2009 News archive

March 16
King County Corrections Officer found dead at her home
The King County corrections community is mourning the loss of a dedicated colleague, Barbara Nettlebeck. Officer Barbara Nettlebeck, age 52, a Corrections Officer with the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention was found dead at her residence in Pierce County on Friday, March 13, 2009.

March 13
‘Senseless’ vandalism causes thousands in damage to popular King County yurts
Vandals struck King County’s Tolt-MacDonald Park near Carnation on earlier this week, causing several thousands of dollars in damage to public camping facilities, including two of the county’s popular yurts.

March 13
Wastemobile visits Federal Way March 20-22 for household hazardous waste collection
The King County Wastemobile continues this season with a visit to Federal Way, March 20-22, when county residents can safely dispose of car batteries, oil and other household hazardous items.

March 11
New penalty for unlicensed King County pets
King County will take a proven approach to enhancing pet licensing in 2009 with the introduction of a penalty for failing to license cats and dogs. The $75 penalty is aimed at increasing the number of pet owners in unincorporated King County who protect their pets with a license. Penalties will begin to be issued on April 1.

March 10
Affordable housing becoming harder to find in King County
Finding and keeping affordable housing is becoming more difficult for the King County residents with the fewest economic options, such as low income households.

March 10
Protect pets from cold weather
Even though it is mid March, forecasters are predicting a chance of snow and frigid temperatures for the next few days, which means cold weather risks for pets and livestock. King County Animal Care and Control is reminding pet owners to protect their animals from the elements and to take steps to prevent frostbite and other cold weather-related hazards during this unusual cold snap.

March 9
Repair work continues on Kenmore sinkhole
Tunnel construction on the Brightwater project is again under way amid careful monitoring as county contractors repair a sinkhole discovered on a Kenmore street Sunday morning.

March 9
King County joins blogosphere
March snow and ice gave King County's new blog a good test run over the weekend as Metro Transit started using the KCNews blog and the existing KCNews Twitter feed to improve communication with its riders and the media.

March 8
Brightwater project staff respond to Kenmore sinkhole
Engineers and construction managers with King County's Brightwater Treatment System project are investigating the cause of a sinkhole discovered early this morning at the intersection of 61st Avenue Northeast and Northeast 195th Street in Kenmore.

March 6
King County and Metro unveil new tools for staying in tune with transit disruptions
With snow again in the forecast, King County Metro Transit is gearing up to keep buses moving and to keep riders better informed. While Metro staff will be chaining up many of its buses overnight to prep for the forecasted weekend snow, new media tools and additional staff are ready to send out transit information on the county’s blog and Twitter sites as well.

March 6
Fairwood incorporation meeting March 19
The public is invited to a second meeting to discuss the Revised Fairwood Incorporation Study and citizen comments received during and after the February 9 community meeting. Turnout was strong at the February meeting and the project team hopes for the same level of involvement in March. All are welcome.

March 4
Cat missing for 9 months to be reunited with owner
"RV" the calico cat ran away from home as her owner, Ken Gold, was preparing to move from Kent, Washington to Tucson, Arizona last July. Heartbroken, Ken stayed behind in Kent for one extra day hoping the cat would return, but had to start his move after time ran out. He kept hope alive by updating his contact information associated with the cat's microchip registry after his move.

Feb. 26
Household hazardous waste collection season starts March 6 with Auburn visit of Wastemobile
King County's popular program enters 20th year of safeguarding environment
King County residents can safely dispose of car batteries, oil and other household hazardous items when the King County Wastemobile kicks off its 20th year with a visit to the Auburn SuperMall, March 6-8.

Feb. 25
Save ‘green’ on your produce bill by growing veggies in your own King County garden plot
The benefits of growing your own vegetables can go far beyond a healthy meal. Gardening is proven to be a great stress reducer, provides exercise and helps stretch a family’s food budget.

Feb. 25
King County, Seattle receive federal homeless assistance award of $19.7 million
The City of Seattle and King County have been awarded $19,683,354 in federal McKinney Homeless Assistance funds for housing programs and support services for homeless people. The award was announced today by King County Executive Ron Sims and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, following the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announcement of $1.6 billion awarded nationwide.

Feb. 24
Metro’s potential service cuts equal a full year of service in other counties
The magnitude of potential cuts to bus service by King County Metro to its riders could be of a kind never seen before in this state said King County Executive Ron Sims today. Metro may have to cut 20 percent of its service after word last week that sales tax projections continue to be undermined by the recession while rider demand for service soars. An analysis of statewide transit data shows the potential Metro cuts could equal a full year of service provided by numerous agencies statewide, including Sound Transit (based on the latest data available).

