Snovalleystar021017 by The Issaquah Press

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED NEWSPAPER SERVING SNOQUALMIE AND NORTH BEND

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017

SNO★VALLEY

STAR

MOUNT SI MOJO Wildcats dig deep for late upset win over Spartans Page 7

Second roundabout draws direct questions

BY STUART MILLER smiller@snovalleystar.com

More than a dozen residents of a Snoqualmie neighborhood gathered at the Snoqualmie Casino ballroom Jan. 31, but it wasn’t for a block party. The meeting, which became emotionally heated several times, was organized by casino and Snoqualmie tribal staff in response to months of public outcry by residents of the neighborhood that lies directly west of the reservation and casino property. Residents of the secluded neighborhood that stems from 372nd Avenue Southeast are

concerned about how a proposed second roundabout on Southeast North Bend Way, just west of the existing roundabout at the casino entrance, will affect the only outlet from their homes. The Snoqualmie Valley School District’s transportation director has also voiced concerns about the project. Besides the safety and traffic concerns, neighbors are also frustrated with a lack of communication and string of miscommunications between tribal and casino staff and residents about the project — something that has led many in the neighborhood to feel

ignored and dismissed. The community is scrambling to have their concerns addressed before construction starts, but the public has little control over the situation. North Bend Way is a county road and the tribe is funding the project. All the tribe needs to go forward is a right-of-way permit from the county, and no public hearings are required. Traffic and safety concerns While roughly two dozen homes are scattered about the wooded neighborhood off of SEE QUESTIONS, PAGE 3

STUART MILLER | smiller@snovalleystar.com

A Snoqualmie Casnio employee fields questions from residents that live near a proposed second roundabout on North Bend Way.

SLIP SLIDIN’ ON THE SNOW

Hotel hearing gets Feb. 9 snow extension BY STUART MILLER smiller@snovalleystar.com

A public hearing regarding a proposed 99-room hotel on Snoqualmie Ridge drew mostly supportive comments Feb. 6., but because of dangerous driving conditions created by a snowstorm, the hearing was extended to continue Feb. 9, so that any and all public comments could be heard. “All of us have to respond to the accusation in six weeks that the meeting took place during a storm,” Planning Commissioner Joe Larson said SEE HEARING, PAGE 2

STUART MILLER | smiller@snovalleystar.com

Throngs of kids, including these two near Cascade View Elementary, took advantage of the Snoqualmie Ridge landscape during Monday’s snow day. By day’s end, no hill was left without sled tracks or snowmen populations. For more photos, see Page 5.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017

SNOVALLEY STAR

Crews work to restore power lines damaged by snowfall

smiller@snovalleystar.com

Repair crews worked tirelessly to restore power to affected Snoqualmie Valley residents as a heavy snowstorm bore down on the region. Hundreds of workers from around Washington and other states poured in to bolster the effort that saw thousands of valley residents lose power. Fallen trees and sag-

HEARING From Page 1

as commissioners and city officials debated extending the public hearing. After agreeing to hold “part one” of the hearing that evening, several people took the podium to comment and ask questions about the project. Rachel Chin, a Snoqualmie Ridge resident, said that she’d been

ging branches from the ice load damaged power lines and utility poles around the region. Snoqualmie Valley Hospital lost power and was running on generators when a Potelco repair crew began working to right a utility pole that had been pulled off its anchor on Southeast 99th Street, across the street from the hospital. Around 9 p.m. Monday night, Dean Davis, foreman of a Potelco power

line repair crew, said his team was forming a game plan to set a new anchor for the damaged pole, and eventually bring power back to the hospital. “That’s our priority right now,” Davis said. Davis said that he started working at 1 a.m. Feb. 6. The crew came from a project in Carnation that had caused major power outages. “We’ll work 30 to 40 hours straight,” Davis said. “But we take dinner breaks.”

Potelco crews work to restore power to Snoqualmie Valley Hospital as they replace a utility pole anchor at the corner of Southeast 99th Street and Snoqualmie Parkway.

searching for a location to open a restaurant for several years, and that she was excited about the concept of having a restaurant space next to the hotel. “This gives us an opportunity to build out our own idea,” Chin said, adding that she wants to bring a quality breakfast restaurant to the Ridge. Another Ridge resident, George Stoffel, spoke to the possible economic benefits of the hotel.

