By Chris Hendrickson and Polly Keary
With the year coming to an end this week, we bid farewell to 2014 by highlighting some of the news stories we covered in the last 12 months.
The year brought much change to Monroe and the surrounding Sky Valley area. Mayor Geoffrey Thomas took the helm in Monroe, and in Gold Bar, new Mayor Linda Loen was sworn into office. The Monroe Chamber of Commerce welcomed Una Wirkebau-Hartt as their new Executive Director, after former director Annique Bennett left to take a position with Snohomish County.
Voters were supportive when it came to education. The Monroe School District passed a learning levy as well as a technology levy, and the Sultan School District's maintenance and operations levy passed comfortably.
In the interest of public safety, Snohomish County Fire District #5, located in Sultan, successfully passed a critical maintenance and operations levy renewal. The Monroe Police Department swore in several new officers and acquired a new tracking dog named Nuke, who is partnered with Officer Jason Southard. K9 Nuke replaced K9 Joker, who retired in May.
The city of Monroe continued to grapple with the East Monroe rezone, holding extensive discussion on how to respond to the Washington State Growth Management Hearings Board's determination of invalidity. The East Monroe issue will follow them into 2015.
They also struggled with the state's legalization of marijuana, finally deciding to enact a business license prohibition in order to keep pot businesses out of the city of Monroe.
The city of Sultan took a stand against petty crimes like car prowls, burglary and theft. The community banded together to revamp the Block Watch program, which is now being chaired by resident Bob Klement. Additionally, the Sultan Community Task Force, chaired by Calei Vaughn, was formed to help get rid of the area's homeless encampments and build a stronger community.
The mid-term election results held no real surprises. Washington State 39th District Representative Elizabeth Scott won her second term against opponent Charles Jensen, with over 62 percent of the vote. Representative Dan Kristiansen ran unopposed.
Sultan Mayor Carolyn Eslick decided to broaden her political horizons by setting her aspirations on the Snohomish County Executive's seat, which was on the ballot to determine who would serve out the final year in former Executive Aaron Reardon's term. She faced off against incumbent John Lovick, who was appointed to the seat in June of 2013. Despite a significant difference in the level of campaign funding, Eslick held her own against the more seasoned Lovick, losing, but with a sturdy 44 percent of the vote.
Monroe resident Sgt. Jim Upton ran for Snohomish County Sheriff against incumbent Sheriff Ty Trenary, who was appointed to the position in July of 2013 after former Sheriff Lovick transitioned to the executive's office. Upton, who received over 46 percent of the vote, lost out to Trenary, who received 53 percent.
Both seats will be on the ballot again in 2015, to determine who will serve in the next four-year term.
The year was not without tragedy. Snohomish County Fire District #26 in Gold Bar lost honored paramedic firefighter Les Putnam, who passed away unexpectedly in September. In Monroe, the community grieved when 82-year-old Marion Allred was stuck by a Community Transit bus as she attempted to cross Main Street on September 25. Allred did not survive her injuries.
On December 8, Monroe lost a beloved wife and mother when 41-year-old Jennifer Dahl passed away unexpectedly from an undiagnosed heart condition.
The Oso landslide touched everyone deeply, as did the shooting at Marysville Pilchuck High School.
The Monroe Monitor saw its share of change in 2014 as long-time editor Polly Keary left the newspaper to pursue her dream of obtaining her Ph.D. in Communications. We at the Monitor have worked to continue her tradition of fair and unbiased journalism. We were honored when she agreed to return to the newsroom to help us write our year-in-review.
We thank you all for your loyalty to our newspaper in 2014!
JANUARY
Monroe
Geoffrey Thomas took office as mayor of Monroe and set goals for to the city, including getting through a backlog in the planning department. He laid off economic development manager Jeff Sax in favor of hiring a community development director (the difference between the two positions is that a community development director also does planning). Thomas also made a goal of coming up with better financial planning or the city.
Traffic cameras that issued tickets to people speeding in school zones on Main Street and on Fryelands Boulevard, or running a red light at the intersection of Kelsey and U.S. 2, were turned off following prolonged public opposition to their use. The cameras were put into use in 2010, attracting the attention of anti-tax activist Tim Eyman, who ran an initiative to get rid of them. The city sued to block the initiative; a subsequent legal battle had mixed results, with the judge ruling that the initiative couldn't force the city to shut off cameras, but also that the city had blocked too much of the initiative. The cameras were profitable for the city even after legal expenses were considered; netting about $100,000 per year. The cameras were turned off at the conclusion of the contract with the company that leased them to the city.
The Monroe Monitor identified events scheduled for the Monroe area in 2014, including the completion of a second bridge across the Snohomish River to allow for two-lane, divided traffic on S.R. 522 across the river; the completion and opening of Walmart; the near-completion of Tjerne Place, a street to run parallel to U.S. 2 across town; the arrival of Five Guys Burgers and Discount Tire; new way-finding signs throughout the city; and two school levies.
DREAM, the Downtown Revitalization and Enhancement Association of Monroe, disbanded. The organization coalesced in about 2005 to preserve the historic downtown and to manage the effort to create a Main Street program, a national program that has been successful in helping many towns such as Walla Walla redevelop historic downtowns. DREAM flagged when founder Vickie Mullen moved away, then rallied under the leadership of Main Clothing Company owner Paula Fortier, finally succumbing when Fortier moved her business to Lake Tye.
A burglary suspect chose an unlikely hiding spot when pursued by police; after a brief 6 a.m. car chase into Monroe from Sultan, where he had appeared to be breaking into the Sultan Waste Station, the suspect fled his vehicle and jumped into a retention pond near North Kelsey, where he hid. He was discovered when, hypothermic, he appeared wet and shivering and asking to use the bathroom at a local business.
The Monroe Gospel Women's Mission expanded after nine years in Monroe, opening a second location in town for longer-term transitional housing.
Dave Murray, who with his wife, Amanda, were long-time residents of Gold Bar and owners of the Mail Station in Monroe, was revealed to be a fugitive who had escaped a Missouri prison 30 years earlier. Born Dennis Lilly, he and his wife, whose real name was Mary Lilly, lived quietly. They were known for the corgis that keep them company at the Mail Station, and Dennis Lilly sometimes served as a community Santa at Christmas. Lilly died a year before the FBI finally caught up. His wife, hoping to preserve his secret, buried him at the family home. The FBI only found her when a discrepancy between her birthdate and her social security number was reported.
