Nominate businesses for state’s highest civics honor
July 26, 2011
Secretary of State Sam Reed is accepting nominations for the most community-centric corporations in Washington. The prize is the state’s highest civics award.
The program is open to for-profit corporations, limited-liability corporations and limited partnerships of any size. Nominees must be registered through the Office of the Secretary of State, and meet federal and state compliance.
Find the nomination form and more criteria at the office’s website, www.sos.wa.gov/corps/corpsforcommunities. The nomination period is open until Aug. 31. Contact Program Coordinator Patrick Reed at 360-725-0358 or patrick.reed@sos.wa.gov to learn more.
“This is an opportunity to encourage standout corporations that are choosing to make their community a priority,” Reed said in a statement. “Particularly in these tough economic times, it’s important to cheer on businesses that are going above and beyond to make a difference in Washington.”
Help mark Issaquah Highlands storm drains
July 26, 2011
Fact: More than 8,000 storm drains flow into area creeks and Lake Sammamish. Then, local waterways drain into Puget Sound.
Join volunteers to install the “Puget Sound Starts Here” markers at Issaquah Highlands storm drains from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 30. Meet at Blakely Hall, 2550 N.E. Park Drive, for a brief introduction about the watershed.
Contact Laura Matter at 206-633-0451, ext 110, or lauramatter@seattletilth.org to sign up or learn more.
Officials estimate about 75 percent of pollution in Puget Sound comes from storm water runoff. The runoff comes from water passing over roads, sidewalks, driveways and yards — picking up oil, grease, metals, soaps and yard chemicals along the way.
King County Sheriff’s Office receives high marks in audit
July 26, 2011
King County Sheriff’s Office deputies received fewer complaints than the national average during the last five years, a county audit has determined.
The county Auditor’s Office analyzed misconduct, use-of-force incidents and complaints in the sheriff’s office for the period stretching from 2006-10. Auditors released the report July 11.
The agency received fewer use-of-force complaints than the national average reported to the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics. The sheriff’s office received, on average, 1.3 use-of-force complaints per 100 officers during the period. The national average is 6.6 complaints per 100 officers, and the average for large police agencies is 9.5 complaints per 100 officers.
Of the agency’s 706 sworn deputies last year, 96 percent did not prompt any complaints in 2010.
Off the Press
July 26, 2011
Remember veterans of Korea, a forgotten war
A friend of the family once told a story about his Korean War days. It seems that he and his U.S. Army infantry platoon were ordered to liberate a sake brewery.
Bob Taylor Press sports editor
They took the brewery without firing a shot because the building was vacant. Inside the brewery were numerous barrels of sake. Since the orders were to liberate the brewery, well, our friend and his platoon followed orders. After all, a soldier’s duty is to follow orders.
For the next week or so, the platoon went on a big bender until the sake was totally liberated. I have a hunch these fellows probably had one massive hangover because undiluted sake is 18 to 20 percent alcohol.
His commanding officer was not pleased, and our friend, who was a sergeant at the time, received a demotion in rank. However, our friend believed by spending time in the sake brewery he kept some young men out of harm’s way for a few precious days.
Other than this one experience, our friend does not talk that much about his Korean War days.
Overall, I do not think he found it as amusing as some of the episodes of the long-running TV series “M*A*S*H.” Much like my friends who served in Vietnam and local vets I have met from World War II, war is still a painful memory.
Elaine Grace Pope
July 26, 2011
Elaine Pope
Julia and Jeffrey A. Pope welcomed daughter Elaine Grace to their Boise, Idaho, home on June 28, 2011.
She was born weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 17 inches.
She arrived with twin brother, Robert.
Grandparents are Daniel and Frances Pope, of Issaquah, and Norm and Judy Mithoug, of the Fairwood area of Renton.
Great-grandparents are John Pope, of Issaquah; Margaret Pratt, of Issaquah; Evelyn Carbaugh, of Spokane; Robert Mithoug, of Everett; and Vivian Francis-Wick, of Everett.
Julia is a 2000 graduate of Issaquah High School.