“I think our entrepreneurs are suffering a little bit,” especially the restaurants, Stoffel said. “A hotel would be a boon to our economy.” Stoffel said a hotel would help ease the stream of “retail leakage” in Snoqualmie. According to Mayor Matt Larson, for every dollar a Snoqualmie resident spends on retail needs, 73 cents is spent outside Snoqualmie. Of that “retail leakage,” 20

percent goes to North Bend, and 80 percent goes to Issaquah. By comparison, Issaquah has a 240 percent “capture rate,” meaning not only does a resident’s entire dollar stay in Issaquah, but $1.40 comes in from outside town, Larson said. Dollars spent on lodging, local retail and services could help ease that leakage rate, Stoffel said. “My assessment is that Snoqualmie is a good two-hour visit, because

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BY STUART MILLER

STUART MILLER | smiller@snovalleystar.com

there’s not that much to do,” Stoffel said. With a hotel and other planned city attractions, “It could be a two-day visit.” Commissioner Matthew Laase said the city had received 16 written comments about the project. In general, they favored the hotel project over opposition by a ratio of 2-to-1. In addition to public comment, the commission heard new landscaping plans from landscape architect Paul Dix. He

said they would plant columnar oak trees, which grow to about 40 feet tall at maturity, between the hotel and Snoqualmie Parkway. Planning commissioners held back their comments and opinions until the second part of the public hearing on Thursday. The developer hopes to get building permits by April 30, break ground in May and finish the hotel by June 2018.

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SNOVALLEY STAR

QUESTIONS From Page 1

372nd Avenue, many people driving by don’t even notice the only traffic outlet to the community. The unassuming entrance doesn’t feature a sign or nameplate. The homes are hidden in foliage. Traffic flies by 372nd at high speed. The street is the closest road to the Interstate 90 on- and offramps. Drivers picking up speed to merge into 70 mph traffic whiz by, while others coming off the interstate — with no stop signs slowing them — swiftly cruise down North Bend Way. The only thing slowing them down is the current roundabout outside the casino. These factors make for a dangerous turnout for residents of the neighborhood off 372nd, many of whom have lived there long before the casino was built or the Snoqualmie reservation designated. “It isn’t unusual to wait five minutes for traffic to clear in both directions before making a left out of the neighborhood,” longtime resident Bill Satterthwaite said. A new convenience store and 12-pump gas station is under construction at the corner of the casino’s service entrance, near where the Snoqualmie Tobacco Company and Liquor Store now operates. The new roundabout is intended to improve safety and access along North Bend Way and facilitate increased traffic for the new gas station and store. Contrary to what some

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 casino employees at the meeting said, community members insisted the promise of cheap gas would draw significantly more traffic to the area, making it even harder to exit their neighborhood. “The potential is there because they don’t pay for state tax,” Satterthwaite said. “They’re going to draw a lot of people.” “People who would never go for alcohol, cigarettes or gambling will go there” for cheaper gas, neighborhood resident Elizabeth Cambier said. Robert Crowe, the casino’s chief financial officer, later said in an interview that the new businesses would definitely create more traffic. At the Jan. 31 neighborhood-casino meeting, traffic consultants hired by the tribe said the proposed roundabout would significantly slow down the traffic outside 372nd. After asking about traffic volume studies and simulations, meeting attendees were dismayed to hear that none had been conducted. While the traffic would slow down, the increased volume of cars headed to the gas station and store could stack up at the roundabout, residents said, making it even harder to exit 372nd eastward toward Snoqualmie and North Bend. “When you add (traffic) volume and slow that volume, what you get is traffic backed up,” longtime resident Pat Baker said. Residents at the meeting expressed concerns that if a left turn became too difficult, they’d be forced to turn right, drive under the freeway underpass, and make a

