Snow Glow
December 29, 2008
This beautiful snow shot was taken in the South Firs neighborhood. The Freese family used it in an online Season’s Greetings card. By Peter Freese
Top 10 news stories of 2008
December 29, 2008
2008 news stories revisited
From an increase in robberies to the demise of the proposed Southeast Bypass, 2008 was action packed in Issaquah. Lightning and snow storms, a stronger Moroccan connection and business closures all made headlines.
In no particular order, here are updates on our pick of the top 10 news stories of the year: Read more
Schools prepare for cuts
December 29, 2008
State impacts could be $2.3 million
More than $3.5 billion has been cut from the governor’s state budget for the 2009-11 biennium and schools are planning for cuts, even before the legislative session begins.
What school officials, teachers, families and education organizations have their eyes on are $610 million in cuts to public education; $682 million in elimination of pay increases to state employees, including teachers; and $216 million in cuts to higher education. Read more
Elderly couple loses home in Tiger Mountain blaze
December 29, 2008
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Eastside Fire & Rescue firefighters battle a blaze that engulfed a home in the 14500 block of 254th Avenue Southeast Dec. 23.Eastside Fire & Rescue
A house off Southeast Tiger Mountain Road south of Issaquah was destroyed in a Dec. 23 fire. Shortly after 7:30 p.m., several neighbors called 911 to report a fire in the 14500 block of 254th Avenue Southeast.
Earlier in the day, a neighbor had taken the owners of the house to SeaTac airport, where they flew to Salt Lake City to visit their son for Christmas, said Josie Williams, Eastside Fire & Rescue spokeswoman.
Christmas fund far from goal
December 29, 2008
The Tuesday before Christmas was “one of the saddest days in my seven years” helping clients who come to Issaquah Church & Community Services for emergency aid, said one of the longtime volunteers there.
“We’re not just helping homeless people here. We are helping people who didn’t plan on needing our help,” she said.
Like the ex-Microsoft employee who had already given up gas heat last summer in an effort to pare household expenses. Now, just as temperatures plummeted, she was in danger of having her electricity cut off, too. Read more
SKIING SANTAS
December 29, 2008
Jason Gilluly and Blake Thomson, both from Issaquah, brave the cold weather on Christmas Day to carry on a holiday tradition that was started four years ago. They both remember seeing Santa skiing on the lake Christmas Day when they were young. They skied around the south end of the lake at 3 p.m. Sounds of cheers could be heard coming from the surprised residents. By Gene Gilluly
Snow Sculptures
December 29, 2008
Many Issaquah residents likely didn’t get to see these professional snow sculptures on Squak Mountain off Greenwood Boulevard Southwest. Ryan Randall helped pack the snow mounds for artist Saul Ramirez to sculpt figures from. There was also a grizzly bear. ‘These sculptures are just amazing. You have to see them,’ Tracy Randall told us. Photos By Kathleen R. Merrill
Drunken-driving accidents increase over New Year’s holiday
December 29, 2008
The Christmas and New Year’s holiday period is the deadliest time of year for drunken-driving accidents, according to recent federal safety data.
In its nationwide study of drunken-driving deaths between 2001 and 2005, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found a daily average of 36. But that jumps to 45 around Christmas, and to 54 during the New Year’s holiday. Read more
To The Editor
December 29, 2008
Operation Support Our Troops
Thank you to community members who helped boost military morale overseas
Thanks to our local community for making a brighter, happier Christmas for our soldiers and their families. It makes me proud to be part of this great community. Read more
Press Editorial
December 29, 2008
Special thanks to our many letter writers
We’d like to take a moment to salute those people who took the time to write a letter to the editor in 2008. Their written voice provokes, challenges, encourages and thereby builds a stronger community for us all. We’re aren’t able to publish every letter we receive, but here’s a list of the 166 authors who did get ink. Read more