Paragliding prompts Issaquah author’s book to take flight
July 26, 2011
Issaquah author Clark McCann readily admits that lowering his sights helped him reach his goal of getting his first novel into print.
Issaquah author Clark McCann said when he was younger he used to write poetry for ‘little magazines’ that nobody read. By Tom Corrigan
“I said to myself, ‘I’m not going to try to create art,’” said McCann, who added he likes thrillers, is an avid paraglider pilot and has spent time in Mexico.
So his novel “Black Air,” published this spring by Black Rose Writing, is a fictional thriller about Tom Shepard, a combat veteran and paraglider pilot who travels to Mexico for an international paragliding event and ends up crossing paths with a local drug dealer. After being framed for murder, Shepard spends the rest of the novel hunting for the man who set him up and, as any good hero would, winning the girl he meets along the way.
McCann said that even though he wasn’t out to write the Great American Novel with “Black Air,” he took the time to carefully plot out the book before he started writing. McCann added he had tried to write novels in his youth, but often “wrote himself into a corner” or just gave up.
A seemingly young 68, McCann spent the largest part of his professional life writing in one way or another. He served as director of communications for the University of Washington Business School and while at The Boeing Co., wrote speeches for the firm’s corporate leaders, as well as creating things like annual reports. He also worked as Boeing’s corporate director of advertising.
Issaquah grad earns first win
July 26, 2011
Former Issaquah High School pitcher Matt Wickswat, who is playing for the Winston-Salem Dash in the Class A Carolina League, recorded his first victory of the season July 8 by blanking Myrtle Beach 5-0 in a rain-shortened home contest in front of a sellout crowd of 6,673.
The contest was stopped in the bottom of the eighth because of rain.
Wickswat, in his second start with Winston-Salem, cruised through the Myrtle Beach lineup. After allowing a one-out double in the second inning, the lefthander retired 15 straight batters. He finished with a two-hitter and five strikeouts.
Wickswat followed with a 6-3 victory against Lynchburg on July 14.
He was also selected Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending July 10.
On July 19, Wickswat improved his record to 3-1 when the Dash defeated Kingston 11-6.
To the Editor
July 26, 2011
Highlands Day
Many contributed to making this the best festival in its 10-year history
This year’s festival was, by far, the largest Highlands Day in our 10 year-festival history. And while that is impressive, that is not the reason it was so special. Of course, the fantastic hospital that Swedish has brought to our community would make any day special — thank you, Swedish!
But the Highlands Day festival, in conjunction with the Swedish hospital grand opening, was special for many other reasons. And from where I stood, it was because of the people and their generous contributions. Firstly, the Highlands Council staff; Christy Garrard, Highlands Day executive director; and Chanel Merritt, Highland’s Council communications manager, spent countless hours and their time-tested expertise to produce a successful and welcoming community festival.
Tipping my hat to the Highlands Council as one of its many volunteer supporters, I’d like to join with it in thanking all the Highlands Day volunteers. The core volunteer leadership team was supplemented by dozens of community members who set up and tore down the booths, directed traffic, helped manage the crowds and even emptied the garbage!
They provided their many talents and gave generously of their time to make this Highlands Day special for all.
Thank you, everyone!
Nina Milligan, operations director
Highlands Day
King County is a top ‘digital county’ nationwide
July 26, 2011
King County is a Top 10 Digital County after out-innovating counties across the United States in a National Association of Counties survey.
The survey — a joint effort between the national association and the Center for Digital Government — identified the “best electronic practices among counties nationwide” and ranked the top candidates.
King County tied for the No. 9 spot in the category for counties of more than 500,000 people.
“The Digital Counties Survey identifies the very best examples of how counties are aligning technology to support strategic priorities and create crucial operational and administrative efficiencies,” Larry E. Naake, National Association of Counties executive director, said in a statement. “Especially important during these tough economic times, counties across the country are using innovative technologies to reduce county operations costs and enhance service delivery.”
King County has placed in the top 10 every year since 2005. The county ranked No. 2 in the survey in 2005, and No. 3 in 2006. No other Washington county made the 2011 list.