Update: Charges against Amanda Murray were considered but there is no record that they were ever filed.
Valley
Long-time Sultan volunteer Bob Knuckey died at the end of 2013 at the age of 80, and was remembered by community members as a driving force for the implementation of the city's widely successful adopt-a-street program. He also, with his wife, Teresa, coined the phrase "City Wide PrideGÇ¥ under which many volunteer programs were carried out, and he was heavily involved in park cleanup, as well. Knuckey served on the Planning Commission for the last five years of his life.
The Monroe Monitor noted projects planned for 2014 in the upper Sky Valley, including a summer river cleanup; the beginning of construction of a trail system between Osprey and River Parks, preparation of a design for a shooting range on Sultan Basin Road; ground-breaking on a new Boys and Girls Club in Sultan; the growth of the Boomtown Initiative to promote Sultan as a good place to live and do business; reconstruction of Alder Avenue; and securing funding for the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Sultan River.
Linda Loen was sworn in as mayor of Gold Bar. She set goals of establishing better budgetary procedures and code updates.
Index was struck by a landslide, the second in a month, cutting off power to about 80 residents and blocking part of the access road to the Mt. Index Riversites community.
A Gold Bar man was sentenced to a year in federal prison for helping smuggle live turtles between Hong Kong and the United States.
FEBRUARY
Monroe
A Trombley-area man faced life in prison after terrorizing a Monroe family on U.S. 2. The man, with a long history of violence and paranoia, called police and said that the occupants of another car on U.S. 2 were shooting at him. Police located both vehicles, and the unarmed driver of the other vehicle reported that Mulholland had been trying to run them off the road. Mulholland was charged with second-degree assault. He had already been sentenced to life on a three-strikes offense in 1996 but got the conviction overturned and went on to become a prison consultant and author, advising first-time offenders and the media about life behind bars.
The Hitching Post, a popular Main Street restaurant, and Video Factory, a long-time video rental store, both closed in Monroe. The Hitching Post closed following a lease dispute between the restaurant owner and the property owner, and the Video Factory closed in part due to competition from new entertainment technologies such as Redbox and Netflix.
Monroe high school alum Jessica Irwin, a Seattle Seahawks Sea Gal, rode in a float at the massive Seahawks victory parade in Seattle, which many Sky Valley sports fans attended. Irwin later told the Monitor about life as a Seagal. Also in attendance was disabled Monroe High School sportswriter Diyami Seehorn, whose subsequent story about his frustration at not being able to get his wheelchair through the crowds at the parade set off a chain of events that led to him being a guest at the Mariners' Opening Day (see April for more).
School levies passed in both Monroe and Sultan. Monroe passed two levies, one a regular levy that provides for about 20 percent of the budget, the other a levy to pay for upgrades to technology throughout the district.
The Buzz Inn Steakhouse in Monroe was robbed when a thief tied up a 69-year-old employee who was cleaning the restaurant at 4 a.m. and left him in a restroom. The employee struggled into the hall, where other arriving employees found him about an hour later.
Valley
Sultan High School freshmen held a first-ever Commitment to Graduation Ceremony, drawing about half the freshman class, in spite of the fact that the Seahawks celebratory Super Bowl victory parade was the same day.
Sultan's statue of Chief T'seul-Ted, or "Sultan John,GÇ¥ the Native American man for whom the town is named, would have to be moved from its location in River Park to make way for a planned pedestrian bridge over the Sultan River, residents learned.
Update: Plans remain to move the statue, but so far plans are on hold, pending funding for the bridge.
Ted Jackson, a full time volunteer with the city of Sultan who also lobbies in Olympia for funding for local projects, was named Volunteer of the Year at the Sky Valley Community Awards Celebration.
Amanda Moody, 21, of Gold Bar, was killed in a car crash. She had been a long time employee of the Sultan Library and was also a precocious student; she had finished high school at the age of 15. She was also very involved in her church and community.
MARCH
Monroe
Julie Loan Ky Alexander, a longtime employee of the Monroe Post Office, published her memoirs of life in wartime Vietnam and her subsequent emigration to America. The book, called "A Rose on the Steel Ground,GÇ¥ generated considerable interest in Monroe, where there were a number of crowded book signing events.
The driver of a white pickup truck seemed to have had a medical emergency that resulted in the vehicle striking four others as it traveled down U.S. from Kelsey nearly to Main Street before coming to rest.
Monroe lost two popular businesses, gained another and a third changed hands. Gumby's Emporium, a quirky gift shop downtown, closed for lack of sufficient business, and gluten-free bakery Guilt Free Goodness closed its storefront to become a wholesale bakery. A new consignment store, Deja New, opened on Main, and a popular Tualco Valley market stand changed hands, as well as names, going from Sweet Deal Produce to First Pick Produce.
A small homebuilt airplane crashed at the Monroe airport when the propeller fell off shortly after takeoff. The pilot, a Duvall man, 50, was not seriously injured. Photo courtesy of the Monroe Police Department.
A free screening for heart defects among Sky Valley high school athletes resulted in the discovery of two students with serious heart issues. The program, offered by the Nick of Time Foundation, was created in the wake of the death of a Mill Creek student who died of a cardiac arrest after a strenuous game, due to an unsuspected congenital heart defect.
Monroe City Council banned pot-related businesses within city limits by passing an ordinance declaring that all businesses within the city must comply with local, state and federal laws. Currently, pot is legalized in Washington State, but remains illegal at the federal level; although the federal government is withholding action against the two states that have legalized.
Heroin use was growing more common in Snohomish County, warned drug treatment specialists. The trend was traced to a shift away from use of methamphetamines and toward opiates.
Valley
Snohomish County Executive John Lovick came to Sultan to deliver his State of the County speech to the Sultan Chamber of Commerce.
Sultan Mayor Carolyn Eslick was burglarized three times in a single week. Thieves first broke into her car, which was parked outside her home, then two days later, her home was ransacked at midday. After she discovered the damage, she left home again that evening, only to be struck a third time. Later, one of her pillowcases, used to haul loot from her home, was found in a homeless encampment along the Skykomish River.
Mayor Eslick declared her candidacy for the position of Snohomish County Executive. The county held a special election in November to fill the rest of the term of resigned executive Aaron Reardon, whose post was temporarily assigned to John Lovick last year pending the November election.
