Fixing 'pinball highway'
2
V ALLEY R ECORD SNOQUALMIE INDEX V ALLEY VIEWS 4 LETTERS 5 BUSINESS 6 SCENE 8 CALENDAR 10 OBITUARIES 12 CLASSIFIED ADS 13-14 Vol. 97, No. 17 BUSINESS Antiques dealer says farewell to Valley clients, store mascot Page 6 SPORTS Mount Si cross country teams strong on the streets Page 9 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 DAILY UPDATES AT WWW.VALLEYRECORD.COM 75 CENTS YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SNOQUALMIE NORTH BEND FALL CITY PRESTON CARNATION Kevin Hauglie Insurance Agency Kevin Hauglie - Agent | 425.222.5881 | www.farmers.com/khauglie 397232 Auto • Home • Life Serving the Snoqualmie Valley since 1985 with locations in Snoqualmie • Fall City • Duvall Follow us on Facebook and Twitter Committee calls for fresh approaches at Middle school annex BY ALLISON ESPIRITU Staff Reporter Mount Si High School freshmen could attend a dif- ferent kind of institution at a Snoqualmie Middle School annex starting in 2013, under the latest recommendation by a Snoqualmie Valley School District committee. Months of discussion by parents and school officials culminated Sept. 9, when the High School Educational Program Study Committee presented its views on best- practice ways to make the middle school part of a high school campus. Annexation would fix overcrowding at Mount Si and create new outlets and opportunities for ninth grade students, committee mem- bers told the Snoqualmie Valley School District Board of Directors. Under the committee’s proposal, the new annex would act as a pilot site for new educational approach- es, such as blended class- es, integration of honors with regular classes, and emphases on leadership or a Science-Technology- Engineering-Mathematics (STEM) model. Decision nears for Mount Si freshman campus SEE CAMPUS, 11 Seth Truscott/Staff Photo Measuring the shoulder strip along Highway 203, Voters for a Safer 203 founder Jackie Perrigoue believes new guardrails didn’t solve road safety concerns, and wants more shoulders. “This project was $6.6 million,” she said. “This two-bit yardstick: priceless.” Fixing ‘pinball’ highway Carnation woman forms group, calls for wider roads, discussion BY SETH TRUSCOTT Editor Cars race by as Jackie Perrigoue wielded a yardstick by the narrow side of Highway 203, aiming to prove a point. In a traffic lull, the lifelong Carnation resident and retiree darted across the highway and checked the width of pavement between the fogline and recently installed guardrail near the 77th Street intersection. “It was less than a yard,” she said. “There is no room for error.” Taking aim at narrow roads and rails installed by the state this spring in Carnation’s vicinity, Perriguoe has founded a group called Voters for a Safer 203. She has called a town hall meeting for 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, at Tolt Middle School, inviting state and local officials and demanding new road standards with more space for bike lanes and shoulders. “The shoulders we have are pretty much non-existant,” Perrigoue said. While she welcomed new guardrails in some areas, Perrigoue pointed to several stretches, including north of town near 77th Street and south near Pleasant Hill, where she said narrow lanes could be more dangerous during icy conditions or accidents. “The DOT turned this into a pinball machine,” Perrigoue said. When cars lose traction or swerve, she is concerned that they will glance off rails rather than crumple them. Fewer shoulders mean that police and firefighters may be challenged to pull over or pass drivers, she added. Perrigoue said Highway 203 north of the Snohomish county line is wider and safer, and wants the local stretch to catch up. “It’s never been brought to the same standard,” she said. Perrigoue, who was also part of a Carnation branding committee, said that narrow highways also deter cyclists from visiting the Lower Valley. The Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation’s newest regional bicycle network report gives Highway 203 a ‘fail’ rating. “That space can be the difference between having your heart rate rise and hitting someone.” David Hiller, Advocacy Director, Cascade Bicycle Club SEE PINBALL, 3
-
Upload
seth-truscott -
Category
Documents
-
view
233 -
download
1
description
A woman crusades for safety on a newly narrowed highway
Transcript of Fixing 'pinball highway'
VALLEY RECORDSNOQUALMIE
INDEXVALLEY VIEWS 4 LETTERS 5BUSINESS 6 SCENE 8CALENDAR 10OBITUARIES 12CLASSIFIED ADS 13-14
Vol. 97, No. 17
BUSI
NESS Antiques dealer
says farewell to Valley clients, store mascot Page 6
SPOR
TS Mount Si cross country teams strong on the streets Page 9
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 DAILY UPDATES AT WWW.VALLEYRECORD.COM 75 CENTS
YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SNOQUALMIE NORTH BEND FALL CITY PRESTON CARNATION
Kevin Hauglie Insurance AgencyKevin Hauglie - Agent | 425.222.5881 | www.farmers.com/khauglie
3972
32
Auto • Home • Life
Serving the Snoqualmie Valley since 1985 with locations in Snoqualmie • Fall City • Duvall
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Committee calls for fresh approaches at
Middle school annexBY ALLISON ESPIRITU
Staff Reporter
Mount Si High School freshmen could attend a dif-ferent kind of institution at a Snoqualmie Middle School annex starting in 2013, under the latest recommendation by a Snoqualmie Valley School District committee.