U-turn on Winery Road if they wanted to go east toward North Bend or Snoqualmie. “Our biggest fear is traffic will come to a point, the volume will get big enough, that the county will say ‘You can’t take a left out of your street,’ ” Baker said. Jim Garhartj, director of transportation for Snoqualmie Valley School District, attended the Jan. 31 meeting. He said the stretch of North Bend Way between Meadowbrook Way Southeast and 372nd Avenue is a problem area for school buses. “My concerns are for the students and public safety coming out of that development (off 372nd Avenue) just west of the proposed new roundabout,” Garhartj said. School buses service 372nd four to six times per day, Garhartj said. He’s dealt with several accidents involving buses with kids on board around the current roundabout area. “I watch those buses, they turn left and go back toward Snoqualmie and North Bend,” Satterthwaite said. “He’s not going to be able to do that.” Neighborly frustration Frustration has been brewing in the 372nd neighborhood since last spring, when a land-use sign went up along North Bend Way announcing construction of a gas station, convenience store and roundabout. Cambier said that was the first she’d heard of any construction plans, so she began trying to contact the tribe and casino staff to learn more. Eventually, she met with Snoqualmie Casino CEO Jon Jenkins.

Cambier said that she later learned from Tribal Chairwoman Carolyn Lubenau that Jenkins had mischaracterized their meeting to the Tribal Council. He indicated he’d met with a group of neighbors, rather than just her, Cambier said. After months of attempted contact with the tribe, neighbors received a save-the-date letter in the mail on Dec. 15, advertising a community meeting Jan. 31 at 6 p.m., Cambier said. The letter said correspondence with the exact location would follow. “We had an idea that we’d have everything completed by mid-January. The only thing that changed was timing,” Crowe said. “Other than that, during process there was nothing to communicate because engineers and consultants were working on the plans.” Neighbors received information about the location and time change, less than a week before the meeting. The time had been pushed forward to 5:30 p.m. on a Tuesday. Cambier had to cancel an appointment with a client, and Baker had to miss work to make it to the meeting. Heated meeting Things got heated when the long-awaited meeting kicked off in the Snoqualmie Casino ballroom. The Snoqualmie Tribal Council was not able to attend the meeting because they were

mourning the recent death of a hereditary chief of the tribe. That left casino leaders, including Jenkins and Crowe, along with some engineers and consultants, to meet the neighborhood’s residents. The roundabout is a tribal government project, and casino employees weren’t up to date on the information, Crowe said. After some introductions, Jenkins told the meeting attendees that they could roam around, check out the site plans and ask the consultants and engineers questions. The neighbors wanted to ask questions as a group. Jenkins said he was not prepared to do it that way. Jenkins asked the crowd to write their thoughts on comment cards that would be collected. “It felt like a show,” Baker said. “It kind of felt like a little sleight of hand. I think that the meeting was simply there to placate us.” After some back-andforth between the residents and casino leaders, the residents began asking the consultants questions directly. “I was disappointed when Mr. Jenkins said it wasn’t a time for an open floor,” Satterthwaite said. “We turned it into that. It’s not the easiest thing to get 60 percent of your neighbors together at once.” Baker said the casino leaders were ill-prepared for the meeting and felt that Jenkins was throwing the consultants under the bus. Neighbors learned there

were no traffic volume studies or simulations done, just speed studies. Several county representatives, including a road engineer, permitting manager and the director of the Department of Transportation attended the meeting. “I feel like when I glanced over at the county reps, the nods and head shakes were in the at right place,” Baker said. “I hope they will stand up for our safety.” Randy Sandin, a manager with the Department of Permitting and Environmental Review, said traffic safety will play a part in whether the project is granted a rightof-way permit. Many neighborhood residents said at the meeting they weren’t trying to stop construction of the roundabout, but rather have a voice in mitigating the negative aspects. Meeting attendees offered some solutions, like moving the proposed roundabout west, closer to 372nd Avenue, to tie their street in to the loop. Baker said that a twoway turn lane outside 372nd could be helpful. Crowe said moving the roundabout would defeat its purpose of carrying and holding traffic. He said the engineers and consultants are working on ways to make the left turn out of 372nd easier, and looking into other concerns from the neighbors. The tribal government is expected to apply for the right-of-way permit by April.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017

