SPORTS

SNOVALLEY STAR

Mount Si wrestlers fall to Woodinville, 45-27

PHOTOS BY CURT CARLSON | Calder Productions

Five forfeits hurt the Mount Si wrestlers on Jan. 19 as the Wildcats fell to the Woodinville Falcons, 45-27, in a Class 4A KingCo Conference dual meet in Snoqualmie. The Wildcats earned victories from Spencer Marenco (pin at 138 pounds), Duncan Harrison, rigft, (pin at 145), Mason Marenco, below, (15-0 technical fall at 170) and Brennan Dalgleish, above, (12-0 major decision at 220). Jack Weidenbach (195) won his match by forfeit. Kinsey Steskal, bottom right, (120) lost a 9-5 decision, while Max Crowder (132), Henry Foster (152) and Kyle Haynie (160) were each pinned in their bouts. The Wildcats will compete at the KingCo championships, Feb. 3-4 at Juanita High School in Kirkland.

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SNOVALLEY STAR

TO OUR VALUED READERS AND ADVERTISERS

GREG FARRAR | gfarrar@snovalleystar.com

Charles Horton (left), general manager of The Issaquah Press Group, announces Jan. 19 that the company will be closing Feb. 24. Digital editor Christina Corrales-Toy, senior advertising account executive Laura Feenstra, editor Scott Stoddard, advertising account manager Neil Buchsbaum, circulation and operations manager Jose Gonzalez F.FINAL.SR-SV.CMYK.PDF 0123 LAM and the rest of the staffLAURA (not shown) hear the news. 04.18370.THU.0126.2X5.LAM

On February 24, 2017, the Issaquah Press Group will cease all operations. We will publish our final editions of The Issaquah Press and the Sammamish Review on Thursday, February 23, 2017. We will publish our last edition of the Newcastle News on February 3, 2017 and our last edition of the SnoValley Star on February 24, 2017. After serving our community since 1900, coming to this decision has not been easy. Over the past 15 months, IPG employees in the newsroom, sales department and operations have all worked determinedly to realign our organization so that we could find an economically viable path forward. Our newsroom reimagined how we covered our community, digging deep into stories such as the contamination of Issaquah’s aquifer. Their work led to volunteer subscriber growth during the first half of the year, as well as significant pageview growth on our websites. Based on local advertiser input, our sales department introduced a number of new products for advertisers, including new digital tools and new events meant to help local businesses reach new customers. While we saw an uptick in revenue from local businesses, it wasn’t enough to offset losses from some major/national clients. Regrettably, even with deep expense cuts, the above wasn’t enough to overcome revenue losses that began over six years ago. After several months of exploring different paths for a sustainable future, we came to this difficult conclusion. In a year where we’ve seen the spread of fake and inaccurate news, it’s important to remember that much of the truthful news you read online or watch on TV began at a local newspaper with a trained and dedicated journalist. Smart, accurate reporting isn’t free. For that reason, I encourage you to help support community journalism by subscribing to The Seattle Times. It has been our honor and privilege to serve you and this wonderful community for so many years. Charles Horton General Manager, The Issaquah Press Group

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The Issaquah Press was founded on Jan. 1, 1900, and published its first edition Jan. 18, 1900. It is the oldest newspaper on the Eastside and is Issaquah’s oldest continuously operating business. It has published more than 6,000 editions over the past 117 years. The Sammamish Review was founded in 1992 and the Newcastle

News was established in 1999. All four newspapers are distributed free and have a combined circulation of more than 45,000. The umbrella website for the newspapers, theeastside.news, experienced record traffic in October 2016, and the newsroom won a combined 18 journalism awards from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association that same month. Horton urged readers

of the four newspapers “to help support community journalism by subscribing to The Seattle Times.” Earlier this month, the Times reported that 23 people, through buyouts and possible layoffs, are expected to leave its newsroom, which is the largest in Washington. Horton said voluntary subscribers to the Issaquah Press Group’s newspapers will receive a letter in the next few days detailing their options.

TO OUR VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIBERS Thank you for your past financial support. All voluntary subscribers will be receiving a letter in the next few days regarding the balances of their accounts. There are three options from which to choose: n If you are not a current Seattle Times subscriber, you may request delivery of the Sunday edition of the Times through the end date of your Issaquah Press subscription.

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n If you are a current Seattle Times subscriber, you may request the balance of your account be applied as a credit to your Seattle Times subscription. n You may request a pro-rated refund.