College News
July 26, 2011
Monica Anderson makes Villanova dean’s list
Monica Anderson, of Sammamish, has been named to the dean’s list for the 2011 spring semester in Villanova University’s College of Engineering. To qualify, one must be a full-time student and earn a semester grade point average of 3.25.
Local students make UW dean’s list
The following students from the Issaquah area have been named to the dean’s list at the University of Washington for the 2011 spring quarter. To qualify, a student must complete at least 12 graded credits and have a grade point average of at least 3.5.
Kyle Ahrens, Rasa Amiri, Kyrstin Andrews, Samantha Angel, Alexandra Babayan, Brian Bauer, Rachel Beck, Ekaterina Belkina, Jacqueline Belur, Matthew Betsch, Stanley Biryukov, Jacob Borin, Steven Bradshaw, Michael Brasino, Austin Briggs, Johanna Carr, John Chandler, William Chandler, Jeffrey Chen, Megan Christie, Lauren Cordell, Alexis Court, Daniel Craig, John Crotty, Jay Danner, Raechel Dawson, Casey Dickson, Shahrzad Dow, Monica Dvorak, Bernard Ellouk, Tasha Feng, Alexandra Fussell, Ayala Goldstein, Kelly Graham, Quinn Grisham, Kanav Gupta, Vanessa Ha, Scott Hardy, Margaret Harlow, Stephen Harnos, Mary Harris, Shannon Harris, Austin Hedeen, Terri Hillier, Keiji Hiramoto Jr., Chandler Hire, Brian Hoefgen, Justin Hoo, Karin Hsu, Yena Hu, Sarah Hudson, Teresa Huynh, Veronica Ivaniukovich, Molly Jenny, Kirsten Johnson, Robert Johnson, Blake Johnston, John Karanja, Nikita Katoozi, Danielle Kemmerer, Ansab Khwaja, Kelsey Kofmehl, Jordan Labelle, Annetta Lachance, Kin Lai, Mary Lebeau, Emily Lee, Mina Lee, Danielle Lemmon, Kendrick Lentini, Ian Lerch, Nicole Lock, Vesal Mahanian, Hani Mahmoud, Tami Mason, John Mather, Jordan McIntosh, Matthew Medzegian, Leslie Mikolaizik, Gregory Miner, Travis Moeller, Spencer Moritz, Daniel Morris, Connor Moseley, Bindu Musunuru, Meagan Nakashima, Paul Nichols, Tyler Ninomura, Brandon Nudelman, Emma Ogilvie, Joseph Pangallo, Jung Park, Sarah Park, Eric Parker, Andrew Jun Yang Patterson, Michael Peralta, Lena Perry, Alexandra Pessemier, Sarah Peterson, Melissa Pighin, Carson Powers, Jamie Berniece Powers, Zachary Pritchett, Rebecca Queitzsch, Lorilyn Roller, Melody Rosecrans, Matthew Rossi, Benjamin Ruby, Lindsey Rutledge, Amanda Saechao, Worawat Saelee, Maria Saenz, Sydney Safley, Cortney Schirman, Olivia Schmoe, James Schreck, Laura Skinner, Abigail Smith, Meghan Spain, Anja Speckhardt, Meghan Stephenson, Michael Su, Max Sugarman, Matthew Swartzendruber, Nicholas Swartzendruber, Trevor Takami, Rebecca Teel, Theodora Teodosiadis, Martin Toebe, Jenna Tollefson, Rebecca Tollefson, Ryan Tomokiyo, Akumbom Tunyi, Matthew Vaeena, Benjamin Van, Gregory Vandyne, Noel Vincent, Stephanie Violante, Anna Waldren, Elizabeth Waldren, Evan Walton, James Wang, Stephanie Wang, Ryan Wewerka, Alexander Whan, Samantha Whiteside, Stephanie Whitney, Kelly Wilkinson, Amanda Wong, Wanita Wong, Jonathan Yan, Conner Young, Nicole Zarfos, Qinwen Zhou and David Zong