Feb. 23
King County Council confirms Executive appointee Van Olst to lead King County Corrections
The Metropolitan King County Council has unanimously confirmed Executive Ron Sims' appointee Kathleen Van Olst as the new director of the county's Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention.

Feb. 20
Auburn, Snoqualmie Valley, and Vashon voters to experience accessible voting service
Voters in the Auburn, Snoqualmie Valley and Vashon school districts will soon get to experience the new accessible voting service to be piloted for the March 10 special election.

Feb. 20
King County wants to hear ideas of farming’s future
Farming has been an important part of the landscape since King County’s earliest days, and county leaders want to hear ideas about ensuring the future of agriculture.

Feb. 20
Road construction in Seattle SODO area will affect bus service
The city of Seattle is beginning road improvement projects in the SODO area that will result in some reroutes, relocated bus stops, and delays for King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit express bus service for several months.

Feb. 18
Work begins in March to replace aging bridge on SE May Valley Road
In March, King County will begin a nine-month project to replace a deteriorating timber bridge on Southeast May Valley Road south of Issaquah. The project may create disruptions for motorists.

Feb. 17
New sales tax projections threaten Metro Transit system
The national recession continues to erode King County Metro Transit's main funding source with new sales tax projections showing an unprecedented $100 million funding gap for 2010, and a worsening of the current 2008/09 biennial sales tax receipts by another $29 million. The revenue shortfall from 2008 budget projections could mean service cuts of 800 thousand to a million service hours annually.

Feb. 9
King County begins work on intelligent-road projects in Juanita
King County begins construction this month on two more Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) projects, and this set will speed up traffic flow in busy corridors north of Kirkland.

Feb. 9
Learn more about Chinook Bend restoration at a public meeting, Feb. 18 in Carnation
The public has an opportunity to learn more about plans for restoring the Snoqualmie River at King County’s Chinook Bend Natural Area by attending a community meeting, Feb. 18 in Carnation.

Feb. 3
King County Green Schools Program honors Auburn School District for conservation work
Increased recycling rates and decreased expenses for garbage disposal are among the benefits that the Auburn School District has realized from its partnership with the King County Green Schools Program. King County recently honored the school district for improving its recycling practices and other conservation efforts over the past two years.

Feb. 3
Deadline for today's election fast approaching
King County voters have until tonight to make their voices heard for today's special election. In this first countywide election conducted entirely by mail, over 1.1 million ballots were sent to all active voters nearly three weeks ago. Ballots must be postmarked by today in order for them to count.

Feb. 3
King County’s noxious weed list growing
King County noxious weed specialists are on high alert to find three new Class A noxious weeds that are trying to take root here.

Feb. 2
Executive Sims statement regarding nomination to become deputy secretary of HUD
President Barack Obama today announced his intent to nominate me as the next Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. I thank the President for this honor. I am deeply grateful and overwhelmed by his trust and confidence in me.

Feb. 2
20 years of healthier kids: Celebrating Seattle's school-based health centers
What began in 1989 as a modest pilot program at Rainier Beach High School is now a model for an effective school-based health care system, serving 5,000 middle and high school students each year across the Seattle School District. To honor this 20-year milestone in providing high-quality, comprehensive adolescent health care in schools, City of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson, Public Health – Seattle & King County Director and Health Officer Dr. David Fleming and community partners came together today to celebrate at West Seattle High School.

Jan. 30
Presidential declaration of disaster issued for flood event in King County
Executive Ron Sims is pleased to inform citizens of King County that President Barack Obama has declared a federal disaster for the January severe winter storm incident that impacted King County.

Jan. 30
Clean up completed following sewer overflow in Woodinville
Clean up is completed in Woodinville following a sewer overflow that occurred around 9:00 a.m. just south of the intersection of NE 175th Street and Woodinville-Redmond Road.

Jan. 29
City of Enumclaw agrees to take control of King County Fair in 2009
The oldest fair west of the Mississippi River would live on under new management in a preliminary agreement announced today between the City of Enumclaw and King County.

Jan. 29
Your signature is as important as your vote
The deadline to vote in King County’s first all-mail election is rapidly approaching. Earlier this month, more than 1.1 million ballots were sent to voters, many of whom will be filling out their first mail ballot for the February 3 election.

