King County announces deal to turn trash gas into cash
January 31, 2011
NEW — 5 p.m. Jan. 31, 2011
The methane gas created from decomposing garbage at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill could net King County about $500,000 per year.
The county announced a deal Monday to sell emissions credits to Puget Sound Energy. King County Council members authorized the Solid Waste Division to enter into a contract to sell the credits to PSE.
Proceeds from the sale should help to offset garbage disposal rates for county residents.
“We have harnessed a valuable commodity from something that was once a discarded byproduct,” County Executive Dow Constantine said in a statement. “The contract with PSE is just one example of how we are delivering on the commitment we made in the 2010 Energy Plan to stimulate the development of ‘green’ energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save taxpayer and ratepayer dollars.”
Crews completed major construction on a landfill gas-to-energy facility in March 2009 at the landfill. The plant entered operation last year.
Leaders seek input to simplify state tax system
January 31, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. Jan. 31, 2011
The state Department of Revenue is in gathering ideas to simplify the tax system — and officials want input from residents.
The agency seeks ideas about how the state can simplify the tax system for small businesses. Officials launched a survey to collect input.
The department is soliciting tax-simplification ideas in response to a directive from Gov. Chris Gregoire.
The process includes meetings with stakeholders to gather information about the burdens and costs of complying with the tax system. The survey is intended to supplement the process and gather input from as broad a segment of the small business community as possible.
The department plans to present findings and recommendations to Gregoire by June 30.
Washington State Patrol seeks trooper applicants
January 29, 2011
NEW — 10 a.m. Jan. 29, 2011
The state patrol has planned a round of testing next month as the agency seeks to fill the 99th Trooper Basic Training Class.
The combined hiring and training processes for Washington State Patrol troopers takes about 12 months to complete.
The application process includes a physical fitness test, plus written examinations to determine judgment and common sense. Candidates must also pass a background check and a polygraph examination.
The physical fitness test — pushups, sit-ups and a mile-and-a-half run — proves to be a significant hurdle for applicants. Officials said about a third of all applicants fail the physical fitness test.
King County councilman urges protections for crime victims
January 28, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. Jan. 29, 2011
King County Councilman Reagan Dunn has introduced a measure to urge state legislators to shield the victims of sex crimes in the courtroom.
The measure Dunn introduced aims to generate King County Council support for a bill in the Legislature. The bill is meant to protect sex crime victims from defendants representing themselves in court, or pro se defendants.
“It is an extremely scary prospect for victims to tell their story in court,” Dunn said in a statement released Thursday. “Imagine how much more difficult it is to be questioned by an attacker directly. To get victims to come forward, the criminal justice system must offer them some protection, while balancing the rights of the accused.”
Dunn represents the rural area near Issaquah, plus Newcastle, Maple Valley and areas inside Bellevue and Renton.
Metro Transit updates Issaquah, Sammamish routes soon
January 27, 2011
NEW — 3:45 p.m. Jan. 27, 2011
Some King County Metro Transit bus routes in Issaquah and Sammamish change Feb. 5.
Riders throughout the Metro Transit service area should check winter schedules for the routes they use most often to see what has changed. Riders can prepare by picking up a blue timetable and the Special Rider Alert brochure. The information is also posted at Metro Online.
Or use the Trip Planner for some advance research. Be sure to input a date of Feb. 5 or later for the Trip Planner. Riders can also call Metro Customer Information at 206-553-3000.
The changes for local riders include:
King County transit task force receives top honor
January 27, 2011
NEW — 1 p.m. Jan. 27, 2011
King County Executive Dow Constantine congratulated Issaquah Councilman Fred Butler and other members of a transit task force Thursday for receiving a prestigious honor from the Municipal League of King County.
The recommendations from the 28-member Regional Transit Task Force represent a potential roadmap to long-standing differences related to Metro Transit bus service. The task force released the report to county leaders in November.
The group has received the James R. Ellis Regional Leadership Award for the effort, Constantine announced Thursday.
“We asked 28 local leaders to set aside arbitrary political divisions and come up with transit recommendations that meet the needs of the entire county, and they exceeded all expectations,” he said in a statement. “That takes real leadership, and I’m pleased to see their hard work and vision recognized by the Municipal League.”
See’s Candies opens Issaquah Commons shop Friday
January 27, 2011
NEW — 11 a.m. Jan. 27, 2011
Issaquah turns a little sweeter Friday, as See’s Candies opens a shop at the Issaquah Commons.
Folks can stop by for free samples, See’s Happy Habit hats and Gourmet Lollypops for children of all ages during the opening celebration. The kickoff also includes displays of See’s historic delivery vehicles and drag racing cars. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday.
Operators applied for a city building permit at the end of September. Construction started on the store in late November, and city inspectors issued a temporary certificate of occupancy Jan. 5. The candy shop replaces a teriyaki restaurant in the space.
See’s Candies also opened a shop at Southcenter Square in Tukwila on Thursday.
The chain also has outposts in Bellevue, Redmond and Seattle. See’s Candies — based in South San Francisco — operates more than 200 stores throughout the West and the Midwest.
Skyline girls basketball team rips Redmond
January 27, 2011
NEW — 11 a.m. Jan. 27, 2011
The Skyline High School girls basketball team overwhelmed host Redmond 58-29 Wednesday in a 4A KingCo Conference game.
Skyline, 7-4 in league play and third in the Crest Division standings, held a commanding 31-12 lead at halftime. The Spartans blew away Redmond in the second quarter, outscoring the Mustangs 15-2.
Haley Smith led Skyline with 10 points. Susie Tinker and Allie Wyszynski each had nine points for the Spartans.
In other action, Eastlake held off Newport 49-44 to set the stage for its showdown with first-place Issaquah at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Eastlake. Kendra Morrison, of Eastlake, scored a game-high 25 points. Eastlake is second in the Crest Division with a 9-2 record. Issaquah enters Friday’s game with a 10-0 mark.
Parade Magazine names Skyline’s Kasen Williams high-school football player of the year
January 27, 2011
NEW — 10:15 a.m. Jan. 27, 2011
Skyline High School’s Kasen Williams will be front and center on the cover of Parade Magazine’s Feb. 6 issue.
When the staff at Parade Magazine settled on Skyline’s Jake Heaps as its top quarterback on the 2010 Parade All-America high-school football team, it couldn’t help but notice his teammate, Kasen Williams.
Over three years, the duo had helped the Spartans win three straight state titles. They decided then to keep a close eye on the 6-foot-2 receiver as he worked through his senior year. They were curious about how Williams would handle the pressure of being the team’s leader with Heaps at Brigham Young.
Turned out that Williams’ senior season was so impressive they didn’t just name him to the first team, they made him the Player of the Year. Williams is one of 53 players from 22 states selected by Parade editors with the help of The Sporting News. He will appear on the cover of the Feb. 6 issue of Parade.
Skyline boys top Redmond, move into first place
January 27, 2011
NEW — 10 a.m. Jan. 27, 2011
The Skyline High School boys basketball team battled back from an early deficit Tuesday and defeated host Redmond 49-42 in a 4A KingCo Conference game.
With the victory, Skyline took over first place in the Crest Division standings with a 7-3 league record.
Redmond, which had moved into first place last week, dropped to second place with a 7-4 record. The Mustangs held a 13-8 first-quarter lead, but Skyline rallied in the second period to lead 20-19 at halftime.
Skyline’s Kasen Williams scored a game-high 16 points. Max Browne, Lucas Shannon and Teran Togia each had 10 points for the Spartans. Jason Harrington topped Redmond with 12 points.
