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Mount Si gets wild win over Eastlake Page 7
Your locally owned newspaper, serving North Bend and Snoqualmie, Washington October 16, 2015
North Bend council to send long-term prisoners to Yakima By Dylan Chaffin dchaffin@snovalleystar.com North Bend will now have the option to send their longterm prisoners to Yakima, as per a decision made by the North Bend City Council at its Oct. 6 meeting. In an effort to reduce the city’s jail costs, the Snoqualmie Police Department looked at other contracts with jailers in Chelan and Yakima counties, Chief Steve McCulley told the council. Right now, the city transports nonfelony offenders to Issaquah, where the city pays $100 a day to hold them. If a felony is committed, that person is sent to the King County Jail in Seattle, where they are held for $150 a day, on top of a $220 booking fee. Yakima provides its own transportation to the jail and will only cost the city $55 a day. The motion passed unanimously. North Bend has consistently designated about $100,000 in
the budget for jail costs, but since the Snoqualmie Police department took over two years ago, actual costs have exceeded that number. In 2014, the city designated $115,000 in the budget, but spent $352,000. In 2015, the city budgeted $150,000 and spent $209,000. The downward trend shown in already decreasing costs reflects police efforts, McCulley said, to give tangible results, especially regarding the known criminal transient population in North Bend. “Eventually we get traction, and we start to see things change,” he said. McCulley added that citizens have said in a department survey that they feel safer. The city also held its third public hearing for the transportation impact fee at the meeting. Several came forward with ideas and suggestions for how to carry out payment of the fees, which will now rise to See PRISONERS, Page 6
By Dylan Chaffin
‘The Spider Lair,’ one of several attractions at Night on a Dark Trail, features an actress jumping out at and scaring customers. There will be another performance of the show Saturday, Oct. 17.
Rain or shine, horror show goes on There will be a special “command performance” of Night on a Dark Trail Oct. 17. Due to rain, the show was cancelled on its second night last week, but that hasn’t stopped Event Organizer Mark Hennig and the dozens of volunteers from coming together to make sure that the show does go on. “We scrambled on Sunday, and about 85 percent of the
crew got back to us,” Hennig said. “But there has been enough support in the community that the gaps have been filled up, so we have some new cast members. “I’m just amazed by it,” he added. “It’s a humbling experience that so many people would come and support us enough to get this thing off the ground for the weekend.”
The Friday night performance saw about 500 people, Hennig said. The performance will take place at the same location, on the site of Snoqualmie Valley Hospital’s East campus, on Southeast Snoqualmie Parkway from 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $10. The trail is recommended for ages 10 and older.
Save Snoqualmie Falls protesters: Mount Si High revives homecoming tradition ‘Can you hear us now, mayor?’ By Dylan Chaffin dchaffin@snovalleystar.com Dozens of Save Snoqualmie Falls protesters appeared before the Snoqualmie City Council at its Oct. 12 meeting to convey one simple message: Do not build on any more sacred land. Speaking on behalf of the Snoqualmie Tribe, council alternate Melynda Davis delivered a short message that once again called out Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson for comments made to the media that the Tribe says mischaracterizes its position on development and
cultural beliefs. “Your words hurt, Mr. Mayor and the citizens of Snoqualmie and this region deserve better than ignorance,” Davis said. The crowd filled the entire left side of the council chambers, holding signs that declared messages of, “Can you hear us now?” and “This is a sacred place: develop somewhere else!” The city’s comprehensive plan includes the development of 175 homes atop Tokul Hill. “We are asking all of you not to allow any more construction on Tokul Hill or anywhere near Snoqualmie Falls,” Davis said at
the meeting. “We are asking you to listen to us. Please do your due diligence as it is your responsibility as elected officials. Don’t rubberstamp plans to build homes over sacred lands,” she said. “Don’t ignore these voices. Many of them are voices that you represent,” she added. The protesters delivered more than 4,000 petition signatures from residents of Snoqualmie and other communities across the region to stop the development of sacred lands. See PROTEST, Page 6
By Dylan Chaffin dchaffin@snovalleystar.com
Come rain or shine, students of Mount Si High School will bring back an old tradition with a homecoming parade that takes place Oct. 23. Associated Student Body head chair Claire Lis and two other Mount Si students, Riley Ovall and Cyrus Madrone, are heading up the efforts to make this year’s homecoming celebration something all members of the community can enjoy. “We’re really excited, because it’s something we can build on,” Lis said. “We can
use it to integrate Mount Si into the community even more.” The homecoming tradition was ended when the track around the football field was removed, but several alumni See TRADITION, Page 6 Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 POSTAL CUSTOMER