Woman flees police in Issaquah, crashes vehicle in Snoqualmie
January 22, 2013
Police said a suicidal woman fled from a therapist’s office in Issaquah on Jan. 18 and then crashed a vehicle in Snoqualmie.
Issaquah officers responded to a business in the 22500 block of Southeast 64th Place at 7:37 p.m. after the woman, a 31-year-old Klahanie resident, made suicidal threats to her therapist.
Once officers arrived, the woman did not cooperate with police and fled eastbound on Interstate 90. Police advised the Washington State Patrol and the Snoqualmie Police Department about the woman’s last known location.
St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church leader to retire
January 22, 2013
The Rev. Ann Lukens, leader at St. Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church, leads parishioners in worship. Contributed
The leader at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, the Rev. Ann Lukens, plans to retire from the post Jan. 27 after a dozen years.
Lukens spearheaded and oversaw significant expansions at the downtown Issaquah church, including a modernization and expansion of facilities, encouraging more music in worship and deepening St. Michael’s ties to the community.
Throughout Lukens’ tenure, St. Michael’s adapted to accommodate a burgeoning congregation. The church remodeled and added space for Sunday school classrooms a decade ago and, in June 2011, consecrated a 4,985-square-foot addition to almost double the church’s footprint.
St. Michael’s, founded in 1953, used the 2011 expansion to refresh the church façade and add a music center to make room for popular music programs and children’s ministries.
From the pulpit, Lukens led meaningful Holy Week services — Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday — offered parishioners a chance to worship in festive attire on All Hallows and, before Lent, Fat Sunday.
Eagles wrestlers wrap up rally against Roughriders
January 22, 2013
Jerdon Helgeson (top), Issaquah High School senior, is about to have the referee call his pin in the first period of the 152-pound match Jan. 17 against Roosevelt sophomore Taka Olds. By Greg Farrar
The Issaquah High School wrestling squad raised its overall mark to 6-1, when it hosted Roosevelt at the Eagle’s Nest Jan. 17 and knocked the Roughriders out of their saddles with a 39-31 comeback victory.
Issaquah High School alumnus joins Legislature
January 22, 2013
Jeff Holy
Jeff Holy, son of former Issaquah Councilwoman Jacki Holy and a graduate of Issaquah High School, took the oath of office for the state House of Representatives on Jan. 14.
“My mother taught me the value of serving the public and being involved in your community,” Jeff Holy said in a statement. “It is an honor to be trusted by my constituents to serve as their voice in the Legislature.”
In Olympia, the Spokane Republican represents Eastern Washington’s 6th Legislative District.
Skyline High School student petitions for disability rights
January 22, 2013
On Dec. 4, when the U.S. Senate failed to ratify a United Nations Treaty, the Convention for Rights and Persons with Disabilities, Skyline High School senior Joshua Schaier had something to say about it.
Schaier said he was upset by the rejection of the treaty, which is meant to protect the basic human rights of people with disabilities around the world.
“I didn’t think it was right that the United States fail in their duty to help protect people everywhere, including people with disabilities,” Schaier said.
Off the Press
January 22, 2013
Share your sports accomplishments
Kathleen R. Merrill
Press managing editor
I get complaints from people about things we miss in sports on some kind of regular basis. Not daily, but probably about once a week, someone calls or emails to ask, “Hey, why didn’t you cover this game?” or “How could you miss my son’s first school record?” or “Why isn’t my daughter’s swim meet time in your scoreboard?”
I hear you, and I care about your comments and concerns. I have the same concerns.
When I first started working here nearly eight years ago, we had a three-page sports section, with a color front page. (Schools ran on the back of that standalone section.)
Ahh, those were the days! We not only ruled prep sports, but we also had the occasional Mariners or Seahawks feature story.
To the Editor
January 22, 2013
Gun control
Don’t demonize the responsible
I was frustrated and felt disrespected as a citizen by the words used by the President this morning. I am a gun owner and I felt the President was demonizing me for owning firearms, and especially since I own and shoot semiautomatic firearms.
I am not an evil person. I have never broken the law, been arrested or done anything that involves the police. I haven’t even had a speeding ticket in years, but the President inferred I am a bad person, the enemy of America. I won’t forget that when it comes time to vote.
State Rep. Chad Magendanz gets to work in Olympia
January 22, 2013
State Rep. Chad Magendanz, a former Issaquah School Board member, took the oath of office Jan. 14 to represent Issaquah and the 5th Legislative District in Olympia.
Magendanz, a freshman Republican and 17-year resident in the district, succeeded longtime former state Rep. Glenn Anderson in the House of Representatives seat.
Magendanz is the assistant ranking member on the House Education Committee, and also serves on the House Higher Education and House Technology & Economic Development committees.
Mary Jane Elliott
January 22, 2013
Mary Jane Elliott
Mary Jane Elliott, of lssaquah, died Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, at the age of 79.
She was born Nov. 19, 1933, in Boyne City, Mich., the daughter of Harry and Clara Tompkins. She graduated from Boyne City High School and was the salutatorian of her class. After graduating from the University of Michigan Nursing School, she started her life’s work in nursing at Mercer Island Pediatrics. She then worked for Doctors Hospital, and finally at Swedish Hospital as head nurse of the nursery, and post partum, retiring in 1996.
She was an active church member and chorister of every church she belonged to in her lifetime. She was gifted musically, not only as an alto, but also at the piano and organ, and she served as a substitute organist for Emmanuel Episcopal Church, in Mercer Island, and St. Paul United Church of Christ in Ballard. Her passion was classical music, which led her to University Christian Church in the 2000s to sing under the direction of the late George Shangro.
Longtime city human services coordinator retires
January 22, 2013
Longtime city employee Steve Gierke retired last month after serving as human services coordinator and in numerous other roles at City Hall.
Gierke most recently oversaw a broad human services portfolio — the City Council funds dozens of organizations and programs each year — and served as the liaison between the city administration and the Human Services Commission.
In early 2010, council members considered eliminating the human services coordinator position, but retained the position after realizing the extent of Gierke’s contributions.
