Plan to upgrade East Lake Sammamish Trail proceeds
September 6, 2010
King County has applied for a city permit to upgrade the East Lake Sammamish Trail through Issaquah. The city has notified nearby property owners.
Plans to improve the interim trail would call for paving the gravel trail and increasing the width to 12 feet of asphalt, plus gravel shoulders on both sides.
Because the project could impact wetlands, the plans call for wetlands to be restored in Lake Sammamish State Park to offset the construction.
The county plans to conduct the Issaquah improvements in two phases. The initial phase calls for the second from Northwest Gilman Boulevard to 56th Avenue Northwest, plus the wetland work in the state park. The final phase includes 56th Avenue Northwest to Southeast 43rd Way.
The trail is located within the trail corridor along the former Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, from Northwest Gilman Boulevard northward along Lake Sammamish to the city line.
Comment on the project by Sept. 10. Send comments to city Senior Planner Marion O’Brien at P.O. Box 1307, Issaquah, WA 98027, or e-mail mariono@ci.issaquah.wa.us.
Mayor announces finalists in city administrator search
September 6, 2010
UPDATED — 1:45 p.m. Sept. 6, 2010
The field to be the next Issaquah city administrator includes officials from Lake Forest Park, Yakima, Thurston County, San Juan County and Wyoming, Ohio.
The search to fill the No. 2 position at City Hall entered the final phase Monday, as Mayor Ava Frisinger released the names of the finalists.
The process had been kept confidential to shield the finalists from questions from their current employers about their job searches.
Troopers cite 85 drivers for speeding on interstates 90 and 405
September 6, 2010
Washington State Patrol troopers ticketed a car returning from a Dave Matthews Band concert twice in the same day. Contributed
NEW — 1 p.m. Sept. 6, 2010
Washington State Patrol troopers nailed 85 drivers for speeding in 120 minutes Sept. 4.
East King County troopers deployed in force on the Saturday morning to enforce the 60 mph speed limit on interstates 90 and 405.
Prepare for reduced bus service on Labor Day
September 6, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. Sept. 6, 2010
Most King County Metro Transit buses operate on a Sunday schedule for Labor Day.
If a route does not usually run on Sunday, then the route has no service on the holiday. Riders should expect to pay holiday and Sunday fares on Metro bus routes on Labor Day.
Metro offices remain closed on the holiday, including the Customer Information Center phone lines. Learn more about transit service at Metro Online.
Most liquor stores to remain open for Labor Day
September 5, 2010
NEW — 8 a.m. Sept. 5, 2010
Take a load off for Labor Day. Most state-run liquor stores will remain open on the holiday.
The state stores will open at normal times at 10 or 11 a.m., and close at 7 p.m. Find the complete list of stores open Monday here.
Contract liquor stores might also remain open on the holiday. Contact the stores directly for holiday operating schedules.
Find more store schedules and phone numbers at the Washington State Liquor Control Board website.
Help Coho Café recapture regional restaurant title
September 5, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. Sept. 5, 2010
Coho Café is in the running to be the best New American restaurant in Western Washington in the annual Best of Western Washington guide to local restaurants and attractions.
The restaurant, 6130 E. Lake Sammamish Parkway S.E., Suite A, offers a modern take on Pacific Northwest seafood in a setting dominated by a stone fireplace. Diners can vote for Coho Café here.
Coho Café also has a location in Redmond.
The mini-chain last captured the Best New American title in the KING-TV contest in 2008.
Dozens of chinook reach Issaquah Salmon Hatchery
September 4, 2010
NEW — 10 a.m. Sept. 4, 2010
Rains and cooler temperatures prompted dozens of mighty chinook salmon to return to the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery to spawn.
Hatchery workers opened the fish ladder Sept. 3 to start collecting salmon for the spawning season.
Muckleshoot Tribe officials counted more than 8,000 chinook at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard. The tribe — the official keeper of salmon counts — estimates the return to be below average this year.
Plan to upgrade East Lake Sammamish Trail proceeds
September 4, 2010
NEW — 8 a.m. Sept. 4, 2010
King County has applied for a city permit to upgrade East Lake Sammamish Trail through Issaquah. The city has notified nearby property owners.
Plans to improve the interim trail would call for paving the gravel trail and increasing the width to 12 feet of asphalt, plus gravel shoulders on both sides.
Because the project could impact wetlands, the plans call for wetlands to be restored in Lake Sammamish State Park to offset the construction.
September could be a good time to invest in a weather radio
September 4, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. Sept. 4, 2010
September serves as a reminder for residents to prepare for natural disasters and inclement weather, because the state observes National Preparedness Month and Weather Radio Awareness Month.
Now makes for a good time to add a weather radio to a home or business preparedness kit. La Nina could mean much more active winter weather in the Pacific Northwest.
The radios receives broadcasts about the latest weather forecasts and conditions 24-hours a day, and operate on special frequencies not found on regular AM and FM bands.
Minor earthquake recorded near Mirrormont
September 3, 2010
NEW — 11:10 p.m. Sept. 3, 2010
Seismologists recorded a magnitude-2.6 earthquake Friday night near Mirrormont, south of Issaquah.
University of Washington seismologists said the micro-earthquake occurred at 9:52 p.m. Friday, about two miles northeast of Mirrormont.
Find more information about the temblor at the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, based at the University of Washington.
The seismic activity came several weeks after seismologists recorded two micro-earthquakes near Issaquah.
Seismologists recorded a magnitude 1.6 earthquake about three miles northeast of downtown Issaquah on July 3. The quake followed a magnitude 1.1 micro-earthquake centered about four miles east of Issaquah on June 9.