Ten historic cabins were dismantled, removed from the Sultan VOA property in Sultan, and transported by flatbed truck to Fern Bluff Road non-profit Horses Healing Heroes, where they were reassembled to house visiting military veterans who come to the ranch to work with horses as a means of recovering from PTSD.
Two Sultan moms, both parents of disabled children, began training to climb Mount Rainier as a fundraiser for The Determined Parents Foundation. Kelly Tipple Moran and Heidi Kossow Dawson planned to make the climb in September.
Update:Heidi and Kelly set out to tackle Mt. Rainier in late September. Unfortunately, high altitude pulmonary edema prevented Heidi from making it to the summit, and while Kelly got closer, she ended up turning back at about 11,500 feet. "Our Mt. Rainier awareness climb was not without bumps in the road, but it was the most humbling and rewarding thing that we have ever done. Thank you for all of your support and well wishes during this journey. We did it to raise awareness and funds for special needs kids,GÇ¥ said Kelly.
Sultan Elementary kids got an unusual incentive to increase their reading when Vick's Burger Shack offered any elementary student who read a classic book through the Read-at-Home program at Sultan Elementary a free junior cheeseburger, root beer and fries.
APRIL
Monroe
Hundreds of friends of the Trey Lauren family plunged into chilly Lake Tye to show support for the 13-year-old Trey, who was battling a serious flesh-eating bacteria he got from a small cut on his knee suffered during a ball game. The young man had seven surgeries in eight days, but his spirits were lifted by video of the polar plunge, as well as a visit from Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
Update: Trey Lauren recovered, and returned to playing ball. In December, his story about his experience at Children's Hospital was featured on KOMO-TV.
Monroe firefighters were among the first responders and also participated in the ongoing search for survivors and victims following the Oso mudslide disaster.
Monroe resident Robin Davis, while stopped on S.R. 522 during road construction backups, saw a three-car crash just behind her and got out of her car to help, only to be struck a few minutes later when another vehicle plowed into the accident scene. She suffered a traumatic brain injury and was sent to ICU at Harborview. Davis, a female drummer in a local band, said she wouldn't hesitate to help someone again.
The Monroe Chamber of Commerce got new leadership when former director Annique Bennett left to take another job and was replaced by Una Wirkebau-Hartt, a woman with global tourism experience in locations as diverse as Australia (where once a deadly snake crawled into her house and curled up on her bathmat), Alaska and Colorado.
Monroe City Council decided against holding a summer music festival, following loss of money on the first one held the summer before, at which several noted musicians appeared, including fusion guitarist Carl Verheyen and Blues Traveler frontman John Popper.
Diyami Seehorn, a disabled teen sportswriter who wrote a guest editorial in the Monitor about his disappointment at crowds not letting his wheelchair through at the Seahawks victory parade in Seattle, came to the attention of KOMO news reporter Eric Johnson, who arranged for Diyami to attend the Mariners' Opening Day. Johnson also did a story about the young writer, and Diyami wrote of his experience at the stadium for the Monroe Monitor.
Monroe resident held a candlelight vigil at Lake Tye Park following the suicide of a young local man. The residents hoped to spread awareness about the seriousness and danger of depression. It was the second suicide to sadden the town in a week; previously, Monroe High class of 1962 alum Ray Shepardson, a world-famous restoration expert of historic theaters, committed suicide in Cleveland at the site of one of his favorite theater experiences.
Monroe gained two businesses appealing to the gourmand. Harry's on Tye opened in the Fryelands with a large number of craft beers on tap, and Five Guys Burgers opened at North Kelsey.
The Monroe Correctional Complex held a memorial service for an employee who had been killed in the line of duty 63 years earlier by inmates trying to escape. While doing some research on prison policies, a corrections officer discovered that a prison employee named Benjamin Marshall had died in the line of duty in 1951, but she realized she hadn't seen his name in the places where such people have been formally remembered. The prison staff realized that the man had never had a full military funeral, as is customary for those killed in the line of duty, so they invited the man's surviving family and performed the service.
Monroe muralist David Hose touched up a mural on the wall of Napa in downtown Monroe, part of a rash of efforts to preserve the man's art legacy in town. Earlier in the month, a David Hose mural that had decorated the wall above the bar at popular Monroe music venue Eddie's Trackside before it closed last year was carefully removed and preserved, and efforts were underway to preserve several murals from the walls of the closed Hitching Post Cafe.
Valley
Hairdresser Julie Gress shaved a Mohawk into the hair of Sultan Middle School principal Nathan Plummer, following a successful fundraiser for the library. He later dyed the Mohawk bright red, the school's color. Photo by Chris Hendrickson.
About half the student body of Sultan High Schooldressed in red and formed a heart shape in the gym to send support to the town of Oso.
A man suspected of stealing more than one-fifth of the inventory of the Sultan Pharmacy during a burglary was arrested, but released the next day without bail, to the indignation of many Sultan residents.
Update: Nicholas Dean Johnson was convicted of the Sultan Pharmacy burglary, and sentenced in Snohomish County Superior Court on September 30. He is currently in prison, serving a 19-month sentence.
Sultan residents and leading volunteers Woody and Judy Woods celebrated 50 years of marriage.
A thief broke into a vehicle belonging to military veteran Dave Sivewright, Sultan's well-known "Freedom Runner,GÇ¥ who stays fit by jogging along the highway carrying a large American flag, and stole dog tags that had belonged to the man's Vietnam veteran father.
MAY
Monroe
Everett Aquasox mascot Webbly takes the first pitch, thrown out by Trey Lauren, a Monroe youth who was recovering from a dangerous bout with a flesh eating bacteria. The pitch opened the annual Sky Valley Little League jamboree. Photo by Designer Portrait Studio, used with permission.
Strand's Home Furnishing owner Ben Strand, an avid boater, possibly saved the lives of nine people stranded on a sinking boat in Lake Washington. He and his family had just been headed for land after a day on the water when they saw another boat, off by itself, clearly in trouble. Strand got all nine people onto his own boat and got them all safely to shore.
Blakeley Street was closed for five weeks for major repair, temporarily making access to the Monroe Post Office difficult.
A Monroe felon, forbidden from gun ownership by law, was found with 46 guns in his possession, 31 of which had been reported stolen.
When Monroe native Tony Creswell was stricken with a brain tumor, community support was overwhelming. Some supporters built a website to organize meal preparation and delivery to the family. Others took turns delivering groceries. Former classmates organized and held an auction within just two weeks. And a group calling themselves "Tony's Dawg PackGÇ¥ set up a fundraising web page, meeting their goal of $10,000 in 90 days in less than 30 days.
