Patriots ready for a big season
August 25, 2009
Anthony Lemmon runs the ball after a handoff from scrimmage during the Liberty Patriot football team practice. By Greg Farrar
After ending their 2008 season with a loss to Bellevue in the state 3A quarterfinals, the Liberty Patriots are back, and they’re hungry for competition.
“Our summer workouts have gotten really intense,” said Cameron Talley, senior linebacker. “Everyone’s been trying to work as hard as they can.”
Last season, Liberty finished 9-3, leading the league in offense and defense, racking up an average of 410 yards of offense per game and giving up an average of 238 yards on defense per game.
This year, head coach Steve Valach said the team is focusing on taking things one step at a time.
“Our theme this year is one,” he said. “One practice, one play, one game.”
Junior quarterback Trey Wheeler (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) and junior running back Chandler Jenkins (5-9, 165) may be the two most dangerous men on the squad. Read more
Spartan offense aimed at state
August 25, 2009
Skyline safeties coach Brett VanVoorhis shows players the next play formation during the second day of practice Aug. 20. By Christopher Huber
All of the attention quarterback Jake Heaps and many of his Skyline High School teammates have gotten in the past year doesn’t seem to have gone to their heads.
If they keep it that way, and, as Heaps said on the second day of practice, “use it as motivation,” the Spartans football team will likely go a long way this season.
Obviously, that long way would be to win a third-straight state championship, but as former coach Steve Gervais’ well-ingrained one-week-at-a-time mentality goes, they’re not thinking that far ahead.
Skyline has a lot of momentum coming into the 2009 season. It is 28-0 the past two seasons; it outscored opponents 514-77 in 2008 with one of the most acclaimed receiver corps in the state, and MaxPreps.com, a prep sports ranking site owned by CBS Sports, ranks Skyline as the second-best team in the nation.
“We want to have that mentality that we’re going to win every football game,” head coach Mat Taylor said at practice Aug. 20. “But it goes back to what coach Gervais said: All we can control is ourselves.” Read more
Sports calendar
August 25, 2009
Adult Sports
Issaquah Alps Trail Club
Aug. 28, 10 a.m., Dogs Welcome Hike, 3-5 miles, 800-100 gain. Call 206-322-0990 … Aug. 29, 9:30 a.m., Rattlesnake ledges, 4.5 miles, 1,000 gain. Call 392-6660 … Aug. 30, 1 p.m., Tiger Mountain to Tradition Plateau, 5-6 miles, 600 gain. Call 392-3571. Read more
Skyline, Liberty, Issaquah football preview / Aug. 20, 2009
August 25, 2009
Register your alarm by Oct. 2
August 25, 2009
UPDATED — 11:47 a.m. Aug. 25, 2009
As part of a recently approved false alarm ordinance, citizens and businesses within the city limits will soon be contacted by their alarm companies to register their alarms.
All alarms in the city must be registered by Oct. 2.
If police respond to a false alarm, and the alarm system hasn’t been registered by Oct. 2, the alarm owner will be fined accordingly, according to Autumn Monahan, city spokeswoman.
A $200 fine is charged if the alarm site does not have a valid permit for each police response. The location will also still have to register their alarm with the $24 permit fee. The alarm company will also be charged a fine, as it’s responsible for facilitating the registration, Monahan said.
In addition, if five false alarms occur at a single address within the two-year permit period, police may not respond to future alarms, she said.
To assist local alarm users through the process, the city has a new false alarm Web site, including a question-and-answer section.
Plan ahead for state Route 900 closures
August 25, 2009
NEW — 6 a.m. Aug. 25, 2009
Drivers should plan ahead for delays on state Route 900 from Friday through Monday as crews close lanes around-the-clock to replace a culvert under the highway.
Lane closures will begin at 8 p.m. Friday. The entire road will be closed to traffic the following night.
Crews are replacing a culvert at Clay Pit Creek, a half-mile south of Talus Drive. Drivers should expect backups during the work, and should choose alternate routes when possible.
Bring questions about dog ban to Sept. 9 meeting
August 24, 2009
NEW — 6 a.m. Aug. 24, 2009
City officials will host a Sept. 9 open house to review concerns about Timberlake Park and pet rules for the South Cove park.
The meeting is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Tibbetts Creek Manor, 750 17th Ave. N.W.
City staff members will also review other cities’ rules about pets in parks. They will collect feedback from open house attendees about how to ensure public safety at Timberlake Park.
City officials banned dogs from the park earlier this summer as a result of concerns related to dogs at the park — including reports of people being knocked down by unleashed canines, dogs fighting with each other and dogs bolting from the trail onto private property.
The decision has galvanized pet owners who continue to bring dogs to the 24-acre park despite the ban and residents with safety concerns about dogs at the park.
Pick up free Issaquah bike map
August 23, 2009
NEW — 6 a.m. Aug. 23, 2009
Cyclists pedaling through Issaquah will find it easier to discover the city’s bike paths and trails. A new, free bike map is available at bike stores and the Issaquah Visitor Information Center.
The map recommends rides around Issaquah and alerts cyclists to potential hazards, such as narrow road shoulders. Pick up a copy of the map at the visitor center, 155 N.W. Gilman Blvd.; Bicycle Center of Issaquah, 111 Front St. N.; or Veloce Velo, 98 Front St. S. The map is also available at the Getting Around Issaquah Together Web site.
Give teachers a helping hand before school starts
August 21, 2009
NEW — 4 p.m. Aug. 21, 2009
Bringing an apple for the teacher may be an excellent idea the first day, but how about helping them get their classrooms ready?
Some teachers, especially those recently hired, spend long hours putting their classrooms together, which is why Pine Lake Covenant Church is asking for your help.
This year, church pastors and volunteers are sponsoring Help A Teacher Day 2009 for the next two Saturdays. Volunteers are assigned to teachers in the Issaquah School District who need help prepping their classrooms.
Free back-to-school supplies for teachers Saturday at Staples
August 20, 2009
NEW — 2:55 p.m. Aug. 20, 2009
Staples wants to make it easy — or at least easier — for teachers heading back to school.
The office supply retailer will host a Teacher Appreciation Day for Issaquah-area educators from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday at its Issaquah store, 628 Front St. N.
Free bags of supplies with notepads and writing tools will be given to the first 100 teachers. Teachers will also have the opportunity to preview new products and services.
The retailer is also offering teachers a copy and print promotion during back-to-school season of 5-cent black-and-white copies of classroom materials.
