Blog discontinued

This blog has been discontinued by the Stanwood/Camano NEWS. It will remain active on the newspaper's Web site, www.scnews.com, for archive purposes.

Crews pouring columns for new bridge

Last week, work crews started two of the eight columns for the new Mark Clark Bridge.
The columns are filled with concrete, and then cured, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Crews will start the next two after the first set has finished curing.
WSDOT also announced area work and closures for the next week.
One lane of SR 532 will be closed between 19th Avenue NW and 28th Avenue NW starting 7 p.m. Sat. until 8 a.m. Sunday while crews stripe the west-bound truck climbing lane.
From Monday until Friday morning, one lane between 19th Avenue NW and 28th Ave NW will be closed 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. The Oct. 30 Friday night closure will be from 8 p.m. until 9 a.m. Sat., Oct. 31.
On Camano Island, one lane will be closed between Hanstad and Smith roads from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday. Crews are striping the new bus pull outs and turn lanes at Juniper Beach Road and the turn lane between Good and Smith roads.

 

H1N1 clinc tomorrow

An H1N1 clinic has been schedule for tomorrow, Sat., Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Heritage Park. 9600 276th St. NW in Stanwood.
The clinic will provide free vaccinations for pregnant women and children ages 6 months to 4 years, who have been the hardest hit by the influenza strain. All other priority groups must wait for the Oct. 31 clinic, which is set for the same time and place.
About 1,700 doses have been received for the H1N1 vaccination locally, said Darin Reid, assistant fire chief for Stanwood-Camano Fire Department. They hope to receive more before the Oct. 31 clinic.

WSDOT work for this week

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced work for this week.
On SR 532 east of Stanwood, crews will continue to stripe and install guardrail for new truck climbing lanes. Direction through the zone will be provided today from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. between 12th Ave NW and 52nd Ave NW and from Tues. through Fri. from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. between 12th Ave NW and 28th Ave NW.
The Mark Clark Bridge will close to one lane on Mon. through Thurs. from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and on Fri. from 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. Crews will be continuing ground improvements.

First West Nile death in state

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported that a Yakima County woman in her 70s died from West Nile Virus. It's the first death from the virus within the state.
A total of 31 other state residents have also become sick with West Nile Virus this year. About 25 of those cases were considered severe.
This is the largest number of residents to become ill with the disease in the state. According t DOH, the previous high was three people in 2008.
West Nile is spread by mosquito bite. Most humans have no symptoms, and some have mild, flu-like symptoms. Those over age 50 are most at risk for serious reactions.
Local health officials have advised that people avoid the dusk hours when mosquitoes are active, wear bug spray, wear long sleeves, and eliminate standing water on their property where mosquitoes can breed.

Closures this week on SR 532

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced lane closures on SR 532 for this week.
One lane of SR 532 will be closed between 52nd Ave NW and 36th Ave NW from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and from 9 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Saturday. Crews are preparing to pave a section of the roadway if weather permits, according to WSDOT.
SR 532 will also be down to one lane between 12th Ave NW and 28th Ave NW Tuesday through Thursday night from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and Friday from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday. Crews will install a guardrail.
Both closures are expected to cause minor delays, according to WSDOT.

Reardon to speak tomorrow

Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon is scheduled to speak at the Stanwood Democrats meeting tomorrow, 10 a.m. at the Viking Restaurant in Stanwood.
Reardon will discuss the county's budget, which is currently under construction.

Leatherheads opens

Leatherheads, a new firefighter-themed restaurant, opens today at 11:30 a.m. in the old West End Fire Hall at 10209 270th Street NW in Stanwood. For more info., give them a call at 629-5555.
To see the article about the remodel of the historic building, visit www.scnews.com/news/2009/1006/front_page/002.html.

School board meets tomorrow

The Stanwood-Camano School Board will meet tomorrow at noon in the Administrative and Resource Center board room, 26920 Pioneer Hwy in Stanwood.
The board will hear a presentation about the district's Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Washington state Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) scores by school and grade.

The full agenda is located at ttp://districtweb.stanwood.wednet.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1146&Itemid=426.

Roll-over accident leaves one dead, two injured

One person is dead, and two injured after a rollover accident 12:30 a.m. Sunday on 271st St. N.W. in front of Hamilton Lumber in Stanwood.

The vehicle rolled into a building, causing minor damage, said Stanwood-Camano Fire Department Deputy Chief Darin Reid. Stanwood-Camano Fire Department, Camano Island Fire and Rescue and Stanwood Police responded to the accident.

Crews cut the roof of the car off. One of the victims was found dead on arrival, Reid said. Another was awake and out of the vehicle. There is no information at this time whether he was thrown from the vehicle or crawled out.

One person was flown to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition, Reid said. Another was driven to Skagit Valley Hospital in non-critical condition.

More information will be available in the Tuesday edition of the Stanwood/Camano NEWS.

Want to vote in the Nov. 3 election?