On Further Review

OPINION

SNOVALLEY STAR

To the Editor

Thanks for riding along on a sports journey

Offering paper for free contributed to its ultimate demise

wenty-five years ago this summer, my dad and I came to the Kingdome so I could see my first big-league baseball game — Yankees vs. Mariners — and we decided to take a tour of the stadium, too. The Kingdome was never much for aesthetics, but to a 12-year-old boy who loved Neil Pierson sports, it was heaven. When we entered the press box and gazed down upon the field, I quickly realized sports reporting would be a pretty cool profession. This month, when The Issaquah Press Group closes, it’s possible I may have written my last game story. It’s not a financially good time to be in the media, and that’s especially true of newspapers. That’s no secret. Long before our closure was announced, I’d been feeling a creeping trepidation about my career path. Journalism teachers and former bosses had warned me, “You don’t get into this business to get rich,” and they were right. I did it because I love storytelling. And much of my 14 years in newspapers were spent in the press boxes, gymnasiums and bleachers of the local high schools. There’s nothing like capturing the beauty of a sporting event — passion, courage, heartbreak, exhilaration — in the span of a few hours and a few hundred words. My job here has evolved quite a bit over the course of three-and-a-half years. We used

BY GREG FARRAR | gfarrar@sammamishreview.com

The Eastside Catholic High School student body cheers for the Crusaders Dec. 4, 2015 as they complete an undefeated season and win the state 3A football championship in overtime, 48-42 against Bellevue at the Tacoma Dome.

to have a larger staff, of course, and I split my time between sports, community features and school news. Skyline and Eastlake were the only schools I covered. Gradually, I added Eastside Catholic, Issaquah, Liberty and Mount Si to the list. We’d be here all day if I tried listing every interesting person I’ve met. I’ve been in the homes of city council members Mariah Bettise and Christie Malchow; countless authors, artists, athletes and musicians; and over the years I’ve had my fair share of celebrity encounters (Bernhard Langer, Lydia Ko, Kenny Mayne, Steve Sarkisian, Megan Rapinoe, Isaiah Thomas and Ken Carter, the man who inspired the movie, “Coach Carter.”) Journalism is often a thankless job, but we do get occasion-

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

al reminders that we’re doing something positive in our community. A handwritten thankyou note from Liberty football coach Steve Valach. A hug and a dish of homemade salsa from Eastlake parent Karey Pierzchalski. Dozens of articles lining one of Skyline’s halls. I’m most grateful, however, for the chance to meet a lot of great kids. For the vast majority of athletes I write about, their high-school years are the apex. They’ll never play competitively again. The memories they make in front of their friends, relatives and teachers can never be replicated and the only place they’re archived is in the local newspaper. And when the stories stop, the community is the true casualty. For that reason, I encourage readers to support every media outlet they can. The

remaining publications on the Eastside are no longer our competition. Please consider a paid subscription or moving your classified ads away from Craigslist. If you’re a business owner, every dollar you invest in your local paper gets reinvested — and then some — in your bottom line. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving that 12-year-old boy in the Kingdome press box a chance to follow his dream.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Email sports reporter Neil Pierson at npierson@ sammamishreview.com. Twitter: @eastside_neil Valley View is a weekly column by SnoValley Star reporter Stuart Miller. It does not necessarily represent the editorial views of the newspaper.

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.

I am so sad to hear that the newspaper will close. I was always surprised that the newspaper was free. I would be happy, and I am sure most people would be happy, to pay a subscription for the paper. Actually, even one paper covering all of the Eastside would be great. This is the only way we get news on the Snoqualmie Valley. We will soon be out of touch, which is a negative to the community and the Eastside. It will have a financially negative impact to the merchants as well. Lack of communication seems to be getting worse as each year goes by, which causes more conflict and challenge in the community. The old-fashioned way of hearing it through the grapevine is dangerous, yet this seems to be the direction we will have to go. Sally Mayo Snoqualmie

