Snoqualmie announces Sister City Day, swears in new officer, and accepts $100,000 in grants

Published 11:58 am Thursday, February 4, 2016

Snoqualmie celebrated the achievements and continuing efforts of the Snoqualmie Sister Cities Association during a city council meeting on Jan. 25. Mayor Matt Larson announced that Jan. 25, 2016, was Snoqualmie Sister City Day.

The meeting also included the swearing in of a new officer to the Snoqualmie Police, dance performances from both Korean and Peruvian exchange students, and the acceptance of storm water and watershed management grants.

Due to the work of the Sister Cities Association over the past seven years, both Tina McCollum, president, and the organization were recognized for their achievements in creating an exchange program that allows students from Snoqualmie’s sister cities of Chaclacayo, Peru and Gangjin, Korea to travel to Snoqualmie and vice versa. Along with the announcement of Sister City Day, McCollum received a Service Recognition Award for her work with the program.

After the announcement, visiting students from Korea and Peru, performed dances in their cultural attire for the council and audience. They also presented city officials with gifts including an invitation to the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, Korea.

That same night, new police officer Chad Ridout took his oath to office and officially became an officer for Snoqualmie. While in the police academy, Ridout was recognized as the person other officers most wanted to respond as backup.

The city council also accepted two grants totaling $100,000. The first was a $50,000 grant from the Washington Department of Ecology for storm water management and control, education and outreach to residents and businesses, research, data management and monitoring. The council also approved an agreement between the city and King County for a $50,000 conservation watershed management grant for use towards the Riverwalk restoration north of Kimball Creek and east of S.R. 202.

The next city council meeting is currently scheduled for 7 p.m. on Feb. 8 at Snoqualmie City Hall.

Chad Ridout was formally sworn in as an officer of the Snoqualmie Police Department by Mayor Larson and North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing.

Peruvian students, who arrived in the U.S. just hours earlier, performed a traditional dance.