Firefighters rescue cat from Klahanie blaze
January 29, 2013
Firefighters extinguished a blaze at a Klahanie home late Jan. 23 and rescued a cat from the fire.
Eastside Fire & Rescue responded at 9:49 p.m. to a reported explosion and fire inside a garage in the 24200 block of Southeast 43rd Place, a Sammamish Plateau neighborhood about three miles northeast of downtown Issaquah.
Crews could see flames and smoke pouring from the garage upon arriving at the scene moments later. Firefighters protected nearby fire-prone areas and doused the blaze.
Blaze damages Klahanie home; firefighters rescue cat
January 24, 2013
NEW — 10:20 a.m. Jan. 24, 2013
Firefighters extinguished a blaze at a Klahanie home late Wednesday and rescued a cat from the fire.
Eastside Fire & Rescue responded to a reported explosion and fire inside a garage in the 24200 block of Southeast 43rd Place at 9:49 p.m.
Crews could see flames and smoke pouring from the garage upon arriving at the scene moments later. Firefighters protected nearby fire-prone areas and doused the blaze.
Officials said the home was occupied as the fire started, and the homeowner suffered a minor injury as he or she attempted to extinguish the blaze before firefighters arrived.
Runner races for charity after storm cancels New York City Marathon
November 6, 2012
Sabina Honig, Becki Chandler and Amir Feinsilber (from left) come west on East Sunset Way as they near the two-mile mark of a 26.2-mile run — a substitute for Honig’s canceled New York City Marathon and as a fundraiser for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. By Greg Farrar
In Issaquah, native New Yorker Sabina Honig awaited word from family and friends as Hurricane Sandy walloped the East Coast.
The prospective New York City Marathon runner also listened closely for information about the race scheduled to occur less than a week after the Oct. 29 superstorm.
Lingering damage from Hurricane Sandy led organizers to cancel the New York City Marathon, but Honig did not let the setback interrupt her race. Instead, she set out from home in the Issaquah Highlands on race day, Nov. 4, and logged 26.2 miles on local streets.
No medal awaited Honig at the finish line, but she used the race to raise money for relief efforts along the Eastern Seaboard.
Honig, 44, raised more than $2,000 by Nov. 5, as the fundraising cutoff deadline approached. The public can continue to donate online to Honig’s cause.
Residents can donate to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts
November 6, 2012
Opportunities abound for local residents to help people impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
Hurricane Sandy came ashore in New Jersey late Oct. 29. The storm caused at least 95 deaths throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region. The storm caused at least $7 billion in damage across the Eastern Seaboard.
Statewide earthquake drill shakes up preparedness plan
October 23, 2012
Tina Eggers (left), city clerk, Megan Gregor, city passport and records specialist, and Mary Lorna Meade, city risk management officer, take shelter under desks at Issaquah City Hall at 10:18 a.m. Oct. 18. By Greg Farrar
Staffers flooded from Issaquah City Hall and other municipal buildings at 10:18 a.m. Oct. 18 as employees joined a statewide earthquake drill.
The preparedness exercise involved public employees throughout the city, plus residents throughout the city and state, as planners tested residents’ ability to respond to a temblor.
The city official responsible for disseminating information to the public during emergencies, Communications Coordinator Autumn Monahan, said frequent disaster preparedness exercises educate city employees about the proper procedures to follow in worst-case scenarios.
Red Cross offers Independence Day safety tips
July 1, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. July 1, 2012
Independence Day means many people plan to discharge fireworks and fire up grills for backyard barbecues — but both activities can cause burns and fires.
Experts at the local American Red Cross chapter remind revelers to practice some simple safety tips to keep the holiday safe and fun.
Issaquah man’s rescuer is named Red Cross hero
April 3, 2012
Dixie Trombly and Don Trombly (from left) are thankful for Greg Gorske and Todd Short, who saved Don’s life. Short received the Medical Rescue Award from the American Red Cross on March 27. By Sarah Gerdes
During the annual Red Cross Heroes awards March 27, Todd Short humbly accepted the Medical Rescue Award, for saving the life of Issaquah resident Don Trombly.
As Short graciously accepted the award from Craig Hendrickson, CEO of Overlake Hospital Medical Center, Trombly nodded.
“He’s our guardian angel,” Dixie Trombly, Don’s wife of 50 years, said of Short, her eyes welling up with tears.
Just a regular day
Don and Dixie Trombly have lived in Issaquah for 60 years, visiting Redmond once a week to stop by the Great Harvest Bread Co., relax and let their dog roam free in a park. While they were in their car, Dixie noticed her husband suddenly exhaled.
“He gave one huff of air, then one more, and I thought that was it,” Dixie Trombly said. “He’s just died in my car.”
Nisqually earthquake anniversary is reminder to prepare
February 28, 2012
NEW — 8 a.m. Feb. 28, 2012
The ground shook for 45 stomach-churning seconds starting at 10:54 a.m. Feb. 28, 2001, as the last major earthquake to occur in the Puget Sound region rattled buildings and jangled nerves.
The earthquake cracked the Capitol dome in Olympia and caused widespread damage across the region, injured hundreds of people and left billions of dollars in property damage.
Tuesday marks 11 years since the Nisqually earthquake — a magnitude-6.8 temblor credited for changing attitudes about emergency preparedness in Issaquah, King County and statewide.
City leaders credited the temblor for alerting officials and residents to the importance of disaster preparedness and response. The city participates in regular disaster-response exercises, such as the regional Sound Shake drill.
Issaquah School District planners also learned lessons since the earthquake occurred.
Issaquah Community Center offers residents shelter
January 24, 2012
The mercury dipped and the lights turned dark as crews raced to restore power across the region.
The city and the American Red Cross partnered to turn the Issaquah Community Center into a 24-hour shelter amid a dayslong blackout. The refuge opened late Jan. 19, after a rare ice storm sent tree limbs tumbling to earth and snow lingered on roadways.
Barry Morgan (right), American Red Cross volunteer, registers the 100th client at the Issaquah Community Center at 3 p.m. Jan. 20 for a place to stay. Volunteer Stan McKenzie and service dog Katsu are at left. By Greg Farrar
The shelter provided 35 shelter nights — or number of overnight stays — to residents from Issaquah and other Eastside communities. Teams at the shelter handled 244 drop-in visits, and served 778 snacks and meals to clients.
Some shelter clients spread out on cots for the night. Other people stopped in for a hot snack or a hotter shower. The shelter offered some a chance to unwind after stressful days in powerless residences.
“They were feeling cooped up in the house with the kids in particular,” said Stephanie Schoo, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit organization. “It was good to have a warm, safe place for the kids to get to play and sprawl out.”
Issaquah Community Center shelter is open for another night
January 21, 2012
UPDATED — 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21, 2012
The 24-hour shelter at the Issaquah Community Center is open for another night Saturday, as power returns to many customers and the need decreases.
The shelter, 301 Rainier Blvd. S., hosted 24 people overnight Friday, as power remained out for many residents in the Issaquah area. Many other people stopped in throughout the day for snacks and warmth.
The shelter is scheduled to close Sunday, American Red Cross officials announced Saturday night.
Meanwhile, city crews and residents continued recovery efforts. Only a section of a Squak Mountain street — Southwest Ellerwood Street — remained closed Saturday afternoon, after crews toiled Friday to clear downed trees from roadways.
Community Emergency Response Teams also fanned out across the city to distribute leaflets about the community center shelter, a joint effort between the city and the American Red Cross.
People intending to spend the night at the shelter should bring prescription and emergency medications; extra clothing, pillows, blankets, toiletries and other comfort items; and important documents.
