Your locally-owned newspaper, serving North Bend and Snoqualmie, Washington
December 29, 2011 VOL. 3, NO. 52
Artfully done Page 10
Blaze destroys Preston home before Christmas By Warren Kagarise
Ready for the flood County sets budget for flood control. Page 2
Stay awake State police warn about dangers of drowsy driving. Page 6
Police blotter Page 6
Zuzu visits “It’s a Wonderful Life” star greets people in the Valley. Page 7
By Eastside Fire & Rescue
Brian Jarvis, a firefighter with Eastside Fire & Rescue Engine 72, sprays water into a window of a burning Preston family home Dec. 22.
Look back Check out the top photos of 2011. Page 8
2011 saw many changes, especially in schools By Dan Catchpole
Hall of famer Mount Si quarterback from days past is inducted. Page 12
Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 POSTAL CUSTOMER
The Snoqualmie Valley continues to change, and 2011 saw several big developments that will affect the area for many years to come. From annexations to ground breakings to traffic jams, the Valley is evolving. Many of this year’s biggest stories revolved around schools — from school bonds to school board elections to a state baseball title. Here is a look back at this year’s biggest local stories and trends. School bond fails In February, a $56.2 million bond for a new middle school failed by a single vote. The Snoqualmie Valley School Board sent the bond to voters after approving a plan last year to handle projected overcrowd-
ing at Mount Si High School by turning the existing Snoqualmie Middle School into a satellite campus. The board sent the bond to voters again in April, and supporters and detractors rallied voters to their side. The opposition gained the most and defeated the bond by more than 1,000 votes. The School Board still plans to convert Snoqualmie Middle School into a satellite campus for ninth-graders for the 20122013 school year. That will require sending more students to the district’s two other middle schools. Reform candidates win school board elections Reform candidates won two See REVIEW, Page 3
Firefighters lost a battle against the elements early Dec. 22, and a predawn blaze left a Preston family homeless only days before Christmas. The rural location along a tight, steep road less than a mile from Interstate 90 left firefighters little room to maneuver to combat the flames. The lack of fire hydrants in the neighborhood also limited firefighters’ options. Flames tore through the home at 8303 293rd Ave. S.E. at about 2:45 a.m. The occupants escaped unharmed, but a firefighter suffered a minor burn to the face and is expected to recover. Eastside Fire & Rescue and other nearby emergency aid agencies responded to the blaze after the homeowner called 911 and said a fire started in the garage and spread into the wood-frame house. The house and attached garage belched flames and smoke as firefighters arrived at the scene moments See FIRE, Page 2
Safety song hits unexpected note morning. “My grandFame came in a daughter flash for Chuck screamed Smith. when she The Snoqualmie saw me on Valley School TV,” Smith District bus driver’s said. “She rap song about bus freaked.” safety has reached Next, dizzying heights. Kim “I didn’t expect Hooper, it to do this,” he chairman of said. “The original the Training was to get the Agency word across to the Association students in our of district.” By Sebastian Moraga Michigan, It went much School bus driver Chuck Smith, in asked the farther. what he calls his 'office.' Star for perIt began when mission to the SnoValley Star featured an use the video of Smith’s song to 80-second video of Smith train 20,000 school bus drivers in singing the song, where he tells the Wolverine State. Hooper said students in a fun rap what to do someone emailed a link of the in case of an emergency during video to the association. a bus trip. Smith said he has a son livKING-5 TV showed the video ing northeast of Detroit. It on its newscast twice the night See SAFETY, Page 2 of Dec. 15 and once the next By Sebastian Moraga