Your locally-owned newspaper, serving North Bend and Snoqualmie, Washington
March 14, 2013 VOL. 5, NO. 10
Soccer team gets rolling Page 12
Local group asks North Bend to ban plastic bags By Michele Mihalovich
Mixed reviews Local reps split on controversial bill.
Page 2
No ink for you North Bend says no to downtown tattoo parlors. Page 3
Rock on Several bands participate in teen music summit. Page 6
Police blotter Page 11
While not exactly a scientific survey, organizers trying to get plastic bags banned in North Bend said they did get a good sense of community support based on the number of honks and thumbs-up they received March 10. Then again, who wouldn’t honk at a man dressed in a plastic bag monster costume? North Benders Larry and Bonnie Lawlor, Juan J. Medina and Stefanie Hawk-Johnson stood on the corner of North Bend Way and Bendigo Boulevard trying to drum up support for a plastic bag ban in the city. To emphasize the point, Medina dress up in a plastic bag monster costume, while the rest held up signs urging a “honk” to show support. Hawks-Johnson said they heard about 100 honks in 90 minutes, with an untold number of thumbs-up. “So, what’s that come out to, about a honk a minute? I see that as a pretty good show of support,” she said. The group also passed out flyers letting everyone know about a free showing of the documentary “Bag It,” which will play at 1 p.m. at the North Bend Theatre March 24.
Contributed
Larry Lawlor (from left), Juan J. Medina (dressed in the plastic bag monster costume), Stefanie Hawk-Johnson and Bonnie Lawlor stood on the corner of North Bend Way and Bendigo Boulevard on March 10 trying to drum up support for banning plastic bags in North Bend. Hawks-Johnson said the documentary is about a man who looked into the plastic bag industry, and that it’s “done
Mount Si plane crash pilot was intoxicated Class act Middle school teacher is named best of the year. Page 14
Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 POSTAL CUSTOMER
By Mike Carter Seattle Times reporter The pilot who flew a singleengine plane into the side of Mount Si last year, killing himself and two passengers, was intoxicated, according to findings by the National Transportation Safety Board. A report published last month, written in preparation for the NTSB’s final report regarding the Feb. 15, 2012, accident, found that pilot Rob Hill, an experienced commercial pilot and flight instructor, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.15 percent, nearly four times the amount allowed for a crewmember on a civil aircraft,
according to the findings. Hill, 30, was a flight instructor at AcuWings and took one of the company’s planes from the Renton Municipal Airport without permission, according to company officials. Hill, along with friends Seth Dawson, 31, and Liz Redling, 29, took off at about 1:30 a.m. after attending a local hockey game and going out to dinner, according to the report. Redling posted photographs of herself and Hill in the plane on a social-network page less than an hour before the crash. The NTSB determined that Hill, who had nearly 1,000 See CRASH, Page 11
with humor and a lot of good information.” Hawks-Johnson and Bonnie Lawlor spoke at the March 5
Affordable housing town hall meeting is March 21 The city of Snoqualmie will host a town hall meeting March 21 focusing on the potential Imagine Housing affordable housing project in Snoqualmie. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Snoqualmie City Hall, 38624 S.E. River St., in downtown Snoqualmie. The project plans have not been submitted to the city for approval, but may be considered at a City Council meeting in the future if a formal proposal is made and additional research is provided. While a quorum of the Snoqualmie City Council may be in attendance at the town hall meeting, no action will be taken. During previous community outreach meetings hosted by Imagine Housing, some Snoqualmie residents had ques-
North Bend City Council, but no one on the council asked any See BAGS, Page 2 tions related to the project, according to a press release from the city. The purpose of the town hall meeting is for Mayor Matt Larson and city senior staff members to address questions that are specific to city planning for affordable housing and related topics. Staff members will present answers to questions that have been most frequently asked by the public. Following the presentation, the town hall will be open for a question-and-answer session. Learn more about affordable housing in Snoqualmie at www. ci.snoqualmie.wa.us/affordablehousing.aspx. Find out more about the potential Imagine Housing Timber Falls project at www.imaginehousing.org/what-wedo/future-properties/timber-falls. Email questions about the town hall meeting to info@ ci.snoqualmie.wa.us.