Jan. 28
Metro Transit's service change starts Saturday, Feb. 7
King County Metro Transit will update bus service starting Saturday, Feb. 7 - adding more trips on routes 10, 36, 157 and 255, partnering on a new route in the Auburn area, and expanding bus-bike connections in downtown Seattle.

Jan. 28
King County wants to hear ideas of farming’s future
Farming has been an important part of the landscape since King County’s earliest days, and county leaders want to hear ideas about ensuring the future of agriculture.

Jan. 27
King County residents affected by flooding can receive vouchers for free flood debris disposal
As part of King County’s ongoing efforts to help its residents recover from historic flooding earlier this month, the county’s Solid Waste Division is providing vouchers that will allow individuals to dispose of their flood debris at no cost at any King County solid waste transfer station. Vouchers are available to individuals through Feb. 26 by contacting the division at 206-296-4466, 1-800-325-6165, ext 6-4466, TTY Relay: 711, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Jan. 26
King County needs volunteers to help save native plants for future land restoration work
Instead of wasting native plants during land-clearing activities, King County’s Native Plant Salvage Program recruits volunteers to recover these valuable plants from areas that are slated for development, and then replants the rescued vegetation at restoration sites.

Jan. 23
Most Metro Transit fares increase on Feb. 1
King County Metro Transit is reminding customers that bus fares for adults will increase by 25 cents starting Sunday, Feb 1.

Jan. 23
Juanita Bay Pump Station replacement increases system capacity, improves design
A newly completed replacement for King County’s Juanita Bay Pump Station will increase sewer system capacity while providing neighbors with a well-designed facility that can better control noise and odors.

Jan. 22
King County checking for more flood damage as emergency levee repair work is completed
Just two weeks after historic flooding caused widespread damage along many western Washington rivers, King County work crews have completed all of the necessary emergency repairs to levees, and have now begun to take a closer look at how those flood-prevention structures fared.

Jan. 22
Have you tried tracking your mail ballot online?
Last week King County mailed a record-breaking total of more than 1.1 million ballots to all registered voters for the county's first all-mail election on February 3. Also new for this election, the division has launched an application that allows voters to track their ballot's progress online, verifying its location at three different points.

Jan. 21
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., volunteers give more than 600 hours of service in parks
While many people didn't have to work on Jan. 19 because of the holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, nearly 200 volunteers spent part of their holiday giving back to the community by performing hundreds of hours of work throughout the King County Parks system.

Jan. 20
King County to keep close eye on Green River as Howard Hanson Dam assessment continues
King County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local governments are coordinating efforts in response to news that the Corps’ flood-control dam on the upper Green River will have to be drawn down to assess recently discovered damage.

Jan. 16
Elections Division to test tabulation equipment
On Jan. 20, King County Elections will start the four-step internal acceptance testing process for the upgraded tabulation equipment. This process is open to the public and fulfills Elections' promise of complete and transparent testing of the upgraded tabulation system. Testing will last approximately eight weeks total.

Jan. 15
Death of inmate in custody
Daphney Justice, 51, died Wednesday Jan. 14 in the custody of the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention at Harborview Medical Center.

Jan. 15
Trail sections closed for repair as flood damage takes toll on King County trail system
Last week's heavy rain and widespread flooding left its mark on King County trails, with significant damage and several closures reported on the trail system.

Jan. 14
County's first all-mail election underway, record-setting number of ballots in the mail today
The two-year effort of transitioning King County entirely to vote by mail will be put to the test on Feb. 3. With over 1.1 million ballots sent to voters today, the county has set a new record for the number of ballots mailed in a single election. This number surpasses all previous records set by Los Angeles County, formerly the nation’s largest contingent of mail voters. Ballots for more than 19,000 military, overseas and out-of-state voters were sent on Jan. 2.

Jan. 14
$36 million awarded countywide to create affordable and supportive housing projects
Creating affordable housing opportunities for hundreds of individuals and families in need, King County Executive Ron Sims today announced $36 million in grants and loans to fund affordable housing and permanent supportive housing development across the county.

Jan. 13
Reduced bus service for Metro Transit on Monday, Jan. 19
King County Metro Transit will be operating with a reduced weekday schedule on Monday, Jan. 19 for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. That means some commuter-oriented routes will be canceled that day, and there will be individual trips canceled on other routes. Many routes will have no changes.