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

(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

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017

SCENES FROM A SNOW DAY

PHOTOS BY STUART MILLER | smiller@snovalleystar.com

Folks young and old took advantage of 8 to 12 inches of snowfall on Snoqualmie Ridge on Monday’s snow day. Hundreds of revelers took to Snoqualmie Community Park to slide down the hills, battle each other in snowball fights, and construct dozens of igloos, forts and snowmen. Above, Snoqualmie resident Troy Chriest spent Monday afternoon launching himself over a gap jump at Snoqualmie Community Park. At far left, Malia Rome poses next to a snowman that she couldn’t possibly have built on her own on Southeast Ridge Street.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017

SNOVALLEY STAR Snoqualmie Library monthly meeting, 7-8:30 p.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. SE, 888-1223 Snoqualmie Economic Development Commission meeting, 8-10 p.m., City Hall, 38624 SE River St.

Calendar of events Saturday, Feb. 11 Compass Outdoor Adventures Free Family Adventure Race, all ages, 10 a.m. to noon, Snoqualmie Ridge Community Park, 35016 SE Ridge St., free, register at bit.ly/2lihSGq Friends of the Snoqualmie Library Book Sale, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. SE, 888-1223 Master Gardeners workshop, 10:30 a.m. to noon, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554 Snoqualmie Ridge ROA Father Daughter Dance Princess Ball, fathers and daughter ages 3-11 who live on Snoqualmie Ridge Only, 6-8 p.m., Cascade View Elementary School, 34816 SE Ridge St., $10 per adult, kids free, register at bit.ly/2liiITo “An Evening of One Acts,” 7:30 p.m., Valley Center Stage, 119 W. North Bend Way, tickets are $14 for seniors/ students and $17.50 general admission and are available online at bit.ly/2kLHq1v Emmet Cohen Trio, 7:309:30 p.m., Piccola Cellars, 112 W. Second St., North Bend, jazzclubsnw.org/northbend

Sunday, Feb. 12 Brunch with The Groovetramps, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Black Dog Arts Café, 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, 831-3647 Danny Kolke Trio, 6 p.m.; Jam Session, 7:30 p.m., Piccola Cellars, 112 W. Second St., North Bend, jazzclubsnw.org/ northbend

Monday, Feb. 13 Sno-Valley Indoor Playground, for ages newborn to 5, 9:30-11:30 a.m.,

Blotter

Thursday, Feb. 16 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 “An Evening of One Acts,” 7:30 p.m., Valley Center Stage, 119 W. North Bend Way, tickets are $14 for seniors/ students and $17.50 general admission and are available online at bit.ly/2kLHq1v Monkstone Theocracy, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Piccola Cellars, 112 W. Second St., North Bend, jazzclubsnw.org/northbend BY DAVID HAYES | dhayes@snovalleystar.com

Rene Schuchtar (left) and Rochelle Wyatt rehearse their scene in ‘Mr. Nep?’ as part of Valley Center Stage’s An Evening of One Acts. Si View Gymnasium, 400 SE Orchard Dr., North Bend, $1 donation per child Merry Monday Story Time, for children and families, 11-11:45 a.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554 Study Zone, homework and tutoring help for grades K-12, 3-5 p.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. SE, 888-1223 Snoqualmie Arts Commission meeting, 5:30-7 p.m., City Hall, 38624 SE River St. Snoqualmie City Council meeting, 7-9 p.m., City Hall,

of a neighbor’s Chevy pickup truck parked on Snoqualmie police reports the street being continuously and loudly revved. The truck also had Act weird, get expired tabs. Police contrespassed tacted and spoke with the At 7:22 p.m. Jan. 28, a owner. male customer entered the North Bend Shell Station Key and flee at 724 SW Mt Si Blvd., A transgendered subject acting odd, yelling and throwing his arms around. known to flip off officers in the past while working A responding officer conat McDonalds, keyed a tacted the subject at the patrol car in the presence nearby McDonalds. The of a police officer at 12:36 Shell manager came over and asked to have the sus- p.m. Jan. 29 at QFC at 460 pect trespassed for the day. E. North Bend Way. The suspect, who looks more female now than male, Rowdy revving then fled on a bike and At 12:45 a.m. Jan. 29, eluded capture. Since the a resident on Autumn suspect is known to the Avenue Southeast in police, she will be cited if Snoqualmie complained located this week.

