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Spartans maul Wildcats, 44-7 Page 7
Your locally owned newspaper, serving North Bend and Snoqualmie, Washington September 25, 2015
By George, still rockin’ for nearly 50 years By Dylan Chaffin dchaffin@snovalleystar.com
By Greg Farrar
Ready to race
Lucy Weed, 6, waves as her name is announced while she and driver Danny Vukovich, 9, get ready to roll in the annual Challenge Race sponsored by the Rotary Club of Snoqualmie Valley, held Sept. 19 on Snoqualmie Parkway. More than two-dozen young people with disabilities enjoyed a day of racing with volunteer drivers in friendly heat races in a Life Enrichment Options event.
Share your thoughts on DNR trails policy The Washington State Department of Natural Resources invites residents to comment on a draft policy that will guide the future development of recreation trails on DNR-managed lands. The agency oversees about 5.6 million acres of state land, much of which offers opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and off-road-vehicle riding. These lands must also generate sustainable revenue for public school construction and maintain Washington’s rich natural heritage, according to the state constitution. See the draft policy and a narrated slideshow about the recreational trails policy process, and comment on the draft policy by Sept. 28, at www.dnr.wa.gov/ TrailsPolicy. Or comment on the draft policy by emailing trailspolicy@dnr.wa.gov. The DNR anticipates adopting the policy by Oct. 31.
Council, mayor candidates discuss top issues in joint forum Sept. 18 By Dylan Chaffin dchaffin@snovalleystar.com What’s in store for Snoqualmie and North Bend as the cities continue to face development and infrastructure repairs? That was the main question posed to City Council and mayoral candidates in a forum at the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce luncheon Sept. 18. Snoqualmie Four Snoqualmie City Council candidates participated in the forum. Joe Larson and current Councilman Charles Peterson are vying for Position 6.
Councilwoman Chelley Patterson, who was elected last year to fill a vacancy in the council, is running uncontested for Position 2. Newcomer Brad Toft, a banking and real estate finance professional, is also running uncontested for Position 4. (Because Patterson and Toft are running uncontested, they only participated in opening statements, lightning-round, yes-or-no questions and closing statements.) During normal questioning, Larson said current city administrators have been judicious with managing the budget and in anticipating future losses. He also noted that if projections hold for housing devel-
opments, options to increase sales and property taxes would provide two or three revenues to meet future expenses. Peterson agreed, saying repairs to infrastructure are needed, but that the city has set aside money in utility rates, rates which are still cheaper for residential and commercial users than the closest seven cities. When asked about developing a large retail grocery store proposed for Snoqualmie Ridge Business Park, both said the store would be beneficial to the city. “Studies show that 70 percent of moneys spent on See FORUM, Page 3
“Rock ‘n’ roll never sleeps, it just passes out,” so says George Thorogood, who has been playing rock ‘n’ roll for nearly 50 years. George All those Thorogood years, more than 8,000 live shows and more than 20 million albums sold worldwide later, the 65-year-old Thorogood is still going strong — and he’s bringing his guitar talents and energy to the Snoqualmie Casino on Oct. 1 with his band, the Destroyers. In a phone interview last week, Thorogood said he and the band, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2014, don’t work out their shows ahead of time, adding that it depends mostly on the energy of the crowd. Many may recognize the band for its hits “Bad to the Bone,” “I Drink Alone,” “Who Do You Love?” and “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.” The five-man band is currently embarking on its second tour this year. It finished its Badder Than Ever tour in April, with longtime band members Jeff Simon, drums; Bill Blough, bass guitar; Jim Suhler, rhythm guitar; and Buddy Leach, saxophone. Even with the continual See GEORGE, Page 2 Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 POSTAL CUSTOMER