In brief

Published 11:49 am Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Boalch bridge

to be closed

The city of North Bend will close the small wooden bridge on Boalch Avenue Northwest between Mount Si Golf Course and the King County Sheriff’s Office to motorized traffic starting Wednesday, Nov. 12, Public Works Director Ron Garrow said.

The county’s recent annual inspection of the bridge showed deterioration of the wood, and the city’s consultants recommended that the bridge be closed for repairs, Garrow said. He estimated that construction would take two to three months. In the meantime, drivers who like to take the back road will instead have to use State Highway 202 to get between Snoqualmie and North Bend.

The city council planned a special meeting Wednesday, Nov. 12, to consider an estimated $80,000 in expenditures for the repairs, which will be performed by King County. The money will come from the city’s general fund.

Family group toy

donations sought

Jim Curtis, a North Bend karate instructor and director of the North American Self-Defense Association, has started a toy drive, collecting new toys for children and teenagers being assisted by the Domestic Abuse Womens Network of Puget Sound this holiday season.

Collection sites are at the Snoqualmie Ridge Athletic Club in Snoqualmie and Rattlesnake Lake Cycles in North Bend. Individuals, merchants and civic groups that can help should e-mail Curtis at umibushi@yahoo.com, or call (206) 422-8143. For information about the Domestic Abuse Womens Network of Puget Sound, visit www.dawnonline.org.

Cascade church is donation site

Cascade Covenant Church in North Bend is the local drop-off site for Operation Christmas Child, which sends gift-filled shoe boxes around the world. Cascade Covenant Church is located at 13225 436th Ave. S.E., North Bend. For information, or to help fill a shoebox, visit www.samaritan.org.