38624 SE River St. Friend of the North Bend Library monthly meeting has been canceled

Tuesday, Feb. 14 Seniors Valentine’s Day Argosy Locks Cruise, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., $60 for members/$70 for non-members, 411 Main Ave. S., North Bend, 888-3434 Creative Cupcakes, for adult/child pairs, 4-5:30 p.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554 North Bend Public Health and Safety Committee meeting, 4-5 p.m., City Hall,

Sketchy actor

211 Main Ave. N., 888-1211

Wednesday, Feb. 15 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 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 Sno-Valley Teen Closet, teen clothing bank event,

Threatening shoplifter

4-4:30 p.m. teens only, 4:30-6 p.m. teens and/or parents, Mt. Si Lutheran Church, 411 NE 8th, North Bend, snovalleyteencloset@gmail.com Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee meeting, 6-7 p.m., Snoqualmie Fire Station, 37600 SE Snoqualmie Parkway Future Jazz Heads, 6 p.m., Piccola Cellars, 112 W. Second St., North Bend, jazzclubsnw. org/northbend Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., The Black Dog Arts Café, 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, 831-3647 Friends of the

that she scared because At 1:25 p.m. Jan. 31, someshe could still hear him in At 3:37 p.m. Feb. 1, a male the area. She was advised one reported a man looksuspect attempted to steal to keep the windows and ing “sketchy” in a vehicle at Snoqualmie Point Park alcohol from the Safeway doors locked and to call at 37444 SE Winery Road. from the 460 SW Mt Si 911 if he came back to the Blvd. When confronted Police located the vehicle door. Responding police parked in a handicap spot by the store manager, the discovered the suspect suspect threatened to kill and learned the subject was just a pizza delivery him if touched, then ran was shooting a commerguy. off through the bushes cial for Hyundai. toward Taco Time. The Snoqualmie fire reports manager told police he did Car prowls not feel the suspect want- Smoke spotted, n At 7:19 p.m. Jan. 31, a ed to fight and was only no fire found shopper at IGA at 7730 requesting the suspect be At 11:57 a.m. Jan. 29, Center Blvd. SE discovtrespassed if located. Snoqualmie firefighters ered someone smashed the window to their car, Suspicious pizza investigated a phonedin report of smoke in causing $300 in damage. delivery the area of 365th or Nothing was reported At 8:04 p.m. Feb. 2, a 356th Avenues. The missing. woman who lives alone on crew found nothing in n At 12:23 p.m. Feb. 3, Riverside Drive Southeast either area and from a someone smashed into a reported a suspicious man distance, the smoke was vehicle at Arby’s at 705 SW Mt Si Blvd. and stole an iPod. knocked on her door and diminishing.

Friday, Feb. 17 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 Bloc Party, Lego building party for ages 7 and younger, 2:30-3:30 p.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 8880554 “An Evening of One Acts,” 7:30 p.m., Valley Center Stage, 119 W. North Bend Way, tickets are $14 for seniors/ students and $17.50 general admission and are available online at bit.ly/2kLHq1v Abagail Nelson, 8 p.m., The Black Dog Arts Café, 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, 831-3647

Alarm accidently triggered

At 6:05 p.m. Jan. 31, Snoqualmie firefighters responded to an automatic firm alarm at Echo Glen Children’s Center. Upon arrival, staff informed the crew that the alarm was triggered accidently and nothing was found. An attempted reset only resulted in triggering the alarm again. Maintenance staff said they would call the alarm company and place a fire watch. In addition to the above calls, Snoqualmie EMTs responded to 12 medical aid incidents bringing the total number of calls to date to 97. There were 1,012 calls in 2016.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017

SPORTS

SNOVALLEY STAR

Wildcats’ late-game mojo upsets Spartans BY NEIL PIERSON npierson@snovalleystar.com