Joker, a German shepherd with a nine-year career on the Monroe Police Force, retired. The K9 officer will live with his police handler, Jake Carswell, for the rest of his days.
A conflict over selection of a middle school math curriculum led to complaints from a Monroe teacher's union leader that teacher morale was at a critical low. Other concerns cited included a contentious atmosphere at some schools and agitation over classroom reassignments at one school. The district vowed to address the concerns, but noted that no one had been using the anonymous system for reporting such concerns.
Monroe sisters Rebecca and Lauren Casey, 14 and 16, took up an unusual extracurricular sport when they joined the Mob City misfits, a co-ed junior roller derby team based in Everett.
Valley
Lia Johnson won first place in the elementary age category of the Sky
Valley Lip Sync competition for her performance of the song "Let it GoGÇ¥ from the soundtrack of the movie "Frozen.GÇ¥
Former military security specialist Joe Stone and wife, Liz, decided to start a security consulting company in Sultan, following the theft of a bicycle from their garage.
Within a week of each other, two Sultan teens overdosed on the synthetic marijuana product "spice,GÇ¥ resulting in hospitalization for each of them. One teen had a series of seizures, and the other suffered concussions. The story drew national interest.
Deception Falls Park trails reopened after a year-long closure resulting from state budget cuts.
Teens volunteered to beautify the salmon hatchery at Sultan High School by painting a mural on the hatchery's large roll-up door. The mural depicts a scene of mountains, trees, and a river, and it covered up graffiti that had defaced the building for years.
JUNE
Monroe
Jerry "Big DogGÇ¥ Dixon rode his motorcycle into the opening ceremonies of the annual Sky Valley Relay for Life, of which he was the emcee. He wore Wild West sheriff's garb in keeping with the theme of this year's event, "Kickin' Cancer, Country Style.GÇ¥ It was Dixon's third and last year as emcee of the event. Photo by Natan Chase.
Monroe attorney and former city councilman Ken Berger, 60, died when his small seaplane crashed on the surface of Banks Lake in Eastern Washington. Berger was a mountaineer who had climbed mountains all over the world, including 29 ascents of Mount Rainier, with a 30th planned this year. He was also a papermaker and former newspaper publisher, who also ran a print shop for many years.
Homeless teen Joshua Armitage, who struggled through his last year of high
Dozens of Sky Valley dog lovers rallied to search for Fats, a black Labrador retriever who went missing while on a hike with his owner at Deception Falls. The dog was never found.
A Startup woman and five children were injured when their car was struck head-on by a mother of two just east of Monroe. The driver of the mother of two was suspected of driving under the influence of marijuana, but she said she had been distracted by squabbling kids in the back seat.
Update: Angella Halk, mother-of-four from Startup, has continued to recover from her extensive injuries. She was unable to return to her former job of working in a nursing home, but she recently obtained new employment with which she is very happy. Halk suffered two fractures of her left femur along with other broken bones and injuries when driver Heather Lee collided with her head-on. "I do still have some minor aches and pains once in a while, but all in all no complaints,GÇ¥ said Halk.
The at-fault driver, Heather Lee, was convicted on two counts of felony vehicular assault, and served 90 days in jail.
Housing Hope, a low-cost housing non-profit, broke ground on a 47-unit apartment complex to be called Monroe Family Village on West Main Street. Most of the apartments will be for low income families, with several apartments set aside for transitional housing for homeless families.
Drug detection dogs searched the Monroe High School parking lot for the first time, finding one car belonging to a student in which there was some marijuana. The teen was arrested. The search was a service of the Monroe Police Department, which will conduct the searches periodically.
A stray horse attacked a mare belonging to a Monroe man, breaking through the mare's corral and leading the mare away in the early hours of the morning. The man and two other family members tried to recover the mare, only to be attacked repeatedly by the stray stallion, who bit and kicked them, injuring one person's ankle and battering another. Finally a Sheriff's deputy was able to help subdue the animal until Animal Control could secure it.
Valley
Sultan residents rallied to fight crime at a two-hour meeting coordinated by Stone Security Services, a security consulting business founded to help fight crime in the area. Consensus at the meeting was that Sultan needs more police officers.
A Gold Bar boy who wrote a heartfelt letter of thanks to Providence Hospital for caring for his grandfather so touched the hospital's CEO that his entire class was invited to tour Providence's clinic in Monroe.
July
Monroe
A girl was struck by a vehicle on the 21000 block of Old Owen Road in Monroe at approximately 6:30 p.m. on June 20. The girl, 13-year-old Kyleigh Councill, was walking from her mom's home on Old Owen to a nearby graduation party when she was struck. The driver stopped at the scene, and cooperated fully with investigating officers from the Snohomish County Sheriff's Department. Councill was taken to Harborview Medical Center will skull fractures, a broken leg, and other injuries.
Update: Kyleigh has made amazing progress recovering from her injuries. "I'm doing really, really well,GÇ¥ she said. "I'm not completely the same but I'm getting there.GÇ¥
The East County Senior Center presented the Cascade Senior Center in Darrington with a $1,154 donation to aid the victims of the Oso landslide. The funds were raised via private donations and sales from the Fabulous Finds Thrift Store.
Eastlake Community Church Pastor Josh Hebert announced his intention to climb to the summit of Mount Adams, which is located in the Cascade Mountain Range. Mount Adams is the second-highest mountain in Washington, coming in just after Mount Rainier. The 42-year-old pastor climbs mountains with a climbing community called "Climb for CaptivesGÇ¥ to help fight human trafficking and end sexual slavery.
Update: Pastor Hebert, along with the rest of the Climb for Captives team, reached the summit of Mount Adams on August 12. The team traveled to California in November to climb Mt. Whitney, where they were joined by a camera crew who filmed the climb as a pilot for an upcoming reality show. Climb for Captives raised $125,480 in 2014.
A 23-year-old Monroe man was killed in a collision on Saturday, July 26, near Monroe. John Daniel Kershner, who was riding a motorcycle, collided with a car that was turning into a driveway on Ingraham Road near Brown Road, which is located west of Wagner Lake. Kershner graduated from Monroe High School in 2009.
The Monroe Arts Council welcomed a group of volunteers to the Wagner Performing Arts Center to perform several improvements. Volunteers came from the Monroe Rotary Club, the Lions Club, the Monroe Concert Band and the Monroe Arts Council to help renovate the center.