Jan. 13
King County wants to hear ideas of farming's future
Farming has been an important part of the landscape since King County's earliest days, and county leaders want to hear ideas about ensuring the future of agriculture here. The public is invited to help shape the future of agriculture in King County by attending any of three upcoming meetings that are sponsored by the King County Agriculture Commission. The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 22 at the Carnation Elementary School's multipurpose room, 4950 Tolt Ave. in Carnation.

Jan. 13
Deep bored tunnel to replace Alaskan Way Viaduct
Gov. Chris Gregoire, King County Executive Ron Sims, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, and Port of Seattle Chief Executive Officer Tay Yoshitani today announced their agreement to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep bored tunnel under downtown Seattle. The plan also includes investment in improved bus service, east-west city streets, a new seawall, relocated utilities, and an upgraded waterfront.

Jan. 12
Sims, County Council develop plan to ease disposal of flood-damaged items, debris
As part of King County's ongoing response to last week’s record flooding, Executive Ron Sims and the County Council today developed a plan that will allow for continued free disposal of flood-damaged items and debris from the hardest-hit communities.

Jan. 12
Proposed bus service changes ready for review, comment for Southeast Seattle & Southwest King County
Last fall, King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit gathered ideas from the public for bus service changes in 2009 and 2010 for neighborhoods in Southeast Seattle, Skyway/West Hill, portions of West Seattle, and bus routes serving areas in Tukwila, SeaTac, Burien, Kent, Federal Way, and the Tukwila Sounder station. Those suggestions have now been shaped into proposed plans for specific routes and service changes, and Metro and Sound Transit are again inviting the public to comment. All comments are due by Feb. 6.

Jan. 11
King County crews make progress opening and repairing flood-damage roads and levees
As water recedes and river levels drop around the region, King County Road Services Division crews continue making progress repairing and cleaning up county roads hard hit by flood waters. Crews are also making progress on emergency repairs to damaged levees along the Tolt and Snoqualmie rivers.

Jan. 11
King County staff and volunteers pull out the stops to help Pacific flood victims clean up
At the direction of King County Executive Ron Sims, the county's Emergency Management office is managing an extraordinary effort to help the people of Pacific today as they clean up from last week's devastating flood. Emergency Management managers are coordinating the efforts of King County crews and equipment as well as a team of volunteers. King County Solid Waste trucks and King County Airport dump trucks are in Pacific where as many as 50 are expected to help residents clean and dispose of damaged belongings.

Jan. 10
Damage assessment and debris removal begin as flooding recedes
King County Executive Ron Sims today visited parts of the county that have been among the hardest hit by recent record floods. In Snoqualmie, Executive Sims and Mayor Matt Larson worked side-by-side with Snoqualmie residents unloading flood-damaged debris from their vehicles.

Jan. 10
Emergency repairs under way to flood-damaged levees
King County is mobilizing today to make emergency repairs to levees and other flood-prevention structures that were damaged by this week's record flooding. King County Executive Ron Sims is again heading out to affected communities to speak with elected local leaders and meet with residents whose lives have been affected by floods.

Jan. 10
King County Executive will meet today with flood victims as record river flows recede
King County Executive Ron Sims will travel to Snoqualmie and Pacific this afternoon to meet with city leaders and residents as river waters recede, and the amount of damage becomes more clear. The difficult clean up effort is underway for people in flooded communities as they are able to get back to their homes

Jan. 9
Incident management team dispatched to City of Pacific to assist in emergency response coordination
A specialized incident management team is on scene at the City of Pacific tonight, in response to a request from that community for help dealing with widespread flooding.

Jan. 9
Historic flows, significant road and structure damage visible as King County Executive tours flood damaged communities
County Executive Ron Sims spent most of Friday viewing East King County flood damage where all rivers had historic flows of rain and melted snow and the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers hit the highest level in history. The Executive visited the Red Cross regional center in Renton and spoke with people who evacuated their homes as well as residents whose homes were spared from flooding.

Jan. 9
As floodwaters recede, the work now turns to repairs
More than forty roads remain closed in King County this afternoon as road crews get their first good look at the damage that’s been left behind from this week’s flood.

Jan. 9
Tolt River: record flows, levee damage
Record water flows on rivers across the region are causing significant flooding, including possible damage to two levees along the Tolt River near the City of Carnation. Flood waters are also causing significant road damage across King County.

