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FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016
WILDCATS WIN MEET
Mount Si takes down Newport in KingCo 4A track Page 12
Council vote leaves Truck Town as is BY DYLAN CHAFFIN
dchaffin@snovalleystar.com
There will be no expanding or adding to Truck Town, per a decision made April 19 by the North Bend City Council to make the city’s interim regulations on growth permanent. It’s been four months since the council brought the pro-
posal to the public. During every meeting or work session where the truck stop has been on the agenda, members of the community have stepped forward to either strongly support or strongly oppose the mayor, the council and the commissions involved in the decision. Truck Town is the only full-
service truck stop on the 106mile stretch of Interstate 90 between Ellensburg and Seattle. Ten citizens spoke at the meeting. Seven of them supported the decision not to expand Truck Town, citing environmental concerns or how the truck stop would fit in with the city’s goal of becoming a premier recre-
ation destination. Those that spoke in favor of expansion were former truckers and the attorney of the owners of Truck Town. Other citizens said vitriolic responses were rooted in emotion and should be disregarded in the decisionmaking process. Gary Fancher, chairman
of the North Bend Planning Commission, said that there has been an increase in freight traffic, and that the city is also dealing with an influx of recreationalists who go to places like Mailbox Peak and Mount Si. “How much can one exit SEE TRUCKS, PAGE 15
Boxley’s shuts its doors
Plans are in the works to open a new venue
DYLAN CHAFFIN | dchaffin@snovalleystar.com
Two teams of recruits prepare to enter the burn tower for a hands-on lesson in fire behavior and how to react safely to a live fire scenario April 24 at the state Fire Academy in North Bend.
Burning desire to fight fire
BY DYLAN CHAFFIN dchaffin@snovalleystar.com
Not many people grow up knowing which career path they’ll follow, but Heather Reed always knew she wanted to do something that would help other people. Growing up, Reed’s brother was interested in becoming a firefighter, but her
first priority was becoming a paramedic, she said. At 15, she joined King County Search and Rescue as a volunteer and was able to go out on emergency calls. But she soon realized that crosstraining in firefighting would make her better at her craft, she said. “I didn’t want it to be a one-sided career,” she said.
She became a volunteer with Eastside Fire and Rescue about a year-and-ahalf ago, where she would see her first house fire “three months on the line,” she said. She still remembers the details: a kitchen fire “got just a little out of control,” plus the feeling of helping others SEE ACADEMY, PAGE 15
Boxley’s landmark jazz club has closed its doors for good. Boxley’s owner Danny Kolke announced on a Facebook post to friends April 16 the club was closing its doors after seven years due to a lack of financial returns. While no date was given for the closure, the club’s last official event was its role as a venue during North Bend’s Jazz Walk April 23. Kolke’s nonprofit Boxley Music Fund will continue to support JazzClubsNW, a fellow nonprofit that brings live jazz performance and education opportunities. To learn more, go to jazzclubsnw.org/ SEE BOXLEY’S, PAGE 15
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