Valley
The city of Sultan embarked on a community-wide effort to address issues including the city's homeless population, petty crime and theft and drug addiction. City officials, along with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Department, toured the homeless encampment area near the Skykomish River on the south side of U.S. 2. While on the tour, Sultan Mayor Carolyn Eslick discovered a pillowcase that had been stolen from her home in March. The thief had probably used the pillowcase to carry away the mayor's jewelry, all of which was stolen.
The Sultan Community Task Force was formed to help clean up the city's parks and strategize solutions to deal with community issues surrounding the homeless population, drug addiction and petty crime.
Update: The Sultan Community Task Force meets at 4 p.m. every Wednesday at Sultan City Hall. In the interest of broadening community support for their mission, the task force will be holding a community-wide meeting on Saturday, Jan. 3, from 12 to 2 p.m. at the River Park Gazebo in Sultan. The meeting, which is entitled "New Year. Renew Commitment. Renew Community,GÇ¥ is open for all to attend.
A fundraiser was held in Gold Bar to raise money for 5-year-old Alex Rodriguez, who was suffering from extreme
environmental allergies. His mom, Kara Rodriquez, wanted to move her son away from the Pacific Northwest, where just breathing the air could send him into borderline anaphylactic shock.
Update: Kara raised enough money to move her family of five out of Washington. Originally intending to move to Florida, they visited there briefly before deciding to settle in Ohio. Alex's health has improved vastly since moving.
"Alex is doing awesome, he looks amazing,GÇ¥ said Kara. "He has been off all his meds for almost five months, his skin is clear and he's a happy little boy.GÇ¥
A 55-year-old woman was arrested in Sultan on Wednesday, July 9, for stabbing her neighbor in the stomach. The incident occurred on 132nd Street, which is located off the Sultan Basin Road. According to witnesses, the two had an argument and she stabbed her neighbor, a 52-year-old male, in the abdomen. The victim was airlifted to Harborview with life-threatening injuries.
Update: Gerri Patrice Blondeel was found guilty of third degree assault with an added deadly weapon allegation on November 5, 2014. Blondeel was sentenced to three months jail time, along with an added six months for the deadly weapon enhancement, for a total of nine months. She is currently serving out her sentence in the Snohomish County Jail. Upon her release, she will serve 12-months of community custody and will be required to make restitution payments of $25 per month to the victim.
Sultan City Council student representative Kymberlie Kenagy retired her position on the council, graduated from Sultan High School, and joined the United States Navy. She left for boot camp in Great Lakes Ill., on July 1.
Update: After graduating from boot camp in August, Kenagy headed to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Tex. for A-school. She is currently a Master at Arms stationed at the Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, located on the Kitsap Peninsula near Silverdale.
AUGUST
Monroe
Monroe Jewelers permanently closed its doors on Saturday, Aug. 3 after one final sale. The jewelry store closed after the death of longtime owner Gabrielle Bradly, who succumbed to cancer on July 12. Bradly, 66, was active in the Monroe community as a member of the Monroe Lions Club and the Valley General Hospital Foundation Board.
Oscar Garcia-Pacheco, the 33-year-old who stabbed his wife on Main Street in Monroe in May, pleaded guilty to charges of first degree murder. His wife, 34-year-old Jacoba Ramirez-Rodriguez, was in critical condition following the incident, but later succumbed to her injuries.
Update: In September, Garcia-Pacheco was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his wife's murder. Additionally, he has an immigration and customs enforcement hold, indicating that he may not have legal residency in the United States.
Debate over the math curriculum for Monroe School District middle school students halted efforts to formally adopt a new curriculum in time for the 2014 GÇô 2015 school year. A district-appointed committee, school administrators and teachers had differing opinions on whether the district should adopt Core Focus or Big Ideas Math, both curriculums which fall in alignment with the new Common Core standards.
Lake Tye Propullsion Cablepark development company H3O addressed Monroe City Council, providing them with an update on their plans to establish a wakeboard cable park at Lake Tye. H3O Managing partners Greg Dick and Brad Smith informed council that the park's soft-opening is tentatively being scheduled for spring of 2015.
Update: The Lake Tye Propullsion Cablepark is currently in the funding process and H3O is working to obtain investors to help support the project.
The Tall Firs Disc Golf Course, located at 22110 Old Owen Rd. in Monroe, held its grand opening on August 23. Tall Firs, which is open year-round, is a family-friendly 18-basket disc golf facility that offers nighttime glow golf so that the sport can be played throughout the winter months. More information about Tall Firs can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/tallfirsdiscgolf/timeline/.
A homeowner on Old Pipeline Road chased two would-be thieves during the early morning hours of Tuesday, Aug. 19. The property owner awoke and gave chase, discharging a firearm to discourage the two would-be burglars from planning a return trip. One of the suspects got away, while the other was apprehended by a Snohomish County Sheriff's Department K9 team. It was discovered that the suspect, who had extensive criminal history and was known for failing to appear in court, had a warrant out of King County.
A Monroe retail theft prevention group was established to help Snohomish County businesses work together to prevent shoplifting. The group, which was initially facilitated by the Monroe Police Department, is now managed by a member of the business community.
Monroe Mayor Geoffrey Thomas took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge after the city council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 19 outside city hall.
The Washington State Growth Management Hearings Board overturned the city of Monroe's decision to rezone a 43-acre parcel of property known as east Monroe from Limited Open Space to General Commercial. The board remanded the rezone ordinances back to the city and issued a determination of invalidity based on environmental concerns.
Valley
United States Congresswoman Suzan DelBene visited Sultan Elementary School in August, to lend a hand at Kids Caf+¬, a free summer lunch program coordinated by the Volunteers of America Sky Valley and Food Lifeline. A total of 2,291 lunches were served over the summer in Sultan and Gold Bar.
Tyee Eliason, an 8-year-old from Gold Bar, began running with an American flag as a way to show patriotism and honor United States Veterans. Eliason, who lives with his dad William, was inspired by Sgt. First Class Dave Sivewright of Sultan, who has become known as the Highway 2 Freedom Runner.
August 24 marked a year since Sultan resident Christian Fafnis-Horton was murdered while spending time in Orangevale, Calif. with friends. Fafnis-Horton had been out on the balcony of the Hazel Wood apartments at approximately 12:45 a.m. when he was approached by two individuals. As they got close, one of the individuals fired a gun, hitting Fafnis-Horton in the upper body. He died at the scene. No suspects have ever been apprehended.
