Your locally-owned newspaper, serving North Bend and Snoqualmie, Washington
December 1, 2011 VOL. 3, NO. 48
Down by the old mill
Unicycles unite! Page 15
Fire destroys apartments in North Bend complex
Snoqualmie votes to annex mill site from King County. Page 2
Residents need help getting back on their feet
Opinion
A Thanksgiving Day fire in North Bend engulfed six apartments and compromised at least four more, City Administrator Duncan Wilson said. The fire started at about 8:09 p.m. at the Mount Si Court Apartments, 475 E. North Bend Way. According to a press release from Eastside Fire & Rescue, occupants of one of the apartments returned home to find it filled with smoke and flames. When fire crews arrived at the complex, at least three floors were on fire. By the time firefighters controlled it, the flames had left as many as 30 people without a home. “It was chaos,” said Ryan Melton, a neighbor who lives behind the apartment where authorities suspect the fire began. “People were scared that it would spread. Everybody was just in utter panic.”
Page 4
Police blotter Page 7
High flying visitor Thunderbird pilot visits Encompass classes. Page 14
Cheers for the Big Apple Cheerleaders perform in Macy’s parade. Page 16
Soccer alums Mount Si grads go to championship. Page 16
Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 POSTAL CUSTOMER
By Sebastian Moraga
The fire looked like it started on the bottom floor of the apartment building, Melton said, and worked its way up. He said that sparks shot out of the buildings, but none made it to his home. Nevertheless, Melton said he grabbed his dog and fled to Snoqualmie after the fire started. A King County Sheriff’s Office deputy had to be taken to the hospital due to smoke inhalation and a 38-year-old woman collapsed in the parking lot of the apartments. Josie Williams, public information officer with EFR, said the woman was resuscitated at the scene and taken to a hospital. Wilson said the woman is listed as stable. No other injuries were reported. The King County Fire Marshall Services office determined the fire was accidental, and likely caused by smoking See FIRE, Page 6
By Sebastian Moraga
Windows were boarded up the day after the fire at the Mount Si Court Apartments.
Holiday fund drive will benefit Officials expect Mount Si Food Bank this year hand recount in hospital board race A new community fund has been established to address hunger and emergency financial aid for Snoqualmie Valley families doing their best to get ahead. Fund for the Valley kicks off its inaugural year with all donations going to the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank in North Bend. While demand for food grows, the food bank is struggling, due to the loss of $19,000 in federal funding. You can help make up the difference with contributions to Fund for the Valley, a holiday fund drive initiated by the SnoValley Star. A goal of $10,000 has been set for this first year. Area residents and businesses do already contribute to the food bank. The Valley’s three grocery stores contribute surplus food every week. Community groups, churches and many individuals make food and cash donations, or participate in benefit events. And taxpayers contribute via
the cities of North Bend and Snoqualmie. Nevertheless, the loss of $19,000 will be tough to overcome. Meanwhile, the demand is growing. Many of the food bank’s clients are working, but are unable to make ends meet. The impact is especially hard on the 300 children and 150 seniors that rely on the food bank each week. There is no one profile for who uses the food bank. Its clients include people who’ve been laid off and are in between jobs, people facing unexpected and staggering healthcare costs, and recently divorced parents struggling to make ends meet. Not everyone comes each week. Some come only once. Some come for a few weeks or months until they find a new job. Some come from time to time, when they need some support from their neighbors and community. The one common characteristic is
The race for a seat on Public Hospital District No. 4’s board of commissioners is separated by a hair’s width. Gene Pollard leads Karyn Denton by five votes, according to the final unofficial results posted Monday, Nov. 28. If the two candidates remain separated less than one-fourth of 1 percent of their vote totals when the King County Elections’ Canvassing Board certifies the final result, a hand recount will be automatically triggered, Elections spokeswoman Kim van Ekstrom said. A difference of about 23 votes or fewer will trigger the recount based on the unofficial results. The Canvassing Board met Nov. 29 and was expected to finish by the next day. The election’s outcome could have lasting effects for the district, which operates Snoqualmie
See FUND, Page 6
See ELECTION, Page 6
By Dan Catchpole