The Mount Si Wildcats haven’t had a lot of luck or success at the end of games this season, losing nine times by eight points or less. But with the stakes seemingly rising every time Mount Si steps on the court, the team is finding some good fortune and a killer instinct. The Wildcats needed both on Jan. 31 to upset first-place Skyline. Tyler Patterson’s late 3-pointer, coupled with a pair of Skyline misses at the free-throw line, were enough to push Mount Si to a 56-53 victory in Class 4A KingCo Conference boys basketball action in Snoqualmie. “We’ve had some heartbreakers this year, so maybe it’s just things balancing out,” Mount Si coach Jason Griffith said. “Maybe it’s our guys understanding what it takes to get stops. “I felt, defensively, in the last two minutes, we were really good and forced a couple really tough shots. If we clean up boxing out, maybe the game is not as close as it was.” The Wildcats (8-12 overall, 6-8 KingCo) needed the win to remain in control of their own destiny for a playoff spot. And they clinched the No. 5 seed to this week’s KingCo tournament when they beat Woodinville, 62-54, on Feb. 4.

GREG FARRAR | gfarrar@snovalleystar.com

Mount Si senior forward Taylor Upton cements his team’s victory over visiting Skyline on Jan. 31, hitting two free throws with 1.5 seconds left for the Wildcats’ final score of 56-53.

THIS WEEK Class 4A KingCo Conference basketball tournaments At Lake Washington High School, Kirkland n Feb. 11 (boys): Skyline vs. Woodinville/Issaquah winner, 1:30 p.m. Bothell vs. Inglemoor/Mount Si winner, 3:30 p.m. n Feb. 11 (girls): Woodinville vs. Eastlake/Issaquah winner, 5:15 p.m. Bothell vs. Inglemoor/Skyline winner, 6:45 p.m.

Meanwhile, Skyline (12-6, 9-5) lost its chance at the KingCo regular-season title. The Spartans fell Feb. 3 to visiting

Eastlake, 63-54, and will be the No. 2 seed when the tournament’s double-elimination round begins Feb. 10.

Mount Si senior point guard Gavin Gorrell was elated following the victory, posing for photos with his baseball teammates who’d joined the student section. The home crowd may have played a part in the result as Skyline’s Freddy Jarvis could’ve won the game for the Spartans. With 2.9 seconds left, he grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled, but missed the ensuing free throws as Mount

Si’s fans did their best to distract him. Taylor Upton sank two foul shots for Mount Si to make it a three-point game. With only 1.5 seconds to score, Skyline’s last chance evaporated on an errant inbounds pass. “This is one of the bigger wins of my whole career here,” said Gorrell, who led all scorers with 21 points. “It was fun. I’ve never heard this place that loud before.” The Spartans had a 37-35 lead entering the fourth quarter. But the final eight minutes were topsy-turvy, featuring three ties and eight lead changes. Jarvis posted up and scored to give Skyline a 53-51 lead, and Ben Smith stole the ball moments later to put the Spartans in control. But the Wildcats were able to coax a miss, grab a rebound and move the ball quickly up court. They set up a play called “Fist” that involves a high pick and roll for Gorrell. “I was going to the hole and I saw Tyler (Patterson) with his hands ready,” Gorrell said. “Whenever that’s there, he’s ready to shoot it.” Gorrell’s pass to the left corner found Patterson and the freshman sharpshooter knocked down the go-ahead 3-pointer with about 15 seconds left. Patterson scored 12 points on the night, all of them from SEE UPSET, PAGE 8

Mount Si finishes fifth at KingCo wrestling tourney BY NEIL PIERSON

npierson@snovalleystar.com

GREG FARRAR | gfarrar@snovalleystar.com

Mount Si senior Brennan Dalgleish (top) works to take down Eastlake senior Eric Plummer at 220 pounds for the Class 4A KingCo championship Feb. 4 at Juanita High School. Dalgleish won, 7-2.