Residents of the Mt. Index Riversites community were given access to U.S. 2 after being stranded for many months due to a landslide which had blocked a portion of the roadway. Access was made possible by a bridge, funded by the Mt. Index Riversites Community Club and the Snohomish County Public Utility District.
The Skykomish School received a new interim superintendent to take over for former superintendent Edwina Hargrave. Martin Schmidt brought with him over 33 years of experience in education.
September
Monroe
A 31-year-old Marysville woman had her vehicle taken at gunpoint on Tuesday, Sept. 2 in Monroe. The victim had been stopped near the Jack in the Box located near the intersection of U.S. 2 and Roosevelt Road when she was approached by a man and a woman who told her that they needed a ride. She drove the couple to White Mountain Road S.E., at which point the male pointed a gun at her and told her to get out of the car. The Monroe Police Department stated that it did not appear to be a random act.
Monroe Correctional Complex Superintendent Rob Herzog presented to Monroe City Council, providing them with an overview of the correctional facility's programs and services. The complex had recently been given accolades for their procedures when dealing with mentally ill offenders.
The Evergreen State Fair set two new attendance records; one for overall attendance and another for single-day attendance. The single day record was achieved on Sunday, Aug. 31 with 46,273 guests, and throughout its 12-day duration, the fair welcomed a record-setting 341,128 fairgoers.
A serious crash occurred on U.S. 2 near the Reptile Zoo. Traffic was brought to a standstill on Saturday, Sept. 6, when two vehicles collided head-on. A 23-year-old from Tacoma had been passing eastbound vehicles when he struck a vehicle heading west. Both drivers required hospitalization.
Valley General Hospital announced a partnership with Fairfax Behavioral Health which will result in a new 34-bed inpatient psychiatric care facility located in Monroe. The psychiatric hospital will serve older adult patients.
Update: The psychiatric hospital will be opening sometime in the first quarter of 2015.
PACE Engineers, the Kirkland engineering firm responsible for the East Monroe Environmental Impact Statement (EIS),
presented to Monroe City Council after their EIS was deemed environmentally insufficient by the Washington State Growth Management Hearings Board. The engineering firm defended their work and urged council to seek supplementary environmental study to satisfy the board.
The Monroe Library welcomed new managing librarian Phil Spirito, who was hired to take the place of recently retired Betsy Lewis. Spirito moved to the area from Chicago with his wife, Libby.
Monroe High School senior Kailee Billerbeck was featured in the Monroe Monitor for her numerous accomplishments including being an entrepreneur and published author. Monitor staff was so impressed with her writing skills that they asked her to consider writing for the newspaper GÇô an opportunity that Billerbeck eagerly agreed to explore. She has since been writing her Bearcat Beat column on a weekly basis.
Dee's Music Room held its ribbon cutting event in downtown Monroe. Owners Dee and Dan Sales teach piano, voice and guitar.
The Lowe's Heroes program, which engages in various outreach programs each year, tackled the Washington State Department of Health and Services Children's Administration offices in Monroe. On Friday, Sept. 12, volunteers from Lowe's spent the day revitalizing the agency's visitation rooms, painting and providing them with new furniture.
Abbey Aney held her end-of-the-season lemonade stand in September during the Swift Night Out event near downtown Monroe. Aney featured both pink and yellow lemonade as well as cupcakes made by Molly Daniels of Baby Cakes Cupcakes in Monroe. The 11-year-old philanthropist was raising money for her yearly holiday toy drive.
Mayor Geoffrey Thomas broke a tie vote regarding the East Monroe rezone, wishing to end its pursuit. The vote was later rescinded by Councilmember Kurt Goering, who stated that any action on the east Monroe property needed to be performed solely by the Monroe City Council.
The Carlos Martinez trial was pushed back until February of 2015. Martinez is accused of utilizing his position as a Monroe Police Officer to cultivate a sexual relationship with a young female who was a minor when the abuse first began.
The Monroe Police and Fire Departments raised $4,000 for the Monroe Boys and Girls Club in a charity flag football matchup on Sunday, Sept. 14. Monroe police officers took the victory, with a final score of 20 - 15.
A Monroe woman was charged with 2nd degree assault after she allegedly shot a man at her trailer located on Old Pipeline Road. The victim sustained injuries to his leg consistent with a gunshot wound including a fracture to his femur which required surgical repair.
Update: The alleged attacker in this case is being arraigned in a Snohomish County courtroom on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015.
Marion Allred, a beloved Monroe community member, was killed after being struck by a Community Transit bus on Main Street on Thursday, Sept. 25. Allred, 82, was on her way to the Frank Wagner Performing Arts Center to see a production of "Hello Dolly.GÇ¥ She had just had dinner with friends at the East County Senior Center.
Valley
Sultan resident Claire Sorgen won her first national pageant, becoming the America's National Teenager Scholarship Organization's Miss Junior National Teenager. Sorgen traveled to
Nashville, Tenn. to compete in the pageant, where she competed in several optional categories including photogenic, talent and supermodel. Sorgen, a 4.0 student, is a freshman at Sultan High School.
The Volunteers of America hired a new director for their facility located in Sultan. Lifelong Sky Valley resident Calei Vaughn started with the VOA as an unpaid intern in 2010 and was hired as the East County Navigator in March of 2011.
Update: As the director, Vaughn has helped to facilitate the reformation of the Safe Stop program, which offers a safe place for kids age 13 to 18 to come and engage in activities. She has helped to coordinate positive change at the Sky Valley Senior Center, hiring Ann Marie Bunch as the kitchen coordinator. Chef Don Langhans is working with Bunch as the volunteer chef.
GROW Washington expanded their membership policy, offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to display merchandise in all three GROW locations including Sultan, Everett and Snohomish.
Travis Nelson, a 19-year-old member of the Sultan community, committed suicide while incarcerated in the Snohomish County Jail. Nelson was being held on warrants related to misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass in the 2nd degree and 3rd degree theft and possession of drug paraphernalia. Nelson was expecting a child with girlfriend Rachel Henry.
Gold Bar resident Katelyn Baller won the Washington State National American Miss (NAM) pageant, becoming NAM's Miss Washington. Baller performs extensive community outreach in the Sky Valley area, and co-directs the Miss Gold Dust Royalty pageant with her mom Patty.
