Local legislator Steve Litzow invites constituents to telephone ‘town hall’
June 6, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. June 6, 2012
Constituents can join state Sen. Steve Litzow for a telephone “town hall” meeting to discuss the recent legislative sessions.
The discussion is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. June 13 and last for 60 minutes. Litzow plans to take constituents’ questions and share views about the recent legislative sessions throughout the discussion.
Litzow represents the portion of Issaquah in the 41st Legislative District — Cougar Mountain and areas west of 12th Avenue Northwest. However, after the 2011 redistricting goes into effect after the November election, the district should encompass more of Issaquah.
Call the toll-free number at 1-877-229-8493 and enter the code 110085 at the prompt. Constituents can direct questions before and after the event to Litzow’s office via email at steve.litzow@leg.wa.gov, or by phone at 453-3076.
Proposed Cougar Mountain subdivision comes under review
May 29, 2012
Talus residents questioned plans to build 24 homes on a steep Cougar Mountain hillside downhill from the neighborhood, as the City Council considers a pact to allow the project to proceed.
A Kirkland developer applied to build the homes on a half-dozen acres near the Talus urban village, south of Northwest James Bush Road and uphill from state Route 900. The location raised concerns among some Talus residents about possible impacts to street parking and increased landslide risk.
The council scheduled a public hearing for June 4 to collect input on the proposed subdivision, Forest Heights, as members consider a development agreement to allow the project to continue.
The council is not expected to reach a decision after the public hearing. The proposed development agreement could reach the council for action in early July.
Issaquah dog breeder faces cruelty charges in court June 5
May 29, 2012
A dog breeder accused of hoarding 62 small dogs at a Cougar Mountain home is due in court next month to face animal cruelty charges.
Prosecutors said Issaquah resident Margaret Ann Hamilton, 70, hoarded more than 100 dogs at homes in Issaquah and Burien.
Police said Hamilton and her since-deceased husband kept the animals at a home in the 5900 block of 189th Avenue Southeast on Cougar Mountain, about a mile south of Cougar Mountain Zoo.
Hamilton is due in King County Superior Court for arraignment June 5 on two counts of second-degree animal cruelty, a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and up to 90 days in jail. Prosecutors initially scheduled the hearing for May 17.
Investigators, alongside Burien and Regional Animal Services of King County animal control officers, raided the Issaquah and Burien homes last year after receiving a tip from Pasado’s Safe Haven, a nonprofit animal rescue organization in Seattle.
Police discovered 38 more dogs at a Burien home owned by Hamilton’s brother-in-law.
Veterinarians later euthanized 14 ill animals — 13 dogs from the Burien home and one dog from the Issaquah home.
Citizen input is sought for Cougar Mountain subdivision
May 22, 2012
Citizens can comment soon about a subdivision proposed for Cougar Mountain near the Talus urban village.
City Council members plan to hold a public hearing on the Forest Heights development agreement, a proposed pact to add 24 single-family lots to about six acres on a 13.9-acre site. The agreement also outlines nine tracts for native growth protection easements, open space, storm water detention and future development.
The proposed project site is north and east of Talus, south of Northwest James Bush Road and uphill from state Route 900.
The proposal raised concerns among Talus residents about possible impacts on parking in the hillside neighborhood and increased landslide risk.
Citizens can comment on the proposed development agreement at a meeting and public hearing at 7:30 p.m. June 4. The council meets in the Council Chambers at City Hall South, 135 E. Sunset Way.
Issaquah dog breeder faces cruelty charges for hoarding animals
May 15, 2012
The empty kennels outside a rundown Issaquah house and the sound of dogs barking from inside alerted animal rescue advocates to possible trouble.
Days later, in early October, King County Sheriff’s Office investigators raided the house and discovered 62 Chihuahuas and Japanese Chins confined in filthy carriers.
On May 3, King County prosecutors filed animal-cruelty charges against the homeowner, a dog breeder and a past judge for the American Kennel Club, a prestigious registry of purebred dogs. Prosecutors said Issaquah resident Margaret Ann Hamilton, 70, hoarded more than 100 dogs at homes in Issaquah and Burien.
Detective John K. Pavlovich said Hamilton and her since-deceased husband hoarded the animals at a home in the 5900 block of 189th Avenue Southeast on Cougar Mountain, about a mile south of Cougar Mountain Zoo.
Course record set at first Cougar Mountain Trail Run
May 15, 2012
Joseph Gray set a new course record at the first 2012 SCOTT Cougar Mountain Trail Run.
Gray’s mark of 30 minutes and 19 seconds beat second-place finisher Lance Thompson by 48 seconds.
The next run is scheduled for June 16 and will be an eight-mile race. Register online at www.nwtrailruns.com. Registration costs $35.
Issaquah dog breeder faces animal cruelty charges
May 8, 2012
NEW — 12:45 p.m. May 8, 2012
The empty kennels outside a rundown Issaquah house and the sound of dogs barking from inside alerted animal rescue advocates to possible trouble.
Days later, in early October, King County Sheriff’s Office investigators raided the house and discovered 62 Chihuahuas and Japanese Chins inside filthy carriers.
On May 3, King County prosecutors filed animal-cruelty charges against the homeowner, a dog breeder and a past judge for the American Kennel Club, a prestigious registry of purebred dogs. Prosecutors said Issaquah resident Margaret Ann Hamilton, 70, hoarded more than 100 dogs at homes in Issaquah and Burien.
Detective John K. Pavlovich said Hamilton and her since-deceased husband hoarded the animals at a home is in the 5900 block of 189th Avenue Southeast on Cougar Mountain, about a mile south of Cougar Mountain Zoo.
120 years of Issaquah
April 24, 2012
Click on the image to view the full-size timeline.
1892
- Issaquah is founded as Gilman. The city is named for railroad baron Daniel Hunt Gilman.
1893
- The postmaster called for mail sent to Gilman to be addressed to Olney, Wash., to avoid confusion between Gilman and Gilmer, another city in the state.
1895
- Townsfolk start calling the frontier town Issaquah, or “the sound of water birds” in the language of the American Indians native to the region.
1899
- State lawmakers approve official name change from Gilman to Issaquah.
Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series returns
April 24, 2012
Annual event benefits King County parks
The series gets under way May 12 with a 5-mile run – the first of five races on various stretches of Cougar Mountain’s scenic, 36-mile trail network. Runs of eight, 10, 13.1 and a final race of 31 miles (with an option to run a 20-mile race instead) are scheduled in the following months.
Produced by Northwest Trail Runs and the Seattle Running Club, the race series not only introduces hundreds of people to Cougar Mountain’s 36 miles of fantastic trails, but it also benefits King County Parks.
Volunteer work groups from the trail-running community spend an average of 150 hours each year doing trail restoration work, including improving trail surface conditions, invasive weed removal and picking up trash.
Such work has contributed to Cougar Mountain’s status as one of the nation’s best trail-running locations, according to Runners World magazine.
USA Today spotlights Issaquah Alps trails
February 28, 2012
Issaquah Alps peaks and trails garnered national attention Feb. 21 after USA Today featured the Eastside mountains in a travel piece.
The feature outlines trails and points of interest on Cougar, Squak and Tiger mountains — including the long-defunct Nike Ajax missile installation on Cougar Mountain and the paraglider launch site on Tiger Mountain.
“Hiking through Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, on to Squak Mountain State Park Natural Area and into Tiger Mountain State Forest adds mileage but provides a scenic route,” the guide notes.