Jan. 8
County Executive to tour flood areas
Media are invited to join King County Executive Ron Sims at St. Mathews Lutheran Church (1700 Edmonds Ave. NE, Renton WA) at approx 9:45 a.m. Friday morning where he will meet with evacuees and get a briefing from flood control managers about the magnitude of flooding on King County Rivers compared to previous flood events.

Jan. 8
Flooding cuts off residents in East King County
Levees across King County are holding the significant flows that have hit the region over the past 48 hours, although King County Flood Crews have not been able to reach the levee in Maple Valley to assess its condition.

Jan. 8
Sims signs emergency proclamation
In response to record river flows, flooding, land slides and other damage from severe weather, King County Executive Ron Sims this morning signed a Local Proclamation of Emergency to help county staff continue their quick response to damage.

Jan. 8
Day 2 brings little relief to flood-stricken county
The clouds may be lifting, but it will take days and weeks for the region’s transportation system to rebound from historic flooding in King County.

Jan. 8
Flood-control dam releases push Green River to Phase III flood alert level
The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase III flood alert level for the Green River, which is expected to remain at high flood levels for the next several days as flood-control dam operators create additional storage capacity upstream.

Jan. 8
White River reaches Phase III flood alert level as flood-control dam releases raise flows
The aftermath of this week’s heavy tropical rainstorm continues to affect rivers across King County. The King County Flood Warning Center, which has been in continuous operation since mid-afternoon on Jan. 6, has issued a Phase III flood alert level for the White River. The river is expected to remain at high flood levels for the next several days.

Jan. 7
Cedar River joins Tolt, Snoqualmie rivers at Phase IV flood alert
King County has issued a Phase IV flood alert for the Cedar River, where a water release by Seattle Public Utilities from Chester Morse Dam is expected to keep stream flows dramatically elevated into Thursday evening.

Jan. 7
Green, Cedar river levels climb; dangerous levels persist on Tolt, Snoqualmie
The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase III flood alert on the Green River and a Phase II alert on the Cedar River this morning due to heavy rain and water releases from dams in those upper watersheds.

Jan. 7
Phase IV flood alert level on Snoqualmie River, Phase II for Green, as rain continues
Officials at the King County Flood Warning Center say the Snoqualmie River, driven by heavy rainfall from a powerful tropical storm, has risen to a Phase IV flood alert level early Wednesday morning. Dangerous widespread flooding is likely to occur throughout the Snoqualmie Valley.

Jan. 7
Rain lifts Tolt River to Phase IV flood alert level; Snoqualmie River, Issaquah Creek at Phase III
Hard rain from a strong tropical storm continues to hammer portions of King County, leading to potentially significant and widespread river flooding.

Jan. 7
Worst flooding in years closes King County roads
King County road crews continue to respond tonight to what may be one of the worst floods in years – a flood that has already impacted more than 35 roads countywide. And the worst may not be over.

Jan. 7
Major flooding prompts numerous King County Road closures; Metro Transit assisting with evacuations
King County road crews continue to respond to a variety of dangerous flood related problems this afternoon as Metro Transit mobilizes to help with emergency evacuations due to rising floodwater.

Jan. 7
Some drinking water at risk
Floods can damage septic systems and make well water undrinkable as well as contaminate food and medicine. Flooded basements and buildings should also be cleaned up carefully. Detailed information on the following flood and health related topics may be found in English and other languages at www.kingcounty.gov/health/disaster

Jan. 7
Widespread flooding, mudslides posing serious travel hazards
Continued heavy rain is causing numerous travel hazards all across King County this morning. Flooding on Issaquah Creek has closed the southbound lane of Issaquah-Hobart Road below Highway 18 just south of Tiger Mountain at about 8 a.m.

Jan. 6
King County Flood Warning Center opens to monitor rain-fed high river flows
The King County Flood Warning Center was opened at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to monitor minor flooding on the Tolt River, and to prepare for the likelihood of significant flooding on the Snoqualmie River and other river systems, as a powerful tropical storm moved into the region today.

Jan. 5
King County, Department of Justice reach agreement on proposed jail improvements
Today, King County Executive Ron Sims announced a proposed agreement with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) that addresses previous issues concerning jail operations and establishes measures that continue ongoing improvements. The proposal is now being transmitted to the King County Council for review and authorization.

Jan. 5
Many options available in King County for Christmas tree recycling
Don’t worry if foul weather or the rush of holiday activities kept you from getting rid of the family Christmas tree. There are still several great options available for recycling your tree – and doing something good for the environment.