Update: Katelyn traveled to southern California in November to compete in the national pageant. She won 2nd runner up in volunteer service, received the "Spirit of AmericaGÇ¥ award and another award for outstanding program participation.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Sultan to celebrate the construction of the new Snohomish County Boys and Girls Club. The new club is being built on VOA property, with the two organizations working collaboratively to enhance programs such as ECEAP and Safe Stop.
Update: The foundation has been laid, parking lot has been poured and the framework has arisen. The first phase of the new facility is set to be completed sometime in the spring of 2015.
Sultan couple Sean and Holly Schuhrieman won Star 101.5 FM's roller-coaster wedding contest. The two were married on a roller coaster at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup on Monday, Sept. 15.
Gold Bar firefighter paramedic Les Putnam passed away unexpectedly in his sleep from a massive coronary incident. Putnam, 66, had been a paramedic for 37 years. He worked for the Redmond Fire Department and as a volunteer at the Snohomish County District 26 Fire Department in Gold Bar. Putnam was revered by his colleagues and was well-known for his patience and skill at educating young EMTs.
October
Monroe
Due to extensive public inquiry, the Monroe Monitor sought public records from the city of Monroe to determine how much the East Monroe rezone proposal has cost the city thus far in both staff time and legal fees. It was determined that the city has spent approximately $195,541.91 in pursuit of the rezone thus far.
A meeting of concerned citizens gathered at Salem Woods Elementary School to discuss a proposed marijuana grow operation located near Wagner Lake. The meeting was coordinated by the Concerned Citizens of Wagner Lake Community (CCWLC) group, and was facilitated by Washington State Senator Kirk Pearson of the 39th District. Thirty-ninth District Legislators Elizabeth Scott and Dan Kristiansen were also in attendance.
The Monroe Chamber of Commerce held the official ribbon cutting event to celebrate the Carnation smoke stack's new paintjob. The 150-foot, century old smoke stack (technically a steam-stack) was painted by Jose Cardona of Cardona & Sons Painting.
United States Congresswoman Suzan DelBene spoke at the Monroe Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 14. DelBene touched on such topics as immigration, education, privacy laws and more, and also took time to answer questions from luncheon attendees.
After Monroe City Council's September rescission of the east Monroe vote, they held further discussion. On Tuesday, Oct. 14, council voted again on the issue, this time voting to cease pursuit of the rezone. Councilmembers Kevin Hanford and Jim Kamp, both rezone supporters in past votes, changed their votes so as to avoid any further expense to the city.
Sky Valley community was stunned and saddened on Friday, Oct. 24, when Marysville Pilchuck student Jaylen Fryberg opened fire on five of his friends in the school cafeteria during lunch. He then turned the gun on himself, fatally. One of his victims died at the scene, while three others died in the hospital from their injuries. Fryberg's cousin was the tragedy's sole survivor.
The Monroe Police Department welcomed Officer Derrick Lether to its force. Lether, who was hired by the department on November 4, 2013, graduated from the academy on June 18 and successfully completed his field training.
The Monroe Fire Department held their annual open house, which is held each year during National Fire Prevention Week.
Valley
An item resembling a pipe bomb was discovered near Gold Bar Elementary School on Wednesday, Oct. 1. Investigators from Snohomish County's Interagency Bomb Squad eventually determined that, while the device was not a real pipe bomb, it had been fashioned to resemble one.
The new Bob Knuckey Memorial Trail sign was installed in Osprey Park. The sign was created as a method of honoring Knuckey, a longtime community volunteer who spent extensive amounts of time cleaning up the city's trails and streets. Knuckey passed away in December of 2013.
Skykomish Lady Rocket Ariel Aman was named WIAA Female Athlete of the Week. Ariel, a junior at the Skykomish School, plays on the varsity volleyball team.
Sultan resident Christina Nelson informed Sultan City Council as to the progress of her American Flag project, announcing that she intended to have the first phase of her project completed by Veteran's Day, Nov. 11. Nelson fundraised all throughout September and October, raising money for the project, which will line Main Street in Sultan with American flags, from 1st down to 8th Street.
Update: Nelson successfully lined Main Street with American flags from 1st through 5th Street. She is now fundraising to complete phase 2, which will situate the flags down to 8th. The three-foot by five-foot American flags are displayed on holidays and other special occasions. To make a donation, visit: http://www.gofundme.com/AmericanFlagProject.
The town of Skykomish held a ribbon cutting event on Friday, Oct. 24, to celebrate the opening of the brand new Maloney Creek Trail. Located near the Skykomish Post Office, the quarter-mile trail, which is ADA accessible, meanders alongside Maloney Creek.
November
Monroe
The Monroe Police Department formally introduced their new Senior Volunteer program, which was implemented in September. The program is staffed with two volunteer teams; Jim and Betty Bowman of Monroe and Bob Critser and Judy Bjorklund from Sultan. The senior volunteers work one day per week and are responsible for patrolling parks, parking lots and performing speed checks, as well as various other duties.
A group of concerned citizens gathered on Yeager Road on Saturday, Nov. 1, to share their concerns about a horse named Poppy, owned by the Reining Days boarding facility. Poppy's former owner, Kathy Jenkins, coordinated the protest after somebody sent her pictures of the horse looking extremely emaciated. The owner of Reining Days stated that there was no issue; however, the horse was startlingly thin. Jenkins sought help from Snohomish County Animal Control, as well as other members of the equestrian community.
Update: Jenkins has continued to stay in touch with Reining Days owner, who has begun to communicate with her regarding Poppy's condition. The horse has gained seven pounds, and Reining Days has sought veterinary care.
Kailee Billerbeck held her first book signing at the Uppercase Bookshop in Snohomish. Her book, "Your Jar of Wisdom: Learning how to fill your jarGÇ¥ performed well; it sold the most books that Uppercase has ever sold during a book-signing event.
Pastor Thomas Minnick, spokesman for East Monroe property owner Heritage Baptist Church told Monroe City Council that they would foot the bill for the supplementary environmental worked required to satisfy the Washington State Growth Management Hearings Board. On Tuesday, Nov. 18, Councilmember Kevin Hanford announced that he would move to rescind council's October decision to cease pursuit of the rezone.
Monroe celebrated Police and Fire Appreciation Week from Sunday, Nov. 16 through Saturday, Nov. 22. The week included visits by Monroe first responders to Monroe School District schools, and culminated with an appreciation lunch at the Monroe Fire Department on Friday, Nov. 21.