The Snohomish County Auditor's Office has posted a reminder that Monday, Oct. 5, is the last day someone can register by mail or online to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
It's also the last day that registered voters can change their address in time for the general election.
Those who have never registered to vote in the state can register to vote in person at the auditor's office until Mon., Oct. 26. The Snohomish County Auditor's office, at 3000 Rockefeller Ave., in Everett, is open Mon. through Thurs., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fri., 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For the Island County Auditor's Office, call (360)629-4522, ext. 7366.

To register to vote or change address, visit http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/en/voterinformation/Pages/RegistertoVote.aspx or get a mail-in form at www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Auditor/Divisions/Elections_Voting/.

SnoCo Council begins budget process

The Snohomish County Council has begun the budget process for 2010.
The council announced earlier this month that it would build the budget from scratch, rather than rely on the budget proposed by Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon.
As part of the budget process, the county is asking for public testimony. People can submit their budget priorities to the county by visiting http://web5.co.snohomish.wa.us/council/budgettestimony/.
Typically, the county council passes the budget at a November meeting prior to Thanksgiving.

SR 532/Mark Clark construction update

Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced closures and possible delays for drivers for this coming week.
One lane of the 84th St. Bridge in Stanwood will be closed from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. tonight and Tuesday. Part of the new bridge deck paving did not adhere correctly, so WSDOT crews are redoing the two-foot-wide section.
In addition, on SR 532 east of Stanwood, crews will install new guardrails at night Wednesday through Friday. WSDOT advises that there may be delays. One lane will be closed between 28th Ave NW and 12th Ave NW on Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next morning, and Friday from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday morning.
There will be work on SR 532 during the day this week, but WSDOT said it will not result in any closures.

For updates, check www.wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/Snohomish/Construction/#SR%20532.

Burn ban lifted

The burn ban for unincorporated Island County, including Camano Island, was lifted today at 8 a.m.
Residents may burn a pile of natural vegetation that is 4 feet by 4 feet or less without a permit. A larger pile requires a permit, which is available by contacting Fire Warden Fred Wefer at (360) 428-3293.
It is illegal to burn garbage, household trash, lumber, construction waste or demolition debris.

CASA auction funds shelter

The Camano Animal Shelter Association (CASA)'s fourth annual auction is approaching on Sat. Oct. 3, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Camano Senior and Community Center, at 606 Arrowhead Rd. on Camano Island.
Tickets will be $25 in advance, and $35 at the door.
The shelter is highly dependent on donations and community support. The shelter does receive some support from Island County for dogs.

The shelter has posted a list of some of the auction items on seattle.craigslist.org/sno/pet/1379828060.html.

Sno-Isle still searches for new trustee

Sno-Isle Libraries has extended the application deadline for the vacant board of trustee position until Thurs.. Oct. 1.
Potential trustees must live in Snohomish County, excluding Everett and Woodway. Those from south Snohomish County will receive preference.

A position description and application are available at www.sno-isle.org or by contacting Judy Carter at 360.651.7002, or Mary Kelly at 360.651.7030.

Public hearing about Camano Gateway

The Island County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the adoption of an ordinance for the Camano Gateway area 6 p.m. Tues., Sept. 22 at the Camano Senior and Community Center, 606 Arrowhead Rd., on Camano Island.
The ordinance, if adopted, would create a Camano Gateway Village Zone and set development regulations including design, lot size,, setbacks, building height and signage.

First evidence of West Nile in King County

The state Department of Health reported that a dead bird found in Seattle in August has tested positive for West Nile virus.
Thus far, three birds have tested positive for the virus in Western Washington. A man in Klickitat County caught West Nile, but is recovering. Statewide, the virus has been found in 32 horses, 15 birds and 326 mosquito pools, according to the state Department of Health.
The Snohomish Health District no longer tests for West Nile, after budget cuts last year. Neither Island nor Snohomish County has reported any cases of humans with the virus.
Testing mosquitoes and birds for West Nile virus helps identify the virus' presence in a community prior to an outbreak, said Allison Cook, state Department of Health public information officer. Public health officials can then alert communities about what they can do to lower their risk of West Nile virus.
Most people who are bitten by a mosquito with West Nile don't become ill, Cook said. Some may experience flu-like symptoms, such as a fever and muscle aches. Adults over age 50 and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk. West Nile can develop into meningitis or encephalitis.
Local public health officials advise people to avoid outdoors in the evening, when mosquitoes are most active, cover exposed skin with light material or mosquito repellent, make sure screens fit and remove standing water to limit where mosquitoes can lay eggs.

Part of burn ban lifted

Part of Island County's burn ban was lifted on Friday.
Outdoor burning of natural debris is still not permitted, even with a permit. However, recreational fires in fire pits lined with metal or concrete or in a barbecue or camp stove are now allowed.
As of July 30, Island County had restricted all outdoor burning due to the dry weather.

Updated burn ban information for Island County is available at (360) 391-0362. Property under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Natural Resources should call (360) 856-3500 for information on burn permits.

Council overturns FCC veto

The Snohomish County Council overturned County Executive Aaron Reardon's veto of the elimination of fully-contained communities from the county code this morning.
Reardon had vetoed the ordinance last week.
In a 4-1 vote, with Councilman John Koster dissenting, the council took the code permitting mini-cities in the county off of the books.

For more details, read the Sept. 15 edition of the Stanwood/Camano NEWS.