Months of discussion by parents and school officials culminated Sept. 9, when the High School Educational Program Study Committee presented its views on best-practice ways to make the middle school part of a high school campus.
Annexation would fix overcrowding at Mount Si and create new outlets and opportunities for ninth grade students, committee mem-bers told the Snoqualmie Valley School District Board of Directors.
Under the committee’s proposal, the new annex would act as a pilot site for new educational approach-es, such as blended class-es, integration of honors with regular classes, and emphases on leadership or a Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics (STEM) model.
Decision nears for Mount Si freshman campus
SEE CAMPUS, 11
Seth Truscott/Staff Photo
Measuring the shoulder strip along Highway 203, Voters for a Safer 203 founder Jackie Perrigoue believes new guardrails didn’t solve road safety concerns, and wants more shoulders. “This project was $6.6 million,” she said. “This two-bit yardstick: priceless.”
Fixing ‘pinball’ highwayCarnation woman forms group, calls for wider roads, discussion
BY SETH TRUSCOTT Editor
Cars race by as Jackie Perrigoue wielded a yardstick by the narrow side of Highway 203, aiming to prove a point.
In a traffic lull, the lifelong Carnation resident and retiree darted across the highway and checked the width of pavement between the fogline and recently installed guardrail near the 77th Street intersection.
“It was less than a yard,” she said. “There is no room for error.”
Taking aim at narrow roads and rails installed by the state this spring in Carnation’s vicinity, Perriguoe has founded a group called Voters for a Safer 203. She has called a town hall meeting for 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30,
at Tolt Middle School, inviting state and local officials and demanding new road standards with more space for bike lanes and shoulders.
“The shoulders we have are pretty much non-existant,” Perrigoue said.
While she welcomed new guardrails in some areas, Perrigoue pointed to several stretches, including north of town near 77th Street and south near Pleasant Hill, where she said narrow lanes could be more dangerous during icy conditions or accidents.
“The DOT turned this into a pinball machine,” Perrigoue said.
When cars lose traction or swerve, she is concerned that they will glance off rails rather than crumple them. Fewer shoulders mean that police and firefighters may be challenged to pull over or pass drivers, she added.
Perrigoue said Highway 203 north of the Snohomish county line is wider and safer, and wants the local stretch to catch up.
“It’s never been brought to the same standard,” she said.
Perrigoue, who was also part of a Carnation branding committee, said that narrow highways also deter cyclists from visiting the Lower Valley.
The Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation’s newest regional bicycle network report gives Highway 203 a ‘fail’ rating.
“That space can be the difference between
having your heart rate rise and hitting
someone.”David Hiller,
Advocacy Director, Cascade Bicycle Club
SEE PINBALL, 3
WWW.VALLEYRECORD.COM Snoqualmie Valley Record • September 22, 2010 • 3
4109
87
8002 Railroad Ave. • Snoqualmie • 425.888.4888
25% OFF these brands:Redken, Dermalogica, Kenra, Chi, Enjoy,
Pureology, GloMinerals
Also selling: two antique lounge chairs, several mirrors, cabinets, computer desk, facial bed, facial steamer, glass jewelry case, reception
desk and much more!