The Mount Si Wildcats scored 116 points, good for fifth out of eight teams, and qualified seven individuals for regional competition at the Class 4A KingCo Conference wrestling championships, Feb. 4 at Juanita High School in Kirkland. The Wildcats had three champions at the KingCo meet as Duncan Harrison (145 pounds), Mason Marenco (170) and Brennan Dalgleish (220) rolled through their respective weight classes. Harrison, a junior who’s looking to make

his Mat Classic state tournament debut after two years as an alternate, moved into the 145-pound final with a 4-0 decision over Eastlake’s Adam Henderson and a pin of Skyline’s Jaron Jin in 3 minutes, 51 seconds. Harrison won the title as teammate Conor Holt forfeited and both wrestlers will compete at the Region 2 championships, Feb. 11 at Skyline High School in Sammamish. The top four finishers at each weight advanced. Holt needed 56 seconds to pin Newport’s Hans Zhang and also beat

SEE FIFTH, PAGE 8

THIS WEEK Class 4A Region 2 wrestling championships At Skyline High School, Feb. 11 n First-round matches start at 10 a.m., finals at 5 p.m. n Eight KingCo Conference schools and eight North Puget Sound League Cascade Division schools will be in attendance. The top four finishers in each weight class advance to the Mat Classic state championships, Feb. 17-18 at the Tacoma Dome.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017

SNOVALLEY STAR

UPSET

FIFTH

outside the arc. Griffith said it might’ve been the most clutch shot he has seen from a 14-year-old during his coaching career. “We’ve been talking to him, actually, during the season about understanding how to hit shots like that,” Griffith said. “You’ve got to put yourself in the situation first before you can make the first one.” Skyline’s Kellan Przybylski finished with 16 points to lead the Spartans, but had only three in the second half

Issaquah’s Caulin Saper with a 6-5 decision. Mason Marenco, a senior who’s trying to repeat as a state medalist, had little difficulty winning the KingCo Crown at 170. He pinned Eastlake freshman Aidan McKean in 48 seconds, beat Woodinville’s Braulio Arroyo, 9-2, and pinned Issaquah’s Chase Helgeson in 1:51 in the championship bout. Marenco was also named the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler. Dalgleish, a senior, will be aiming for his first Mat Classic medal this month. He was sharp during a 3-0 run to the KingCo title, pinning Eastlake’s Aidian Vadez in 38 seconds, then taking decisions over Issaquah’s Terry Zaragoza (6-1) and Eastlake’s Eric Plummer (7-2). SCOTT Z.noPROOF.SR.CMYK. Mount Si’s Spencer PDF 0127 LAM

From Page 7

GREG FARRAR | gfarrar@snovalleystar.com

Mount Si freshman guard Tyler Patterson (11) follows through as a 3-point shot is good for a Wildcat 42-40 lead with 5:10 left in the fourth quarter Jan. 31 against Skyline.

game record the previsaid. “… I just competed ous week with 39 points with him, I guess, and just against Bothell. grinded it out. He got tired, “He’s a good player; he it looked like, so I did my LAURA PDF 0203 LAM exhausted me,” F.noPROOF.SR.CMYK. Gorrell job, I think.” 06.18077.THUR.0209.2X2.LAM

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as Gorrell stayed in his hip pocket. It was a tough assignment as Przybylski has been on fire lately, breaking Skyline’s single-

Marenco (138) and Henry Foster (152) finished second in their divisions, with Kaiden Barlow coming in third at 152 to round out the Wildcats’ regional qualifiers. Spencer Marenco advanced to the final with a pair of pins, toppling Woodinville’s Andrew Lopez in 1:19 and Skyline’s Paul Abboud in 3:27. But he met his match in Skyline’s Scott Huff, a returning state qualifier who captured the KingCo title with a pin just before the first-period horn. Foster’s tournament included a 6-1 decision over Bothell’s Nicholas Mitchell and an 11-8 decision over Issaquah’s Kamil Solowieji. Foster fell in the final to Woodinville’s Drew Christensen (5-1). Barlow took only 39 seconds to win his opening match over Eastlake’s Nick Trochalakis, but then was pinned by Woodinville’s Christensen in 39 seconds. Barlow’s response was positive as he beat Mitchell of Bothell with a third-period pin and Solowieji of Issaquah (9-2). Issaquah successfully defended its KingCo tournament title, scoring 203 points. Skyline (169), Newport (166) and Eastlake (124) rounded out the top-four teams in the standings.

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