A correctional officer was assaulted at the Monroe Correctional Complex on Tuesday, Nov. 11 in the Special Offenders Unit. The officer was treated and released at Valley General Hospital, and was expected to make a full recovery.
Damar Aerosystems held its annual Veteran's Day luncheon, which included a "freedom runGÇ¥ through the streets of Monroe. Damar was inspired by Sgt. First Class Dave Sivewright of Sultan, who is known as the Highway 2 Freedom Runner.
The Monroe City Council confirmed Mayor Geoffrey Thomas' recommendation to appoint Judge Mara Rozzano to the
position of Monroe Municipal Court Judge. The Monroe Municipal Court will have jurisdiction over all traffic infractions and misdemeanor offenses in the city of Monroe, and will be open after Jan. 1, 2015.
The Monroe Community Coalition celebrated its first birthday, and garnered public input for an online survey regarding underage drinking and substance abuse.
Valley
Sultan resident Julianna Johnson was awarded a seat on the Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP Board of Directors, after serving for a year as a parent ambassador. Johnson testified in front of state legislative committees twice in 2014 advocating for change in state-subsidized child care programming.
Sultan High School students ran with the Highway 2 Freedom Runner to celebrate Veteran's Day. This is Sgt. First Class Dave Sivewright's second year of running at Sultan High on the Friday before Veteran's Day.
An early morning attic fire caused extensive damage to a home in Sultan on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Firefighters from Snohomish County Fire District #5 arrived on scene and extinguished the flames before they spread through the rest of the house. The fire was fueled by blustery winds, which had been ongoing since Tuesday, Nov. 11.
Sultan's annual Veteran's Day Celebration was a smashing success. Organized by Sultan resident Sgt. First Class Dave Sivewright and his fianc+¬e Christina Nelson, the event featured presentations by U.S. Army Veteran Joe Stone, Mayor Carolyn Eslick, former mayor C.H. Rowe, Pastors Sean Wilkerson and Aaron Day, and many others.
Snohomish County Fire District #5 firefighters rescued an alligator and a tarantula from a residential fire in Sultan during the early morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 22. The blaze was contained to a detached garage which had a living space built into it.
Skykomish artist Mia Stratman was one of four students who won the Sno-Isle Libraries' Teen Read Month Art contest. The 14-year-old, who sells greeting cards on Etsy and at the Skykomish Deli, attends Sultan High School.
The city of Sultan experienced flooding on Friday, Nov. 28. Waters from both the Skykomish and the Sultan Rivers spilled over their banks, causing flooding on First and Main Street, as well as Mann Road.
Sultan residents Jody and Tiffany Kerr continue to work towards their dream of establishing a community supported agricultural facility off of U.S. 2 near mile marker 60.
December
Monroe
Monroe country music musician Dakota Neuman played a benefit show on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Wagner Performing Arts Center to collect food and raise money for the Sky Valley Food Bank. The show was to enhance his annual food drive, during which Neuman drives around and collects food in different Monroe neighborhoods.
Valley General Hospital announced that it will be changing its name to EvergreenHealth Monroe in alignment with the alliance agreement between the two organizations. This is the final phase of the alliance process, which has been implemented over the last two years.
Monroe artists Bronwen LaPorte and Haley Amenn were recognized at the Monroe Library for winning the Sno-Isle Libraries' Teen Read Art Contest. The library selected two winners from Monroe, one from Sultan and one from Mill Creek.
Monroe's new Walmart store celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Walmart made several donations to local organizations such as the Sky Valley Food Bank, the Monroe Public Schools Foundation, the Monroe YMCA, the Skykomish School District, the Monroe Arts Council and more.
Snohomish County Fire District #3 in Monroe held their annual Santa Run food drive, to collect food for the Sky Valley Food Bank. The drive took place on Wednesday, Dec. 17 and Thursday, Dec. 18.
A plane flipped over at the Firstair Field airport on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The 66-year-old pilot was uninjured.
A bicyclist was seriously injured in a collision with a truck on Wednesday, Dec. 3 on U.S. 2 just west of S.R. 522. The driver who struck the bicyclist stopped and cooperated fully with authorities.
Monroe artist Rowan Carey traveled to the Seahawks training facility to meet Richard Sherman and present him with a painting of one of Sherman's Thanksgiving Day game interceptions. The dynamic cornerback saw the painting on Twitter, and told Carey that he'd love to have it.
The city of Monroe temporarily lifted the two-hour maximum parking limitation in the downtown core. The trial 24-hour maximum parking period will last until February.
The Monroe City Council voted to rescind their earlier vote to cease pursuit of the East Monroe rezone. City staff was directed to reach out to the Washington State Growth Management Hearings Board to seek an extension on the issued compliance order which is due on February 23, 2015.
The Monroe Police Department participated in the U.S. Marine Reserves Toys for Tots drive. The Monroe Police Officers Association donated $100 and their time to purchase brand new toys for the drive. Officer Recruit Shaun Van Eaton has been a Reserve Marine for 17 years.
Retired Monroe Police Department K9 Brutus was laid to rest on Monday,
Dec. 8. Brutus was a cherished member of Sgt. Ryan Irving's family.
The Monroe Police Department held their first-ever Shop with a Cop event. Law enforcement personnel took kids shopping at Fred Meyer and Walmart on Sunday, Dec. 21.
Valley
Snohomish County Sheriff's Department Detective Danny Pitocco retired after over 44 years in law enforcement. Pitocco was the lead detective at the East Precinct, which is located in downtown Sultan. Pitocco had been with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Department for 16 years.
Snohomish County Fire District #5 began training and fundraising for the annual Big Climb for Leukemia event, which takes place downtown Seattle at the Columbia Tower.
Winterfest took place on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Sultan High School. The Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce event featured over 80 different vendors, live entertainment and a Stuff the Truck food and toy drive to help support the Volunteers of America.
The Sultan High School varsity choir performed on December 4 at the Bellevue Square Mall.
Sultan High School football players Matt Baller and Deion Bonilla were honored by the Snohomish County Football Officials Association for being exemplary students and athletes.
Sultan 5-year-old Sabella Johnson, daughter of Julianna and Justin Johnson, was appointed as Kid Governor for an event that took place on Monday, Dec. 15 in west Seattle. The event was meant to bring awareness to the importance of early childhood education.
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