MOVING SALE!Sunday, September 26th 10am-3pm
MOVING OCTOBER 1ST (directly behind our current location)
to 7984 Falls Avenue
39
88
95
39
79
38
MT. SI MINI STORAGE3 Sizes Available
(425) 888-1319NORTH BEND
Regist #TYSHAH945NA mail: [email protected]
Ty OlsonHome: 425-888-1289
Cell: 425-417-7697
Locally Owned
NO JOB TOO SMALL!!!Trim • Carpentry
Dry Wall • PaintingTile • Home Repairs
Remodels • Etc.
Ty’s Handyman Service
39
79
34
“A STORAGE TO MEET YOUR NEEDS”Climate Control & Covered R/V & Boat Storage
Video Monitored Security System - Controlled AccessResident Manager
Fax/UPS Pickup/Copies/Moving Supplies/Notary
(425) 888-000144800 S.E. North Bend Way, North Bend, WA 98045
39
79
31
We have a Truck To renT for LocaL Moves
Call about our Move-in Special
Police securing prescriptions for
National Takeback DayBY ALLISON ESPIRITU
Staff Reporter
North Bend and Snoqualmie police are giv-ing residents a new way to empty medicine cabinets and keep potentially danger-ous prescription drugs off the streets.
During National Drug Takeback Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25, North Bend police will accept unwanted drugs at a drop site at the parking lot next to Rock-O’s Diner, 247 East North Bend Way. Snoqualmie police will place a drive-through booth at Snoqualmie Fire Department on Snoqualmie Parkway.
The one-day effort brings a national focus on prescrip-tion drug abuse, allowing citizens to safely dispose of drugs without contaminat-
ing their communities.North Bend and
Snoqualmie police already keep collection boxes at their stations.
“We saw it as an opportu-nity to get the word out that we have a drop-off box,” said North Bend Police Chief Mark Toner.
Police created a prescrip-tion drop-off box service this summer in response to community concerns about safe options to dispose of unused medicines.
Prescription drugs have the potential for abuse and also pose a threat to the environment, if disposed of improperly.
“If people have stuff before or after the 25th, they don’t have to drop it off in those four hours,” Toner said. “If they call us, we can get some-one to pick it up, or they can bring it to the office during normal business hours.”
• For a list of drop-off points, visit www.medice-nereturn.
Allison Espiritu/Staff Photo
North Bend Police Chief Mark Toner opens the prescription drop box at the King County Sheriff ’s substation. Valley police will accept and dispose of drugs on National Takeback Day.
Drug takebacksPINBALL FROM 1
David Hiller, advocacy director for the club, said the high-way near Carnation did not pass muster because of fast speeds combined with a lack of shoulders.
While Carnation is connected to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, Hiller said trails aren’t an adequate replacement for wider roads and dedicated bike lanes. Cyclists will not ride where they don’t feel safe, he added.
“Anytime you’ve got a line that says ‘this area is free of high-speed traffic,’ it proves an extra degree of comfort,” Hiller said. “That extra space can be the difference between having your heart rate rise and hitting someone.”
Shoulders aren’t just a bike issue, he added—they also offer safety benefits to motorists and pedestrians.
“On rural highways, a shoulder is just about the only place to walk to your mailbox or your neighbor’s house,” Hiller said.
Different viewJenny Bullard, transportation director for the Riverview
School District, said while some guardrail fixes might need to be made, most staff have told her that the state Department of Transportation’s project made roads safer.
“I was getting more positive feedback than negative,” she said.
Bullard planned to be at the middle school meeting to learn more about local highway statistics.
Hiller said the Cascade Bicycle Club will alert its members to attend and comment.
Perrigoue has invited officials including 45th District State Representative Roger Goodman and Larry Springer and State Sen. Eric Oenig to the meeting. She called the gathering this month to send a message during campaign season.
“We want to strike while the iron is hot,” she said.”
